Lake Sinclair Fishing Reports – April 2020

Sinclair: Level: 1.4 feet low. Temp: Mid 60s on the main lake, with some pockets warming near 68 to 70 degrees during the sunny afternoons. Clarity: The lake is starting to clear up, but the lake remains in varying degrees of stain. There is a good amount of pollen falling into the water that is adding to the stain. The farther you go upriver, the more stained the water.

Bass: Tournament angler Karl Pingry reports, “Bass fishing has been pretty good with a variety of baits, according to Ed at Lakeside Chevron. Black buzzbaits in the morning and turtleback-bladed sprinerbaits in chartreuse and white are working well in the really stained water. A buzzbait in the grass early has also been producing. Little Earl crankbaits and Rat-L-Traps are other moving baits to try. Docks and blowdowns fished with Ole Monster worms in junebug and black emerald and a Trick Worm on a shakey head in the same colors are producing. April will be really active. The first time it is sunny for three days, I think the bass and crappie will start to spawn. There will be another huge wave of spawners on the next full moon. Sight fishing may be tough, but a Senko in various colors or a weightless Trick Worm in merthiolate or bubblegum will work shallow. A Carolina rig with a short leader and a lizard will be hard to beat. Look for hard sand and hard bottoms as the key to finding the beds. Fishing a buzzbait or spinnerbait is another tactic. If you get a bump or blow-up that does not hook-up, cast right back with a Senko or Trick Worm and let it fall. There may be a bass guarding a nest where you got bit. Watch for your line as you lose sight of your bait. By the end of the month, the shad spawn may also come into play. Fish rock, rip-rap and shallow wood right up on the bank with a spinnerbait and Pop-R where you see shad bumping. This bite will last for only the first hour of daylight. This should be a great month to be on the water. Visit Ed at Lakeside to get your update before hitting the water.”

Read archived fishing articles at GON’s Lake Sinclair page.