Lake Eufaula Fishing Report June 2012

Eufaula: Level: 0.8 feet below full pool. Temp: 74 to 82 degrees. Clarity: Slight stain on the north end; clear with 3 to 5 feet visibility on south end.

Bass: Good. Tournament angler Stephen McCord was excited to report a good mayfly bite. He’s finding hatching flies on the steeper walls with blowdowns and overhanging bushes. He’s catching good fish on topwater baits. A Pop-R and a wake bait are both good choices. But if you want to knock some flies out of a bush to fire the fish up, throw a popping frog right up in it, and then let it plop into the water. For bigger fish around the hatches, try a big 10-inch worm Texas rigged or a Senko hooked wacky style. If you’re looking for a 5- to 7-lb. kicker fish, Stephen said to find a bluegill bed and fish a swimbait. He likes a 4 1/2-inch Jackall Giron, which is a jointed bluegill imitation. A bite Stephen was hesitant to mention is on the little bit of hydrilla that is showing up on the south end and also up the river above Lakepoint. He said the shad and other baitfish are sticking tight to the hydrilla. He’s had some luck ripping a Trap through the grass and also fishing a square-bill or a buzzbait. On a good windy day, there should also be some schooling activity on the points early, so keep an eye open for it. Over the next few weeks, Stephen expects the hydrilla bite to keep getting better. Bluff walls might also begin producing for crankbaits, and a dock bite will likely become important. Stephen likes floating docks with some deep water nearby, and he’ll pitch the cracks between the floats with a finesse jig. Most of these fish will be suspended, and just a foot or two inside the edge of the dock. Crankbaits, jerkbaits and floating worms will also catch these suspended fish. Guide Sam Williams said the bass are hit and miss on wood and trashpiles in 10 feet or deeper. Jigs, Carolina rigs and crankbaits are catching fish.

Bream: Fair. Sam reports, “Bluegills and shellcrackers are slowing a little in the dirty water but are hitting the big pinks and crickets.” Look for bream to go back on the beds through the summer on the full moons.