April 23Rd. Table Rock Lake Current Fishing Report

[Bill Babler]

Well, another year of the Dental Group is in the books. Beck and I have been taking these boys for the best part of 20 yrs. now. They fish a two day derby with 2 catagories, big fish for the two days and keeper numbers for the two days. I came in first looser on both accounts for the past two days. Beck's group edged us out with the Big fish of the Derby weighing in a really nice LM that weighed 5.11 pounds. We got shadowed out with our 5.9 pounder. In the numbers group, Pete Wenners edged us out with 15 keepers, to our 11. Again we were bridesmades and not the honeymooners.

We fished out of the Port of Kimberling and all fish were returned to the lake smarter, but mostly unharmed.

I fished from KImberling to about point 9 mostly early on the float-n-fly along with Beck. Pete fished much the same area, but a bit deeper in the pockets than we fished.

Pete had, had some schooling fish the previous day in a pocket and returned to these fish catching all of them on a fluke, chasing shad. When the float bite stopped for me we switched to a smoke grub and a Pro Blue megabass. Our big fish came on the megabass sticker. Beck swithched to the grub and a jig. His biggin came on the jig

Warmest surface temp I saw today was 57 Water was not as clear, with quite a bit of green. Most of our fish along with the rest of the boys came on ledgy stuff with some timber present. Most were pre-spawners.90% of the fish we caught were a combination of LM and Smallmouth. Not very many K's at all. I think we had 48 fish in the two days and only maybe a 1/2 dozen K's.

Saw Dave at Schooner Creek, and he gave me some hand poured Ned Rigs. Thanks buddy. Did not try them today but will put them to good use.

[motoman]

Great report bill!......and love the pix:-)........and anything that Dave gives you with the name 'Ned' in it.........will most definitely catch fish!;-)

[dtrs5kprs]

Not much to add to Bill's report, except they are catching a lot more size. Did catch a bunch of K's, mostly in timber and in front of docks. Water was a bit warmer in a few spots in the creeks. Chasers were fun to watch, touchy to catch, and will likely be gone tomorrow.

Usual suspects...Ned rig, dragging the doc, and running a smoke grub when the nasty started. Keepers were in the 16-17" range, plus or minus a bit.

Have found some blacks holding in 6-15' of water just off spawn places the last two days. Not killers, but fun. Hard to say if they will stay there.

Feels like November, even with a Jill 's smoked burger put away.

[Guest]

I've gotten a report of the Bomber Long A bite picking up in the mainlake pockets.

A buddy of mine caught 17 waking the long A on sunday.

I hope that helps, bc nobody else has mentioned it.

[dtrs5kprs]

I've gotten a report of the Bomber Long A bite picking up in the mainlake pockets.

A buddy of mine caught 17 waking the long A on sunday.

I hope that helps, bc nobody else has mentioned it.

Had a few throw themselves at a redfin today, but did not hook up.

[Bill Babler]

One of the other boys told me white bass and the 3 black bass species were busting shad yesterday in the dam area. Threw the absolute sink at them of topwater junk and just could not get them to take it. Threw a white RC subsurface twitching it fast and they hammered it. 10 big white bass and a bunch of the green ones.

This was prior to the weather event in the afternoon. He dried up when the front hit. For Beck and I it got better. We both had our biggest fish late in the day and we caught numbers all afternoon, even after the front. Suprised me quite a bit. I thought we were done when it hit.

[dtrs5kprs]

One of the other boys told me white bass and the 3 black bass species were busting shad yesterday in the dam area. Threw the absolute sink at them of topwater junk and just could not get them to take it. Threw a white RC subsurface twitching it fast and they hammered it. 10 big white bass and a bunch of the green ones.

This was prior to the weather event in the afternoon. He dried up when the front hit. For Beck and I it got better. We both had our biggest fish late in the day and we caught numbers all afternoon, even after the front. Suprised me quite a bit. I thought we were done when it hit.

They ate all day, after the storms and again in the nasty. Only way I caught chasers was swimming a grub thru them. No love on the sticks.

Pretty fair day on the stick today. Four keepers with one over 21". Main lake rock transitions. Steep like February stuff. Also off smallmouth looking places. Also the grub and the old reliable. Pleasantly surprised. Now convinced there is no reason to start early until it warms up.

[Bill Babler]

Dave, I agree. I really don't think there is much rush to the water other than the chasing fish early if and that is a BIG IF you can find or manage to stumble on some. Might really take a look at that fluke bite, as it saved my bacon yesterday. On the grub, there was no hook setting, you just had to let them ride it. IF you pulled back to much, they came off, even the big ones.

Good Luck

[merc1997 Bo]

well bill sounds like everyone got in on some fish catching. sounds like night fishing is better for catching the big ones though. i went monday night. we fished the baxter area. did not catch an enormos number of bass, but we did catch some good ones. our best five weighed 27lb. and some change. all of the big ones came about 15ft. deep. all were caught on a 1/4oz. NuJig tied with hair, and trailed with an 800 spring lizard pup. we were back on the trailer at 12:30. not too bad since it is not good dark until about 9.

bo

[Bill Babler]

That is one great trip. 6 pound average is something we just don't see a whole lot of. Great info and thanks.