Lake Jackson Fishing Report – February 2009

Jackson: Level: 0.5 feet above full pool. Temp: Low 40s. Clarity: Clear in the main lake; lightly stained in the rivers.

Bass: Fair. Eric Perkins reports: “Fishing is hit and miss right now due to the cold weather we have had here lately. I fished Saturday (Jan. 24), and the water was very cold 43 degrees. I am concentrating on offshore places right now. Deep main-lake humps and shelfs, long clay points and deep rock banks. A Little George and a Fish Head Spin have been my two best baits. We are also catching fish on a Net Boy 1/16-oz. jig head with a Yamamoto Cut Tail or a finesse worm in green pumpkin once we locate the fish. February gets things going if we get some warmer weather. The fish will pull up shallow, and expect the fish to be in water 10 feet deep or less. If it gets back in the 50s, the crankbait bite will kick into gear. Shad Raps, flatbaits and Rat-L-Traps fished shallow will be the ticket. Also try a jig under and around shallow docks. But we need at least a week of warm weather, and those fish will be up and active again.” Aaron Batson reports: “This will be a big transition month. Bass will begin to stage at the mouths of creeks and coves to feed up in preparation for the spawn. Look for them to hold in 8 to 10 feet of water on colder days. These fish can be caught on slow-rolled spinnerbaits like a 1/2-oz. double willowleaf War Eagle spinnerbait or a crankbait like a 7A Bomber or bigger-sized Shad Rap. On sunny warmer days, look for the big females to move shallow on the first available wood cover. They will be prime targets for a 3/8-oz. Net Boy flippin jig. Natural colors like green pumpkin or root beer can be good, tipped with a Zoom Big Salty Chunk.”