Last month was tough on our area lakes. Cold fronts, wind, and flooding played havoc on anglers most of the month. This month continue to search for catfish in deep holes at the bottom of ledges and channels. On Wilson Lake the fish should be in the mid to lower lake region. Start your search in 50 to 70 feet of water and move accordingly. If the dams continue to generate high flows smaller catfish will be numerous in both tailraces.

For Stripers try casting swimbaits or live gizzard shad in seams below Wheeler Dam. Start about 100 yards below the dam and drift to the mouth of Safety Harbor. Once fish are located, either anchor or shorten your drift to stay with the school.

For smallmouth bass your best bet will be the tailraces and the adjacent waters within 1 mile of the dams. Isolated rock piles and wood should hold a few bass, especially if current flow is strong. For largemouth bass on Wilson deep bluffs with timber and the deeper points should be the ticket. I like to focus on the north side of the lake when the sun is out. On Pickwick, your best bet for largemouth is to head down river. Concentrate on humps, ditches, and creek bends from Waterloo to Pickwick Dam.

For guided trips for catfish, bass, or panfish contact Captain Brian Barton at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..