Lake Jackson Fishing Report – March 2009

Jackson: Level: Full pool. Temp: Mid to high 40s. Clarity: Very light stain.

Bass: Fair. “Fishing is hit and miss right now due to the cold weather we have had here lately,” said Eric Perkins. “I fished Saturday (Feb. 21), and the water was very cold. I am concentrating on offshore places right now — deep main-lake humps and shelves, 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 NetBoy 3/16 -oz. jig head with a Yamamoto Cut Tail or a finesse worm in green pumpkin once we locate the fish. This cold water knocked everything back. Even the stripers left from where I was seeing them in more shallow areas. If we get some warmer weather, the fish will pull up shallow and expect them to be in water 10 feet deep or less. It all depends on the water temp. If it gets back in the 50s, the crankbait bite will kick in to gear. Shad Raps, flatbaits and Rat-L-Traps fished shallow will be the ticket. Also, 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.” That warm weather should be around the corner, and Aaron Batson is looking forward to the spinnerbait bit in March. “Bass fishing is picking up,” reported Aaron. “In March, spinnerbaits, spinnerbaits and more spinnerbaits!” I would keep a 3/8-oz. double-willow Ol-Nelle spinnerbait in chartreuse/white as one of my main baits. I would start the month slow rolling the spinnerbait on rocky points halfway back into the creeks. Concentrate on rock, especially on sunny days. Later in the month, move on toward the very backs and target wood cover like blowdowns, stumps and dock posts. Work the same spinnerbait around the wood cover but at a much faster pace to trigger a quick reaction strike from big females looking to spawn. You could also work a 1/2-oz. Net Boy Baits Flippin jig in green pumpkin with a Zoom Super Chunk under deeper floating docks down the lake to target big prespawn spotted bass. Dipping the jig in JJ’s Magic garlic dip will help increase the number of bites dramatically. The big female spots will stay deeper and spawn in these areas.”