Fishing Report

[Phil Lilley]

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<p>I was reminded of a fishing fact this past week.&nbsp; Fish don't like high blue skies and high pressure for an extended period of time.&nbsp; My last report I spelled that out and fishing didn't get better till this cold front rolled in and brought rain, wind and cold temperatures. <br>

Now, they're running water alittle more often- that 25mw generation all day trend has started again. Table Rock has bumped up 6 inches from the rain yesterday and is still well below what it usually is for the beginning of April. This is good for boaters but not so good for those who want to wade below the dam.

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Bill Babler, one of our guides, ventured out yesterday in the cold and rain.&nbsp; While the water was not running mid to late morning, they fished up below Lookout using olive/orange head micro jigs under an indicator 6 feet deep, using 2-pound line and they caught many rainbows in the 15-19 inch range, beautifully colored up and fat.&nbsp; He said they finished their trip drifting night crawlers below Fall Creek after the water started and caught plenty of nice rainbows to fill their limit. </p>

<p>Bill is also throwing crank baits, like the pointer shown in the image above, and catching some nice browns lately. He's going out early when the water is running and fishing bluff, channel banks from the dam down to Branson. When throwing crank baits, you'll see and have quite a few &quot;follows&quot; and hits but hooking and keeping browns and rainbows on the line to the net is difficult. Try casting and jerking the bait down, then use a stop and go retrieve, letting the bait suspend in the water between jerks. Did I mention using suspending baits? Water running, darker times of the days or cloudy and rainy days are best times to target browns.</p>

<p>This brown was caught and released last week. It was 25 inches and weighed about 8 pounds.<br>

Another guide, Steve Dickey, says he’s been alittle frustrated with generation patterns lately.&nbsp; “It messes with the trout when they keep turning the water off and on, varying the flow all day”, said Dickey.&nbsp; But despite these conditions, trout fishing has been good, according to Steve.</p>

<p>He’s been fishing mainly the trophy area and using a variety of techniques.&nbsp; Best fishing is when they’re running water.&nbsp; His best scud is a #14 or #12 dark possum brown scud under an indicator using either an egg fly or a white chammy worm as an atrractant, getting the flies to the bottom with a split shot.&nbsp; When the water is off he’s throwing a black #18 zebra midge, copper head under an indicator.&nbsp; He said a client caught a 5-pound rainbow on the zebra last week.<br>

I touched on this in my last report and it still holds true.&nbsp; Those who add a couple of feet of 2-pound line will catch more fish, especially if the water is not moving.&nbsp; This goes for those using live bait and throwing small jigs.&nbsp; If you're casting lures like spoons, spinners and small crank baits, you can get away with using 4-pound line.</p>

<p>Some of the guys this past weekend boated down and fishing up some of the creeks downtown including Turkey and Roark.&nbsp; They threw spinners and cleos and did pretty well on rainbows.&nbsp; Now white bass will move into Roark Creek when the water warms up again and they’ll take a white jig, small crank bait or a white rooster tail.&nbsp; Usually you’ll find them in there early and late in the day.</p>

[Guest]

Great fishing report and some good insight to light lining with spinning reels.

Thats a fine looking jerkbait....

What kinda rod/reel setup is best for 4lb test line?

[Phil Lilley]

I use my spinning rods (Falcon blanks), Lilleys' LT6 rods- 6' med lite action and Presidents 6725 reels.

[ubear111]

may i ask what brand and type bait is the lure / jerk bait?

[Phil Lilley]

Rapala of course. Pointers, rouges. About any stick bait you'd use for bass.