Main & Secondary Points ?

[Billfo]

When fishing "Main & Secondary points" on Table Rock, what depths are we talken about ? Does that mean fish the points where the shallow breaks off to deep water?

Thanks... ( Yes I am new to Table Rock AND clear water)

[T-RockJaws]

For me, it all depends on the time of year and water temp. With the warmer water temps we have now, you need to back out a ways. If you are looking to drop shot, you will likely find the fish somewhere close to the drop off on the point or at least out to about 30 to 35 feet deep. If you are wanting to throw a C-rig or a Texas rig, you will need to position your boat in about 38 to 45 foot of water. Same would be true if you are throwing a jig. Don't be afraid to go on around the points and fish the trasition areas where you go from pea gravel to chunk rock or from chunk rock to bluffs.

Hope this helps a little.

[Billfo]

Yes this help alot- thank you !! I have never DS, but sounds petty common on Table Rock. I better learn how in a hurry. You mention warmer water temp.. In cooler water, are the fish more shallow ( guess that would be 15-20 feet for Table Rock right)? Are they EVER up in the 5' areas with flooded stumps like commonly found in Nebraska ?

Thanks for sharing.. Bill

For me, it all depends on the time of year and water temp. With the warmer water temps we have now, you need to back out a ways. If you are looking to drop shot, you will likely find the fish somewhere close to the drop off on the point or at least out to about 30 to 35 feet deep. If you are wanting to throw a C-rig or a Texas rig, you will need to position your boat in about 38 to 45 foot of water. Same would be true if you are throwing a jig. Don't be afraid to go on around the points and fish the trasition areas where you go from pea gravel to chunk rock or from chunk rock to bluffs.

Hope this helps a little.

[Nolan_Whaley]

I know a bunch of guys are reporting good top water bite off and on early in the morning before sun gets on water. I haven't been able to get out early, so fish a lot of afternoon and evenings.

My success has been using one of 2 things: 1/8 oz spot remover jig with either a green pumpkin/red or watermelon red trick worm, or 1/2 oz pbj football head jig with a watermelon/red twin tail grub as a trailer. Hit points and as above said, transition banks where chunk turns to gravel or the other way. In the evening, i like the shady banks as well. I fish the spot remover jig on light line.. 8lb, and 1/2 oz on 14lb flouro. Put boat in 30' of water, and make long cast, and fish it all the way back to the boat. I've caught some fish fairly shallow and some down to prob 25', but that's the best way i've found. May not catch a bunch of big fish, but i've had pretty good success catching at least a few dinks, and usually catch at least 1 decent fish.

Goodluck.

[T-RockJaws]

Bill

Yes, there are fish in the cooler water. In the spring you can catch good fish in as little as 1 foot of water. There are always fish in the shallow water, just seems as the water warms up, the larger fish get deeper. Anytime you can find buck brush in shallow water it is good for flippin jigs or even running buzz baits through. This time of year, you can do that with success way up in the backs of creeks and such.

Good Luck!

[redbud]

most guys dont fish very shallow this time of year,and it is true that you will probably catch more fish out deep but for sure there are quality fish shallow still.We fished the White near the AR line Wed.afternoon and caught several fish out of the brush.I was flippin a black trick worm texas style.There doesnt seem to be any fish way back in coves. Look for wood in the water near brush that is still green preferably on the shady side of the lake in what I like to call pockets (not really a cove)near deeper water. Get a spinner out and toss it in there ,if you see minnows jumping to get out of the way you can bet bass are not far off.They probably wont hit the blade but it is a good indicator if there is forage there or not.Get a map that shows the main channel and look for gravel flats that are near a channel swing(The areas that the channel moves to one side of the lake to the other)Table Rock still has a river flowing down there and the main channel swings are good places to start lake wide.Most of the swings will have the transitions from pea gravel to chunk rock to bluffs.There is no shortage of structure here, you just have to narrow it down a bit.When the water is this warm ,I like to downsize and fish slow ,real slow,then slowdown some more.We both caught a limit,even with the boat wakes pounding us.here is a pic of an average brush dweller.Good luck out there and stay safe,there are a lot of knuckleheads out there this time of year.

[rps]

Moved here from Oklahoma in 2002. Had to learn new things.

First: shallow is a relative term. Here at my end of the lake (Holiday Island) shallow means what it means. Down by the dam shallow means anything less than 100 feet.

Second, shallow fish exist all year, but the numbers and size will relate to things other than the bank - breaks, transitions from one type to another, submerged trees, river current, and thermocline are examples.

Third, rethink your equipment and approach. With rare exceptions, 10 pound line and finesse techniques will spank power fishing. In pro fishermen terms, Jimmy Houston loses to the Hibdons.

Wait to rebuild your tackle box, but when you do you will discover these are key: jigs with craw trailers, jig heads with grubs, shaky worm rigs, C-rig parts, wiggle warts, white blade baits, and topwaters (walk, wake, and pop).

Good luck. I hope you learn faster than I have.