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Like its sister lake, Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley is well known for panfish action in the form of bluegills and crappie. However, while fishing there we discover its other panfish, the whiskered wonder. 

Catfish are probably the ultimate “pan fish”. They are the most popular eating fish across the country, enjoyed by millions of Americans. 

Damming of the Cumberland River formed Lake Barkley. The 40-mile long lake runs parallel to Kentucky Lake a few miles to the west. The lake itself is about 80,000 acres with little development along the shoreline. Much of the shoreline is the property of the TVA or the State of Kentucky. The water level generally reaches a maximum in late spring and early summer. It declines until late fall and then levels off for the winter months. 

Fishing with a local favorite, a jigging pole some nice catfish are caught everyday. Jigging poles are a 12 foot, very light rod, with an ultra light open-face spinning reel.  Some people actually use a converted fly rod. Without actually fishing for catfish, you can catch them with the light jigs and plastic grubs in dark colors. Baits that are more traditional are best.  Baits such as minnows, cut shad and nightcrawlers work well for catfish. 

The ultra light gear works well and provides excellent action that is both challenging and productive. Unlike the usual summer pattern of fishing early a.m. and late p.m., fall fishing requires action during the midday. The fish seem to be more active during the late morning and early afternoon warm up. Live green weeds near deep water are a good location to find fish. The green weeds provide oxygen in turn attracting baitfish. The catfish are attracted to the baitfish. 

Catfish action is usually good throughout the lake. In fall, more fish seem to be closer to shore. In most of the lake, catching catfish is more of an underwater structure game. Locals look to the downstream points of islands, creek intersections and the main channel ledge. Along the main channel, one can try vertical jigging with a slip bobber in about 15 feet of water.  Use such tasty items as chicken livers, cut bait and stink baits. With the current of the lake, scent given off by stink baits covers a large area attracting catfish from a long distance. 

The catfish taken from this lake are very clean and make excellent meals for the table.

The idea is to have the total experience be a positive one.  Then the young ones will want to come back again and might even be willing to bring you with them. 

For more information about this event, contact the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Visitor Center at Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge.  The telephone number is 618-997-3344.  The center is located at 8588 Route 148, Marion, Illinois 62959. 

Free information regarding motel accommodations and points of interest is available from Williamson County Tourism Bureau, 1602 Sioux Drive, Marion, Illinois 62959 or by calling 1-800-GEESE-99.  Information is also available online at visitsi.com, the Williamson County Tourism Bureau website.  Their e-mail address is info@visitsi.com.

Catfish season is upon us.  Fishing for Channel Catfish is the most basic of angling pursuit available to anglers.  It is as simple as a hooked worm on a line attached to a stick, or as sophisticated as spinning gear a space-age composite rod and crankbaits.  It is the choice of those who spend a lot of money and those that do not.  The one thing both have in common is that they must find the fish. 

Everything about catfish patterns relate to their search for food.  They eat almost everything in their environment.  By using slack water ambush points they conserve energy until some food comes their way.  They relate to brush, cutback banks, and rip rap for their eating and spawning activity. 

Anglers often fish for channel catfish using natural baits like: cut shad, cut herring, night crawlers, minnows, shrimp, chicken liver and turkey liver.  In other times of the year, prepared baits (stink or dip baits) are popular. 

This time of the year catfish feed actively and attack anything that invades their territory as they spawn and guard the nest and young of the year. 

Look for structure. During the day fish seek deep water away from shore.  As the water cools they move to the flats and shallow water structure. 

In areas that were once part of the main channel probe structure that is closest to the current.  In backwater areas look for the current to boil.  Anchor upstream of the boil and cast to it.  The fish are tight up against the structure. 

On rivers with wing dams look to the outside of an eddy at the end of a wing dam.  Fish like the wing dams because there is less current for them to fight.  Dams that have been silted in are less productive due to the catfish’s love of clean hard bottoms.  A damaged wing dam can create two current breaks, one at the end and one where the break has occurred. 

