new to Bull Shoals

[swamprider]

Planning a vacation to Bull shoals. Woul appreciate any advice. I am a die hard crappie fisherman, but enjoy fishing for anything that pulls my string.

[kalki]

Swamprider, welcome to the boards.

As far as Bull Shoals lake, if you are looking for crappie, they will be on their way back down the channels from Theodosia/Sundown on the north end of the lake (make sure you get a border waters license) as that is in the Missouri part of the lake. Just find some reasonably good cover in some standing water (10-20 ft) near or just off the main channel...lots of good bluff cuts up there that work well when they have the cover.

If you want some big ole catfish, you cannot go wrong checking out the Oakland area of Bull Shoals... I've caught some big ones there, they are mostly going with cut bait and the occasional minnow this time of year.

As for white bass, and stripers, do the mouth of coves near/just off the channel during the morning going towards deeper water during the afternoon.

Bass...coves near/off of the main channel during the morning hours (the 13 year cicadas are winding down so go with a something like a jitterbug for topwater) and going towards the main channel into deeper water off the points as the day/sunlight progresses. Lots of largemouth and smallmouth over there, as well as catfish and crappie and you should find any of these easy.

If you're into bream...anywhere there's some cover as they will still be on their beds. There's some big ones in there. Bits of nightcrawler, cricket or anything of the sort will get you a mess quickly.

The water is up, so finding a place to put in will be more challenging, but from what I've been hearing, they are tearing em up.

The official report from last week's Fishing Report is as follows:

Bull Shoals Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 695.47 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 654 MSL).
Mike Worley’s Guide Service said lake levels remain high at 693 feet with boat launching mostly from flooded roads. There is less debris floating in the lake, but caution is still needed when boating. Surface temperatures range from upper 60s to mid 70s. Walleye and bass have been biting grubs, swimbaits, crankbaits and crawler rigs. Suspending stick baits, spinnerbaits and jigging spoons are working as well. Walleye have been caught from 2 to 40 feet. Big schools of white bass have been pushing shad into coves and creek channels with many walleye and bass under them.

Enjoy and be safe, I've been on that lake with the debris...let's just say be careful.

[swamprider]

Kalki,
Thanks a lot. Hard to imagine the lake at 693'. I am trying to get away from the high water here in Louisiana, really messed up the crappie bite. Flood stage for us is 35' we are at 46'.
I'll bring a little of everything, bass, bream, cats, have a week to find them!

thanks again

[Strip]

Swamprider, welcome to the boards.

As far as Bull Shoals lake, if you are looking for crappie, they will be on their way back down the channels from Theodosia/Sundown on the north end of the lake (make sure you get a border waters license) as that is in the Missouri part of the lake. Just find some reasonably good cover in some standing water (10-20 ft) near or just off the main channel...lots of good bluff cuts up there that work well when they have the cover.

If you want some big ole catfish, you cannot go wrong checking out the Oakland area of Bull Shoals... I've caught some big ones there, they are mostly going with cut bait and the occasional minnow this time of year.

As for white bass, and stripers, do the mouth of coves near/just off the channel during the morning going towards deeper water during the afternoon.

Bass...coves near/off of the main channel during the morning hours (the 13 year cicadas are winding down so go with a something like a jitterbug for topwater) and going towards the main channel into deeper water off the points as the day/sunlight progresses. Lots of largemouth and smallmouth over there, as well as catfish and crappie and you should find any of these easy.

If you're into bream...anywhere there's some cover as they will still be on their beds. There's some big ones in there. Bits of nightcrawler, cricket or anything of the sort will get you a mess quickly.

The water is up, so finding a place to put in will be more challenging, but from what I've been hearing, they are tearing em up.

The official report from last week's Fishing Report is as follows:

Bull Shoals Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 695.47 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 654 MSL).
Mike Worley’s Guide Service said lake levels remain high at 693 feet with boat launching mostly from flooded roads. There is less debris floating in the lake, but caution is still needed when boating. Surface temperatures range from upper 60s to mid 70s. Walleye and bass have been biting grubs, swimbaits, crankbaits and crawler rigs. Suspending stick baits, spinnerbaits and jigging spoons are working as well. Walleye have been caught from 2 to 40 feet. Big schools of white bass have been pushing shad into coves and creek channels with many walleye and bass under them.

Enjoy and be safe, I've been on that lake with the debris...let's just say be careful.

Now that is how a fishing report should be written!!! Good Job! Now, come fish my lake and give me a report! LOL!

[kalki]

You'll find em. Just follow the basics I outlined. I've fished that lake when the water was that high before. The fish are there, it's just a matter of finding the cover and the baitfish. If you find the baitfish...you're golden and this time of year...you can hardly miss the boils on the surface of the water in the morning.

Strip, I grew up in that area and unfortunately...that and Norfork are the only two lakes I can do that with at the moment...although I am trying my best to figure out the topography of all these smaller lakes closer to my new home in Brinkley. That's not a negative, I'm having a fun time doing it...dodging the cottonmouths notwithstanding. However, that being said...give me a good topo map of your lake and I could make some damned good guesses as to where they'd be at the moment. :P