Stocking: Catfish Opener is this weekend where 1,500 pounds of catfish from Alpine Fishery will be stocked. We’ll stock a total of 8,500 pounds of catfish through October. With catfish season comes night fishing every Friday and Saturday night. The lake will remain open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays beginning Memorial Day weekend. 

Catfish Opener: Warmer water temps and extended hours should make for an excellent opener bite, especially during the evening and night sessions. 

Focus on areas with deeper water access, structure, and gradual drop-offs where catfish cruise after stocking:

• Half Moon Cove – Consistently productive for both shoreline and boat anglers. Evening bite should be strong.

• Sentry Point & T-dock – Great deeper-water access. 

• Siesta Cove – Good shoreline access and productive during low-light periods.

• Buoy Line Areas – Catfish often suspend or travel edges near structure and depth changes. 

Catfish are scent feeders, so strong-smelling baits like mackerel chunks, garlic shrimp, dip baits or bait nuggets will attract them. Let scent disperse before moving spots.

Technique: Fish the bottom! Carolina rigs or sliding sinker setups are ideal. Use enough weight to keep bait pinned to the bottom. Target dusk through midnight as catfish become more active as light fades. 

Don’t forget to share your catch! Tag us on social media with #LakeJennings for a chance to be featured in our next report.

Conditions: The aerator has been turned on. Temps throughout the water column are more stable. The surface temperature around the boat dock is holding steady at 72.2 degrees. The sun is rising at 5:46 a.m. and setting at 7:44 p.m.