Pulling Crankbaits Producing Some Good Crappie
Written by Rich Bay - Published on April 13, 2022
From the Deck of the Kick'n Bass Pontoon
Where is spring? The weather has been cold, wet and windy most days. But the forecast looks to be improving! The wind has pushed me off the lake a couple times but fish are there to catch. Boat control can be a problem when the gusts get high so knowing how to control the pontoon is very important. We have been catching crappies, yellow bass and some keeper largemouth.
Let’s hope that wind dies down and settles the lake a bit. There is still some tornado debris in the lake but the companies cleaning up the lake have taken TONS of house parts, decks boats, docks, you name it out of the lake. A LOT of new construction is going on in the area from the tornado in December. Be careful driving with all the construction trucks.
Crappies
Just getting started after all the rough weather but there are companies clearing debris from the west side shoreline where most of the tornado damage came from. On the lake edge most of the damage was in the Cambridge shores area.
Fish are biting minnows and crappie nibbles in 10 to 14 feet of water if you like to spider rig or drift. The KnB pontoon has started pulling crankbaits again. We have had good luck in 11 to 16 feet of water down around 11 feet deep.
Warming water, and the TVA slowing down the water-pull, has had the lake on a slow rise. Perfect combination for pulling crankbaits as the fish start to suspend
up towards the warmer water. Multiple colors have worked but I think the Jenko darker browns and dark pinks (Bruise and Midnight Pink) have done well. But of course we have had fish on the blue/chrome and pink chartreuse (Jenko’s Fire Tiger and Screamin’ Chicken).
Covering lots of water has produce for us as the crappie start to get ready to spawn. 1.6 mph has been my best speed.
White Bass & Yellow Bass
Haven’t fished for either yet but the yellow bass do mix in with the crappies and will smash a crankbait.
Catfish
Incidental catfish have been in the deeper water lately. A lot of fun on a 14 foot rod.
Largemouth & Smallmouth
We’ve had several keeper Largemouth fishing the flats. A guide friend told me they have been fishing shallow water points for Largemouth.
Redear/Bluegill
Bluegill are starting to get ready for their spawn shortly.
ATTABOY
Captain Rich was wonderful with my kids ages 14 and 4. He had everything ready to go for us and knew the best spots for the current conditions. We caught a ton of fish and he even cleaned them all for us. Booking was easy and he was very responsive to my questions. I highly recommend him! We will be back! —Kelly K.
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