Lake Eufaula Fishing Report 2018

Eufaula: Level: 2 feet below 190 full pool. Temp: Mid 60s. Clarity: Moderate stain.

Bass: Tournament angler Les Bratcher #bigbitebaits #alxrods reports, “Lake Eufaula is on fire! If you don’t believe me, then just look at the tournament catches from the last two weeks—multiple 20-lb. bags. Anglers report catching Eufaula bass shallow as well as on the ledges in 8 to 10 feet of water. The shallow-water guys are getting it done on swim jigs, frogs, buzzbaits and plastics fished a variety of ways. Take your choice. The offshore fish are either postspawn or staging fish that are falling for crankbaits. The shad spawn is trying to get started, but the cold nights are throwing a kink in that. It seems to be hit or miss. Make no doubt it is going to happen soon. So put down what you’re doing, and head to Eufaula for a good day of fishing. Tight lines til next time.” Guide Sam Williams reports, “Bass are shallow around cover. Try topwater near cover early in the mornings, and then fish jigs on outside edges of cover. Texas-rigged soft plastics are also a good choice. Deeper fish are responding to Carolina-rigged bigger plastics and deep crankbaits. Lipless crankbaits outside the shore cover will work, too. Bass fishermen, check out the ‘Swab a Hog’ program online or pick up a kit at most bait stores in Eufaula. Auburn is doing a study on 4-lb. and better bass. All you do is swab the tongue for 10 seconds and place the swab in the pouch. Instructions are simple and in the packet. They are documenting the DNA of the Florida strain in our river bass. Once this is complete, they will be able to release the Florida bass in the river, and we will have a larger, faster-growing largemouth at Eufaula.” Guide Billy Darby reports, “May is frog month and also deep crankbait month. Sound confusing? To be more specific, if Lake Eufaula can maintain at least a 188.5 water level, the frog bite should be excellent in the pads and around the willow grass edges, especially early morning, sunset and on rainy or cloudy days. If not, the bass will move out to the ledges where deep-diving crankbaits will be king for the day. Piles should pay off on sunny, bright days with little wind.”

Shellcrackers: Guide Billy Darby reports, “Shellcrackers will certainly  be spawning a day or two before the new moon, and bream will be bedding by a week before the full moon. As with the bass topwater frog bite, the lake level will be a major factor in where to look for bedding activity.”

Crappie: Guide Billy Darby reports, “Crappie are through with the spawn, and I am seeing large schools on my Humminbird relating to natural timber structure off the ledges or deep mounds 20 to 30 feet deep. Small jigging spoons fished vertical on light line will be in order.”

Linesides: Guide Billy Darby reports, “Hybrids and stripers can be caught trolling the flats with curly tails or Rat-L-Traps.”