Lake Burton Fishing Report – October 2007

Burton: Level: 0.3 feet below full pool. Temp: 77 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Good. Daniel Workman says that with the water temperature falling, the bass fishing has improved. “I have been catching spots on the main-lake and secondary points with a spinnerbait, crankbait or worm,” he said. After dark you can catch fish on a Senko or worm on a 1/8- or 3/16-oz. weight in the shallows. Daniel’s favorite worm colors are green pumpkin, black watermelon and occasionally blue. Daniel said that if you will go back in the creeks as far as you can go and work the creek channel with either of the three baits you will catch a mix of spots and largemouths. “Start shallow, and gradually work your way back out into deeper water trying to target the creek channel,” said Daniel. He has been throwing a shad/chartreuse skirt on his spinnerbait or a shad/clear gold-flake. He is using either small willowleaf blades or a single blade. “The fish don’t seem to want a big-bladed spinnerbait,” he said. A Bill Norman’s or Bandit crankbait works fine, and switch to a bigger lip on the plug as you move into deeper water, he said. Topwater has been sporadic, but it should improve.

Brown Trout: Success is all about fishing at the correct depth, said WRD Fisheries Biologist Anthony Rabern. “The fish keep moving a little deeper looking for the optimum conditions,” said Anthony. “Right now that depth is in the 45-foot range, plus or minus 5 feet.” If you are fishing live bait, that is the depth to target. If you are pulling spoons or blueback imitations behind a downrigger, start at that depth and watch your depthfinder for schools of bluebacks and trout.