Peacock Bass On Table Rock?

[CanoeBoy]

Fished from my canoe, launched from Indian Point and caught 17 bass. Mostly Kentuckys with some nice keepers on senkos and rattrap. I tried posting the video on here but the size of the video is too large, but caught 2 bass that look more like peacock bass than the regular 3 species found on table rock. It was a bright yellowish color. It looked more like a Kentucky than the other 2 but not a normal Kentucky. Strange must be some kind of hybrid or a spawning bass but pretty cool!!!!!

[KU_B]

One of these?

I was down there last week for the first time and had no clue what is was. It was the first for me. I had to take a pic and send it to my dad.

It is a Goggle Eye or Rock Bass.

[Sam]

Yes, they're bound to be goggle eyes (rock bass). I took a limit from Tablerock yesterday and I'm going after them again on Monday - they're scrappy little guys on ultralight tackle. I look forward to their spawning time in May every year and sometimes I miss it. The rest of the year I only catch goggle eyes occasionally while fishing for other species so a couple of trips during this short time, targeting them specifically and with limits likely, is a treat. They're mighty tasty, too.

[vonreed]

Yes, they're bound to be goggle eyes (rock bass). I took a limit from Tablerock yesterday and I'm going after them again on Monday - they're scrappy little guys on ultralight tackle. I look forward to their spawning time in May every year and sometimes I miss it. The rest of the year I only catch goggle eyes occasionally while fishing for other species so a couple of trips during this short time, targeting them specifically and with limits likely, is a treat. They're mighty tasty, too.

I've caught lots of them on the river, but never done much lake fishing for them. Is there any advice you could give on helping me get some? What type of structure? What depth? What lures?

[CanoeBoy]

Goggle eyes oh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I caught them on a trap near some trees, it seems the water level is pretty high

[Sam]

I've caught lots of them on the river, but never done much lake fishing for them. Is there any advice you could give on helping me get some? What type of structure? What depth? What lures?

Sure. In the lake the main thing is timing, and the time seems to be NOW. Goggle eyes will bite anything a big bluegill or black perch (green sunfish) will bite - small lures, in-line spinners, nightcrawlers, etc. They're more accessible in the rivers where they're fun with a fly rod. In the lakes they're scattered in deep water most of the year so I only catch one now and then while fishing for other species.

Right now, though, they're starting to spawn in 15-to-25 foot deep water where there's a sandy, pea-gravelly bottom in coves and on big round lake points. I fish for them by slow-trolling a light-colored swimming minnow near the bottom on a 1/8 oz. jighead, covering a lot of water in places with the right depth and gravel. From previous years in May, I know several locations where they always spawn - but there are places like that all over the lake.

On Friday I went to one of my spots with the surface water temp 61-62 and found a few scattered through the nesting area, and a big bunch of them around a brushpile nearby. I caught a limit of 15 fish in a couple of hours and they weighed over 10 lbs. total, so those are big goggleyes. When I cleaned them, about half were males and half were females with eggs that were ready to go - so those fish were staging and getting ready to spawn.

When this happens it happens real quick, and I figure when I go tomorrow (Monday) to the same spot males should be on nests scattered in the right depth, and most of the females will have done their thing and gone back to deep water. The males guard the nests after the females lay eggs and leave, but those eggs hatch in only about three days and then the whole deal is over. I doubt that the color or type of small lure matters much because they're aggressively defending nests, but timing sure matters. You can get a limit one day and the next day find them all gone from an area and not get a bite. Hope this helps.

[Chief Grey Bear]

One of these?

I was down there last week for the first time and had no clue what is was. It was the first for me. I had to take a pic and send it to my dad.

It is a Goggle Eye or Rock Bass.

Goggle Eye is a slang term for Rock Bass. There 3 species of Rock bass in Missouri, the Norhern, Shadow, and Ozark. The Ozark, what you have in your pic, is native only to the White River system in the Ozarks.

[Champ188]

Goggle Eye is a slang term for Rock Bass. There 3 species of Rock bass in Missouri, the Norhern, Shadow, and Ozark. The Ozark, what you have in your pic, is native only to the White River system in the Ozarks.

Nice info. Thanks.

[Josh Holt]

i love them i use a 3in smoke and pepper swimming minnow with 3/16 heads just kills them around mill creek and dam area