Dam Area Report

[Nitro 750]

Launched at State Park at about 6:00 this morning.  I headed to Beardsly, started out with a Whopper Plopper and a Red Fin.  Threw the top water for almost an hour and did not even have a sniff.  Switched to a swimbait and did not have any luck on that.  I tried a War Eagle spinnerbait and caught a 12 inch smallmouth and had a couple other hits, switched to a 6 inch Yum green pumpkin texas rigged worm and had no love on it.  I wanted to try some different things before I switched to the spilt shot rig.  After about 2 hours of fishing I had the 1 smallie to show for it.  I broke out the spilt shot rig with a green pumpkin fish doctor.  The first cast was a keeper spot,  ended the day with 14, 10 smallies and 4 spots, with 4 of them being keepers and the others were 12 to 14 inches.  Also had 1 goggleye.  I had the boat setting in 25 feet of water and casting to the bank.  Some bites were right on the bank and some were right at the boat.  Water temp. was 66.  It seems like I always have something to do when the weather is nice and the fish is biting.  Off the water by 10:00.

[m&m]

Nitro, sounds like a good couple of hours. 

Mike

[Champ188]

I found the same scenario up around Kimberling City, only I was too bullheaded to stop throwing the winding baits as soon as you. I did catch end up catching a fair number of fish on The Varmint, but I had visions of catching them other ways considering the cloud cover and wind. Didn't happen. This lake is notable for the fish looking down on days they should be looking up.

[dtrs5kprs]

17 minutes ago, Champ188 said:

I found the same scenario up around Kimberling City, only I was too bullheaded to stop throwing the winding baits as soon as you. I did catch end up catching a fair number of fish on The Varmint, but I had visions of catching them other ways considering the cloud cover and wind. Didn't happen. This lake is notable for the fish looking down on days they should be looking up.

You'd think sitting ten feet from me as I lost a brown fish over 3# would have flipped that switch. 

Really, if the water from 13 to the dam doesn't clear up I'm not sure they will get on the TW the way we think they should. I've never had good TW fishing in years when it was stained. Good years that come to mind recently were 2010, 2013. Clear water years.

[Hammer time]

Imo when the fishing gets tuff nothing beats split shot green pumpkin fish doctor. 8 pound test on spinning gear. If I was a guide I would have one ready every trip so customers could catch fish.

[dtrs5kprs]

2 minutes ago, Hammer time said:

Imo when the fishing gets tuff nothing beats split shot green pumpkin fish doctor. 8 pound test on spinning gear. If I was a guide I would have one ready every trip so customers could catch fish.

It's good. Might quibble with it being the best.

[Nitro 750]

Champ I am with you, I really thought I could get a top water bite going, but I guess that is what I get for thinking.  I left the spilt shot rig in the rod box for 2 hours, I knew once I picked it up that would be all I would be throwing.

 

Hammer that is my exact setup for the spilt shot rig.  I agree with you it hard to beat dragging the doctor around.   

[Hammer time]

I remember one of the first tournaments that BASS came back to the Rock, the winner caught all his fish on the turd worm aka green pumpkin fish doctor.

[bobby b.]

I was planning to head to Point 5 area again this evening but decided to try Beardsly after I saw Nitros post this afternoon.  Fished from 5 - 8 pm catching about 20 short SM and one keeper Spot on a green pumpkin Ned on gentle sloping gravel points.  Around 7 pm the wind changed to the east and for about 10 minutes had a fish on every other cast and probably was bit on the others but could not detect the bite.

Nitro, thanks for the post.

Bobby

[Hammer time]

49 minutes ago, dtrs5kprs said:

It's good. Might quibble with it being the best.

I had to look up the word "quibble" had never heard or seen in writing. Great word!