Table Rock A-Rigs

[rangerjockey]

I'd rather be on it right now through march ,not much boat traffic.. Theres a A-rig bite ,stickbait bite and hopefully the wiggle wart will hang on for a few weeks yet..Nothing wrong with spring time but for the opportunity at bigger fish I'd take my chances for the next few months with a stickbait or the A-rig .There's some pretty good sticks in the local tournaments around here and not everyone's weighing a limit no matter the time of year..heck theres been times in team events my partner and I couldn't put together a limit between us and we have 50 years or so combined on it...just sayin...can be a fickle place.

[Bluebasser86]

In April?  That is the one time of the year I would almost guarantee five keepers on the Rock.  

There were pros who didn't catch 5 last year, and the fishing was really good while they were there. Table Rock is such a fickle lake. I've fished it quite a few times and can think of 4 different tournaments that neither my boater or I had a limit in April, on all different parts of the lake. It's one of my favorite times to be there, but it doesn't guarantee anything.

 

You bring up a good point. I dont want to go here, but I will, so let's not let this get out of hand. If I throw an A-rig, I'm bound to get a limit, and then I'll be able to effectively start culling or change my game and go trophy hunting. 

 

Also, is there anything that will dictate what plastics I should put on? First thing I picture is MoneyMinnows ($6 for 5) But I can get Havoc Beat Shads for ($2 for 8). Much better deal, obviously. 

I threw an A rig on Table Rock a lot last year while the Elites were there. We were killing the fish on jerks, warts, bladed jigs, and football jigs. After hundreds of casts with the A rig I'd caught, wait for it, 1 13" spot. If you truly think you're going to go to Table Rock and catch an easy limit on an A rig, just know that there's a good chance you're going to be very disappointed. If you're really dead set on tossing one to try to catch a limit, Keitech Swing Impacts are what I'd be using. If anything I'd say you have it backwards. Fish something else to get your limit, start tossing the A rig looking for that big fish bite. 

[Robert Riley]

I feel like every lake that my college sends me to is one of these "fickle lakes".

 

I may be stubborn, but I know advice when I hear it, thanks for the tips.

[EmersonFish]

I don't know about the other lakes your college has sent you to, but Bluebasser86 is right about Table Rock. It's pretty well known for being as "fickle" as a lake can get. Throw in the fact that April can be pretty fickle itself in this area of the country, and you just have to be prepared for anything. I assume you'll get to do some pre-fishing. Sling that A-Rig and see what happens, particularly around the brush piles the corps places in the lake. You can find maps indicating where those are, and you'll see signs on the bank. But you have to come here with stick/jerk baits, cranks, etc. If a cold front comes through, I fish baits closer to the rocks in deeper water like football jigs, hardheads jigs, shaky heads, etc... If there is a lot of rain and the water gets muddier, power fishing comes into play, and you'll get left behind targeting spots in open water. If it's hot, bluebird skys, no wind, perhaps you have some skies in the boat you want to try out (just kidding). I guess all I'm saying is, bring a lot of eggs and a lot of baskets.