July 27

Lake Monticello morning surface water temperatures are in the mid- to upper 80s, and water levels typically fluctuate daily.  The lake has cleared this week. 

It’s a pretty exciting time to fish Lake Monticello when the bass are stacked up like this, and BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that he is seeing tons of schools of 50-100 fish out on the main lake. They are off the end of points and any high spots like underwater humps, while the pockets are pretty dead. 

The preferred way to approach these fish is to start off cranking in 15-25 feet first thing with a 6XD or 8XD in a shad pattern, but as the sun gets up then pull out a flutter spoon if there is some wind. You can also keep cranking. However, on more typical calm days then a shaky head with a green pumpkin worm is working extremely well. You have to wade through a lot of small bass but there are plenty of good ones, too. 

The free-line drift fishing forcatfish continues to be strong,and if you want to fill a cooler with eating-sized fish Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that’s your best bet. Fish are suspended high in the water column over deep water and they are hungry. Catfish typically run up to about five pounds, and there is certainly the chance for a big one. A variety of baits ranging from cut fish to chicken to mussels will work, and it’s really as simple as pulling several rods with small pieces of bait across the lake.

The best pattern for targeting large fish remains to fish a lot of rods and fan-cast baits at a variety of depths from 10 feet out to 30 feet around long points and underwater humps.  White perch and bream are the preferred baits for big fish right now, but herring and gizzard shad will also work.

July 13

Lake Monticello morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-80s and water levels typically fluctuate daily.  

The bass fishing is still pretty good on Lake Monticello, but BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that – as you would expect in the summer – the bite is better first thing and in the evenings. Deep is still the best place to look, but there are also some fish around stumps, rocks and brush in the 10-20 foot range. This is almost exclusively a soft plastic bite with Texas rigs and shaky heads. 

As far as offshore spots, the biggest fish seem to be in 20-30 feet of water around depth changes, including points and humps and ridges. The top three baits are a crankbait, a spoon and a big worm like an Ole Monster, but as it stays hot we are also getting into the period where fish may want something more subtle like a drop shot and a small worm. 

There is still a sporadic topwater bite shallow.

The free-line drift fishing forcatfish continues to be strong,and if you want to fill a cooler with eating-sized fish Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that’s your best bet. Fish are suspended high in the water column over deep water and they are hungry. Catfish typically run up to about five pounds, and there is certainly the chance for a big one. A variety of baits ranging from cut fish to chicken to mussels will work, and it’s really as simple as pulling several rods with small pieces of bait across the lake.   

Many of the biggest fish are still focused on the spawn, but with some of the better fish starting to come off of beds the chances of catching a good one are going up again. The best pattern for targeting large fish remains to fish a lot of rods and fan-cast baits at a variety of depths from 10 feet out to 30 feet around long points and underwater humps. White perch and bream are the preferred baits for big fish right now, but herring and gizzard shad will also work.

June 29

Lake Monticello morning surface water temperatures are in the low 80s and water levels typically fluctuate daily.  The lower end is dirtier while the upper end is still pretty clear. 

As it heats up the deep patterns for bass are coming on at Lake Monticello, and BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that the biggest fish are in 20-30 feet of water around depth changes, including points, humps and ridges. The three top baits right now are a crankbait, a spoon and a big worm like an Ole Monster. However, there are some periods when they want something more subtle like a drop shot and a small worm.   Usually this is more later in the summer, though, once fish are hot and pressured.  

There is also a mid-depth pattern, with fish biting fairly well on cover including stumps, rocks and brush in the 10-20 foot range. This is almost exclusively a soft plastic bite with Texas rigs, Carolina rigs, and shaky heads. 

There is still a sporadic topwater bite shallow first thing.  

If you want to fill a cooler with eating-sized catfish, Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that the free-line drifting bite is very good.  Fish are suspended high in the water column over deep water and they are hungry. Catfish typically run up to about five pounds, and there is certainly the chance for a big one. A variety of baits ranging from cut fish to chicken to mussels will work, and it’s really as simple as pulling several rods with small pieces of bait across the lake.   

Some of the biggest fish are still focused on the spawn, but with some of the better fish starting to come off of beds the chances of catching a good one are going up again. The best pattern for targeting large fish remains to fish a lot of rods and fan-cast baits at a variety of depths from the bank out to 30 feet around long points and underwater humps. White perch and bream are the preferred baits for big fish right now, but herring and gizzard shad will also work.

