Well, this week has been nothing but GREAT. The warm weather has the fish on the move and they are getting ready to start nesting. The big females are showing up pretty regular on the list at the marinas. The water temps have come up and holding in the mid 50's. In the late after noon you will find some upper fifties and maybe in the low sixties. Spinner baits, chatter baits, lipless crank baits, and jigs have been the lures of most fishermen. The soft plastics like the Lake Fork Tackle Ring Fry and Zig Zag fished weightless has been a very good backup bait. Cover the water with the above hard baits and come back over it with the soft plastics. Texas Rigs with a lizard on the other end or a lite weight Carolina rig with the same bait will pick up some straggler fish.
The Wave Tiki Stick fished weightless or Texas rigged is another good bait. Flipping a jig this time of year is a big fish producer. Work in and around every bush or stand of timber and stump field. I have been flipping to a bush and hop the bait two or three times and then go to the other side of the bush and do the same before moving on. The neon pumpkin has been my color in half ounce weight. The spinner bait colors have been chartreuse and white with willow leaf blades that are gold and silver. I like shallow flats with grass and some wind blowing across it. The key is to find the warmest water you a can find and work it over good. This weekend calls for some much needed rain. Don't cuss this as we need to get the lake up to pool level before the rainy season is over. The lake is still at 2 feet low.
PLEASE remember to practice CPR on you fish. Catch, picture and release as soon as possible. Handle the fish as little as possible.
Jim Reaneau