Barbee Lake Fishing Report

Current Fishing Report: Good To Very Good

Bass fishing is currently experiencing major changes in the way anglers are approaching the sport. The expanded use of high-tech fish finders is giving anglers, who fish from a boat, a distinct advantage. The fishing hasn't really changed, but the catch rate has increased considerably. The advent of new lures and equipment has improved success for anglers fishing from the bank. Savvy anglers, who study bass patterns, continue to catch nice fish, with or without the new gadgets.

SUMMER. After spawning, largemouth bass move to weed lines, lily pads, boat docks, and deeper edges of submerged vegetation. Early morning, late evening, and overcast days produce the best shallow-water action, while midday fish often hold in thicker cover. Water temperatures warm considerably in Summer, so bass feed shallow, early and late in the day. As the day warms, they are typically caught in 8 to 15 feet of water. During Summer, keep an eye on the thermocline to determine the maximum depth to fish, as there is very little oxygen below the thermocline. Largemouth bass here feed on threadfin shad, gizzard shad, small sunfish and crawfish. During the hotter parts of the day, they are typically caught on points, channel edges, and ledges 12 to 15 feet deep. Drop shots, and wacky-rigged stick worms often catch finicky bass when the bite is slow.

FALL. Cooling temperatures bring bass into shallower water as baitfish become more active. Fish feed aggressively around remaining green weeds, docks, and channel mouths before winter. When Fall arrives, bass here will follow schools of baitfish into coves and shallow bays where crankbaits, swimbaits, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits have been successful in prior years. In early Fall, anglers typically have success in 4 to 12 feet of water, around points and shallow flats leading to deeper water. Mid to late Fall they convent rate in 8 to 12 feet of water. As deeper water cools, bait and bass move out to ledges, channel edges, points and humps. Here flutter spoons are often the ideal bait in 12 feet of water, or deeper. Some of the larger bass will seclude themselves away from the school, often in slightly deeper water.

WINTER. Largemouth bass become less active and hold around deeper weed edges, channels, and submerged wood. Slow-moving presentations are most productive. The cold of Winter will isolate largemouth around deeper structure, flats, points and creek channels. Water temperatures are usually in the 30's to low 40's, and bass can be found near the bottom, or suspending from 12 to 20 feet deep over deeper structure. In January they may move as deep as 25 feet. Bass often move a bit shallower on warm, sunny days. Also, some of the larger bass will isolate away from schools. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring. Slow presentations with drop shots, jigs, spoons, finesse worms, or lipless crankbaits are often the key to getting bites.

SPRING. Spring is the premier season for largemouth bass. Pre-spawn fish stage along weed edges before moving shallow to spawn. Following the spawn, bass remain shallow while feeding aggressively around emerging vegetation. When water temperatures rise into the low 60's, largemouth move from deep wintering holes, to shallower water near spawning areas. Vibrating jigs, crankbaits, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits are typically get bites just away from the shoreline. In early Spring they feed aggressively in about 2 to 10 feet of water, and prepare for the spawn. Once water warms into the mid to high 60's, they will move into 2 to 6 feet of water, and create nests, then lay their eggs. Immediately afterwards, females move to deeper water and males remain to guard the eggs, and then the fry. After a couple weeks, the males also move to slightly deeper water, around 8 to 10 feet deep. Anglers report good topwater action from mid Spring through Summer, especially early in the morning, and on cloudy days. Deep-diving crankbaits, vibrating jigs, drop shots, plastic worms, jigs, spoons, and swimbaits catch bass when they are not shallow.

Current Fishing Report: Good

Bluegill are a primary food source for predator fish here, as well as a fun fish to catch.

SUMMER. Summer is prime time for bluegill fishing. Fish remain around weed beds, lily pads, docks, and spawning colonies, with larger 'bull' bluegills holding slightly deeper after each spawning cycle. Following the spawn, most of the bigger bluegill migrate to deeper water, around 4 to 12 feet deep. They prefer rocky or weedy areas, often hanging out on steep, rocky banks where they can move up and down to feed without having to travel a great distance. Small spoons, underspins, and mini-crankbaits are catching some of the bigger bluegill. Earthworms also catch good numbers. Early and late in the day, anglers catch them in 1 to 6 feet of water.

FALL. As water cools, bluegills school along healthy weed edges and basin transitions. Larger fish often gather around remaining green vegetation and submerged wood. Cooling, Fall weather drops the water temperature in the shallows and bluegill move shallow to feed, around the edges of weedlines in 6 to 15 feet of water. Steeper banks, and shallow weedy areas with drop-offs, are hold bluegill this time of year. Later in Fall, as the shallows get colder, bluegill will move out to 10 to 15 feet of water, in many of the same areas.

