Table Rock 2008

[Bass XL]

Hey guys. I went to Table Rock Lake for a week and just got back a few days ago. If you don't know, Table Rock is a deep, rocky, clear lake. This time was different. Earlier in the year, the lake had risen over 20 feet. It's slowly dropping and is now at about 8 feet. The water was up in the trees and the water was stained. Fishing was better than it usually is. I caught almost all of my fish pulling a Strike King Series 5 (sexy shad) crankbait through all of the flooded trees. The first morning, my grandpa and I went out and started fishing a flooded point (I caught a 2 ½ pounder there the night before). I was throwing the crankbait and made a cast parallel to the bank. I took a couple of cranks...BAM!!! I had a good one on. I yelled to the back of the boat and told my grandpa. At this point, I thought I had an eight pounder on. After two minutes, I had the fish under the boat. I reeled down and pulled my rod up then I saw it...or shall I say them'. I had two big fish on. I lipped one and netted the other (it had it's mouth hooked' shut). I never caught a double in my life, and this was a perfect start. I snapped this quick pic, and then my phone died (perfect timing huh?).

So I put them in the live well and made a quick trip back to the dock to snap a few pics with me holding them (I don't have these pic's at the moment becuase they were takin on my grandpa's camera, but they will be up soon). I let them go, and went out for a while longer. Caught a few fish on a drop-shot, but nothing of any size. Week went on, and it was pretty tough. I caught a few more on a drop-shot, but that was about it. Friday (our last morning) we went out and it was raining and very cloudy. I managed to catch a few spotted bass and a good small mouth. Here's a pic of an average Table Rock spot:

And here is a good little smallmouth that I caught. When I set the hook, it felt like I hooked a rock.

My grandpa caught a nice 3 pounder on a LC Pointer, but I didn't get a picture of it.

Overall, this was a pretty good trip to Table Rock. If you ever get a chance to fish there, do it. I have yet to find fish that fight like Table Rock fish.

Thanks,

Craig Conger

[rondef]

Those are some nice looking fish.

[fishinfiend]

Nice job! I fished the sexy shad today and it is AWESOME

[J_Zink]

Table Rock is a real sleeper when it comes to the SM fishing.  I don't go down there as much as I used to but when I do I wind up targeting the bronzebacks.  Far more fun to catch than the LM's.