1 Review
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The Largemouth Bass belongs to the order Perciformes and family Centrarchidae. It typically measures between 15 and 32 inches in length, with a weight range from 2 to 22 lbs. - Most famous member of the sunfish family and renowned game fish. - Green or olive-green color body with dark horizontal markings.
Guide Rick Skidmore of Champion Guide Service on Monday May offers expert-led fishing charters on Table Rock Lake and Lake Taneycomo in Branson, Missouri. This 4-hour guided fishing trip targets largemouth bass and crappie using advanced techniques like jigging and bait casting. Early morning departures maximize bite times, with all fishing gear, tackle, and safety equipment provided. Rick shares in-depth location strategies and crappie fishing techniques to help experienced anglers refine their skills across Branson's productive lake systems. The charter focuses on submerged timber and brush piles where quality fish hold during warming spring conditions.
Guide Rick Skidmore of Champion Guide Service on Monday May leads 4-hour crappie and bass fishing charters on Table Rock Lake starting at $400 for up to 2 anglers. Trips begin at 6 a.m. in summer and 7 a.m. in winter to target peak feeding times. All fishing gear, tackle, and safety equipment are included with your licensed guide who knows the productive brush piles and timber structure. Book online or call to reserve your Branson fishing adventure on Missouri's premier lake system.
This expert-led charter focuses on advanced crappie fishing techniques while also targeting largemouth bass in Table Rock Lake's clear waters. Rick guides you to submerged timber and brush piles where crappie and bass hold during different seasons. The trip covers jigging and bait casting methods, switching between depths to locate active fish. May offers excellent conditions with warming waters bringing fish up shallow, creating exciting action for experienced anglers looking to refine their lake fishing skills.
Largemouth bass thrive in Table Rock Lake's diverse structure, relating to submerged timber, rocky points, and brush piles throughout the year. These aggressive predators feed heavily on shad and crayfish, making them excellent targets for both jigging and bait casting techniques. Spring months like May find bass moving shallow for spawning activities, creating prime opportunities near protected coves and timber-lined banks. Rick's local knowledge helps anglers understand seasonal patterns and structure preferences that make Branson's bass fishing so productive.
Your charter includes a fully equipped boat with all fishing gear, tackle, and safety equipment for up to 2 guests. Rick provides rods, reels, and a variety of lures including Crappie Slammer Split Tail Shads and bass-specific presentations. Early morning departures take advantage of optimal feeding periods when fish are most active. The boat is equipped with fish finders and GPS to locate productive structure efficiently, while Rick shares techniques for reading water and understanding fish behavior on Table Rock Lake's 43,000 acres.
The Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) belongs to the order Perciformes and family Centrarchidae, making it the most famous and largest member of the sunfish family. This renowned game fish displays a distinctive green or olive-green body with dark horizontal markings that earned it the nickname "black bass." In Branson waters this May, anglers find these aggressive predators relating to Table Rock Lake's abundant timber structure and rocky points.
Largemouth bass are North America's most popular freshwater game fish, prized for their aggressive strikes and acrobatic fights. They feature a slightly forked tail and soft dorsal fin rays separated by deep notches. The species thrives in diverse freshwater environments from natural lakes to man-made reservoirs, making them perfect for Missouri's Table Rock Lake system.
These adaptable fish inhabit lakes, ponds, and rivers throughout their range, preferring areas with cover like submerged timber, vegetation, and rocky structure. Table Rock Lake's clear waters and abundant brush piles create ideal habitat, with bass using different depths seasonally. They relate to shallow spawning areas in spring and move to deeper structure during summer heat.
Adult largemouth bass typically range from 15 to 32 inches in length, weighing between 2 and 22 pounds. Average fish measure 12 to 24 inches and weigh 1 to 4.5 pounds, though Table Rock Lake produces trophy specimens exceeding these averages due to excellent forage and habitat conditions.
Largemouth bass are opportunistic predators feeding on shad, crayfish, bluegill, and other forage fish. They ambush prey from cover, using their large mouths to engulf victims in explosive strikes. Peak feeding occurs during low-light periods at dawn and dusk, though they remain active throughout the day when conditions are favorable.
Spawning occurs when water temperatures reach 60-65°F, typically from March through May in Missouri waters. Males create circular nests in shallow, protected areas with firm bottoms. During this period, bass become highly territorial and aggressive, making them excellent targets for anglers using proper techniques and respecting spawning areas.
Effective techniques include jigging with soft plastics, bait casting with spinnerbaits and crankbaits, and topwater presentations during low-light periods. Target submerged timber, rocky points, and brush piles where bass ambush prey. In May, anglers around Branson find success working shallow coves and timber-lined banks where bass stage for spawning activities.
Largemouth bass offer mild, flaky white meat with excellent protein content and low mercury levels. The flesh has a clean taste when properly prepared, though many anglers practice catch-and-release to maintain healthy populations. Fish from clear, cold waters like Table Rock Lake typically have the best flavor and texture.
Q: What is the best bait for largemouth bass?
A: Soft plastic worms, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits are highly effective, with live shad and crayfish also producing excellent results in Table Rock Lake's clear waters.
Q: Where can I find largemouth bass near Branson?
A: Table Rock Lake and Lake Taneycomo offer excellent bass fishing, with fish relating to submerged timber, rocky points, and brush piles throughout both lake systems.
Q: Is largemouth bass good to eat?
A: Yes, largemouth bass provide mild, flaky white meat with good protein content, though many anglers practice catch-and-release to maintain healthy fish populations.
Q: When is the best time to catch largemouth bass?
A: Early morning and evening hours produce the most consistent action, with spring months like May offering excellent shallow water opportunities during spawning season.
Rick runs a well-maintained bass boat equipped with modern fish finders and GPS navigation to efficiently locate productive structure on Table Rock Lake's 43,000 acres. The boat comfortably accommodates up to 2 anglers with plenty of rod storage and a livewell system for keeping your catch fresh. All safety equipment is onboard including life jackets and emergency gear, while the boat's shallow draft design allows access to timber-lined coves and brush piles where crappie and bass hold throughout the seasons.