Lake Sinclair Fishing Report – December 2008

Sinclair: Level: 0.9 feet below full pool. Temp: 48 to 54 degrees. Clarity: Slight stain; clear at the lower end.

Bass: Tough. Mike Cleveland said it took 9 pounds to win a tournament the weekend of Nov. 23, and big fish came in at about 3 1/2 pounds. “That cold front came through, dropped the water temperature and shut them down,” Mike said. “They’ve got to get accustomed to it, then they’ll start biting again in two or three weeks.” Small crankbaits on rocky banks or rip-rap in 4 to 8 feet of water is the go-to pattern right now. He likes a Bandit 300 series in brown/chartreuse. There have also been some fish caught on main-lake docks flipping a 3/8- or 1/4-oz. black-blue jig. Mike said there is also a deep bite going on. “They’re on the main-lake points, humps or channel swings in 18 to 23 feet of water,” he said. “Eighteen to 23 feet, that’s usually the magic number on that pond.” A chrome Hopkins spoon in either 1/4- or 3/4-oz. is the bait right now.