Lake Russell Fishing Report – March 2008

Russell: Level: .5 feet below full pool. Temp: 48 to 50 degrees. Clarity: Clear, Rocky River is stained.

Bass: Good and improving, according to Trad Whaley. Trad and his dad won the Georgia BAIT tournament Feb. 23 with 13.14 pounds. They caught four keepers on Blade Runners on shoal markers early, then a pair of 4-pounders on spinnerbaits on channel bends. “We were rolling a Big Train spinnerbait off the ledge off the end of blowdowns. The fish are moving up onto secondary points, and a good jerkbait bite ought to be starting.”

Crappie: Fair. Jerry Craft said the fish are still a little slow to bite, but he is catching some trolling minnow-tipped jigs. “They’re biting a little bit,” Jerry said. “I’ve caught some females on the flats in the back of the creeks, but they’re moving in and out. The females I’ve caught are full of eggs, and they look like they’re ready to lay, but our water’s not right yet.” Jerry said the females will be on the flats in the afternoon when the water warms up, but that the males have not yet moved up. He is still catching a few fish on treetops in 20 feet of water, as well. “It’s going to get better; you can count on that,” Jerry said. The fishing should really heat up late this month as the fish congregate up on the flats to spawn. A minnow-tipped jig is always a good bet. Jerry said chartreuse has been the hot color lately.