In lakes or reservoirs fish tend prefer the old main channel as it brings food to them.  Look for structure in current areas.  By looking at the shoreline one can often find old roadways that lead right down into the water.  In the water, the rocks and blacktop of the old roadway provide structure.  Additionally roadbeds lead to old farmsteads.  They provide old building foundations and more structure. 

Electronic fish locators are good for finding structure.  Catfish like clean bottom and structure like rock and hard surfaces.  In looking at wood structure remember catfish want current. Look for wood usually in the form of trees.  The bigger the tree the more fish will hold near it.  Smaller fish feed on the outside of the tree.  Larger fish will be down in the lower branches. 

Big cats are in deep brush or an exposed root system at the base of large trees.  Just move up into the brush and jig the bait down to them.  Go after them and yank ‘em out.  It is important to position yourself so you can get the fish out of the brush without getting hung up.

The slow rolled spinnerbait cruised through the water bumping off stumps and other submerged wooden structure. Suddenly, from the darkness appears a streak that snatches the bait and heads for parts unknown. This scene repeats daily on Little Grassy Lake in the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge near Marion, Illinois.

Beginning with early spring, Little Grassy Lake has great bass fishing.

The lake takes its name from the creek that formed it. The lake was built in 1940 as part of the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge. It is located about eight miles south of Carbondale, Illinois just off Giant City Road. The shoreline of the lake is about 36 miles, with an average depth of 27 feet and a 90 foot depth in the channel at the spillway. The lake is four miles long and one mile wide. The shoreline is wooded and rocky and provides some of the most beautiful scenery in the state. Most of the adjoining land is under lease to church, school and youth groups, but the lake itself is the property of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The lake does have a moderate amount of standing timber, good shoreline rip rap, and assorted vegetation. Known for big bass in the past, the lake did have a problem with fishing pressure in the early 1980′s.

Largemouth bass inhabit in ponds, lakes and reservoirs of Illinois, as well as some rivers and streams. It is essentially a lake bass. Coloration can vary, but they are usually dark green on the back and becoming lighter green on the sides.

Bass generally build their nest in water of about 18 inches to 3 feet depth. Nevertheless, they are as deep as 15 feet. They tend to spawn when water is 63 to 68 degrees in temperature. As youngsters, they feed on zooplankton. Later, as adults, bass eat small, swimming animal life. Fish make up about 60 percent of their diet. Crayfish are an important part of their diet.

Anglers take bass using natural baits including such things as minnows, crayfish, worms, hellgrammites and frogs. Any artificial bait that imitates the above is a good bet. A local favorite on Little Grassy Lake is the plastic worm fished Texas style (weedless) slowly over the bottom around submerged trees and other heavy cover. Early morning and early evening are the best time to seek bass. The most consistent producing times are the two hours just before sundown.

The average life span of a bass in Illinois is about four years, with few surviving more than 8 or 10 years. A four year-old fish will average 13 inches in length and weigh about a pound and a quarter. A nine-year old fish will weigh about 5 pounds and be approximately 20 inches in length.

In addition to the bass, Little Grassy Lake contains good populations of catfish, crappie, bluegill, and rock bass.

From Lake Michigan salmon to catfish in the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, anglers of this state find that crayfish is a fish’s Sirloin steak.

Crayfish, crawdad, or crab, they are all the same. Virtually every freshwater body of water contains them. Fish found in the same water eat them with delight.

Homeowners often find crayfish in small mounds of mud the shape of volcanoes in their well-groomed lawns each spring.

Scientists tell us that although often thought of as aquatic animals, these mini-lobsters will often live in burrows for their entire life. They are a burrowing subspecies from the more commonly seen water species. A cousin to the lobster and shrimp families, there are about 22 species of crayfish in Illinois.

