Lake Tobesofkee Fishing Report – February 2008

Tobesofkee: Level: Full pool. Temp: Low 50s. Clarity: Stained.

Bass: Good. “There have been several 18-lb. bags weighed in this month,” said Clayton Batts. “The February jig bite is in full swing right now. Fish a black-and-blue 3/8-oz. Picasso jig with a sapphire-blue trailer when the water stains up this time of year, and a green-pumpkin 3/8-oz. Picasso jig in clearer water. If the water temperature continues to drop, throw a little smaller jig like a Spro K-Finesse Jig in the same colors. Remember to fish the jig really slow around grass and any rocks that you can find in the 1- to 6-foot range that has deeper water close by. Don’t expect to get many bites, but when you do hang on because it is going to be a good one,” Clayton said. Also try the Big Bite Baits finesse worms on the deeper man-made brushpiles around points and at the mouths of coves. If the water is stained, Clayton recommends darker colors such as junebug or black. If the water clears up, try a more natural color such as green pumpkin. “If you get several warm days at the end of February, look for the shallow fish to get a little more active and start cruising looking for warmer water. Fish reaction baits on areas where the sun has warmed the water a few degrees. My preference is to slow-roll a chartreuse-and-white 3/8-oz. spinnerbait or a Stanford Razor Shad (crankbait) in gray ghost or citrus shad. The main key in February is to always have deep water close by.”

Crappie: Slow. “The crappie fishing has slowed down with the dropping temperatures,” Clayton said. “There are several fish still being caught off the Lower Thomaston Road bridge, but not the numbers that it was producing. The best pattern for catching them right now is trolling Triple Tip Grubs and Hal Flys and covering a lot of water,” Clayton said.