Branson Fishing Guide

Kimberling City Area: The fish have begun a move to deep water, drop shot rigs, spoons and tail spinners have all been producing fish from 35’ – 45’ deep. Most of the fish have been coming on drops and channel swings off the end of flats and flat points. Look for schools of shad suspended from the bottom to around 20’ deep to key into the fish locations. Many fish will not be actively feeding on bait, they will holding on or near the bottom and will react to a lure when dropped through the shad. A good secondary pattern is to work larger docks with a combination of Eakins jig and craws or spoons. Work the shallow ends of the docks with the jig paying close attention to shady areas as they will hold most of the fish. As you work out to the deep end switch up to a ½ oz. white spoon and pitch into the dock stalls and around the ends of the dock. Again, pay close attention to shady areas, watch your line as the bait falls as most of your bites will happen on the fall.

James River: The James continues to produce, up river fish can be caught on shallow flats and the backs of creeks on a combination of buzz baits, jigs and shallow crankbaits. The buzz bait bite is most effective during lower light hours close to any flooded brush or laydowns in the water. As the sun comes out switch over to a shallow crankbait or jig, or the first hour or so of sunlight the fish will move tight to the shallow cover and can be caught by flipping or running the crankbait into the brush. As the day wears on move out to 20’ – 25’ of water and work a Jewel Football jig close any deep water. Closer to Kimberling the bite is deeper with most of the fish coming on drop shot rigs and spoons and a few being caught on Jewel Football or Spider jigs. Look for schools of bait to key you into fish locations.

White River: The White River is still producing fish as well; Jewel Football, Pro Spider jigs and Carolina rigs are all producing on flat points and roll offs near flats from 20’ – 30’ deep from Baxter to Roaring River. Most of the fish are holding on isolated cover, multiple casts to each piece of cover is key. While some fish are shallower early and late in the day the bulk of the fish are holding in deeper water. Further up the White and into the Kings River there is a great shallow bite. In the Kings fish are being caught on buzz baits early and late around flooded brush and laydowns, as the day wears on switch up to a shallow crankbait and work these same areas. Laydowns will also produce fish on a jig or large worm when the sun is high and there is little wind.

Dam / Branson Area: The shallow bite has really slowed this past week in the dam area, while fish can still be caught shallow most are smaller fish and seemed to have scattered with the falling water. The best bite has been 30’ – 40’ deep on flats and flat points with a drop shot, spoon or tail spinner, look for schools of shad to find the fish. While some fish will be actively feeding on the shad the bulk will be holding tight to the bottom and will only appear on your electronics when a bait is dropped to them. Much like the mid lake area, there is a decent dock bite taking shape down by the dam. A combination of Eakins jigs and craws and spoons are working well on bigger docks. Start shallow with an Eakins jig in PB&J or green pumpkin concentrating on shady areas around walkways and lifts, then work your way out to the deeper stalls using a spoon on heavy line and a stout rod. When spooning docks most of the bites will come on the initial fall so pay close attention as the bait is falling, I have been catching a few fish off the bottom under docks usually on the first or second hop off the bottom.

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Best fly patterns: The lack of generation has improved the fly fishing over the past week; small scuds and soft shell scuds have been the ticket in #18 or #16, purple, grey and ginger colors have been top producers.

Best spinning tackle: Less generation means the drift bite has been a little tougher this past week; Gulp and power eggs continue to produce in orange, chartreuse and sunrise as have live night crawlers. When the dam is completely shut off crawlers seem to out produce eggs so it is a good idea to have both available.

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Best fly patterns: Still generating and drawing the big lake down as fast as possible. San Juan worms and egg patterns continue to be dominating in blood red, pink and chartreuse. In the afternoon scuds and g-bugs seem to be a little more productive, tan olive and ginger have been the best colors fished in eddies and slack areas through out the lake.

Best spinning tackle: Drifting continues to be excellent, multiple fish on every drift from Cooper through Branson. Power or Gulp eggs in sunrise, orange and chartreuse have been the bait of choice with live red worms or night crawlers a close second. Pay close attention to any slack water areas behind islands, docks and other current breaks as multiple fish will hang in these areas.

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Kimberling City Area: With the falling water conventional wisdom says the fish should be pulling out into deep water. So far that is not holding true, every morning several fish are being caught on shallow points and flats though out the mid lake area from 8’ – 15’ deep. Jewel Pro spider and Football jigs with Chompers jig trailers have been the best bait in green pumpkin / green flash, green pumpkin candy flash and watermelon / purple flash with green pumpkin or melon twin tail trailers. Simply throw the bait to the bushes and work it slowly along the bottom back to the boat. Once the sun comes up a couple of patterns take shape; drop shot rigs with Robo Worm or Chompers drop shot worms in MM III , brown / purple or Aarons Magic have been taking fish suspended off the bottom from 15’ – 20’ over 25’ – 35’ feet of water, the second pattern is flipping the bushes. It sounds crazy for Table Rock but several fish are being caught flipping isolated bushes on flat points with an Eakins jig or tube.

