Table Rock Lake in Branson, MO 5/16 Fishing Report
Capt. Eric Prey
May 16, 2010
Table Rock - Freshwater Fishing Report
Lake - Table Rock
5/16/10:
Kimberling City Area: With the final wave of spawning fish on the beds the majority have transitioned into post spawn. Topwater baits continue to produce on suspended fish in tree tops both on bluff end points and in spawning pockets. Spooks, Red Finns and Sammys are all still producing fish during low light conditions, watch for surfacing fish. The influx of fresh water from run off has brought the lake up over two feet bringing shallow cover into play throughout the lake. In the mid lake area look for flat banks with flooded buck brush to be holding fry, guarding bass and bluegill that have moved up to feed on the fry and begin their spawning process. Target these fish by flipping a green pumpkin / green flash Jewel Eakins or Spider Jig with a green pumpkin J tail, a Chompers Ultra Tube or Skirted Grub or a Sweet Beaver all in green pumpkin. Dye the tails of all these baits with chartreuse to better mimic the colors of a bluegill.
James River: The water in the James, particularly the upper James, has a lot of color in it with the recent rains. A topwater bait will still work early and late on bluff ends and in spawning cuts to target post spawn fish. The amount of flooded cover has increased with the amount of rising water and a very good flipping bite can be found from Buzzard Branch to above Flat Creek. Jewel Heavy Cover Finesse jigs in brown / purple flash and black / blue flash, Chompers Ultra Tubes and Sweet Beavers will produce both quantity and quality in and around this cover. There is a spinnerbait and shallow crankbait bite in these same areas; Chompers McCutchen spinnerbaits in chartreuse shad and Lucky Craft RC crankbaits will produce when fished close to the cover on cloudy or windy days.
White River: The White River remains a tremendous fishery. From Baxter to above Big M several patterns will produce fish; topwater during low light hours or cloudy days will produce post spawn fish, an Eakins jig or Ultra tube flipped to flooded buck brush, a four inch single tail Chompers grub on a quarter ounce head and a Jewel football jig are all effective right now. Points near spawning pockets are key locations to fish a single tail grub, the fish have move out a little in the past week and can be caught suspended of the bottom from approximately ten feet deep over fifteen to twenty feet of water. Keep your boat in twenty to twenty – five feet of water, make a long cast, allow the bait to sink for five seconds and begin a moderate fast retrieve back to the boat. Depending on how aggressive the fish are strikes can be vicious or subtle so pay close attention. Several quality fish have moved to ledges over the past week, use a Jewel half or five –eighths ounce football jig with a Paca craw trailer and work the bait from ten to twenty feet deep paying close attention whenever the bait is falling of a ledge.
Dam Area: The dam area continues to be outstanding as well; four inch grubs, topwaters, flukes, Squirrel heads and football jigs will all produce fish throughout the lower end. Spooks, Sammys and Red Fins are producing around standing timber on bluff ends and around spawning pockets during low light conditions. Four inch Chompers single tail grubs on quarter ounce heads are working for suspended fish over gravel points and banks approximately eight feet deep over twenty. Weightless flukes continue to work around large condo and community boat docks, sunny days are much more productive than cloudy ones, concentrate your efforts in shady areas. Jewel Squirrel Head and Football Jigs are producing on ledge and steeper banks both on the main lake and toward the back of creek arms. Work both these baits from the moss line (approximately twelve feet deep) down the ledges to twenty or twenty five feet deep.
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