Steve & Lisa Spencer give tips and conditions for local fishing holes in Saline County in this column. See more info about Steve and Lisa at the end.
Saline River – with the water levels getting as high as 9.0 ft., fishing for the past week has been kind of limited. But not to say not doable, a few reports of some walleye being caught, using brooder minnows hooked through the underpart of it’s mouth coming out of one of its nose holes. Using a Eagle Claw 84 A #2 hook has always proven a good sturdy hook being not too big of a hook. Along with a small split shot, Trilene XL 8lb clear line works good. When fishing for the walleye, you want to fish as light as possible. The less you have out there, the less their sharp sensitive eyes are able to detect. Water level as of Sunday morning was at 5.7 ft, let it get below 5ft, and have the water not muddy but at the same time not too clear then an outing on the Saline for the walleye will be more favorable.
Sunset Lake – I have actually had a few say that they had caught their limit on catfish there within a few days ago. The limit is 3 catfish per person there. Night crawlers and bass minnows have proven good for their catches. As soon as hearing this, I looked up the stocking chart to see if the lake had been stocked recently, but if it had been, it hadn’t been updated. I keep an eye on the chart weekly and if I see it has been updated on being stocked, I will screenshot it and put it on my page. Crappie been doing good on pink crappie minnows as well as on #6 crappie minnows early in the mornings way before daylight. And also later in the evenings. Bass have been biting brooder minnows as well as bass minnows and zing tails in the firetiger and rainbow trout colors.
Lake Norrell – Crappie have been good on #6 crappie minnows, some fishing in the coves or around docks. Bass have been hitting pink spinnerbaits, minnows and crankbaits. Catfish being caught on bass minnows, cut baits, and nightcrawlers.
Bishop Park Ponds – Crappie are doing fair on crappie minnows and some jigs especially black and pink. Bass are going after the bass minnows and plastic worms, the dark colored ones like red shad and watermelon red. Catfish are biting on the minnows too also on wild cat blood stink bait. Also a few bream being caught on crickets.
Lake Winona – Just this past weekend I had a few fishermen going there. Hope to hear word back from them. I have seen some very nice ones come from there. But being so far out not many people venture out there. There are also a lot of bass there too.
Steve & Lisa Spencer have owned Lisa’s Bait Shop at 2112 Watts Road in Benton since 1985. They are happy to serve you 7 days of the week. Click image below to visit them on Facebook.
