Scuba Steve's best fish of the day.
The lake level is 554.17 and has dropped 1-3/4 inches in the last 24-hours with generation about 2/3 of the time. The surface water temperature was just short of 45 degrees yesterday afternoon when I went out. The ambient temperature was in the mid 30's but the wind was not bad so it was tolerable. I just cannot fish very well with heavy gloves but caught some nice crappie. I just stayed out for about and hour and 1/2. The fish are biting on both the 1/16th ounce jig and 1/4 ounce Bink's Spoon. I tried a minnow on the slip float but no takers. One day they work and nothing the next. Bass are with the crappie. Some stripers are being caught on the spoon but are small in the 6-9 pound range. I have not talked to any live bait fishermen that are having any success. Those are about the average size being caught now after the kill-off and over-fishing. Some hybrids about the same size are also coming in from open water on shad in about 60-feet of water 45-50 feet down. They are pretty much scattered all over the lake in this area but way out from Cow Point towards the old river channel is a good place to start looking. I am fishing brush piles and surrounding vicinity in 27-35 feet of water near the bottom and catching some everyday. It is to get very cold this weekend after several days of damp, cold, cloudy and depressing weather. February is 1/3 gone now and spring is on the horizon. I just want it to get back to 50 where it should be. The crappie are full of eggs but no bloodlines yet. The lake in general is in excellent condition for fishing and is at a good color and level. Wish it would stay here all the time.
