Monticello 12/31/2021

I'm way behind on fish reports, fished 4 days in a row and just too tired. Did catch a bunch at Monti, this day, at least 15 but nothing of any size. Must have lost nearly that many as the fish were biting from the start. Been trying out some new baits, ok, maybe not new but baits I haven't used in years that for whatever reason didn't enjoy fishing with as much as other baits I usually throw.

Started out with a jerk bait...first cast with it bingo. Now I remember why I don't normally fish it... too many hooks that are too sharp. Not much bait at the big bridge so paddled on over to the railroad bridge. Lots of bait here.. little shad flickering on top everywhere. Lots of white bass on the graph.. after catching a few and no bass on crank bait.. paddled under bridge and out the other side. Watched bait headed in a certain direction... and paddled on around them and got to where they looked to be headed. Caught a few on 6 inch fringe tackle swim bait on 8/0 owner flashy swimmer.. missed a bunch as the fish were having a hard time gobbling it down and I was setting the hook a little on the too soon side. Switched over to a swim jig.. something I hadn't fished much in years and tore them up. Might have lost a couple in the 3 to 4 lb range but nothing landed any bigger than 2.5 to 3. Was disappointed in not catching any whoppers but there was enough action to make up for size. Beautiful day with very little wind. Should have paddled to the dam and fished deep but I might try that next time. Nothing on deep crank baits but white bass at either bridge. Spoke to a guy fishing from bank at big bridge that told me all I needed to know early... he has been catching his catfish and bigger bass on bream chunks/squares fished on bottom. He caught 3 to 4lbs this day.















Hope this cold weather helps the fishing.

That water looks really calm, makes for easy control but doesn't always help the fish bite.

water was the clearest I've seen it in a long time... those bass were chasing my swimbait a long ways.. saw some big humps follow all the way to boat and a few that chomped as I was lifting out of water.

Another great report and like the pictures from behind the railroad bridge.
Probably thrown a black worm by every stump at least 10 times.
Glad to see there is still some fish in that big pond.

Pads have been taken over by water hyacynth... a lot less water to fish with lower water levels as well.

Iconn4 is the boat ramp and the park at the boat ramp closed? Wondering if you could put in there if you wanted to fish the dam area and also wondering if the park was open for camping. Thinking about going down that way Sunday. Again, love your posts. Thanks.

Benny Hood

Park and ramp are closed.
The only legal launch on the lake is from the big bridge rip rap.
Fishermen lift their kayaks over the railing, then carry or drag it down to the water.

OK, cool. Guess the Bob Sandlin State Park campground isn't that far away.