Lake level is 600.7 feet above sea level. Normal summer pool is 599.7 so roughly a foot high. Water temps are running 75-77. The north end has a little stain but mid-lake down to the south end clear as can be.

“Crappie”

The crappie are slowly getting back to their normal summer patterns and the summer bite will get even better once the water temp. hits the 80 mark. This along with gin clear water will have the fish hiding in the nearly 3000 Shelbyville Cubes. For now I am seeing fish up on the north end using them but down the lake not so much. That will change.

I am fishing stumps and brush piles right on the edges of points and flats in the 10-15ft. range with much deeper water nearby. Pick off a few then move on is my moto. The larger fish come pretty quick once you pull up so staying all you are doing is feeding the millions of 9-9 1/2 crappie that swim in this lake.

If not too windy we are staying off to the side and tossing a slip bobber and minnow rig just barely upwind and allowing it to drift by the stump. The drift as I call it is a triggering deal for them to bite. They believe it is getting away.

If windy I am putting myself and two clients up on the nose of my boat and we come in down wind tight lining twelve foot rods with a straight minnow. We all watch it on my Livescope so we know we are in the fish zone.

Been getting or close to a three person limit every day and catching close to a hundred crappie so fishing is very good for them.

“White Bass”

I am casting my spoon/hair jig combo on top of flats an points. Allowing it to go to the bottom then let the fish tell you how they want it brought back. We pop it off bottom slightly almost dragging the spoon on bottom. This puts the hair jig up a few inches. Get one on it then load up the spoon. We also pop it off bottom several feet to attract suspended fish as we reel it back. Most times they hit it right at the boat.

They are getting on my normal summer spots but not schooled up so you must move a lot to hit these small little wolf packs of them. I have been seeing a lot of busting fish the last few days but they aren’t interested in anything I am throwing. Right now all whites are chasing shad schools everywhere as they are so plentiful I am snagging them on my spoon.

For those interested my best white bass fishing is a month away, needs to get hot. End of July-through end of September.

My summer dates are filling fast as I only have 11 openings in July so better get in touch with me. 217-840-1221 or go to my website at Lake Shelbyville Guide.com

Steve Welch
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