Thread: Best time for Reelfoot?

As of Noon Sunday 118 folks have viewed this post and not one of them has any idea when is the best time to visit Reelfoot in the spring for bluegills.

Failing that, can anyone recommend a guide I can call and get his/her opinion?

Thanks

Never fished it, but based on latitude and regional lakes... I would go full moon in May, 2nd choice full moon in April, 3rd full moon in June.

Idk but I would love to take boat down there if I can get past the fear of putting it on there. Everybody acts like it will destroy a boat


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Originally Posted by CentKyPaddler

Idk but I would love to take boat down there if I can get past the fear of putting it on there. Everybody acts like it will destroy a boat <snip>

I don't plan to take my boat for just that reason. I've looked at some of the rental boats there and they are 3X thicker than my jon. I plan on getting one of the room/bait/boat specials that some of the resorts offer.

A couple put on a Fish N Camp at Reelfoot years ago, I didn't go. I went searching for that thread. Maybe find some photos and post about the lake and event. Nope, last page starts 10/23/2021.

Around Memorial weekend timeframe is good for the most part . Big boats can potentially get damaged on this lake. Jon boats are good to go. Kayaks are great for moving in on brim beds during spawning and crickets do wonders. You can't go wrong with crikets for brim.

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Clint, any time in mid May usually kicks off the really good bream fishing there. Depending on the full moon and warmer temps it could be earlier. You can find them for several weeks in different phases from what experience I've had over the years. Some times you find them hugged up right on the cypress trees and sometimes you find a big bed all by themselves in the open. I've had my 20' triton fiberglass on it countless times but also have a smaller aluminum boat that I use as well. Yes there are stumps but it's an idle around lake unless you are in the ditches.

Full moon in May or the first few days before or after. I used to fish with a fly-rod for Reelfoot Bluegill way back in the day. It is a shallow lake and the bream bed continuously through summer so you can catch bream all spring and summer long. They don't have to actually be bedding. You didn't mention how you wanted to fish and what baits you care to use. In my opinion, if you want numbers, use a cricket a couple feet down from a pencil float and fish around any Cypress tree or the ring of Cypress knees around the trees. You will catch fish. Tossing a small jig on ultra-light (2" Mister Twister always worked for me) will get you bit as well. Also this will get you the occasional crappie and bass. Small crankbaits such as Strike King Bitsy Minnow worked slowly will get you some of the bigger ones. Except for the very coldest times of the year the Reelfoot Bluegills are willing!

Also all of the Resorts have guides for hire. In my experience, they are worth the cost for the invaluable knowledge they can pass to you. You will save lots of time searching for fishing holes, and they can give you ideas of where you can and can't run your boat. The submerged stumps are nearly everywhere.

Enjoy Reelfoot. It's one of our National Treasures!