Water surface temp @ 7am -- 91 degrees --- @ 3pm it had climbed up to 97 degrees.
Water clarity, 24 inches with a greenish look. Good water for this lake.
Blue bird skies
(Wind direction and speed.)
7am -- out of south west @ 5-10mph
9am -- straight out of the west @ about 5mph
11am -- dead calm and hotter than all get out
2pm -- front moves in, it starts to cloud up but still very hot
4pm -- thunder storms producing strong sheer winds out of north east causing 3 to 4 foot rollers to build.

This is why I do not get up early to fish this lake. From 7am to 11am I was not able to find one single bite, not even a tap from a perch. It was so dang hot, my legs were sweating. I almost called this trip, but I just couldn’t leave without catching something. Getting skunked just isn’t my style, but I sure thought I was about to witness one and that is the only reason why I didn’t give up and go home. I had bait balls and fish all over my graph, but these rascals had lock jaw. In that 4 hours I was running and gunning and I had stopped and fished 7 separate areas known to be decent fishing areas. But here is one thing that I have learned about this lake over the years and it will help you others out, when you can not find a bite on the lake no matter how hard you fish, go to the intake area, you will get a bite. So I did just that, went to intake area. From 11am to 4pm, I managed to put 32 bass in the boat, all caught with a 4 inch plastic worm on a T/R set up, fished in 15 to 25 FOW. Pumpkin seed plastic, tipped in chartreuse, sprayed with a little garlic scent worked best for me.
Nothing great about my catch, a few 3lb bass with the average fish being some heavy 2‘s.

For the reason above in my post about the early morning bite is why I normally do not arrive on this lake until 11am or a little later. I can not get on a good morning bite during this time of the year. November, December, March and April are the best months for an early morning bite. When the surface water temperature is around 65 to 75, morning bites are at their best.

Thanks for the report. As soon as I am cleared following back surgery I will be there!

That's odd fishy. I am always there before sun up for that early bite. For me, May - August is when I have my best numbers and size. Location location I guess. I'll be there Saturday morning, but the last few trips I have made we typically have 25-35 by 7 am. It can be a funny lake sometimes. Thanks for the report

Thanks for the report, I haven't decided if I am going to try my luck night fishing Saturday night or show up real early Sunday.

Never night fished Fayette. I bet it's a blast BJ

I think you hit the nail on the head about location. I was thinking the same thing earlier; therefore I've got a find the early morning hot spots if I continue to go early. But this could be an issue since I'm not an early morning person to begin with. LOL But yes, I totally agree with you on this. Location is always the key to a successful fishing trip no matter what time of the day you are out on the water. But it’s been this way for me every since I can remember, so I’m sure this is why I chose to go at later time when I know I can utilize my time better and get bit. I felt like my first four hours out there was a huge waist of time. But look what I learned, I now know of seven areas where they do not like to feed early in the morning. Also looking forward towards your report. Good luck, hope you nail them.

I can not personally tell you what the night bite is like, but I can pass on some information I gotten from two other anglers that have done a little of this night fishing just a few days a go. They said the night bite is unreal. They didn’t elaborate on what time of the night it was at its best, but said it was awesome. So, for what this is worth, I just passed this on. If you do decide to night fish, you will want a launch at Oak Thicket boat ramp. PPP boat ramp is now being closed off to all traffic after 8:30pm. They stretch a cable across the parking lot entrance way, no one in or out. There are some issues going on that they are trying to get a grip on.

Great report and an excellent day of fishing

I might go along with the last five hours of the trip being ok J-Moe. I really thought I was about to get skunked with the way things were going at first. I can not remeber a time that I spent four hours fishing with out one simgal tap. I was beside myself, totally shocked. Then I remebered the intake rule that has yet to let me down, so I packed up and headed that way. I even spoke to three other anglers on the water asking them if they had found a bite that morning and all three told me no. So it was pretty much the same for everyone else out there as well. Those I talked to in the morning high tailed it out of there when it got really hot. The fish may have shut down due to the weather change that was on its way, I have seen them do this before a front arrives.

Thanks fishtx, that helps me decide to go at night! Trying to take my dad out since he had to work on father's day and trying to stay cool. I will let you guys know how it goes.

Bass101, I hope you and your Dad caught some. Next time you take your Dad, PM me and I will fill you in on detail spots where I've been on a bite. With the water on this lake heating up, a bite can be difficult to find right now. When you do find something, the area will be tight, but loaded.

Well we ended up not night fishing and went early Sunday morning and fished until noon. Started deep and bite was slow, looking back we should have started shallow but I didn't want anyone on one of my deep spots. We caught a few off first spot on cranks and worms. Moved to the next spot with little better results and bigger fish but that bite died so tried the dam and caught a few more but bite was slow. Went to a deep point and got on them, I was cranking and dad was worming. After I was putting them in the boat every cast I finally talked my dad into trying a deep diver. As I am explaining how to work it he catches a double on his second cast!!! HA HA HA Well who say's you can't teach an old dog new tricks! We ended up with 60 to 70 total for the trip, I had 40-50 and dad 20-25 we really did not keep a great count because we were having too much fun!

Awesome trip with your Dad. You guys were on them pretty darn good. Much better trip than what I've been having, that's for sure. I like this lake, fish are some what easy to catch, making it that much nicer to deal with the heat while doing so.

Next time I need to PM you and ask you where the fish are. LOL Awesome trip.

Is that a deep diving crank bait? If so, who makes it and what is it called? Nice looking bait. I don't have one that looks like that.