Fall shad migration pushes bass into Table Rock creeks

What anglers are reporting Fresh reports are scarce this week, but the seasonal shift is well underway. The recent cold front has pushed water temperatures down, accelerating the fall turnover and moving baitfish toward the backs of the major arms.

This week's outlook Expect bass to follow the threadfin and gizzard shad migration into the creeks. With water temperatures likely sitting in the low 60s, fish should be actively feeding on gravel points and chunk rock banks. The bite will fluctuate with the weather, starting slow post-front but picking up as temperatures warm mid-week before the next major system arrives.

Where to start Look for shad schools pushing into the James and Kings river arms. Target long gravel points and channel swings where bass can ambush bait. If the shallow bite stalls, back off to placed brush piles in 15 to 25 feet or drop a spoon on main-lake humps for spotted bass and smallmouth.

Bait box

• Walking topwater in bone or chrome for early morning surface activity
• White double-willow spinnerbait for windy chunk rock banks
• Silver jigging spoon for suspended fish over deep brush
• Ned rig with a green pumpkin plastic for finicky smallmouth on gravel
• Small shad-profile swimbait on a light jighead

This weekend Saturday and Sunday offer stable, warming conditions with light winds. This is a prime window to cover water and find active fish before the next heavy rain and severe temperature drop hits on Thursday. Focus on the secondary points early and move to deeper brush as the sun gets high.