Bull Shoals lake fishing report from Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock

Bull Shoals Lake Fishing Report & Fishing News
by Ricky Eastwold and Crew, Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock

- Bull Shoals Lake Fishing Report -

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2009 FISH "CATCHING" picture page

2010 FISH CATCHING picture page

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March 10th 2010 - Hello everybody! I'm back from all the boat-sport and travels shows in the midwest. FINALLY ! I did 8 shows in 8 weeks. Thanks to all of you that stopped at my booth and said hi. Now for the fishing. I haven't had a chance to go out yet but I have been getting all kinds of reports. They are mixed reports so here goes. The lake temp is in the lower 40's at this end of the lake. I am told its in the mid to upper 40's in the mid to upper part of the lake. Yes, it is colder then usual for this time of year but we have had a cold winter. The water temp should rise quick with the warmer weather. We really need a warm spring rain and things would change quick. The water is very clear right now. I had to dive yesterday to fix some things and the visibility was a goo 20 - 30 feet. I wen to down to a depth of 55 feet and it was just as clear. Of course that was here in the marina cove. I am told the back of the creeks are just as clear.

I am also told that there are literally thousands of shad dying in the lake. This is normal when the water temp gets in the lower 40's. This happens most years but some years the water temp never gets below 50 degrees. It is definitely happening this year. This has a tendency to make the fish very lazy and harder to catch. They don't have to work for their food. They generally have to swim around with their mouth open to eat. So, this can make fishing tougher because they dot have to work for food, esp. at the end of the cycle like now. They have gorged themselves on dying shad so they are use to having it easy. There are a couple of things to do though. You can use baits and patterns that simulate a dying shad. Suspending rebels, rogues and xraps for example. Jigging a spoon is another example. Basically anything that simulates a dying shad. When the water temp starts to rise and the shad aren't dying anymore then these patterns are also good because the fish are use to seeing dying shad. So these patterns shoals work well for the next month or so.

The next thing to try is something completely different. I believe that fish are like you and I. They like to eat different things. So, dragging a jig, tube jig, lizard or other types of "bait" will also work. I have had one report that the carolina rigging a lizard is working now.

Friday March 12th 2010 - Hey again. The water temp is starting to warm up some. This should zig -zag with our air and rain temperatures over the next month. We have had some nice warm days this past week and the water temp has zoomed up to the high 40's - low 50's in the back of some creeks. The WHITE BASS have started to get active. I have had several reports of good stringers being caught back in the creeks. We have also had a couple of nice largemouth caught this week. See picture page for these. White River trout fishing is excellent as usual. I will be back with more after this weekend.

Monday March 15th - Guide Bob Pauletti brought in 8 bass on stick baits and crank baits.

Saturday March 20th 2010 - Rainy cloudy day but guide Jimmy McDaniel brought in a nice stringer of bass plus a 6 lb walleye using a suspending rogue in 5 to 15 feet of water. see picture page for picture

Monday March 22th 2010 - Hello everybody !! The water temp is warming up to the lower 50's during the day and cooling down in the high 40's at night. The lake is very clear and the level is normal. As I am walking around the docks I am seeing a few fish along the banks. Not many yet but a few. As far as I am concerned, the fishing has started for Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass and White Bass. Walleye, Crappie and Smallmouth Bass are still in the early stages. I have great reports on the Largemouth bass fishing. Most of these fish are shallow in 5 to 15 feet of water. The white bass are moving in and out back in the creeks. The warm days they are shallow and the cold days the are deeper. So start making your plans now!! More to follow in a couple of days. The White River trout fishing continues to be fantastic!!!

