Table Rock Lake Current Fishing Report 9-4-18

Surface temps the last few days has been hanging in the 76 to 79 range depending on area of the lake. This morning at Shell Knob it was 77 and pretty much stayed there. I'm going to go ahead and do the K-Knob first. Lets just say Shell Knob to Big M and Shell Knob to Baxter as it is all pretty much the same deal right now, with one note worthy exception that I will tell your about in a minute.

Lots and lots of drop shot fish in the 26 to 40g foot range not so much really congregated but several on a lot of locations, mostly gravel. There are also fish chasing all day long, some in the middle and some just about everywhere. I can't catch them worth a hoot on top water, but they will eat a under spin with a 2.8 inch Keitech decent. What they will eat the best is a 1/2 oz. Little George in Silver or Chrome. I started at the end of last week with 5 most of them probably 20 yrs. old and I now have none. They took them from me.

Today especially, as I saw something I have not seen for 25 plus years on the Rock. Today I witnessed at massive school of LM chasing shad. The last time was up the Kings River near Blue Hole today it was at the mouth of the Kings. I was fishing the point going into Mill Creek at Twin Rivers and saw them bust right in the middle of the White River Channel. Its 98 feet deep right there. I really did not pay a total load of attention as I thought they were Whites and would be up and down. Deal was they stayed and stayed up. Finely after about 5 minutes I just had to go check it out as they just kept surfacing in about a 40 acre patch. I pulled out there and tossed the Little George. and it was a total slam and while I was reeling in the fish I saw that they were LM. busting all around the boat. Got the fish to the boat and it was a solid 4 pounder. When to reach over for him and he dived and snapped off the George. I had another one rigged so I calmly did the same frigging thing and lost another Little George. These were on 6lb that I had been catching K's on with out a problem. These LM were not that by a long shot and they were moving and slashing at top speed. Picked up another rod with a yellow magic and they were still busting all around me. Some of these feeds were as big as a bushel basket. Tossed out the YM on 8 pound Maxi and as soon as it hit the water if was gone, I mean it was like you threw in a 500 lb. boulder. It was there one minute and I had a slack line the next.

I had 2 remaining rods with baits, both were under spins on 8 pound line. I boated 6 LM on them all about 3 pounders before the Keitechs were torn off. I also caught 1 more on a drop shot and one on a swim jig. All cookie cutter 3 pounders. These fish were on the surface at least 20 minutes and then they were gone. Wish I would have had a camera guy but the futility and craziness would have really embarrassed me.

Reason for all the lite tackle was I was to have had some extremely mature fishermen today and that was what they were comfortable with. Due to the rain at Shell Knob they did not get out, so I was on my own after the drive over. I has also been catching some up there swimming a jig thru deep trees, and that has been a hoot.

Now for the rest of the lake. The deep Football jig bite has really tapered off, and the drop shot bite is back on again from Kimberling City to the dam. Guides are telling me a half day trip they are using 6 dozen crawlers and fish are both suspended and on the bottom in the 26 to 35 ft. range.

James River is still fishing well on the Football Jig at that same 30' depth range with some really solid K's and LM along with the big boys.

Hope I don't have to wait another 25 years to see LM surface on the rock in a massive school like this. I don't believe there was any other bass in that 40 acre school but LM and as I have said, for the Rock in Post LM kill that is just something few people have ever gotten to see.

Good Luck