Water level = 914.7’ – Stable                 Water Temperature = 68.3° to 70.8°

In my April 30^th post, I noted that: “The 2012 Bass Pro Shops Central Open ended yesterday (May 29^th) and the winning angler was throwing a phantom green Wiggle Wart, and a Strike King 6XD in the 13’ to 20’ range.  A similar pattern was used in the BASS Elite victory last week on Bull Shoals, so this is an option you/I should definitely be exploring.”

Since I haven’t thrown a crank bait since the late prespawn period, and heeding my own advice, I threw one yesterday almost exclusively.  The results: 6 bass of which 3 were keepers, the largest being almost 4 lbs.  These were all caught in the 6’ to 10’ range in coves on and within 50 yards of secondary points.  I was throwing a foxy shad medium Switchback Shad which runs 10’ to 12’ deep.

Just to verify my pattern/results from Monday were still good, I also briefly threw a Carolina Rig on  secondary points.  It is working and I believe this pattern will hold indefinitely.  I baited the rig with a Zoom Brush Hog and a 6” Zoom lizard.  The lizard color was watermelon and chartreuse and the Brush Hog, watermelon with orange flake.

As noted in the previous report: “The bass are definitely in a post spawn stage now and, in the creeks and coves, seem to be in the 6’ to 10’ level.  With the shad spawn in high gear, I fully expect the coves and creeks to remain active for the next week to 10 days.”

One last item, prior to going out, rig a few rods with the baits you think you will be using so they are easily accessible when you encounter different conditions.  On any given day, one bait may be more effective than another, so you need to try an assortment of rigs or combinations to determine the “soup déjouer”.

This is a great time to be on the water so grab your friends and gear and enjoy these great fishing conditions.

Good luck and be careful out there.
See you on the water.

Tony Noland ® www.fishtablerock.com

As I mentioned in my April 26^th report, I have spoken to several anglers who have recently had success throwing a Carolina rig targeting secondary points in creeks and coves, so yesterday I committed to this pattern.  I fished for about 5 hours, had 9 bass of which 2 were keepers.  I primarily used one bait combination, a Zoom Brush Hog, watermelon with orange flake.  I did try a jig on a few main lake points as well as a few docks just inside main lake points, but had no takers.

The wind was from the south at about 10 mph and the sky was mostly cloudy.  I began throwing the bait shallow and after not having any success for an extended period of time, I backed the boat out into deeper water.  Again, I threw the bait shallow, but worked it out further into the deeper water.  I immediately got hit in about 8’ of water and this pattern continued on various points for the afternoon.

The bass are definitely in a post spawn stage now and, in the creeks and coves, seem to be in the 6’ to 10’ level.  With the shad spawn in high gear, I fully expect the coves and creeks to remain active for the next week to 10 days.

The 2012 Bass Pro Shops Central Open on Table Rock ended yesterday and the winning angler was throwing a phantom green Wiggle Wart, and a Strike King 6XD in the 13’ to 20’ range.  A similar pattern was used in the BASS Elite victory last week on Bull Shoals, so this is an option you/I should definitely be exploring.

This is a good time to be fishing.  The water and weather conditions are near perfect and it is a time you need to be prepared to try different lure combination options.  Lizards, Brush Hogs, Senkos and trick worms are all producing as are various crankbait and spinner baits.

Last item, when you find a good lay down or isolated brush, try multiple baits.  For example, just because you don’t get hit throwing a trick worm, it doesn’t mean there is nothing there.  Pick up a lizard, a jig or crank bait and throw it in there.

The weather forecast for this week is good, so be sure to get out and take advantage of these great conditions.

Good luck and be careful out there.  See you on the water.

Tony Noland ® www.fishtablerock.com

I fished about 2 ½ hours today and had 5 total Bass (1 keeper).  Much of the time, I spent scouting the shallows for bedding fish, but I didn’t see any.  I believe the spawn is over for the most part on the west side of the lake and the fish are making their way back into deeper water.  One reminder, Bass will take the same route back to deeper water that they took to spawn.

The fish I caught were away from the bank in water from 1’ to about 5’.  I also caught one on a shallow point near the back of a cove.  Another high pressure system moved in overnight along with northerly winds and I’m convinced this slowed the bite today.  I spoke to several anglers today and most were having a slow day as well.

All 5 fish I caught were on a Kinami Red Flash Bait and they did not hit it aggressively.  I had to let the bait sit for a few moments and either I would see my line start to move or I would feel the fish playing with the bait.  I also tried a Zoom 6” lizard and a spinner bait which has worked well recently, but without any success today.  During the past 2 or 3 weeks, I have found the bite better in the afternoon and today I had to leave before afternoon.

