Table Rock In Flux, But Good Weights Still Expected

By Todd Ceisner
Editor

Prevailing opinion coming into this week’s Table Rock FLW Tour Major was that it had the potential to be one of the best tournaments in recent memory at the highland reservoir. Coming off a tepid winter, conditions were shaping up for a big-bag bonanza. Temperatures have been in the 70s, the water is warming into the 60s, fish are beginning to move to the banks and results from recent local tournaments had some pros licking their chops to get to the ramp.

Of course, that was all before storms dumped several inches of rain in the area last week, bringing the lake up 4 feet above normal pool. Can you say monkey wrench?

The additional water appears to have scattered the fish and the clarity is still a bit shy of the renowned gin-clear status Table Rock enjoys. Contestants have encountered a tougher-than-expected bite during practice, but hopes are high that with a little bit of cloud cover and maybe the odd thunderstorm, the water will recede and the Rock will kick out the weights most were expecting for the second of six FLW Tour Majors.

The last two times the FLW Tour made a stop at Table Rock, the weather was, well, typical for March. Granted, those events were held in the first half of March, but it’s worth noting the significant change in conditions compared to this year.

In 2010, for instance, participants were greeted by frigid mornings, skim ice in many places, water temperatures in the high-30s to low-40s and biting winds. Brent Ehrler clobbered the field with nearly 70 pounds to win going away as 31 pounds separated the Top 5. The year before, Anthony Gagliardi needed 14 1/2 pounds per day on the weekend to claim victory.

Because of the accelerated spring, what would typically be a strictly pre-spawn tournament may play to the strengths of those who are able to fish the moment as conditions continue to change almost by the hour.

“Moreso than any tournament I’ve been in in a while,” said Arkansas pro Greg Bohannan, who was the runner-up in the 2008 Table Rock EverStart Championship and finished 8th in the 2009 FLW Tour event.

Fish will undoubtedly be bedding and more will be on the move toward skinny water, but it’s safe to assume a mish-mash of patterns will be in play all week. Therein lies the draw of Table Rock: There are so many ways to catch fish. The issue will be sorting through bites to find consistent quality because of the mass numbers of 2- to 3-pound fish.

Before getting into more about the bite, here's the lowdown on the Rock.

BassFan Lake Profile

> Lake name: Table Rock
> Type of water: Highland reservoir on the White River
> Surface acres: 43,100 at full pool
> Primary structure/cover: Chunk rock, bluff banks, standing timber, boat docks, flooded brush
> Primary forage: Crawfish and threadfin shad
> Average depth: Roughly 70 feet
> Species: Largemouths, spotted bass, smallmouths
> Minimum length: 15 inches (on all three)
> Reputation: Great lake with big fish of all species, but they're greatly affected by weather
> Weather: Stable with highs in the mid- to upper-70s; maybe a T-storm Friday
> Water temp: Low- to mid-60s
> Water visibility/color: Some stain, but mostly clear throughout
> Water level: 4 feet above full pool, but falling
> Fish in: 6 inches to 25 feet
> Fish phase: Pre-spawn and early spawn
> Primary patterns: Umbrella rigs, sight-fishing, flipping, jerkbaits, crankbaits, dropshots, tubes, jigs, Carolina-rigs, worms
> Cut weight (Top 20 after 2 days): 30 pounds
> Winning weight: 77 pounds
> Fishing quality (1=poor, 5=great): 2.5 for Table Rock
> Biggest factors: Sight-fishing. If enough chunky females move up, the scales will get a workout
> Biggest decision: Fishing the moment. With fish in obvious transition mode, getting stuck on one thing could get you beat
> Wildcard: The Alabama Rig. It was red-hot at the Rock before the recent rain and it’ll catch fish, but can it win?

Pack Your Umbrella (Rig)

Will the umbrella rig win at Table Rock? It probably would have if this tournament were scheduled for the end of February. Two weeks ago, it took a 28 1/2-pound five-fish limit to win a 1-day buddy tournament with most every bite coming on an umbrella rig. Nine fish in the 8-pound class or better were weighed during the event.

Considering how many fish are already on the move toward the bank this week, it’s uncertain how great a role it will play in the outcome. It will, no doubt, continue to hammer suspended fish, and long-time Table Rock guide Rick Lapoint, who owns a handful of tournament wins there, feels it will most certainly bring fish to the scales.

“It’s going to be a big, huge factor in this thing,” Lapoint said. “It’s looking really good. It could be an amazing tournament. You could see some of the best weights you’ve ever seen on Table Rock. These last few weeks, I’ve never seen weights like we’ve had. The Alabama Rig, of course, has been the deal to catch those big stringers.”

