I know it is early but does anybody know what the lake temp is right now?

What is the earliest anybody has caught crappie up in the sticks?

I am thinking about trying earlier this year being how it has been a warmer winter.

Lake is about a foot lower than last April, wtr temp at 51 this week.

What do you think Sandwich? Does it need to be around 55 before some of the big males move into the brush. I do not remember the temps last year, due to gearing up for waders etc. Need a few good afternoons this year and my waders handy.

Yeah, Mike, I think JB is probably several weeks away. It will take warm nights to get the temp up in the upper 50's. There should be some really big fish caught this year, if last year was an indicator.

I'm going out this friday to see if anything has moved up yet. I'll keep ya'll posted on my findings.

What do yall normally use for bait at JBT? Artificials or minnows. I am gettin the itch bad and want to get out and try my luck.

Minnows are ok, but you have to haul them in. No places to by them by the lake. The best by far is to use jigs. Good colors to start with are anything in Black, Red, or Pink. Last year I had good succes on red and white beaver tails.

You will need a small boat, waders, or float tube. Get out into the standing stickups and find the crappie. Just a couple of weeks more good warm weather, and they should begin to move.

I just called the Landmark Cafe out by the lake and they are still open and will have fresh minners in the morning. Leslie said they ran out last weekend, but they are stocking up right now for this wonderful upcoming weather. The Landmark is on Hwy 350 where you turn to go into the southwest side of the lake. It's an easy stop on the way if you're headed to the main park and boat ramp. She also serves some great burgers!

By the way, minnows have worked pretty well around Rocky Point in the past. Just FYI.

Ketchum25 do you know what time the Landmark Cafe opens and if they will have any minnows tomorrow? We will be coming from Big Spring(350)and I was wondering if we will run into the store before we make the turn on to 1298?

Do you have the phone # to the cafe handy.

Thanks for the help

I thinks its still 423-965-3234

I don't know when they open for sure. But I drive by there once a week and they are always open. They are at the turn off to Vincent I believe. Well before you get to the lake road. They don't carry a lot of stuff but what they have is good. And he is right the burgers are pretty tasty and it is a lot cleaner than the old place that was on the Northeast side of the lake toward Ira. Seem like good folks to me.

I am pretty sure she opens up early. I nearly know they serve breakfast. It is at the Vincent turnoff. That is where the area locals hangout for a coffee shop. I have 2 kayaks and a bass buggy, so I should be able to get there. My problem is I don't know the lingo for the lake. I know where the ramp is and the park on the other side of the dam. I guess I need to go out there this weekend and give it a good look.

At the concrete ramp.........look toward the dam. First long point usually holds fish. There are a couple of smaller points past the 1st one and they will have some pre-spawn fish on them. Looking left from the ramp, big cove called Game Warden cove. Will be good for spawners, too early now. From the ramp again, out to the lake and left is the big island with "sand island" tied on it's south end. If you can fight the wind to get to the big island, there is good structure (shallow and deep) all around it. If I was going out there now, the island is where I'd spend my time looking.

Landmark opens @ 6 on weekdays & 7 on the weekends. You better get there early. With this great weather we're having, they might run out again by Sunday. Check out my website devoted to JBT to see some of the hotspots amd locations around the lake.


http://pages.suddenlink.net/jbtfishing/_sgg/f10000.htm