The creeks are absolutely loaded with shad, so that information should provide some guidance.

Last item; even though I didn’t have a chance to try it today, several people I’ve spoken with are having success throwing a Carolina Rig on secondary points and on long tapering main lake points. The baits of choice are a Zoom 6’ lizard and a Baby Brush Hog.  Watermelon with Red is the color I’m told.  Shad colored crank baits thrown parallel in 4’ to 8’ of water are also producing some fish as are chrome & black or chrome & blue Rattle Traps thrown into surfacing fish around points.

The weather forecast for the next week is good, so this is a good time to get out and take advantage of the great conditions.

Good luck and be careful out there.  I’ll see you on the water.

Tony Noland ® www.fishtablerock.com

Water level = 915.3’ & Rising              Water Temperature = 64° to 66°

Today was a blustery, cloudy day with temperatures in the 60’s.  Consistent winds from the SE at 20 to 30 mph certainly presented accurate casting challenges not to mention our ability to keep the boat in the correct position.

With a couple of exceptions, I am still not seeing bass on the beds  so cruising fish are the best bet now to target.

In spite of the weather challenges, we caught bass the entire time we were out. (Only 1 Keeper)  We caught our fish today on 5” Senkos, 5” Kinamis and Zoom 6” lizards.

Without exception, the fish were not biting aggressively.  We had to cast the lures as close to the banks as possible, slowly retrieve it to the nearest cover and then let it sit for a
moment.  After letting the bait sit for a few seconds, move it again slowly a few yards, letting it sit again for a couple of seconds before bringing the lure back to the boat.

In addition to the lures mentioned, my partner today threw spinner baits,
a jig and jerk bait on windy points without success.

It appears the fish have not moved back up into the more shallow areas where they were this past weekend.  The cold fronts and cool nights weve had this week have moved the fish a bit deeper.   The bass are, for the most part,  are in water from 1’ to 8‘ level, so they are easy to find.  I expect the lizard, Senko/Kinami and trick worm bite to continue for the next week to 10 days.  Surely the bass will be on the beds during this period getting ready for their post spawn trek back to deeper water and more their more permanent
late spring/summer habitat.

For those targeting crappie, I understand they are not on the bed and that there is not a consistent pattern.  Fish, are being caught, in some cases, in less than 10’ of water and others in the 10’ to 30’ depth range.

As noted in the past few reports, this is a great time of year to be on the water.

Good luck and be careful out there.  See you on the water.

Tony Noland ® www.fishtablerock.com

As I noted in the April 2^nd report, the long awaited great spring fishing time has arrived and I hope you have been able to or, are planning to get out on the water soon to take advantage of it.

Today was one of those dream days on the water.  I fished from 11 AM until about 2:30 PM and caught fish the entire time including 8 keepers.  All of the keepers came on a Senko and a floating lizard. Probably the deepest fish I caught today was in 3’ of water.
I also caught Bass throwing a craw colored Wiggle Wart parallel just inside coves and on points, but no keepers.

As most of you know, one of the best times to catch a lot of Bass is just prior to a front moving in and that is the condition I had today.  When I started this morning, the
wind was blowing from the Southwest at about 10 mph.  When the front arrived, shortly after 2 PM, the winds switched to the Northwest at 15 to 20 mph.  Just before the change, I had 3 keepers on 3 consecutive casts.

When the lake is dropping at a fairly rapid pace, the fish will move to the front of structure. Knowing this, and the fact that the fish are relatively shallow, I cast
the baits behind the target and slowly worked it out to the ends of the buck
brush and lay downs.  Once the lure was at the target position, I let it sit for just a moment and then started a slow retrieve back towards the boat.  Most of the hits came immediately after I started the retrieve to the boat.

I am not seeing any bass on beds yet, but they are getting close.  Today I saw several larger fish cruising the banks in the backs of coves or pockets, so we are definitely getting
closer.

With the cold front now here and wind direction change, the fish may move a bit deeper but they will not leave the area.  You will probably need to slow your retrieve to entice these bass.  As soon as the weather stabilizes, they will move back up and be more aggressive.

Zoom 6” lizards, Zoom trick worms and 5” Senkos are all good baits to throw now.  In addition, Flukes fished around brush and docks are consistent producers.

One last reminder, when you are throwing your baits into and around brush, it has a tendency to fray, so check your line often and retie after catching a few fish.  The last
thing you want is to try to catch a 5lb + on frayed line.

Good luck and be careful out there.  See you on the water.

Tony Noland ® www.fishtablerock.com