Time to re-string the reels for Spring fishing on Bull Shoals Lake! The water level is down about 7 ft above normal this spring, around 651.7 ft. (Normal pool is 659 ft above sea level for the spring). Great water conditions right now! All species are good to fair after the cold snap we had last week. Surface temp around K Dock dropped about 5 degrees to around 50. This weekends temps should bring the fish up chasing shad in the shallows. White Bass are really starting to surface around the K Dock area! Crappie should start to hit soon. No big numbers yet, but that will change soon. Have seen a lot of 12 to 14 inch Crappie being caught in nearby coves! Boat ramp is accessible and courtesy dock is available, free of charge. Can’t wait to see all of you at the dock this weekend!
Water Level – 651.7 and rising
Water Temp – 50 – 53 degrees
Water is Clear to Stained
Black Bass – (Large mouth, Spotted Bass and Small Mouth) – Good to Fair on a Wide Variety of lures. The A-Rig is still a favorite with the water temps in the low 50’s. Many catching bass on small crank baits such as Wiggle Warts, Rock Crawlers and Bombers. Spinner Baits with small willow blades when windy. Small to medium Jigs 1/2 or smaller on the steep rock bluffs and points. And any type of Finesse plastics off the points and bluffs.
Crappie – Good to Fair on Swimming minnows on the sand flats and brush piles. Small plastics in the colors Pink and Chartreuse have really been working around brush piles in the nearby coves! But, Live Minnows and a bobber are perfect this time of year!
Walleye – Fair to Slow – Not a lot of reports coming in on Walleye trolling right now. Horrible weather conditions last week. Look for the shallow bite to start with the water temps coming up. Troll with small crank baits such as Hot n’ Tots or Flicker Shads around the 5 to 7 size. This time of year, you may troll to find large Walleye along the steep rock bluffs feeding on Crawdads after the spawn. Great time to hit a monster crappie while trolling with a small crank bait! Better reports of walleye coming in from Beaver Creek towards Powersite Damn area.
White Bass – Very Good – We finally have some shallow water to fish around K Dock!!! Tie on a Lipless Crank Bait and hit the flats! The Whites will be everywhere when we jump a few degrees in surface temp! Your choice of soft or hard bait is up to you when they start busting the surface!!!
If you have been on this lake in the past 10 years, you know that it’s been rare to see these lake conditions in the spring! If your new to the K Dock area, stop in the store on the weekend. Ill give you some tips on where to fish, whatever game fish your after! (Notice – Fishing Tips May Vary depending on the State your from. Ha!)