UPPER MAIN LAKE: Crappie have finally turned on big time to the summer pattern, which is what 90-degree water will lead to. Rabbit Rogers reported finding plenty of willing biters, and big ones too, suspended 10-12 ft. under horizontal structure on the edges of old lakes like Long Lake and Round Lake. He used jigs and said the bite was very "polite" and not hand-rattling. Bass fishermen are starting to pick up more quality fish on the deep ledges, but small fish still dominate in schools. Catfish action is excellent shallow.

LOWER MAIN LAKE: Rogers did just as good on the lower end, with an excellent catch on the same 10-12 ft. pattern in 18-20 ft. of water at McMillen and other old lakes. The key is finding the trees with enough horizontal limbs to over fish shade. Crappie are stacked on those limbs. Second-best action is for catfish on shallow flats around stumps as most species are in spawning. Bass activity is good early and late around piers, docks and riprap, and then on ledges. Hybrids up very early. Surprisingly good reports have been coming from below the dam, probably because the gates still remain open with a good discharge. We've heard good stories about both quality and quantity, which isn't surprising for May. Big catfish are getting ready to spawn and are feeding. Only fair to poor crappie reports and no news of bass of any kind.

Main Lake - Last Updated: 5/15/2008 UPPER MAIN LAKE: It's hard to tell if the crappie spawn is past peak, because the fish are still going at it hot and heavy in stumps 5-7 feet deep. This is the hottest area of the reservoir for spawning crappie, even though it's late in the spawning season. The grass has slowed since the lake has dropped over three inches, but the fish are in the stumps. Bass fishermen are having a field day with numbers, with some quality catches mixed in. Fish are really stacked good on the shallow ledges out from spawning area. Crankbaits and worms are working late, topwater at first light.

LOWER MAIN LAKE: Bass, crappie, catfish, hybrid stripers … you name it and it's living and biting in the lower part of the main lake, even a good bream bite around some of the harbors and marinas. Crappie are in stumps spawning. Bass are on shallow ledges in big schools and the hybrids are chasing schools of shad around Fannin and the old railroad bed. Catfish … they're everywhere and biting like crazy. Find stump flats and fish.

Upper Lake and River - Last Updated: 5/15/2008

ABOVE HIGHWAY 43: Tried to find enough positive reports to improve this rating, but it's just an average week. Nothing great, but nothing awful either. Bass are available in numbers when a school can be located on a point or a cut, but finding a keeper in a surfacing bunch is tough. The quality bites are coming early by flipping around edges of matted grasses or pads, and those areas are limited near deep water, which is a key factor in holding fish. Crappie fishermen are struggling to find numbers of big fish, too, but deep structure is holding fish. Catfish are plentiful in cuts and shallow shelves.

Pelahatchie Bay - Last Updated: 6/26/2008 Catfish are the hottest action in the Bay, with plenty of fish up in the shallows to spawn. They are being caught in the subdivision coves, stump flats and shallow bars around spoil islands. Cut shad works good, and nightcrawlers are the next best bet. Bass reports are not that good, but crappie are biting in the creek channel around deep cover or natural structure like creek bends. Minnows are outfishing jigs and be ready to troll. Bass fishermen are struggling to find a consistent pattern. Bream have slowed. ABOVE HIGHWAY 43: Bass fishing continues to be excellent with fish on the post-spawn pattern. Lots of big fish moving to the points and cuts, both main river and secondary. A frog bite has been good early and again late each day. Cranking the cuts and river ledges is good. Crappie fishing is also good, with the spawn still happening in the stumps and pad stems on the lower part of the river area like Caney Creek and Horseshoe. Two real good reports on Monday from Clear Water Woods in pad stems and another on Tuesday from the stumps at Caney Creek on spawning crappie.