Classic springtime fishing commences at Lake Eufaula

Right ingredients coming together for shallow-water patterns at EverStart Eastern

EUFAULA, Ala. – A Southern lowland impoundment in the month of April, full-pool water level with stained water color, water temperatures in the middle 60s – that’s how the scene is setting up for the EverStart Series Eastern Division event on Lake Eufaula this week.

Toss in a fantastic forecast featuring plenty of sunshine with highs in the 80s, and we are talking classic springtime bass fishing.

Spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, jigs, shallow-running crankbaits and soft plastics will all be plopping into Lake Eufaula’s shallows today as 200 pros and 200 co-anglers beat the bank in search of bass.

Where the bass are in the their normal spawning cycle is a bit uncertain. Just as bass were making their first beds in March, the Southeast was inundated with heavy rainfall and Eufaula’s water level shot up 3 feet with an influx of muddy water.

As the water receded, the first week of April brought another dousing of heavy rain, which pushed the lake over full pool for a second time.

The lake is just now settling down from several weeks of high water, leaving some pros wondering where the fish are in their springtime spawning cycle.

“It’s been pretty tough on me,” commented pro Andy Morgan. “The lake looks beautiful – it’s full, stained and there is a lot of cover in the water – perfect for the way I like to fish, and I have yet to catch five keepers in a 12-hour day of practice.”

Pro J.T. Kenney, who is currently leading the FLW Tour Angler of the Year race, said he is getting some decent bites, but they are few and far between.

“I’m just happy to put the fairy rod away and get the big stick back out,” Kenney said of his tackle transition from the Wal-Mart Open on Beaver Lake to the EverStart event on Eufaula.

“I’m back to doing my thing,” Kenney added. “Hopefully, I’ll have just one rod on the deck all day.

“Of the fish I’ve caught, I can’t really tell where they are in the spawn. They don’t look skinny and roughed up the way postspawn fish should look.”

It should be interesting to see what patterns emerge over the next four days in the springtime showdown on Lake Eufaula.

Wednesday’s conditions

Sunrise: 5:59 a.m.

Water temperature: 67 degrees

Air temperature: 49 degrees

Expected high: 77 degrees

Wind: forecasted from the NNW at 10 to 20 mph

Day’s outlook: sunny