Heading to Lake Monticello

[backstraps]

I will be on Monticello in the morning for the first time this year. Last year I hooked a couple of 8s and my buddy caught an 11pounder in late February. So hopefully we will hook one or two.

My buddy has been out there the last three weekends and has caught a few on red rattle traps and jigs.

Ill let you know how we do. Anyone else been out there?

[backstraps]

We caught a few today on Monticello. The biggest 2 were 5 pounders and then we had a 4 and a few smaller ones. All in all a pretty good trip.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v313/boykinhntr/IMG_0631.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v313/boykinhntr/redo.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v313/boykinhntr/IMG_0634.jpg

[Arkie_3_fan]

I'm about ready to give Monticello a try myself. I'm at most 20 minutes away from it and haven't fished there in 4 or 5 years.

[jeffb243]

man those are some nice fish, are there many people who fish that lake? how big is it?

[Arkie_3_fan]

A few years ago it wasn't all that crowded but I hear there are usually quite a few folks out there now. One guy was telling me that when the sight fishing for bedding bass starts that it's about like duck hunting. You have to get there well before daylight and get in your spot to keep someone else from trying to catch your fish. That's coming from someone who does most of his fishing during the week.

[live2hunt]

man those are some nice fish, are there many people who fish that lake? how big is it?


It is about 1,500 acres. Once it starts to warm up we will not go down there on the weekends. Too many people!!! I went to college down there so we did most of our fishing during the week. It is not too bad if you go on a weekday.

[backstraps]

This time of the year it is not crowded. I imagine it will start getting pretty busy when the temps stay in the 60's. BUT when the weather does warm up, it gets pretty crowded.

This time of the year is more about catching the big ones. You may catch a fish an hour but most likely one of them will be over 4 pounds with the possibility of an 8+. One weekend in late Feb. of last year, me and my buddy caught 4 fish. An 11, 8, 6, and a 2 pounder. Thats a pretty big average and isn't completely uncommon.

Its a fun lake to fish with lots of cover. It seems that everyone swears by something different out there. Some like slow rollin spinners, some carolina rig, some brush hogs, senkos...etc... The fact is if you just stick with a pattern you will probably catch a few nice ones.