Bass and walleye are plentiful at K-Dock on Bull Shoals Lake

In checking last weeks fishing report, one spot looked very interesting. K-Dock on Bull Shoals reported fishing for bass wand walleye as excellent. So I checked it out.

The first angler I met was David Stewart from St. Louis. Stewart admitted he was a novice angler and it showed. Having never caught a walleye, he forgot that this species of fish has teeth.

He said, "I hooked a big fish and when I finally got it to the boat, I made a big mistake. I tried to pick it up like I do a bass. Putting my thumb into its mouth, I quickly learned how the walleye's teeth can penetrate an anglers thumb. I let go and the fish flopped back into Bull Shoals Lake as I stood there looking at my bleeding thumb. At least I learned something."

Scott Hansen, owner of K-Dock Marina, said, "Fishermen are doing a lot better on walleye. They are catching them on night crawlers and bottom bouncing lures. The fish are running fairly deep in water 20 to 30 feet off the flats.

"We have been getting good reports from near the Arkansas line about eight miles from us, and its getting better and better coming our way. We should have good fishing for another month or so.

"The bass are also coming on strong. They are starting to hit a big worm, a heavier jig and crawdads. Bass are also hitting topwater lures like Zara Spook.

"Our water is cool for this time of the year, we are just above 80 degrees and the water is clear.

"There are plenty of bait fish after all the flood years we have experienced. The fish are healthy and when you get into them, you will catch some really big ones. We are catching big blacks and Kentucky's. The good fishing should last awhile."

An Arkansas angler, Bob Clark, heard about the good fishing near K-Dock, so last weekend he decided to give it a try. Clark was after walleye, but when he saw white bass breaking the surface after shad, it became a white bass trip.

Clark said, " I was trolling for walleye when I saw the whites, so I reeled my line in, put on a silver spoon then cast into the school of whites.

"In less than half an hour, I had 11 whites in the two pound range. It was a lot of action in a short (period) time. I think the fishing for whites, walleye and largemouth bass will continue to be good for awhile. I will be after all of them, especially the walleyes."

Clark pointed out that fishing Bull Shoals in the summer, especially early and late in the day, can be outstanding. Schools of bass chasing shad on the surface in the low light hours of the day---- lures like the Zara Spook can be very effective.

During the heat of the day, in August, fishing gets a little tougher. Anglers need to look for the fish to move to deeper water around channel points and rocky ledges up to 50 feet deep. Jigs, and Carolina rigs are effective.

The largemouth bass tend to be in shallower water than smallmouths and are in large schools around brush-piles that have been set by fishermen.

Berkley power worms and jigs are effective lures around the brush. A majority of the walleye are caught by trolling bottom bouncers, nightcrawlers or jigs with a minnow attached.

Bull Shoals has a reputation for catching big walleye, even in the late summer. Using deep trolling lures or drifting nightcrawlers over the flats near deeper water.

In a fishing tournament held on Bull Shoals several years ago, people at the weigh-in were amazed at the size of walleye brought in. It took more than 20 pounds of fish to place in the contest.

Of course, walleye are highly prized by anglers for several reasons. The main reason is that they make for some excellent eating.

More and more anglers in the state are going after these hardy, adaptable species. They are now found in most of the large impoundments as well as in many of the Ozark streams. Their fight is strong, but short lived.

If the good fishing on Bull Shoals continues, Clark will have a lot of company.