Lake Burton Fishing Report May 2014

Burton: Level: Full pool. Temp: 61 degrees. Clarity: Stained.

Bass: Guide Wes Carlton reports, “The water temperature is still a little cold for these fish. They are feeding good midday as the sun warms the water a little. Look for pockets that get a lot of sun or red-clay banks. The worm bite has turned on. Try using a watermelon-pumpkin color, working it slowly off the banks. The jerkbait bite has also been producing some nice largemouth. Looks for these fish to start spawning over the next few weeks. The topwater bite will be good through the first of May.”

Walleye: “The walleye are biting in full force,” Wes said. “Most of the fish are still up the river and creek channels. We have had good success trolling Shad Raps sr5 crankbaits at 2 mph and night crawlers at 1 mph. Troll these baits over the deeper pools of water 6 to 12 feet deep. The night bite has been a little better than the day bite. Look for the walleye to slowly start their migration back down the lakes over the next few weeks as the water warms.”

Trout: Excellent, according to Wes. “With the vast stocking of trout this year, these fish are everywhere. Most of the younger trout are still in the creek and river channels less than 5 feet deep. Try using a small Duo Realis in the herring color. This bait has been a trout magnet lately. The bigger brown trout are cruising the main-lake channel close to floating debris. We have been sight casting small Kastmaster spoons to these fish. The trout should hold on this pattern for the next couple of weeks.”