Fishing Report For Week Ending May 17, 2013

Friday, May 17, 2013

Fish are in all phases of the spawn.

The water temperature throughout the lake has been in the high 60's to low 70's.  The first phase of spwaning bass have spawned the past two weeks.    Fish are being caught off beds with jigs, trick worms, beavers, lizards and varying other soft plastics.   Bait colors include white, green pumpkin or anything that is bright like orange and pink.   Also, topwater baits like the Crock-o-Gator Head Knocker buzz bait in black, buzzed across beds will trigger a strike.  Also the walking baits like a Zara Spook, Rapala Skitter Walk and Pop R will also trigger strikes from bedding bass.

For bass that are in pre spawn and post spawn patterns, fish around spawing areas where fish will either be migrating away from spawning sites or staging for the spawn.   these fish have been caught on soft plastics such as lizards carolina or texas rigged, Crock-o-Gator shakey head with sencos, finesse worms or creature baits.    The best areas close to spawning areas include docks, brush piles and secondary points.

The water level has been steady and slighty rising due to spring rains, so beds may be a bit off the banks but generally always around some kind of structure like a laydown, big rock, etc.

Weekend tournament weights have been in the 18lb range for 5 keeper bass.