Weekend Game Plan ( Campbell Point to Big Bay )

[Champ188]

Bill is spot-on with his post about mobility. The more you learn the lake, the more you can figure out on your own where you need to be and when. It's rarely without reason that one area is better than another.

It often has to do with water clarity or water temp. :Late winter/early spring, water temp is critical. Same goes throughout the spring season ... water temp governs which phase of the spawn fish are in. Generally speaking, the river fish spawn first because that's where the water warms first.

As for clarity, I firmly believe that muddy water hurts worse in areas that are rarely see mud. James River and Kings River fish see it fairly often, so they seem to be less affected when the big rains come. If the dirty water gets down as far as Aunts Creek and on down to Kimberling City or below, those fish will flat shut down (as they are right now) because they aren't accustomed to dealing with these conditions.

Hope this helps and go catch a big un.

[m&m]

Bill, your insight is priceless. Besides the fishing angle, living on the water most of the time means dealing with septic systems and wells. We chose to live off the water but close enough to get to long creek, Indian point, aunts creek, KC, Bridgeport  and mill creek in a matter of minutes. Another reason why your reports as well as the other contributor's reports are valuable to a guy like me that is trying to learn the lake.  Believe me when I say that I appreciate everyone's contributions to this forum. 

Mike

[MOPanfisher]

After 25 years of working on COE lakes there is no way I would buy a house on the lake with a dock, when I could spend a lot less to live a few miles away, not mess with a dock, keep my boat in a garage so I can hook up minutes and be headed to any part of the lake or a different lake if I want.  But that is just me, for many it is their dream and they live it.  One thing about fishing close to home is that of the fish or conditions aren't cooperating, heck I go back home and work in the garden or take a nap, whatever.  But if I spend the time and effort to make an hour plus trip somewhere I feel like I have to stay and fight it out to see if I can find willing fish.  Too much like a job to me at that point.