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Table Rock Lake
 While
the lake boasts an abundance of bass, crappie, white bass, catfish,
and bluegill, Table Rock is acclaimed as one of the best bass
fishing lakes in this hemisphere. Its reputation for producing hefty
stringers of bass laced with lunkers was earned through an
unprecedented management program. A 15-inch length limit and creel
limit of six fish linked with an abundant food chain in the lake, is
the foundation of this fine program. The result is a resurgence of
large numbers of largemouth, Kentucky and smallmouth bass of
exceptional size available anytime of the year for the professional
and novice angler alike.
Fish Species
Table
Rock Lake contains several species of game and pan fish including:
Dominate Species:
Largemouth, Smallmouth and Spotted Bass, White Crappie, Bluegill,
Long Ear sunfish, Channel Catfish and Flat Head Catfish.
Secondary Species:
White Bass, Bullhead, Carp, and Black Crappie
Limited Species:
Walleye, Paddlefish, Warmouth, Striped Bass
Seasonal Fishing
Techniques
Spring:
As the water rises and warms the fish in Table Rock Lake become more
active moving into shallow areas seeking spawning locations. The
King’s River has the most color and will warm first followed by the
James River. If targeting Largemouth look for areas with shallow
wood cover in eight foot or less, Smallmouth and Spotted Bass will
be in the clearer water from the mid lake to the dam and can be
found holding on rock cover 15 feet deep or deeper.
 Popular
baits include; suspending jerkbaits like Smithwick Rouges or Lucky
Craft Pointers, white War Eagle spinnerbaits, tight wiggling
crankbaits like a Storm Wiggle Wart and small jig and craw combos
such as a Jewel Eakins’ Jig and Craw. Once the spawn is complete
fish will move out of spawning areas and suspend on points, bluff
ends and drop offs feeding on abundant threadfin shad, topwater
baits like a Heddon Spook or Lucky Craft Sammy are very effective
early and late in the day. Small buzzbaits, floating worms and
Yamamoto Senko are all productive post-spawn baits on Table Rock. On
windy days a 4” single tail smoke colored grub on a ¼ oz. head can
be hard to beat on flat pea gravel points and flats.
Summer:
Most of the fishing on the lower end of the lake in the summer takes
place well off shore. Spotted bass are the primary target and can be
caught on spoons, drop shot rigs and ¾ oz Jewel football jigs. The
fish will generally be found holding on the sides of deep points
from 30’ – 70’ deep. Using high quality sonar units fishermen will
locate schools of spotted bass and drop baits directly into the
school to trigger strikes. While not impossible to catch, Smallmouth
become pretty tight lipped in the heat of summer, most are caught on
the bottom holding tight to rock cover; shaky head worms, Jewel
spider jigs, Chompers’ spider grubs and tubes from 25’ – 45’ deep.
Largemouth can be found in the stained water of the James and Kings
rivers, 8” and 10” Berkley Power worms, Jewel Heavy Cover Football
Jigs and deep diving crankbaits like DD-22’s and DT-16’s in
chartreuse or shad colors are the most effective baits. Look for
Largemouth to be on points near main river or creek channel drops,
target isolated brush piles and standing timber to be effective.
 Fall:
Much like spring fall is a transition time for bass on Table Rock;
fish move out of their deep water summer haunts following schools of
shad as they move toward the backs of creeks in search of
zooplankton blooms. Channel swing banks and points close to channel
swings become very important in the fall, these areas act like
holding areas for both shad and bass causing both to “bunch up”
making the bass easier to catch. Productive baits include Jewel
spider and football jigs, Storm Wiggle Wart crankbaits and War Eagle
Spinnerbaits and buzzbaits. Look for wood cover on these type of
banks in the James and Kings River areas, while mixed rock will hold
Smallmouth in the lower end of the lake and Spotted bass can be on
either wood or rock of cover.
Winter:
This can be one of the most productive times of the year for Spotted
and Smallmouth bass, both species will school together and follow
large schools of threadfin shad into major creek arms and up the
river arms. A quality sonar unit is crucial to find and catch these
fish as they are usually suspended over water from 40’ – 150’ deep
using the shad as cover and a source of food. During this time of
year once you find the bait you will likely find the fish and you
rarely find less than 20 or 30. Spoons, drop shot rigs and blade
baits are your best bet this time of year, once the fish are located
it is a matter of dropping the bait in front of them to trigger a
strike. Fishing small jigs like an Eakins’ jig or a ¼ oz. buck hair
jig is a good secondary pattern in the winter. Deep rocky points and
bluff ends will hold all three species of bass from 10’ – 35’ deep.
Table Rock Lake, Guide Fishing Branson and Focused Fishing
Professional Guide Service in Branson, Missouri offer angling
enjoyment regardless of the season. Call Guide Fishing Branson or
Focused Fishing Professional Guide Service today to book a memorable
fishing experience.
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