Lake Russell Fishing Report – July 2009

Russell: Level: 1.9 feet below full pool. Temp: 87-88 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Fair. Terry “TJ” Johnson said it’s a tough bite right now, and most of what he’s catching are spotted bass. “I’m staying down the lake fishing deep trees,” TJ said. “We won Friday night with 12 1/2 pounds. I’m hunting deep drop-off banks with trees on them, and I’m throwing Texas-rigged Mag II and Ol Monsters worms. I’m even throwing the big Mag II on a Carolina rig some. It’s tough. It took the fish forever to get off the banks, and the water temperature just got up into the 80s the past week. Most of the tournaments, 12 pounds will get you there. When they’re generating during the week, guys are running up above the 368 bridge on the Savannah and catching schooling fish. That bite up the river near Cherokee will slow in the next couple of weeks,” said TJ. “If a fellow wants to run the points with a Strike King No. 5 or a Norman’s Little N, you can catch keeper fish. There’s just not any size to them. Every fish you catch is about 12 1/2 inches long.”