2013 Spring Trip

[rps]

Elusive is almost too mild a word. I have lived at Holiday Island since 2002 (not very long after the LBV wiped out most of the big fish). The fishery here is amazing. I expect a six pound fish every year. Almost every year my expectations are met.On the other hand, in all those years I have only caught two fish at or above 23 inches long. Both went back in the water, so I have no official scales number. What I do carry, a Cabelas spring scale with a calibration device, said one was 8 and a half and the other was right at 8. I guess you will need to move here to make it happen.

[wdberkley]

I know there are some big girls swimming in the waters of Table Rock. Just don't know how prevalent they are after the fish kill.

I'm lookin for one of these -
http://instagr.am/p/SpoA_Bjkqa/

That's a 9lb 4oz tank I caught up Bull Creek over on Tanecomo on April 1,1997. She was weighed on a certified scale at the gas station/mini mart down the road from JB's Dock.

[rps]

Handsome fish. See my green?

[ozarkgunner]

I grew up fishing the rock. I have landed a few nice fish over the years but its not a place to catch consistent 5lb+ fish. Beautiful lake but it is a challenge to fish and doesn't give up huge bags most days. My heart is with the rock but I head to stockton or lake o for big numbers and big bags.

[wdberkley]

I grew up fishing the rock. I have landed a few nice fish over the years but its not a place to catch consistent 5lb+ fish. Beautiful lake but it is a challenge to fish and doesn't give up huge bags most days. My heart is with the rock but I head to stockton or lake o for big numbers and big bags.

In the 3 years we've been making the Spring Run, the quality of fish has improved every year. Year 1 we caught a lot of fish - but most were in the 2-3 lb range. Year 2 improved, with a 2 or 3 5lb fish. Last year there were 4 fish in our group of 6 guys that went over 5lbs, and a dozen or so over 4lbs.

It sure seems the fishery is improving every year.

[dtrs5kprs]

In the 3 years we've been making the Spring Run, the quality of fish has improved every year. Year 1 we caught a lot of fish - but most were in the 2-3 lb range. Year 2 improved, with a 2 or 3 5lb fish. Last year there were 4 fish in our group of 6 guys that went over 5lbs, and a dozen or so over 4lbs.

It sure seems the fishery is improving every year.

No doubt you are improving along with the lake. Repetitions help.

Increased numbers of blacks are helping size for me, vs. being simply pleased with good brown ones and K's in years past.

[wdberkley]

No doubt you are improving along with the lake. Repetitions help.

Increased numbers of blacks are helping size for me, vs. being simply pleased with good brown ones and K's in years past.

Very much agreed. While a angry pullin' K or smalljaw never disappoints, it's nice to have a big tug on the end of your line every now and again.

Another observation - Table Rock holds some of the most acrobatic fish I've ever seen. Last year I don't know if there was but a handful of fish we caught that didn't break water 2 or 3 times before we got 'em to the boat.

[edyer]

The Aunts Creek area is a great area to catch a big fish. A couple of springs ago I caught a 7-4 there and a few years back before LBV struck I caught an 8-2 in Big Aunts Creek. Have you tried any night fishing this time of year? All the 6, 7, and 8 pounders I have caught have been at night. I have never caught anything over 5.5 pounds during the day.

[wdberkley]

The Aunts Creek area is a great area to catch a big fish. A couple of springs ago I caught a 7-4 there and a few years back before LBV struck I caught an 8-2 in Big Aunts Creek. Have you tried any night fishing this time of year? All the 6, 7, and 8 pounders I have caught have been at night. I have never caught anything over 5.5 pounds during the day.

We haven't done much night fishing in the past - typically we fish 12-14 hours a day and by the time we get back to the cabin, it takes an awful lot of effort to make dinner, crack a few beers to wind down. But I'd like to give it a go!