Table Rock Lake in Branson, MO fishing report
Capt. Eric Prey
April 25, 2011
Table Rock - Freshwater Fishing Report
Lake - Table Rock
4/25/11:
Kimberling City Area: Welcome to the flood of 2011. Rain totals of over twelve inches in some areas and an average rainfall of over five inches throughout the water shed are driving lake levels higher every day. At the time of this report Table Rock is at 922' above sea level which is seven feet above power pool and eight feet below the top of the flood control pool and rivers in the area have not crested. Obviously massive changes will be taking place as water levels off and techniques and tactics from last week will be less effective. With memories of the 2008 flood in mind here are predications for this weeks fishing; until water levels stabilize fish will be scattered making fishing tough, search baits like a Chompers McCutchen Spinnerbait or lipless crankbait worked around isolated flooded brush should draw strikes from scattered fish, covering "good' water near spawning locations will be key. As the water stabilizes Jewel Eakins and Spider Jigs will become more important, isolated cover in and around spawning coves will be key.
James River: Some fish did manage to spawn before the heavy rain over the weekend; hopefully the fry was hatched and ran to the bushes with the rising water. Much like the mid lake search baits will be key until the water stabilizes. The James will be muddy for some time so finding areas with better visibility be important as well, brighter colors in both crankbaits and spinnerbaits worked around isolated cover toward the backs of larger coves will be a strong pattern early, look for coves with little water running in to have the best visibility and the best bite early. As water levels and turbidity stabilize isolated cover in and around spawning areas will be important, bushes, trees, lawn ornaments, picnic tables, just about anything that provides cover will hold fish
White River: No area of the lake will be immune to the flood, areas of the White river below the confluence with the Kings has a considerable amount of color and debris already and until the Kings River crests the muddy water and floating debris will continue. Use caution in the Kings River, it is notorious for developing large
"rafts of debris" that can block the entire river channel. Chompers Spinnerbaits and Jewel Finesse Flippin' jigs worked around isolated cover will be important offerings. Above the confluence water will remain clearer, while run off will be muddy, releases from Beaver Dam (none as of this report) will have less color than runoff. Lipless crankbaits and spinnerbaits will be key to locating scattered fish, look for isolated pieces of cover on flats to be key. Once the water stabilizes Jewel jigs and Chompers Tubes will be effective presentations around the same cover.
Dam Area: While normally the most stable area of the lake the lower end will be a bit more challenging during high water. The muddy water from Long Creek will make visibility difficult and take many baits off the table. Finding water with better clarity will be key until water levels stabilize, look for coves off the main channel with little run off that run parallel to current flow to be clearest. Much like the rest of the lake search baits will be important until water levels stabilize; Chompers Spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits and topwater baits will all be significant make multiple casts around isolated cover to draw strikes. Once water levels stabilize Jewel jigs around these same pieces of cover will dominate.
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