Lake Nottely Fishing Report – May 2006

Nottely: Level: 12.3 feet below full pool. Temp: 69-71 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Jerry at Jerry’s Bait & Tackle said there had been good catches of spots and largemouths at Nottely recently. The largemouth fishing is best back in the pockets around any wood structure. The fish were still bedding at the end of April. For spots, fish main-lake points with crankbaits, spinnerbaits and flukes. The fishing is especially good if you can find a wind-blown point with a mudline. Jerry said he had heard of a couple of walleye in the 4-lb. range caught recently at Nottely. As is usual, bass fishermen throwing crankbaits caught the fish.

Striper/hybrids: Good and improving, said Nottely fishing-guide Jeremy Seabolt. “There have been six fish that weighed more than 30 pounds caught out of the river,” he said. Jeremy fished the river April 23 and caught a pair of stripers in the 15-lb. range on freelined blueback herring. Live bait or 5-inch Red Fins are the top baits in the river, he said, and the biggest fish have been caught during the middle of the night. Down the lake, Jeremy has been concentrating on the area between points eight and nine. The fish are starting to stage there, and by the first week or so in May, the fishing should be good. The hybrids are already starting to school early and late. Jeremy has been fishing live herring on downlines and freelines, when the fish start breaking he cast a fluke or a Yo-Zuri banana lure.