Serving Table Rock Lake and Taneycomo Lake in Branson Missouri

(417)-270-7157

Captain Don House of Branson Fishing Guide Service

Email: don@bransonfishingguideservice.com

Web Site: www.bransonfishingguideservice.com

Plan your trip Local Radar Detailed Forecast

Fall has finally made it to the Ozarks, weather is much cooler and the fish are really starting to move around chasing the bait. Fish are being caught with all means of fishing from top water on calm mornings, to Blades in the wind, Wiggle Warts on steep rock banks, to topwater early in the morning on the bluff ends with pole timber, to football jigs on the deep flats and main lake points. The better bite seems to be the windy cloudy days on the blades according to many of the other guides on the lake. Some reports of the fish moving deep are starting to come in now, deep trees with shad on top is starting to come to life with spoons in the 40 – 50 foot range. Let’s get into more detail with each of the areas around the lake.

BASS

DAM / INDIAN POINT / LONG CREEK / KIMBERLING CITY

Topwater has been off and on but the early morning bite has been on the Jackall 4" Bonnie topwater bait, this bait works just like a spook but better and easier to work with as far as movement and casting. Also I have been getting a few bites early on the new Jackall Dagored prop bait, this bait works just like a Red Fin but seems to have better movement and much easier to work. Walk these baits slow in front of dock walk ways and around any standing timber on the points and in the pockets.  Foggy Days seem to be the best for this type of fishing and last just a little bit.

Dragging football jigs in Brown and Purple flash, Missouri Craw and Olive Green jigs seems to be getting the small mouth bass moving good. These fish are moving shallow in the morning 15-20 feet range then moving out to the deep flats and drops in the 35 – 45 foot range. Dragging the Football jig slow and feeling for the bite is the ticket for now.  Split Shot rigs are working also for spotted bass and small mouth bass using a 4” Zoom fish doctor or centipede in green pumpkin or red and watermelon colors.

Spoons are starting to get going here now in all White or all silver sizes from ½ to ¾ ounce seem to work best. We have been getting some bigger fish suspended in the deep trees in the major creek arms and main lake point pockets with the deeper trees, these fish are schooling up pretty good so when you find one good tree it will be loaded, expect 3 – 5 good fish then it is over, move on to the next tree. Use your electronics to find these trees and drop the spoon down to just above the tree, in the 35 - 45 foot range, use small jerks and watch for the fish to come up and check out the spoon, the bite always seems to be on the drop. Another good way to fish this spoon is to cast the spoon out and allow it to drop to the depth you are marking the balls of shad then proceed to rip the bait back with sharp jerks towards the boat allowing the bait to fall each time. Strike will come on the fall of the spoon.  

And last on the good windy days I will pickup a War Eagle spinnerbait in Mouse or Firecracker and roll these guys back from the shallows of the bank. Run these baits by any type of structure such as trees, cedars, lay downs or brush piles. Fish will slam it hard when they are on it. Morning seems to be the best unless you get wind all day.

BAXTER, CAMEL POINT, SHELL KNOB

Topwater has been off and on but the early morning bite has been on the Jackall 4" Bonnie topwater bait, this bait works just like a spook but better and easier to work with as far as movement and casting. Also I have been getting a few bites early on the new Jackall Dagored prop bait, this bait works just like a Red Fin but seems to have better movement and much easier to work. Walk these baits slow in front of dock walk ways and around any standing timber on the points and in the pockets. Foggy Days seem to be the best for this type of fishing and last just a little bit.

Besides topwater In this area of the lake bite has been better for me and it seems to come from 5 baits, first the spoon in the same colors, sizes and in the same type of areas, such as long points right next to deeper water and tops of deep trees in the 35- 45 foot range. Once you find these fish you will find large groups of fish, some small but some really nice keeper fish mixed in with them.  The larger groups of fish seem to be on the points with trees and bluff ends with trees, secondary points on the bottom in this area in the 30 – 40 foot range, sometimes you will not see them until you get one to come up off the bottom and bite, then the whole group comes up.

Next after the spoon bite slows I will pickup a ½ to ¾ ounce Football Jig in the colors of Brown with purple flash, Missouri Craw, or PB&J matched with a twin tail 4” grub in green pumpkin or purple cinnamon colors or a smaller craw in the same colors. Crawl these baits along the bottom feeling for the light bite or dragging also working fine like a c-rig type retrieve.  Bite is light so be ready but usually produces very nice fish.

And last on the good windy days I will pickup a War Eagle spinnerbait in Mouse or Firecracker and roll these guys back from the shallows of the bank. Run these baits by any type of structure such as trees, cedars, lay downs or brush piles. Fish will slam it hard when they are on it. Morning seems to be the best unless you get wind all day.

Shakey Jigs are also producing some nice fish on the 45 degree banks with timber, I’m using the new JackAll Lures FlickShake 6” worm in Green Pumpkin on a 1/8 to ¼ ounce jig head. Walk these baits down the bank slow shaking then pause, fish are just taking the bait and running off. Reel down then set the hook. 

JAMES RIVER ARM / AUNTS CREEK / CAPE FAIR

This area has been really slow for me in the past few weeks, but the lower James seems to be producing better fish for me from point 12 on up to 15, a lot of shad are in the 40 foot range on the flats, same baits as above, just have to keep moving and trying these 5 baits we discussed above, plus add one more to your list the wiggle wart seems to be come to live on those really windy days in the trees and cedars.   

As the water temps start to lower down even more the shad will start to group up and fishing will become much easier. Spoons will be the ticket here real soon right in the middle of the major creek arms, so go out and have some fun, good luck and be safe.  Any Questions drop me an email. 

Be Careful and Good Fishing