March 31 a few years back was when we caught our 46 lb. striper that got me started doing the fishing report. Since we were not catching so good this week up the river arms of Beaver Lake due to these cold fronts keeping the water temp below 58°, I took Jarede Eahrdt from Wichita, Kansas, to Horseshoe Bend to see if history would repeat itself. Big fish was not another 46 but a good 20-pounder that fought like a 46.
Stripers are shallow so were not adding any weight and just freelining live shad, salties and big shiners behind the boat from 40 – 100 ft. behind the boat at 0.5 mph. Believe the run up to spawn will be in full swing by mid-April if the weather forecast holds true.
We did return home a couple days to fish Holiday Island, boy that water was cold. We got 45° to 46° all the way to Houseman Access upriver so we came back to fish Leatherwood by the marina to find it 56° and the white bass stacked in the back hitting about anything we threw at them.
Find the warmest water you can now no matter what you’re fishing for. If you find it above 56° look for crappie in that shoreline brush 4 – 6 ft. deep also.
Seems the walleye are coming back from the tailwaters to let the whites move in to lay their eggs now. Look for them off the bottom near the flats from Beavertown to the Island.
Well, that’s it for this week, get that tackle ready because we should be seeing some 60°+ water temps by next week and what has not spawned will be wanting to from here on.
Johnson Guide Service (479) 253-2258 www.fishofexcellence.com