These land based critters need only to keep their gills moist in order to survive. In spring, this is no problem due to frequent rains. As summer wears on there are periods of prolonged dry spells. To survive during this time, crayfish will burrow down into the ground to the water level and manage to keep their gills moist there.

As they burrow, the mud seeps to the surface and forms a mound around the mouth of their den opening. Most of this digging happens at night. Warm humid nights are the most active.

Often the mound is smashed down. This does not hurt the crayfish. They can continue to live in the burrow. They are able to tolerate very low dissolved oxygen levels. A crayfish can live in such a burrow for eight to 10 months without coming to the surface.

Each burrow is different. Some will be near water on a shoreline. Others will be many yards away from any surface water areas. Some will connect to ponds and ditches. Others will just go straight down to the water level. They can go down 10 feet. They will have secondary lateral passages as another exit. The secondary passages will be about half that length. They move a lot of dirt.

Most species of crayfish are omnivorous. That is, they will eat virtually everything. Some will eat only vegetation. Nevertheless, most will eat insects, grass, vegetation, earthworms and anything else they come across.

All crayfishes are edible but some taste better. The burrowing types tend to have a smaller tail muscle because they are not always swimming around.

One way of fishing for the crustacean consists of lowering a piece of meat into the hole on a string. The crayfish grasps the meat and is reluctant to give it up. Raise the bait slowly to the surface and carefully remove the crayfish.

Another sure fire way to catch crawdads is with a minnow trap. It is the easiest to use. The trap is a wire mesh cylinder with an inverted cone at each end. Place bait inside. The crawfish crawls into the open end of the cone and cannot figure how to get back out. The bait is usually any type of cut up fish or cat food.

Want to do a little fishing for crayfish? Try placing a piece of fish or worm on the end of a fish line and lower into rocky areas of a stream. Dangle it between rocks and in crevices. The crawfish takes hold and can be gently reeled to the surface.

Crayfish are kept alive for a long time by storing them in a cooler between layers of wet newspaper. Just alternate the layers of crayfish and layers of newspaper to keep them wet. Store them in a refrigerator and use as soon as possible.

For those needing to be stored for prolonged periods freeze them. By freezing only the tails one can store more in a limited space. Freeze them quickly while they are still fresh. When thawed the meat will still be firm and stay on a hook.

Small crayfish can be fished whole. Just hook them through the last section of the body, just in from of the tail. Some people remove the claws and hook the crayfish through the ridge just behind the head. Either method seems to work.

Many anglers just like to fish the tails. They pinch off the tail at the first segment and then peel the shell. Impale the meat on a small hook. If it looks too soft to stay on the hook, try boiling the tails first. Boiling tends to firm up the meant.

Rigs for fishing with crayfish tend to vary according to species and water conditions. Split shot and bottom-walking rigs are popular on a hard bottom body of water. On a soft bottom anglers tend to use jigs. Both methods require fishing the bait slowly.

For the most part, the weight of a crayfish is enough to get it down to the desired depth if a light line is used. If using a heavier line, some weight may be required.

Panfish anglers tend to use a slip bobber and fish the crayfish so that it dangles just over the top of the rocks or other bottom structure. They often like “peelers.” Peelers are crayfishes that have shed their outside shell. As crayfish shed their shell in order to grow, they are without their shell for a day or two. Refrigerated at about 40 degrees, the process is delayed by halting the hardening process for 10 to 12 days.

Fishing with crayfish tends to increase angler success. It is not as challenging as artificial baits. However, if one is willing to put out the effort and stand the smell on his hands, then it is the way to go.

A lack of underwater structure in Crab Orchard Lake, makes fishing the shoreline shallows a must. Largemouth bass are a species that relates significantly to structure. To catch Crab Orchard bass work the shallows.

Crab Orchard Lake is the largest of three lakes within the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge near Marion, Illinois. It is about a six-hour drive south of Chicago via Interstate 57. Created in the 1940′s, the lake is shallow and does not have a lot of timber. The standing timber was cleared prior to the original flooding. Some trees have fallen into the lake from the shore due to bank erosion.