James River: The James is hot right now; deep crankbaits, football jigs, Carolina rigs and even shallow crankbaits are taking both quality and numbers of fish. The typical summer patterns are dominate, look for fish to be on gravel roll offs through out the mid to upper river and work DD-22’s, DT-16’s and Strike King 600 Series crankbaits along and over the drop. Alternate Jewel Football jigs and Carolina rigs on these same locations working the bat from the flat into the channel to be effective. Most of the bites will come as the bait is falling off the roll off so pay close attention to any changes is direction or weight as you pull the bait off the drop. Further up the river and in the back of larger creeks several fish are being caught on shallow crankbaits; Bagley squarebills, Lucky Craft R.C 1 or R.C. 2 crankbaits worked around shallow cover have been catching numbers and quality as well, run the crankbait into the cover to draw reaction strikes.

White River: The White river continues to produce; Football Jigs, Carolina Rigs, Drop Shot Rigs, Deep Crankbaits, Spoons and Buzz Baits are all producing throughout the river. Much like the James the bite is concentrated on points with deep water close by and rolls offs on flats; concentrate your efforts on the drop to be effective. Any isolated brush or rock cover on these areas should be fish thoroughly with a variety of baits. The drop shot bite is similar to the mid lake area, most of the fish are suspended off the bottom from 12’ – 25’ deep over 25’ – 35’ of water, pay close attention to your electronics and the feel of your line, the fish are swimming up with the bait and knocking slack in the line, if you don’t pay attention you will miss most of the bites. Up the Kings and in the backs of bigger creeks there is a buzz bait bite early and late, work the bait in and around shad close to cover to be effective.

Dam / Branson Area: The bite on the lower end is as productive as the rest of the lake, spider and football jigs, drop shot rigs and deep crankbaits are all producing numbers and quality. Look for shallow points with deep water close by to be holding most of the fish. Fish Jewel football and spider jigs in green pumpkin / green flash or green pumpkin candy flash with Chompers trailers from the brush line out to 25’ deep. Deep crankbaits are working on roll offs and flats with isolated rock or brush piles, make long casts beyond the cover and run the bait into the cover from several angles to be effective. Much like the rest of the lake the majority fish being caught on a drop shot rig are suspended. Look for the level the majority of the shad are holding to key you into the depth holding the fish. Most of the fish have been around 15’ – 25’ range over 25’ – 40’ of water. Natural colors like Aaron’s Magic, MMIII and brown / purple have been the most effective.

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Kimberling City Area: What a great year on Table Rock, I can’t remember the last time we were able to catch fish all over the lake this shallow in July. The best bite early has been on a Jewel football or Pro Spider jig in green pumpkin / green flash with a green pumpkin Chompers jig trailer. Work the bait slowly along the bottom from 18’ – 25’ on gravel and mixed gravel / rock points. A shaky head is a great option on these points as well, green pumpkin or watermelon / candy 4” or 6” finesse worms on a ¼ oz. have been the ticket. Once the sun comes up it is time to move out to deeper water, these same points will produce fish 35’ – 45’ deep on a drop shot rig with either a Chompers brown / purple drop shot worm or a Robo Worm MMIII. Key on points that have a channel swing close by or right against the point most of the fish will hold tight to the point but if you loose the fish move out into the swing and most likely they are suspending over deep water.

James River: The James River is producing good catches of fish on a several different patterns right now; Football and Pro Spider Jigs, Carolina rigged lizards, brush hogs and trick worms, deep crankbaits and even a few fish being taken on shallow crankbaits. Much like the mid-lake area Jewel Football and Pro Spider jigs will produce on gravel and mixed gravel / rock points near deep water on both the main lake and in major creek arms. PB&J, brown / purple flash and Missouri craw jigs with green pumpkin Chompers jig trailers worked slowly along the bottom 15’ – 25’ deep will produce numbers and some surprising quality. Carolina rigs are working in these same areas; drag the bait on the bottom paying close attention whenever the sinker drops off a ledge or into a ditch. DD-22’s, DT-16’s and Junior D crankbaits are all working well on ledges, rock piles and humps throughout the James. In the back of major creek arms a number of fish are being taken on shallow crankbaits; square bills, R.C. 1.5 and 2.5, Fat Boys etc. are effective around flooded laydowns where shad are present; make multiple casts to the cover from a variety of angles to be effective.

