WEST POINT LAKE

Bass: Good. April is usually my favorite month for all types of fishing in general. The weather is usually beautiful and fairly consistent. Bass can be caught on several different patterns. Top water baits such as Pop R’s, Zara Spooks and Buzz Baits can be extremely effective for shallow and aggressive pre-spawn and spawning fish. The back ends of most creeks will usually produce. --The second pattern that works well is to look for spawning shad. Try fishing rip rap around bridges with spinnerbaits, small crankbaits, and Zoom Superflukes- Additionally, some big tournament sacks of Largemouth are weighed in April by guys who sight fish, targeting fish that are locked on bed. A Yamamoto Senko or Merthiolate Trick worm rigged weightless will do the trick. This can sometimes be an aggravating way to fish but can pay off in a tournament win. --- Lots of spotted bass spawn in April and are caught by just dragging a Carolina-rigged Zoom finesse worm or mini lizard around sloping gravel banks . This tactic normally works very well for numbers.

Linesides: Excellent. Expect a strong river run from the hybrids and white bass this year until at least mid-April. The hybrids have made a nice come back since the DNR has been stocking them again for the past several years. Many of these fish are mature this year and should guarantee a big run. Try live or cut bait (even chicken livers will work at times!) fished in holes from Grayson’s Landing to Franklin. Spray your bait with a little garlic scent for even more bites. --- Some fish will, as usual, remain down on the main lake as well and can be caught on small crankbaits, topwater, and Storm Swim Shad lures. Try the rip rap around the bridges at daylight -shad spawn should start soon!

Crappie: Good. During April, crappie can be in all stages of the spawning process - pre-spawn, spawn, and post-spawn. Crappie can be easier to catch in slightly stained water especially if you have shallow brush, blowdowns, or chunk rock structure. Try using minnows or jigs under a float. Spawned fish will typically move out and hold on deeper structure for a while to recover. Night fishing should also improve in late April.

Bream: Good - Don’t forget about our bream & shellcracker. Finding an active bed can take a little effort but when you do, you can have a ball! Bedding usually takes place on the full moon cycles in April & May. Look for shallow cover in the backs of pockets. Sandy flats & stump beds tend to draw the fish like a magnet. Use live pink worms, crickets, and small spinners for the best results. lakeandstreamguideservice@gmail.com

Catfish: Good - Lots of channel cats are caught every year by anglers that are targeting linesides. The same live & cut baits (as well as pink worms and liver) that are used on stripers will catch cats especially in the river north of 219. --- To target flatheads, go to a larger bait like a 4-5 inch bream and fish in the same areas. Be sure to increase the size of your rigs, as fish in the 2030-lb. range are common.

Temp 64, Level -13 ft, Clarity 6 to 8ft

Spring really transforms this lake like no other in the area. Grass starts growing and pulling the bait and small fish into the shallow water. Big fish are cruising the shoreline and grass edges looking for food. This will create lots of fish catching opportunities this month. Walleye will be on the rocky shorelines at night and just off the grass in the daytime. You can find fish in shoreline timber as well as in offshore rock piles, be versatile and cover water. Whatever way you like to catch fish can be put to use, from crank baits to crawler harnesses, you can literally throw the box at them this month.

The bass fishing has been great the last few weeks and should really crank up as we get into April. Look for that top water bite in the morning, on the main lake. Zara spooks and Berkley hijackers are a staple bait I keep tied on and ready to launch at any fish breaking the surface or at any school of bait acting nervous. The spoon bite has been good after the sun gets up. Look for fish that have dropped down to that 20 to 30ft range. Nicholas MOJO spoons and 3/4oz Krocodile spoons are my favorite for spring fishing in this clear water.

Gainesville’s

By Capt Sam Williams hawk184@earthlink.net 334-687-6266

Water Level 188.82 msl, Water Temperature 67 degrees Water clarity Stained

The unusually warmer weather is causing the water to warm up faster this year. The bass are subject to stage early to spawn. The majority of the fish are coming in 2 to 6 feet with the warmer conditions. Shallow crank baits and spinner baits worked deeper are getting hits. Where you can find shore grass and cover, frogs are beginning to get some action on sunny days. Ripping a trap out of the edge of the grass is a good strategy. When the trap clears the edge of the cover, let it rest for a minute. A floater here is even better. Soft plastics rigged Texas style in red’s are a good choice. The red shows up better in the dirty water. Chatter baits in the dirty water are always a good stand by. The deeper fish are becoming a little more active as the water is warming up, but they are still a little lethargic and require some finessing. A spoon worked vertically in front of them will entice a strike; be patient and keep working on them. It is the same as throwing a worm at a bedding bass that is stubborn, don’t give up on them, they just require a little patience. Deep crank baits in shad colors and big plastics on a Carolina rig are good, and remember to use red and red toned colors. Methiolate is another good color and they have not seen it lately.

Crappie are coming shallower now and are hitting white jigs on the drop as they fall. Watch your line for the twitch and set the hook. Down south, where you can find docks, the crappie are under them. You can shoot a jig under the dock and get some hits. You must crank back fast before the bait sinks and