Lake Sinclair Fishing Report January 2017

Sinclair: Level: 2.5 feet low. Temp: Upper 50s. Clarity: Light stain.

Bass: Tournament angler Mark Denney Jr. reports, “As the temperatures drop well below freezing and the new year begins, January is a great month to catch some of your biggest fish of the year on Lake Sinclair. Even though the bass are extremely sluggish, moving presentations, such as Blademaster Lures Suddeth Little Earl or Little Boss Hawg crankbaits, are excellent choices to catch a few fish that are still willing to chase down an easy meal. Slow-rolling a Stryke Ryte chartreuse-and-white spinnerbait with double Colorado blades is an unspoken technique that also tends to shine this time of year for enticing a better quality bite. If the fish don’t seem willing to chase, slow down and fish jerkbaits and other finesse tactics in order to trigger a bite when they are wanting a slower presentation and the fishing gets tough. Shaky-head jigs paired with soft plastics, such as a Zoom Trick Worm, are proven producers for consistently putting lethargic bass in the boat during the winter months. If the shallow bite doesn’t seem to be producing, be sure to take some time and look for offshore cover and structure with your Humminbird electronics to find populations of fish that may have been pulled off of the bank with the cooler water temperatures. Carolina-rigs with Zoom Brush Hogs and Stryke Ryte 3/4-oz. football jigs are both good choices for dragging around points and brushpiles. As always, be safe and remember to dress appropriately in order to stay warm and focused while you are on the lake. It’s hard to enjoy the day and catch some fish when you are too miserable and distracted by the cold to even make a cast.”

Crappie: Allan Brown reports, “Crappie fishing is good on Sinclair right now and will only get better as the water really cools off. Trolling jigs or grubs in deep water close to creek channels has been producing good numbers. Look for pockets off the main lake with deep water and some form of structure. Using your electronics, find structure and baitfish, and then troll this area with different-colored jigs and sizes. Speed is also critical to get the bait in the strike zone. Tandem rig double, 1/16-oz. jigs or grubs for deeper fish. John Deere, popsicle and black chartreuse are good color choices.”