Any Pomme de Terre reports?

[KC Bass Fanatic]

I'm curious as to how you guys are approaching the bluff banks. How far down the bluffs are you going or are you just concentrating on the bluff ends and/or cuts/pockets along the bluff, etc?? Are you fishing big chunks of broken rock or more vertical bluff walls?

I'm going to assume that there is pole timber on a lot of the bluffs - are the fish relating to that or more to rock?

I didn't fish anything parallel on my last trip - made 45 and 90 degree flips to the bank with a jig. We struggled to get bites on the spinnerbait - guess we should've paralleled some of those banks too.

Anything else I should be thinking about?

Mid-MO I like to hit the bluff ends first this time of year but if the bluff has timber on it then bass will suspend on it almost year round.

On the parallel bank fishing - if you aren't getting bit on the spinnerbait I like to go to a buzzbait or square bill to get a 'reaction' bite. I've been catching a lot of fish like this.

Pomme is on fire right now and the fish are scattered everywhere. They are on bluffs to the backs of coves so pick your poison and have fun. Water temp as of today - 60 degrees.

We're catching them on spinnerbaits, crankbaits, traps, buzzbaits, jigs, plastics....you get the point. The lake is absolutely on fire.

[Mid-MO]

Thanks for the help!

Got rained out Thursday and went back down to Pomme.  Started pretty slow as we tried a few new places down the Lindley arm.  Wasted most of the morning bouncing around a few channel swings, a couple of coves, and a couple of main lake flats.  Wasn't much wind in the Lindley arm where we were at.  Ended up with three keepers for the morning.

Headed back to the Pomme side after lunch and one of the spots we had caught some good fish on last Saturday.  Immediately caught a 3 and 1/2 and another 15" keeper.  Worked on in and caught several more keepers.  Started looking for a similar spot on the map and headed down past Lightfoot. That was another mistake - spent about an hour down there and decided to head back to a spot we had passed. 

Found a bunch of fish stacked up there.  Ended up with 12 keepers - 5 of which were over 15".  Best 5 went around 11. 

Wish we would've gone to the Pomme side immediately. Thought it was  a good time to look for some other fish but wish we'd have had the time to fish a few spots more thoroughly.  It's definately hot right now.

[Derek Chance]

Great thread and reports. I also have a place on Pomme and I get down there whenever I can. Being from Rolla I don't have a ton of time to "cover water" so these reports help. I am going to be down there on Wednesday before Turkey Day and do some scouting. KC you said Nemo is open and good to use? That is closest to my subdivision. May have a backseat open if anyone is interested for a couple hrs of fishing.

[Derek Chance]

I've been fishing Pomme the last few years in early November with a guy that, IMO, only claims to know the lake. It's his boat so I'm at the mercy of his "spots". We tend to fish the Pomme creek arm up through the main lake but have never ventured down the Lindley arm.

In your opinion, which arm is better that time of year? Also, if you don't mind me asking, KC, where are these "stump fields" you mentioned?

Any tips you can give would be much appreciated. I only get 2 days a year on Pomme - always the first weekend in November.

THANKS

I always like the Pomme arm any time of year over the Lindley because there are more areas that I like to fish. Just a personal preference. If you fish the Lindley arm in Oct/Nov always hit Haverstick branch - it is a stump filled cove and shad pack in there so tight you can walk across them.

As far as stump fields; I already mentioned Haverstick on the Lindley arm. The Pomme arm: Coopers Cove, Fugat/Big Hollow, Twin Coves, Possum Creek, all are heavy stump fields with standing timber and laydowns/brush piles in water 1-25' deep. If you don't already having a fishing Hot Spots map for Pomme, pick one up. All the areas I mention here are on there.

FYI the lake is 5' low and will be that way for a while. The better bite is along bluffs right now because of the water level change. Spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, square bills, parallel to the bank on the bluffs in 1-3' of water. You have to nose your boat right up to the bank and cast parallel.

KC I know Coopers and Possum Creek, but where are the others located? Fugat/Big Hollow? Twin Coves?

[KC Bass Fanatic]

Derek Twin Coves is just north of the Bolivar access ramp (all the way south on the Pomme Arm).  Fugat/Big Hollow is 2 coves that fork off the Pomme Arm on the East side.  It's almost directly across from Lightfoot access.  Hope this helps.  Do you have a fishing hot spots map?  If not I highly recommend it.  Good luck!

[KC Bass Fanatic]

Great thread and reports. I also have a place on Pomme and I get down there whenever I can. Being from Rolla I don't have a ton of time to "cover water" so these reports help. I am going to be down there on Wednesday before Turkey Day and do some scouting. KC you said Nemo is open and good to use? That is closest to my subdivision. May have a backseat open if anyone is interested for a couple hrs of fishing.

Yeah Nemo is open and in good shape - they have waived the usual launching fee while the lake is low too. What subdivision are you in? Don't say Real McCoy!! That's where I'm at.

