Bartletts Ferry Fishing Report – April 2009

Bartletts Ferry: Level: Full pool. Temp: Low 60s. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Good. “Everything is running to the banks,” said Dennis Hudson. Recently he caught nine fish in about 30 minutes from one 75-yard section of seawall. The biggest fished weighed about 2 1/2 pounds, and they were mostly spots. He said the fish should be spawning and hanging out on the banks for the next few weeks and suggested running up and down the banks throwing unweighted Trick Worms, finesse worms and Senkos in junebug for the stained water or green pumpkin if the water is a little clearer. Also, any sort of soft-plastic crawfish imitation should work. Look for topwater activity around the grassbeds. Throw something like a Pop-R. The spots should be spawning also, and Dennis said to look for them on rocky points, banks or seawalls. A 1/4- to 3/8-oz. jig is his favorite bait for this bite. Go with a green-pumpkin jig with some sort of crawfish trailer. If you want to fish a little faster, try a shallow-running crankbait like a Rebel Wee-R. The best color is a shad pattern.

Crappie: Good. Dennis said the crappie are up and down the banks bedding. They can be caught during the day casting a black-and-chartreuse Jiffy Jig. If they won’t bite that one, throw one in white.