With the lake at full pool, the water temperatures are in the upper 80’s, the water clarity is stained in the upper creeks. The water clarity in the main lake is good to stained. With that being said, it drove us to change the colors of Zoom Trick Worms that we used for our wacky rigs this week to California 420 and June bug. We also went back to the chrome and chartreuse Joe Spaits 5-inch flutter spoon instead of the chrome with silver scale pattern we have been using. The Bass were really tight to the willows trees and deep brush piles. You needed to fish both the wacky rig and the Joe Spaits Spoon supper slow. If you are a shallow water angler, you will also notice just at daylight the bass are starting to chase the shad. Yes, that is right; it is Strike King Square Bill 1.5 time. That bite only lasts for about an hour. On our equipment list this week is our Ranger 520c powered by a Mercury 250 Pro XS, Duckett rods, ABU Garcia Orra SX reels, Stren line, Zoom soft plastics, Joe Spaits spoons and Strike King Lures.
The White Bass fishing slowed down this week. They have moved back out to 28 to 30 foot of water and are chasing isolated balls of shad. The shad are in 16 to 20 foot of water, which means you have to fish the Joe Spaits spoon just a little different. You want to swim the Joe Spaits chrome and chartreuse spoon just under the balls of shad.
The Crappie fishing was fair to good this week. They are in 24 foot of water around both 515 bridges. Minnows were the bait of choice again this week. Always keep a chartreuse and white Bubba’s Bait Crappie jig handy, because if the Crappie quite biting the minnow they will start biting the jig.
The Catfish bite was still good this week. They are 18 to 20 foot of water around isolated trees and brush piles. Both punch bait and Jell-O bait worked well this week.
The Big Bass Splash Bass Tournament is almost here. It is the 15, 16 and 17 of September. I have 2 days open for guided Bass trips to help you get ready for the big tournament. Give us a call at (903) 413-6919 or e-mail us at [email protected]. Have a safe fishing week and fish slow!