February 12, 2001

Hi Everyone – we are back for the 2001 season. A quick run down of the lake conditions shows the pool level has come up a little in the last month to 648.08, which is about six feet below normal pool. Lake temperature varies from Lead Hill to Theodosia to the dam. Main lake is at 43.8 degrees, the back of some of the creek arms are at 44.8 to 45 degrees and up lake around Lead Hill and Theodosia is 39 to 40 degrees. This has been the longest winter since the early 70’s but that is not all bad. We are having a tremendous shad kill which we haven’t had in eight years. The bite has been slow for the last month; the fish are full of shad and don’t have to forage for food. A few patterns are starting to develop as spring gets closer. Last week we had two days in the mid 60’s and the white bass ran to the back of a few creeks and attacked shad in 3 to 4 feet of water.

Largemouth Bass are running in and out of deep water depending on the weather pattern. When they come in, they are holding on chunk rock channel swings and deep brush piles. A few baits that are catching some largemouth are black jig and eel; Texas rigged finesse worms and centipedes, Mann’s Stingray grubs and suspending Rogues. Remember that the bite is not great and you have to cover a lot of water to trigger a strike. Spooning has also slowed down because of the shad kill in deeper water.

Smallmouth Bass have not come in as yet, they are still holding in the creek channels and on the main lake cliff walls. A few fish are biting on finesse worms rigged on a drop shot. Drag this bait slowly through the sunken trees and wait for a tap.

Kentucky Bass have moved into the creeks and are holding in the channel swings and deep points. They are relating to the dying shad and their bellies are full. Spoons have been more productive than plastics the last few weeks. Don’t waste a lot of time over a school; if they are feeding you will know in 10 to 15 minutes.

Crappie anglers are having a great time over deep brush piles in the deeper creeks. White, pink, and yellow sword tails or jigs have been working the best on 4 lb. test line. Some nice fish in the two pound range were caught this last week.

Where are the Walleyes hiding? Well, we know for sure they are not in the creek arms and they haven’t started their spawning run, so they must still be in 50 to 70 feet of water. At least that is where they are being caught. Spooning has been working the best, flopping it off the bottom at the creek entrances. When the water temperature makes 50 degrees the spawn run will start. We will keep an eye on it and see where we are at next week.

Trout on the White River have been wild. Shad have been coming through the dam and the trout are loving it. During generation hours white chromedomes, #5 Count Downs, suspending Rogues and white inline spinners are all working. On calm pool fish Berkley’s Fluorescent yellow Power Eggs or a clear bubble with a white Woolly Bugger. Browns are hitting Crocodile spoons and suspending Rogues. The fly fishermen are doing well on Olive or White Woolly Buggers or gray scuds and sow bugs.

Remember to keep only what you can eat and release the rest for another day. Rick Culver of Wilderness Trail does the research for this report and the writing of this report. For more information call Rick or Sue Culver at Wilderness Trail at 870-445-2703, e-mail us at [email protected]  or check out our web site at www.wildernesstrail.com

This Report Is For: January, 2001

Water Temperature: Main lake 41 degrees
General Conditions: Day temps in the 30's, night temps in low 20's.

Changes Since Previous Report: We've finally had weather good enough for sane people to venture out on the lake! The shad kill is creating some hot action right now.

White bass --Fish 1/4 oz. Road Runner or 1/4 oz. jigging spoon under schools of shad. Find fish and jig vertically in school.

Largemouth are every place feeding on dying shad, surface to 25 feet. Small shad color crank baits, small bass assassins (sparkle shad color) work very well. 3/8 oz. jig and pork fished at 15 to 20 ft. also work very well. Best colors black jig, purple frog or purple and purple. Fish jig and pork very slow

Stripers are all over the lake. We are having a shad kill and the fish are feeding like crazy from the surface down to 20 feet. 1/4 oz. road runners & sassy shad work well. If you want to troll, umbrella lures work very well. Use 1/2 oz. jigs on umbrella, blue & white or white. Live bait okay, 3 inch shiners very good. Fish with free line no weight. Hot Spots---Robinson Point Island, Float Creek, Bennett's Bayou.

Crappie are in brush piles 2-8 ft. deep. Tube jigs are best right now. Pink & white, silver, white & blue are the best colors. The Lake is very clear. Stay off brush and cast to brush. Slowly retrieve your jig.

Walleye are on creek and river points 10-20 ft. deep. Best bet is jigging spoons or rapala jigging minnow, silver or chartreuse best color. Trolling is okay. Use bottom bouncer with a small sparkle tail, or hot-n-tot 10-20 ft. Hot pink & chartreuse or silver best color. 

Catfish No report for cats at this time.