Whites Are On The Move

[Phil Lilley]

Duane and I hit Blunk Ramp about 4 today. Water was moving fast and alittle off color with quite a bit of trash (leaves and sticks). Ten vehicles in the parking lot and some bank fishermen. Headed down- never been there when the lake is that low. Shallow going down- df read 2.4 feet at one point. Was concerned about getting back up without hitting anything- we did ok. No problems but I don't think I'd try it again with a prop.

Saw some ppl catching whites on the left bank going down. I think we caught a small male on that bank. Heard something about Long Campground (?) (Duane can help me out) and so we headed down a ways. There's a big field and ramp on the right going down and several boats fishing. Saw a few whites caught so we pulled in on the shallow side- left bank. We may have caught 3 keepers and a couple of small ones there. Headed further down just to see what we could see- caught another keeper or two down 2 bends on the inside bend in 6 feet of water. The whites definitely liked the slower water and eddies.

Back up to the previous bank and caught a few more. Up to the gravel bar where they were catching them pretty good. I caught 4 crappy- they might have been 10 inches but didn't have a ruler and didn't want to mess with them. Went back up and fished the straight stretch below Blunk and caught more whites on both bank but only where there was slower water.

Caught about 20 whites, 10 keepers, a few blacks, small and a half dz crappie on white 1/8th oz jigs, white sliders and a gulp minnow Duane brought.

This weekend should be EXCELLENT white bass fishing but it may be crowded.

No pics... had 2 camera. I forgot the card for one and the battery was dead on the other.

Water temp 54 degrees.

[Phil Lilley]

Oh yea= where does the "river" start?

Where is it legal to keep a bass on the James and where is it closed till Memorial Day Weekend?

[duckydoty]

The stretch between Blunk Hole and Walnut Springs is where we caught fish on both banks. The water is moving pretty fast there and the fish are holding tight to the banks behind the small eddies created by root wads and trees. The best place to put in would be at Long Camp (the end of Samaritan Road) It is the 3rd Rd. on the left after Blunk Rd. and the very next road on the left after McCord Bend Road. Most of the fish were caught right across from the boat ramp there and just a little up stream to just below the large gravel bar. This weekend should be great with the water still clearing and dropping. It is easier to go up from this area to Walnut Springs and above than to launch at Blunk and go down right now. If the water drops some more, you would need a jet to launch at Blunk for sure.

As far as river to lake.....I would say, when the water stops moving, you are in the lake. I wonder what the elevation of Blunk access is vs. the lake level of Table Rock?

[Phil Lilley]

I wonder how Michael Kyle did last night there at Long Camp?

[Dutch]

Oh yea= where does the "river" start?

Where is it legal to keep a bass on the James and where is it closed till Memorial Day Weekend?

I'm only guessing here but since the 15" length limit goes from Hooten Town down that may also be where the season changes.

[RSBreth]

Downstream from the "Y" Bridge at Galena Table Rock Lake regulations are in effect, unless they've changed that, which I doubt.

[Chief Grey Bear]

Oh yea= where does the "river" start?

Where is it legal to keep a bass on the James and where is it closed till Memorial Day Weekend?

It will begin and end at the "normal pool" level. Which is 915'??? The problem is, that magical line is not defined such as crossing the state line. There should be a map roughly showing the normal pool level. Just make sure you don't keep or possess any black bass on the up stream side of that line, which I would give plenty of room for error, and you should be fine.

[Flysmallie]

RS is right. Everything south of the Y bridge is under Table Rock regulations. There has been a sign stating that forever.

[vonreed]

I'm with Flysmallie and RSbreth. Regulations start at the Y bridge at Galena.

[Seth]

Good report. I'm heading down to Bridgeport to stay the weekend and fish as soon as I get off work and get everything together. Hope you guys are right on the white bite.