Lake Eufaula, AL
We have finally begun to get some much needed rail and the water level is holding fairly steady. The hot weather makes it really miserable to fish a full day, the bite slows before noon and it’s time to find some air conditioning. The summer thunder storm patterns make it really hit and miss to get back on the water for a late trip. Lightning is not anything to mess with, if you hear thunder in the distance, you can be struck by lightning.
The bass have really seen the pressure this year. Add that to the continuing fronts and you need to work your bait slow and finesse a bite. The shallow bite near cover is short lived on sunny days, overcast skies will buy you a little more time. Frogs, spinner baits, buzz baits and flukes are doing well. Texas rigged finesse worms are a great choice. Pink. Watermelon candy and junebug are working. Strawberry and red shad are also a good choice. Swim jigs with creature bait trailers worked very slow will also work.
When that shallow bite slows and you have been on some fish, ease off shore a little ‘till you locate the first drop. These bass are not going far in this warmer water. Work your square bill cranks, Texas rigs, and Carolina rigs. The same colors hold true here also. Try a darker worm with a chartreuse tail or better yet, use J.J.’s magic. The smell will help get the fish’s attention.
When you move to the deeper structure, The bigger spoons are a good choice if you have located a school holding on the structure. Jigs, are also a good bet as you can keep them on the fish longer. Carolina rigs with big worms worked slow may get a strike. If the fish are suspended, deep crank baits need to be worked through them. Keep your eyes open for any schools feeding near the surface. A lipless crank bait worked under the feeding fish will get the bigger fish.
Blue gills are eating crickets near cover in the creeks. For some reason, all the crickets we are buying this year are very small. Take a few extra when you go, these little ones are east for the fish to steal.
Crappie are holding on the trash piles in 12 to 20 feet. Minnows are what they are eating. Working a Big Bite jig in these schools will also work.
Catfish are doing well on jugs using cut bait. Placing these in the creeks while fishing for blue gills is getting a good variety of fresh fish for the table.
October 15th is getting closer every day.. Visit www.alclassic.com and get registered to fish our 22nd annual fundraising event. We do this to support research for terminal Niemann-Pic disease children and Darby’s Warrior Support where we take post 9/11 combat wounded and PTSD heroes hunting and fishing to acclimate them back into civilian life. This year, Weigh5 is offering $500.00 to a lucky ticket holder. Every entry fee will receive two tickets with their entry fee. Tickets will be available for every one who wishes to support us for a $5.00 donation. We are praying to reach 200 teams. Contact me if you have questions.
We are facing some changes in the way we handle our fish after they are weighed in. We are no longer allowed to release any tournament fish in the boat basin at Lake Point. We will need to have each fisherman take their bag outside the basin and release them back in the creek on the way to trailer your boat. We can also take advantage of what the game biologists have suggested we do to lower the smaller fish population in the river. We can find a church or someone who would enjoy the fresh fish and put them on ice. We hold the key to control having bigger fish on a regular basis if we help to reduce the number of smaller fish.
Be sure and be safe on the water on these hot days. Keep plenty of water with you and use sun screen. Take a youngster fishing, you will build memories that will last their life time. Pray for one another, our police, military,. and their families.
God Bless & Good Fishn’
Capt. Sam
Hawks Fishing Guide Service
334 355 5057
