There may be a break in the weather, but the water is still cold. It may take time – and changing baits a time or two – to reel in what you’re looking for, but be patient.
Pickwick Lake
Water temperature: 44 degrees. Elevation: 410 feet
Bass: “The cold and snowy weather has slowed down some of my fishing trips over the past few weeks,” Clagett Talley said. “I have fished in bad weather, and I had to disregard the dramatic weather changes and fish like I normally would for this time of year.
“Using the same baits and methods I would in the past worked out fine for me, even under these crazy weather changes.”
Clagett, a tour guide from Savannah, said for him to catch bass, he had to stay shallow.
“Although I did not catch anything big in shallow water, I did catch a good number of fish,” Clagett said. “I fished along river banks, cranking crankbaits real slow to catch the majority of bass.”
Clagett said he used two different crankbaits – a Strike King Series 3 in a bright color, and a crawfish series 4.
“Both (are) medium size crankbaits and cranked really slow,” Clagett said. “This is actually a good time of year to catch a really big fish on these baits using these methods if you can stand the weather.”
White bass: “White bass continue to bite,” Clagett said. “I have caught them mostly on grubs and small crankbaits while bass fishing. Some banks will just have more white bass than largemouths and smallmouths (and) these banks tend to be gravel banks and sandy banks.”
Clagett said areas where he has caught a good number of white bass have been between the dam and Savannah – but he offers a word of caution.
“I would not put much faith in catching them in the lake right now,” Clagett said.
Stripers: “Stripers remain tough,” Clagett said. “I do not expect to catch a large number of stripers right now, but they will start biting real soon. I do not really start striper fishing until mid- to late March.”
Sauger: “With the muddy water, I believe the more productive areas are in deeper water,” Clagett said. “I caught more fish in 50-to-60-feet of water instead of 15-to-30-feet. These deeper water areas are usually good anytime sauger are biting.”
Clagett said he simply puts more faith in the deeper water bites when the river is as muddy as it is for the time being.
“Dark colored sauger jigs are still working well,” Clagett said. “I have not used live minnows this year, but I do tip the main hook with a plastic minnow. I often check deeper depths and more shallow depths to see if they are more productive.”
Want more from the “Mayor of Pickwick Lake?” Give Clagett Talley a call (731) 607-5266 or visit him online www.pickwickareaguide.com
Kentucky Lake/Lake Barkley
Water temperatures: lower 40s on the northern 20 miles of both lakes.
Recent rains have prompted a slow rise on both lakes with levels holding around 355.7 just over 1.5 feet over winter pool.
Water color: Improved with most areas clear to slightly stained.
“Northeast winds have still be brutal, but several boats are hitting Jonathan and Blood River areas on Kentucky and Eddy Creek area on (Lake) Barkley,” Darrell Van Vactor said. “Most success has been in deeper water adjacent to creek channel drops.”
Darrell, the Operations Manager for Crappie USA/Cabela’s King Kat Trail in Benton, Kentucky, said fish have been hanging close to cover in 20-to-23-feet of water, but the bite is very light.
“You really have to watch your line to see many of the hits,” Darrell said. “Live bait has out preformed jigs tipped with power bait right now especially for larger fish.”
Darrell said the numbers are weak on bigger fish, but you can catch enough to maintain your interest, while smaller fish are plentiful as are the worrisome yellow bass.
“Guys targeting catfish are doing fair on blues in the two-to-five-pound range on the Barkley end of the canal fishing in 55-feet of water right in the center of the old river channel with cut bait and large minnows,” Darrell said.
Bass: “Bass anglers are struggling with just a few fish being taken around steep rocky drops (while) suspending a rogue or other jerk bait and crank baits retrieved slowly,” Darrell said. “Most are commenting that the fish are not feeding well since they don’t have that bloated wintertime look as when they feed heavy on small thread fin.
“The suspected lack of baitfish due to Asian carp is on all of our minds, and has been for a long time.”
Darrell said results of these predators are really showing up in their gamefish numbers, and the quality, he suspects, is due to a disappearing bait population.
“One thing to remember while on the water, is the fact that it is still very cold and hypothermia will set in quickly if you end up in the water – so wear those jackets and be even more cautious while on the water,” Darrell said.
Outdoors on the Air
Outdoors with Larry Rea is now available throughout much of West Tennessee in a partnership between Entercom Broadcasting and The Wireless Group, Inc., based in Brownsville.
Outdoors with Larry Rea is broadcast on WNWS-AM (1520)/WTBG-FM (95.3) in Brownsville, known as Brownsville Radio, which is streamed 24/7 at brownsvilleradio.com.
The show is also broadcast on WNWS-FM in Jackson – also known as NEWS/TALK 101.5 FM – and is also streamed 24/7 at WNWS.COM.
Each Saturday, the show airs in Brownsville from 6 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., and in Jackson from 6:30 a.m. to 8 a.m.
(PHOTO: Pickwick Lake)
David Thomas, Twitter – @DavidThomasWNWS
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