Bartletts Ferry Fishing Report July 2012

Bartletts Ferry: Level: 1.5 feet below full pool. Temp: 84 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Fair. Dennis Hudson said the bite has been a little slow unless you can get into some mayflies. It’s been taking about 9 pounds to win his three-hour evening tournaments, but a good hatch of flies can turn things around pretty quickly. Recently an angler weighed a 15 1/2-lb. sack caught off one 50-yard stretch of bank that was swarming with mayflies. This is an evening bite; look for the flies in the overhanging brush and throw a Pop-R in bream colors to mimic the smaller fish feeding on bugs. A Texas-rigged or wacky-rigged Trick Worm in green pumpkin can also be good around the mayfly hatches. Other than that bite, Dennis said he has been catching a few fish scattered around the banks and docks with topwater early and late. Also, there’s a decent bite for mostly spotted bass out on the rocky points with a green-pumpkin Trick Worm fished on a shaky head. In July, Dennis expects the grass bite to come on some. Fish in the grass with swim jigs or topwater frogs, and fish the edges of the grass with Texas-rigged worms. A deep-brush bite should also develop. Look for brush in the 15-foot range around boat docks and also around offshore structure. Fish Trick Worms on shaky heads to catch a mix of spots and largemouths. Upriver bank cover may be your best bet to catch a good largemouth this month. Run the banks, flipping a jig or Texas rig to wood.

Crappie: Guide Robert “Smitty” Smith said the fishing is still good, but don’t expect to get a limit every day as the water temps rise. “Most days, we guys from www.crappieguys.com have to move around a lot to fill the livewell,” Smitty said. “We have been catching four to five off each dock or brushpile in 12 feet of water or deeper. The jig bite seems to have topped minnows the past week. As the water temps rise into the mid 80s, the summer trolling bite will pick up. Pull small crankbaits or jigs in open water where shad are present. This will produce a mixed bag of crappie, stripes and hybrids and spotted bass.”