Strategy Help for Long Creek Arm

[MickinMO]

I have the opportunity to borrow a boat and take my teenage son bass fishing this week, which is something he's been wanting to get into.  I haven't targeted bass on Table Rock in over 20 years and that was west of Shell Knob back in the day with a buddy who knew what he was doing. We'll have both spinning rods and baitcasters to use. He wants to just throw spinnerbaits and cranks non-stop, but I'd prefer this not to just turn into casting practice. The ol' general fisherman in me who didn't care what I caught while on the water, would always have luck catching smaller black bass on 3-4" grubs this time of year and might just get a mess of crappie too. I am a bit overwhelmed at all of the tackle options that are a lot different than anything I am familiar with.  Would prefer to stay in the long creek arm and not go past the dam or at least not very far. Any basic suggestions would be appreciated!

 

[snagged in outlet 3]

Ned rig.  Get out early.  Wake boats were already out this week.  

[Quillback]

I don't fish that area of the lake, but I can tell you that on the lower end of Beaver Ned rigs are working really well with small swimbaits a close second.   Swimbaits may be a good choice for your son, similar to cranks and spinner baits as you can cast and retrieve them.  Might be a top water bite too.

[bferg]

I’m headed over next week and I have a spinnerbait ready to go- that should be good with some high water and hopefully a Shad spawn.

I would also have a topwater like a pop-r ready.

Ned rig and at 3.3 inch swimbait in a Shad color (I like the keitech 3.3 in pro blue Pearl) catch fish on that lake 365 days a year.  I like a 1/4 oz jig head for it.  

and a wacky rig senko should work too…

it’s doesn’t have to be complicated or overwhelming- there are 1,000’s of baits but a few things are dependable for getting bites- this time of year you can catch them a lot of ways.   

[Matt Henry]

On 5/5/2024 at 8:01 AM, MickinMO said:

I have the opportunity to borrow a boat and take my teenage son bass fishing this week, which is something he's been wanting to get into.  I haven't targeted bass on Table Rock in over 20 years and that was west of Shell Knob back in the day with a buddy who knew what he was doing. We'll have both spinning rods and baitcasters to use. He wants to just throw spinnerbaits and cranks non-stop, but I'd prefer this not to just turn into casting practice. The ol' general fisherman in me who didn't care what I caught while on the water, would always have luck catching smaller black bass on 3-4" grubs this time of year and might just get a mess of crappie too. I am a bit overwhelmed at all of the tackle options that are a lot different than anything I am familiar with.  Would prefer to stay in the long creek arm and not go past the dam or at least not very far. Any basic suggestions would be appreciated!

 

Single Tail grub in white or grey will catch fish!