| Species | Detail |
|---|---|
| Bass | Fish the edges of creek and river channels with slow rolled spinner baits, jigs, and/or soft plastics. Use faster moving baits (buzz baits, spinner baits, vibrating jigs) in shallower water in coves near any cover(stumps, brush tops, flooded roadbeds, etc.), especially clearer water (usually closer to the dam). |
| Crappie | Collins; Bait Shop (662)226-3581 reports fish have been biting jigs and/or minnows 2 - 6 ft deep near any cover, whether boating, wading, or fishing along creek banks. Pre and post spawn fish have been holding a little deeper in the mouths of major creek coves and/or in cover near potential spawning areas. Colder weather this week will likely put fish in a holding pattern until it warms again. There is a "Big Mama" crappie tournament Saturday, April 6. There are a lot of "short fish"; use bigger baits and/or fish deeper to target larger crappie. Replace treble hooks with single hooks and/or pinch down the barbs to make releasing short fish fast er and less damaging; it dow no good to release dead fish. |
| Bream | Fish red worms or other natural baits near any cover (timber/wood, riprap, etc.). |
| Catfish | Fish the rivers and creeks with worms or stink baits during any rain runoff. Otherwise fish various natural baits over main lake flats with rod and reel (tight lining), noodles (jugs), or trot lines. |
| White Bass | The spanning run is underway. There have been reports of 2 to 3 pound "stripes" near Graysport Crossing bridge - they should be up near Young's Landing, too. Fish sandbars in rivers and creeks (best access may be from the banks). Cast jigs or small crank baits. Also try over hard-bottomed, sandy main lake points or secondary points in creek coves. There are no size limits on white bass. |
Fish started biting late last week after the lake level stabilized and temperatures rose, but a cold front moving through this week will likely slow things down.
Always check the links in the "Water Level" section for the lake level and if it's rising or falling. A big rain can change conditions quickly. Adjust to conditions like the fish do. Except for catfish, fishing is usually better on a slow fall than a fast rise. Water falling, fish deeper; water rising, fish shallower.
Crappie spawning starts when average daily water temperature at “fish depth” is about 58, peaks at about 65, and ends at about 75 F. Timing and duration of the spawn depends on temperature and water level trends, weather fronts, and moon phases. Fish will spawn shallower in rising water, deeper in falling water. Bigger females usually spawn first. Males of any size can be caught throughout the spawn. Males will stay on the nest until eggs hatch and fry swim up (4 - 7 days) even if the water rises or falls (unless the nest gets too shallow). Males of both Black and White Crappie get darker during the spawn; females do not change color. Historically, crappie spawn on the flood control reservoirs from the last week of March until about the first week of May, but it may shift earlier, later, or be split into two or more peaks due to weather and water fluctuations.
