Lake Parker

Bluegill and Redear (Shellcracker) fishing should really start to pick up as water temperatures rise. Fish can usually be caught on crickets and red wigglers around shoreline structure. With water temperatures climbing, black crappie (specks) catches will begin to slow. Try drifting live Missouri minnows or trolling with Hal flies and small spinners over open water, with chartreuse, pink, and white being the best colors to use. Specks have been caught while fishing from the pier in the southeast corner of the lake by the power plant but should slow as we move into the early summer months. Catfish can be caught on chicken livers and commercial stink baits. Largemouth bass fishing has been good this spring and should continue as the water temperatures rise. As bass spawning slows, anglers should capitalize on the “post-spawn” bite as the larger females feed to recover from their spawning event. Bass can be caught on live wild shiners below a cork or free-lined. You could also try flipping plastic worms in Junebug and red shad colors in and around cattails and bulrush (buggy whips). Finding submerged vegetation and throwing topwater baits, bladed jigs, and swim jigs can also be productive. The “hourglass” area in the northeast corner has deeper water with a ring of vegetation which holds fish year-round. And don’t forget, if you catch an 8+ pounder, submit your catch to TrophyCatch! As of February 2024, there have been 58 approved TrophyCatch submissions of bass larger than 8 pounds caught on Lake Parker since the program was launched in October 2012. Good luck out there, and tight lines!