This is the perfect place to go to introduce someone to fishing or to get the kids on a lot of fish. Effective largemouth bass methods this time of the year tend to be baby brush hogs in green pumpkin or watermelon candy with a dropshot or Texas rig. Also try top water poppers, buzz baits and Rat-L-Traps. Fish drop-offs, points, ledges and reefs in 15 to 18 feet of water. This bite should continue getting better and better as the season progresses.

At many lakes, such as Bartlett (and Roosevelt Lake), bass are not retreating to the deepest water possible. Instead, they are suspending in their comfort zone of around 70 degrees. Even though a lake might be 60-90 feet deep, fish could be suspended in 20-25 feet – along with all the shad they want to eat.

Crappie should be congregating in larger schools suspended in deeper water, quite often off extended underwater points or along the Yellow Cliffs.

There might also be a top-water bite right before monsoon-generated storms hit. But be sure to get off the water of there is lightning.

This is the prime flathead catfish season. Try live bluegill or small carp as bait. Look for the deeper holes, especially up-lake where there is a little current. For bluegills, try the backs of rocky coves using nightcrawlers or meal worms on light tackle.

The Jojoba (main) and Yellow Cliffs boat ramps are open.

Lake elevation is 1,778 feet, feet, 73 % full.