CRAPPIE
MARCH:
Crappie fishing starts around mid
month. Fish are found on drop-offs in the main lake and secondary
channels at depths from 18 to 25 feet, using crappie rigs with minnows.
APRIL:
Crappie should be outstanding with
schooling in the mouth of bays 8 to 15 feet. Use crappie rigs and large
jigs with minnows. As the lake temperature warms they will move to drop-
offs and creek channels at 6 to 12 feet. Use jigs or jigs tipped
with minnows. When the lake temperature warms to 68 degrees, crappie will
spawn. They moveshallow to brush from 1 to 6 feet. Cast small jigs
with a very slow retrieve.
MAY:
Crappie spawn is near the end, but
can still be caught in good numbers. Fish drop- off & creek channels
with jigs or minnows at 12 to 15 feet depths.
JUNE-JULY-AUGUST:
The crappie have now moved back
in the main lake. Best sucess will find crappie at the edge of channels,
from 20 -25 feet deep. Use minnows on rigs or with jigs.
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER:
With great fall weather, and the
lake starting to cool down the crappie school up and put on winter feed,
Fish for them at 3 to 15 feet, using jigs and minnows.
REDEAR/SHELL CRACKERS
APRIL& MAY:
Excellent numbers are found in the
shallows on gravel points, and flats at the spawning time on Jonathan Creek.
Baits to use are red & mill worms, fishing on the bottom. Also effective
is small bluegill lures.
LARGE MOUTH BASS
MARCH:
With the first warming trend in
the spring, we find the bass working along banks and main lake points.
Crank baits will bring the best results at this time.
APRIL & MAY:
The bass now move into the bays
and shallow flats and will spawn during late April to early May. Use top
water lures, spinner or buzz baits, also try flip baits.
JUNE:
Bass are coming off the beds,
and moving back to main lake. Fish with pig & jig and worms or lizards
early morning in the shallows.
JULY & AUGUST:
Summer patterns are early morning
shallow, moving mid morning to the 10-15 feet depths. Mid day will
fing bass deep 20-25 feet. Early evening will move back to the shallows
again. Start with spinner and buzz baits or rattletraps, changing to crank
baits, worms, or lizards.
SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER:
Bass are in the grass and
back of bays with theexcellent fall weather bringing warm days and
cooler nights. Fish the shallows working edges with plastic worms and lizards.
Also work ledges with top water lures.
WHITE BASS
JUNE thru SEPTEMBER:
Prime months for white bass or stripes.
They can be caught in large numbers using one of the following methods.
Try trolling the secondary channels with shallow diving cranks.
Working the jumps by observing the
gulls and top water shad activity . Baits used are road runners,
rooster tails and jig rigs with slabs.
SMALLMOUTH BASS
MARCH:
Spring finds good numbers and trophy
size fish spawning on the rocky shorelines and gravel bottoms. Crawfish
type lures, plastic worms, lizards, cranks and spinner baits are most effective.
APRIL thru AUGUST:
Smallmouth are now on the main lake,
rocky shorelines and road beds. Use medium to deep diving cranks and lizards.
Summer patterns are the same as largemouth.
SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER:
The cool fall season now brings
an aggressive small mouth to the shallows hitting top water lures.
SAUGER
Is a hybrid walleye being found
in the lake area. Mainly being caught with jigs on secondary channels in
early spring and late fall.
CATFISH
Will spawn in the Jonathan Creek
bay in late April and May on rocky bars. Catfish is good after the spawn
off secondary and main lake channels. Using minnows, night crawlers, cut
shad and other baits.
BLUEGILL
The bluegill are a prolific pan
fish found around docks, shallow brush pile, on the shoreline and in the
bays. They are caught almost every month of the year. Using crickets, red
worms, and small jigs. On the ultra light they are fun and challenging
for adults as well as children. They are also very good to eat.