Help Finding A Spot

[Norsemen]

My family and I will be at TRL this week (July 5-13) and would like to find a good spot to fish. We've been there many times, just never fished. We don't have a boat so we will need good spots to shore fish. We'll be using crawlers and minnows and camping at Table Rock State Park so preferably close to there. Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm not looking for lunkers, just some action where my two young boys will catch some fish. Thanks.

[Bill Babler]

Norseman, with the high water we have now, bank fishing is a real chore. Table Rock under the very best circumstances is not a bank lake. Our fish relate more to structure in the form of long runout points, channel swings and humps near deep water. That being said, you can walk the trail that is by the park and access the lake in a number of locations.

Don't be afraid to get your feet wet. From State Park Launch Ramp to the Branson Belle there are some nice pockets and also on the other side of the Belle. I would fish early and late. In the morning, I would mess with some small poppers or chuggers, and perhaps a crawler or a minnow under a float. Fish it near the bottom in front of the flooded bushes and on a straight line in the middle of the pockets for some Kittys.

Evenings you might try your luck deep fishing the pockets for Cats, using cut bait or the same crawlers or minnows. If you get a chance to rent a boat, go out on the long points or around the islands and fish in the 15 to 25 ft. range with either pieces of crawlers or better yet crickets for blue gill. Good Luck

[denjac]

I thought of another spot close by. Dewey Short has alot of bank to fish, but it closes at 5 PM I believe . The curtesy dock might have some fish around it too.

Dewey Short Visitors Center

The US Army Corps of Engineer’s Dewey Short Visitor Center is located 6 miles west of US Hwy 65 on State Hwy 165 at the south end of Table Rock Dam. The Center is open seven days per week 9 AM until 5 PM from April 1st to October 31st.

The center features three films. The first is a 20 minute film entitled, "Taming of the Riviera Blanche". This film is a fantastic introduction to the Table Rock Lake/White River area and details the construction and purpose of Table Rock Dam. The second is a 14 minute film, "Where Eagles Soar" which depicts the story of how eagles were brought back from endangerment in the state of Missouri. The third film, "The Expedition of Lewis and Clark, 1804-1806," runs 32 minutes. The film tells of their exploration, encounters, objectives and accomplishments during their journey. The Visitor Center contains exhibits detailing the natural history of the area.

If you arrive by boat, take advantage of the courtesy dock that is located on the Visitors Center grounds. On the grounds, you may enjoy the day by picnicking, swimming, sunbathing, scuba diving or fishing along the shoreline. Don't forget to make use of the beautiful Table Rock Lakeshore Trail, which is located directly adjacent to the Visitors Center.

[techo]

Galena would be quite a drive but there is a good spot down there. I think others call it Bunk Hole or something like that. Awesome place to go . If you are interested we can get you directions and maybe some other guys can chip in on their opinion of it.

[Norsemen]

Thanks for all the great info. I actually live near Joplin so, techno, I could use the directions to that place in Galena if you've got it. I'll try walking the path up past the Belle and try those pockets. My thinking is that the early morning and night would be best because the fish will want to go into deeper water to cool off. We'll try the visitors centers and look for brush and docks. I'm hoping to rent a boat but probably won't be able to. Again, thanks to all of you for all the great info.

[Jack Hollister]

Norseman, I just got home yesterday from the State park. Had a great time. I dont have a boat either, all bank fishing for me as well. I fished from the Dewey Short Visitors Center. Far back left corner behind the visitor center right by the last bench. Here are a few pics of the Bass we caught. I was using a jig/pig crawler and a plactic worm in black and dark purple. PB and J on the jig and green punpkin. The smallies seemed to hit the jig and Large mouth seemed to prefer the worm. The water droped quite a bit the week we were there and it sounds like it will keep droping. Wish I was still there. Love Table Rock.

[Norsemen]

Jack, thanks for the great tip. Wow, looks like you had a nice catch! I'll definitely be heading the the visitor's center. What times of the day did you have the best luck. Also, with the plastic worms, we're you fishing those off the bottom? Thanks again.

Norsemen

[Jack Hollister]

Jack, thanks for the great tip. Wow, looks like you had a nice catch! I'll definitely be heading the the visitor's center. What times of the day did you have the best luck. Also, with the plastic worms, we're you fishing those off the bottom? Thanks again.

Norsemen

All of mine were caught between 8 and 11 AM. My daughter caught hers around 7 in the evening. I was fishing the worms Texas riged, slowly across the bottom. Same with the jig. Be prepaird to loose a lot in the rocks. I went to Bass Pro and picked up a few more jigs because I kept loosing them. Sure was fun though.

Good luck!!

[mclothier1]

Like Bill said above, dont be afraid to get your feet wet. just make sure to use a life jacket.

If you can get on some gravel banks a texas rigged worm, or shakey head rig should do the trick. just let it hit bottom and slowly drag it back.

If you have access to a dock... dropping a full nightcrawler straight down off the end of the dock (20 - 30 foot deep) might be productive. or a piece of worm or cricket (10 - 20 foot deep) if you wanna get into some bluegills.

Nightcrawlers will usually get you some fish... When I was there a few weeks ago, we fished a shallow gravel point (15 - 20 foot deep) with nightcrawlers one evening, ended up catching several Kentucky bass, a couple Smallmouth bass, A White bass, a Walleye, a Flathead catfish, and several good sized bluegill.

[Jack Hollister]

Good morning Norsemen, well...how did you do? Did you have any luck at Dewey Short or did you find another productive place? Im like you, all I can do is bank fish. Any information from fellow bank fisherman will help me out next year when I come down to TR. Hope you had a great vacation!!!