A significant portion of the Largemouth population is larger than the 15-inch minimum size limit. Growth rates for bass remain good due to lake productivity and abundant gizzard shad. Annual supplemental stocking of both threadfin shad and bass has contributed significantly to the fishery.

There is some structure within the lake in the form of rocks, stumps, floating logs, brush and changing bottom structure. Most ground pounders rely on a combination of weed edges and wood when fishing the shoreline. The more shallow the areas the better they bite. During hot weather, fish are in depths of four to 12 feet. The water is fertile and green to brown in color. This is due to 60 percent of the bottom being clay.

Bass are opportunistic feeders. They do not like to travel any further than necessary. Fishing the shallows can be very rewarding, especially if it is near deep water.

Crab Orchard has a number of bank fishing areas with the best known being Wolf Creek Causeway. The causeway divides the lake with a long dike composed of steep riprap banks. Fishing is good there all year around. There are a number of brush piles and man made structures in this area. Fish relate to them.

Another good area is the riprap along Illinois Route 13 as it crosses the lake between Marion and Carbondale. The area has a number of fish cribs, placed there to attract game fish. The wooden structures are excellent places for baitfish to conceal themselves from the larger predator bass.

Largemouth are found in the western end of the lake. They like the wood structure in the coves of the northwest part of the lake as well as the stumps and American Lotus pads of Grassy Bay. On the north side of Route 13, largemouths like the brushy shoreline of Long Neck and Cambria Neck.

All of the larger necks offer good weed growth. Successful ground pounders work the weed edges and some sort of wood along the shore lines. Emergent water willow and stands of cattails are throughout the lake. Pondweed is the most abundant submergent species.

Crab Orchard is a user fee area. A permit is required and it is available at theVisitors Center on Illinois Highway 148 just south of Old Route 13. Fees collected provide repair of and improve roads, buildings, campgrounds and trails. It also pays for exhibits, educational programs, natural habitat protection, guided walks, hikes, and other visitor activities including visitor safety and protection.

Bass fishing with jigs is a tried and true technique for the bass angler with a boat. Shore anglers are beginning to use more with success by fan casting.

There are a number of types of jigs on the market. The little finesse jig with its smaller profile are popular. Some people think that the only place you can use them is in clear water situations or rocky lakes. They work well in stained water as well.

It is just a smaller profile jig with thinner wire hook and weed guard. The finesse jig requires lighter line. Anglers usually add a small crawfish or small chunk. Staying with basic colors of brown, pumpkin or green/pumpkin enhances the natural look of a jig. Because crawfish are a basic food for bass, the trailer helps to make the jig appear like one. Staying with the 1/4 ounce to half-ounce size it is possible to go with 3/8 ounce is best.

Bigger jigs that have been popular for years still work. Some people call them Bubba jigs. The best technique in the summer is to punch the jigs through the grass in 8 to 15 feet of water. One usually uses a one and one quarter ounce jig with a big craw on it. This rig has proven itself year after year.

Many people lack confidence in the jig as a bait. Pros recommend that one stick with the basic colors of black, blue, brown and pumpkin. It is good to try to develop a feel for the jig whenever you go fishing.

Confidence is a key to jig fishing. If you lack confidence, the only way you will get it is by using the jig. You might not get a whole lot of bites the first time. However, if you just experiment and keep trying eventually you will have a day with a bunch of bites. That builds your confidence. You have to develop a feel for it.

When fishing in grass, use the jig on braided line. If fishing in wood or grass then the fluorocarbon line is best. It is a lot more sensitive than monofilament line.

Swim the jig around wood type cover. Many people too often fish the jig only on the bottom. If fishing a lay down in a river, try using a 3/8th ounce jig and not let it hit the bottom. Just swim it through the branches. Fish like to suspend in such areas.

