WATER CONDITIONS
On April 30th the water level was 793.54-ft and was predicted to rise 4-inches by Friday, May 2^nd. Surface temperatures in the channel may vary through the day according to the discharges from Norris Dam and the discharge through Melton Hill Dam. The outflow from Norris Dam was low this week, allowing the water to warm to 75 degrees (surface temperature). Discharge water from the Bull Run plant was 77 degrees. The water in the main channel was clear or with a light stain in most areas. Some of the creeks were stained from the rainfall.
SPECIES DETAILS
CRAPPIE
Fair.
5 to 10-feet deep, on the bottom in the hollows and creeks on the lower half of the lake, very close to, and in, flooded brush. Catches were fewer than they were last week.
Crappie catches were slow at Clark Center Park. Some catches came from the Solway access vicinity, Bull Run Creek, Beaver Creek, Bearden Creek, and a few in the Bull Run plant discharge canal. Mid-section to lower end creeks and larger hollows with downed trees and brush.
Tuffy minnows, 1-inch tube jigs, popeye flies tipped with minnows, trout magnets.

LARGEMOUTH BASS
Moderate.
Surface to 10-feet deep.
Largemouth bass moved into the shorelines in shallow water. Many largemouth were caught at less than 5-feet deep on rocky shorelines and in the coves off downed trees.
Shad or crawfish color crankbaits and soft swimbaits were taking some on the main channel, rocky banks, very close to the shoreline. The edges of the sandbar humps in mid-channel produced a few on deep running crankbaits.
Small deep and medium-running Bandit or Bomber style crankbaits, soft swim baits, Zoom worms in Red Shad or similar pattern, ½-oz hair or rubber skirted jigs.


MUSKY
Slow
Large jerkbaits, spinners, live shad/skipjacks.
In the Bull Run discharge area and the shoreline leading to it down to the mouth of Bull Run Creek, close to the bank. The Bull Run discharge catches were slow due to the water temperature of the discharge being nearly equal to that of the main channel.

STRIPED BASS
Fair
Surface to 20-feet. Some surface action is being seen in the mornings and late afternoons where baitfish schools are located.
Main channel from Bull Run Creek mouth to the Edgemoor Road bridge. In the outer discharge area of the Bull Run plant.
Live shad/skipjack, umbrella rigs (see hook rule). Good surface action has been seen in mid-channel in this section.

WALLEYE
Slow
5 to 10-feet
Channel from Clinton to Hwy 61 Bridge and shoals above.
Doll flies tipped with plastic grubs (Twisters), Rapalas, Shad Raps.
On the bottom in mid-channel and in the shoals above Hwy 61 Bridge.

WHITE BASS
Good. Same pattern as last week.
Surface to 10-feet. On sunny days, on the bottom in creek mouths and the Bull Run discharge canal. White bass are dominating the catch on the lake.
Main channel shorelines and off shallow bars in mid-channel, mainly on the portion from Bull Run Creek and above. Bull Run plant discharge area catches have been very good on tuffy minnows fished slowly along the bottom. At dusk, the catches improved closer to the surface. Clear days saw these fish as deep as 15-feet, but hitting well on the surface on cloudy days.
Tuffy minnows or shiners were working best, either cast to the breaks or fished deep. Small chrome/white spinners, minnows, white hair jigs, 2 to 4-inch plastic swimbaits or grubs on leadheads.