Carters Lake Fishing Report May 2016

Carters: Temp: 64 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Spotted Bass: Great. Guide Louie Bartenfield reports, “I’ve been out six days or nights per week since early March, and this spring has possibly been the best since 2011 for overall numbers of quality 3-lb. plus fish. Our biggest wave of fish has just moved up to spawn, and along with the herring spawn going on, it’s making for some exciting fishing opportunities. I’m using three baits primarily: a Strike King Sexy Dawg, a SpotSticker jig head tipped with a Big Bite Shaking Squirrel in bold gill and a Big Bite Swimming Jerk Minnow. I’m fishing my way in and out of pockets, throwing the topwater and swimming a fluke on more open banks and working the SpotSticker around any dark spots or cover. This has been working good for weeks. May will be primarily a postspawn month, so look for groups of fish to start positioning on 12- to 15-foot points and flats. These fish can be caught on jig-head worms and also topwater throughout the day. This fishing is more about timing than it is a particular pattern, so stay on the move, and keep your eyes open.”

Striper: Good. Louie reports, “Our stripers are starting to make their spring movements. Stripers wait all year for this herring spawn, and when it’s going on, they care less about anything else. Look for stripers to be high in the water column throughout the day. They are very accustomed to feeding up in the water column this time of year. Flatlined live herring or big shad will be your best producer throughout April and May.”