Fishing Update 7-24-09

With the cooler temperatures, the soft plastic bite is ruling.  The fish seem a little more scattered with bass being a little shallower than they have been.  There are still fish on the drops in 12 to 14, but the 6 to 8 foot range has produced more over the last few days than in previous weeks.  Texas and Carolina rigged worms in tequila and black red flake seem best.  The schooling is producing early and late and on overcast days.  The Lucky Craft Gunfish and Sammy are working on top. 

Fishing Report 7-20-09

The cooler weather has brought the surface temperature down to the mid 80s.  The bass are still biting soft plastics in 8 to 14 feet of water on the drops.  The best plastics have been ribbon tailed worms and crawtubes in black/red, tequila, and watermelon/red.  There are a few bass being caught on shad colored crankbaits in the same depths.  Topwaters are connecting with some surface feeding fish.  Sammys and Chug Bugs in shad colors have been the best on top.  Early and late still seem to be the best times to catch the most fish.  As always, please send your big bass pics to monticellobigbass.com!

Monticello Fishing Update 7-13-09

Things on the lake haven’t changed a whole lot in the last few days.  The surface temp is still hanging around that 90 degree mark and the off shore fish are still biting.  It seems like early and late are the best times to catch fish.  Mid day fishing has been a struggle with few bites to be had.  Dark worms and jigs seem to be the ticket for bottom relating bass and shad colored cranks are taking suspended fish.  There was a report or two of bass being caught in the pads on frogs over the weekend.  Check out the newly updated Lunker Page.  If you have pics of Monticello bass that you want posted on the Lunker Page send them to us at info@monticellobigbass.com!

Fishing Report 7-10-09

     Over the last few days the local air temperatures have been moderate and the surface temp on Lake Monticello has dropped to around 90 degrees.  The bass are biting worms and jigs in 8 to 16 feet of water.  Dark colored worms like tequila, junebug, and black have been best.  Black/red and black/blue seem to be the best colors for jig fishing.  There are a few bass being caught on crankbaits.  Shad and chartreuse colored flatsides like the Basshunter BH4  and Tight Kicker are doing the job.  The schooling is spotty.  If you are lucky enough to be around when they come up, the Devil’s Horse and PopR will catch their share.  There doesn’t seem to be enough schoolers to pattern.  The lily pads are still holding some quality bass.  Senkos and frogs in the pads are working.  Also, the same topwaters as above are working around the edges of the pads.  As always we need your big bass pics.  Send them to info@monticellobigbass.com.  Also, if you have good hunting or fishing pics from anywhere in Arkansas, we need those too! 

Fishing Report 7-7-09

Fishing Report 7-2-09

Well, the temperatures have gotten a little more bearable.  The surface temps are in the low to mid 90s.  Bass are being caught on points in 6 to 8 feet of water on big worms and crankbaits.  The deeper fish are still biting 12 to 14 feet deep on big worms.  The best worm colors the last few days have been black, tequila, and junebug.  Best crankbait colors have been shad patterns.  Believe it or not there are still some quality bass in the pads early and late.  There are a few topwater fish to be caught on Devil’s Horses and chuggers.  I have had a few requests for bream and crappie reports.  If anyone has a report for us, please send it to info@monticellobigbass.com.  As always, we are looking for big bass pictures.  So, if you have them send them in!

Monticello Fishing Report

6-29-09

Lake Monticello was a little more busy this weekend than in previous days.  More boats on the lake didn’t seem to bother the bass.  Today’s fishing report sounds like a broken record.  Fish are still biting in 12 to 15 feet of water on worms and jigs.  Plum and tequila worm colors are taking their share.  Black and blue jigs seem best.  A little drop shot bite is developing on watermelon and kudzu finesse worms.  There is still a topwater bite around pads and schooling bass.  Devil Horses and Pop Rs are drawing strikes.  Wake baits are also taking schooling fish.  If you can stand the heat, it’s a great time to catch quality bass on Monticello right now!  Bring plenty to drink and try not to over heat! 

Fishing Report 6-26-09

The number of boats on the lake has dropped with hot weather over the last few days and it seems that the bass are picking up.  Early and late still seem to be key times for catching.  Bass are coming out of 9 to 14 feet of water on drops.  Worms in natural colors like watermelon, watermelon/red, and tequila sunrise are working.  Black and blue jigs are starting to catch a few.  The fishing should continue to pick up as the temperatures rise and push the fish into their summertime haunts.  There are a few schoolers surfacing from time to time.  Wake baits in a shad pattern will catch some of these fish.  Good luck!  Remember to drink plenty water!

JUNE 24, 2009 FISHING REPORT

     Can you say HOT boys and girls?  This south Arkansas weather is scorching.  The surface temps, depending on time of day are around 90 and the bass are moving out to a little deeper water.  Early and late in the day have seemed to be the best times to be on the water for the anglers and the bass.  Most of the bites in the last week or so have come out of 9 to 14 feet of water.  These fish are being caught on 8” to 12” ribbon tail worms in watermelon/red, watermelon candy, and black and blue.  There is still some schooling going on, but it is very spotty and doesn’t last long.  Small topwaters and cranks are catching these bass.  We have not received any reports on bream or crappie in a few days.  If anyone has a report, please send them to info@monticellobigbass.com.

     We are looking for hunting and fishing pictures and videos.  If you have some to post send them to us and let us know what area the fish or game was taken.  Obviously, we like Lake Monticello material, but we are collecting stuff from all over the state.  So send em in to get them posted!