June 22

Lake Monticello morning surface water temperatures are in the mid to upper 70s and water levels typically fluctuate daily.  The lower end is expected to get dirty with all the rain while the upper end should stay clear. 

Weather conditions are having a major effect on the bass fishing patterns on Lake Monticello, and BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that when there is no wind the best pattern recently has been fishing a Carolina rig. Weights have been light but that is what the fish have wanted. 

However, when there is wind then a deep-diving crankbait and flutter spoon are working well in coves and over offshore humps in about 25-30 feet of water.  

But pretty much regardless of conditions, Eric is still finding the best action casting a jerkbait parallel to the banks along the first break in cuts and coves off the main lake. Chiefly this is a morning pattern. 

If you want to fill a cooler with eating-sized catfish, Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that the free-line drifting bite very good.  Fish are suspended high in the water column over deep water and they are hungry. Fish typically run up to about five pounds, and there is certainly the chance for a big one. A variety of baits ranging from cut fish to chicken to mussels will work, and it’s really as simple as pulling several rods with small pieces of bait across the lake. 

  

At the same time the bigger fish are generally mixed spawning and post-spawn, and the best pattern for targeting large fish remains to fish a lot of rods and fan-cast baits at a variety of depths from the bank out to 30 feet around long points and underwater humps. White perch and bream are the preferred baits for big fish right now, but herring and gizzard shad will also work. Lake Monticello catfish can be finicky so the best policy is to have more than one option. 

June 15

Lake Monticello morning surface water temperatures are about 76-78 degrees and the lake is clear. Water levels typically fluctuate daily.  

There are a bunch of different bass patterns going on at Lake Monticello, and BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that starting early in the morning the best way to catch fish on Monticello is get on the first drop where you can no longer see the bottom and cast a jerkbait parallel to the banks. Fish are in all of the cuts and coves off the main lake, and this pattern usually lasts until late morning. It’s a good way to find numbers of fish.

When that is over then look for wind-blown pockets and throw a flutter spoon into the middle of coves in about 25-30 feet of water. Fish are stacked up there right now, and on four casts in a row this week Eric caught fish from 3 to 3 ½ pounds. You can also fish the flutter spoon on offshore humps. A deep diving crankbait like a 6XD can also be good over humps as long as the bait can hit the bottom and there is wind. 

Finally, there is a good smallmouth bite over any of the long points in about 10 feet of water. With a jig or Carolina rig you can feel the shell beds and that is where you will get bites. 

This shouldn’t change any time soon, but Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that the free-line drifting bite for catfish is very good.  Plenty of eating-sized blues are now suspended high in the water column over deep water and they are hungry. You can easily catch a cooler full of fish up to about five pounds, and there is certainly the chance for a big one. A variety of baits ranging from cut fish to chicken to mussels will work, and it’s really as simple as pulling several rods with small pieces of bait across the lake.   

At the same time the bigger fish are generally mixed between pre-spawn, spawning and post-spawn, and the best pattern for targeting large fish remains to fish a lot of rods and fan-cast baits at a variety of depths from the bank out to 30 feet around long points and underwater humps. White perch and bream are the preferred baits for big fish right now, but herring and gizzard shad will also work. Lake Monticello catfish can be finicky so the best policy is to have more than one option. 

June 8

Lake Monticello morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-70s and the lake has cleared. Water levels typically fluctuate daily.  

It’s hard to believe, but water temperatures on Lake Monticello are lagging so far behind that BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that a couple of his buddies actually sight-fished this week and caught two bass off the bed! 

However, don’t be seduced by the allure of shallow fish, beat the bank, and miss the main thing. The best way to approach the fish is still to start off fishing main lake points that drop off into deeper water and cast big crankbaits like a 6XD in shad color up into 10 feet of water and pull them out into 15-20 feet. 

After that early bite then fish will feed on humps, and the humps could rise up out of 60-100 feet of water and top out at 10 feet or 40 feet. The bass don’t live on the humps, but instead move up to feed, so you basically need to hit them at the right time and look for fish.

Hair jigs and flutter spoons are good bait choices, and if it’s a particularly calm day when you can fish it they will take a bigger shaky head worm like a green pumpkin Trick worm on a 3/8 ounce football head. 

