Submitted by Brent Nelson, Life Outdoors Unlimited Guide Service

Date Fished: 4/3/2005
Water Clarity: 0

April Report

Water Temp: Upper 40's to 50's on warm afternoons Look for the backs of coves to warm up faster then the main lake, with some waters hitting 60 degrees especially if the water is stained. Water

Clarity: Main Lake Clear to slightly stained, Stained in the backs of up-lake coves.

Not all the bass are doing the same thing this time of year on Deep Creek Lake.. Look for the aggressive hungry fish to make short sojourns to the back ends of quickly warming coves in shallow muddy water. White Bigmouth spinnerbaits are good here in and around wood. When fishing open water in these backyard haunts, try rattletraps or suspending jerkbaits. The majority of bass including both smallmouth as well as largemouth are packing up and getting ready to make their move to the back of spawning coves. Look for these fish now in proximity to the front entrances to spawning coves on vertical banks. Suspending hard jerkbaits are prime lures now and we prefer the LuckyCraft pointer 78 in the Ghost Minnow pattern. White Bigmouth spinnerbaits are also good slow rolled down vertical banks and ledges. Watch your temperature gauge closely and look for under water springs nearer the steeper bluffs leading into coves. These springs can be fish magnets this time of year due to the warmer underground water temps. Mizmo tubes and spider jigs dragged slowly down the banks will produce fish. The guides find the afternoon hours to be much more productive after the water warms so don't be in a big hurry to fish the lake early in the day. As docks go in, largemouth bass will gravitate and suspend under them.

Pickerel are prolific and shallow near emergent grassbeds They are hitting jerk baits and also slow rolled Bigmouth spinnerbaits.

Crappies are cooperating nicely on shallow wood and certain select docks especially in the North Glade and Sky Valley sections of the lake. Small minnows, marabou jigs and small white tubes suspended under a float will work in and around blowdowns and stumps.

Big northern pike are moving to the backs of the coves in preparation of the spawn. Free-line large shiner minnows or suspend one under a float and fish near the backs of these coves in 3 to 6 feet of water. A wire leader is a must. High percentage pike spawning coves include McHenry, Beckmans, Sky Valley and Turkey Neck.

Walleyes are shallow with some good fish falling for smartly fished motor oil grubs on 1/8 oz jig heads. Swim the grub near the bottom in rocky areas. North Glade shorelines are good places to start in April.

Perch have laid their eggs and are moving from the backs of coves towards the mid sections and secondary points.

Trout are being taken throughout the lake with many being this years stocked specimens. The cove behind Deep Creek Outfitters has trout as does Penn Cove and the State Park shoreline. Jerkbaits, Castmaster spoons and in-line spinners will take the trout.

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