December 30, 2008
LAKE RAY ROBERTS FISHING REPORT
Lake Ray Roberts is a little over 2 feet lower than normal level with water temperature today 46 degrees. Color is stained in most areas of the lake now. Not much to report on largemouth bass fishing. When the water gets this cold on Ray Roberts the bites are few and far between so my fishing is mainly for white bass until we have some warm spells that warm the water up.
White bass fishing is good on Lake Ray Roberts in the winter and these fish are on a strong winter pattern. In water this cold the fish will spend a lot of time laying right on the bottom of the lake and are hard to see on your electronics. Using at least a 4x zoom you can see them most of the time. It is not unusual to find them laying right on the bottom and then they will not bite in the cold water situation we have now. We keep moving, looking at spots that hold fish, until we find active biting fish. If you are persistent and patient you will get on a good winter time bite. Feel is very important this time of year and a sensitive rod and line is critical. We are using Castaway 7' light action popping rods and 12 lb. Silverthread copolymer line for maximum feel of the light bites we get in winter fishing. Presentation of the bait is also a key in cold water fishing. In 46 degree water a couple of short hops of the spoon and then picking it up 6 inches off of the bottom and dead sticking it is working pretty good for us. We use a Cotton Cordell CC Spoon 3/4 oz. chrome with a Flies-By-Night fly tied 14 inches above the spoon to catch most of the fish now. Dead sticking a soft plastic bait a foot off of the bottom this time of year will get some bites also but the jiggin spoon and fly are the best producers. We are concentrating on humps, points, roads and ridges from Isle du Bois State Park to the hayfield on the east arm of the lake for most of our fishing. Have a Happy New Year and give me a call or send me an email if you want to do some winter fishing on Ray Roberts. Below is Tracy, Jeff, Bennie and Leroy on 12/29/2008 with 100 sand bass we caught that day.
Happy New Years,
Tim
