Paradise PFA Fishing Report – May 2008

Paradise PFA: Level: All lakes are full. Temp: 70-72 degrees. Clarity: Lightly stained.

Bass: Good. Anglers are catching bass in the 3- to 5-lb. range in lakes Patrick and Bobben. Bubba Jordan reported doing well on Lake Patrick using a watermelon Trick Worm, hauling in several good fish including a 5-pounder. Rob Jordon, who also fishes Lake Patrick, reported catching two 6-pounders and two 5-pounders. He recommends fishing a green or junebug lizard in 3 to 6 feet of water in and around stumps and structure. Anglers have also started picking up a few bass on topwater lures in early morning and late afternoon periods on schooling bass in Lake Russell.

Crappie: Fair. Crappie are biting in 6 to 8 feet of water using 1/32- to 1/16-oz. float-rigged jigs. Anglers have caught a few 1 1/2- to 2-lb. fish in Patrick. Anglers have reported doing better with the 1 1/2-inch tube jigs slowly working along the shoreline and around the docks and piers in Patrick. Crappie are also hitting blue-and-white, black-and-green and chartreuse-colored jigs in Russell, Horseshoe 2 and Horseshoe 5.

Bream: Excellent. Anglers have reported catching good numbers of hand-sized bream in the coves and around shoreline cover in Lake Patrick and the Horseshoe lakes. DNR employee Matt Henry said, “Bream are biting everywhere!” Matt works the creel checks at Paradise PFA. Bluegill and redear are bedding heavily now through June.
Channel catfish: Fair. The best lakes for catfish have been Lakes Horseshoe 1 and 2. Catfish are running in the 1-lb. range, and many have been reported caught on chicken liver and big pond worms. The Tifton Kiwanis Kids’ Fishing Event will be held June 7. Lake Horseshoe Six will be opened to everyone during the kids’ fishing event. Call (229) 533-4792 for more information.