Lake Russell Fishing Report – January 2009

Russell: Level: 4.3 feet below full pool. Temp: 54-56 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Excellent, according to Trad Whaley, who won the Dec. 20 Fish the Fall tournament. “We had five that weighed 15.02. We caught ’em on all kinds of stuff. It’s day-to-day out there right now, with more bait on the lake than I’ve ever seen that’s anywhere from 40 feet deep to 2 feet deep. Most bass in the tournament were caught on Blade Runners in about 16 feet of water on ledges. The drop-shot bite has been good, and there are lots of birds working, too. When it warmed up, the bass went to the bank.” The most dependable bite is on a drop-shot rig or shaky head in 40 feet of water on the ends of points and on flats where there are bald spots in the timber. “Find old cow pastures and fields with no timber in 40 feet of water. They’ll also suspend in the trees down about 15 feet in 70 feet of water, but that’s tough fishing.”

Stripers: “There are some huge stripers being caught,” Trad said. “Throw a bucktail, and work the birds. If you stick one, he’s as long as your leg. I caught one that was 30. All of them are 15-lb.-plus.”