Headed To Table Rock

[oteymc]

My family has scheduled a last minute trip to Branson for the weekend. I am very unfamiliar with the lake, although I have been on it once before. We are staying right in Branson, but I can put in anywhere. We figured we would fish the early mornings before the big boat traffic, and maybe some evenings. If you could suggest a general area to try and a main strategy, that would be great.

Thanks

Otey

[skunked_again]

have you checked the lake level? im thinking its very high.

[Jig Man]

It is only about 10 ft high. Stackey King won a T last week with a 3 day total of almost 60#. The jig bite has been good lately. If you are in Branson then you can go to State Park and fish the main lake or go up Long Creek. You will find any kind of banks or structure you want on that end of the lake.

[tigpro]

Be careful around the State Park area ... a lot of pleasure boat traffic on the weekends. It can get awfully choppy if you're in a sub-19 footer, and I remain unconvinced that all of the drivers are sober and know what they're doing.

[Bluebasser86]

I like Aunt's creek area. Plenty of deep water and it doesn't seem to get the pleasure boaters as bad. My wife and I camped down there last summer and despite 100+ degree weather we caught a bunch of fish. Found the spots schooling on shad one night and we both caught fish every cast for almost an hour. Nothing over 3 pounds out of the schools but my wife had a 6+ pound largemouth eat a grub and jump off at the boat later that nigth by the boatramp. Down by state park and around where Big Cedar Lodge is at is really good too. Caught a bunch of nice fish up to 5 pounds out of the cove that Big Cedar Lodge is on last spring on shakeyheads and wiggle warts.

[oteymc]

I appreciate it guys. I hear you about the State Park area, that is where we put in the last time I was there! I will hopefully be out before most of those are in, we are doing family stuff during the day - my brother and I will be sneaking off each morning before the wives and kids get going (and hopefully the skiers).

I was kind of hoping the jig bite would be on, I suppose just start point hopping? If anyone has any other pointers, I would sure appreciate it. Not trying to win any tournaments, just don't want to get skunked!

That is about the third time someone has mentioned Aunt's Creek. We may have to try it out. We will be in Branson, but getting up an extra half hour earlier won't bother us. What's the difference between 4 or 4:30?

Thanks again,

Otey

[Bluebasser86]

Points and bluffs are good places to start. Along with jigs I would make sure to have plenty of shakeyheads with you. I've caught lots of fish out of that lake with a shakeyhead and a green pumpkin french fry worm. Drop shots or jigging spoons fished in deep water boat stalls can be really productive if it's hot and sunny out.

[oteymc]

Well, we had a great time. Caught fish every morning. Mostly small mouth. I did catch one large mouth, and my brother caught one Kentucky. I had never caught a smallie before, that was a lot of fun. One morning we really got into a school of smallies, had about 12 to the boat in about 45 minutes. Nice lake. Found them off of points in 15 to 25 ft, caught a few deeper and a few shallower. Caught them on everything, but had most on Deep cranks and soft plastics. We never mad it to Aunts Creek, because of the time it would take to get back and get to the other family stuff. We mainly fished out of Indian point. The last morning when we were loading the boat, a guide who I had visited with the first morning I was there told us that the Kentucky's were out in front of points at 42 foot during the day.