Lake Russell Fishing Report February 2018

Russell: Level: 1 foot low. Temp: 50 degrees. Clarity: Clear on the main lake and stained in the creeks.

Bass: Tournament angler Kerry Partain reports, “The water level is fluctuating a lot, so the bass are suspending more than usual and not feeding as heavy as normal. We have been fishing several patterns the last few weeks, so keep moving around until you locate the baitfish, and then slow down and work the area good because the bass are finicky right now. The shaky head and drop shot seem to be the best baits right now for numbers of fish, and you can catch a few of the bigger bass on jigs around deep drops on primary points at the mouths of the creeks. February is typically a good time to throw Blade Runners with a Zoom Fluke in the ditches of major pockets off the main lake or in the creeks. There are also some fish deep in the creek channels and ditches, so fish a jigging spoon in areas where you find large concentrations of baitfish on your electronics.”

Various Species: Guide Jerry Kotal reports, “The bass and perch fishing are really good right now. We are catching anywhere from 40 to 70 fish a day. We are catching them on jigging spoons and drop shots. The stripers are starting to show up, and they are biting jigging spoons, bucktails and Alabama Rigs.”