[Editors Note: Branson, Missouri’s Table Rock Lake’s 43,100 surface acres has 857 miles of shoreline. This report covers that portion of Table Rock Lake that most people staying in the Branson area would typically be fishing. The level of Table Rock Lake as of 1:00 p.m. March 31 was 916.33]

Table Rock Lake, Main Body

Water Temperature: 50 F
Water Clarity: Clear

We have finally reached consistent 50 degree plus water temperatures. This is when the bass fishing really starts to heat up. I have received a lot of good reports this past week from some of the area guides. The spotted bass are beginning to move onto the pea gravel. They are in 12 - 18 foot of water and can be caught on a variety of lures such as finesse worms, tubes, grubs, centipedes, and jigs. On windy days, these fish are moving even shallower and can be caught on stick baits and red wiggle warts.

Table Rock Rivers, including the James River

Water Temperature: 53 - 57 F
Water Clarity: Stained

The crappie fishing is good. Chartreuse tubes and grubs in 10 - 12 foot of water around brush piles will catch numbers of crappie right now. When the crappie slow down, we’ve been moving in to 4 - 6 foot of water and catching some really nice white bass. Small grubs and swimming minnows are working the best for the whites. The bass are staging halfway back in the coves and can be caught on shaky-head worms and split shot centipedes in 8 - 12 foot of water.

Submitted by Buster Loving for Central Pro-Am Association.