Wind and more wind have been the theme. Seems like every weekend it’s out of the North, East, or South Fri-Sun every weekend. It’s been almost impossible to fish the same areas on back-to-back days because the wind changes 180 degrees. Water temps have been from mid-60s to mid-70’s over the last several weeks. The water has been stained to flat out churned up and muddy from wind/rain/carp. I’ve been doing all my fishing above the island so I can’t speak to the lower end of the lake.

Earlier this year it was all about the shallow crankbait bite for me. That started to fade out when all the slimy moss started to grow/bloom all over the lake. It made it about impossible for treble hook baits. That’s when the chatterbait bite picked up and has been the dominate pattern for me until the last few weeks. Some areas of the lake have been holding more fish consistently than others. I have been able to duplicate the bite in most of the areas I’ve tried. However, you still must cover water to finally hit a section that has some fish. Other areas likely areas are either beat up by the wind, carp or gar, so it makes it tough to fish. Laydowns are your best bet but anything that a fish might be bedding or staging next to is worth a cast.

As more fish move up on or around beds the wacky senko has become the most productive tactic over the last couple of weeks. Find bays or protected areas that have harder bottoms. Most of these fish are just deep enough where you cannot see them. You have to blind bed fish. Cast to light spot or likely bedding area next to a bush or laydown. The bite is subtle. You will feel some pressure like your hung up on some grass, but your line will be swimming off. If you do get a bite, slow down and saturate the area. I am catching multiple fish in these areas. Sometime on the next cast to the same spot.

The senko bite seems to pick up for me around noon once the sun gets up and the temps start warming up. I usually leave them biting in the late afternoon.

Many of the boats I am seeing are probably on top of the fish as they are trying to fish shallower than where most of the fish are sitting. With the lake rising I was expecting to find them shallower but it’s not happening for me. Same for the buzzbait and/or frog bite. It should be taking off. However, I am only getting maybe one bite per trip.

The shad spawn started a couple of weeks ago too. However, I cannot get a bite chasing it. I’ve been fishing areas lined with birds or actively spawning shad and nothing to show for it. Typically, anything you put in the water will get bit in those areas. Heck, I haven’t even run into the sandbass yet.

I’m not sure if the water temps, water level or carp are causing some of grass to start floating around. It’s not the slimey stuff but it still makes it tough to fish without fouling your bait. Speaking of vegetation, I am seeing pond weed starting to grow in quite a few areas. That should make for some decent habitat once it starts to get hot.

I’ll be off the lake the next 3 weeks due to kiddo’s graduating and other family obligations. It will be interesting to see what’s working when I get back on the water in June. It might be 110 by then.

Solid post and fish. Good job.

Great stuff

Great stuff! I like you have seen the similar patterns. Good to know it's not just me stumbling onto something on a whim.

I specifically went to a little lake on Friday to fish different patterns / tactics. When I got there I tried everything else. Then finally picked up a chatterbait, located some fish then started calling my shots with a wacky senko. Deja vu...

I spent Saturday morning for a couple of hours trying to force that new flooded stuff frog and buzzbait bite to work and only had two blow ups and one of those was a gar for sure. Good report, thank you!

I find that Roberts turns on June - November for top water. Basically only when you see the shad balls rolling.

Two years ago I had a fantastic buzz bait bite for several weeks, early April, 55 degree water temps. I do agree that normally, topwater gets good when summer finally settles in. I was hoping with the rain it would come a little early, I love to catch big fish on a frog!