The "real time" water level for Hoover as of this date is -0.30 feet from over flow.

We finally have hit a consistent weather pattern of a beautiful Spring. We found surface temperatures to be 77 degrees on Friday in North section. We are coming into a New Moon phase.

CRAPPIE: John Biteman and Walt Alexander fished the M-E section on Wednesday and report, "about 50 using our patent pending Minnow/Slip Bobber technique, with most 7"-10" with a few 12" tossed in. Smaller ones in shallows at about 1-1/2' to 3'. Bigger ones generally in 9'-14'." On Thursday they reported, "Tough day with wind and fishing. we worked to get about 40. a few nice 12" fatties, but mostly in the 7"-10" range. worked about the whole east side from LOTW to Twin Bridges, anywhere out of the wind. Minnows/Bobbers 3'-15'." On Friday morning they fished the N-W section and reported, "C/R 40 fish, 15 were 9"-12", Minnow under Slip Bobber. " They further told us the majority of the fish were caught in 2’-4’ depth. Bill and Paula Canfield fished Friday in M-E and M-W sections and reported, "Most of the 40 fish we kept were in 3-5’ of water near some kind of woody cover. Fish were active spawners--eggs are ripe and going fast. Pink and Yellow were the best colors. Minnows and Wax Worms were both effective."

WHITE BASS: Darrell Brown sent us this report, "Up in Galena I been catching fish on Rooster Tails and Little Devils under a Float and have seen lots caught on Minnows. Mornings have been best for me. Water is still a little muddy." John Adair tells us that when the fish are running at Galena, the majority have been 8-12" males. He also tells us anglers are doing well in the evening with Rooster Tails at the Duck Pond.

SAUGEYE: Doug Stewart fished the M-E on Monday and reported, "I started at around 2 p.m. today. I was trying for Saugeye but caught a variety of fish." His 10 fish, " hit a 4" Power Bait Minnow in shallow water." He further told us, "None of the fish were very big." Reports to John Adair are that fish are being caught in shallows by anglers while fishing for Crappie.

BLUE GILLS: No reports.

BASS: John Adair informed us that anglers are still getting fish shallow with Texas Rigged Soft Plastics and Spinner Baits. He also reported that Brett Warrick C&R a FO (21.5") LM using a homemade Jig in the Middle pool.

CHANNEL CATFISH: Bill Canfield, while fishing for Crappie on Friday, reports he, "managed to land a FO (26.5") on 4 pound test line. The fish hit a 1/16 oz. Crappie Jig with a Pink Twister Tail dressed with a Wax Worm." On Friday afternoon we fished N-W section with Gary Hannahs using Shrimp under Bobber is 3-4’ depths. We C&R 4 fish up to 21". On Tuesday we fished the riprap in M-W section with Shrimp under Bobber and C&R a 23" fish early in the morning. Sunday afternoon Ethan Armitage C&R 2 fish up to 23" in the M-E section using Night crawlers on the bottom in 3’ of water. We received several reports that occasional fish are being caught by anglers in shallows while fishing for Crappie.

The "real time" water level for Hoover as of this date is +0.75 feet from over flow.

The lake has both warmed up quickly and filled quickly with heavy rains. Weekends have broken out of the foul weather pattern. We found water temperatures Sunday afternoon to hit 78 degrees in North section.

CRAPPIE: Casey Woods reported getting a "bunch of fish" in M-E section Sunday afternoon fishing the shallows around brush with Minnows. The fish were mostly 9" up to 11-1/2" in size. On Monday Garing Armstead fished "during the day with a buddy and caught a double limit of fish. Largest was a 13" FO. Shallow brush with Minnows. The bigger fish came on a Pink & White Tube Jig. Water clarity didn’t matter. Most of the bigger females are dropping their eggs." John Adair reports that folks were telling him that Saturday was terrific as everyone was getting lots of fish in the brush. However he tells us Sunday they appeared to be much less active and scattered. Monday morning John Biteman and Walt Alexander fished the M-W section with Minnows/Bobber and "caught about 30 fish. Mainly 1' - 3' deep in less than 6’ of water. On Tuesday they fished the M-E section "caught about 55 fish, mostly 7 – 10" with a few 12". Most in less than 8' of water with Minnows under Bobbers, a few of the larger came from 12' to 15'. Very light strikes for the most part."

WHITE BASS: "The Run" has started in Galena, reports John Adair. He’s gotten reports that lots of fish were caught Saturday on Minnows, Rooster Tails and Twisters. They were also very active on Saturday at the Duck Pond above the dam. Then like the Crappie, Sunday was very poor. However, one angler reported doing very well at the Duck Pond on Monday.

SAUGEYE: While jigging for Crappie Sunday in shallows of N-W section, Jim Silvania C&R a "nice fish using dark Blue Squirming Grub with a Chartreuse tail." Kenny Beck reported to John Adair that he caught 2 fish last week while fishing for Crappie in the brush, using his classic Twisters.

BLUE GILLS: No reports.

BASS: Ted Mosure reports, "Linda and I were out this morning (Sunday) and fished M-E section. LM’s were tight to the brush. We caught five. The best one was 18" and we had two others 14". We used Spinner baits with a slow retrieve in 3-5' of water." Also on Sunday, Jim Silvania fished N-W section for Crappie in "3-4’ from shore in 3-4’ of water, using dark Blue Squirming Grub with a Chartreuse tail." He C&R 2 "nice SM’s." Saturday morning John Adair and Nick Ball fished with Texas rigged Plastics in north section and caught 5 fish up to 16", fishing shallow.

