Fishing Update 3-9-10
The 70 degree temperatures we have had the last few days are quickly warming the surface temps on Lake Monticello. The afternoon surface temperatures range from upper 40s to upper 50s depending on area of the lake. The bite is changing every day with some really nice bass being caught over the last few days. Cranks, soft plastics, jerkbaits, and shiners are still ruling the bite. Bed fishing is near. If you haven’t used a pair of quality sunglasses to sight fish, you don’t know what you are missing. Check out the area’s best selection of premium glasses at The Vision Center here in Monticello. Give Dr. Ferguson a call and he can fix you up with Solar Bats, Wiley X, Oakley, or just about any other type of quality shades. Need prescription Solar Bats? He can do that too!
Fishing Report 3-7-10
Well, the weather has been wonderful with warming air temperatures. The surface temp at the lake is warming (50-52 afternoons) and so is the fishing. It’s not prime time yet, but it’s coming soon. There are several different patterns taking respectable numbers of bass. Nice bass are being caught on watermelon seed soft plastics in 6 to 12 feet of water. Crankbaits in the same depth range are taking some nice bass. There is a jerkbait pattern going if you can keep the whites off of them. Last but not least, there are bass being caught on magnum sized shiners. Good luck and be courteous to other anglers as there will be lots of boats on the water in the coming weeks! Send us your big bass photos and videos at info@monticellobigbass.com.
Springtime is around the corner with surface temps already in the mid to upper 40s depending on time of day. The bass are staging hard for the spawn. Crankbaits in 8 to 12 feet of water have been the baits of choice. Slowly worked soft plastics Texas and Carolina rigged are also taking bass. Lizards and 2K Craws in earth toned colors have been the best. Overall, afternoon fishing seems to be better with the warming temps. Fishing will only improve over the coming days. The fishing we dream of is on the horizon!
Fishing Report 3-1-10
AHAF Headed to the Classic!
Arkansashuntingandfishing.com is going to Birmingham! AHAF will have a retail booth at the 2010 Bassmaster Classic Show. Featured in the AHAF booth will be River Bottom Lures and Basshunter Baits along with some other new stuff. There will special show prices on everything! Come on by and stock up at booth #3409!
Great Bassin’ Right Around the Corner
It’s cold outside and the surface temp on the lake is horrible, but it is not long til there will be fish biting and long lines at the boat ramp. We are almost to the middle of February and in just a few short weeks the bass will be heading to the shallows. Usually, by mid to late March, the bass are in some phase of the spawning process. Right now, there are a few bass being caught on jigs fishing very slow around the drops. Black and blue ½ to 9/16 ounce jigs have been the best. Live bait fishing should pick up soon!
GREAT MARINE EXPO!
Over the weekend we worked at the River Bottom Lures/Basshunter Custom Crankbaits booth at the Marine Expo. We had three great days of talking to fellow anglers, swapping stories and selling fishing tackle. I would like to thank all the people that came by the booth. We had a great time! I hope to see some of you guys at the Classic!
Update 1-25-10
The fishing on Lake Monticello has been slow for most. There has been a report or two of anglers catching good sized bass on live bait during the milder days we have had over the last week or so. Other than that, there are a few being caught on black and blue jigs and brown jigs in the deeper water. During our show, lots of people asked when the fishing will get better. The answer to that question is up to Mother Nature. Prime time for Lake Monticello can begin as early as the middle of February or can begin as late as mid to late March. It just comes down to temperatures. Hopefully, it won’t be long!
RBL 2K Craw Is a Hit!
Earlier in the year, River Bottom Lures introduced a new bait to their lineup called the 2K Craw. “ The 2K has been our hottest seller all summer. A lot of guys are flipping it in these shallow lakes down South, but they catch a ton of smallmouths up North too” said Brandon Gathright of River Bottom Lures. The 2K is a versatile bait in that it can be used for swimming, flipping, Carolina rigging, as a jig trailer, or any other way a soft plastic bait can be used. The 2K Craw currently comes in 10 different colors: watermelon/red, black/red, black/blue, green pumpkin, green pumpkin/red, Alabama Craw, blue sapphire, watermelon seed, junebug, and Big Weave. Check out the 2K Craw at Winston Outdoors in Sheridan and Razorback Marine in Pine Bluff.
