KIMBERLING CITY, Mo. Most of the CITGO Bassmaster Elite Series anglers agree that it is going to be feast or famine on Table Rock Lake, and that the fish are going to be caught in deep water. With a 1 hour and 40-minute fog delay in the morning and deep clear water during the day, it will definitely put the anglers to the test. A lot of the anglers struggled with the weather and conditions in the Bassmaster Legends in Little Rock a couple weeks ago, and they are saying that this could be just as difficult. Before takeoff this morning, a few anglers commented on the fishing conditions on Table Rock.
Kenyon Hill
How tough is the fishing going to be on this lake?
It shouldn't be real tough. Table Rock has a lot if fish in it, and I think it is going to better than a lot of people think.
What range of depth are you going to be fishing?
I'll be fishing anywhere from 25 to 35 feet for most of the day.
How many limits will be brought to the scales today?
I'll be surprised is there isn't going to be 30 limits. A lot of guys are going to catch some fish today. I've been whacking them real good. Table Rock is a good lake, and there is a lot of opportunity out there.
Skeet Reese
How tough is the fishing going to be on this lake?
It's going to be real tough. There are going to be a few blanks and a lot of ones and twos.
What range of depth are you going to be fishing?
My range will be anywhere from about a foot to 50 feet. I have one little area where I am going to go and try to catch some largemouth. If that works, then I will stay shallow, but if after the first couple hours I come up short, I'll go to deeper waters. Ninety percent of the fish are going to be caught in deep waters.
How many limits will be brought to the scales today?
I thought there were going to be 20 to 25 limits today, but with this fog delay, those numbers are going to come way down. I think guys needed the first two hours to catch two or three and the rest of the day to fill out the limit.
Tommy Biffle
How tough is the fishing going to be on this lake?
It's going to be real tough. I think it will be a lot like Little Rock. We didn't catch many in Little Rock, but I probably felt better there than I do here. This water is just so clear and deep.
What range of depth are you going to be fishing?
I am going to start off shallow, but I may move out to 30 or 35 feet of water. I am hoping I can get what I need in the shallow, but if it doesn't work, I'll adjust.
How many limits will be brought to the scales today?
I think maybe 20, but that's on the high end. There will be a lot of ones and twos and maybe a few full loads here and there. A couple guys will bring in a 15-pound bag.
Scott Rook
How tough is the fishing going to be on this lake?
It's going to be tough, but they're going to catch them. I hear some reports of some of these guys catching them pretty good. There are going to be a few guys who really catch them, but I don't think it will take much to get a check. It may only take 6 pounds a day. You catch a lot fish, but keepers will be hard to come by.
What range of depth are you going to be fishing?
Most of my fishing will be from 25 to 30 feet, and I'm fishing on the bottom. There are two patterns going on. Some of these guys are catching them fishing in trees where the fish are suspended, but I am going to fish the bottom.
How many limits will be brought to the scales today?
They're going to catch some limits, but to guess a number would be a shot in the dark. I've talked to some guys who are catching six or seven keepers a day, so there are going to be some limits. I had 25 keeper bites one day in practice, so they're here, it's just a matter of getting around them.
Jason Quinn
How tough is the fishing going to be on this lake?
I think it's going to be real tough because it's that time of year, but these guys are going to catch a few. Getting the 15-inch bite is key out here. There is a lot of light line, and with all of the pressure on this tournament with the Classic and Angler of the Year, guys can break a few because they are trying too hard. You're might see some tempers flair out there today; It should be interesting.
What range of depth are you going to be fishing?
I'm going to be targeting that 30- or 40-foot range. Most of the keepers are going to be caught in deep water. Those guys fishing shallow water are going to catch a lot of fish, but it is going to be tough to get keepers. With this structure in the deep water, you could pull up at the right place at the right time, and fill up your boat.
How many limits will be brought to the scales today?
Gosh, I would be surprised to see 15 limits. I think the average bag will be about two fish, and I think you'll see 30 guys or more not catch one.
Ken Cook
How tough is the fishing going to be on this lake?
I think is going to be pretty hard, but I don't think it will be as bad as Little Rock.