[Derek Chance]

Yeah, I have that map and maps in my electronics units, but it was not labeled. I fish all of those just was not aware of thier names. I have done well in Possum Creek but do not venture too far back, how far back there do you like to fish? Any tips on where to go this wednesday? Is the Nemo ramp good to use? thanks again man.

[Derek Chance]

Great thread and reports. I also have a place on Pomme and I get down there whenever I can. Being from Rolla I don't have a ton of time to "cover water" so these reports help. I am going to be down there on Wednesday before Turkey Day and do some scouting. KC you said Nemo is open and good to use? That is closest to my subdivision. May have a backseat open if anyone is interested for a couple hrs of fishing.

Yeah Nemo is open and in good shape - they have waived the usual launching fee while the lake is low too. What subdivision are you in? Don't say Real McCoy!! That's where I'm at.

I am currently in Lake Forest subdv. it is off of J8 near pittsburg. on the water our subd. ramp is in a cut right down from fisher cove. Where's Real McCoy?

[KC Bass Fanatic]

Yeah, I have that map and maps in my electronics units, but it was not labeled. I fish all of those just was not aware of thier names. I have done well in Possum Creek but do not venture too far back, how far back there do you like to fish? Any tips on where to go this wednesday? Is the Nemo ramp good to use? thanks again man.

I'm going down tonight for 3 days. I'll post how I did and locations etc on Monday.

Real McCoy is on the Pittsburg side of the Nemo bridge, the first dirt road after the bridge. By water it's in Russell Cove. I fish quite a bit in Fisher Cove - bass & crappie!

[Derek Chance]

you ever fish the hump and roadbed at Russel Cove? how have you done?

[KC Bass Fanatic]

you ever fish the hump and roadbed at Russel Cove? how have you done?

I do fish those and I also know of a couple of brush piles that some unscrupulous bass fisherman sunk in there (my father-in-law) ;D Believe it or not that tiny patch of lily pads on the North side can be really good, even though it's only in 2' of water when the lakes normal. I wonder if the low water will kill those for good?!

[KC Bass Fanatic]

Spent the weekend at Pomme and did really well all 3 days. My best bite was in the morning (up to 10am) and right before sundown.

I fished wooded banks with spinnerbaits, jigs, and a zoom trick worm. My buddy was doing well on bluff banks with plastics but I didn't try it. I fished the Lindley Arm all weekend because I was catching good numbers and quality too so I can't report on the Pomme Arm.

Saturday was my best day - I had 6 fish over 15" by 8:30am with a 3.5lb kicker. That night I caught a 5.5lb. On Saturday I had 33 fish, 19 keepers. All my better fish (2.5lb+) came on a spinnerbait.

[Derek Chance]

Where abouts? in the backs, secondaries, etc.? I will be there Wed. and will probably take off out of Nemo.

[KC Bass Fanatic]

Where abouts? in the backs, secondaries, etc.? I will be there Wed. and will probably take off out of Nemo.

I fished all main lake stuff. I tried the backs but the bite was not there. Main lake banks with wood (pole timber or laydowns) were the best for me. There was a definite window of aggressive feeding around dawn and dusk. Fish bit all day but I had to 'force feed' them.

[Derek Chance]

Where abouts? in the backs, secondaries, etc.? I will be there Wed. and will probably take off out of Nemo.

I fished all main lake stuff. I tried the backs but the bite was not there. Main lake banks with wood (pole timber or laydowns) were the best for me. There was a definite window of aggressive feeding around dawn and dusk. Fish bit all day but I had to 'force feed' them.

This is pretty much what I found on Wed. too. I could not get anything to even sniff at a buzzbait, spinnerbait, or crankbait. I caught all my fish on a jig. color didn't seem to matter, jsut natural. Bite was really wierd, had a LOT of fish that would not full eat the jig, I swung and missed a lot. Ended up catching probably 7 or 8 and all were keepers. All were pretty identical in the 2-2.5 lb range. No big fish. Broke 3 off due to not retying when I should. >  Water was anywhere from 53-58 degrees and stained pretty bad. Fished in the Lindley arm.

[Jig Man]

I fished there on Tuesday.  I had a short spinnerbait bite just as the line quit freezing.  Then it stopped.

I cound not get bit on a jig and wound up catching the rest of my fish on rocky banks without trees.  Tubes were all I could get them to hit and that was not often.

[Mid-MO]

Fished yesterday from about 8 to 4:30.  I think we only saw 5 other boats all day long. 

Caught 21 keepers.  Most of them were in the 14" range.  Didn't catch quite as many 15"+ as the last few trips but caught the biggest fish of the fall so far for us.  Five best went just over 13#'s.  Caught a 5.2 on a jig and a 3# on a spinnerbait.  Fished mainly three areas before bouncing around a bit at the end.  Caught them on the main lake all the way to the back of the coves.  A few really shallow, most anywhere from 4'-8'.  They seem to still be scattered - some on points, some on creek channel swings and channel banks.  Caught a lot of them on wood.  Did catch a few on wind blown spots as well - those were mostly spinnerbait fish and they were really scattered.