Monday March 29th 2010 - Hey! The bass and white bass fishing continues to be good. The water is still around 50 degrees give or take a few degrees depending on where you are in the lake and when you take it. The weather has been the up and down as usual for March. The water is very clear. The lake has risen several feet and is expect to crest 5-7 feet over normal level by April 1st. There is a few feet of brush in the lake. We will have to wait and see what happens with the fishing over the next few days. I don't know what the lake rising will do to it. We are seeing a walleye here and there but not big numbers yet. The night fisherman are seeing them with spot lights on the bank but they are not biting real good yet. I think they are in pre spawn mode. The ones that are being caught are the smaller males with no eggs in them. The good walleye fishing shouldn't be far away. Crappie fishing is still slow but should pick up anytime. We need a few days of warm consistent weather or a good warm rain.

We had a tournament last Friday and Saturday. They caught lots of fish both days with a 6lb largemouth on Friday. I didn't get the results for Saturday or the whole tournament but Friday's results can be seen here - http://www.theultimatebassfishingchallenge.com/qualified.html

SUNDAY APRIL 4TH 2010 - Hello! The lake has stabilized and continues to warm up slowly. The water temp is from 48 to 55 degrees depending on where you take it on the lake. I have a new water-temp/oxygen chart listed below. Fishing continues to be good for Largemouth bass and white bass. There are a few spotted bass, Smallmouth bass, walleye and crappie continuing to come in. There are reports of several walleye being seen on the banks with a spotlight at night. It should start anytime. On of my guides keeps reminding me that it didn't start to the middle of April last year. I will keep you updated.

The White River trout fishing continues to be a great. See our picture page for all the pics of the brown trout.

WEDNESDAY APRIL 14TH 2010 - Hey!! Bass fishing is great! We have seen lots of fish being caught and lots released. We have a boat lift down in the water just behind the office. We just dropped it back in the water 2 days ago. It is in the water about 2-4 feet. It didn't take long, we watched two largemouth bass actually spawning on it today. It was an experience to see. I'm curious to see what is happening on it tomorrow. I will keep you updated. Bass patterns are listed below. The biggest changes is top water patterns. They are working great now.

The lake has drooped several feet over the last few days. The water temp is mid 50's to low 60's on most places on the lake. The visibility continues to be fantastic at 30 feet plus. NOW IS THE TIME TO BE SCUBA DIVING IF YOU WANT FANTABLOUS VISIBILITY!!

Walleye fishing continues to improve. I went out two nights. We caught 4 keepers the first night and 2 the second night. We had a few misses and a couple of throw backs. We spot lighted the bank and counted over 50 in two spots in shallow water. Most of these are holding against the bank or in the brush along the shoreline. Some of the smaller walleyes were smaller males and they were milking as we brought them into the boat. This is usually a sign that the walleye spawn is still going. So, it should continue to pick up as the days go by.

White bass fishing continues to be good back in the creeks. Crappie is still a little slow with a few being shown off here and there. But you know how you crappie fisherman are. You don't talk about the "crappie fishing" because you don't want anybody else catching them!! The bluegills-perch have moved up close to the shoreline. The catfish should be up soon. Until next time. Now is the time to make your plans and reservations!!

THURSDAY APRIL 22ND 2010- Hey! Fishing is great and the catching is great too!! There are fantastic stringers of bass being caught. Check out the picture page. The lake is almost back to normal. The water temperature is in the lower 60's on the surface. Bass are going nuts on everything. The patterns are listed below. The walleye continue to bite at night on rogues, x-raps and rebels. The daytime bite is starting on night crawler a little. White bass continue to be caught back in the creeks on anything that looks like a shad. Crappie are being caught on small tubes, small minnows and any normal crappie bait.

SATURDAY MAY 1ST 2010- Hello. The fishing and catching continues to be good. The bass are still going nuts on just about anything and everything you want to throw. All of the normal fishing patterns from top water to dragging plastics in 15-20 feet of water and everything in between. The crappie have started to appear in nice numbers. They are concentrated around the brush piles and standing timber. There are a few pictures on the picture page. The white bass are still being caught along the banks while people are fishing for bass. Walleye is the only disappointing species so far this spring. The night bite just hasn't really consistent. The day bite is okay but not really good yet. A lot of walleye are being caught while fishing for bass. There are some good ones coming in but not the great numbers yet. I am thinking we are behind in water temperature and the good walleye fishing is yet to come. We will see. The lake is at normal but we have has rain on and off for the last week. Water temps are hovering in the lower 60's mostly. Visibility is great. I will update again in a few days. There is a new water temperature -oxygen chart below.

