Guide and tournament fisherman, Eric Prey.
BRANSON, Mo., August 30, 2012. A comprehensive weekly fishing report on Branson, Missouri’s Table Rock Lake. Table Rock Lake covers 43,100 surface acres and has 857 miles of shoreline so this report covers the portion of Table Rock Lake that most people staying in the Branson area would typically be fishing and is submitted under the auspices of the Central Pro- Am Association (CPAA) by guide(s) who are actively involved in guiding on almost a daily basis. The level of Table Rock Lake as of 2400 on August 30 is 908.54. The Seasonal Conservation Pool, level of Table Rock Lake at this time of year is 917.0.
Table Rock Lake by Eric Prey, FocusedFishing.com
Branson Area: Cooler weather, shorter days and a little bit of rain have moved fish shallower in Branson. Fishing guides continue to catch fish on drop shot rigs with Chompers, Tight Lines and ROBO worms worked on pea gravel main lake points from 20’ – 30’ deep. Most of the fish are holding tight to the bottom or near brush and rock piles. Up Long Creek south of Branson, fishing guides have been putting fish in the boat on Jewel Squirrel heads with finesse worms, Pro Spider jigs with J Tail Trailers and Chompers skirted twin tail grubs on stand up heads. Look for transition areas where rock changes to gravel to be the most productive.
Kimberling City Area: The Kimberling City area and the rest of the mid lake has been even more productive than Branson. Fishing guide trips have started with topwater lures in the morning; spooks, Sammies and pop-r’s have been the most productive, Jewel spider jigs and Squirrel heads once the sun rises and drop shot rigs in the midday. Most fish are shallower in the mid lake than Branson, fishing guides are catching fish as shallow as five feet deep early and only moving to 25’ deep in the heat of the day
James River: The rain this past week has turned the James River on. Unlike in Branson, fishing guide trips are focused on shallow water almost all day long. Early in the day buzz baits have been extremely productive, look for shallow wood cover and make multiple casts on each side of the wood to draw strikes. As the sum comes up there is no reason to move deep, there are plenty of fish holding shallow in pockets and in the back of creeks feeding on shad that have moved up to spawn. Tightlines big jerk soft jerkbaits have been very effective around these feeding fish, watch for surface action and schools of moving shad to find the fish.
White River: The topwater bite in the White River has turned on in a big way over the past week. Watch for surface activity on shallow main lake gravel points and cast Sammies, spooks and pop-r’s toward the surface action. As the sun rises the same patterns working in the mid lake will work in the White River. Jewel football and Spider jigs, Squirrel heads and Carolina rigged creatures are all effective just like in Branson. Fishing guides have been having some success in the stained water of the Kings River; shallow crankbaits, small spinnerbaits and soft jerkbaits have all been effective when shad are present.
Submitted by Eric Prey, Focused Fishing for Central Pro-Am Association
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As part of its continuing commitment to serving the community, Branson Tourism Center (BTC), one of Branson’s largest and most respected sellers of vacation planning services, Branson show tickets, attraction tickets and lodging is proud to sponsor this fishing report, the Central Pro-Am Association and K.A.S.T. (Kids Are Special Too). BTC can be reached by calling 800-785-1550 or by visiting their website www.BransonTourismCenter.com. The Central Pro Am Association, through such sponsorship and that of Ranger Boats and Mercury Marine,is pleased to participate in furnishing this report to those fishing the Branson Tri-Lakes area.
