First trip ever to table rock fishing out of Big Cedar lodge

[kazoobass]

I have 3 days to fish april 7 8 9 coming down from Michigan actually from KVD's home town. From that area and in that time frame what would you guys concentrate on? Can I stay within a few miles of the resort? I will be renting a bass tracker rather than bringing my boat so I will just have basic electronics. Where should my focus be? What plastics should I bring? I should have most hard baits covered but I dont want to bring a suit case of plastics unless I have too. Would like to bring a variety of 20-30 bags. Will the fish be 10 foot or less? I have a bunch of wiggle warts and crank baits packed. Will there still be a jerk bait bite? What do you run on A rigs? I know you can only have 3 hooks.

I am way too excited about this Trip. I just got back into bass fishing last summer but I have a bunch of previous experience. Kids sports got in the way for a few years. Thanks in advance for any tips or help. Anything would be appreciated.

[abkeenan]

Kazoo,

Welcome to the boards! You've come to the best place possible for this kind of info. Lots of guys will chime in to give you the best possible chance of having success on the water. Sounds like you have a good start with some of the baits you mentioned. You are also in a good area in my opinion. You have access to deep clear main lake water and points and also can run down into Long Creek (river arm) with typically more color/stain if you wish. Being from MI you are probably well versed in clear water fishing. First week of April you should be able to catch them in a variety of ways as fish will be in both pre spawn and some early spawners. Jerkbait should still be in play, as well as the wiggle wart. Jigs catch fish year round and a tube is also another bait that should be hot around when you come. Not sure if you are familiar with the "Ned Rig" but I would get familiarized with it if you are wanting to catch #'s of fish. If you are bringing kids the Ned is nearly impossible to beat. Swimming a grub would also be something I would 100% have on the deck as it is tried and true on Table Rock and you can cover water somewhat quicker than bouncing slower stuff along the bottom. Transition banks should be fruitful and points headed back to creeks, coves and pockets. If you find wood on those locations even better. You are picking a good time to come as their should be some aggressive feeding fish and defenders of beds. Hope this helps and more will be along to share info even better than I could provide.

[kazoobass]

First off thanks for the reply.

Second I have read about the ned rig and have a couple questions. Will a round head jig head work or should I pick up some when I get to table rock. As for the plastic I have boat loads of 5 inch senkos and yum dingers. I assume they will work but just are not as durable? Any particular color? I am sure I will hit a bass pro shops down that way and the ned rig seems like something my 13 year old would stay busy with.

[kazoobass]

I did buy grubs already for this trip.

[dtrs5kprs]

You definitely want the ZinkerZ, Zero, or the newer TRD for the little rig. You have to cut the full size baits. Regular plastic will catch some, but durability is really the smallest part of it. Has a lot more to do with buoyancy, action, texture.

Heads for it can be tough to find at the lake. We are working on it though. It is very hard to beat that stupid little thing for pure fun, and the occasional good one, April through June. Not that it doesn't work the rest of the time too, but that is prime.

A-rig might be close to done by then, would not be overly concerned about it. Split shot and shakey head should be coming along, with a fish doctor or whichever finesse worm you prefer. Same transitions Brett described, plus gravel. Wind will help that grub, and the same for swimbaits like a Keitech.

Make sure you go into Beardsley and catch all of Brett's pet fish. Seriously, it is hard to beat that creek from that location.

[rps]

Welcome! The people on this forum love new to the area people.

1. Do some serches in the posts from previous years. I might suggest "April Table Rock", "Spring Table rock", and "spawn Table Rock" as three search terms. I bet you will find several dozens of informative posts.

2. Monitor this forum daily as you get closer to your date. Real people post real information often.

3. If you can stand it, hire a guide for day one - or even a half day - Bill Babler, Don House, Bill Beck, Captain Joe, Pete Wenners are examples of quality guides that will teach the water so that you can enjoy the rest of your trip.

4. dtrs5kprs makes the best Ned heads and search his posts for Ned information.

5. When you are home, post how it went, include pictures, and tell us all what advice helped.

Have a great trip

[dtrs5kprs]

Welcome! The people on this forum love new to the area people.

1. Do some serches in the posts from previous years. I might suggest "April Table Rock", "Spring Table rock", and "spawn Table Rock" as three search terms. I bet you will find several dozens of informative posts.

2. Monitor this forum daily as you get closer to your date. Real people post real information often.

3. If you can stand it, hire a guide for day one - or even a half day - Bill Babler, Don House, Bill Beck, Captain Joe, Pete Wenners are examples of quality guides that will teach the water so that you can enjoy the rest of your trip.

4. dtrs5kprs makes the best Ned heads and search his posts for Ned information.

5. When you are home, post how it went, include pictures, and tell us all what advice helped.

Have a great trip

#3 is a brilliant suggestion. That can be some big water with a little wind on it down there by the dam.

[kazoobass]

I am a daily poster on my local message board so I will be here every day. Really tough to launch my boat right now in Michigan with a foot of ice. Plus we have a dumb closed season so when I get back from table rock I have to make hour drives down to Indiana to fish.

I will be doing those searches.

Any place online that sells the ned heads?

[rps]

I am a daily poster on my local message board so I will be here every day. Really tough to launch my boat right now in Michigan with a foot of ice. Plus we have a dumb closed season so when I get back from table rock I have to make hour drives down to Indiana to fish.

I will be doing those searches.

Any place online that sells the ned heads?

Personal Message dtrs5kprs. He sells via Pay Pal. You won't find better.

[abkeenan]

Personal Message dtrs5kprs. He sells via Pay Pal. You won't find better.

Yep. Dave has the Ned as dialed in as you are going to find. You won't find a better head for "Nedding" nor a better price on them. You don't even have to leave your house to get them either...shipped to your door. Give him a holler.