Lake Blackshear Fishing Report – April 2008

Blackshear: Level: Full pool. Temp: 60 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Ernie Broughton, who runs the Blackshear Buddies tournament trail on the lake, broke the lake record for a five-fish tournament catch in his tournament March 1. Ernie had five fish that weighed 23.14 pounds including an 8.2-lb. and a 7.14-lb. bass. He caught all the fish on a Carolina rig using a black-with-red-glitter worm. Big fish are showing up, he said. “There were several fish over 5 pounds in that tournament,” said Ernie. The big-fish bite at Blackshear has held up. At the March 15 tournament, Jerry Gray won with 19.8 pounds; second was 17.15 pounds with an 8-lb., 14-oz. lunker. Third place was 17.10 with a 7.5-lb. lunker. According to Ernie, 70 percent of the 42 boats had a fish heavier than 4 pounds. The fish are on the banks around cypress trees and grasslines, said Ernie. Spinnerbaits, crankbaits, jerkbaits, floating worms — and Ernie’s Carolina rig are all catching fish.

Crappie: Crappie fishing is about to get right as the spawn is just beginning. Rusty Parker said to look for fish bedding around the cypress trees. The afternoon bite as the sun warms the water is likely better than fishing the morning. Jigs or minnows pitched around the cypress trees should catch fish, or using a cork rig will work too. Long-line trollers should be moving into water less than 10 feet deep back in the creeks.