The urge is to throw into the branches, allow the jig to fall to the bottom and then bring it back to the boat. Keep it swimming through the branches for those suspended fish. Larger jigs have more buoyancy than the smaller profile jig. You can also put a larger craw on it.

Some people tight line a jig. They do not let the jig fall naturally. When fishing a jig on the bottom toss it to the bottom by allowing a slack line. Do not lose contact with the jig. It will fall more naturally than letting it fall with a tight line. If you feel something heavy on the line set the hook. If hoping it immediately releases more line to the jig. The idea is to let the jig fall naturally. It comes with practice.

Sometimes fish just want the jig on the bottom. If that is the plan then do not use a lot or rod movement. Crawl the jig along the bottom. If you are not having any success with that bring the rod from the nine o’clock position to 12 o’clock and hop it. If the fish really want it way up off the bottom then you can continue to a 3 o’clock position. It is a reaction strike and it is something you just have to play with to see if they want one on the bottom or higher up.

Another technique is swimming the jig around boat docks. Many times after the spawn, fish will suspend around boat docks. Target the foam. Look for the dock or marina that has foam around it. Use a light jig because the fish are feeding on shad. Fish the jig like a spinnerbait around that stuff. You just cast up there and hop it back with a swimming action. Keep the jig just under the water as you would a spinnerbait working boat docks.

If fishing a chunk or craw on the back of the jig, try adding a rattle for sound. It can really make a difference.

If one takes a Rattleback jig and shakes it in his hand it makes a lot of noise. However, if you put it in the water it does not really make a whole lot of noise. If you put the rattle in the plastic trailer, it makes a lot of noise due to the movement of the plastic.

Another change in a jig is to create a small profile jig by trimming the skirt. You can vary the weight of a jig by thinning the trailer or skirt. It is possible to take a half-ounce jig and make a 3/8 ounce jig out of it by trimming the skirt and thinning the trailer. Trim the skirt about a half inch below the hook.

In cooler weather, stay with dark colors.  In hot weather, move to the light color jigs and skirts. Although browns are good, the pumpkin colors work well in summer. Pumpkin/green and watermelon work well in the summer. Black/brown/amber catches fish in summer. Camo jigs will work in summer.

The jig is a popular lure. One can use it throughout the year. It really shines in the cooler months. You can fish it from a half foot of water to 30 foot deep. In summation, if you want to be an above average angler it is a bit of tackle that you really need to add to your arsenal.

Most Midwestern and southeastern anglers begin their fishing careers by catching one of the catfish species from the lowly bullhead to the larger flathead, channel or blue cats. It is truly America’s fish. Catfish inhabit large rivers, impoundments, creeks, salt water or fresh. They are everywhere!

I began with bullheads in a creek near my home in northern Iowa. It has become a life long love affair with the whiskered wonders.

Channel catfish are probably the most popular single species of fish for eating and catching. Almost every angler with whom one speaks has a theory on how to fix catfish bait and where to find the big ones.

Catfish anglers are probably the most laid back and comfortable anglers. They tend to like a leisurely time. The rigs are simple with a weight and hook on a line cast into the probable location.

A long slender fish, the channel catfish is a pale blue or greenish above and whitish or silver below. Although similar in size and shape to other catfish, the forked tail and black spots on the side identifies the channel cat. Popular with aqua culturists, they are very suitable for fish farming operations.

Channel catfish reach a keeper size of 12 to 14 inches by their third or fourth years. This age class is generally the best eating fish. The largest fish reach at length of 40 inches and a weight of 30 pounds. Larger ones do exist but they are rare and usually constitute record class.

Channel catfish tend to seek out clean water with sand, gravel or rock bottom. A nocturnal feeder, channel catfish spend most of the year hidden in cavities or lying in deeper pools during the day. They move to shallower water to feed during the nighttime.

