According to guide Wendell Wilson, Lake Russell has enough current flow to ensure good fishing during the summer. Plus, the lake has a good combination of both largemouth and spotted bass populations, which gives hot-weather anglers two distinct type of fishing possibilities.
“For largemouth, the key will be cover and depth,” Wilson said. “Often you’ll find largemouth in fairly shallow water early and late in the day, actively feeding. But most of the day, you’ll need to back off to submerged timber or other woody cover in the 8- to 12-foot depth range. There are some quality largemouth on this lake, and you can anchor a good string of fish with a couple of hefty largemouth bass.”
Wilson said that for big largemouth bass, one of his keys is fishing along the creek channels that wind through the timbered flats along the river and in the major creeks. These areas are effectively fished with bottom-bumping rigs as well as deep-diving crankbaits.
According to Wilson, the spotted bass comprise the majority of the lake’s black bass fishery, probably 60 to 70 percent in his estimation.
“Because these fish are so numerous and get to good average size, focusing on these fish is a big plus in terms of enjoying consistent black bass fishing during hot weather,” Wilson said. “The spotted bass will be orienting to the main-river portion of the lake and usually found schooled up off main-river points and on humps and ledges. Much of the best fishing will be in the lower end of the lake.”
Wilson said you can target both species off long, sloping points, however, the spotted bass will usually be found deeper than the largemouths. One of the advantages of fishing for spotted bass during the summer is that he frequently encounters schools of fish.
“It’s not unusual to catch several good-sized spotted bass from a single place, which can be quite exciting,” he said.
Wilson said not all structures are created equal in terms of holding bass, so work a place effectively and experiment with different lures, but don’t linger if you’re not getting bites. Overcast days are certainly preferred, as fish will move shallower, but on bright day, fish early, late and deeper.
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