It still seems a little early, especially given the delays in water temperature, but Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that the free-line drifting bite for catfish has taken off.  Plenty of eating-sized blues are now suspended high in the water column over deep water and they are hungry. You can easily catch a cooler full of fish up to about five pounds, and there is certainly the chance for a big one. A variety of baits ranging from cut fish to chicken to mussels will work, and it’s really as simple as pulling several rods with small pieces of bait across the lake.   

At the same time the bigger fish are generally mixed between pre-spawn and spawning, and the best pattern for targeting large fish remains to fish a lot of rods and fan-cast baits at a variety of depths from the bank out to 30 feet around long points and underwater humps. White perch and bream are the preferred baits for big fish right now, but herring and gizzard shad will also work. Lake Monticello catfish can be finicky so the best policy is to have more than one option. 

June 2

Lake Monticello morning surface water temperatures are in the low 70s and the lake has cleared. Water levels typically fluctuate daily.  

Looking ahead to the weekend and beyond, BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports there’s no doubt that bass on Monticello will be going deep. The best way to approach them is to start off fishing main lake points that drop off into deeper water and cast big crankbaits like a 6XD in shad color up into 10 feet of water and pull it out into 15-20 feet. 

After that early bite then fish will feed on humps, and the humps could rise up out of 60-100 feet of water and top out at 10 feet or 40 feet. The bass don’t live on the humps, but instead move up to feed, so you basically need to hit them at the right time and look for fish.

Hair jigs and flutter spoons are good bait choices, and if it’s a particularly calm day when you can fish it they will take a bigger shaky head worm like a green pumpkin Trick worm on a 3/8 ounce football head. 

It’s a surprise because usually the water has to warm up a lot more than this for the free-line drifting bite for catfish to take off, butCaptain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that plenty of eating-sized blues are now suspended high in the water column over deep water and they are hungry. You can easily catch a cooler full of fish up to about five pounds, and there is certainly the chance for a big one. A variety of baits ranging from cut fish to chicken to mussels will work, and it’s really as simple as pulling several rods with small pieces of bait across the lake.   

At the same time the bigger fish are generally mixed between pre-spawn and spawning, and the best pattern for targeting large fish remains to fish a lot of rods and fan-cast baits at a variety of depths from the bank out to 30 feet around long points and underwater humps. White perch and bream are the preferred baits for big fish right now, but herring and gizzard shad will also work. Lake Monticello catfish can be finicky so the best policy is to have more than one option. 

May 26

Lake Monticello morning surface water temperatures are about 70 or 71 degrees and the lake has cleared. Water levels typically fluctuate daily.  

With water temperatures actually moving backwards on Lake Monticello, BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that the best bass fishing right now is relatively shallow. The fish are not moving out to deeper water, and some of the ones that were out there seem to have moved back towards the banks.

A tournament yesterday was won with 15 pounds, and the winning pattern was cranking long points with a bait that dived to ten feet or deeper like a DT-14. After that ended then almost everyone that caught fish slowed down and pulled a Carolina rig in 8-15 feet of water off points. Green pumpkin was working the best. 

There are also some fish shallower, and reliable sources even spotted one or two fish on beds yesterday!

Water temperatures have not risen and so Lake Monticello catfish are still in pre-spawn feeding mode, and Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that most of the fish are relatively shallow and trying to store up energy for the spawn. This can be one of the best times to catch a good one. 

The best pattern is to concentrate on points in the 10-20 foot depth range and fan-cast a bunch of baits at a variety of depths. Also don’t overlook pockets, especially pockets with cover like stumps, that can hold a lot of the fish that catfish want to eat. 

With such abundant prey big Lake Monticello catfish can be finicky, and so the best bet is to offer a variety of baits including gizzard shad, herring, white perch and bluegill. 

In a few more weeks the free-line drifting bite will really start, and as soon as temperatures rise some early fish will start to suspend. 

May 11

Lake Monticello morning surface water temperatures are in the low 70s. Water levels typically fluctuate daily.  

The bass continue to move deeper on Lake Monticello, and BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that the best pattern is to fish points or humps in 30-40 feet around standing timber. Both hair jigs and flutter spoons are effective, and bass are mostly feeding on big perch. Often they will be on the bottom, but at other times you will see them on your electronics spaghettiing under the boat when they are feeding.  

