Fishing Report: Bartlett Lake
A dark cloud, some gusts of wind, and the largemouth bass stopped chewing.
How quickly a bass bite can change at Bartlett Lake.
Gary Senft, a fishing guide with the YouTube channel “Fishing With Gary Senft“, was at the lake Wednesday, March 21 around 1 p.m. Water temperature was 65 degrees in 4- to 6-feet of water depth. Suddenly, a dark cloud crept over the lake, the wind found a high gear, and the lake began roiling. The bass bite shut down.
Two hours later, Senft checked the water temperature: the surface temperature has dropped 3 degrees.
“If I didn’t see it, I wouldn’t have believed it,” Senft said. “I’m thinking, ‘Why’d they quit biting? There’s got to be a reason.”
Guessing the bass had moved a bit deeper with the temperature change, Senft began fishing in 12- to 15-feet of water and switched baits from Texas-rigged brush hogs to Carolina rigged brush hogs and 7-inch Powerworms. He resumed catching hungry bass.
Some anglers might fish right through such an event. A reminder to always be thinking when on the water. Bass can be downright sensitive to changes in temperature and air pressure.
Senft fished the lake Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. He said every day has been a challenge and the majority largemouth bass are not yet spawning at Bartlett. Anglers should use slow presentations with shad-colored crankbaits and spinnerbaits during mornings when bass are staging in 8-15 feet of water. If it’s a sunny afternoon, move to 4-6 feet of water. Bass are following schools of shad. Carolina rigs have been working particularly well with Powerworms and brush hogs. Try Texas-rigged brush hogs, too. Dropshot-rigged Roboworms are always a good option.
Crappie fishing also is reported as good.
For more about spring fishing at Bartlett Lake and other major waters statewide, see our spring Fishing Forecast.
