Printable View
Planning on travel from Texas to meet a friend from Minnesota in Branson. While families play we would like to book a half-day guided trip within 1-2 hours drive in March or April. Prefer size over numbers. Hoping some of you Mo. crappie fisherman might share some helpful information.
Thank you, Wes
I hear rumor the James River Arm can be good. Not the numbers you might expect but nice sized fish, that is the rumor.
hire a guide for Bull Shoals lake south of branson bigger fish there, but heck save up for next year and head South to Mississippi, big one there.
Here is the MDC report for Table Rock. I just don't think Missouri can compete with states further south for large Crappie as pointed out above. Is there something besides Crappie you would like to fish for?
Quote:
Table Rock Lake
Associated Area(s):
Table Rock Lake (James River arm)
Annual Prospects Report
Crappie fishing should be fair in 2019 and best in the James, Kings, and Long Creek arms. Both black and white crappie are present in the lake but black crappie are more abundant. Due to inconsistent recruitment, crappie numbers are relatively low compared to other lakes in Missouri. However, quality-sized crappie are present throughout the lake. In spring 2018 electrofishing surveys, 90% of the black crappie sampled were greater than 10” and 42% were greater than 12”. The percentage of white crappie greater than 10” was 95% and 47% were greater than 12”. White crappie are more abundant further up in the river arms while black crappie comprise the majority of the population in the clearer sections of the lake. The best crappie fishing will be in the spring and fall during which small plastic jigs and minnows are very effective for catching crappie around woody structure and the numerous brush piles throughout the lake. Crappie fishing is also fair during the winter months and they can be caught fishing around deeper brush piles and under docks that extend over deep water.
Take a day and drive up to Truman Lake and contact Richard Bolling, guide. He can definitely put you on big fishQuote:
Originally Posted by wolfhnd
End of March, first of April- I would fishing the white bass spawn up the the river arms of table rock. The Kings or Roaring river arms would be my first choices.
Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
Slip on north about an hour from Branson to Truman Lake and contact Richard Bolling, guide. He will definitely put you on big fish.
Well said. I agree.
Probably more like 2 hours from Branson to Truman. I make the drive from Springfield 2-3 times per week and that is 1.25-1.5 hours.
Easy drive though.
Will second that, King Richard will put you on lots of and big fish and is a great guy.Quote:
Originally Posted by Braggin Board
yepper. Richard Bolling is a great guide. We used him twice last year. He is a fish catcher for sure.
Good luck on bull shoals in March or April good chance it's floodedQuote:
Originally Posted by beagle man
Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
Thanks to all who have responded. We have decided to run up to Truman and have booked with Bob Bates in late March.
Let us know how you guys do.Quote:
Originally Posted by wes75951
Will be delighted to.
Depending on how much time you have to spend in Branson, Taneycomo has some pretty good trout fishing. Not crappie but it's better than shopping
I'll just say it turned out to be a challenging day.
That’s a shame it was beautiful out. What happened?
Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
As far as I know, we got on top of fish just could not get them to bite.