Lake Eufaula Fishing Report – February 2008

Eufaula: Level: Full pool. Temp: 52-54 degrees. Clarity: Clear on main lake; light stain in the creeks.

Bass: Good, especially for numbers, said Tim Malcolm. “Most of the fish I have been catching have been from the mouth to about halfway back in the creeks. In creeks where the water was heavily stained, largemouths in the 2- to 3-lb. range could be caught in water 3 feet deep or less by flipping a Texas-rigged green-pumpkin Big Bite Yo Mama in the Bio Bait version around flooded shoreline cover. In creeks where the water was less stained, the fish were holding on cover in deeper water and could be caught on three distinct patterns. Large numbers of spotted bass in the 1 1/2- to 2-lb. range could be caught on the edges of flats along the creek channel in 8 to 10 feet of water using a Carolina rig or 1/4-oz. jig head with a plum-apple Trick Worm. Some largemouths in the 2- to 3-lb. range were caught 15 feet deep suspended in trees in the creek channel in 20 feet of water on the same Carolina rig. Finally, some 2- to 3-lb. largemouths were caught on hydrilla lines by ripping a 1/2-oz. chrome/blue-back Rat-L-Trap out of the hydrilla where it topped out at about 5 feet along the edge of a 10-foot dropoff. In all cases, there were shad in the immediate area. Now is a good time to be on Eufaula for some great early season action without a lot of the boat traffic. Just remember that conditions can change rapidly this time of the year with the wide changes we have been having in the weather and the approaching spawn,” Tim said.

Hybrids: Good. “This is when I catch my biggest fish every year,” guide Billy Darby said. Cruise river ledges and deep humps in the main river channel or in the deeper creek channels, and watch your graph for shad balls, Billy said. Streaks moving in and out of the bait balls will indicate feeding fish. “If you can find one school of shad that is being victimized, that’s where most of your fish will be,” said Billy. “You’ll sometimes find several balls of shad, and the fish will only be feeding on one of them.” Look for these shad balls from White Oak Creek down to the dam, and once you find them use your electronics to jig a spoon just below the bait.

Crappie: Fair. Billy said that on the week before and during the full moon in February the crappie will be in the shallows of dead-water sloughs where there is warmer water. Fish slowly with a 1/16-oz. Hal Fly in or around structure, or use minnows or minnow-tipped jigs. If the water warms up, move out and spider rig flats in 8 feet of water with Hal Flys. Tipping your fly with a minnow can sometimes help. Switch colors frequently until you find the one they want.