Lake Burton Fishing Report May 2017

Burton: Level: Full. Temp: 61 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Guide Wes Carlton reports, “The largemouth have finished spawning and are finally feeding again. We caught some nice fish this week with the average size being 5 to 6 pounds. Most of the largemouth are feeding up shallow early in the backs of the creeks along brush and trees. White crankbaits are working well. After 9 a.m. or so, move toward the 14- to 16-foot range and work a Senko or a Z-MAN Ned Rig on the bottom. This is where most of the bigger females are.”

Walleye: Guide Wes Carlton reports, “The walleye have started feeding better over the last couple of days. We are now catching fish with some size to them. Most of the fish seem to be congregated on long points that have good access to deeper water. I am starting off the day trolling small crankbaits up shallow in the 12- to 24-foot water depths. Clipping long points and brushy bank lines have been producing the better fish. We have been occasionally casting a blueback herring or jerkbait along steep ledges. This pattern should continue over the next few weeks. We will slowly begin moving out over deeper water over the next few weeks as the water temperature rises. Walleye are very structure-oriented fish. Always keep this in mind. These fish can be caught during daylight hours, so be patient when fishing for them.”

Brown Trout: Guide Wes Carlton reports, “The smaller trout seem to be in the creek channels. A small Rapala Countdown or Ugly Duckling have been working well. We caught two nice brook trout this week on Lake Burton. Most of the bigger brown trout are close to the main lake channel. These fish are feeding on the schools of bluebacks that are moving around the lake. Look for the bait, and the browns are not far behind. Casting a small spoon or Rooster Tail toward these baitfish can produce some big fish.”