Lake Nottely Fishing Report – March 2009

Nottely: Level: 16.4 feet below full pool. Temp: Mid 40s degrees. Clarity: Clear on the main lake; stained in the creeks.

Bass: Good. Guide Nathan Lewis said you can catch some good spotted bass on the main-lake rocky points right now throwing crankbaits or jerkbaits. He likes a Husky Jerk, Rapala or Lucky Craft jerkbait. You can also catch a mixed bag of spots and largemouths fishing on the bottom in the same areas with a worm. Nathan said he’s catching more spotted bass on a Texas-rigged finesses worm, but you can catch the spots and a few bigger largemouths throwing a Zoom U-tail worm Texas rigged on a 3/16-oz weight. Cherry seed and green pumpkin are good colors. Largemouths can also be caught up in the creeks. Nathan said to find some dingy water and to fish a white or white/chartreuse spinnerbait, from 3/8- to 1/2-oz., around wood cover. A jig ’n pig will also catch laremouths around blowdowns and brushpiles in the creeks. John Hembry said there are some fish moving up to feed on sunny days, but things are still pretty slow. He said to concentrate on sunny banks with southern exposure, especially those the wind is blowing into. Mud lines are a plus. He’s been catching a mixed bag of spots, largemouths, stripers and white bass on a 1/8-oz. bucktail. He said a good windy day is best for this bite.

Linesides: Jeremy Seabolt said it’s been on or off. The fish are scattered from the river up to point 5, and they’ve been hitting small bluebacks up to large trout, depending on the day. Jeremy said he’s been catching five or six 8- to 10-pounders a trip. A few big ones, in the 20-lb. range have been caught up the river near the rock quarry. In the evenings, small fish have been schooling down near the dam. They can be caught on umbrella rigs, flukes or topwaters.