Lake Russell Fishing Report – October 2009

Russell: Level: 8.8 feet below full pool. Temp: High 70s. Clarity: Clear with a good stain in the creeks.

Bass: Tough. Trad Whaley said it’s pretty tough on Russell right now, but the bite should start picking up soon. “Fish are starting to school some up Beaverdam arm and up the Savannah,” Trad said. “That’s something they haven’t done much of in the past.” If you can get on some schooling fish, throw a Sammy 100 or a fluke. The color doesn’t matter much as long as the bait is moving. The shad aren’t too big, so you’ll want to keep your bait on the smaller side. If they aren’t schooling, follow the bait. Trad said the bait has started to move back in the creeks, and the migration should be farther along up Beaverdam around the first bridge, Millwood. He said to start all the way back on the flats at the backs of the creeks, and fish your way out until you find the bait. Any wood helps with this bite, and flats and pockets off the main lake can also be good places to find bait. He suggested searching with a 1/4- to 1/2-oz. Rat-L-Trap in chrome and blue. There should also be a pretty good bite around standing timber. The fish will be suspended in 8 or 9 feet of water over a 30 or 40 foot bottom. Break out your spinnerbait and run it through the timber or flip it with an Ol Monster worm. Trad suggested watermelon or green pumpkin for colors. If all else fails, you can always catch a few spotted bass fishing red-clay points. Trad said the fish are in 8 to 10 feet of water right now, and you can catch them either cranking a Deep Little N or fishing a Spot Remover with a watermelon finesse worm.