WINTER. Bluegill remain active beneath the ice and are one of the Barbee Chain's most popular winter targets. Schools hold over deep weeds and basin edges and bite best during stable weather. Early in Winter bluegill were being caught in 2 to 6 feet of water. Cooling shallows have now driven the bluegill back to deeper cover. In Winter, they are often caught around weed edges. In areas with no cover, anglers typically find them around drop offs, into even deeper water. Ice fishing, in water ranging from 10 to 20 feet deep, will be the next fishing opportunity for anglers. Small pieces of worms, and other baits worked slowly, tends to get the best results.

SPRING. Bluegills move shallow as water warms, with excellent fishing before and throughout the spawning season. Males build colonies of nests on firm sand or gravel bottoms and aggressively protect them. In early Spring, bluegill migrate from winter holding areas toward the shoreline areas, and are typically caught around 2 to 8 feet deep. As the water warms to the mid 70's they will begin the spawning ritual, building nests in 1 to 4 feet of water. Many of the bigger bluegill prefer to spawn a bit deeper, depending on water clarity. After the spawn, bluegill drop to 5 or 10 feet deep. Small spinners and swimbaits, or jigs tipped with small pieces of nightcrawlers are good choices for catching a lot of bluegill in Spring.

Current Fishing Report: Good To Very Good

Black crappie are being caught using new technologies, reducing the amount of time it takes to locate schools. Forward-facing sonar is allowing anglers, fishing from a boat, to locate schools and focus fishing time on areas with good numbers of crappie. Anglers fishing from the bank still have to search via test casting, until a school is located. Then, they are catching them as anglers have for many decades, before the new electronics became available. Light tackle, with 4 lb to 8 lb line, is a popular choice.

SUMMER. Following the spawn, black crappie move to deeper weed edges, submerged brush, standing timber, docks, and channel structure. Fish commonly suspend around cover, especially during bright daylight, and become more active during early morning and evening. Water temperatures get quite warm, and crappie fishing is usually pretty good. They feed in 8 to 10 feet of water early and late in the day, until the hot Summer sun causes them to retreat to depths of 12 to 18 feet. Also, a few have embedded in the shade of slightly shallower vegetation. This is a good time to focus around brush piles, standing timber, deep lay downs, bridge pilings and deeper docks. Some of the best fishing is early morning, late evening, or night. Anglers are also locating schools of crappie hanging over deep structure and around creek channel edges, using fish-finder electronics.

FALL. Fall is one of the best times to target black crappie as cooling temperatures concentrate schools around brush, weed edges, and channel breaks. Crappie feed aggressively before winter. As Fall begins cooling the shallows, baitfish, move into shallow flats, coves and bays, which draws crappie into these areas. They will be feeding heavily in preparation for the cold Winter, in 6 to 15 feet of water. Minnows, hair jigs, and crappie jigs, are good options during this feeding marathon. Late Fall which turns the shallows cold, starts pushing crappie deeper, toward winter holding areas. Small flutter spoons, fished in 10 to 12 feet of water, are a good option during this transition. Good results typically come around points, creek channels, and brush piles.

WINTER. Crappie remain active throughout winter and are among the most sought-after species during the ice-fishing season, which can be excellent. Fish for schools over deep basins, submerged timber, and weed edges. The water temperature drop into the 30's and low 40's. The shallows turn cold, causing crappie to migrate to deeper holding areas, mostly off shore. Typically they are caught using a very slow presentation, in 12 to 22 feet of water. Most are caught around creek channel bends, submerged timber, deep brush piles, and main-lake structure. Good reports often come from anglers targeting standing timber and brush piles. When they suspend in open water, they often relate to some cover, or structure change, directly below them. During warming trends, especially warm afternoons, they are drawn into slightly shallower water to feed.

SPRING. Spring is the premier season for black crappie fishing. Fish move shallow as water temperatures reach the upper 50s, concentrating around brush, shoreline wood, and emerging vegetation before and during the spawn. In early Spring, crappie begin staging in 12 to 10 feet of water, just outside spawning bays and shallow flats. Spring is prime time to be on the water, as both black crappie and white crappie have moved shallow to spawn. At that time, they are typically caught in 2 to 6 feet of water. Vegetation, docks, brush and wood are where most anglers catch crappie using small crappie jigs or live minnows. After the spawn, crappie typically move outside the spawning area and hold on cover close by, in 8 to 15 feet of water. Once they move out of the shallows, anglers report success using fish finders and forward facing sonar to locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around cover.