Fishing Howard's Creek

[CentralARBassman]

Hey all,

I'm going to be fishing for largemouth in Howard's Creek at Bull Shoals in a few days. I've been bass fishing a long time but still consider myself pretty much a beginner (mostly bank fish). Any tips for what areas I need to target and what I need to be fishing with? The more detail the better.

Thanks in advance,

LRBM

[skeet88bt]

Hey all,

I'm going to be fishing for largemouth in Howard's Creek at Bull Shoals in a few days. I've been bass fishing a long time but still consider myself pretty much a beginner (mostly bank fish). Any tips for what areas I need to target and what I need to be fishing with? The more detail the better.

Thanks in advance,

LRBM

I fished Bull this past weekend and did decent considering the highwater.(12 smallmouth w/3 keepers) If I were going back I would probably do the same thing that I did. Fish for smallmouth. They are a blast to catch and there are some monsters on Bull. I would make long casts and use light line.(6#-10#) I would throw a tube or a speed craw.(texas rig will be fine) You might try a carolina rig or a shakey head also. The fish when I was there were staged at the old shoreline.(25-30ft)As far as lagemouth I think you may have to go further up the lake for that but you may catch some around there. Good luck.

[CentralARBassman]

I fished Bull this past weekend and did decent considering the highwater.(12 smallmouth w/3 keepers) If I were going back I would probably do the same thing that I did. Fish for smallmouth. They are a blast to catch and there are some monsters on Bull. I would make long casts and use light line.(6#-10#) I would throw a tube or a speed craw.(texas rig will be fine) You might try a carolina rig or a shakey head also. The fish when I was there were staged at the old shoreline.(25-30ft)As far as lagemouth I think you may have to go further up the lake for that but you may catch some around there. Good luck.

Thanks for the suggestions. That sounds like a good plan to me. When you say further up the lake is there a specific area you're talking about? Some friends are I are renting a boat from a place that's in Howard's Creek so I wasn't planning on getting too far away. So if I'm focusing on smallmouth I need to stick to the plastics, huh? I've got plenty but I'd geared up with tons of new crankbaits/spinnerbaits that it looks like I won't get to try out

Thanks again,

LRBM

[Ham]

IF you are anxious to use and abuse some of those crankbaits and SB's, you could try fishing them around the edges of flooded trees. Trees that are for the moment alive and have greens leaves on them. I wouldn't do it without a lure retriever and even that doesn't work all the time. SLOW roll the SB. You won't see your bites when you are slow rolling the outer trees.

All three species of bass will be in the trees to some degree AND you miight get a walleye or two as well.

[skeet88bt]

Thanks for the suggestions. That sounds like a good plan to me. When you say further up the lake is there a specific area you're talking about? Some friends are I are renting a boat from a place that's in Howard's Creek so I wasn't planning on getting too far away. So if I'm focusing on smallmouth I need to stick to the plastics, huh? I've got plenty but I'd geared up with tons of new crankbaits/spinnerbaits that it looks like I won't get to try out

Thanks again,

LRBM

Where you are putting in fishing is what I consider to be smallmouth territory but I am not saying you can't catch some lagemouth around there. I know there are some folks that have been catching them up shallower but with the cool nights and the water still not at a steady level I would count on your consistent bite being out on that old shoreline. Also, the bites have been really hard to feel so don't be afraid to set the hook on anything that feels funny...also watch your line closely. I wouldn't be afraid throw the crankbait or the spinnerbait also. I was checking periodically on the shallows throughout the day. If you want to hunt for the largemouth go up Thesodoshia arm and fish the pockets. Good luck

[CentralARBassman]

Where you are putting in fishing is what I consider to be smallmouth territory but I am not saying you can't catch some lagemouth around there. I know there are some folks that have been catching them up shallower but with the cool nights and the water still not at a steady level I would count on your consistent bite being out on that old shoreline. Also, the bites have been really hard to feel so don't be afraid to set the hook on anything that feels funny...also watch your line closely. I wouldn't be afraid throw the crankbait or the spinnerbait also. I was checking periodically on the shallows throughout the day. If you want to hunt for the largemouth go up Thesodoshia arm and fish the pockets. Good luck

Thanks for the great tips guys. Headed out in the morning. Hopefully I have lots of pictures to share come Sunday evening.

Thanks,

LRBM

[taxidermist]

Water being up the fsihing has been pretty hot using a 6 inch red or purple plastic worm and a standup head jig, just work it through the weeds and set the hook if in doubt, 14lb line works well.

[Ham]

Still waiting on a post trip report from CARB.

[CentralARBassman]

Still waiting on a post trip report from CARB.

Nine of us went on the trip and here's how it broke down:

1 walleye

2 white bass

3 smallmouth

1 crappie

1 kentucky

All but two of those were caught on spinnerbaits but we definitely struggled to find anything that would consistently work and we tried EVERYTHING on Friday and Saturday.

I personally tried powerworms, lizards, baby brush hogs, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, finesse worms, wacky rigs, jigs, tubes, Zara Spooks, nightcrawlers. I was really working the 25-35ft range since two other guys on the boat were throwing spinnerbaits almost all day and working them back to the boat from the shore.

I think inexperience was a big factor, though. We'll definitely be back later this year or the same time next year. Had a blast despite not finding the fish.

[Ham]

I wish y'all had caught em better. I would have definitely drug tubes off of the primary and secondary points. At some point, I would have tried going into the newly flooded trees and slinging a spinnerbait. It was a little too early for top waters, but I would have likely thrown some just to do it.