Kerr Lake Report By Jason Houchins
March 2016
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If high muddy cold water in March gets you excited, you’re in luck! March is shaping up to be a very interesting month at Kerr. Water temperatures aren’t too bad for the first week of March ranging in the mid to upper 40s throughout the lake. But with water levels at 304 and muddy, it has put a damper on the action for sure. Usually this is a jerkbait time of the year, but low visibilities will limit your success rate a bunch. I would go heavy on the crankbaits like shad raps, speed traps, and rattle traps all being my favorite choice. Still look for rock or pea gravel banks where they can be seen. And try all types of retrieves with everything you throw. Keep a black jig handy as well and I would attach some kind of trailer that will make a commotion. I would also look at throwing spinnerbaits, maybe go with a Colorado blade or tandem combo for more vibration. I would definitely be patient until you get a bite, then build off of that. There are a lot of unknowns fishing water this muddy, this high, during this time on year. They like to suspend now and with the water up like it is you literally have several more pieces added to the puzzle. Usually the low visibility will put them tight on some type of cover, that doesn’t seem to be the case so far.
Usually you can run to the lower end of the lake to find clearer water. Do not bank on this now, it is kind of muddy to almost unfishable all the way to the Dam. It is also super stained from the mouth of Nutbush almost to the splits where Nutbush and Little Nutbush merge. I have to admit that I have never seen it this dirty everywhere for such a long period of time. Even the creeks that are protected and usually clean are muddy, so be prepared for it. The best thing I can tell you is the fish have to be used to it and if we have a warming trend that lasts a few days, that dirty water will warm fast. There is always a silver lining because the life of a bass revolves around eating and mating. They have to eat, even if there is 6 inches of visibility. With no real rain forecasted, the water getting pulled, and a good looking warming trend shaping up next week, it will improve rapidly. Remember March is probably the best big fish month for this lake so don’t let the water conditions stop you from heading out.
