Water Temp. 65

BASS
The changes in weather is making bass fishing a little unpredictable but you can still usually count on catching several bass if you fish shallow right now. Over the past couple of weeks fishing in shallow flats in 2-6' of water has been the key to catching a lot of fish. Over the next few weeks fishing shallow for spawning bass will be the best way to catch them. Right now shallow running crankbaits are accounting for most of the bass I am catching. When trying to catch spawning bass I like to us a slow moving plastic creature bait such as a Strike Kinf Rage Craw near their beds. When fishing on a bed you are likely to not feel a bite, you will just see the bait move. When this happens its because the bass may not want to eat the creature bait near its bed, it just wants to move it away from its bed to protect it. While watching your line move away from the bed you can easily set the hook. This time of year is a good time to catch big largemouth bass. As far as smallmouth fishing goes, the best luck I have had has been a round rocky areas in the morning a late afternoon on bright colored Series 3 crankbaits. Lew’s makes a great top water and cranking rod for the crank baits and a Carolina rod for the creature baits mentions.


White Bass
Strike King Series 3 crawfish colored crank baits are a good choice but I have also had really good luck on white crank baits and bright colored crank baits which will also work well picking up a few smallmouth here and there. White grubs are still a favorite among white bass fishermen, again if you have caught plenty of white bass you might want to try a chartreuse grub to increase your chances catching a good smallmouth. Most fish are coming off of pea gravel banks in around six foot of water. Just like most fish I have caught, the bite is a lot better in the afternoon.

Stripers
Catching a few stripers on top water baits before the cold front, I hope by the end of this week we are able to watch them bust the surface again. After the cold front they scattered out again and went a little deeper. I caught a few on deep diving crank baits and on Strike King Jerk Baits on a Lews cranking medium rod and Lews fast retrieve reel.

Catfish
Catfish are in shallow water areas like they do every year to spawn. I have caught them while fishing for other species. To catch these shallow catfish I usually fish with a live worm and float in 3-6' of water.

Compliments of Clagett Talley 731-607-5266