The external taste buds of the catfish are located in the four pairs of barbels or whiskers of the animal. These bottom-feeding senses of taste and touch are more important than its sight. While moving across the bottom, they feed on fish, insects, crawfish, mollusks and some plant material.

Cast the line, and then prop the rod up on a forked stick sunk into the bank. Other variations on this theme work from boats or on shore. The basic technique is common to all fishing for channel catfish.

Bait used for catfish is either live or dead and can range from minnows to leeches, crayfish, catalpa worms, leaf worms, red worms, frogs and cut bait. Some people will use chicken or turkey livers.

For the most sophisticated catfish angler there are patterns to fish. One of these is especially popular on small rivers and streams during summer.

Ground pounders wade and fishes live bait. The pattern involves fishing the bait below a slip float and allowing it to drift downstream over the larger holes, washouts, undercut banks, beneath brush piles and other dark hideouts.

The idea is to present a natural presentation of the bait by allowing the current to drift the bait in a natural manner. The bait is set so that it floats just a few inches off the bottom. Good baits for this kind of fishing include minnows, grasshoppers, crayfish and nightcrawlers. These are natural forage for the catfish usually swept away into the current during rain or flooding.

During periods of overcast or drizzle, channel cats cruise the flats in search of food much as they do at night. Fishing in such conditions calls for a 3-way rig. One of the swivels attaches to the line that goes to the rod. The second swivel attaches to a drop line of about 8 inches that has a heavy sinker on it. The third swivel goes to a line of about three-feet in length and has a hook on the end. The bait on the hook floats off the bottom and present either a minnow or leech in a natural looking presentation.

Cast upstream, allowing the bait to wash along the bottom and fall off the edge into any holes. Catfish will often be waiting in ambush.

Another pattern for the ground pounder is looking for a point of land or a large tree that has fallen into the water and is blocking current. Often fish are in the eddy hole behind the current break.

It is a good idea to remember that catfish love cover. They will hold around rocks and stumps in rough areas. Once one sets the hook, the fish will do his best to break the line. It is a good idea to use a tough line of at least 12-pound test and the same color as the water. If seeking larger fish, try one of the braided lines with more strength.

Tough line helps prevent the sandpaper-like teeth of the catfish from wearing or weakening the line. That can cause a beak at the most inopportune time. A high quality tough line will allow the angler to fish around rocky, stumpy underwater terrain.

Catfishing is a great way to spend the day or to introduce someone new to the sport. It provides action and good chance of success with a great dinner in the evening. With some of these tips, anglers can fish more rivers and streams closer to home. It will increase quality time on the water for young and old.

Catfish can be caught with a variety of rigs.

For the angler in search of some great catfish action, the southern tip of the state the place to go. Locals fish for them using all sorts of gear from the jugs to salt-water bait casting reels. Here are some of the better locations for catfishing.

 Part of the tradition of the south is catfishing in the summer. Southern Illinoisis part of the south. After all, Marion, Illinois is actually south of Louisville, KY.

Crab Orchard Lake – This time of the year the best bet on the lake is the catfish action. Crab Orchard is accessible from Interstate 57 at Marion. The lake is a sprawling shallow body of water found on both sides of Route 13 about four miles west of the city.

Mid-May the cats will be spawning in the shallow water. Leeches, cut bait and cheese baits all produce fish. Keep the later two on ice as they are susceptible to spoilage. Caught fish should also be iced rather than kept in live wells or on a stringer.

To the south of Crab Orchard Lake on Spillway Road in the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge is Little Grassy Lake. Little Grassy Lake is a heavily pressured lake this time of the year with the recreation canoe and kayak crowd using the lake during the daylight hours. However, for the angler willing to get out early in the day, catfish are around the points taking red worms, chicken livers, crickets, minnows and night crawlers.

Further to the south, down in Alexander County, is Horseshoe Lake where anglers drift night crawlers along the bottom in the evening. The action holds up throughout the summer. Try the middle of the lake during the night.

