LAKE LU Fishing Newsletter

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Cecil Summers
5 years ago
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1 LAKE LU Fishing Newsletter

2 January March May July September November Inches of Rainfall Three Year Rainfall Comparison Monthly Rainfall 2016 Monthly Rainfall 2015 Monthly Rainfall 0

3 January March May July September November Number of Anglers per month Three Year Monthly Angler Attendance Comparison Angler Attendance 2016 Angler Attendance

4 January February March April May June July August September October November December Number of Bass Caught Three Year Bass Harvest Comparison Number of Bass Harvested 2016 Number of Bass Harvested 2015 Number of Bass Harvested 0

5 January March May July September November Number of Bream caught Three Year Bream Harvest Comparison Number of Bream Harvested 2016 Number of Bream Harvested 2015 Number of Bream Harvested 200 0

7 We got 3.75 inches of rain at the lake for the month of March. Secchi disc readings indicate 30 inches of visibility. Water temperature is 71 F.

8 March 2017 was a surprisingly slow March. There was no madness. Angler attendance was reduced and I have no explanation for that given the trophy bass fishing that Lake LU provides. Even though it appears that the bass and bream harvest took a nose dive in the charts, the end of the year averages are right on target with the last three years. I expected great things from the bass, however their main concern was spawning. Golden shiners have been harassing bass all over the lake by foraging on the eggs that the bass have laid in their spawn beds. It makes me angry to see a big momma bass working constantly to keep a pack of 50 jumbo shiners from eating her eggs. This may be the reason that big bass were so tough to catch. Maybe they were simply tired from protecting their eggs all day. Anglers had a very tough time catching big bass. A good number of 5 to 6-pound bass were caught and immediately released, but there was only one or two bass caught that were over 7 pounds. The only reason I can attribute to this slowdown was the fact that the water warmed earlier this year, causing the fish to go on bed earlier. The most productive lure was a 6-inch white lizard.

9 Bass fishing has a way of making you smile!

Brian Allen tries his luck bass fishing from the bank. Damian Welch, a UWA student, caught and released this nice 5- pound bass. Note the red tail on the fish from fanning spawn beds.

10 Brian Allen tries his luck bass fishing from the bank. Damian Welch, a UWA student, caught and released this nice 5- pound bass. Note the red tail on the fish from fanning spawn beds BASS HARVEST REGULATION Anglers have an unlimited bass harvest at Lake LU, as long as the bass is less than 14 inches in total length. In addition, anglers may also harvest 1 fish greater than 22 inches in total length, per person, per day at Lake LU.

11 Please continue to encourage anglers to harvest small bass. ~ Jay Haffner Bluegill harvest REDUCED to 25 bream per person per day Bream anglers have been complaining about the reduction in the bream harvest regulation, but when I explain to them that they can catch unlimited bass under 14 inches, they sweeten up a bit. Many veteran bream anglers also complain that there isn t that many bream in the lake anymore. Most of these complainers are the elderly. I have hiked around the lake several times and I see bream on beds all around the perimeter of the lake. You cannot stay in one place and hope to catch bream in great numbers. Just because your favorite fishing hole yielded great

numbers of bream in 1984 does not mean that spot is still good in 2017. You have to go and find the fish. Small red wigglers are doing the best as far as live bait is concerned.

12 numbers of bream in 1984 does not mean that spot is still good in You have to go and find the fish. Small red wigglers are doing the best as far as live bait is concerned. Bream beds are all around the edge of the lake. You just have to look for them. Many anglers use polarizing sunglasses to help them see underwater. REMINDER: Bream harvest has changed and anglers may only catch 25 bream per person per day.

14 I burned a large brush pile on the beach in March. It wasn t until the fire was fully committed that I realized that I should have lit it at night when I could have had my boys see it.

15 I had a successful controlled burn on a wooded area just west of the Forest Trail. Now is the time to break soil on the wildlife food plots.

These are Little Free Libraries. It is a free book exchange site.

16 I am very glad I did all that dirt work when the lake was so low last summer. Now the trails are elevated and solid for hikers to walk on. These are Little Free Libraries. It is a free book exchange site. One of these libraries will be at Lake LU, one will be at the Covered Bridge and one will be near Bibb Graves Hall.

17 This Little Free Library will be put at Lake LU.

18 My little helpers helped me transplant a honey locust at Site #22 on the self-guiding Forest Trail.

19 The Winter Tree. When this tree buds out it is a sign that winter is OVER!!

20 This red buckeye is in full bloom.

21 A nice view of the lake. Note the scattered vegetation in the water. It will be interesting to see how the warm weather makes this grow. If anyone wants any information regarding fishing, nature trails or prairie wildflower blooming times, please give me a call at or me at lrr@uwa.edu. Feel free to visit the Lake LU website at Thank you, Robby Limerick

22 Lake Manager Lake LU The University of West Alabama All photos by R. Limerick unless otherwise noted.

LAKE LU Fishing Newsletter

LAKE LU Fishing Newsletter January March May July September November Inches of Rainfall Three Year Rainfall Comparison 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 2017 Monthly Rainfall 2016 Monthly Rainfall 2015 Monthly Rainfall