Members rngr188 Posted October 9, 2017 Members Share Posted October 9, 2017 I live in Harrison so I put in at Cricket and fish it and some of Long creek. In June I was catching a substantial amount of 3-5lb LM but come to find out that was a community hole and as the water began to drop the fish left. Then I had a particular point where I could count on them schooling heavily if it were early morning or a cloudy day and catch plenty of small keepers. I've tried the back of Long, coves and pockets in Cricket, flats in Long, nothing but dinks all through July and August. So me and my wife decided to venture up lake and found Indian Point and found some pockets and points with small keeper SM (no LM at all) but that's it. I'm trying all the typical stuff but coming up with small fish, then I read of tournaments being won with 15lbs and I'm thinking "Where" and "How". We tent camped at Indian Point this weekend and got some good fishing time in but no quality. I feel stumped and left scratching my head!! I just started fishing here last fall and that was mostly crappie then the rains came and I didn't get on the water until late May so I've got a lot to learn. Before too long I need to check out the KC area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merc1997 Bo Posted October 10, 2017 Share Posted October 10, 2017 as you gain experience, you will find out that table rock can fish really small this time of the year, and the weather is making it even worse. bo skeeter 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kvo113 Posted October 10, 2017 Members Share Posted October 10, 2017 When I don't catch something on a bait for 1 hour or more I tend to give up and switch baits. Sometimes the eventual tournament winner decides to stick with that bait all day long and they get 5 total bites and they happen to be good ones. Sometimes those bites come from 2-3pm after a 6 hour chuck and wind grind. I think that the rock is generally tough to catch 15 lbs on but this time of year and with this weather it can be brutal even lake of the ozarks is tough, I only caught one keeper today and I fish tournaments up here hopefully we get some cooler weather and get the fall topwater and schooling bite going soon, I'll be at table rock next week Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IL Fisherman Posted October 10, 2017 Share Posted October 10, 2017 I feel your pain. Fished Friday Saturday and today. 15 fish. A couple keepers in that bunch. Pretty tough out there right now. Most on a drop shot and a couple on a whopper plopper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprint21fter Posted October 10, 2017 Share Posted October 10, 2017 Fish your strengths, as Bo said certain sections of the lake can fish better for some reason. I know what success their has been lately has been up the white river somewhere. It may not appear on the temp gauge but certain areas cool just enough to get things moving further along to fall patterns or other patterns throughout the year. There are always fish shallow year round or deep and in between depths. Most of the shallow fishing you are definitely fishing for quality than quantity. When the day is over your trolling motor batteries and gas tank will be running low. Its called THE ROCK for a reason! The worse the weather the better the fish bite! Champ188, Royal Blue and magicwormman 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Royal Blue Posted October 10, 2017 Share Posted October 10, 2017 Sprint, you're absolutely right. When it gets tough, tie on a confidence bait and just grind. There are always shallow fish on this lake. It may seem like there's only 1-2 on a bank, but they're there. I never used to believe in fishing with confidence, but it's amazing how you'll catch them on something that makes no sense but you feel confident on making them bite with that bait. Donna G 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rngr188 Posted October 10, 2017 Author Members Share Posted October 10, 2017 I've been catching my small SM keepers on the Ned lately but have tried jigs (one of my confidence baits) and nothing will touch them. Down in Cricket I was throwing my #1 confidence bait, a C-rig with Zoom Blueberry lizard, and doing well but I cant get those bites anymore. I'm from South AR around Camden and Magnolia so BS and TR are a huge change in my techniques; no 50-65lb braid on XH 7'6" rods now its 7' MH-H with 10-12lb line and mostly spinning gear with 6-8lb line. It's been a huge learning curve. I don't fish tournaments but I will be fishing the Toyota tournament with my wife it's our first tournament besides one small one at home, please don't throw mud pies at me lol, only because I just bought a new Tundra and the tournament is free so I thought "Why not". I have been out every weekend since the water came down enough to safely run and camped at Indian Point Friday through Sunday this past weekend and fished all days. I'll be off Friday and will spend all day on the water up around Indian Point as that's or confidence spot for now, I think we can get 5 keeper SM but they definitely won't win as they are bumping 15" maybe 15.25". Saturday before the meet and greet and rules meeting at the Big Cedar Outdoor Center we will put in early in the morning at Cricket and check it out as we haven't been there in a few weeks so it may be hopping down there we'll see. Thanks guys! I've been viewing this site for about a year but decided to join out of frustration I have been getting from the lake. I think after this tournament we are going to take a weekend fishing break and then get on BS as we've only been on it about 4-5 times. My wife has been stressing over this tournament for months now and it's getting worse as it approaches, if we can just show up with 5 keepers no matter what place we finish it will feel like a win to me as like I said I am not a tournament fisherman and this is a BIG one! Hey before you know it will be crappie time yum yum. Donna G and big c 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longball22 Posted October 10, 2017 Share Posted October 10, 2017 I wouldn't worry too much about the current pattern. Lows in the 40's the next few nights should help zap the water temperature, and that just might change everything. Bass Yakker 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprint21fter Posted October 10, 2017 Share Posted October 10, 2017 I use 50-65lb braid 3/4 of the year fishing 8ft or less. Don't let the clear water bother you and think you need to use lighter tackle to catch big fish. Fish your strengths and apply it here and you will be fine. With the temps changing it should make them aggressive so power fish away! Good luck! magicwormman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merc1997 Bo Posted October 10, 2017 Share Posted October 10, 2017 1 hour ago, Sprint21fter said: I use 50-65lb braid 3/4 of the year fishing 8ft or less. Don't let the clear water bother you and think you need to use lighter tackle to catch big fish. Fish your strengths and apply it here and you will be fine. With the temps changing it should make them aggressive so power fish away! Good luck! gee, you must not read that all the experts say that you need to use an invisible line. no telling what you might be able to catch if you started using an invisible line. bo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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