Table Rock Report 8/24/07

[Don House]

Fishing report for 8/24/2007

By Captain Don House of Chauffeured Guide Service

Email: don@tablerockguide.com

Web Site: www.strikebass.com

Water Level: 913.4

Water Temperature: 88 - 92

Water Color: Main Lake Clear, lower rivers Clear, upper rivers Tea colored

Air Temperature: High 90’s

Wind Condition: AM Calm, Afternoon 10-15 MPH

Well the summer heat is just about over with I hope! I know one thing the lake traffic has really calmed down the last few days. Kids are back in schools, Branson has even slowed down a bit and the fishing is picking up very well. The fish have seemed to be held up around the 25 – 35 foot range on the bottom or suspended on all type of structure on main lake points and secondary points or still in the trees and brush piles around all parts of the lake. As the Corp of Engineers changes the water running schedule at the dam the fishing will also change alot, so be ready to make changes and pay attention to flow of current through the dam.

BASS

DAM / INDIAN POINT / LONG CREEK / KIMBERLING CITY

Fishing has been really good here for me in the last few weeks, alot on the same type of baits, Drop Shots are still getting a good bite everyday on plastic drop shot worms and some days night crawlers in 25 – 35 feet on the bottom or in the deeper trees on the flats near deeper water or in the brush on these same points in the same depth. These fish on the bottom are starting to school up and I have been using 3”-4” drop shot worms, my choice for this time of year are still the Robo Worms with colors of Bold Blue Gill, MM III, Aaron’s Magic, Morning Dawn and Greenie Weenie are catching good fish, along with Chompers DR worms in Red Plum and Brown with a purple stripe.

Next in the bag of tricks are the Spoons in all White or Chartreuse in sizes of in ½ to ¾ ounce. We have been getting some bigger fish suspended in the deep trees in the major creek arms and main lake flats in the deeper trees still, these fish are schooling up pretty good so when you find one good tree it will be loaded, expect 3 – 5 good fish then it is over, move on to the next tree. Use your electronics to find these trees and drop the spoon down to just above the tree, in the 35 - 45 foot range, use small jerks and watch for the fish to come up and check out the spoon, the bite always seems to be on the drop. Another good way to fish this spoon is to cast the spoon out and allow it to drop to the depth you are marking the balls of shad then proceed to rip the bait back with sharp jerks towards the boat allowing the bait to fall each time. Strike will come on the fall of the spoon.

BAXTER, CAMEL POINT, SHELL KNOB

In this area of the lake the better bite has come from two baits, first the spoon in the same colors, sizes and in the same type of areas, such as long points right next to deeper water and tops of deep trees in the 25- 35 foot range. Once you find these fish you will find large groups of fish, some small but some really nice keeper fish mixed in with them. The larger groups of fish seem to be on the points and secondary points on the bottom in this area in the 30 – 40 foot range, sometimes you will not see them until you get one to come up off the bottom and bite, then the whole group comes up.

Next after the spoon bite slows I will pickup a ½ to ¾ ounce Football Jig in the colors of Brown with purple flash, Missouri Craw, or PB&J matched with a twin tail 4” grub in green pumpkin or purple cinnamon colors or a smaller craw in the same colors. Crawl these baits along the bottom feeling for the light bite or dragging also working fine like a c-rig type retrieve. Bite is light so be ready but usually produces very nice fish.

JAMES RIVER ARM / AUNTS CREEK / CAPE FAIR

This area has been really slow for me in the past few weeks, but the lower James seems to be producing better fish for me from point 9 to the mouth of the white river arm. Spoons still seem to be the best in this area as the drop shot bite has slow a lot. Upper James areas have been producing some shakey jig fish in the river bends way up past Bridgeport. Also the rumor of a crankbait bite is still there, these guides are throwing larger DD-22 and DD-13 in Chart and Black, Chart and Blue on the flats with any type of lay downs or brush by running these bait right past or even into the structure then pausing the bait and wait for the bite. Slow running of these baits from 15 feet on down to the 20 plus feet seems to be getting the bite.

WHITE BASS

Well it seems the white bass bite at the dam has really came to a close as the fish have been pressured so much in the last few weeks, last week only one day of good catches was reports by any guide, most days you will do good to catch maybe 3 - 4 white but the sizes are much smaller, and those bite are getting far and few in between. Well there is always next year.

As the water temps start to lower down and less boat traffic the fishing will get much better in all of these areas. Fish will really start to school up in bigger groups and make catching bigger lots of fish a bunch easier. Go out and have some fun, good luck and be safe.

Be Careful and Good Fishing

Capt. Don House

[skeeter]

Many thanks, as always, Capt. Don. Outstanding, detailed report that is greatly appreciated. If I ever get done working on this consarned house maybe I can add some of my own.

[redneckssracer00]

Thanks for the report Don