New Bullards Bar Reservoir
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New Bullards Bar Reservoir Fishing Reports
Stay up to date with the latest fishing reports from New Bullards Bar Reservoir. Reports are submitted by local anglers, fishing guides, and our team of fishing experts.
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Spotted BassTechniqueBladed JigsSeasonSpring (Pre-Spawn)StructureBrush PilesThings are changing fast out here. With all the warm weather, water temps were up over 5 degrees just from last week. They're definitely off the deep points, but they haven't bedded down for the spawn yet. I had to find submerged brush piles and boulders to find them. Fortunately, I got my Omnia purchase of Z-Man chatterbaits just in the nick of time to use on Saturday. The Chattershad trailer was perfect! Buzzing those baits over and around the submerged cover would fire them up. I got a few on a Texas Rig with a 6th sense Hog-walla, but they would be smaller sized. It seemed the chatterbait would fire up the larger ones....which is what we're all chasing. Good Day!
- SpeciesSpotted BassTechniqueHard JerkbaitsSeasonSpring (Pre-Spawn)StructureRock Pile
The bass are finally waking up! We've had nice run of about 10 warm days and nights in a row and I believe that got them thinking about the spawn. So they're off the deck (although I was still doing well with that Senko Sexy Shad twitching along the bottom at 20-30 feet) and roaming around. As much as I love finesse fishing....I like casting and moving around too. So it was fun to be on the lookout for submerged rock piles, drop offs and cover and then bringing that KVD 300 Jerk Bait over the top....they had a hard to time resisting! I always look for baits and lures that have a purple shade in there...it matches up well with the flash of a kokanee...
- SpeciesSpotted BassTechniqueDeep Diving Crankbaits (13'+)SeasonWinterStructurePoints
Well the magic wacky rig pattern for gorging Spots at 40 ft deep is over....They're just not bunched up like they have been for all of January and the first part of Feb. But they're not up on the shoreline yet either. I had a real hard time finding them today. And the ones I did find were teenagers...Nothing big to brag about this day. I had to stay on the move all day long, going from point, to ledge, to creek inlets and the only activity I could get was using the Rapala DT 14. Mostly near ledge drop offs. So I guess they're maybe in a pre-spawn pattern that has them on the move and setting up for quick access to deeper water, as well as getting ready to stage in the shallows. Time to adjust...
- SpeciesSpotted BassTechniqueWacky RigsSeasonWinterStructurePoints
Another two week break and incredible how the lake has changed....again. We just got thru a 10 day storm of constant rain and snow, and was surprised to see snow still on the banks. Water temp was almost 5 degrees colder than last outing. I've been worried about becoming a one trick pony shooting a wacky rig so much....until I read a Cody Meyer article in the last issue of Bassmaster Magazine saying that's exactly what he does in the winter for those big Bullard's Bar spotties. Don't let the cold weather stop you. They're out there and they're big this time of year!
- SpeciesSpotted BassTechniqueWacky RigsSeasonSpring (Spawn)StructurePoints
I new this Yamamoto Sexy Shad Senko pattern would crush! I bought them specifically for Bullard's Bar because those spotties love to munch on Kokanee fry. And the translucent white, with those green flecks just nail the presentation. I started out with them weighted a little too heavy, but when I backed down to the 1/16 oz. nail weight, the Senko would flutter down at just the right speed. Shout out to the 6th Sense Provoke Jerk Bait that got me into a few as well. But the Wacky rig was the answer today. They're not quite into spawn mode yet...but it's coming soon.
- SpeciesSpotted BassTechniqueNed RigsSeasonSpring (Pre-Spawn)StructureLedges
Well...we had to pull out the entire arsenal this day. The bass were all over the place. Some where up in the shallows, above ledges, some were down on the bottom at the base of ledges and they were still in water column, as the 6th Sense Provoke showed us. First time using the Z-Man micro finesse set up and glad we did. On a day that we truly used everything we had, that was the hot bait of the day. It felt strange going so light and small....but the lightweight rod and reel set up made a 2lb Spottie feel like a 4 pounder. Lot's a fun!
- SpeciesSpotted BassTechniqueDeep Diving Crankbaits (13'+)SeasonSpring (Pre-Spawn)StructurePoints
True Story: I was selected to test out Shimano's new Flouro, which I received last week. So I loaded up a couple reels and headed out to my favorite lake to give it a try. First cast with the new line and I hooked up. (sorry for the lame photo, but that was the catch) It was probably 100+ more casts before I got fish #2....but what a start! This was a forced crank bait and swim bait day for me, as I try to learn how to fish hard plastics and stop falling back to my comfort zone of finesse fishing. So if I'm catching fish on a 6th Sense crank bait...it's definitely a "Hotbait". And the Shimano line was really nice. I was actually using 10lb test and it really casts well. It was the first time out with it, so I'll reserve comments on durability until I've been out with it 10 or more times. But for the day, it did great. It has really good feel, and it didn't nick up at all during the day. And I spent all day driving that crankbait right down to a rocky bottom. If you're using Flouro, I would definitely recommend giving it a try. I'll continue to comment as I get out there with it more in the coming weeks.
- SpeciesSpotted BassTechniqueHard JerkbaitsSeasonSpring (Pre-Spawn)StructurePoints
I had so much fun the day before, I had to come back to see if I could repeat. And although the numbers weren't quite as high as yesterday, (maybe cuz of more wind, colder temps?) I still caught a ton and I got into a few big'ns.... I'll take that trade any day! I truly can't say enough about that Lew's Custom Pro reel. If you're thinking about upgrading your reel, you really need to consider this one! It puts the rest of my reels to shame. And love the action on that 6th Sense Provoke! Super fun weekend on my favorite lake within 100 miles of my home.
