Dam Area Yesterday

[Cajunangler]

I was able to get out yesterday to try my luck at the rock. Unfortunately, my late start was made even later due to a blow out on the trailer on the way there. Adding time to change to the spare and get to Branson West and buy two new tires I got the first line in the water around 10:30am. Put in at Indian Creek at the Corps launch which was a little odd since the floating dock was five feet out from the bank. Just a little more pain to endure before I could start fishing. Anyway, ran down to the darn area and back into a finger and began throwing finese worms and twin tail skirted grubs. Had the boat sitting in about fifteen and throwing toward the bank. Couldn't get any takers on the grubs but the smallies were willing to eat the finese worm. Also had a few takers (mostly LM and spots) hitting slugos close to the bank. I fished until 8:30pm to make up for the late start and had the joy of once again wading through water to launch my boat. I guess that is one of the bad breaks of fishing by yourself.

Overall, I ended up catching about 20 black bass (according to MDC) on the day with an 18 inch LM and Smallie in the mix. Most of the fish were SM with about 3 each of spots and LM. Also had to take time out during the day to play with the white bass. They came up in the area I was fishing and I caught at least 10 before retuning to more serious fishing. Most of them were between 15-20 inches in length and put up quite a fight. Caught them on Zara puppies and grubs.

Water temps ranged from 67 - 69 at the backs of fingers. Looked like carp were making the most of the warmer temps there.

I almost forgot, on the last time I tried to pull the trolling motor out of the water the rope snapped. My wife told me to turn around after I blew the tire thinking that my luck wan't going to be good. I guess she was right but then I wouldn't have caught all those fish. Hope everyone has better luck thank I did than I did.

[techo]

Howdy Nixa Neighbor! Is that ramp fairly busy? I haven't tried that one yet. Why was the ramp out in the water? I know it is probaby a dumb question, but water levels aren't that high.

[Cajunangler]

I don't know why the floating dock was not on the bank. Either someone had moved it or the water had risen. And I'm not saying that it was five feet deep but rather the access was five linear feet from shore. Roughly 10-12 inches below the water line.

On another note, I am fairly new to this forum and I am sure this question has been posed many times in the past but since I usually speak my mind I guess I will write it here. Doesn't it seem odd that "HUNDREDS" of people view fishing reports but only a "FEW" actually post reports. Not to mention that every time I go to a lake in MO I see hundreds of other fisherman that are probably viewing these reports. I can realize that some people don't feel their outings are good enough to write about. And if this describes you then I understand. But I have to believe there are a bunch of other people out there that are too much like my first cousin in Louisiana. He loved to here other peoples reports, locations, baits being used, etc but would never give any info in return. Unfortunately, people like this tend to make the rest of us more tight lipped. Afterall, if only a few of us are sharing and the others are simply mooching it takes the fun out of sharing. Just an observation of mine that I know has no solution if "these" people simply want to be users and not contributors.

[Phil Lilley]

I found out a LONG time ago that alot of people won't ever contribute for one reason or another. But I can't let it affect my attitude towards the forum or reporting, writing or creating more educational opportunies on the web.

My frustration is all the guides who benefit by this site that never contribute.

[Dean]

I wish more people would post reports but I will admit that I am one that doesn't. I don't think I know enough to think anything I say would help. Anyway, for what is worth I fished the dam area on Saturday and Sunday morning without much luck. I caught two LM's and one SM. All of them on a 4 inch ringed worm with a skirted tail(Gene Larew). It was split shat rigged with a bullet weight about 18 in. up. From what I have read since, I am quessing that was too big of weight. Itried a grub and a twin tailed skirted grub as well without any luck.

[Phil Lilley]

Good report Dean, thanks.

If you don't know the hot spots, cover as much water as you can. Right now, if I was new to TR and fishing the dam area, I'd hit the transision spots where the bank go from slopped pea gravel to steeper ledge rock. Fish 100 feet each side of the change. Hit points and secondary points. And if you have time, just run a pea gravel bank. If you catch one, slow down cause you'll probably catch more.

[techo]

I usually feel like my reorts are probably pretty dumb, but I post anyway. I figure I could give the experts a good laugh. Sometimes I start to post a fishing trip, and I find out someone else was fishing the same area and using the same tackle at the same depth. I don't do a second post that states "ditto for me." Beck posted his report for 05/01/2007. I used the same tackle and had caught them in the same places. So I don't do a ditto post. His fish were bigger for some reason. I think he had a better partner!

[Phil Lilley]

This is how I see it.

Before the internet, what did you have? Word of mouth, newspaper and radio. The internet offers almost EVERYONE a chance to get and give current and detailed information on just about anything.

Unless you had a party line to hundreds of anglers, you wouldn't know a fraction of what you can learn on the internet- a forum like this and many others. But even with a party line, if no one spoke, it's useless.

Sorry, for those youngin's who don't know what a party line is- look it up!

What I'm getting at is no report is dumb or insignificant. For many who don't register or post, typing is a problem and writing/spelling is another. Some people have a hard time navigating a forum.

I am, for one, appreciative of all who type out a fishing report- any reports. And I know there's hundreds of others out there that feel the same way.

[SilverMallard]

Fishing reports about getting skunked and losing the lower unit on a hump or snag are AT LEAST as valuable as the ones where a blind guy with one arm caught 40 lunkers in 4 hours, used less than 1/4 tank of gas, and stumbled upon a cove full of naked, sunbathing, supermodels who said they do that every day in the same spot and he lists the GPS coordinates.

Well, OK, maybe all but the naked supermodels w/GPS coordinates part.

Knowing what NOT to do and where NOT to go is FAR more important than knowing where everyone else will be...especially on a lake as large and busy as Table Rock.

In my opinion, "dittos" are also important. They confirm the original report. Among fishermen, confirmation is good. I have known guides and amateurs who posted false reports on purpose to congregate folks AWAY from their hot spots they wanted to go back to for a few more days. I don't know of this happening around here, but it was a common guide tactic in TX when pressure was getting high or there was a tournament coming up.