Current Table Rock Lake Fishing Report December 6Th. 2011

[Bill Babler]

Table Rock Surface temps, ranging from 54 to 57 degrees, mostly clear to very clear. Some tea colored water in certain Kimberling City areas, but still very clear.

Kings and James River are perfect aqua color and clear for the river sections.

All black bass species would be reguarded as fair to good. Excellent if you want to catch fish in the under 15 inch range, mostly K's and LM. We'll speak to these first. Very large numbers of K's that I'm guessing are 2008 yr. class are mostly suspended and some on the bottom off the larger creek arm flats and cuts. Look for gulls and divng birds to locate the shad. Bass will be near. Wish I could give you a precise depth, but that is a no-go. Have found fish as deep as 85 ft. and as shallow as 20 ft. in these locations. Saturday I could have caught a 100 in the Baxter area, with virtually no 15 inch fish in the groups.

This is a very good time to practice with your electronics, to try and locate these fish. Some are on structure, but most are relating mainly to the shad and the bottom.

White River Section, including the Kings River Surface temps in the mostly 54 degree range. Lots of fish in every section of the water column. Gives everyone doing something different the ability to catch some. Bite Saturday was good in the Kings on a wart, right up on the bank. This bite is good on overcast or wind. It is not a consistant bite, they may turn on and off. Fish seem to be on chunker 45 degree stuff and if some timber is present all the better. This bite continues up the White and also to the Baxter area. Not so much a main lake bite as a pocket or creek arm bit with the best of it being midway back and beyond.

Campbell Point to Point 11 up the James and to Dam area. For some on certain days the new A-Rig is producing. Some guys are catching 15 to 20 keeps a day on it. OR NOT. Bluffends and major docks fronts seem to be the best bets for "Heaving It." I threw it 3 hrs. Saturday without a bite. Friday they were eating it up. Spoke to several fisherman catching big numbers and then it was done. Not a savior, only a tool. If you are throwing it in the wind, prepare for heartache. Tangles a bunch, and if you can see the line to untangle it God Bless. Had to retie numerious times, as the braid wrapped tighter than a tick on a dogs back in the swivels. At one point I became super POED. Don't have near the trouble with the Floater deal. Lots of garbage to fling about.

Wart and Blade bite in this area has been on and off as with the White River, just cover lots of water. Fish seem to have there noses on the bank. Also some reports of a pretty good FB jig bite on up and down bluffs in the under 15 ft. range for LM. Hop it down the face a couple of hops and then recast.

Upper James and Long Creek. 50 degrees. Reports of a jerkbait bite under the right conditions and also a jig bite on transitions and bluffends. Also in LongCreek the FB jig bite has been fair dragging it off the flats in the 22 to 40 ft. range just dragging a 1/2 to 3/4 oz'er in lobster colors, of your choice.

Kimberling City to 86 Bridge surface temps at 55 degree. Deep tree fishing here has been fair with most fish coming from trees tops in the 40 to 50 ft. range over deep water. Spoon or grub in the tree tops fished vertically has been the best bet. Cover lots of tops to catch a few bigger fish. Football jig bite has also been fair in the 30 ft range on the flats. Still am seeing a few fish pushing shad to the top. Mark at Table Rock Tackle and Marine is still selling a spook or two and have had customers say they are sill catching some on a spook. I'm not suprised, but have not been looking at that but have seen many chasers, and have caught several on a spoon tossing it at them.

Crappie are biting pretty well on most lake sections, and most is a dock bite. Fish are just suspended under the floats not deeper than 12 ft. small jigs and tubes, your choice of colors and of course crappie minnows.

Whites are confined mostly to the Mid-James and not going everyday or for that matter very long ihto the day. Look on the flats from the Ski Course up. White or chartruse jigging spoons on the flats in the 35 to 55 ft. range. Just not going llike we would hope for this time of the year.

Good Luck

[denjac]

Bill, maybe you should rig your A rig up with float and flies ! Use a big ole catfish bobber to hold it up. Good report, sounds like there are some fish to be caught even if there are smaller.

[Fishrman]

I'll just piggy back here Bill. Fished Kings on Sat., had 25 keeper crappie and probably threw back that many shorts, had some quality keepers.

[Bill Babler]

Fish, not trying to get exact locations but are you getting the same dock bite we are or are you working other structure as well.

[johnboy2bfishin]

Bill

went out sat morn and took step son he don't like goin much but if i can get him away from xbox then i'll take him. anyway put inat aunts and fished several docks for them crappie and had some success til wind was to ruff. caught them in about 10 ft and on white and white chart 1/8 hair jigs. ended up with 15 keeps and 20 or so shorts. got windy and went to bass fishing and introduced him to wiggle wart fishing. caught several shorts but no keeps. the kid was in bed by 9 and out til 9 the next day.

oh and by the way Bill I work with Pat Byrnes. Said for you to come by high school and visit if you get the chance

thanks again for all your reports and info for us weekenders. sure helps eliminating alot of water

[Fishrman]

Sorry Bill, had two docks a couple weeks ago I could catch a few off of but most everything is coming off of wood, nothing vertical though. Hope that makes sense.

[Bill Babler]

Sorry Bill, had two docks a couple weeks ago I could catch a few off of but most everything is coming off of wood, nothing vertical though. Hope that makes sense.

Thanks, it make perfect sense. Believe we are in for a pretty good crappie Winter, weather permitting.

Fish, your posts the last few years have been a wonderful addition to Ozarks Anglers. Your post are always insightful and if folks will read them closely, they will without a doubt make anyone a better fisherman and will give them a starting place.

Don't matter if you are reporting bass or crappie, I always look forward to reading your threads. Thanks so much from all of us.

[Fishrman]

Thanks Bill, hope to add a few more as we get into the new year, sold the boat two years ago so wife could go to nursing school, she graduates on the 16th of this month, so maybe new boat coming my way in the near future. Borrowing the father in law's has been great, but hate to do it very often. Any way, thanks for all you do and have a great upcoming holiday.