The current lake levels are 598.5 or roughly 2 1/2ft. above winter pool so expect them to pull water as soon as they can. Currently the Mississippi is high so they will hold it for a spell.

Water temps are bouncing from 48-51. The first week of April the weather is about like last week but just a bit warmer. 40’s at night 60’s during the day. The crappie are suspended all over the lake so we are jumping around a lot looking for any in brush and more importantly looking for the correct water color.

The best thing about Lake Shelbyville is it’s size and the ability to get out of the wind. North end blown out with incoming cold rain head south fish channel bends with deep timber on them 15-20ft. North end any brush, cube or down tree where the water isn’t too dirty 10-15ft.

I am fishing for the most part a Deep Ledge Jig weight depends on how deep and how much wind. With a Brushpile Jigs plastic on the back in Wyatt’s Magic or white and chartreuse. Tipping with a wax worm. We are also tight lining a minnow and split shot.

This pattern will hold up for several weeks until we start to get consistent over night lows in the fifties. The spawn will be on us then. For now we need to see those water temps get up to about 56-58 and the males will start to move up.

I am bouncing back and forth between Kentucky Lake and Lake Shelbyville the whole month of April. Chasing crappie so keep an eye out on my website for open dates. Right now all I have is April 9-13 until June 21st.

Steve Welch
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