OutdoorMissouri.com

Hi there Im a Minnesota fisherman and we are getting anxious for the ice to go away sometime soon(maybe by may). ANyway a few of us are comming to Tablerock to get in a little early open water fishing. We are comming in mid April and are wondering whats gonna be tyhe hot baits we should be using and any other info anyone might have, Thanks

Howdy tjfisher..Mid April...Wow! Great time to be on the Rock....Just about anyplace will be Good...Early and Late in the day...Lots of Surface Activity....Thats pretty much my Thing as the summer comes on....SpinnerBaits are also Great in the Flats....Bluffs on the transistions where they start and begin...Chuncky Rock to where Bluff starts are good with Soft Plastics..Crawdad Resemble baits are a good Choice....

Just at Sunrise....The Kentuckies will ball up off bluff ends and Points ...Sometimes Suspending at 16+ feet...as i've worked a Bluff out to a Point ....stay in Close and throw spook pups out as far as you can....Work em into the points....

Or start way out from a Point....Troll in...Stealth sometimes is Very Important...Don't just rip up to the Area you'll Fish....TR is a Very Clear Puddle...hehehe

I Highly reccomend Trailer Hooks on your Spinnerbaits as well...There good on the Bass back in the coves too...

Good Luck!

tj,



Now that you are completely confused I am sure, I'll be glad to clarify things a bit for you.



In mid-April you are gonna be just about as far from a "summer" pattern on the Rock as you can get. The Bass will be as shallow as they are all year. You'll likely see the spawn starting to shape up. Maybe even some sight fishing if that is your deal. Minnow baits, Chompers, tubes all work well. You being from Minnesota that shouldn't be a problem for you to figure out.



I will add this, as cool as the Spring has been here, I don't think the spawn will really be going by mid-April. It will more likely be pre-spawn. Crankbaits, or Stickbaits. That could still be your best bet.



Generally, the only thing that was very accurate in the above post was that the Rock is very clear. The way things are shaping up, even that will probably not be that big of a deal come mid-April. You can likely find some off color water if that is what you prefer. There has been lots of inflo the last week or so.



Don't however take my word for anything on it cause I certainly ain't an expert about the Rock. I haven't guided down there for about 15 years. There is however some really good info out there. I ain't sure what the @sshole above was trying to pull cause that sure wasn't good info. Must be some wine-o that wandered in off the street sitting @ a computer in the library.



There is a guy around the internet, goes by the name of Jig Man, he can be found either on the Conservation Cafe or Missouri Whitetails, if ya can get him to talk, he'd be a pretty good source. There is some other good info out here too, just can guarantee ya the above ain't it.



Good luck.

And it conitinues.

Billy boy thanks for the info. Any thing will help us out on our first trip..

Dshoot, thanks for this great info. I am really looking forword to commig down there and lookin for the big uns.....

I can't give you any great info for the Rock as I choose to stay off the big pond and stay down on the two below where it's a little calmer .

Best bet is when you get down here stop by one or more of the local bait shops and ask questions. Their usually full of good usefull info if you just ask and of course if your willing to buy some tackle . Both guys above gave usefull info. Mid April is very dependent on the weather and can swing either way on the techniques to use. That time of year you should find fish starting to stage (pre-spawn) but if we continue to get days in the high 60 and low 70's and get a few warm rains from the south then it may very well be in full swing. Good Luck either way.

swmo

go to Ozark Bait and Tackle in the shopping center across from summer fresh before you go across the dam in Kimberling City.....Jerry will help you out....As it gets closer, I will tell you what I know....

Triton, don't you mean before you cross the BRIDGE in Kimberling City ?

yep....thanks TR.....sometimes my fingers dont type what i am thinking....they have a mind of their own....

One of the easiest and most reliable baits I have used in the past couple years this time of year on the rock is a smoke grub. I catch numbers as well as the occasional lunker. Last year the largest I caught on it was a 6 1/2 lb largemouth.

Thanks swo, triton and hunter. Please keeep, the great info comming I appreciate it!!!!

I fish a very clear lake near my house - It is not Table Rock but Is a "mini version" Same Characteristics and VERY clear water. I use a 4" smoke/red flake Chompers brand tube. It is actually made by Table Rock Bait Co. I have caught more fish on that particular tube than anything.

Like I say, I don't fish Table Rock, but a place just like it.

By the way, that same tube landed me a 9 lb. 3 oz. Largemouth yesterday.

DL, 9-3 is impressive! Congrats!
TJfish, Try a wigglewart in crawdad if it's sunny, or shad color if it's overcast, on chunkrock with about a 45 degree slope. Also a 1/4oz spinnerbait on laydowns or flooded bushes. If that doesn't work, try a carolina rigged lizard in WM/red on the edge of the gravel flats.
Good luck.