Lake Russell Fishing Report – February 2010

Russell: Level: 9.5 feet below full pool. Temp: 45-48 degrees. Clarity: Stained in the backs of the creeks.

Bass: Tough. Trad Whaley reports, “Nobody’s catching anything. It took 6 pounds to win Saturday’s tournament. With all this rain and new water, it ought to bring some fish up shallow. I talked to a buddy of mine who’s the best there is on Keowee, and he was catching them shallow this morning (Jan. 25). Russell and Keowee are about the same animal. The dirty water should pull some largemouths up in the drains. In about three weeks it should be time for fishing ditches with a Blade Runner. It’s not quite here yet. Right now most of the bait is suspending on the trees or slap on the bottom in 50 feet of water. Until some fish move shallow, try doodling or jigging a spoon deep and hope for a spotted bass or two. Try a shaky head on rocky points, and you’ll catch a few, might not be keepers though. The birds are out there right now, too. Throw a bucktail or a small jigging spoon around the birds, but have a plug-knocker handy. The birds will be in the timber around the mouths of main creeks.”