John Morgan

This spring has started off with some less than ideal weather and water conditions. Two weeks ago we had water levels 4 feet above winter pool. Then this week we were back down 4 feet to just above winter pool. This on top of stained to muddy water color has sure made for some challenging fishing. As I write this it's raining again.

With all these conditions the fishing has been pretty darn good. I've fished all three major bays - Johnathon Creek, Blood River, and Big Sandy. I'm home here around Blood River for the remainder of the spring and have high hopes that things are really turning around for our lake. We are seeing a very good creel of all sizes and year classes of crappie. Both the black and white crappie seem to be doing good.

I've been mostly fishing for fish that are roaming the flats toward the back of Blood River. I'm pushing jigs to the suspending fish using the Garmin Livescope. These fish should eventually show up on cover as the water starts back up and clears up a little.

The crappie fishing the last few years has been tougher than we've seen for several years. There has been hardly any fishing pressure so far this spring. Hopefully this cycle we've been in is nearing an end and things are looking up. I expect to catch fish every time I go because it's my job and I try hard to put fish in the boat. I think we are getting back to the days when a guy that only gets to go a few times a year can catch a few. I would like to see us get back to the days where you don't have to have $10,000 worth of fish finders just to catch a mess of fish.

You won't know if you don't go.