Bull for a New Guy

[Rwh46]

I've lived and fished in Missouri for over 40 years and am ashamed to admit I've never been on Bull Shoals. I fish all over the state TR, Lake O, Pomme, Stockton, Mark Twain, and I live on Lake St. Louis (near Wentzville) Anyway the bass club I started in 1985 has finally given up on KY Lake. It's a shame that once fabulous fishery has reached it's sad current state but it has, and we are looking to find a replacement for it. Our club is small, our tournaments are usually 10 boats are less and everyone is more or less retired fisherman. One guy in the club has hounded us for years to try Bull Shoals but he's the only one that's spent any time there. Anyway we're doing it next year to see if it might work for us going forward. The lodging accomodations we need drove us to either the Theodosa area or down by the dam. We wound up picking Boondocks down by the dam and will be fishing there April 24-25, 2021. Theodosa area was already booked up when we can go, so we wound up down by the dam.  Some overall help on general areas to fish (not looking for anyone's honey hole) just areas to start looking in would be helpful. What will the bass be doing at that time of the year (normally) prespawn, spawning or post. We've heard that the water levels this year were extraordinarily HIGH. Is that because of flood control issues or unusual weather. Real question is "Will it likely occur again next year" or was this year a fluke. I assume the water will be real clear where we are, so for those who can't fish that "gin" clear water how far do you have to run to get to stained? We have our lodging set but how about bait and tackle places? How about good places to eat (homestyle is our favorite choice). 5 of us run BassCats with Yamaha outboards. Is there a marina or dealership near by for support? I know I asking for the "whole enchalada" in help, but I'd like to get our guys a good start for their 1st time on Bull Shoals in looking for fish, food and help (if needed). I consider this forum the "Chamber of Commerce" for fishermen so I'd appreciate the help

[Dutch]

I’m sure that you will get lots of information as guys see your post.  I will only address 1 topic at this time, lake level.  
 

Bull Shoals is the third lake in the chain of lakes on the White River.  I have always considered it to be the left handed, red headed, step child.  It has fewer and smaller towns with less buildup than Table Rock and Beaver.  It is the last place to hold flood water.  Therefore it often has to take lots of water and hold it for months.  It is not unusual for it to get 20 to 30 feet high in the spring and stay that way for months.  For it to stay at normal pool we would probably have to be near drought conditions.

[fishinwrench]

What has happened to Ky lake? 

I don't care for lakes that fluctuate wildly in their levels. Crawdads and frogs don't have a chance in those fisheries, neither do aquatic insects.....so you just have fish eating fish who eat fish.   Not a very well balanced ecosystem IMO.   

[moguy1973]

7 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

What has happened to Ky lake? 

 

Asian Carp have destroyed it

[Basfis]

Most events (probably all) originated from bull shoals boat dock. It’s not much of a run to theodosia. 
cats with Yamahas have local support in the rare event you’d need it. That’s a fine package. 
 

fishing wise, pray for some elevation or the lake is like fishing your local swimming pool. Maybe more color in the pool. The fish do eat regular stuff, just deeper than you’d normally fish. 

Big sacks are rare, limits of keepers are common. 

[Bullshoalscat]

Dont understand the comment "Big Sacks Are Rare",  Right now its taking over 18lbs to win, in the spring 17to 20lb sacks are pretty common to win  a tournament of any size.

[Rwh46]

22 hours ago, moguy1973 said:

Asian Carp have destroyed it

Not only Asian carp, but  other factors too:

1. 200+ bass boat tournaments that last 4 days without cutting down the field and having at least 1 of those a month from March thru June for the last 5 years really impacts the keeper size bass. They don't survive 60 mile runs from Paris, Tn. to Ky Dam Marina for weighin.

2. TVA spraying vegetation that kills everything not just enough to keep the shipping lanes open. Remember when there used to be weeds in the Bays on the LBL side from Duncan to Tennessee. Where does the bait fish hide?

3. Two years of "bad" shad spawn in a row combined with 2 years of equally bad bass spawn (1 year overlapped the 2nd year of bad shad).

It's gonna take more than just getting the Asian carp problem under control to "heal" this wonderful lake

[Rwh46]

8 hours ago, Bullshoalscat said:

Dont understand the comment "Big Sacks Are Rare",  Right now its taking over 18lbs to win, in the spring 17to 20lb sacks are pretty common to win  a tournament of any size.

That's good to hear, in your experience are most of the fish caught in the spring within say 5 miles of Bull Shoals Marina or are most guys fishing farther away than that?

[Rwh46]

On 12/14/2020 at 3:18 PM, Dutch said:

I’m sure that you will get lots of information as guys see your post.  I will only address 1 topic at this time, lake level.  
 

Bull Shoals is the third lake in the chain of lakes on the White River.  I have always considered it to be the left handed, red headed, step child.  It has fewer and smaller towns with less buildup than Table Rock and Beaver.  It is the last place to hold flood water.  Therefore it often has to take lots of water and hold it for months.  It is not unusual for it to get 20 to 30 feet high in the spring and stay that way for months.  For it to stay at normal pool we would probably have to be near drought conditions.

Yeah, that's what i suspected. My real concern is where to launch with 20' high water. The launch ramp over by Boondock's Resort looks like it could under water as well as the road to it? Any thoughts?

[Basfis]

1 hour ago, Rwh46 said:

That's good to hear, in your experience are most of the fish caught in the spring within say 5 miles of Bull Shoals Marina or are most guys fishing farther away than that?

Further from what I recall.