Table Rock Lake in Branson, MO Fishing Report
Capt. Eric Prey
February 21, 2011
Table Rock - Freshwater Fishing Report
Lake - Table Rock
2/21/11:
Kimberling City Area: The access issues have disappeared as the snow has melted, all of the ramps around the lake are open but be careful when you launch as the water is down and a few ramps are not deep enough to launch. The bite has picked up with warming water and a slight rise in lake level; SPRO McSticks and other jerkbaits have been very effective on both steep banks with isolated trees and flat mixed rock windy points. The majority of strikes come as the bait is sitting still and pauses up to fifteen seconds are need to draw strikes. Jewel Eakins jig and craw combos are working on steep banks as well; areas that still have run off coming into the lake remain the locations.
James River: The upper James is ice free but has the coldest water temperatures on the lake right now, there is an area of dirty water around Cape Fair that warms up quicker than the rest of the river but is still cooler than the mid lake or main lake areas. SPRO McSticks and Smithwick Rogues have been effective bait on bluff ends and other steep banks, with the cooler water a pause of as long as thirty seconds between jerks is not uncommon. The Eakins jig bite is still pretty strong on channel swing banks in the larger creek arms; look for the area where the channel moves away from the bank and transitions to hold most of the fish.
White River: All of the ramps are open on the White and Kings rivers, much like the rest of the lake look before you launch to make sure the ramp is deep enough for your rig. Three bites are shaping up in the White River area; a solid jerkbait bite, a good jig and grub bite have all been effective ways to put fish in the boat. Like the mid lake area look for isolated cover on steeper banks and shallow mixed rock banks to be the most effective areas to throw a jerkbait. Steeper channel swing banks in larger creek arms are great areas to pitch an Eakins jig and craw combos. Finally, single tail four inch grubs in smoke or salt and pepper on a quarter ounce head worked along the bottom around schools of shad will produce numbers and quality.
Dam Area: The lower end of the lake still has some great fishing; jerkbaits, Eakins jig and craws and single tail grubs are all producing fish throughout the lower end of the lake. The same patterns that are working in the mid lake and White river are effective on the lower end. Further up Long Creek the water has a lot more color and is much warmer than the rest of the lake. While a Jewel jig or jerkbait is still the best option water temperatures around forty – five degrees mean a wiggle wart bite is not far away.
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