Lake Blackshear Fishing Report – March 2009

Blackshear: Level: Full pool. Temp: 56-59 degrees. Clarity: Clear on the main lake; just a tinge of stain in the backs of some of the sloughs.

Bass: Ernie Broughton said the fish have moved up, and it took 17 pounds to win his most recent tournament. The big fish weighed 6-lbs., 13-ozs. “They’re definitely moving up and getting ready,” he said. “I imagine it’s going to take a semi to bring the fish to the weigh-in at my next tournament.” Ernie said there are a lot of fish being caught right now on worms, either Texas or Carolina rigged, fished carefully through the cypress stumps or along the edges of the grass. He likes a Carolina-rigged Zoom Trick Worm in either green pumpkin or green pumpkin with blue flake. Shallow-running crankbaits fished around the same areas should also produce. The fish should hit the beds hard in March, Ernie said, and the south end of the lake should heat up earlier. Then it’s time to fish a tube, fluke or lizard. “If you’ll keep pestering that heffer, she’ll eventually get ticked off and hit it,” Ernie said. Note: In addition to his regular tournaments, Ernie is putting on three tournaments this year with a guaranteed $1,000 prize for first place. They will be on March 14, April 14 and June 13.

Crappie: Good, said Rusty Parker. Rusty said the fish are still deep, and people have been catching some very good slabs on the river-channel ledges near the mouths of the major creeks. The fish are holding 17 to 25 feet deep over 30 to 35 feet of water. Rusty has been catching them fishing a drop-shot rig with two minnows, and the longline trollers have also been doing very well. The channel ledge near Collins Branch has been producing some heavy stringers. Rusty said the fish should pull up by the full moon in March if there aren’t any more cold snaps. Then it’s time to fish the shallow flats with a cork and a minnow or trolling.