Lake Parker

Bluegill (bream) are still biting on crickets and red wigglers but will slow as the water temperatures continue to fall. Many anglers have switched to black crappie (specks) for the cooler months. Specks can be caught by drifting live Missouri minnows or trolling with Hal flies and small spinners over open water, with chartreuse, pink, and white being great color options to use. Specks can also be caught while fishing from the pier in the southeast corner of the lake by the power plant. Florida Bass can be taken during the cooler months on live, wild shiners around submersed vegetation in open water when you see them feeding on shad and around any shoreline vegetation. Try flippin’ the vegetated areas with plastic worms and crawfish baits in Junebug, black and blue, and red shad colors. As water temperatures drop in the winter months use this technique in areas that the sun has been shinning on. The sun will heat up the vegetation which will then heat up the surrounding water. It may not seem like much to an angler, but to a Bass, a one-degree change in temperature makes a world of difference when it comes to feeding time. Bass can usually be caught in the canals around the power plant due to warmer water temperatures than the rest of the lake. The “hourglass” on the northeast end of the lake offers deeper water with a ring of vegetation which holds fish year-round. Spawning starts as early as January, and continues through April, this will be your best chance to find lunker bass. Try flipping your plastic worms in and around cattails and bullrush (buggy whips). Be sure to make multiple casts in these areas during the spawn as the bass may need a little extra convincing before they will eat your lure. Catfish can be caught on chicken livers and commercial stink baits. Tight lines!