“I caught my first big one at Tenkiller on a long razorback point that quickly dropped from 30 to 50 feet of water, then to 100. I spotted some big ones chasing large shad and, when I got close enough, I fired a Spook out there, but with no results. I then tried a spinnerbait to no avail. After catching a few drum on a tube and 1/4-ounce jighead, I fancasted out toward deep water at the end of the point.

“Nothing happened until I was over 100 feet of water. I fired a Hail Mary cast out into the lake and the lure stopped about 5 feet down. I set the hook and a giant smallie jumped, but I lost it. Next trip, I stayed way off the bank, casting into about 50 feet of water. On one cast, the line stopped. This time I caught a 5-pounder. This is slow and difficult fishing, but on a good day I can catch 5 that weigh 20 pounds. Casting against bluffs yields small fish, unless the wind is pounding in and the bite is on.”

Crawfish Patterns

Stacey King of Reeds Spring, Missouri, is a prominent angler on the tournament scene and a former Table Rock guide. He’s worked to pattern Table Rock’s smallmouth and says that on good days, it’s common to boat 5 that weigh around 18 pounds.

During all seasons outside the spawn, but particularly during fall, King targets fish on gravel points and major flats that have flooded cedar trees and an occasional hardwood. Points containing large rocks and gravel along with flooded trees attract bass that are bottom-oriented, feeding on crayfish. They tend not to roam or suspend, though he’s found them more likely to do so on cloudy days.

The best bite typically is between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Trees should sit in 15 to 30 feet of water, with 20 the optimum depth. The best are isolated, with massive branches and root systems. The best flats feature a ditch or two meandering to the main river or creek channel.

To work such thickets, King uses a 3/4-ounce Bass Pro Shops Lazer Eye Finesse Jig in brown-purple-flake, paired with a 4-inch green pumpkin XPS Double-Tailed Grub, or a NetBait Paca Chunk or Paca Craw. He trims the jig’s weedguard even with the hook point and uses his thumb to spread the weedguard into a fan-shape. The skirt is trimmed even with the bend of the hook.

To cover large structures, he makes long casts and pulls line from the reel as the jig drops, so it goes straight down. Once it lands, King lifts the rod from 2:30 to 1:30 position, shaking it vigorously three times. After shaking, he drops the rod back to 2:30 and begins the lift-shake routine again. He typically executes the lift-and-shake three times then reels in and makes another cast. He fishes quickly, covering an expanse of timber the size of a football field in about 20 minutes.