Fishing Reports
32401 Fishing Reports
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Damiki Rig
Structure
Baitfish
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
52°
Species
Spotted BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Drop Shot
Structure
Points
Forage
Minnows
Water Temperature
56°
Another day of search and destroy...although a little tougher this week. There was a surprise 7-8 foot drop in the water level that certainly switched things up from the previous 4-6 weeks. And another surprise was that I think the lake was actually turning over. Lots of air bubbles and a rare odor coming from the water...All of which had the fish on the move. So they were harder to find. I was using a crank and jerk bait until I found them, and then switched up to a drop shot once I did. They were still deep, 35-45 feet in most cases....and not quite as active as previous weeks. But I still got'em! :)
Species
CrappieSeason
Summer
Technique
Crappie Sniping
Structure
Laydowns
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
87°
Crappie were in lay downs over 20’ of water but only remained above the 12’ thermocline. The bite was better if you can find lay downs or brush piles in a creek channel vs a flat. Z-man shad fryz is a great catch all bait, crappie love them slow rolled higher in the water column, bream will eat them well. Also, you get the occasional bass and catfish surprise catch.
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Football Jigs
Structure
Points
Forage
Crawfish
Water Temperature
55°
Fished 11/30 to 12/7. Water temps started at 58 and dropped to 55. Cold fronts and snow came in and out. Smallies were 5 to 25 feet dragging the jig of of points. They were also hitting the Rockcrawler over 20-25 feet slow rolling it and stopping it. We had 4 over 20". We caught some monster Spots on the jig also 17 to 20". Largemouth were caught 5 to 54 feet on the jig.
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Football Jigs
Structure
Boulders
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
62°
Fished bluff walls in the Virgin Basin the Under spin bite was best in the morning then the hula grub and Ned seemed to work the best mid day.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Crankbaits 0-6'
Structure
Docks
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
48°
North winds had been hammering creek arms the entire week before creating much needed current. I targeted docks in the wind with a square bill, then back side (wind protected side) of points with a chatter bait. This pattern produced a 7.37lb bass (pictured) on the crank bait. Also, finished 2nd in a local tournament. Did most damage early morning but as the front broke and sun peaked out I had to switch over to a wacky rig.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Fall
Technique
Texas Rigs (Worming)
Structure
Lily Pads
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
59°
Saturday was rough on the west side of the lake(dam side). Water temp early morning was 59 and topping out at the end of the day at 63. No wind and lack of current in the flats mixed with above average barometric pressure made for tough fishing. Started the day fishing top water and chatterbaits and quickly switched to finesse fishing. Slow strolling a speed worm was the ticket. Found bass late in the day deep in the stump field. Got them fired up with a glide bait (no bits) then followed up with a speed worm. Berkley Chop block was perfect for this with the amount of flooded timber the chop block allows the treble hook to be tucked in and plastic has slower sink rate.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Texas Rigs (Worming)
Structure
Submerged Vegetation
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
56°
Caught 6 in a kayak tournament, all on the same worm. Fished the edges of the submerged vegetation where the water was deeper. Caught an 8lbs 24.25” and two 19.75” (approx 4 lbs, didn’t weigh these two)
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Bladed Jigs
Structure
River Channels
Forage
Crawfish
Water Temperature
68°
The draw down is in full effect. So the west portion of the lake is reduced to “river channel”. Average depth of about 9’ with the deepest that I seen was 17’. Swift current in this area made it easy to pattern. Bass where on anything the could use as a current break, stumps, inside bends, channel markers, remaining eel grass and lily pads.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Hard Jerkbaits
Structure
River Channels
Forage
Minnows
Water Temperature
52°
Focusing on channel bends with a jerkbait. Strikes were aggressive. Strikes occurred when working jerkbait faster...not the twitch m, twitch standard.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Hover/Mid-Strolling
Structure
Brush Piles
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
52°
Some bass were mixed in with crappie in brush piles and at the 2869 bridge on pilings. Used FFS to find grass line in 10’ or more and picked up a few mid strolling. At the dam small schools shad were tight to bottom with a few crappie roaming around.. Did not find large schools of shad in the main lake, dam, or at bridge.
Species
CrappieSeason
Ice
Technique
Ice Fishing Jigs
Structure
Submerged Vegetation
Forage
Minnows
Crappie hugging the bottom along the weed edge.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Ice
Technique
Ice Fishing Jigs
Structure
Submerged Vegetation
Forage
Minnows
Fished in the snow storm
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Swim Jigs
Structure
Points
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
55°
Fishing the dam
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Swim Jigs
Structure
Points
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
55°
Fishing points and structure
Species
TroutSeason
Winter
Technique
Spoons
Structure
Dam
Kayak fishing off the the dam
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Hard Jerkbaits
Structure
Submerged Vegetation
Forage
Shad
We threw everything at them. The only consistent lure was the Strike King jerkbait, specifically in the strobe shad color. Running the jerkbait down the outside edge of submerged grass with about 3 second pauses. The only other lure that caught a few small bass was a weightless Texas rigged magic worm. Tossing it on the grass and letting it fall down the outside edge.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Crankbaits 0-6'
Structure
Docks
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
44°
Placed 2nd in 10 boat tournament. Caught three keepers over 15" for 7.25 pounds. Worked docks, creek channel ledges, and rock banks with small crankbaits. Caught 30-40 fish on the day.