White River: The White River is just plain fun right now; it is almost a “how do you want to fish today” scenario. Do you want to fish deep? Drop shot rigs are working on off shore humps, the ends of points and the deep side of points from Baxter to Shell Knob. You wanna fish a jig or a Carolina rig? PB&J or green pumpkin / green flash Jewel football and Pro Spider jigs or Carolina rigged lizards and brush hogs are working on gravel and mixed gravel / rock points from 18’ – 25’ deep from point 9 on up. You flip and pitch? The Kings River has some great flipping action on Eakins jigs and Ultra Tubes in flooded brush and debris on the ends of points and bluff ends. Shallow crankbait? Head to the back of major creek arms and throw a square bill around laydowns and flooded brush. Topwater? There is a short lived buzzbait bite early and late in the backs of creeks and shallow pockets in the Kings or above Big M. Pretty amazing fishery in the white river this past week.

Dam / Branson Area: The lower end of the lake is very productive right now as well. Much like the mid-lake are early and late the football and Pro Spider jig bite is hard to beat. A good mix of smallmouth and spots can be caught from 20’ – 35’ deep on pea gravel and mixed rock and gravel points from daybreak until around 9:30 and again from around 7:00 until dusk. Shaky heads will work these times as well it is just a little more difficult to fish a light head that deep. Once the sun gets high the deep bite really turns on with Chompers drop shot worms and Robo Worm MMIII worms taking center stage fished from 25’ – 50’ deep on the ends of points, drops on the deep sides of points and bluff ends or channel swings. A few fish have begun to be caught on spoons in and around the tree tops as well, they are not positioned in the trees, more on top of the trees so a vertical presentation is almost impossible without spooking the fish. Cast the spoon out, allow it to fall to about 20’ and start ripping and pausing it over the tree tops to get bit.

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Best fly patterns: Still generating four units almost everyday all day long. The best flies have been San Juan worms and egg patterns in coral, orange and pink., a few fish are being caught on midges, scuds and sow bugs in the eddies and slack current areas.

Best spinning tackle: Drifting has been excellent the last week or so; Berkley power eggs in Sunrise, orange and pink have all been effective, live red worms or crawlers have been working from the docks. Several fish have been caught on Super Dupers and Little Cleos and small white and white / red jigs are producing around the bridges.

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Kimberling City Area: Fish have definitely moved out from the shallows over the past week. Several fish are being taken on Carolina rigs and Drop Shot rigs through out the mid lake area. Look to long points with deep water close by to be holding most of the fish. On the drop shot rig a number of baits have been effective; Chompers drop shot worms in purple / brown laminate or plum, Robo Worm 6” worms in Ox Blood and Red Crawler and Kinami Cut Tail worms in purple / brown are all working well. On a Carolina rig green pumpkin or watermelon red lizards, baby brush hogs and Salty Sinkers have all been producing. The C-Rig has been effective from 18’ – 25’ deep while the Drop Shot is working from 25’ – 35’ deep.

James River: There are several patterns producing in the James River; Jewel Football Jigs, Carolina Rigs, Flipping and deep crankbaits have all been effective. Jewel Football Jigs and Carolina rigs have been working on main lake pea gravel points and saddles from 18’ – 25’ deep. Best colors have been PB&J, green pumpkin and watermelon red. Several quality fish have been coming out of bushes and the flooded cover on and around points and channel banks; Eakins jigs with Paca Chunk trailers, Baby Brush Hogs and Salty Sinkers have all been effective flipping baits in green pumpkin or PB&J. Numbers of better fish have begun to show up on ledges and roll offs through out the upper James, target these fish with DD-22’s and DT-16 crankbaits making parallel casts banking the bait into isolated brush and rock cover.

White River: The White River arm is really good right now; drop shot rigs, Jewel Football Jigs and Carolina rigs are all producing from Baxter to Shell Knob, flipping tactics and shallow crankbaits are working in the Kings River and Jewel Spider and Football Jigs are producing from Shell Knob to Eagle Rock. From Baxter to Shell Knob look for pea gravel and mixed gravel / rock points to be holding most of the fish, dragging Jewel Football Jigs in PB&J or green pumpkin green flash or Carolina rigged brush hogs and lizards has been one of the most effective patterns from 18’ – 30’ deep. Most of these fish are holding on the deeper side of the point. Spots have started to suspend in deeper water off channel swing points, target these fish with drop shot rigs with Chompers or Robo Worm drop shot worms. In the Kings there is a bunch of fish holding on flooded bushes and wood cover; flip Eakins Jigs, Brush Hogs and Ultra Tubes in and around this cover. Toward the backs of feeder creeks look for schools of shad and throw square bill crankbaits in and around the shad to be effective. Further up the White most of the fish are coming on points from 15’ – 25’ deep with Jewel Spider or Football jigs worked slowly along the bottom, PB&J and brown / purple flash have been the best colors.