Due to Missouri regulations, anglers will be limited to three hooks on an umbrella rig this week.

Wish For Wind

Table Rock has a reputation for being one of the most versatile bass lakes in the country. Year-round, fish are catchable any number of ways in any number of areas from the main lake to the various river arms that snake through the Ozark Mountains. However, when the clouds give way to bluebird skies and blazing sun and the wind stays down, the lake can turn off like a light switch. That’s what the field experienced during the official 3-day practice period.

“When you have wind, there’s a lot more noise in the water with the waves,” said George Cochran. “When you’re in these pockets and bays and running the trolling motor, you’re spooking them. I’ve seen them out there 30 yards from the boat and they’ll take off. When it’s windy, they don’t pay that much attention to it and plus they can’t see as good.”

The forecast does call for continued warm temperatures, but some clouds are expected to move in with the chance of a thunderstorm for Thursday night or Friday morning.

“It can’t hurt anything,” Brett Hite said of getting a breeze going. “All of last week, we had a huge low-pressure system right over the lake and this area. Since Friday of last week, we’ve had high skies and high pressure and no wind. Today, we finally got a little breeze and I think any kind of weather, be it some wind or clouds, that definitely can help fishing around here.”

Field Notes

Following are practice notes from some of the anglers who'll be competing this week.

Greg Bohannan

“It’s definitely different. Putting 4 feet of water in a couple of days in these clear-water lakes in the Ozarks messes them up for a few days and we’re on the tail end of that. I think the fishing is going to be pretty good. I’ve had my Typhoon sunglasses on all week looking. There are some up here and there’s definitely going to be a lot more sight-fishing than I had anticipated.

“On a scale of 1 to 10, I feel about a 5 going into it. I’ve got a couple little things I think are working that are maybe a little different. I don’t feel super, I feel okay about it.

“I think a lot of stuff is going to play a role. There’s some dingy water in some areas so there will be some spinnerbait fish caught and some flipping fish caught. I don’t think you’ll see one thing dominate the Top 5.

“When the water comes up real quick it puts them in a lot of different depths. I’ve caught them everywhere from 2 feet of water out to 15. They’re a little bit scattered, but I think the weights are going to be pretty good. The water’s coming down and I think as the tournament progresses the fishing will get considerably better.”

Stetson Blaylock

"This was, by far, my worst practice ever. The fish are moving so much and doing so many things. It's all leading to the bank. I don't know if it'll be won bed-fishing, but the fish are definitely on the move.

"I have confidence in my ability to adjust within a tournament so I'm going to lean on that. Most of the fish are cookie-cutters, but there are good fish moving up and cruising around."

Brett Hite

“With the water temperature up in the mid-60s now, I think the fish are in a little shock period. This is about a month ahead of time from normal and they’re in limbo whether to starting eating or start spawning. I’m sure there are some fish spawning, but I don’t think the majority is up on the bank yet.

“I have caught a couple of big fish so there’s always that hope that you know where some are living. I like Table Rock a lot. I’m just going to fish some areas where I know bass live. I’ve been fishing really confidently lately and everything’s been really working out good. I always have to be confident and look forward to what the potential is of Table Rock and that’s catching big stringers.

“The thing with Table Rock is it’s such a versatile lake. It’s similar to Hartwell. You can run up the rivers. There’s stained water and right now you can flip buckbrush all day or there are fish up shallow and down deep. You can pick your poison and fish however you want. That’s what makes this a great fishery.”

Brent Ehrler

“The water came up and they’re in a weird transition. They’re acting liking they’re to going to get on beds and then they’re not. They’re just in a weird transition, I think. We are at Table Rock and somebody’s going to smash them, but I really do not think it’s going to be me.

“Coming in, my confidence was high. I really felt like this was one for me to do well in. It’s a good lake, I’ve done well here in the past and I really felt like I could do well. Right now, it’s not looking too great. I don’t know exactly how I’m going to start or how I’m going to finish but I have a couple of things I’m going to try.

“There are multiple things going on right now. You have guys fishing a square-bill up in dirty water in the rivers and you have guys fishing a jig in 50 feet in clear water. It’s going to be all over the map and based on the weather and the time of year, that’s where they’re at -- they’re everywhere.”

George Cochran

“There will be a ton of fish caught. They’re moving up on the beds. My problem is I haven’t caught a lot of big fish. I’ve caught a lot of what I call real good keepers in that 2 1/2- to 3-pound range, but I haven’t caught more than 14 pounds since I’ve been here.

“Every day, it seems there are more fish moving in and there’s so many different ways to catch them. I haven’t figured out the best way. The water is falling fast so there will be fewer bushes in the water, which is sometimes good, but there are so many people flipping bushes and so many people fishing the Alabama Rig in the middle of pockets.