Check out this post from the Chicago houseboat boys!!

http://www.windycityfishing.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=11215

WEDNESDAY MAY 12TH - Hello! Fishing continues to be fantastic. Some of the best I have seen in 20 years. Not much change in the bass fishing. Top water patterns are coming on strong. The rest of the patterns below are working also. The biggest change is the walleye. They are finally starting to bite good during the day. We are seeing lots and lots of walleye caught with most them being under size limit. But, they have gotten active in the last few days. You can see on the picture page there are some good stringers being shown. See below for patterns. The crappie are good and white bass are also good. FISHING IS GREAT AND SO IS THE CATCHING!! Until next time.

SATURDAY MAY 22ND - Hello! Fishing hasn't changed. It is still great! No changes in the patterns either. The only difference is the water level. The lake has risen 5-6 feet over the past week. The area has had lots of rain. The lake is suppose to peak May 31st at 666 provided there is no more rain. Anyway, I will keep you posted. I dot anticipate the fishing patterns changing much over the next couple weeks but I will keep you posted. Until next time!!

MONDAY JUNE 7TH - Hello everybody! The fishing still hasn't changed much yet. The water temp is the main change. It has zoomed up quick into the 70's on the surface. Divers tell me there is a minor thermocline around the 18 foot level and a major one around the 30 foot level. The lake has started to fall again and should continue to lower provided we dot get any major rains. Visibility is okay but not great due to the water going lower. Its great from 30 feet down to 70. I have posted a new water temp graph below done on may 25.

The fishing is pretty much the same with top water lures dominating the first couple hours of light and the last couple hours of light. There is a brush line in the lake from the surface to 12-15 feet. So, if you are fishing shallow then you need to be working the baits over the top of the brush. Top water baits like zara spook, zoom fluke, poppers, or any type of top water bait.

During the day the fish seem to be working the old shore line past the 15 foot level down to 30 feet. The main baits seem to be the plastics like tube jigs, grubs, 4 inch worms, jig-n-frog, jig-n-any trailer. Split shoting a night crawler is also working for bass. This pattern is really hot for walleye right now. Either that or bottom bouncing a night crawler is also working real well. There is good reports of white bass and crappie being caught under the lights at night in 20 to 35 feet of water.

WEDNESDAY JUNE 16TH - Hey Everybody! Fishing continues to be fantastic as we are getting into summer. Not any changes on the patterns yet. Only changes in water temperature which is in the mid 70's, change in thermocline which is around 25 to 30 feet and changes in lake level which is dropping and is currently around the 662 level. The bass and walleye continue to be caught on the patterns listed below. Not much change from last week. Spearfishing has opened and its not very good according to the divers. The water temperature is warmer then normal so the catfish have already spawned and left the banks. Haven't seen many walleye or crappie speared yet. Until next time!!

MONDAY JUNE 26TH - Hello! Fishing and catching continues to be good. The temperatures are getting up there so there has been a slow down of people fishing but most people are still catching fish. The biggest complaint I an getting is catching too many small fish. The water temp is already up in the mid to high 80's. The thermocline is around the 20 foot level and a another one at the 30 foot level. You can see all of this here >>> temp graph-june10. Patterns still haven't changed a whole lot just the depths. Everything seems to be moving deeper into the cooler water. So, just fish a little deeper. Night fisherman are reporting good catches on jig-n-anything combo. Until next time!!

