I would like to have some of the experts thoughts on what is happening this year. On Eagle Mountain and also on other lakes the males are setup on the slopes and humps and ready
to spawn but not many females showing up. In years past the males would show up and a week later the females would show. Plus mostly small males. I had a two boat trip yesterday
and caught over 200 fish and there were maybe 50 keepers in the bunch. This has been happening for three weeks. reading the forum seems to be happening on the other lakes.
Every day seems like a few more females and the larger males are showing up but I don't remember it being this slow for the females to show. Lake is full 68 to 70 degrees. There is lotz of catching but they sure
are small . I have been having a lotz of kids and they love it but seems differant this year. The longer I fish the less I know. Throw your throughts out there.
Johnny

Sure wish I knew the answer as to why this is happening, but not any help. Same scenario on Richland Chambers with huge schools of fish but majority below 10" lately. A month ago we were catching large fish loaded with eggs & sperm so I assume they may be still up the Creeks. I guess like someone said on one of my posts recently that "It's a late Spring and it's changed the timeframe fish spawn and migrate back to the Main Lake". I haven't seen it quite like this that I can remember in the 25 years I've been fishing on RC.

The last few trips we've had to catch around 300 fish to get a 75 fish limit.

Sure makes things look good for next year and I'm guessing that any day we will be talking about how good it is in May & June!

Have a good one!

My only guess is the rains are messing them up. About time they get situated to spawn in an area that they like, their surroundings change.
I don't know if the answer is to go where they were last week or the same depth that they were last week.
I do know that it will calm down in a few weeks and we won't have this problem. Other problems, sure. But not this one.

See my pervious post regarding Lake Lewisville. Is this a pattern except worse at some lakes or hopefully a really late spawn.

I think all of the area lakes have an abundance of water coming in from creeks and rivers and most lakes have the gates at the dam open, so water is always flowing thru even when it is not raining. I think this holds the fish in the creeks longer. Usually it rains, the creeks run for a day or two and then stop. Then the fish start to migrate out to the main lake area. With constant water flowing from upper lakes letting out water the creeks just flow every day and hold the fish there.

I agree with Gene but would add this theory - the many rain events we had this winter caused many more fish to leave the lakes to spawn leaving extremely few in the lakes. This was the worst winter fishing since I started fishing winters here at Cedar Creek. Normally, sufficient fish remain in the lake for me to find and catch them on structures through January and February, but not this year. So, I believe far more fish left the lakes and the continued running water, as Gene says, is keeping them up the creeks and rivers. What I don't have a theory about is why such a large majority of small fish are back in the lake first. Another thing that is different this year at Cedar Creek is the heavily stained water . I believe the last time that happened here was the winter of 2009-2010 (maybe 2010-2011) and it was a late start on the white bass fishing that year.

Thanks guys it is interesting to hear other peoples thoughts. i just hope we have females to match up with all the males we have hanging out right now.
If we do our population looks good.
Johnny

Water level fluctuations ,water conditions (stained to muddy ), huge barometric swings, shifting high winds due to cold front then warm front to name a few. Fish that spawn still eat , high winds that push plankton all over the lake also push bait all over the lake.

Sand Bass will spawn in the main lake but prefer water with current opposed to wind driven water.
PK sand bass fishing can get tough just like you described in the spring.
This fish just are not there. There up river or in creeks were our larger boats can�t go.

During our fish kills at PK most of the fish were killed by GA. The sand bass recovered quickly (first) without stocking.
They were not in the lake when the kills happened. They were up the River or creeks.

They will be back soon.

Lots of fish Randy but mostly males for two weeks.

Buchanan is off this yr as well. Hoping spring things get back to normal

There are tons of fish up the creeks. I got out yesterday from 10 am to 2:30 pm and landed 86 sandies on the flyrod. Chart and white clouser was the ticket to catch sandies . I could see fish swimming all around me. When i would catch one 3 more would try to take the lure away. At the rate the rain is coming in the spawn may keep going until middle of May

Know that about creeks. I am talking on main lakes. But thanks for the info. A bridge across river at my lake and can't get up in my boat.
Lotz of fish up creek on my lake and lotz of males on lake just not that many females.
Johnny

Johnny,

I think a more accurate theory is I finally got my boat working and have been able to get out more. The result is the big ones see my boat and leave.

On a serious note, I have seen and caught more yellows this year than ever before. Could the increased populations of yellows be affecting the whites?

As stated by myself and many others on numerous posts this spring. Yes, the fish generally stay up the creeks longer after a spring with uninterrupted heavy flow. This year is a prime example.

However, there are plenty of mature solid keepers to be caught on all lakes right now. They are very shallow and have been for some time.

Unusual weather requires adjustment in technique. Fishing tournaments prove this. There is always someone on quality fish, even with the rest of the field struggles.