Monday Fishing Report

[Bill Babler]

Really good day on the Rock for most of the guide group, reporting from a dozen to 20 fish on the 4 hr. morning tours.

Seemed everyone was doing something different and all seemed to be working if you were in the right spot when they wanted it.

Chris Tetrick was in the Kimberling area, and reported dropshot fish in the 25 ft. range off most of the long flat points. Not a lot, mind you, but fish about everywhere he stopped.

Bill Beck, saw lots of fish on the graph, in the Kimberling to Campers area on both the white and the James, in the 18 to 22 foot range but found them to be a bit lathargic on the dropshot. They would run up to the bait and just melt away or give it a peck and turn loose.

Bill did get on them with the FBall Jig in about the same depth range, but stated he had to work, and he had some pretty good fisherman.

We were talking about this amongst ourselves this weekend, and it seems the dropshot fish will work the bait much better, in the 26 ft. and over range. Seems they just need a little water over their heads to really want to snatch it. You can for sure catch them shallower on the shot, but not quite so good.

Tim Paige, is still catching them pretty well in the dam area on a splitshot rig, but he is the master of it and will throw it in all seasons. Eight to 15 ft. early and then moving into the 18 to 26 ft. range later. He feels he is covering more ground with the rig than a vertical presentation with the shot and getting his bait in front of more fish. As long as these fish are on the bottom and not suspended, I believe he is right as rain. It's working.

A buddy of mine was at the knob, this AM and he said they were really on the outer points of the gravel flats in the 22 to 30 ft. range on a football jig.

He was just dragging the jig and he and his wife, caught a dozen fish with 8 quality keepers. Tried to dropshot those underwater roll offs, but nothing.

I fished from the Kimberling Inn to about Campbell Pt. this morning, targeting bluffends early with topwater junk and hoping to see a white or two.

Saw 3 groups blow-up, but by the time I could get there they had vamoosed.

Gore Hollow, had a blowup, Goat Island a small one and right in front of Big Creek. Did raise one really nice keeper K throwing after the whites.

I had a marvelious set of guys, Eric Sr. and Eric Jr. Ebie. Out of St. Louie.

Both were pretty good hands and young Eric, caught 3 on a splitshot to get us started, in the 16 ft. range.

Swithched to the dropshot in the 22 to 26 ft. depth area, and the boys did really well catching 14 more on the shot, at several different locations. Seemed just a couple and no more than 4 per spot, but they really liked it when I said look! you are just about to get bit! There rods would go down, and they would laugh and say we just can't believe this. It's like watching TV.

18 fish, with a half dozen keeps were our day. These fish were alot heaver and in better shape than the fish I had at the knob, last week. Even the shorts looked and pulled great.

On days like this, its not a job, but a blessing. It was just wonderful out there with these great folks. They had been fishing for 3 days and had not caught one yet, so today was really special. Sometimes we forget just how tough this pond can be.

One of the K's we caught on a dropshot huffed up a green cenepede, and a 4 inch Ctail grub. We caught him on a 4 inch zoom finess worm in watermellon candy. He must have had a love for soft plastic. That fish was a quality keeper, and he is living a very charmed life, as he is still swimming, minus all the garbage.

We had several fish, run at the dropshot and then just melt back away. Did see some suspended fish and fed them the shot and had two of our total that way. Lots would get the bait, but just peck it and not put a load on the rod. Just when you were fixen to set the hook, they would move away. Hate to see-em get so smart so early in the year.

Sounded like a very nice day on the rock by all. Just wish we would have gotten those pesky whites to hold still.

Good luck boys.

[powerdive]

I'm not a bass fisherman, but I stand amazed. That is one incredible report, Bill. Hats off to you!

Mike

[Stragler]

Bill thanks for the very good report.

[Gone Fishing]

Bill, I have never dropshotted before but it sounds like alot of fun. I would like to learn how. Do you have any advise, know of any instructional videos, or is the best way to just get out there and play around with it.

[gonefishin]

I still want to know where all the 'gills and Redear are on TR and how to catch them.

[Bill Babler]

Rumor has it one of the Table Rock guides had a great day on the gills and also caught several cats in the process. I am working a trout trip with him tomorrow, and will get the info.

Get on the web, and see if there are any videos about the drop shot. You can also check my Article for Ozark Anglers entitled "Droppin in on Table Rock Bass".

I'm sure there are some good pieces to be found. Good Luck

It can really be fun.

[gonefishin]

That would be great Bill

[FRENZEL]

The largest ones I've caught lately have been over 20 ft deep. On the bottom.

[Bill Babler]

From the report I got today, on the Bluegills, Tracy is right on. 18 to 22 ft. and if you are not catching hand size or bigger, move out.

Bob Klien, reported catching a couple of dozen over a pound apiece with two nice cats in the 8 to 10 pound range to boot.

1/2 a night crawler on a long shank cricket hook.

Worms are catching bigger gills than crickets and also you have hot a shot at a cat, or a good K using the split worms.

All these gills are coming off flat gravel points in the Dam area. If they have a bit of pole timber on em, all the better. good luck

[gonefishin]

WOW Great report Bill. Thanks.