Paradise PFA Fishing Report – March 2010

Paradise PFA: Levels: Full pool. Temp: 56 degrees. Clarity: Lakes lightly stained. Report filed by Area Manager Charles West.

Bass: Good. Bass are taking junebug, red, black and pumpkinseed plastic worms in lakes Patrick and Bobben. Also, anglers have done well with a white Trick Worm and a Carolina-rigged watermelon-seed plastic worm in Horseshoe 3 and 4. The best bet is to fish just off shallow ledges in 4 to 5 feet of water early mornings, and switch to shallows around lily pads after mid morning if the sun is out. The red and green lizards or a jig ’n pig have been good choices in March. Once water temps get in the low 60s, these lures are the standard for targeting bass moving up into the shallows.

Crappie: Excellent. Crappie are biting in 4 to 6 feet of water using 1/32- to 1/16-oz. float-rigged jigs. Crappie have been hitting blue/white, white/yellow and chartreuse jigs in Patrick, Tacklebuster, Beaver and Horseshoe 2. Best results have been around spillways and just under the edges of lily pads and primrose mats. The best bait has been the green Crappie Magnet and the white-and-yellow tube jig along with a chartreuse Crappie Nibble on the hook. It is important to go with a light line — 4-lb. test line is preferred.

Catfish: Fair. Catfish anglers are reporting catching a few channel catfish in Lakes Patrick, Tacklebuster and Horseshoe 1 using pond worms and mullet gut. This should improve as the water temperature rises.

Bream: Fair. Bream fishing is starting to pick up. The best bait for redear has been red wigglers fished just off the bottom in 4 to 6 foot depths. Good catches of 1/2- to 3/4-lb. redear have recently been reported in Lake Patrick. Bluegill have been biting crickets around the docks and in heavy cover. Bream fishing should improve through the next few months and is usually best from March through June.