(Bull Shoals)Help!

[LP-Fishman]

Is there any guys on here that have some solid experience fishing Bull Shoals? My brother has lived on the the lake for close to 3 years and we are yet to figure it out.

It baffels me. I'm from the Midwest and have fished some tough lakes but this is one of the only lakes where I've been skunked on more then one occasion. Some days we really get a pattern dialed in. But it's like it changes over night. I realize it's a flood control lake, so the water fluctuation is constantly changing things.

But it shouldn't be this hard. The water temps got up around 58 degrees today. Shouldn't they be moving up to the creek channels?

Any advice from some of you that know this lake would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

LP

[Ozark_Basser]

I have fished Bull Shoals a lot, especially the west half from Peel to Tucker Hollow. Bass will stay in the creeks all year. I usually map out spots I'm going to fish beforehand on a topo, then run and gun until I think I've figured them out. I like to drag a 3/4 oz football jig across creek points, especially gravel points this time of year. Also, grinding a wiggle wart through rock transitions, points, bluff ends, or just covering water in the backs of creeks is always good on that lake in the spring. If I find a nice looking cove with clear water, I'll pull out a jerkbait. Seed tick hollow towards Peel is usually pretty clear this time of year and has produced some of my biggest smallmouth on a jerkbait during the spring. If the bites really tough or the water is super clear, I'll fish a hula grub on a jighead or a reaper on a shakey head.

Don't be afraid to fish tight to that buck brush either. There's more fish in there than you think. My bigger bites usually come from out deeper on the points though.

Do some reading on seasonal patterns and use this link to find some good spots.

http://webapp.navionics.com/

I would recommend buying a fishing hotspots topo though if you are going to take it seriously. They have them at Walmart. They show what the banks are made of such as clay, rock, gravel etc.

[LP-Fishman]

Jiggin'-

I really appreciate it man! I got one more day here to grind it and try to figure em out. I believe my brother has one of those maps. I'll study it in the mornin and hopefully turn things around. Thanks again for the detailed feedback!

[CRANKENSTIEN]

I was on a houseboat in aug 2011. It was hot and dry and I got skunked for the week. Embarrassing. I was there in June 2013 and did ok. Can't help you but I know that lake can be tough at times if you don't know it. I do love bull shoals the lake and water are amazing

[Bluebasser86]

What part of the lake are you fishing? We normally stick to around the dam and do pretty well. If you haven't tried a Keitech Swing Impact on a 1/4oz jighead or a Ned rig, I'd be trying both of those. 

[Ozark_Basser]

The Ned rig is also probably a good option. I still haven't tried it. I guess I'm not a true Midwesterner. A lot of people use it and love it. I plan on fishing more with a spinning outfit this year.

[scaleface]

I fished it one time . It was so high the boat ramps were underwater. 35 foot high and rising. I found smallmouth bass 35 foot deep on a point up by Theodosia in Missouri. Caught them on brown tubes with quarter ounce heads. 

[LP-Fishman]

We're farther up between cedar and bee creek in Kirbyville. All the launches are underwater. I appreciate the advice from everyone. We managed to catch 5 yesterday on the very back end of the narrowest creeks we could find. The bottom had to primarily be gravel and water temp above 57. That seemed to be the formula.

I might get one more chance to go out for a few hours tonight. I'll post some pics if I hook a good'n.

[Hooligan]

This time of year it can really be hit or miss, and by inches not feet. All the years I've fished Bull, and I still have days that don't account for much.

First thing I'm going to do is start dragging a big jig- 3/4 or 1 ounce with a fairly large trailer on main lake points. You're in pretty good water, where you are, no need to run a long way. A big spinnerbait will get it done, too. Move in to secondary points until you find fish. Look for your creek channels and swings closest to pints right now. Many of the bigger fish are still interested in having that stable, deep water near.

I fish a lot of wiggle warts just grinding gravel and chunk rock where you can find transitions.

These are very general patterns that you can count on in spring. You just have to find those areas holding fish.

[Bankbeater]

I love Bull Shoals, but that lake can really bust you sometimes.  We usually go in the summer, and it takes several days to figure them out.  If you can flooded timber try using 1/2 spinnerbaits.