Guide and tournament fisherman, Eric Prey.
BRANSON, Mo., October 18, 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 1300 on October 18 is 908.30 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: Fishing guides have found the lower end of Table Rock Lake a little tougher over the past week. Smallmouth are still holding shallow, but recurring cold fronts push them back into deeper water for a day or two every week. Tightlines UV Lowen Tubes and Chompers Ultra tubes in green pumpkin and watermelon red flake on a ¼ oz. head fished slowly on pea gravel and mixed rock and gravel points has been the best option. Table Rock spotted bass have moved a little deeper in Branson. Fishing guides have still had success with drop shot rigs tipped with Tightlines UV or Chompers worms from 25’ – 45’ deep either directly on the bottom or in tree tops.
Kimberling City Area: The mid lake has a little more color in the water than Branson. Fishing guides have been doing well targeting shallow fish on gravel and rocky banks with a variety of banks and presentations; Tightlines UV tubes and Chompers tubes are working using the same technique used in Branson. Fishing guides have also been doing well with Jewel football jigs and spider jigs on rocky banks; look for areas with ledges that drop 3’ – 6’ to be holding most of the fish caught on jigs. The topwater bite is spotty at best in Kimberling; have a spook or Sammy at the ready when fish surface but it is not a reliable pattern yet.
James River: The heavy rains last week have added a lot of color to the James River. Fish are much shallower in the James River than in Kimberling City or Branson. Fishing guides are finding fish around shallow wood cover from Aunts Creek to above Cape Fair. Table Rock largemouth are being caught on variety of baits in and around wood cover; Chompers spinnerbaits, shallow crankbaits, and Buzzbaits have been working early and late in the day, cast any of these baits beyond the cover and work around the cover to draw strikes. One the sun comes up switch to slower moving baits like Tightlines UV Jig Trailers and Beavers on Jewel Squirrel head jigs. Pitch the bait to shady spots around wood cover to catch fish hiding from the sun.
White River: The White River of Table Rock Lake has the most diverse fishing on the lake. Early in the day the topwater bite is stronger here than anywhere else on the lake, cast Sammies, Spooks and Pop-R’s as close to standing timber in gravel pockets as possible. Most of the blow ups will come as the bait comes close to the tree. Just like in Branson fishing guides are catching fish shallow on Tightlines UV and Chompers tubes cast to gravel points as shallow as five feet deep. Spotted Bass can be caught by using a drop shot rig with either Tightlines UV or Chompers worms or Chompers Webb Tail spoons from 25’ – 45’ deep.
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
