Brought to you by: Fishtale Lodge
Report for September 14th, 2001
Fishing this week has been on the backside of a
cold front that arrived Sunday night and Monday. Escorted by north
winds, the cool spell chased away the warm, humid conditions of last
week.
While fall is definitely in the air, the first few days of the cool
spell seemed to have an adverse affect on the fishing. High pressure on
the backside of the front delivered high skies with a brisk north wind
that shifted to the northeast on Tuesday.
Observed lake elevation in the Paris Landing area was 357.2 and falling
daily. However, last week the reservoir jumped up near the 358 mark,
which was almost two feet above normal for this time of year.
Surface temperatures started out in the 80-82 degree range early in the
week but were cooling down each night. Readings of 76-78 were observed
by midweek.
Crappie action slowed due to the cool front early this week but should
improve as stable weather takes over and winds calm. The cooler surface
temperatures should send crappie toward secondary flats and bays this
week.
Look for improvement in the 8 to 13 foot range around shallow stumps and
manmade stake beds and brush piles. However, there's still some of the
larger crappie lingering out in the main lake ledges in depths of 20 25
feet.
I found my better-sized crappie there earlier this week but the fish
were scattered and reluctant to bite. Live minnows and red and
chartreuse jigs tipped with minnows seemed to produce best.
Bass action continues to be somewhat below average but there are some
signs of increased action in the shallow grass beds. There's acres of
grass showing up around main lake islands and on the inside flats. Also,
the back portions of bays have a lot of aquatic weeds where schools of
minnows are abundant.
Tossing a spinner or buzz bait around the outside areas will produce, as
will floating worms and flukes. Some anglers are casting the floating
rats and frogs too around thicker grass areas.
Shad have begun to show up on the gravel banks and on the edges of the
week beds with their early morning and late afternoon flurries of
activity.
There's a good hour each morning and afternoon of lowlight conditions
where you can get some fast action on top water plugs.
Catfish are being caught on trotlines stretched out along the edge of
the main riverbanks. Nightcrawlers, cut shad, beef liver and catalpa
worms continue to produce. There's still action to be had by anglers
fishing rods and reels while bumping bottom along the main riverbank in
depths of 25 to 40 foot zones.
With the first cool spell of September already passing through, action
should improve in shallow areas for both bass and crappie anglers in the
week ahead.
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Steve McCadams
is a professional hunting and fishing guide
here in the
Paris Landing area and host of The Outdoor Channel's television series IN-PURSUIT.
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