Barkley last week

[kc]

I finally got a break and took a week's vacation to go with spring break here at home. Went down to Barkley from Sunday to Friday. Only fished sporadically Sunday through Wednesday as we had family down and the wind and weather were challenging to say the least but everyone cleared out Wednesday evening and left me to fish Thursday / Friday as the weather turned for the better. I stayed on Barkley and close to home waters (Prizer area) both days but did pretty well. I had 9 that would keep each day and about as many non-keepers. Thursday's biggest was 3.5 lbs but Friday I did a little super-sizing of my creel. About 20 minutes into my day on Friday and my first bite I hauled in one that went 7 lbs. At my next stop I took a 5 lber. Rounding out the day I had another that went 4 lbs and 3 more between 3 and 3.5 lbs. Not too shabby even by big lakes standards! The fish started off the week more in the outer halves of the bays on the channel banks and flats near the channel but by Friday the fish had moved further in the bays more to the front half of the bays although not up on the spawning flats just yet. Friday afternoon especially I noticed the shad moving up shallow in the bays in big numbers and I caught several fish nosing up behind them towards the flats. I even took two fish on a Sammy and missed a third! Earlier in the week even to Thursday I did better on crankbaits but Friday it was a spinnerbait bite all the way. One last note was the lack of crappie. I had only heard of a few crappie being taken on Barkley and I didn't catch one all week which is highly odd for this time of the year. I usually catch quite a few bass fishing but not this time as they must still be out off the banks. For family-style fun fishing in early April we will hit some of the gravel points in the bays and throw ultra-light cranks or crappie jigs and catch tons of whatever fish and usually catch quite a few crappie. But I couldn't find the hoardes up on the points anywhere which again is highly unusual. I am sure with the water and temperatures rising that will change too but at this point I consider my long-standing case of spring fever now semi-cured although I imagine I will have a re-occurance as I reflect back on the last couple days fishing. It sure felt good to have my line stretched and see a few good ones wallerin' and shakin their heads out of the water!

BTW - for those of you wondering about the yellow flowers and the high water I can report seeing quite a few of yellow flowers popping up on the flats. They won't be as tall as they usually are but in many places they are still there...

kc

[swimjigboy]

Thank you for your report! Love that all the flowers haven't been killed out. Will be down the first week of May and counting down!!!