The lake thawed out around the third week of February. We’ve been out a couple of times, and did better the first time than the second. But we weren’t out long; we waited ‘til it warmed up and went in the afternoon. Since I’m not guiding anymore, we don’t put any pressure on ourselves, except trying to out-fish each other. Just this week, we had almost four inches of rain and are supposed to get more next week. The water should be coming up; it’s pretty muddy on the north end.

I’m guessing that the Corps is going to try to keep the water level down if they can because of the dredging project they’re getting ready to do on the north end. I mentioned this a couple of months ago; as of now, they have some of the floating pipe from the Whitley Creek Boat Ramp to the Sullivan Beach area. There are orange floats on it, so it’s not hard to see. I don’t know how long this project will last, but I’m guessing, some time. Maybe more than just this year. It shouldn’t affect fishing; maybe it’s just an inconvenience in the area they’re working.

I hear the new 32 Marine is combining with Findlay Marina, moving their offices there. Findlay Marina is adding on to their office building to make room for the offices. I’m not sure what all this means. Supposedly, the owner of Sullivan Marina has now bought the other two marinas on the lake and is working together with the owner of 32 Marine This summer, Findlay Marina will have a food truck from the North End Pub & Grill, which burned this winter.

The Lake Shelbyville Fish Habitat Alliance is still building and placing Shelbyville Cubes, artificial stumps, catfish nesting boxes along with used Christmas Trees in the lake, all for the betterment of the habitat

As far as fishing, April can be one of the hottest months of the year. Depending on the water temperature, fishing should really pick up.

Largemouth bass fishing, if the weather is favorable, can be really good time to catch some of the heaviest bass of the year; they’re fat and full of eggs, which makes them heavy. The weather has a big impact; if favorable, they may be hitting fast baits, like crankbaits, spinnerbaits and even topwater baits like buzzbaits or Pop-R’s. Jerkbaits, whether hard or soft, can also work. If the weather is unstable, it may take using soft plastics you can work slowly in and around the cover, giving them more reaction time.

Still, most anglers out in April are going to be crappie fishing because they’re the most active of any fish species.

Again, like bass, a lot depends on the weather and water temperatures. Stable weather, they bite better; unstable weather, they’re slower. Actually, the weather doesn’t usually affect them as much as it does bass, but you’ll notice a difference.

Again, we’ll try techniques, like the rest of the year, thru trial-and-error, trying different types of cover, different depths and different areas ‘til we find them; it’s called “fishing.” Whether you prefer jigs or minnows, it’s a good time to get out and try. April can produce a swing of weather, so just dress for the day, use your instincts, regarding the weather conditions, as to what fish are going to be doing. Start there, and if that doesn’t work, start looking, trying different things ‘til you find them—and just enjoy being out!