Lake Eufaula Fishing Report – February 2006

Eufaula: Level: 1.8 feet below full pool. Temp: 54 degrees. Clarity: Stained in the upper end, mostly clear down south.

Bass: Fair. Guide Jay Chambless said the most consistent bite he found has been in Cowikee Creek. “Fish ledges that top out in the 15-foot-range,” said Jay. “When the fish are active, you can catch them off the top of the ledges with crankbaits and Carolina rigs. I like the Stanford Super Deep Cedar Shad. On the Carolina rig, I like a Zoom Trick Worm. If the fish aren’t active, drop a jigging spoon off the side of the ledge around balls of bait.” Jay’s pick on the lower end are the bends in the creek channel of Pataula Creek. “Another emerging pattern is flipping blowdowns in the River Bend area,” said Jay. “Flip a 3/8-oz. black/blue jig with a sapphire Zoom Ultra Vibe chunk. A shallow-running crankbait, such as a Stanford Razor Shad, will also work. This is a new bait from Stanford that excels in colder-water conditions.” Jay said some fish will start to pull on shallow flats after three warm days. “If you get three days in the 70s, with lows about 50, and it’s around the full or new moon, it will be by far the very best fishing of the year,” said Jay. “When this happens you should be able to load the boat with a lipless crankbait. My choice is the new Aruku Shad from SPRO.”

Crappie: Poor for now. Tom Shapard said the fishing was not good this past weekend. “We fished Saturday and didn’t get a bite,” said Tom. “Friday afternoon I caught one crappie at 16 feet. A lot of people are fishing the sunken bridge at Pataula Creek at night. There were eight to 12 boats there Friday. One boat caught 35 small fish.” Look for fish to hug the bottom in 18 to 20 feet of water. Tom will troll a 1/8-oz. jig very slowly, just bumping it off the bottom. Blue, chartreuse and strawberry colors can all be good. “Moccasin Slough has always been a hot spot,” said Tom. “Whiteoak Creek, Thomasmill Creek and Pataula Creek are all good.” Fish should spawn when the water hits 63 degrees.

Hybrids: Poor. “We haven’t found any concentrations lately, but it should be picking up in late February or March,” said Tom.