For crappie, best luck has been trolling the main lake from Toby Tubby Creek to the dam with most fish 10 – 12 ft deep or deeper. Some crappie can be caught fishing slightly shallower in the timber from Hurricane Creek to Holiday Lodge. Fish larger lures to keep from tempting the big 2009 year class that is not all keeping size yet. (A scarcity of bigger keepers this summer is due to the very weak 2007 year class when the lake was at a record low from drought. These fish should be 13 – 15 inches, but there’s not many of them left.)

For largemouth bass, fish main lake points or creek and river channels with crankbaits or soft plastics.

White bass can be caught on sandy main lake points with small, shad imitating lures (jigs, spoons, small cranks). Whites have been stacking up at Engineer’s Point and the corner of the dam, too. There are no size or number limits on white bass.

For catfish, fish natural baits on trotlines, jugs, or rod-and-reel over main lake flats. Some good catches of blue (white humpback) and flathead (yellow) catfish have been landed lately fishing live bait on lines set in the river near Wyatt’s Crossing. Expect fish to concentrate in or over creek and river channels as the lake falls.

The spillway had two gates open 12.0 ft each (4150 cfs) Tuesday. Best luck down here has been for white bass on small crankbaits, in-line spinners, or other shad imitating lures fished in the fast water. Largemouth bass can be caught against the rocks early in the morning. Crappie and catfishing has been fair with some folks trolling in the Lower Lake for crappie.

Water level 248.46, falling 0.35 ft/day, clear to murky. For water level information, call (662)563-4531 or check http://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/offices/ed/edh/docs/bullet.txt. See http://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/offices/ed/edh/plots/sardplot.jpg for water level trends. The lake was 6.0 ft above rule curve Tuesday; fall drawdown is underway. It is supposed to reach winter pool (236 ft) by December 1.