| Species | Rating | Size | Baits, Method & Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zebra Mussels | Zebra mussel veligers (larval zebra mussels) are too small to be seen with the unaided eye and they can be found in boat livewells, minnow buckets, boat bilges, water toys and anything else that is capable of holding even a small amount of water. Be sure to drain all equipment before leaving the lake to avoid moving veligers to other waters. THIS INCLUDES MINNOW BUCKETS AND BOAT LIVEWELLS AND BILGES!!! CLEAN DRAIN & DRY Every Lake, Every Time! Click HERE to learn how to prevent the spread of zebra mussels. REMEMBER!! Zebra Mussels are also present in the Trout Area below the dam!! | ||
| Wiper | Fair | 17-24 inch | Be sure to properly ID your catch as there is there is an 21-inch minimum length limit and 2/day creel limit on wiper. Wiper will be moving to shallow points and shorelines during the warmer days and wind will be beneficial concentrating the feeding fish. Casting jig and plastics or small inline spinners is productive. During the colder days, wiper will be in deeper water along breaks, old roads, or other structure and vertically fishing them with jigs or snap jigs is a great approach. |
| White bass | Fair | 9-14 inch | See wiper report |
| White Perch | White perch can usually be found on mainlake breaks and rocky areas. Small hooks and worms are always productive. Most white perch at El Dorado are on the smaller side at 4 to 6 inches. | ||
| Crappie | Fair | Up to 15+ inches | 20/day creel limit Crappie have begun to scatter and can be found at a variety of depths throughout the lake. Reports this week include crappie in 1 to 2 ft of water in the creeks where the water is warmest. Fish have been back and forth on the banks as weather fronts move through. Stable weather and increasing water temperatures will be needed for fish to stay on the banks. |
| Blue Catfish | Good | up to 40 inches, with a lot of 18 to 24 inch "eater" sized fish. | ***ATTENTION ANGLERS!*** A new blue catfish harvest regulation is in effect. The creel limit is now 10/day with no more than 1 blue catfish 30 inches or over. Blue cat activity continues to be good this week. Consistent winds concentrate blue cats on windy points and shorelines. Fishing from shore has been good the past week. Fish with the wind in your face. Fresh cut bait is the preferred bait. Harvest of legal length blue catfish is encouraged, especially blues in the 18 to 26 inch range. The creel limit has been increased from 5/day to 10/day to allow anglers to harvest more blue catfish. |
| Walleye | Slow to Fair | up to 26 inch | THE WALLEYE LENGTH LIMIT IS 21-INCHES WITH A 2/DAY CREEL LIMIT. The walleye spawn continues this week. Walleye can be found on rocky points and shorelines with nighttime being the most productive part of the day. Males sometimes hold shallow throughout most of the day while the females prefer to wait for the sun to set before moving into the shallows. Shallow diving crankbaits, jerk baits, and jig and plastic are all good bait selections during the spawn. Fishing parallel to shore keeps the bait in the strike zone longer. Anglers are reporting Slow to Fair action this week for walleye. Walleye egg collection efforts have concluded for 2025. |
| General Comments | |||
| 1.2 ft below Normal Pool, releasing 7 CFS. Click Here for the most up to date lake level information. ZEBRA MUSSEL & WHITE PERCH WARNING! El Dorado Reservoir and the Walnut River below the reservoir contain zebra mussels and white perch. Take zebra mussel control precautions when leaving the lake, Trout Area, and Stilling Basin. For information on Aquatic Nuisance Species click Here. | |||
