Lake Burton Fishing Report – December 2008

Burton: Level: Full pool. Temp: Mid 50s. Clarity: Clear.
Guide Wes Carlton said, “December is the month on this lake.” He said to always keep a rod with either a white fluke or a Heddon Torpedo in blue or silver tied on. If you see schooling activity, these baits are likely to catch you hybrids, bass or trout all mixed up in the same school.

Bass: Fair. Wes said the spotted bass are hanging off mid-lake humps in 10-14 feet of water, and they’re gobbling a green-pumpkin finesse worm fished on a Spotsticker. They will also hit a small, medium-running, white crankbait. “The largemouths are AWOL… MIA,” said Wes.

Hybrids: Good. Wes said he has been catching some big 8- to 9-lb. hybrids recently on Rat-L-Traps. “They’re laying on all the points,” he said. Target main-lake points in 16-20 feet of water. “Throw something that’s the color of a blueback herring if you want to fish artificials,” Wes said. “That’s what they’re used to eating every day.” Or you can downline live bluebacks if you can find them.

Brown Trout: Good. Wes said he is averaging a couple of big browns, in the 2 1/2- to 8-lb. range, on every trip either slowly trolling freelined bluebacks on a 6- to 7-foot leader in 8-20 feet of water in the backs of the creeks or on an Ugly Duckling. The Ugly Duckling is a hand-made, Rapala-like, wooden bait out of Canada. The one he’s fishing, a DR 6, is a diver that gets down to about 6 feet. He said to troll it pretty quickly in the backs of the creeks. Fisheries biologist and writer Anthony Rabern said, “For December, expect trout in the mouths of the feeder streams, especially Mocassin Creek near Burton Hatchery. Small Mepps spinners should do the trick, or consider trolling an Ugly Duckling with a Mepps spinner tied onto a 12-inch leader attached to the back eye of the Ugly Duckling. Falling water temperatures will also drive herring to the face of the dam in hopes of finding a little warmth. Trolling this artificial-lure combination or live bait at depths from 15 to 30 feet along the dam may produce some bigger fish this month and through the entire winter.”

Rainbow Trout: Fair. “There’s no pattern to these guys,” Wes said. However, he has been catching some, with the biggest in the 18-inch range, fishing around the dam with a 1/4-oz. Little Cleo. Use a slow retrieve or troll slowly, fishing it almost like a Rooster Tail.

Perch: Good. The perch are schooled up around the grass mats,” Wes said. “Drop shot a crappie minnow around the mats in 13-16 feet of water to load the boat with perch.