Bartletts Ferry Fishing Report April 2011

Bartletts Ferry: Level: 0.2 feet below full pool. Temp: 59 to 65 degrees. Clarity: Good stain.

Bass: Good. Dennis Hudson said the bass should be all up on the banks. Dennis said he’ll be pitching soft plastics to the banks. Weightless finesse worms, Trick Worms and Senkos are all good baits on Bartletts when the buck bass are on the banks. A Texas-rigged lizard will sometimes draw strikes from larger bedded females, which will be tough to spot with the stained water. Junebug is a good color for stained water, and green pumpkin and watermelon red are Dennis’ favorites when it clears up a little. Dennis said he’ll also fish a Pop-R or a small buzzbait along the banks early and late or when there’s some good cloud cover. A spinnerbait can help you cover water a little quicker.

Crappie: Very good. “They’re spawning on the banks right now,” said Dennis. “I need to get out there and catch me another mess before they move back out.” Dennis is catching them just running the banks in the backs of the creeks and pitching a chartreuse and black Jiffy Jig. There have also been reports that they’re biting the same jig at night under dock lights.