Water temp was 52.5 to almost 55 depending on location.  Water clarity varied a bit as well 1' to 3'. 

May be my last trip of the year - hit a stump idling out of Galmey Cove and bent my prop shaft.  Actually hit several idling in and out of there - seems to be submerged trees everywhere in there.

[Derek Chance]

If anyone is interested, I have a travel trailer and a lake lot on Pomme that is now for sale.

[KC Bass Fanatic]

Man I'm ready for fishing weather! I was down at Pomme a couple weeks ago to check on my house. The lake was almost completely frozen over! I've never seen it with that much freeze over. Just for fun I'm going to put my 2010 Pomme fishing log results on here - enjoy!

Fish Count:      184

Keeper Count:      105

Keeper %:      57

Avg weight:      1.37

Avg length:      13.51

Avg keeper weight:      1.73

Avg keeper length:      14.53

Big Fish:      5.5

4lb+:      2

3lb+:      5

2+:      28

     

Fishing trips:      30

Avg fish/trip:      6.1

Avg Kpr/trip:      3.5

Total weight:      252.90

Finesse worm      60

Crank bait      38

spinnerbait:      28

7" worm:      14

jig/pig:      12

fluke:       7

lizard:      3

10" worm:      2

Drop Shot:      1

[Derek Chance]

Pretty cool you keep data like that. Now that the lake is thawed, what/where the fish going to be. I have not ever fished Pomme in winter. I assume jerkbait and jigs. where do they like and what colors?

[Mid-MO]

I'm anxious to get back down there.  Looks like it is filling back up in a hurry (almost 842 this morning).  I think they are going to let it rise quite a bit this spring until they finish the work below the dam.  Anybody know the details on that for sure?

[Derek Chance]

dam is planning to be done around mid May and they wont run water unless it gets over 855.....at least that is what I heard. could make for a very successful spawn.

[ks cranker]

Man I'm ready for fishing weather! I was down at Pomme a couple weeks ago to check on my house. The lake was almost completely frozen over! I've never seen it with that much freeze over. Just for fun I'm going to put my 2010 Pomme fishing log results on here - enjoy!

Fish Count:      184

Keeper Count:      105

Keeper %:      57

Avg weight:      1.37

Avg length:      13.51

Avg keeper weight:      1.73

Avg keeper length:      14.53

Big Fish:      5.5

4lb+:      2

3lb+:      5

2+:      28

     

Fishing trips:      30

Avg fish/trip:      6.1

Avg Kpr/trip:      3.5

Total weight:      252.90

Finesse worm      60

Crank bait      38

spinnerbait:      28

7" worm:      14

jig/pig:      12

fluke:       7

lizard:      3

10" worm:      2

Drop Shot:      1

Nice Log.  Now if you will just plot where you got the keepers on a map for us... lol!

[KC Bass Fanatic]

Guys I'm hearing the same on the dam - no water out until early-mid May. Lake will probably be 20ft high like is was last year during the spawn. Which isn't a bad thing for those of us that enjoy flippin a jig into flooded trees!

Anyone planning on fishing the Fed Nation tournament on Pomme April 10th? Let me know & we can hook up for food/beers Saturday night.

Oh someone asked about winter bite on Pomme. Jigs and small plastics on the bluffs will usually fill a limit if you are patient enough to spend 8 cold hours on the water Once the water hits 50 they will start moving into pre-spawn areas/patterns.

[Mid-MO]

Went to Pomme on Sunday.  Got on the water about 9. We had decided to stay in the dam area and start off on some spots that we caught fish on late last fall. The water temp was 43 when we put in, found it as high as 47 within about 4 miles of the dam. Most of the day was in the 44-45 degree range. Right at the dam had 2-3 of visibility (little dirtier at the 4MM). It stayed cloudy all day; the wind blew out of the north all day long too.

We fished all morning and into the afternoon without a bite. We tried jigs (finesse and football), jerkbaits (Megabass & Lucky Craft), and a few casts with a wiggle wart, spinnerbait, and grub. We had hoped to find them on the original shoreline in about 7-9 of water right in front of the bushes. When that didn't work, we tried up in the bushes and out deeper in front of the bushes as well. We fished 4 or 5 main lake points, about 8 or 9 secondary points, and a few creek channel banks.

We went to the last area we had on our list and found a boat on a secondary point we had wanted to fish. The north wind was blowing pretty good here, so we turned around and started back out on another secondary that was catching the wind. Caught our first keeper on a jerkbait in front of the bushes. It went 16" and about 2 1/2 pounds. Fished the rest of that point and on around into a pocket without another bite. Skipped to another point and got my second bite - right in front of the bushes. I knew it was a good fish when I got my first look at it, but it was bigger than I thought and ended up being a 22 1/2" - 7 pound 8 ounce female full of eggs. We stayed on that point and we caught one more 14 1/2" keeper - right out of a flooded bush.

Hit a couple of other spots and it started to rain so we called it a day. We ended up with three keepers that were right around 12 pounds.