The lake level is at 596.86 as of Tuesday and still rising. Normal winter pool is 594 feet above sea level.

From the 32 bridge over to just west of Camfield the water is very dirty. I expect the same up past Wilborn but didn’t go over there. I put in at Wolfe due to no ramp at Bo-Woods but it is in now.

Water temps down the lake were 44 degrees. Up at Bo-Woods in the dirty, shallow water it was 51. This is going to go up and down for several weeks.

I fished several channel spots on deep laydowns early and found nothing but lots of small fish. Water color very good though. Abandoned that and went north. From Findley bridge over to No Name cove water is very stained but fishable. As well as over to RR bridge. Didn’t go above it but will today.

Here is what I found yesterday. Catch plenty on south end deep but nothing over ten-inches. Water color great so I used shad colored baits like Brushpile Peppercorn Pearl and my small hair jigs in like wise colors. Scouting mission so went north after just a couple hours.

North end caught some nice fish right off the get go but they would chase my bait on my Forward Facing unit and stop just short of hitting it. All the structure I fished the only ones that would bite were on the very top. I could see several bunched up on bottom but would not hit anything.

Twenty mile per hour winds stopped me from throwing a slip bobber at them. These fish are only 2-4ft. under the surface right on top the cover so a cork would help. The sun is warming up the surface so all the good fish are suspended high in the water column.

North end I used a black 3/32oz. Deep Ledge Jig and a darker color for my plastic. Like Wyatt’s Blue Magic but still caught fish on the Peppercorn Pearl. I am not getting away from shad colors too much just keep looking for the correct water color. But I do believe in the black jig head.

Trying to get in a few trips this week and next before I leave for Kentucky Lake on the 18th. Weather is going to hurt this. Wind will be brutal and some cold rain coming as well. I will be on Kentucky Lake through April 15th. so no Shelbyville reports until I get back.

Steve Welch
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