Table Rock Lake
A clear, deep Ozark reservoir near Branson ranked among America's top bass lakes.
Depth & Structure
Deep, very clear Ozark reservoir - maximum depth about 220 ft, with visibility commonly to about 15 ft. Bass fishing is far shallower than the basin: largemouth at 5-10 ft in summer, smallmouth and spotted bass at 10-30 ft, and deep structure at 18-35 ft for midday summer fish; pea-gravel banks, bluffs, standing timber, points and creek arms are the structure vocabulary.
Best Lures
Finesse-first in the clear water: drop-shots and small jigs on submerged stumps, brush and rock piles, plastic grubs on 1/8-1/4 oz jig heads, tube baits and Carolina-rigged soft plastics, plus crankbaits and spinnerbaits; topwater at dawn/dusk and Damiki-style rigs for suspended fish over timber.
Best Baits
artificials primary
Gear to Bring
Light to medium spinning gear for finesse: 2500 size reel, light line - one local guide account puts 8 lb as the norm and nothing over 10 lb mono in the clear water; medium baitcasting gear for jigs and crankbaits on points and bluffs.
Local Tips
['Clear water demands stealth and light line - avoid motoring close to structure and keep presentations natural/neutral rather than bold.', 'Missouri DOC guidance: smallmouth hold on pea-gravel spawning banks and in the larger, clearer main-stem portions, and…
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Related Water
Fish photos: largemouth bass — Wikimedia Commons · smallmouth bass — Wikimedia Commons · spotted bass — Wikimedia Commons · crappie — Wikimedia Commons
Fishing regulations, seasons and limits change — always check the current rules for this water before you fish. Spot pins are approximate area markers, not launch or access coordinates.