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April 28, 2008

Lake Level:931.6
Normal Pool:915.0
Water Temp:60-68 degrees

Bass fishing on Table Rock has been excellent the past week from the Dam to the river arms. Spinnerbaits are accounting for the majority and quality of fish being caught. Use big thumping 1/2,3/4 ounce spinnerbaits, double willow leaf blades. I've been doing the best with painted blades, white or chartreuse or white with gold blades in some of the dingier water. Try keeping the boat at the first tree line rows and throwing back into the bank as far as possible in any openings.

Smallmouth around the lower end from the Dam to the Baxter area are biting a grub excellent off the gravel flat banks. Keep your boat in the 25'-30' range and cast up to the tree line, the old shorelines, let the grub hit bottom and retreive the grub slowly back swimming off bottom or scratch the bottom until you find how they want it. Pearl and pearl with black flake colors have been working the best in some of the more stained waters and cloudy days, try a smoke with silver flake or watermelon grub in the clearer water or when the sun is up high. use a 1/4 or 5/16 ounce darter or roundball head for the grub swimming. The spinnerbait will also work in these areas slow rolled back as well as crainkbaits. Wiggle warts and Srtike King's series 3 that will dive 6'-8' are catching these fish. Count the spinnerbait down about 5 seconds and wind the blade back in slowly. You'll also catch some huge K.Y.'s staged up ready to spawn.

The river arms of the lake such as the upper White and the James have been clearing up in color and warming up nicely. The spinnerbaits and crainkbaits are working for these river fish on the windy days fished up in the flooded trees and buck brush. Try fishing the bottom on the gravel banks with 1/2-3/4 ounce football heads and carolina rigged lizards and brush hogs during the day time hours 6'-10' in open areas to get bites. At least from dealing with the high water Table Rock should have a great spawn year. I've been seeing some fry along the bushes and trees this weekend. The lake won't be able to drop anytime soon so all the little guys are going to have plenty of cover to hide and survive in. Hopefully in 2-3 years from now it will all pay off for us.