Members Bass Fishing Posted March 9, 2015 Members Posted March 9, 2015 Hey folks of the Ozarks region, I am from MN and have a trip planned with my fiance down to Table Rock Lake this week. I will be arriving Wednesday 3/11/15 and fishing through Monday 3/16/15. I am staying at Fish Hook Resort by Kimberling City. I have never been to this body of water so I just have a few questions. Any help would be greatly appreciated! First question I have is about hazards in the lake. Are there certain areas and spots to watch out for when running the lake? Also I have read that a lot of the lake has submerged timber, will hitting this be an issue? I recently just got my lower unit fixed from hitting a wing dam on the river up here in MN and would like to avoid hitting something else at all costs lol. Any information about hazards and stuff to watch out for when running the lake would be awesome. Most likely will be making runs to the James River arm and White River arm out to about Shell Knob. Second question I have is about good spots or areas to fish? I will be targeting bass, mainly largemouth and kentucky's. I know a lot of people don't like giving out their spots and information but anything would help me out a lot and help make for a more enjoyable trip for my fiance and I. From what I have been reading is that it has been a little slow as of late due to the weather patterns. Do you think water temps will be in the high 40's in some of the creek arms? Last question I have is about gas pumps on the lake. Best places to go for pumping gas on lake? Also are there places to pump gas in the White and James river arms? Also do you guys have any other recommendations for places to go on the lake for eating or any fun things you'd recommend in town? Thanks for the help guys!
dtrs5kprs Posted March 9, 2015 Posted March 9, 2015 Good to have you on board. Best fishing site, Ozarks or otherwise, that I have ever found. Folks who own Fish Hook used to fish with my old bass club here in Leavenworth, should have a great stay. Will try this in order: 1) Yes, there is stuff to hit, but not like at Truman or Smithville. If you look at a good map (paper or locator) you will get an idea of what to watch out for. Use some common sense about not cutting off points (take the time to run around them) and idle back into coves/pockets/creeks you are not familiar with. Stay up on the water levels, and you can kind of figure out where trees might be. If it would happen to rain hard there could certainly be big floaters coming down the lake, especially in the rivers. As a former Iowan, and occasional Miss R fisherman I feel your pain on the wing dam. My least favorites were the closing dams that would run all the way across a chute entrance. 2) You are smack in the middle of my favorite area of the lake, 3-5 miles either side of the Kimberling City bridge. This warm up will get them moving, but I would start by looking at transition areas about half way back in the creeks. Places where rocks change types...slab to chunk, chunk to gravel, etc. There are fish there, and some are shallower than you might expect. "Dead" spots between docks are worth a look as well. Bluff ends, pockets around from end points, and secondaries are sure worth a look as well. Stickbait and wiggle wart places. Plan to fish slow. Slow and small is really working for the folks who have sent reports my way. Hard to beat the Ned Rig/Varmint. Maybe a stick like a Megabass 110 or McStick if the wind blows. Heard the shakey head did not keep up with the Ned. Grub bite is probably a little bit down the road. 3) Gas...I always fill up while on the trailer, usually in Kim City. From your resort you should not have to run far to catch them. I stay at Schooner Creek Resort about 2 miles up the lake, and rarely burn more than 10 gallons of gas on a two week trip. On the water you have Baxter Marina up the White, the big ones at Kim City by the bridge, and Cape Fair at the back end of the James. I'm not big on burning marina gas. 4) Food and fun...Fillin' Station in Lampe for BBQ and homemade cobbler, Dana's BBQ and burgers in Branson West or Branson. For fun, outside of the usual Branson tourist stuff, I really like the battlefields at Pea Ridge in Ark, or Wilson's Creek in Springfield. If it is open, and it might be early, the Altenhof Inn is a lot of fun. Great view, German menu, but also excellent pizza, burgers, desserts. http://altenhofinn.com/ Have a great trip. Sac River Jim, Quillback, Muddy Water and 3 others 6
Root Admin Phil Lilley Posted March 9, 2015 Root Admin Posted March 9, 2015 Wow- what an answer! Great job!!
dtrs5kprs Posted March 9, 2015 Posted March 9, 2015 Guess I left off Hideaway up the James, but I have never done anything but ran past it, or fish near it.
gitnby Posted March 9, 2015 Posted March 9, 2015 Hey folks of the Ozarks region, I am from MN and have a trip planned with my fiance down to Table Rock Lake this week. I will be arriving Wednesday 3/11/15 and fishing through Monday 3/16/15. I am staying at Fish Hook Resort by Kimberling City. I have never been to this body of water so I just have a few questions. Any help would be greatly appreciated! First question I have is about hazards in the lake. Are there certain areas and spots to watch out for when running the lake? Also I have read that a lot of the lake has submerged timber, will hitting this be an issue? I recently just got my lower unit fixed from hitting a wing dam on the river up here in MN and would like to avoid hitting something else at all costs lol. Any information about hazards and stuff to watch out for when running the lake would be awesome. Most likely will be making runs to the James River arm and White River arm out to about Shell Knob. Second question I have is about good spots or areas to fish? I will be targeting bass, mainly largemouth and kentucky's. I know a lot of people don't like giving out their spots and information but anything would help me out a lot and help make for a more enjoyable trip for my fiance and I. From what I have been reading is that it has been a little slow as of late due to the weather patterns. Do you think water temps will be in the high 40's in some of the creek arms? Last question I have is about gas pumps on the lake. Best places to go for pumping gas on lake? Also are there places to pump gas in the White and James river arms? Also do you guys have any other recommendations for places to go on the lake for eating or any fun things you'd recommend in town? Thanks for the help guys! I'l be on the water Friday, Sat and Sunday. My house and dock are right near HWY 13 bridge, so I'm pretty close to you. I'll PM you my cell #, and give you any updates if you want? Or maybe, YOU can give me updates? Fished this lake for 40+ years, and I still don't have it figured out? Listen to dtrs5kprs! He knows his stuff! Bass Fishing 1
dtrs5kprs Posted March 9, 2015 Posted March 9, 2015 I'l be on the water Friday, Sat and Sunday. My house and dock are right near HWY 13 bridge, so I'm pretty close to you. I'll PM you my cell #, and give you any updates if you want? Or maybe, YOU can give me updates? Fished this lake for 40+ years, and I still don't have it figured out? Listen to dtrs5kprs! He knows his stuff! I know where the BBQ joints are anyway...
Members Bass Fishing Posted March 9, 2015 Author Members Posted March 9, 2015 Thanks for all the great information guys.
Champ188 Posted March 9, 2015 Posted March 9, 2015 You wouldn't be doing a bad thing if you gave your fiancee a Ned rig and convinced her to fish with it and it alone. Bet you she'll outfish you, unless you do the same thing. There's just nothing they'll bite better than that little dude right now. Otherwise, you can throw a SPRO McStick in the blue bandit or ghost Norman Flake colors, or a Luck-E-Strike RC STX (the larger size) in black stardust shad or chrome blue. If the water climbs up close to 50, a Wiggle Wart could come into play.
Rodmaker Posted March 10, 2015 Posted March 10, 2015 Hideaway marina is a good little spot for gas. Not sure if it's open yet though. I always stay at the Hideaway resort next door. How about Jills BBQ in Lampe, we always enjoy that place when we're down there. Point 12 up the James has always been productive for me.
Hunter53 Posted March 10, 2015 Posted March 10, 2015 If you go to Branson for a show; I highly recommend the Dixie Stampede. My wife and I have been 5 times and we still enjoy it every time. Don't eat before you go as you get a meal that will more than feed you. You will absolutely LOVE the area and the lake down there!!!
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