To the west of Carbondale, in Jackson County is Lake Murphysboro. This lake is next to Kinkaid Lake, famous for its Muskie fishery. In Lake Murphysboro, catfish action is also good in the evening but morning hours produce fish as well. Late in the summer, try fishing at night. Night crawlers, cut bait, minnows, leeches and stink baits work well.

Up north of Marion in Franklin County is Rend Lake. The lake straddles Interstate 57 at Exit 77. Rend Lake is a large reservoir that is full of bragging size catfish. The action remains excellent in 3 to 4 feet of water. The best action comes in the coves and along the riprap. Fish take cut bait, worms, crickets, leeches, and shrimp.

This summer may be just the time to explore the south, southIllinois that is! As the old song goes, it is summertime and the catfish are jumping.

Clear water with shoreline weeds and an abundance of submerged wood makes for a blue gill factory. Devils Kitchen Lake is well known for its magnificent scenery and lack of fishing pressure.  As the water warms, anglers find this southern Illinois lake teaming with bluegills moving into the shallow coves at the south end. 

By casting into the woody areas in about two or three feet of water fishermen find plenty of action. 

This member of the sunfish family is a sucker for crickets on a small wire hook.  Later on we have to plumb the water as deep as 18 feet. 

The number three most popular fish inIllinoisis the bluegill.  It is surpassed only by largemouth bass and channel catfish.  In fact the bluegill is the official state fish. 

Bluegills do best in lakes or ponds containing clear water with some submerged vegetation.  This lake has all that in abundance. 

They prefer lakes with simple fish populations.  Lakes with shad and carp populations tend to have small bluegill populations.  Devils Kitchen is basically a bass, shell cracker (redear sunfish), bluegill, crappie and trout lake.  Each of these species tends to move into their own habitat during the year and do not conflict with one another. 

The closest competition is between the shell crackers (redear sunfish) and bluegills.  They can be found in the same water but will be relating differently to the structure.  Bluegills relate to vertical structure and shell crackers to horizontal. 

Early in the year, shell crackers will be feeding on the bottom of shallow coves.  The bluegill will be slightly deeper and seeking food in the weeds or along vertical tree trunks.  Later, they can both be found on the same submerged tree.  Bluegills will relate to the vertical trunk and the shell cracker on the outstretched limbs. 

Some good locations for early season gills are area “17″ in the southeast portion of the lake.  Another is the Panther’s Den area at the south end of the lake.  It has tall bluffs and deep water. 

This lake contains lots of bass.  The hungry bass eat enough to control the numbers of bluegills.  With controlled numbers in place the forage is not over utilized.  The control of bluegill populations also means a population of healthy bluegills. 

Due to the unusual water clarity light clear line is advisable.  If using a float, one that is small and light is preferable to the traditional large bobber.  Lightweight wire hooks come in handy as they can be pulled loose from submerged wood.  It is important to periodically check the point of the hook as they dull or break from time to time.  The hooks should be the size appropriate to trout fishing, a number 10 or 12 hook works well. 

Natural bait is best for bluegill fishing.  Crickets or one inch piece of nightcrawler works well. 

Bluegill fishing this time of year involves finding the beds.  During the May and August spawns, Bluegills tend to give a kind of moderate effort at reproduction.  During the June and July spawns they make a strong effort.  The spawn in each of these months consists of those five days on either side of the full moon. 

A good way to pattern the spawning beds before actually fishing them is to scour the shore making notes of the locations of beds in eight feet of water or deeper.  The clarity of the water makes this a simple task.  It is best done between 9:00 A.M. and 11:00 A.M.  Polarized sunglasses and a baseball style cap make seeing the beds easier on the eyes. 

Once a half dozen beds are located, return to the first one and begin fishing it.  As the fish move off a bed, move to the next one.  By the time all the beds have been fished it is okay to begin the cycle over again.