Black Bass:  Bass action during this time of year can be good by fishing early boat docks, rocks and grass beds that have appeared in the lake since last summer.  Plastic worms, spinner baits and some top water baits are all good baits to start with.  Once the early bite slows down, I like to fish dam ponds, roadbeds and points in 8’ – 15’ depths using the Carolina worm rig.  This rig lets you feel the bottom structure better and covers an area much faster with the heavier weight above the 2’ leader.

Crappie:  Crappie action can be fair by fishing minnows and small jigs around bridge pilings, timber and brush in 10’ – 17’ depths.  I always use a high visible line when crappie fishing.  It helps you able to detect the bite because crappie come from under the bait and they swim up or to the side.  So if you see slack in the line, it is probably a crappie.

White Bass & Hybrid Striped Bass:  This is a great time of year for both these fish.  These fish like to hang out along both islands on the south end of the lake and around main lake humps and points in 15’ – 30’ depths.  I like to troll pet spoons behind deep diving crank baits because that method covers a great area of water and enables you to locate and catch these fish.  It is a good idea to learn how to be able to tell the difference between whites and hybrids because many of these newly stocked hybrids are about the same size as these white bass; but the legal lengths are different.

Catfish:  Catfish during this time can be good by baiting up areas along river and creek channels with range cubes or milo and using shrimp or dip baits fished along the bottom.  The early morning bite is going to be the best at this time of year.