“It ought to be a real good tournament. It’s just like summertime here. I’ve never fished up here in anything other than a snowmobile suit.

“My confidence isn’t real good because I haven’t caught any stringers over 12 or 13 pounds. I haven’t found the right area or the fish where I think I can win it.”

Travis Fox

“The water coming up pulled the fish off the Alabama Rig and they’re moving up to spawn. They’re kind of scattered. You can catch fish everywhere and every pattern there is is working.

“I’m putting all of my eggs in one basket right now out of one creek. If they’re in my starting spot like they were in practice then I’m going to do very well, but I’m worried a lot of people found them and everybody seems to be running around and doing the same kinds of things.

“The lake is changing really fast. What was going on last week is a night-and-day difference to this week. That’s what hurts me on this lake and Beaver. I fish them so much and know them so well and I keep trying to fish where they ought to be instead of going and fishing the moment. I’m kind of glad I’ve only found one really good spot. The weather’s going to be a bit different. It’s been sunny and slick and it’s supposed to be cloudy and rainy so I’ve got a way I can go catch them then. I think it’s going to mess some guys up.

“I’m comfortable fishing the moment because I have to be since I don’t have a lot found. I’m just going to run around and have a good time and fish the way I want to catch them.”

Bryan Thrift

“Right now, my confidence level is not that high. I haven’t been catching a whole lot. This water is 65 degrees. They’re coming (to the bank). There’s no telling what’s going to happen when the tournament starts.

“Flipping is definitely going to play a big role. I expect fish to be caught off beds. I’ve caught them from 20 feet to 6 inches. It’s just few and far between. We’re seeing a lot of fish we can’t catch. That’s what so frustrating. It’s like they just pulled up and they’re not ready to play yet. If they start biting, it’s going to be good.

“I have a deal going to get bit, but it’s not good for much weight. The best I can maybe do is 11 pounds. It’s not fast and furious and it’ll probably take 3 or 4 hours to catch them and I don’t even know if I’m going to do it in the tournament just because I don’t think it’s strong enough to get a check. They seem to be scattered everywhere. I haven’t found one area that seems to be completely dead. I haven’t found the area where they’re jumping either.”

Top 10 To Watch

With the above in mind and more, here, in no particular order, is BassFan's recommendation on the Top 10 to watch at this event.

1. Anthony Gagliardi – The 2006 Angler of the Year has won here before and is coming off a 5th-place showing at Hartwell.

2. Mark Rose – Versatility will be a key element this week and few are more versatile than Rose, who was 3rd at Ouachita a year ago.

3. Robbie Dodson – Picked up a win in a 1-day buddy tournament on Table Rock earlier this year. He’s a local stick who knows how to adjust on the fly.

4. Dion Hibdon – A Table Rock ace if there ever was one. If conditions get slick and calm (read: tough), he’ll know how to unlock consistent bites.

5. Scott Suggs – Comfortable on Ozarks lakes. He scored a runner-up here in 2009.

6. Jim Moynagh – A smallmouth specialist, he’s due for a solid showing in the Ozarks.

7. Stacey King – Another Rock expert. He won the PAA event at Table Rock last year.

8. Brent Ehrler – He won in dominating fashion at Table Rock on a tough, pre-spawn bite in 2010, a year after finishing 6th there. He’s also coming off a win at Hartwell.

9. Jay Yelas – Has a solid track record in the Ozarks and he’s been rock-solid since the middle of 2011.

10. Peter Thliveros – If shallow cranking is on the menu – and it looks like it will be – count him in as a contender.

Launch/Weigh-In Info

> Anglers will launch at 7 a.m. CST each day from the Table Rock State Park Marina off of Route 165. Weigh-ins on days 1 and 2 will get under way at 3 p.m. CST at the same location. Weigh-ins on days 3 and 4 will get under way at 4 p.m. CST at the Wal-Mart Supercenter located at 1101 Branson Hills Parkway in Branson, Mo.

Weather Forecast

> Thurs., March 29 – Partly Cloudy - 81°/58°
- Wind: From the S/SE at 8 mph

> Fri., March 30 – Chance of Thunderstorms - 79°/54°
- Wind: From the S/SW at 12 mph

> Sat., March 31 – Partly Cloudy - 76°/53°
- Wind: From the N/NW at 11 mph

> Sun., April 1 – Partly Sunny - 77°/53°
- Wind: From the S/SE at 13 mph

Notable
> BassFan Big Stick Jay Yelas checked in with his final thoughts from practice. Click here to see how he’s feeling heading into day 1.