Fishing Report 6-20-09

Summertime is here.  The air temp is in the 90’s and the surface temp is upper 80’s.  The bass are in their early summer pattern.  Soft plastic baits seem to be the best bet for bass in the 8 to 12 foot depth range.  Ribbon tail worms in watermelon/red, plum, and tequila sunrise are catching fish.  The schooling seems to be more spotty than in weeks past.  If you are lucky enough to have them come up around you can catch several in a hurry.  The black bass and whites have been running together.  Spook Juniors and Traps are taking the bass that are chasing shad.  There have been several bream fishermen on the lake, but reports have been slow coming in.

 

Fishing Report 6-15-09

Lake Monticello is settling into the summertime patterns.  Surface temps are in the eighties.  There are schooling bass early if you are lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time.  Topwaters and traps have been the ticket for schoolers.  The soft plastic bite is getting better in the 7 to 12 foot depth range.  Watermelon/red and tequila sunrise worms and brush hogs have been taking their shares.  Bream fishing is consistent with good numbers of fish caught.  The big bream have been very spotty, with one here and there.  Crickets and worms have been the most productive baits.  Remember to be careful with the hot temperatures.  Bring plenty to drink.  It doesn’t take long to get too hot!

 

Fishing Report 6-8-09

MONTICELLO FISHING REPORT 5-29-09

Fishing Report 5-22-09

     The lake level on Monticello is still above normal for this time of the year and the bass are biting as well as I can remember for a post spawn condition.  There are lots of bass still shallow and feeding.  Right now, the fish are biting a number of lures in 0 to 6’ feet of water.  Senkos, Flukes, beaver type baits, and floating worms are working like dynamite.  Shallow crankbaits, Spooks, and Basshunter Kill Gills are kicking tail as far as hardbaits go.  The springtime fishing just keeps hanging around.  There are even a few bass still bedding if you are lucky enough to run across one or two.  The lake seems to be full of 3 to 5lbers.  Go get em!

Fishing Report 5-19-09

The Lake is coming down, slowly but surely and the bass are still biting.  There are still lots of cruising bass in the shallows.  The topwater bite is good with several nice bass in the 5 to 6 pound range coming in over the last few days.  Jumpers, Spooks, and Pop Rs are working.  The frog bite is getting better with darker colored frogs producing the best results.  Flukes and Senkos fished near the pads are producing good numbers of fish with some nice bass in the mix.  Black Salties are still catching decent numbers and size.  The redear fishing is good on crickets, jigs, and worms.  The lake is full of redears that weigh a pound or more.  These things will tie your ultra-light rod in a knot!

Fishing Report 5-15-09

The recent spring rains have Lake Monticello well above normal, but the fish keep biting.  The bass are fired up!  There are still lots of bass in the shallows.  Most of the bass have spawned, except for a few stragglers, but cruising fish are everywhere.  These fish can be caught on frogs, Flukes, and Senkos.  The live bait bite is still going with shiners and Black Salties catching some really nice bass.  One thing that most people may not know is that Monticello is one heck of a bream lake.  There are some giant redears coming out of the lake right now.  Jigs, crickets, and red worms are doing the damage on them.  It’s hard to beat the fun of catching bream that weigh over a pound to pound and a half!
 

  Fishing Report      5-3-09

 

     The post spawn phase of the spring seems to be kicking into gear.  There are lots of bass to be caught guarding fry around the pads.  These bass can be caught on flukes, stick baits, and lizards.  There are still some bass on beds, but they are getting harder to find.  If you do see one locked down it is usually not difficult to get it to bite.  The usual bed baits such as jigs and soft plastics in colors that you can see are the best.  Live bait is still catching its share of nice fish in the 4 to 6 foot range.  If anyone has pictures, videos, or fishing reports, please send them to us at info@monticellobigbass.c







 

             Lake Monticello Fishing Report
                          April 24, 2009

     There is a certain time during the spring when the bass are in all three phases of the spawn and life for the angler is good.  That time on Lake Monticello is here!  I, along with a lot of other anglers, was wondering if best part of the spring had come and gone.  After the last couple of days, I can tell you that Lake Monticello is hotter than it has been all year with lots of big girls in the shallows.

     If you want to fish for bed fish, there are plenty of good fish to keep you busy.  Standard bed baits such as tubes, flukes, lizards, and craw worms are working well.  The bass that spawned early are already guarding fry.  The fry guarders are chasing swimbaits and other soft plastics around the pads.  Of course, there are still some bass that are getting ready to do their business.  These prespawners are biting jigs and soft plastics in natural colors like watermelon seed and green pumpkin.  All in all, bassin on Monticello is pretty good!  Good Luck!  

Lake Monticello Fishing Report
April 9, 2009

Lake Monticello seemed a little different this morning.  The live bait bite was on a little better than the previous few days.  We caught several 5 pound class bass, but no big heads.  After we got through with the shiner bite, we went to the shallows to look for bedders.  There were a few roaming the skinny water, but most were skittish and didn’t seem to be locked down.  Hopefully, the full moon will bring another wave of spawners.  We will probably see some amount of spawning activity until early May.  This spring has been kind of crazy with the inconsistency of the temperatures and bass.  The lily pads seem to be a little ahead of where they normally are by this time of the spring. We should start seeing a post spawn pattern developing soon.  All bass do not spawn at the same time so we are sure to go through a time with prespawners, spawners, and post spawners at the same time.  Post spawn time can be a great time to fish for bass as they guard their fry.  If anyone gets on a good post spawn bite let us know.  We want to hear from you!  

Lake Monticello Fishing Report
March 17, 2009

The cooler temperatures are gone and fish are beginning to bite on Lake Monticello.  There are still a lot of fish in the mid range depth of 4 to 8 feet.  There have even been a few bass spotted in the shallows, but still not a dependable pattern.  Crankbaits like the Basshunter BB3 and other square bills have been taking some of these fish.  Earth tone soft plastics and black/blue jigs have been taking their share as well.  The weather forecast looks good and the bass should be on the move in the coming days.  Good luck!