February 11, 2009
Lake Level: 915.52
Water Temps: 39-47
Throughout the majority of the lake the water temperatures are pretty consistent at 44-47, with the upper ends of the rivers being cooler at 39-44. The warmer days and nights of late should warm up the lake some and improve the stickbait, grub and jig bite.
The bite has been pretty tough the past week, which isn't abnormal for mid February. The deep bite remains the most consistent with stickbaits catching a few larger bass. The stickbait bite will improve and the deep bite toughen as the deep fish that are in the middle of the creeks suspending over deep timber mover to suspend in shallower water and staging on main lake and secondary points. Cast out your stickbait, start your retrieve to get it down to the desired depth, start jerking or twitching it a few times and let it lay motionless for a moment or two. Repeat this technique all the way back to the boat.
Suspending fish can be caught on shad colored or clown colored jerkbaits and crawdad patterned crankbaits on main lake bluff ends, points, and in the creeks on secondary points and major creek channel swings with mixed chunk rock and gravel. Hook sharpness is important with crankbaits, keep your hooks sharp and check them often if working around the rocky areas. Check your line above the lure frequently when fishing crankbaits, as rock, gravel, stumps, etc., will quickly fray your line. 5/16 oz & 3/8 oz. brown jigs fished slowly on channel swing banks in the creeks and secondary points in 5'-15' will also produce some fish.
Deep fish are being caught throughout the lake from deep structure in the major creeks, suspending over submerged timber around 35'-50' over 60' -100', and also on main lake bluff ends. . 1/2 and 3/4 oz. spoons in white or chrome, Rapala Ice jigs, 4" or 5" single tailed grubs in smoke and salt & pepper colors, 4" drop shot worms in purple or shad colors.