Table Rock premium lake for bass fishing

"I can see why Table Rock is rated as one of the best bass lakes in the country," said Fred Clark after he took his sixth largemouth bass of the morning.

"I started fishing around Campbell Point many years ago and have caught a ton of bass from the lake over the past 30 years. I get to the lake every chance I get ---- winter, spring, summer and fall. Over the years, Clark said, "I have caught some big smallmouth bass as well as crappie, walleye and even rainbow trout, but I love the challenge of hooking a big bass."

The Kansas City angler along with fishing-buddy, Dave Robinson, hit the lake last weekend when a cold north wind was howling and the temperature was falling.

Brad Hailey, Walnut Grove, with a nice walleye he caught last weekend while fishing from the bank. (Submitted photo)

Clark said, "We have been riding a roller coaster with the weather this winter. One day it may be close to 70 degrees and a day or two later it would be in the 40s. We still managed to catch fish. When we got back to the dock, there were several other fishermen about to leave and head home fish-less.

"When they saw how good we did, they changed their minds and decided to go back on the lake. It may be a little early for the really good fishing, but you can catch fish now. Next month we will be back more often, not only for the bass fishing, but also turkey and mushroom hunting. It's our favorite time of the year."

Other area anglers have found the fishing good as well. Brad Hailey, Walnut Grove, found the walleye and white bass running up an Ozark stream he fishes. One day he caught white bass and walleye although it seemed a little early.

He had plans to hit the spot again, but the big rain hit the Springfield-area turning the stream high and muddy, ending the fishing for awhile. Last weekend he hit the stream again. On his first cast he hooked a keeper walleye, so he was back in business.

Usually, the white bass run starts in early April, but with a mild winter this year, the spawning run started earlier. Hailey said, "Several years ago we had a mild winter and the whites and walleye started hitting in late March and it's like that this year. I was fishing from the bank and could see the fish in the clear water."

Todd Lanning and Matt Petry, Springfield, fought the north wind and falling temperature last Saturday while bass fishing. They were rewarded by catching 20 bass including a 6.67 pound bass that Lanning hooked.

Lanning said, "We were catching fish on crank-baits, catching them on spinner-baits, catching them on jerk-baits and one on a jig. We caught most of them on crank-baits."

Last week, John Knootz, a Cedar County angler, was after crappie using his tiny rod and reel as usual. He said, "I like to use this small rod and reel a lot. I can carry it along wherever I go. I like to use it to catch panfish like crappie and bluegill. Recently I was floating the Sac River and hooked a 22-inch walleye. It took some doing, but I landed the fish. It was the largest walleye I ever caught."

The 32 year-old angler started fishing when he was three. He said, "My dad got me started by using a Snoopy rod with a rubber plug so we wouldn't hook each other. Now I fish farm ponds the lakes and float the river. My favorite is fishing for walleye and crappie. I have never used a line over four pound test. Even if you catch a small bluegill, you have a battle when using this little rod and reel."

Todd Lanning, Springfield, with a nearly 7-pound largemouth bass he caught last weekend on Stockton Lake. (Photo by Matt Petry/Special to the Daily Mail)

As Clark pointed out earlier, "It may be a little early for the hot spring fishing, but we have been catching fish in the Ozarks all winter. I know that the best is yet to come. I always say that 'if you can't catch fish in April, then you might as well give t up.'"