Matt Freeman

Recently, I was out driving around the lake and as I was going to where I needed to go I realized something. We live in a really beautiful place.

The mountains, the clean air, the small town atmosphere, we are very blessed. I feel that way every time I wet a line or take a hike or just go for a nice drive like I was. Best of all, good fishing is not a very long drive away, there are so many great fishing spots here either in town or really close. I remember as a kid I walked to the lake from my parent’s home in Lakeland Estates. I caught so many trout and pan fish sometimes I did not want to leave the lake and go home, well at least until my mom drove down to find me!

Here is what has been biting around here. Lately, the crappie has been really starting to turn on around the lake. There are some big slabs out there if you can get through the little ones and boy do they eat good. I spent Saturday morning catching them, and Sunday watching football eating them. Nothing like Crappie fish sticks.

Fish deep, slow and look for structure. Jig a Kastmaster or other shiny lure with some kind of fish attractant around and look for the subtle bite, which is a crappie inhaling the bait. Crappie Jigs work great too, but you need a bit of weight to get deep. Live minnows are awesome to use as well they are a lot of fun and you have a good chance of catching multiple species that way.

Sometimes, you can catch much more than just a Crappie like these folks at French Gulch Marina did when I was fishing there last weekend.

Bass have been slow with the weather patterns, but they are there down deep and trust me if you hook one you will know. Trout are biting in the lake and river.

Target large pools in the Upper and Lower Kern, and Auxiliary, French Gulch, Main Dam and Rocky Point for trolling or from shore.

Trolling is slow but steady and the shore bite is pretty good. There are some big ones out there. Cats are biting very well in the deeper water from shore or a boat.

With cats in wintertime, if you find the river channel, you find the fish. Use something stinky and be patient, they have to find the bait. Once they do, you can get a mess of them.

Until next week, tight lines and loose drags!