Two years ago I headed to Table Rock Lake for the first time during the 2nd week of April.  Fished the A-rig almost exclusively and did very well.  Of course this was at the direction of a guide that we went out with so I take no credit for the decision.  I am making another trip to TRL this year but during the 1st week of June.  This time I will be pulling my boat the 8 hour drive to give me more flexibility, but forcing me to pave my own path.  I need some tips and pointers.  I will be launching at Big Cedar Marina.

Thanks,

That time of year I've had good luck fishing main lake and secondary points and ledges. Baits of choice for me are jig, shakey head and probably favorite for there is a zoom ol monster in grape on a wobble head jig or a beaver bait on a wobble head jig.

June around Big Cedar is going to be rough. Tons of big boats down around that area and not many people driving them should be allowed to operate a boat. If it were me, I'd be trailering to the other end of the lake to get away from the traffic. I'm assuming that's not an option for you though. In that case, get out as early as you can (night fish if possible), and fish until the big boats chase you off. Get back at it in the evening as the crowd thins out a bit when they go in for dinner and fish as late as you can stand to. Long, flat points with deep water at the ends/sides (commonly referred to as "roll off points"), are good places to look. Drop shotting around the KC or 86 bridge will almost always score a good amount of spotted bass. I've done very well in the cove that Big Cedar is located in (caught my Table Rock PB there in fact). Topwater walking baits can be good early. One bait I always have tied on is either a Zoom Mag II or Ol' Monster in Plum Apple, it always seems to catch some fish. A shakyhead with a watermelon red magic trick worm is another constant producer, as is a football or finesse jig in PB&J. I hate drop shotting but there's always some fish to be caught on a little purple worm. If all else fails a Ned Rig will always catch something. 

Bluebasser86,

Trailering is an option if there is going to be too much pressure and activity on the east end. Would I be smart to look at Bull Shoals?

Putting at mill creek would be a good option. We stayed at a resort near there at the end of June last year and I did pretty well. The KC bridge is within sight and there are a good amount of deep docks around that area to drop shot or fish spoons. Bunches of roll out points right around from our resort that produced for me. Several islands as well.

Bluebasser86,

Trailering is an option if there is going to be too much pressure and activity on the east end. Would I be smart to look at Bull Shoals?

I don't know if the fishing will be any better on Bull Shoals, but there's likely to be way less boat traffic during the daylight hours. Taneycomo used to have really good bass fishing but I haven't heard about anyone bass fishing out there in a long time. Once upon a time it produced trout eating monsters though. Chasing the snot rockets around in Taney is a good way to beat the crowd and the heat though. 

Two years ago I headed to Table Rock Lake for the first time during the 2nd week of April.  Fished the A-rig almost exclusively and did very well.  Of course this was at the direction of a guide that we went out with so I take no credit for the decision.  I am making another trip to TRL this year but during the 1st week of June.  This time I will be pulling my boat the 8 hour drive to give me more flexibility, but forcing me to pave my own path.  I need some tips and pointers.  I will be launching at Big Cedar Marina.

Thanks,

Head over to the Ozark Angler's Table Rock forum and research posts marked for that time of year.  Lots of great info.  Topwater early and a 10" Zoom red shad worm after the sun gets high will get you bit.  Read up on the Ned Rig and watch some YouTube videos on how to rig and fish it.  Good luck!  

 

Hang in there, June probably seems forever and a day away for sure.  I'm suffering here near Table Rock in anticipation of a visit to Toledo Bend in late Feb. 

 

7 degrees tonight, ughh.

Head over to the Ozark Angler's Table Rock forum and research posts marked for that time of year.  Lots of great info.  Topwater early and a 10" Zoom red shad worm after the sun gets high will get you bit.  Read up on the Ned Rig and watch some YouTube videos on how to rig and fish it.  Good luck!  

 

Hang in there, June probably seems forever and a day away for sure.  I'm suffering here near Table Rock in anticipation of a visit to Toledo Bend in late Feb. 

 

7 degrees tonight, ughh.

It's roughly -10 to -20 tonight, and we are looking at a warm stretch this weekend where I am. I checked out the site and the structure map they have is great. I've been reading and watching the different presentations with the Ned rig for the last couple weeks and I can't believe I had never heard of this before. Toledo Bend would be heaven right now, but then again 7 degrees to me sounds like a heat wave.