PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THESE FISH ARE ABOUT TO SPAWN (BREED) SO KEEPING THEM SEVERLY HURTS THE FUTURE POPULATIONS IN THE LAKE. IF YOU CATCH A CATFISH OR BASS DURING THE SPRING MONTHS CHANCES ARE IT IS FULL OF EGGS AND TRYING TO MAKE BABIES SO PLEASE PRACTICE CATCH AND RELEASE TATCTICS TO PROTECT OUR FISHERIES. THESE TIPS ARE INTENDED TO HELP YOU CATCH MORE FISH SO PLEASE BE RESPONSIBLE WITH YOUR STRINGERS!
Catfish are being caught all over the place, Ive seen a fly fisherman catch a 26pounder in a float tube, and others land an 8lb lunker on a nightcrawler in the back of cat cove. I would say that the cats are filling up while they can and on whatever they can find. I would be aggressive even fishing in the middle of the day. Chances are if you catch one your in for a long haul considering they usually school up during this period to make hunting more productive. I would fish shallow 15′ or less with chicken liver or anchovies, try the backs of cove especially on the north side of the lake.
Bass are coming out in hoards while using plastic worms on main points and underwater islands. Try fishing the sandbars in Jackson creek with big dead ringers at 15-20′ and you may get a big surprise. I would assume that they are on beds or getting really close as the surface water temps are almost at 70 degrees. I usually start running spinner baits around moss beds in the month of May but it may still be a little early for that.
