Table Rock Super Tournament a battle between new and old
Nowadays, many tournaments are defined by ‘Scopers, as forward-facing sonar has completely changed how anglers fish. But every so often, a tournament comes along where the traditional anglers gain the upper hand. The Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Ozark Division Super Tournament on Table Rock looks like it could be one of those events.
Tournament details
Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Ozark Division Super Tournament
Table Rock Lake
Kimberling City, Mo.
Sept. 7-8
About the fishery
As far as Ozark impoundments go, Table Rock isn’t much different than the rest. The southern Missouri reservoir features everything you could ask for to catch a bass from other than grass. How it differs from the rest, though, is that you can weigh in quality largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass – something not all Ozark fisheries offer.
The White River is the major tributary and is prime country to find big largemouth, though spotted bass and smallmouth can be encountered as well. The James River also feeds Table Rock and is smaller and narrower than the White, but offers some dirtier water and plenty of laydowns. The lower end of the lake has the deepest, cleanest water and the highest abundance of smallies and spots. So, really, an angler can pick a section of the lake that fits their style best and catch fish.
What to expect
Depending on the conditions, this could be a battle royale between two types of anglers.
“I think the biggest deciding factor is an angler’s decision to ‘Scope or try to actually fish,” said Bass Pro Tour pro and local hammer Jeremy Lawyer. “I think both can win, but they’ll be completely different ways of doing it.”
Lawyer said September can be a fickle month in the Ozarks as fish really start to transition. And with that, he understands that many will opt for the forward-facing sonar route, as it definitely offers the chance at catching the most fish and a mixed bag.
That said, Table Rock’s fall topwater bite is legendary, and while the bites are harder to get, the quality largemouth it tends to produce are the type that win tournaments.
“Those fish up shallow are definitely going to be bigger and healthier,” Lawyer said. “The problem is trying to catch 10 of them over the two days.
“Many young anglers don’t understand how to go and grind out five bites. They’re used to playing a numbers game ‘Scoping. That’s where I really feel this event could be won by an old-school guy who grinds out five largemouth a day.”
In terms of weights, Lawyer thinks 16 pounds each day will put an angler close. Now, that might mean 20 pounds the first day and 12 the second, especially for the shallow anglers, but getting into the low 30s will be in the ballpark for the win, regardless of the techniques used to get there.