Lake Burton Fishing Report May 2015

Burton: Level: Full pool. Temp: 63 degrees. Clarity: Slight stain.

Largemouth: Guide Wes Carlton reports, “The prespawn largemouth bite has been unreal this year. We have had some 30-plus fish days over the last week or two with several fish in the 8- to 9-lb. range! These fish are biting spinnerbaits well and white, 4-inch jerkbaits. Most of the bigger fish have been caught on bluebacks and large shiners. Look for these groups of big females to separate and head toward the bedding grounds over the next week or so.”

Spotted Bass: Wes reports, “The main lake channel is holding the biggest population of spotted bass right now. These fish are staying real close to the baitfish. We have been catching most of the spots on a jerkbait or finesse worm worked on the bottom in about 18 feet of water. Look for these fish to pull up shallow over the next couple of weeks and start biting a topwater plug. The spawn for spots up north is usually several weeks after the largemouth spawn.”

Brown Trout: Wes reports, “The trout are biting good with the recent warming of the water. These fish are stacked up on main-lake points in about 25 feet of water. They are also moving up and down the main-lake channels chasing the blueback herring. Try casting a small Kastmaster spoon to these surfacing fish. Trolling a small Rapala SR5 in the American shad color has been the best technique for catching the fish on the points. This pattern should continue for the next several weeks.”

Walleye: Wes reports, “The walleye have finished their spawn and are headed down the lake toward deeper water. Look for these fish on a 20- to 30-foot bottom. We have been catching most of these fish on a nightcrawler just off of the bottom. This pattern should continue for the next three weeks or so.”