Lake Burton Fishing Report – September 2007

Burton: Level: 0.2 feet below full pool. Temp: 84 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Slow. At the end of August the fish were still on a summer pattern and deep (20 to 25 feet) on brush on main-lake points. Texas-rigged green-pumpkin worms, drop-shot rigs or jig ’n pigs worked slowly through brush were catching some small fish. The topwater was nearly non-existent. In September the bass will begin to move up, and the topwater bite will improve on things like Creek Chubs, Sammys and flukes. A Pop-R is also good. The fish will gradually move to shallow brush where worms will still be effective, and the bite on No. 7 Shad Raps and a slow-rolled chartreuse/white spinnerbait will improve.

Brown Trout: Good, despite the hot weather, said WRD biologist Anthony Rabern. “We profiled the temperature in the water column earlier this week, and the optimum depth for trout should be in the 40-foot range, plus or minus 5 feet,” he said. In most years, by the end of summer, the trout have migrated to the area near the dam. This year, during a drought with less runoff entering the lake, water quality — oxygen content and temperature — is good across a much wider range. Even so, the best areas in September will probably be the lower half of the lake, from the Safety Man Marker to the dam. Fish live bluebacks in the 40-foot range or troll blueback-imitation crankbaits or jerkbaits at that depth. Jigging spoons can also be effective.