Dam / Branson Area: Fish seem further into a summer pattern on the lower end of the lake. There is still a topwater bite very early in the morning, look for surface activity and throw spooks, sammys and redfins to schools of active fish. Once the sun comes up the best bite has been on drop shot rigs; Chompers drop shot worms in purple / brown laminate or plum, Robo Worms in Ox Blood or MM III and Kinami cut tails in shad or brown / purple have all been effective. Target main lake points with deep water close by concentrating on the 35’ – 45’ depth. Several fish have been suspending on bluff end points and in submerged trees, look for schools of shad in the 25’ – 50’ range holding close to trees and bluff ends and the fish will be close by. These fish can be caught on the same drop shot rigs mentioned above as well as spoons and grubs.

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Best fly patterns: Four units all week long have made for some tough fishing; best patterns have been eggs in coral or pink and bright color San Juan worms, red, orange and chartreuse have been the ticket with the dirty high water.

Best spinning tackle: The best bite has been from Lilley’s to the Gold Mine, drift Gulp eggs in sunrise or flo orange, live night crawlers and red worms on either a drift rig or below an indicator. Key on slack water eddies behind shoals and docks.

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Kimberling City Area: Fish have begun their transition from the bank to deeper water, several fish taken over the past week on a combination of Chompers 4” single tail grubs and Chompers drop shot worms. On windy days, and there have been plenty lately, fish are relating to windy flats and flat points from 18’ – 25’ deep and can be caught on salt and pepper or smoke / pepper 4” grubs. On calm days these same fish will be a little deeper, using a drop shot begin your search at 20’ and work your way out until you locate fish. For the most part they have been relating to the bottom but there have been some marauding groups of Kentuckies suspended over 60’ – 80’ of water destroying schools of shad. A few largemouth have begun to show up in the bushes as well, you won’t get rich flippin the bushes but a limit can be caught in an eight hour day.

James River: The drop shot and grub bite has been very good up the James River as well; look for fish to be holding in the same locations as the mid-lake. From Piney up there has been a very good Carolina rig bite on lizards and brush hogs, look for flat points with deep channel bends close by to hold most of the fish. Make fan casts from the side of the point until you locate the depth the fish are holding in and then concentrate at that depth. The upper reaches of the James and Flat creek have been productive with square bill crankbaits in and around flooded bushes, much like the flippin bite in the mid lake you won’t get rich throwing a square bill but a few quality will bite. With all of the wind this past week the topwater bite slowed to a crawl, not sure if it will pick up when the wind dies down but we will see this week.

White River: The White River is producing good numbers and quality right now; grubs, drop shots and split shot rigs have all been producing fish on gravel and mixed gravel points and flats. The best depth range has been 18’-25’ deep but on calm sunny days you will need to move out and fish 20’-35’ to be productive. Jewel Football Jigs in brown / purple flash and PB&J with green pumpkin twin tail trailers have been very productive on mixed rock points with very deep water close by. Work the bait along the bottom slowly from shallow to deep, pay close attention as most of the bites have been very soft with the jig feeling “spongy” or “like it picked up some moss”. A very good flipping bite has started up the Kings River; fish have settled into the new log jams and other debris and can be caught on Eakins Jigs or Eakins Flip’N Finesse jigs with a Paca or other chunk trailer.

Dam / Branson Area: The dam area is producing as well, drop shot rigs, mojo and split shots, grubs and tubes have all been catching fish from 20’-35’ deep. Jewel 5/16 oz spider jigs in green pumpkin candy flash and green pumpkin / green flash with Chompers jig trailers have also started to produce; mixed rock and gravel points close to deep water are the most effective, work the bait slowly along the bottom paying close attention at all times. The top water bite has been slow on the slower end as well, several fish have been slashing at the bait and not getting it. Further up Long Creek the bite has been tougher, the best bite has been pitching an Eakins jig to flooded debris and bushes or working a square bill on flats toward the back of creeks.

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Best fly patterns: The best fly patterns for this past week have been sow bugs, g-bugs and san juan worms most fished deep below an indicator. Plum, tan, and olive have been productive colors.

Best spinning tackle: Several fish started to show up this past weekend, the best bite has been from Lilley’s down to around the Gold Mine. Drift night crawlers, Gulp Eggs, Power Bait and red worms to be successful.

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