Lake Russell Fishing Report – December 2006

Russell: Level: Full pool. Temp: 56-58 degrees. Clarity: Mostly clear.

Bass: Fair. The consistent bite has been on main-lake and secondary points using crankbaits in the Rocky River section and also on the south end of the main lake below the Hwy 72 bridge. If the bass are slow to hit the crankbait, slow down with a jig ’n pig or a drop-shot finesse worm. Concentrate on rocky points. Big fish have been scarce on this pattern, but good numbers of small bass have been caught. There are also bass in the backs of some of the creeks and pockets, some of which have been loaded with small threadfin shad. Try a Rat-L-Trap or a small, 1/4-oz. spinnerbait.

Crappie/Perch: November was very good for crappie, and now they’re moving deep. Guide Wendell Wilson said the bait is setting up deep, and December is a great month to catch good numbers of a mixed bag that includes perch, crappie, and bass. “Right now the fish are on deep flats 25 to 30 feet deep,” Wendell said. “Later in December they’ll get to 30 to 35 feet deep. There will be fish even deeper, but deeper than 35 and you start to get into the timber.” Wendell said you can drop a jigging spoon or a live minnow straight down. Look for baitfish on your graph, or keep an eye out for gulls in an area, which means the bait is nearby.