Mid-South fishing report for April 16

Pickwick Lake: Guide Clagett Talley 731-607-5266 says you can catch a lot of bass in shallow water, using a Strike King Red Eye Shad in the backs of main-lake pockets. Talley has also been catching quite a few on Strike King Series 3 Crankbaits around bluffs and rocky banks. Largemouth bass have been more common above Pickwick Dam, while smallmouth bass fishing has been good below the dam. Most smallmouth anglers below the dam are using live shiners. You can still catch a lot of white bass below Pickwick Dam on small white grubs and Strike King Series 3 Crankbaits. Fishing has been good from the dam to the Shiloh area. Stripers are starting to show up around the dam, and a few have been taking crankbaits and spoons. The best striper fishing is still about two weeks away. Catfish are starting to move into shallow areas to spawn. Lots of cats are taking nightcrawlers fished 3 feet deep beneath a float around rock bluffs above and below the dam.Kentucky Lake: Guide Steve McCadams 731-642-0360 says lots of crappie are spawning in 1-3 feet of water, but many anglers are still having great success around middepth structure in 8-12 feet. Fishermen are doing especially well casting with jigs or using slip-bobbers to slowly drag jigs and live minnows over the structure. Bass are already moving into the shallow weeds and pockets preparing to fan their beds. Some very big females are being seen along the shoreline. Anglers are still having success with a variety of lures, including crankbaits, spinnerbaits, Carolina-rigged lizards and suspending jerk baits. Topwater lures and floating worms should be popular soon as male bass begin aggressively protecting females on bed.

via Mid-South fishing report for April 16 » The Commercial Appeal.