Cold-Wind and Transitioning Fish

[Bill Babler]

3-28-16 Table Rock Lake Current Fishing Report

In my 24th year as a guide on Table Rock lake, this has turned into my biggest March ever.  A lot do to trout and Lilleys,  9 trout trips in 4 days, you would think someone of my maturity would know better. but also 20 Table Rock trips this month, and its not over yet.

Table Rock is hovering almost lake wide at an average of 53 degree, even with the super cold weather we had for most of last week.  I am home this morning because of the cold. I had a trout trip scheduled but I'm still taking Spring Break kids and it is just to chilly.  We will get them at 9 in the morning.

Water is clearing but is still retaining somewhat of a James River tint as it did for most of last year.  I'm thinking it is going to continue to be this color that is just about as good as it gets for the crankers and spinnerbaiters.

Fished from Eagle Rock to Long Creek repeatedly the last couple of weeks and the water is very similar throughout the main lake section.   I have not been up the river arms.

A-rig bite has slowed down somewhat but is still out there.  Not seeing any shad on the surface but the gulls are still diving in much lower numbers lake wide.  This bite is on and off quicker than the weather.  Really the best deal for me has been the wobblehead, jig and really swimming a big Keitech Swimbait on the bottom similar to slow cranking the wobbler.

Another bite that is out there is a big Spinner bait bite.  Big as in No. 7 Willow Leaf blades with a 5" Keitech trailer.  This bait won at Lake of the Ozarks last week and it caught fish here this week.  Mostly slow rolling it.  Not a dink catcher, you have one hit this and he is going to jerk your junk.

I've been using a big Pig Sticker in 3/4 GP with a 5 Inch Nicholes Craw and catching good fish.  Best 5 on Saturday would have been 23 pounds.  Not catching numbers at all. 

The Elite Anglers have been here most of the week, and most have been cranking and stickbaiting.  These guys have not caught numbers.  Most are catching a dozen to 15 fish per day, but nice bags of 16 to 20 pounds.  With all the guides being out and also the Elite guys I am pretty skeptical when I hear a guy is catching 20+ fish a day.  If you are, you are doing extremely well, or your math is in question.

I did hear thru the grapevine that the little guy is staring to work really well on Bull, so as we all know it is a numbers bait.  I'm sure it is always worth picking up.

The crankbait bite and stickbait bite is so on and off it is crazy.  One minute you are catching nice fish and a minute later it is over.  I threw both an RK and a Wart for 4 hrs the other day and did not get touched from Cow Creek to point 5.  Went back and threw an A-rig right in the middle and caught a 15 pound limit in 30 minutes.  Next day on my guide trip I set my clients up with a rig and went back to the same windy banks and not a bite.  Switched to the swimbait and the jig and caught them really good.  Go figure.

[Macsimus]

 

3-28-16 Table Rock Lake Current Fishing Report

The crankbait bite and stickbait bite is so on and off it is crazy.  

Thanks for the info-packed report Bill.  Again.  

I take some comfort from your report as the phrase "completely random" describes my fishing the last week and a half. Not that that is an indicator of anything, neophyte that I am.  

[Nitro 750]

Thanks so much Bill for the detailed report!!!!  A person can learn some much on this site.  I think you would have a hard time finding another site like this anywhere!!!!  Thanks again for all of your reports, really good stuff!!!

[THE RAT]

Well now I don't feel so bad since we only put 3 keepers in the boat Saturday.

Thanks for the report and great info!

[m&m]

Bill, great information as usual.  Thank you for sharing. This is what makes springtime fishing so much of an adventure.  What worked yesterday may not work today so we all have to be flexible.

Mike

[Smithvillesteve]

Thanks for the report Bill. Always appreciate your valuable info. I fished the Rock wed thru sat with 5 other buddies. Wed was 30 mph winds with 40 mph wind gusts. But our group caught a lot of fish. With several keepers. Nothing too big. Thursday it was cold!! Low 40's, still windy and cloudy. But once again we caught several fish. One buddy of mine caught a 7 lb fish on the front hooks of his crankbait and a 2 lb on the back hooks. I would put the pic on here if I knew how? Dont laugh. I'm 64 yrs old and all this technology eats me up!! The guy I was fishing with caught 25 bass with 9 keepers. The biggest was 18.5. 3 others at 18. Great day of fishing even though he kicked my butt!!! Friday we had the high sky after a front. Low 60's light winds. One of my buddies son caught a nice 5 lb. But the bite slowed. Saturday we didnt get on the water till around 3 oclock and fished till around 6:30. We were just plain wore out. Of course, staying up till 3 am playing cards doesnt help!! It was a nice bluebird day, good golf day, and we didnt do much good. One nice brown fish. It was a great fishing trip to the Rock with several good buddies. 

[crazy4fishin]

Thanks Bill....I really like the detailed reports...even though I am in nebraska it is fun to read and apply when I do get a chance to be on the rock.

c4f

 

[96 CHAMP]

That is a nice fish, thanks for the picture

[marcus]

ill trade you jobs bill if thats ok 

[Dewayne French]

^{Bill I got one word UDAMAN!!!  That's some very good info right there. I don't understand that or what trigger's these fish to do what they do and I try to hard to figure it out. Like we all over think it 99% of the time.  Most generally it is not Rocket science.  good info Bill thanks for your sharing of info..}