Lake Limestone Fishing Report

Current Fishing Report: Good To Very Good

Both black crappie and white crappie reside here with black crappie slightly favored.

SUMMER. Water temperatures are currently in the mid 80's, and crappie fishing has been very good all over the lake. Now that the the hot Summer sun is warming the shallows, crappie have retreated to depths of 12 to 20 feet, or more. This is a good time to focus around stumps and deep timber, and around creek channel edges.

FALL. Baitfish, which will be moving into shallow flats, coves and bays, will draw crappie into these areas, where they will feed heavily in preparation for the cold Winter. Small spoons, along with minnows, hair jigs, and crappie jigs, are good options during this feeding marathon. Focus on brush piles and stumps.

WINTER. Once the shallows start cooling rapidly, crappie will migrate to deeper holding areas, mostly off shore. At this time they are typically caught using a very slow presentation, in 20 to 35 feet of water. Standing timber, especially along creek channel edges are prime targets.

SPRING. In early Spring, crappie begin staging in 8 to 12 feet of water, just outside shallow spawning bays and flats. Spring is the ideal time to be on the water, as crappie have moved shallow to spawn. At that time, they are typically caught in 2 to 4 feet of water. Docks, brush, wood and vegetation are where most anglers are catching good numbers using small crappie jigs or live minnows. After the spawn, crappie move outside the spawning area and typically hold deeper on the closest cover. Once they move off the beds, anglers are reporting good success using fish finders and forward facing sonar to locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around cover. Light tackle with 4 lb to 8 lb line is a popular choice.

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 as well. Savvy anglers, who study bass patterns, continue to catch nice fish, with or without the new gadgets.

SUMMER. Water temperatures are in the 80's, so summer patterns are in full swing. Bass are feeding shallow early and late in the day, where they are being caught on topwater, buzzbaits, crankbaits and swimbaits. Largemouth bass here feed on gizzard shad, threadfin shad, small sunfish and crawfish. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught on points, channel edges, standing timber and ledges 15 to 25 feet deep.

FALL. When Fall arrives, bass here will follow schools of baitfish into coves and shallow bays where spoons, swimbaits, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits have been successful in prior years. As deeper water cools, bait and bass move out to ledges, channel edges, points and humps where flutter spoons are often the ideal bait.

WINTER. Winter will isolate them around slightly deeper structure, flats, points and creek channels. They can be found from 20 to 40 feet deep. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring.

SPRING. Once water temperatures rise into the low 60's, largemouth will move from deep wintering holes, to shallower water just outside spawning areas. Jerkbaits, spinnerbaits and vibrating jigs typically get bites just away from the shoreline. At this time they are preparing for the spawn. Once water warms into the mid to high 60's, they will move into 1 to 4 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. Crankbaits, vibrating jigs, plastic worms and swimbaits are catching bass during this period.

Current Fishing Report: Good

The use of new technology is helping anglers catch more white bass. Forward-facing, and side scanning, sonar is currently one of the the best way to locate schools of fish, especially when they hang out in deep water. Once located using these sophisticated fish finders, white bass are being caught by trolling, casting or jigging,

SUMMER. Summer finds white bass congregating in the main lake area, following and feeding on baitfish. They are being caught on small spinnerbaits, curly-tail jigs, underspins, spoons and small crankbaits, depending on the depth of the baitfish.

FALL. Once the shallows cooled from chilly Fall temperatures, large schools of white bass, along with baitfish, have moved deeper and are relating to most structure that includes drops into deeper water.

WINTER. Winter for white bass is a continuation of Fall patterns, except slightly deeper. They are being caught on the same lures, but a slower retrieve works best.

SPRING. Spring is prime time to catch white bass here. White bass start their spawn run once the water temperature reaches the mid 50's, where they migrate to the river, inflowing creeks, tailwaters, or along windy points where they stay for several weeks. Small spinnerbaits, curly-tail jigs, underspins, small crankbaits, small jerkbaits, and most any lure that resembles baitfish, will catch these feeding whites. As the water temperatures continues warming, they move out of spawning areas, into slightly deeper water. Look for them following schools baitfish in 15 to 25 feet deep. Also, watch for feeding frenzies when they chase schools of bait to the surface, and the fishing can be spectacular.