MONDAY JULY 12TH - Hey!! Fishing continues to be good. The main difference is the times that people are fishing. When the weather gets hot then the fishing times turn into first couple hours of daylight and last couple hours of day light. We are getting reports of bass being caught on surface baits at first hour of sun light and last hour of sun light. After that, its mostly plastic baits that simulate a crawfish or minnow. Also, night crawlers, minnows and crawfish will work. The bass seem to be in the 18 to 25 foot range most of the time during the day. Jig-n-frog and spoons will also work. White Bass continue to be hot during the day on the surface. This could happen anytime during the day. You will be sitting or traveling all they will school on the surface chasing shad. So keep a rod with a spoon tied on in case you see them schooling. The Walleye bite has been great still. They seem to be in the 27 to 35 foot range. Bottom bouncing with night crawlers, split shoting night crawlers, or spoons are working. There has been several over 8 lbs brought in this last 10 days. See the picture page. The lake is back to normal with the water temp up in the mid to high 80's. We have had a lot of rain so I don't know what's going to happen with the level. Anyway- till next time!!!!!!

Monday August 3rd - Hello!! The heat has finally changed the fishing or the fisherman more then likely. The fish still have to eat so they will still bite something. But the air temperatures are keeping people from fishing much. Its been in the 90's mostly over the last few weeks. The lake is around normal and the water temp is in the high 80's. The thermocline is down around 30 feet. Here are the fishing patterns I would recommend and that seem to be catching fish for our guides and other fisherman.

BASS PATTERNS-

1. Top water at sun rise and at sun down. This is a very short time span of 30 minutes or so.

2. Night crawlers or crawfish in 30 -35 feet of water off of the points, drops offs, brush piles and standing timber.

3. Spooning in 30 to 35 feet of water in same places.

4. 4 inch trick worm, tube jig, jig-n-frog, in 30 to 40 feet of water. Make sure you have your bait in that depth of water.

5. Trolling or down rigging is catching good stringers of fish over the shad balls back in the creeks. They are keeping their boat in 75 feet of water out in the middle of the creek and trolling with deep diving baits. They are catching white bass, largemouth bass and spotted bass doing this.

6. Night fishing is producing fish on jig-n-frog, red plastic worms, and any other plastic type bait that crawls on the bottom.

WALLEYE PATTERNS -

1. Bottom bouncing in 35 to 40 feet of water with night crawlers is working.

2. Spooning in that same depth.

3. split shot a night crawler is also working in that depth.

CATFISH - The trot line and limb line methods are producing catfish at night.

NIGHT - LIGHT - FISHING - We are still getting reports of all species of fish being caught at night under lights in 35 to 50 feet of water.

Don't forget to check out our picture page for the latest catches!!

White River:

NOTHING EVER CHANGES ON THE RIVER EXCEPT THE WATER LEVEL!!! THE FISHING IS ALWAYS GREAT!!

The river fishing has been great!! Check out the 2010 picture page for photos of some big ones caught over the last couple of weeks. Nothing new on the patterns. --- Worms, night crawlers, power baits, salmon eggs, Count down Rapalas, spoons, rooster tails, jigs and just about any other type of trout bait or pattern you have heard of.

Come visit our expanded bait and Tackle department and good luck and good fishing to you all.

Good luck and good fishing, and please come and see us at Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock for all your fishing needs…Thank you!

FISHING -- INFORMATION -- FISHING

WATER TEMP GRAPH - 04-24-09

WATER TEMP GRAPH 05-24-09

WATER TEMP COMPARISON FOR APRIL - 08 TO 09 WATER TEMP

TYSON FOODS EMPLOYEE TOURNAMENT RESULTS - 2009

DAN GALUSHA CRAPPIE ARTICLE ON BULL SHOALS LAKE

WATER TEMP GRAPH - 06-26-09

PREFERRED OXYGEN RANGE FOR FISH

LENGTH TO WEIGHT CONVERSION CHART FOR - WALLEYE - CRAPPIE - LARGEMOUTH BASS

WATER TEMP GRAPH - 07-08-09