Catfish:We just planted another 1000 pound of Catfish on Friday, July 31. The catfish have been very active in the boat dock cove area. Anglers have had the most luck fishing from pier 1 and 2 this past week. A 12 pound catfish was caught off pier 2 on 7/31. The bite continues to improve with warmer water temperatures. Considering that catfish are primarily bottom feeders, setting up your rig with a weight that allows you bait to sink near the bottom will generally render good results. Catfish prefer bait with the strongest scent. Cut up mackerel or chicken liver and shrimp are typically the preferred bait of cat fisherman. Catfish have a limit of 5 at this time.

Bass: Small top water lures have been working very well recently. Drop shot rigs have also been a suitable choice. An 18 pound bass was caught June 30th on a Huddleston swim bait in the trout cove area of Dixon Lake. Largemouth bass tend to stay in deeper water on hot summer days. The bass will progress into shallow water in the late evening thought early morning. The aquatic weeds are very abundant now and have created new habits for the bass to reside in. Largemouth bass can typically be found in shallow waters and are likely to be swimming under something that provides shade such as vegetation or a dock. In water bodies that contain aquatic vegetation you may find some advatntage to use slightly heavier line. This time of year you may also see good results when using swim baits and other action style baits. The fish tend to become more agressive while defending their bass fry. Boat dock cove is still a promising location for bass. Just reminder, bass must be atleast 12 inches to keep with a limit of 2 at this time.

Bluegill: Meal worms and red worms have been the best choice of bait for bluegill in the recent week. Using cut up night crawlers for bait is also a good method. The bite has significantly picked up with the increase in aquatic vegetation. The piers and shorelines are providing good locations for catching bluegill now that the vegetation has developed in the water. Bluegill are limited to 25 of any size at this time.

Trout: Out last trout stocking took place on March 4th. Any remaining trout are primarily going to be in deeper waters throughout the summer. In the early morning hours you may find a trout in the shallow water or Trout Cove and Boat dock Cove. Anglers seeking trout have been having the most luck fishing near the buoy line from a boat. A two pound test set up with a 12” to 18” leader is recommend. Mini jigs and power bait were the primary choice of bait for angels this past season. Chartreuse colored power bait did well in Trout Cove. The trout catching limit is 5. No Catch & release of trout.