Jack's Guide Service Fishing Report

[FishinJack]

Water levels are slowly rising but still a couple feet below full pool. Water temps from 69-74 the last couple days. Several species are spawning right now like crappie, bass, gar, bluegill, and shad. It's kind of early for some and late for others. I thought the crappie would have quit by now but the last couple days I've still been able to catch several spawning crappie behind docks in a couple feet of water. I've been around the 60mm the last couple days.

The shad spawn started a couple days ago. Shad don't spawn on your typical gravel bottom either. They like rip rap, big rocks, or sea walls. You'll see some small fish flipping up shallow chasing each other. Quickly cast near by and usually there is a bass just a couple feet deeper watching the excitement. Spinnerbiats, topwaters, and my favorite a Berkley Sinking worms or Heavy Weight worm (Senko's).

Bass are at their peak spawn right now. The Gravios section has the clearest water if you like to sight fish. The dam area is also pretty clear. I usually like to stay back a little and make a long cast to likely bedding spots verses get right up on them. Pb2 has been good with a lot of release bass being caught on carolina rigs. The Niangua has been solid. I fished from the mouth of the Little Niangua to the 54 bridge. Get creative on your casting to reach back behind docks where many of these fish are spawning. Pitching, Skipping lures way underneath the walkways works very well. I use 15lb Spiderwire braid with a leader to help my baits get way back there.

There is some current in the lake and we are getting a lot of rain right now. Get out there, fishing is very fun right now.

[manatee hunter 09]

Water levels are slowly rising but still a couple feet below full pool. Water temps from 69-74 the last couple days. Several species are spawning right now like crappie, bass, gar, bluegill, and shad. It's kind of early for some and late for others. I thought the crappie would have quit by now but the last couple days I've still been able to catch several spawning crappie behind docks in a couple feet of water. I've been around the 60mm the last couple days.

The shad spawn started a couple days ago. Shad don't spawn on your typical gravel bottom either. They like rip rap, big rocks, or sea walls. You'll see some small fish flipping up shallow chasing each other. Quickly cast near by and usually there is a bass just a couple feet deeper watching the excitement. Spinnerbiats, topwaters, and my favorite a Berkley Sinking worms or Heavy Weight worm (Senko's).

Bass are at their peak spawn right now. The Gravios section has the clearest water if you like to sight fish. The dam area is also pretty clear. I usually like to stay back a little and make a long cast to likely bedding spots verses get right up on them. Pb2 has been good with a lot of release bass being caught on carolina rigs. The Niangua has been solid. I fished from the mouth of the Little Niangua to the 54 bridge. Get creative on your casting to reach back behind docks where many of these fish are spawning. Pitching, Skipping lures way underneath the walkways works very well. I use 15lb Spiderwire braid with a leader to help my baits get way back there.

There is some current in the lake and we are getting a lot of rain right now. Get out there, fishing is very fun right now.

how will the cold front effect the bass fishing will be down 5/15-5/18

[FishDreamer]

how will the cold front effect the bass fishing will be down 5/15-5/18

I caught lots of bass this weekend during the cold rainy days. Docks on secondary points that lead to small pockets in big coves were great. Also the parts of the back of the coves that supply deep water right before the cove gets shallow all the way back were great. Throwing a jerk bait around docks proved really good and caught every speices on it around the docks. Flipped a jig on brush behing docks with pea gravel and killed em.

[FishinJack]

Yeah, the cold front doesn't always mean bad fishing. We slayed them on Sunday in particular. Good number of keepers and a couple 5 pounders. You can throw about any bait at them right now and make it work for you.