The All New Timber Lake

A big applause for Amy the owner as she has forked out a considerable amount of money for our enjoyment.  There is a new rock road that now goes all the way to the edge of the water.  No more 4 wheel drive restrictions after a rain.  It has really improved the place as this isn’t cheap powdery rock but some really nice stuff that offers great traction.  As the water drops throughout the year it will expose more of the soft shore that could get to be an issue but as of now, the rock goes to the water’s edge.  There is also an additional turn around area that looks like it will be a great spot to park the fifth wheel or travel trailer for a weekend (hint, hint).

Now let’s talk about weather….  This was on “opening day” for Timber Lake and the weather did not cooperate.  It was a beautiful morning and we were hoping the approaching front would make the fish go nuts.  The water surface temps in the morning was fifty degrees at launch and we ended the day at forty seven.  Air temps were close to sixty degrees in the morning but oh did that change.  We were rained on periodically throughout the morning which was fine because there was no lightning.  When the northern blew in around lunch time it got pretty tough to fish.  Being in the cold wind is one thing but being drenched and being in the cold wind was another story.  The fishing had drastically slowed so we headed in around three thirty. 

Now for the good stuff…...  Member Brian Long and I had top water baits tied on thinking we might get some early morning action with the front pushing through, but we were wrong.  Not even a nibble but that shouldn’t be too surprising with water temps that low.  I moved over to wintertime baits and Brian was throwing his trusty spinner bait and the action heated up.  The suspending jerk bait was the ticket early and we started boating fish after fish, just like last year.  I had a five and a half pounder but she had a huge head on her so I really thought she was going to weigh more.  I measured her at twenty three and one half inches but I notice now that her mouth was not pinched closed….  DOH!  The vegetation has really shrunk back but the fish are still congregated around those areas.  We did fair on crank baits in and around the timber and I didn’t catch one fish…..  That’s right, I didn’t catch one fish flipping a jig around any of the deep brush or standing timber that is normally loaded with fish.  I’m still not sure if the lack of sunlight didn’t position the fish there or if it’s too early in the year for the fish to be identifying with that type of structure.  Our fish were caught up on the grass flats and on reaction type baits with the suspending jerk and spinner bait doing the best.  We caught a few on a variety of crank baits, some on Texas rigged worms,  and just one or two on random baits and the only common theme we found was a slow presentation was necessary.  I think the Pop-R will reign supreme once that water temp heats up.  We did not do will way up in the creeks so I would advise staying in the main lake where the largest quantities of fish seem to be.  The water was still three to four feet from the overflow pipe on the dam so we still need some rain.  My biggest surprise this past Saturday was that the fish are not round like you would expect.  I anticipated huge bellies on these fish with the abundant bluegill in the lake and the tilapia from last year.  I would say that nine out of ten fish were of average build.  Not slender necessarily but not like you expect to see from a fish that should be gearing up for the spawn.  We ended the day with thirty fish and our five fish sack was over twenty pounds.  There aren’t many lakes where you can go do that in the dead of winter.

Tight lines Gents,
Jackson