8-7-15 Shell Knob Fishing Report

[Bill Babler]

Got on the pond at 6 AM for a early morning Knob trip. Worried about all the lightning, but it went North and East of us.

Surface temps at the ramp were 89+ degree and by the way it is open with plenty of parking now by the 39 bridge, and they also have the dock pulled up in shape.

Water to my thinking is extremely off color. It is a Green Pumpkin/Brown sediment filled water with visibility of under 5 ft. Lots of dead shoreline vegetation and it kind of smells. Really don't know how frisky I would be about swimming in it.

On to the fishing. We had a great day, and the fish fought very hard. I had a young couple that did not fish much so we mostly drop/shot live bait. Most of our fish came in the 15' to 25' range, all suspended over depth.

We did see much to my chagrin quite a few floaters, again mostly gizzard shad, but a very fair number of spotted bass also.

Also seen some that had not quite expired finning on the surface, middle of the lake. These appeared extremely thin but had no extended eyes or abdomen. Just appeared sick.

With what we have going on here, be kind to them.

Good Luck

[m&m]

Bill, thanks for the report. hopefully the lake will set up well for some exciting fall fishing. I have refrained from going out since the water got to 927, but it doesn't seem to bother the pleasure boaters.

[Sore Thumbs]

Thanks Bill. Hate to hear about the dying fish

[Champ188]

Thanks for the report. Good to hear there's still a good bite in that area given the water conditions.

[rps]

Thanks for reporting. I have given up on bass - drop shotting is just not my thing. I have yet to find a spoon bite. Hoping the thermocline sets that up soon.

[Bill Babler]

With the reports of a fractured thermocline and I for sure agree with it, and it was alluded to by Bo a couple of weeks ago, the fish can be from 1' to 50' depending on bait and for sure the oxygen levels. With Table Rock still in the 923' plus range here now in what is coming the middle of August, I'm not sure with the amount of moving water we will establish a shallow hard thermocline.

I worked really hard at finding fish Yesterday and really did not locate them till a couple of hours had passed by. I was looking on gravel and just finding nothing but very small bass and loads of gills. I moved and started looking at the river channel, deep trees and just suspended fish in the major cove mouths and I found them.

Grouped up and suspended in the 15' to 25' range, most over depth. They had been so tight on gravel and also on the bottom for me for the past month, it seemed like they moved over night.

The fish I was catching on the gravel were now not relating to anything much to tell you the truth, other than depth. Most just sitting there suspended, but the good part they were willing to bite and got fired up easily when one was caught they would just go crazy swarming him. Great graph pictures of worming bass at its best.

Good Luck

[5bites]

So not all of the fish were relating to anything at all? Just suspended over deep water at the mouths?

[rps]

So not all of the fish were relating to anything at all? Just suspended over deep water at the mouths?

This time of year, and in the deadest part of winter, the mouth of coves will sometimes hold fish. Although we may not see the break on a break on sonar, I think the cove water interaction with the lake water creates a water break line. Of course, I could be suffering from a bad case of over analyzing.

[crazy4fishin]

Bill - is there still a spoon bite? I am going to buy a few of those Dixie's when I come down in a few weeks. BTW should I buy them on line or can they be bought locally?

C4F

[johnm]

Fished pt 9 to 19 yesterday found the same tons of bluegill and lots of shad balls coming down the main channel. Water looks weird green with brown tint maybe 6 ft visibility. Could only get bit on deep bluegill or white crank bait or 10 in green pumpkin worm. Worm was better had the boat in 80 fow fishing 15 to 25 mainly with some other largemouth a little shallower. 16 fish 4 keepers. Weird bite because normally keeper ratio is better.. these fish were all mixed-up and close to deep water feeding on flooded 45 degree angle above bluff walls. Then tried the drops hot and caught a few more all shorts... never could find a good school of nice fish. Caught and released them all nothing over 3 lbs.