September is a month of transition for many species. The crappie are moving back into shallower areas as are a lot of game fish. Coves with feeder creeks are your first option. The cooler water coming in the back is the attraction for baitfish, gamefish will follow. This happens when the water temps get into that mid 60 range as of now it is 78 but it won't be for long. The bait for the most part has already left the main lake and finding the larger crappie is a full time job. Small crappie are so plentiful it is [...]

The lake is right at summer pool and very clear. Water temps have fallen somewhat to 77 after seeing them as high as 84 during all that heat. The bait has started to move from out on the main lake to back into the coves. Those with small creeks in the back will be the first to get shallow crappie, large mouth and white bass. These next three to four weeks will have fish moving. No longer see me setting out on a river channel bank on a big down tree. Just small fish are all that is left. Right [...]

THE CRAPPIE FISHING IS ON FIRE!!!! The lake is a hair below summer pool and gin clear. I am starting to see signs of a thermocline building. Just what I want to put the crappie at that 15-17ft. range. We are going through about 15-18 dozen minnows a day so lots of action. I am catching fish on my white hair jigs as well. It is fun to see all the fish chase it on my Livescope. I have my customers use a slip bobber and minnow set up. Since they can't watch the Livescope from their seats like I [...]

Due to recent rains the lake has come up a foot and is falling back towards summer pool. This puts some current in the lake and scatters the fish somewhat. We are only crappie fishing at this time and numbers of fish are not a problem. This time of the year I take out a lot of kids and their parents so if action if what you are looking for look no further. We use a simple approach a slip bobber and minnow rig and move a bunch. Down trees, brush piles, standing timber. All must be on points, leading [...]

Water temps are in the low 80's and clarity is about a foot to eighteen inches. The lake is right at normal summer pool. We have transitioned to what we do every summer and that is chase hungry crappie with a slip bobber and minnow rig. If it is too windy we tightline minnows on a drop-shot rig. Pretty simple everyone of all ages can do this and boy do we catch a ton of fish. I have three bait tanks all on air to keep the minnows lively and we go through at least ten to fifteen dozen a [...]

The lake is in great shape water color wise and at normal pool. Water temps are running 74-78. The crappie spawn is done but males are still guarding some nests. I am fishing mainly stumps near deep water. Right after the spawn they tend to move to stumps as they work their way back to deep summer spots. Livescope is really a god send right now. I am pendulum tossing a 1/8oz. casting sinker on ten pound braid then a fifteen inch fluorocarbon leader and a small 1/32oz. white hair jig. Swimming it is key they tend to stare at [...]

Water temps jumped from 59 to 77 last week so like I predicted the crappie spawn will wrap up quickly. Males will be on nests for another week or so but we have switched gears and are walleye/crappie fishing. The lake remains a foot low and water color is very clear. My shallow crappie spots are thinning but we can still get some so I have been splitting the day. For the crappie I am using a 1/8oz. trolling sinker tied on 12lb. braid. Then a fifteen in. 15lb.fluorocarbon leader and a 1/32oz. white and tensile hair jig. Used it [...]

The lake is at 598 and falling hard in preparation for spring rains. They will most likely keep dropping it to about 596 until we hit Memorial weekend and then allow it to come back up. Flood control lake this is how it is. Water temps are running 59-61 depending on which end you are on. North end is a little warmer since it is shallower and the water is more stained. As of today the water color is slightly stained but fishable on the north end. Very clear on the south end. The crappie spawn has started. Males are [...]

The lake is at 601.8 or roughly two-feet over normal summer pool. They will most likely keep dropping it to about 598 until we hit Memorial weekend and then allow it to come back up. Flood control lake this is how it is. Water temps are running 49-53 depending on which end you are on. The crappie spawn has started. Males are just starting to get their dark colors. As water warms and it progresses they will get dark as coal. My estimate is around May 16th our next full moon and a couple 60 degree nights the spawn will [...]

My first fishing report for April on Shelbyville. The lake rose four feet in just 48 hours so the north end is very dirty. We are fishing mid lake to south end over brush and laydowns down anywhere from 14-22ft. Using clear water colors such as Brushpile Hammers in white and chartreuse or my small hair jigs same colors. Both tipped with a wax worm that has really been helping. Water temps are starting out at 44 and rising to 49 on sunny days. I am using my new Garmin side imaging to go down a bank pretty quick and [...]