The father-son team of David and Cody Ross took top honors – and $720 in cash – after winning the 37th annual Spring Bass Classic, March 4, at Beech Lake, Piney Lake and Pin Oak Lake in Henderson County.
The Jackson residents snagged 27.12 pounds of bass to take first place in the event that attracted 60 boats.
Jason and Aaron Smith placed second with 19.37 pounds.
Rounding out the top 10 were – Nick Hart and Jaxon Sullivan (third, 19.01 pounds); Justin Leek and Zach Therrell (fourth, 13.52 pounds); Ryan Coleman and Brandon Hurt (fifth, 11.75 pounds); Wayne Holmes and Fisher Holmes (sixth, 11.45 pounds); Chris Pruett and Chandler Pruett (seventh, 11.37 pounds); Brian Jamison and Cory Shumate (eighth, 10.22 pounds); Joel Cathey and Andy Morris (ninth, 9.79 pounds) and Cody Taylor and Justin Ross (10th, 9.64 pounds)
Justin Leek snagged the Big Fish – 8.05 pounds – which produced a $1,000 prize.
(PHOTO: Cody Ross and David Ross)
Fishing Report
Gibson County Lake
Water temperature: lower 50s
Bass: “There are still schools of bass out deep that are staying on the move following shad,” Trenton’s Brent Smith said. “Try deep crankbaits, swim baits and slow rolling spinner baits.”
Crappie: Brent said the best bite has been shallow – about three-feet on black and green jigs.
Kentucky Lake/Lake Barkley
Water temperature: lower 50s and dropping. Water level: slightly above winter pool at 354.8. Water color: Lakes are clearing – Kentucky Lake clear around three-feet deep.
Bass: “We actually had some snow (Monday) and a lot of cold wind,” Darrell Van Vactor said. “Both large and smallmouth bass are biting well on main lake ledges and are (biting) best on suspending jerk baits and Alabama rigs.”
Darrell Van Vactor is the president/CEO of Outdoor Promotions, Inc., Benton, Kentucky.
“Good numbers of bass are also being caught in the front third of the major bays casting medium running crankbaits along rocky shorelines,” Darrell said. “On windy days, the fish are on the windblown side of the bays where shad are being pushed close to the shore by the winds.”
Crappie: “They are doing great with lots of male fish close to the banks as they prepare to build a nest for the upcoming spawn,” Darrell said. “Green curl tail jigs have been very productive by casting to the bank and using a slow retrieve.”
Darrell said larger females are staging in 10-to-16-feet of water as they prepare to move in for the spawning season as well.
“It is a great time to troll crankbaits in open water for these staging fish since you can cover acres of water much quicker, and the fish love pink/chartreuse crankbaits when the water reaches the mid 50’s and they are scatter in open water,” Darrell said. “Good numbers of larger fish are also being taken in 16-to-20-foot wood cover with black/chartreuse two-inch tube jigs tipped with crappie nibbles.”
Catfish: “No catfish reports this week, but this action should pick up soon along with the first run of Redear (shellcracker),” Darrell said. “Don’t wait too long to start checking out the Redear since they get active on the banks in late March and early April.”
David Thomas, Twitter – @DavidThomas@WNWS
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