Shell Knob And The Varmint Table Rock Lake Report

Surface temps at the kick-off were 43 degree and the water is very clear with visibility to I'm guessing between 12' and 15' No breeze, just the right kind of a morning for the deep bite.

Did not find it but I did find the creek channels full of Gizzard Shad.

Thought at first they might be White's, but snagged 3 and never had a bump on the 1/2 oz. spoon.

On the slick water I then had only a couple of choices, being the stupid rig and the Varmint. Tossed the rig a few times and caught 2 and lost one big puller, did not see it so have no idea.

Started on the Varmint on a chunk rock interior point with the boat in about 30' of water and a full cast off the bank.

Fished it on a slack line with a 1/8th. oz head and they would just load and load and load on it. Fished only 2 locations from 0800 till I saw Champ, around Noon and it was silly.

Lots of short fish with a 15" to 16" every forth or fifth cast. Not going to guess the number, but I was busy.

Spoke to James and he brought a curse on me. Only 2 more in the next 2 hrs. Ran up the lake above the Kings and Quill was plying his trade in that area. Always good to see him. Quill I caught on really nice LM in that timbered main lake pocket on a Rig and that was it for me.

I fished 4 locations this morning and caught fish off 3. Had the Table Rock slam and also caught 2 off a Stain Reaction Plus when the wind puffed up a bit. All the Varmint fish were just spitting crayfish. Had several small craw's that were under an inch spit into the boat. I know nothing about the cycle of crayfish reproduction, but those sure could not have been very old.

Surface temp at the ramp when I cam in a 3 was 47.7.

Good Luck