Lake Russell Fishing Report April 2006

Russell: Level 1.8 feet below full pool. Temps: 52-55 degrees. Clarity: Clear except for a slight stain in some of the feeder creeks.

Bass: Good. Plenty of bass have moved into the pockets and seem to be staging on the back edges of the timber and on secondary points. Throw a spinnerbait or crankbait to catch these staging fish. By next week, sight-fishing should be possible for fish scoping out bedding areas. If you can see a bass, use a Trick Worm or five-inch jerkbait. Also try the standing timber in the pockets with a spinnerbait or Ol Monster plastic worm, and focus on the cedar trees. On the south end of the lake, try jerkbaits on the main-lake points at the mouths of spawning pockets for spotted bass.
Crappie: Good. The crappie are up on the banks, and your best bet is to concentrate on blowdowns and shallow-wood structure with minnows under a float, or by casting small crappie jigs.