Bartletts Ferry Fishing Report – May 2008

Bartletts Ferry: Level: Down 0.8 feet below full pool. Temp: Low 70s. Clarity: Clear on main lake; slight stain in some of the creeks.

Bass: Good numbers, but most are smaller spotted bass, said Dennis Hudson. “Fish are in all stages of the spawn right now,” Dennis said. He has been catching some fish tight to the banks on junebug or watermelon, Texas-rigged finesse worms, but he’s really been wearing the spots out on main-lake points. “It’s really kind of strange,” he said. “You wouldn’t think they’d be out there right now, but they are. They’re all full of eggs, and it’s like they’re staging up.” These fish are taking just about anything you throw at them, Dennis said. He’s had luck fishing a Horny Toad on top, and he’s also caught some fish cranking a Rebel Wee-R in Tennessee Shad and a junebug or watermelon shaky-head or Texas-rigged finesse worm. In the next few weeks, Dennis expects some fish will still be caught off the banks either guarding fry or cruising. Some of the postspawn fish will be moving out around the points. Boat docks and rip-rap fished with a floating worm is typically a good pattern this time of year.