Bull Shoals

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake?s elevation at 659.72 feet msl (normal conservation pool ? 659 msl).
(updated 3-9-2016) K Dock Marina (417-334-2880) said the water temperature already is pushing 50 degrees and the water condition looks great. Crappie that have been coming in are ready to release their eggs. Now that the lake has stopped dropping a foot per day, the crappie are starting to stage on brush piles in the coves. Not along the banks yet, but that will change when we get 60 to 65 degree surface temperatures. Bass are getting up toward the banks with the warmer days pushing the surface temperature up every week. The bass really starting to hit a Wiggle Wart and spinner bait last week. Anglers are starting to see large amounts of shad around the dock. This should be a good time for a jerk bait. No reports on the white bass or walleye yet.
(updated 2-24-2016) Bull Shoals Boat Dock said surface water temperatures are 46 degrees and the water level is almost back to normal. Warm weather had fish moving out of their winter haunts before the cold snap. Bladed Alabama rigs baited with Keitech 3.8 Fat Swimbaits fishe along secondary points and bluffs in 35 feet of water have been good for bass. Keep the boat in 35 feet of water and look for steep breaks, ledges or channel swings close to the bank halfway back in major creek arms. A few smallmouth have been caught on Megabass jerk baits. And on spoons in 35 to 45 feet of water If the wind is blowing, a Rock Crawler or Wiggle Wart fished on 45-degree banks has worked. Keep the boat close in 12 feet of water and cast parallel to the bank. Strikes are going to happen when it rolls over the rocks. The most productive areas are transition areas where bluffs meat chunk rock or chunk rock meets clay or gravel. Always keep an eye out for bait on the graph and seagull activity, especially when you get into the creeks. Fishing is only going to get better as temperatures warm. The random walleye bite should also start picking up.