What range of depth are you going to be fishing?
I'm going to fish shallow until it doesn't work. I've got a little spot where I think I can catch them pretty good. I can catch fish deep, but my chance to win is going to be fishing shallow.
How many limits will be brought to the scales today?
There'll be 10, 12 or maybe 20. I don't think there'll be much more than that. The fish are all bunched up in trees and they are hard to get out. The out-of-town guys are at a big disadvantage because they don't know which trees hold fish.
Britt Myers
How tough is the fishing going to be on this lake?
It will be very tough. Getting that keeper bite is going to be the key. There are going to be a lot of fish caught, but it will be harder to find a keeper.
What range of depth are you going to be fishing?
I'm fishing 28 to 32 feet. It's pretty precise in that one area.
How many limits will be brought to the scales today?
I would say today, probably about 20 limits, and it will get worse as the tournament goes on. Somebody is going to catch a lot fish in one little spot where there is a school of keepers. That's going to be key because the fish are in bunches. I'm hearing guys say it will only take four or five pounds a day to make that top-50 cut.
Pete Ponds
How tough is the fishing going to be on this lake?
I think it's going to be tough to get a limit.
What range of depth are you going to be fishing?
I'm going to start off shallow and probably move deep, to about 35 feet of water. It depends on the cloudiness and the bite. If I get bit early, I'll stay shallow.
How many limits will be brought to the scales today?
I'd say probably 15 limits, and I figure everybody will catch about two fish.
Greg Hackney
How tough is the fishing going to be on this lake?
It will be tough, but I don't think it's going to be quite as tough as Little Rock.
What range of depth are you going to be fishing?
I'm going to be fishing 30 to 60 feet. I think the tournament's going to be won that way. I think someday might catch three or four deep then get one in the shallow, but overall, I think deep water is going to dominate.
How many limits will be brought to the scales today?
Two days ago, I would have told you 30. It's possible. This thing is loaded with fish. It's just getting them to bite. I think it's going to be feast or famine.
Mike Iaconelli
How tough is the fishing going to be on this lake?
I don't think it's going to be as tough as Little Rock. It's definitely going to be hard because a lot of fish aren't going to be where we normally catch them, in deep water. A lot of guys don't usually fish that deep. Even me, I only usually fish as deep as 30 feet.
What range of depth are you going to be fishing?
I am going to be catching them as deep as 60 foot, and that's pretty incredible. This is the kind of tournament where if you catch five a day, you will be in good shape.
How many limits will be brought to the scales today?
I bet you will see a quarter of the field catch a limit. I think progressively as the tournament goes on, it will get tougher. With out a doubt, I think the consistent bags will be caught deeper.
Brent Chapman
How tough is the fishing going to be on this lake?
It's going to be extremely tough, especially since the fog has set us back. The best bite is early and this is about as tough as Table Rock gets.
What range of depth are you going to be fishing?
I'm going to be fishing between 30 and 40 feet. There are going to be some shallow fish caught, but the deep bite will be the most consistent by far.
How many limits will be brought to the scales today?
It's hard to say. I hope not many, and I hope I'm one of them.
Stephen Browning
How tough is the fishing going to be on this lake?
I don't think it's going to be as tough as Little Rock because the fishery is a little better, but it is still going to be tough.
What range of depth are you going to be fishing?
I am going to be fishing about 6 feet. I'm not a deep water guy, so I'm not going to go out there bang my head. I'm just looking for two or three keepers a day.
How many limits will be brought to the scales today?
I'm going to say 12 today. No more than 38 total for the entire tournament. I hope it's going to be as tough as I think it is, but we'll wait and see.
Steve Kennedy
How tough is the fishing going to be on this lake?
I think it's going to be real tough. I'll be happy if I get three keepers. My first day of practice, I had eight keeper bites, but since then I've had three total. I've been really struggling finding deep fish.
What range of depth are you going to be fishing?
I am going to stay shallow. Maybe the late flight tomorrow I might fish deep, but I'm real nervous about today.
How many limits will be brought to the scales today?
I'd say maybe 20 or 25. It's going to be a lot better than the river because these fish are used to that clear water.