Pine Flat Lake Fishing Report

Pine Flat is on the upswing... literally. The lake’s been rising fast, and with water temps now in the low to mid 60s, bass are pushing shallow and getting active. You’ll find most of the action tight to the bank down to about 15 feet. Slower stuff is doing the work right now... jigs, Senkos, and Neko rigs are drawing the most bites. If you’re hunting size, try rolling a swimbait through the shallows—there’ve been a few reports of big ones coming that way. There’s still a mix of fish hanging deeper on bluff walls, and that’s where jerkbaits or a well-placed drop shot can shine. Things aren’t wide open just yet, but it’s close.

Crappie are showing up too, schooling around brush piles and hitting mini jigs and tiny swimmers. Trout action has slowed, although a few trollers are still out there catching a few holdovers.

Pine Flat Lake is providing a solid winter bite for trout, crappie, and spotted bass right now. Bass have been active in the mornings, hitting small reaction baits, but as the day goes on, they’re sliding deeper—25 feet or more—where finesse worms and jigs fished around rocky structure are getting the most attention.

Crappie are stacked deep, some as far as 85 feet, with flutter spoons and small jigs being the go-to. A good sonar has been key. Trout action has been best upriver, with fish biting well on trolled spoons around 30 feet down.

Pine Flat received its first stocking of the winter season this week, which should fire up shoreline action and reinvigorate the fishery for the coming weeks. Otherwise, holdover rainbows have been chasing shad schools around the lake in upwards of 30 feet of water. Trollers are picking up fish by flatlining shad-colored spoons, though action has slowed compared to earlier this month. The same goes for the Kings.

Bass are settling into their winter patterns, holding mostly in 50+ feet of water, though some are chasing bait schools higher in the water column. Dragging dropshot worms slowly is your best bet. If you’re targeting shad schools, try an underspin or A-rig.