Table Rock Lake Current Fishing Report July 31St. 2012

[Bill Babler]

Which Indian Creek, at Baxter or at the Dam?

[powerdive]

Bill, re: losing spoons: I do a lot of winter spooning on brush and steep craggy drops (30 to 75 feet) at Stockton for eyes and crappies. Usually 1/2 oz., sometimes 3/4. I've found that replacing the treble with a 1/0 short O'Shaughnessy single hook minimizes the hangups without sacrificing hookups. It's saved me a lot of lures.

Also, with my #1 lure for vertical fishing, the Jigging Rap, I clip off both end hooks, since 99.9% of the fish are hooked on the small belly treble. Of course, the Rap kicks out on the lift, so maybe it wouldn't be a good choice for the close quarters you were fishing yesterday.

In both cases, I use 10/2 braid tied direct to a snap, no leader. For hangups, I use a 1.5 oz. walking sinker with a slit cut in the eye--just open, clip on the line, pinch closed, send it on down to the lure on a tight line, and jiggle it loose. Works great.

Just some food for thought if you ever get on that pattern again. Thank you for the great info!

[Bill Babler]

Very good info. I usually have a 6 oz. Big Bell Sinker that I clip on the line, but was not intending to fish much. The spoon was for white bass or throwing a long way to catch chasers. I had it on 8 pound test. When we are jigging in the Winter, I use the heavy stuff. Sometime I add a stinger to the treble hook. I'm a little shy to depend on a single. I can see how it would be a very big help in brush though. I really like either the Owner with the cock feather, or just a plain Diiachi Death Trap. I usually try and stay out of the thick stuff. Fish were just not where I thought they would be yesterday. Suprise, Suprise.

Again, excellent information, and thanks a bunch.

Good Luck

[vacation]

For retrieving my lures, crankbaits usually, I use old sparkplugs. Just attach a snap swivle to the spark end, bend down the gap and there you go. Usually the spark plugs are free, just ask the mechanic to give you back your old ones.

[skeet88bt]

Great Report!!

[Jeff Olson]

thanks for the report Bill! Its great to see any report with walleye info! as I am new to the area and am learning table rock.I live by the state park marina so I fish the dam area. with all the reports I have read on O-A it sounds like I need to concentrate on learning the kings and james river arms areas, as where that seems to be where the better #s of walleye are. thanks again!

[BleacherBum28]

Great info Bill.

I was fishing the same basic area this morning (8/1) up the Kings river and found the same exact pattern. We were drifting crawlers in standing timber in 30 ft. Found fish but they didn't seem to bite a drifting crawler. My partner picked up a short after tossing in and reallng just off the bottom, unhooked it and had the same thing happen after tossing in. Soon he had around 8 shorts in about 30 minutes. I started to re-rig a pole to do the same and picked up a 21 in walleye dragging a crawler on a bottom bouncer. Shortly after, my father picked up a just short eye casting in and picking up off the bottom. All in all, I'd say we landed about 12 bass and 1 keeper eye... the majority of fish were caught on the outside edges of the timber, closes to the main channel. All in all quite a fun morning.

[two old poops fishing]

i agree that bill does not need the money so you could send it to me i am sure bill would not mind since he did ask me once when he was fishing my dock up by baxter if my grman shorthair was a good bird dog and i told him she was excellent so that should qualify me above most of you thanks bill for all the great reports and the time you showed my brother and i how to jerk bait fish with water crashing over the bow

[Bill Babler]

thanks for the report Bill! Its great to see any report with walleye info! as I am new to the area and am learning table rock.I live by the state park marina so I fish the dam area. with all the reports I have read on O-A it sounds like I need to concentrate on learning the kings and james river arms areas, as where that seems to be where the better #s of walleye are. thanks again!

I know in the last few weeks, Bill Beck, Rick Lisek, and Phil Stone have all had walleye over 8 pounds in the dam to Kimberling City Area.

Bill has been fishing Kimberling City to Campbell Point a bunch and has had walleye most everyday. Sometimes as many as 4 per day and usually at least that many nice cats up to 12 pounds.

Told me the other day he had about 30 bass, but didn't have a walleye and it just was not the same. Ahhh!!! These walleye have been biting, I just got lucky and got in on it for once.

Good Luck

[Jeff Olson]

thanks again Bill! that encourages me alot more on this end of the lake!