For now it’s also still worth cranking long tapering points, and early and late you can also fish topwaters lures around the dam.

With the Lake Monticello catfish in pre-spawn feeding mode this is one of the times when they are eating the best, and Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that most of the of the fish are relatively shallow and trying to store up energy for the spawn. The biggest spawning month is usually June and so May can be a wide-open feeding binge.

The best pattern is to concentrate on points in the 10-20 foot depth range and fan-cast a bunch of baits at a variety of depths. Also don’t overlook pockets, especially pockets with cover like stumps, that can hold a lot of the fish that catfish want to eat. 

With such abundant prey big Lake Monticello catfish can be finicky, and so the best bet is to offer a variety of baits including gizzard shad, herring, white perch and bluegill. 

In a few more weeks the free-line drifting bite will start, and there could already be some smaller fish starting to suspend that will eat. 

May 4

Lake Monticello morning surface water temperatures are in the upper 60s and the lake remains dirty. Water levels typically fluctuate daily.  

The bass spawn is mostly done and the shad spawn is winding down on Lake Monticello, and as a result BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that most of the fish are about to move deep.  First thing it’s still worth cranking long tapering points, and if you can find the tail end of the shad spawn there should be a topwater bite.  Early and late you can also fish topwaters lures around the dam – but with all that said most of the fish are soon to be if not already in 30-40 feet.

The best pattern is to fish points or humps in that range around standing timber, of which people don’t realize how much Monticello has. Both hair jigs and flutter spoons are effective, and bass are mostly feeding on big perch. Often they will be on the bottom, but at other times you will see them on your electronics spaghettiing under the boat when they are feeding.  

With the Lake Monticello catfish in pre-spawn feeding mode this is one of the times when they are eating the best, and Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that most of the of the fish are relatively shallow and trying to store up energy for the spawn. The biggest spawning month is usually June and so May can be a wide-open feeding binge.

The best pattern is to concentrate on points in the 10-20 foot depth range and fan-cast a bunch of baits at a variety of depths. Also don’t overlook pockets, especially pockets with cover like stumps, that can hold a lot of the fish that catfish want to eat. 

With such abundant prey big Lake Monticello catfish can be finicky, and so the best bet is to offer a variety of baits including gizzard shad, herring, white perch and bluegill. 

In a few more weeks the free-line drifting bite will start, and there could already be some smaller fish starting to suspend that will eat. 

April 21

Lake Monticello morning surface water temperatures are around 68-70 and the lake remains dirty. Water levels typically fluctuate daily.  

There are still some bass spawning on Lake Monticello, but BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that most bass fishermen are focused on the shad spawn right now. Smaller shad seem to be spawning in the pockets, while bigger shad are spawning around riprap. Topwater lures will work but a jerkbait is very hard to beat right now, which will be the case until the shad spawn ends when water temperatures pass about 74. Later in the day when the bass are not up feeding on shad a Carolina rig is working pretty well.

Overall the dam is the best place to fish right now.

Catfish report to follow fromCaptain William Attaway (803-924-0857). 

April 11

Lake Monticello water temperatures are in the low to mid-60s and the lake is unusually stained. Water levels typically fluctuate daily.  

As the bass spawn starts to wind down on Lake Monticello some exciting new bites are now in play, and BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that in coves with cleaner water there has been a really good jerkbait bite. The action is mostly in less than 10 feet of water for post-spawn fish, and when they don’t want a jerkbait a shakey head has also been working well.

While this weekend very temporarily delayed it, there is also a shad spawn going on first thing in the morning on riprap banks – of which Monticello has no shortage!  Spinnerbaits and crankbaits will both work.  

Even as it was set back by the last cold snap, overall the shallow bite forcatfish is improving andCaptain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that from what he is seeing fish are now concentrating in the 10-20 foot range. Anchoring on long points that run out into the lake is the best pattern, especially if they have some stumps on them. There will also be some fish caught in pockets. The riprap at the dam will also hold some fish, but that bite usually comes on a little closer to the spawn. 

Fan-cast your baits at different depths from as shallow as 5 feet out to as deep as 30 or so feet, and then narrow down the most productive range and put more baits there. Cut bream, gizzard shad and white perch will all work.