Table Rock Lake in Branson, MO Fishing Report
Capt. Eric Prey
February 6, 2011
Table Rock - Freshwater Fishing Report
Lake - Table Rock
2/6/11:
Kimberling City Area: Access is a huge issue right now, the winter storm last week left many roads into and out of public ramps impassable with a trailer in tow. The majority of the ramps in the mid lake area are steep or at the end of steep roads making access almost impossible. The older ramp at Aunt's Creek is accessible but the road leading to the park was a little dicey as of Sunday morning. This is the best ramp to access the mid lake and James River right now. The bite in the main lake has change little over the last week; Jewel football and Eakins jigs on channel swing banks is still an effective pattern, work the jig slowly to draw strikes. SPRO McSticks and Lucky Craft Pointers are working around wood cover allow the bait to pause fifteen to twenty seconds between jerks. The deep bite is still very strong, look for schools of shad in and around deep trees near the center of creeks and drop ice jigs and War Eagle Spoons to fish holding tight to timber.
James River: Access the James via the Aunt's Creek ramp. SPRO McSticks have been very effective on transition areas from bluff or channel swing banks to flatter chunk rock or gravel points. Isolated timber on these points will hold most of the fish. A single tail grub bite has started to produce in standing timber on steeper banks as well. Most of the fish are fairly shallow in the trees but can be holding over as much as sixty feet deep. Make long casts with a four inch salt and pepper single tail grub on a quarter or three eighth ounce jig head, allow the bait to fall into the trees, and slowly retrieve the bait through the trees allowing it to fall every time a limb is crossed.
White River: Access to the White River has been tough; Shell Knob and Eagle Rock have the best access (Shell Knob is a little steep and snow covered and Eagle Rock is a ways up river), Viola and Big M are both almost impossible to access (Thanks Ryan for the info). The bite on the White continues to be good when you can get on the water; SPRO McSticks and Lucky Craft Pointers are working very well around isolated wood cover on channel swing transition areas. Allow the bait to pause fifteen to twenty seconds between jerks to draw strikes. Jewel jigs and craw combos are still working around deeper boat docks, pitch the jig to the center walkway of the dock, feed line until the jig hits bottom and work it back slowly to the boat.
Dam Area: The best access on the lower end is at Table Rock State Park, clear roads and a good ramp make putting in much easier than the rest of the lake. The deep bite continues to be the most predictable bite on the lower end. Major creek arms are more productive than the main lake right now, look for schools of bait holding in the center of the creek mid way to three quarters of the way back. Fish have been suspending below the shad in and around deep trees on the old creek channel. War Eagle spoons and Ice Baits have been the most productive offerings with a few anglers reporting the drop shot beginning to take off.
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