Bartletts Ferry Fishing Report April 2012

Bartletts Ferry: Level: 1.2 feet below full pool. Temp: Mid 60s. Clarity: Light stain.

Bass: Slow. Bartletts is running ahead of schedule, according to Dennis Hudson. “It’s not right, we should be catching prespawn fish right now,” he said. “Apparently, the fish are on bed, and if you ain’t looking at ’em, you can’t catch ‘em.” It took about 12 pounds to win his most recent tournament, and Dennis said he thinks all of those fish were caught off beds. A small jig with an Ultravibe Speed Craw is a good bait when the fish are locked down. Another bite that is going on is on main-river rock where you can catch a bunch of small spots with a jig. Dennis said he isn’t sure what will happen over the next few weeks. The fish will either move into postspawn patterns or they’ll continue moving up and trying to spawn. “I don’t know if they’re as ready as they think they are,” Dennis said. After the spawn, a good topwater bite usually shows up for fish guarding fry around the spawning shallows. Dennis likes to fish a fluke or Pop-R for this bite. Also, running the banks with soft plastics can be a ton of fun. Beat bank cover like docks, laydowns and stumps. Fishing a jig on the deeper river banks can also be effective this time of year. With the time change, Dennis will be starting his Tuesday night tournaments up April 3. They will launch out of Idlehour.

Crappie: Good. Dennis said they are catching limits of crappie running the banks and pitching jigs right before dark and then moving to dock lights once the sun sets. He said the males are right on the bank, and the heavy females are hanging 5 or 6 feet deep off the banks. Cast a jig to any little indentation, pocket or corner off a cove during the daylight. When it gets dark, go to a dock light and load the boat with a jig.