CHANNEL CATFISH: Tim Van Auken fished Saturday afternoon in N-W section for Crappie using Minnows/Slip Bobber. He caught a 24.5" fish in 2-3’ depths. Gary Hannahs fished with us Sunday afternoon. We fished N-E & N-W sections in 3-4’ depths using Shrimp under Bobber and C&R 6 fish including our 2 FO (28", 31"). Several folks reported getting a fish or 2 in the brush while fishing for Crappie this weekend. Several anglers reported getting fish in brush with Minnows while fishing for Crappie.

Week ending 5/2/12

The “real time” water level for Hoover as of this date is – 0.79 feet from over flow.

Another extreme weather move takes us into Summer type heat and rising water temperatures. We found surface temperatures in North section on Tuesday afternoon to be 65 degrees. We’re coming into a Full Moon phase this weekend.

CRAPPIE: Cliff Taylor fished the N-E section last Wednesday afternoon and reports, “40 total, 18 keepers over 10 1/2" on Bass Minnows with Bobbers fishing 2' deep. Some of females have already dropped eggs. Fish smaller than 10" were fat and healthy.” Sean Alley fished Thursday in M-E section and reports, “They weren't up near the banks, but out nearer to the center. Depths averaged 20-28’ and didn't see them much shallower than that. Started slow then started picking up around 6:30 pm. Fished with Tube Jigs tipped with Minnows just a few feet off the bottom. A dead stick presentation with a straight line and a frisky Minnow was the trick. Color didn't seem to matter much – took them on Pink/White, Black/Chartreuse, Red/Chartreuse and Glow. Again, the friskier the Minnow the quicker the bite. Caught around 25–30 fish, didn't keep any. Most were in the 7–11” range with my best being a dandy 12.75" fat female full of eggs. Overall had a 50/50 mix of males and egg laden females.” Sean went out again Sunday in M-E section and reports, “I ended up catching a total of 30-40 fish just off the bottom in 20-25’. Same plan as last time, Tube Jigs tipped with Minnows fished dead-stick. I ended up keeping a dozen for dinner. Funny thing was a few of the bigger ones were actually males. The rest were females full of eggs. John Biteman and Walt Alexander fished Sunday in M-E section and “caught several between 4-6 pm in 30-35' with Minnows under Bobber. 3 nice 12" fatties in the mix.” John Adair reports anglers were getting fish last week in shallow until the cold front drove them out deep again.

WHITE BASS: No reports.

SAUGEYE: Anglers have been reporting to John Adair that they continue to pick up fish in the 16-19” size while fishing for Crappie shallow. They’ve been using Jigs and Minnows/Bobbers.

BLUE GILLS: No reports.

BASS: Kevin Peck fished the M-E section Sunday and reports he, “Caught 2 LM today. First was 18" and weighed 3 lbs 6 oz, second was only like 12". Both caught on a deep Crank bait, but in shallow water, near rocks.” John Adair reports that the anglers have been telling him that the numbers and size of the fish this year have been very good. They’ve been successful fishing shallow in North and Middle pool using Soft Plastics Texas rigged.

CHANNEL CATFISH: Sean Alley, while fishing for Crappie on Sunday, in 22-25’ depths caught 2 fish up to 20” on Tubes/Minnows. We fished with Fred Lassahn on Sunday in North section. Using Shrimp under Bobber in 2-3’ depths we C&R a FO (26.25”). On Tuesday we fished the N-W section and C&R a FO (30”), again using Shrimp under Bobber in shallow water.

Week ending 4/25/12

The “real time” water level for Hoover as of this date is – 1.28 feet from over flow.

Extreme winds and the cold front hampered anglers during the weekend. Gary Hannahs reports surface temperatures were 66 degrees late Thursday afternoon prior to the front moving in.

CRAPPIE: Paul Halter fished with Lowell Chandler Sunday afternoon in a cove in M-E section. He reports they, “Caught numerous amount of fish on Malibu Jigs and Minnows in 2'-3' of water. Kept 18 10"-12".” John Adair was out with his kids on Friday and fished the N-W section. He found the fish in 3’ depths in brush and was catching them on Minnows/Slip Bobber.

WHITE BASS: No reports.

SAUGEYE: John Adair reports anglers have been getting 16-19” fish in brush in North and Middle sections while they were fishing for Crappie with Tubes and Twisters.

BLUE GILLS: No reports.

BASS: John Adair of Old Dutchman tells us he received reports from anglers last Friday that they were getting good numbers and good size fish up to 4-lb. fishing in 2-3’ depths around brush with Spinner baits and Texas rig plastics.

CHANNEL CATFISH: Gary Hannahs fished with Pete DeFrancisco on Thursday afternoon in N-W section. He reports, “Fishing from 12:30 pm until 4:00pm, we only caught 2 fish at 3:45 pm, but one of them was my FO (30) which was a C&R and caught in 3’ depth with Shrimp under a Bobber”. Corey Price fished from shore on Saturday afternoon with Chicken Livers in M-E section and “caught a 16” fish in about 15’ of water.” He reports he “switched up to cut Shad and had a MONSTER get away.”

BLUE CATFISH: Rich Zweifel reports, “We are still tracking the Blue Cats … twice a month. Most of the fish have been located recently but we have a couple of fish that are MIA. However, we can’t confirm where they went (caught or went through the dam). The next batch of Blue Catfish won’t be stocked until fall. They’re in the hatchery ponds right now.”