Lake Sinclair Fishing Report – March 2008

Sinclair: Level: 0.6 feet below full pool. Temp: 53-60 degrees. Clarity: Heavy stain.

Bass: Tough. Tournament angler Jim Windham said the fishing was pitiful Saturday, Feb. 23. “I think they’re trying to move up, but they keep getting knocked back by the cold fronts, all this fresh water and the fresh mud,” he said. “We need some warmer water and some warmer weather to get them pulled up.” A shaky-head worm fished around 5- to 6-foot-deep docks and banks will take a few fish, but it is the smaller males that have moved up. Main-lake points fished with crankbaits will also pick up a few, Jim said. He caught three at his first stop on Feb. 23, a main-lake point with some rocks and trash. A Bandit 200 series was the ticket. The color they liked was taco-salad, a mix of chartreuse, red and orange. “I had a few slap a blade, but they just wouldn’t take it. I caught a few on the blade Friday,” Jim said.

Linesides: Good. The hybrids and stripers are biting in the mornings. Fish the mid lake in 20 to 30 feet of water around schools of bait or where the warmer water comes off the plant. The fish are keying on threadfin and can be caught trolling Shad Raps, bucktail jigs or Sassy Shads. Umbrella rigs are also taking some fish. Also try downlines and lightly weighted flatlines slow trolled around bait schools.