Black bass are in the deeper natural structure and the deep water pockets off the rivers and creeks. The cold fronts dropped the water temp even more and the fish are relating to sharp drops and heavy cover all over the lake. With the cold water, these fish feed less often and usually deeper. Sharp drops instead of slopping areas are easier for the fish to move up and down. They do not expend a lot of energy in cold water. The 1/2 ounce Stanley jig with the #11 Uncle Josh pork trailer is the one of the best winter time lure. As the fish get colder they will have to be coaxed into striking these baits. The more the fish see the bait the likelihood of drawing a strike increases. Warm fronts that come into the area can draw the bass to shallow cover in stained water up the rivers but this week is will not warm up at all. Downstream points at the mouth of Taylor Creek hold some good cold weather fish. The water is stained and the fish can move up on a warming trend. Larger fish can grab even a full one ounce jig around any cover. Spoons in and over the deep trees in the middle of the major creeks are holding schools of bait fish as well as bass. The Hopkins spoons and the Sidewinders are good for the winter spooning and use 12 or 14 pound Stren line on stiff bait casting rod. Cast to this bait into waters from 2 to as deep as 19 feet around wood, docks and even rocks around ramps and bridge pilings. Black and brown combinations will work and the best presentation is slow and fish it deep. Any wood that is in the water on the deeper points and creek bends can hold bass but the trick is to get baits deep into the structure. The jigs and a heavier Texas rigged green or smoke colored worm can work.
 
Spotted bass are deep and they are tough to find and even tougher to catch. Ten fish in a day is a great day as the fish are not feeding due to the cold water. The body almost shut down at the temp and making them bit is a tough call. With the fish deep almost all the action has been in the afternoons. Brush and any kind of cover are keys and there are also some spots biting on manmade brush on the deeper banks. In the cold months fish travel only short distances for food and fishing in the heavy cover as long as possible increase strike possibilities. Zoom’s natural green and the green pumpkin worms in the finesse styles are being used on a Texas rig. A Bitsey Bug jig in browns and blacks are fair and use the smaller #101 Uncle Josh trailer. Dark colors are best in the deeper waters and stay with light 8 pound test lines on spinning reels. A 6 foot rod with a medium tip will allow soft strikes to be felt and don’t wait to set the hook. Use the standard 3/16 ounce weight and add a small green or red bead to create the clicking sounds. Spots are curious and will come to investigate. The #1/0 Mustad hooks are strong and but light enough allow to fish to take the worm. Also drag a Zoom all white Super Fluke over the bottom like a worm. Add a pencil lead into the Super Fluke and dip the tail in a red or chartreuse dye. Fish the bait just like a worm. Drop shot rigs and a relay short leader no longer than 5 inches will tempt a spot.  

Stripers have been slow all week and the fish are scattered lake wide from the dam all the way past Little Hall Park to the mouth of Gainesville Creek. Live bait and down lines are worth a try but trolling has been the ticket all week. The blue backs are roaming both shallow and deep so keep looking at a wide variety of depths. Live bait should be on a 6 foot Carolina rig and the heavier weights are allowing the baits to get deep faster. It’s also worth using cut bait for the bank anglers and the ramps on or close to the creeks channels can draw a big fish. When boaters finish a fishing trip many dump their baits out right at these ramps and the stripers can get an easy meal. UP both rivers, the small cuts and coves can have some limited activity and the birds can help. 

Crappie are still not schooling well and even live bait has been slow. Use dark Creme tube jigs and small hair jigs on light line. Slow presentations are the key. Silver Thread 4 and 6 pound test line are very small in diameter and the lines are very strong. The fish can be as deep as 20 to 30 feet and deep docks are holding these fish. Drop these baits all the way to the bottom and work them up very slowly shaking the baits on the way up. Strikes will be light and then line may just go limp. Be ready to set the hook quickly and add some scent on the baits.