Randy Poynter Lake has a reputation for producing big bass. The lake, however, is relatively unproductive due to the amount of granite bedrock in its watershed, so , anglers likely will not catch as many per hour fishing as in some other area reservoirs. Nice catches of bass in the spring are common with more than 40 percent greater than 14 inches.
Technique
The lake is deep with fast tapering banks, and the water is normally very clear, so light line is a must. One of the few flats is located directly across from the boat ramp where an old road bed lies. Bass seem to use the roadbed as a transportation corridor. Focus on blowdowns and standing timber. Crankbaits, spinner baits, buzz baits, Flukes, Rat-L-Traps, plastic worms and jerkbaits fished around cover or structure such as creek channels and points produce good results.
Target
Springtime will produce the highest numbers and sizes as the bass move into the shallows to spawn. Starting off the bank in deeper water and then working towards the bank is the best way to locate bass. Bass are known to become more active a day or two following storms. Woody debris along the shoreline and shallow humps in the lake are good areas to concentrate efforts.
Hybrid Bass
Prospect
Thanks to regular stocking for the past several years, hybrid bass fishing continues to improve. Boat anglers will have more success with these open water fish than bank anglers. Expect most catches around 1-2 pounds, with a few larger than 6 pounds.
Technique
Shiny artificial lures that imitate shad work well, such as spoons, bucktails, rooster tails, rattle traps, deep diving crankbaits and jigging spoons. Some anglers like to use live minnows or bluegill or cut bait while trolling or drifting over flats.
Target
Hybrid bass are most active during the summer. These are open water fish so fishing from a boat will yield the best success.
Bream
Prospect
Redear sunfish (shellcracker) and bluegill offer the best fishing for bream during the first spawns in spring. Expect bluegill to run fairly small, but redear sunfish should be longer than 6 inches, with some 12 inches and longer.
Technique
Fish red wigglers, night crawlers or crickets using a small bobber. Small spinners (1/8 or 1/16 ounce) like Rooster tail or Panther Martins also are effective.
Target
Expect best results during the first spawn in spring. Redear sunfish spawn in mid to late April. Bluegill will spawn multiple times beginning in late May through early June. The best areas to target are their spawning beds, which look like small round craters.
Crappie
Prospect
Randy Poynter also is known for producing good catches of black crappie. The crappie population is healthy with strong reproduction rates. Expect crappie to average 9 – 16 inches and weigh-in at or around a pound.
Technique
Use minnows in deep water near creek channels and the abundant standing timber. Crappie will gradually move to more shallow water as temperatures approach 60 degrees (F).
Target
In March and April, crappie are concentrated in areas like the 16-plus acres of standing timber found throughout the reservoir. Crappie will gradually move to more shallow water as temperatures reach 60 degrees (F). Crappie fishing generally peaks sometime in April, depending on water temperatures, but some of the largest fish are caught during the fall.
Other Species
Prospect
DNR stocks the lake with catfish when hatcheries have a productive year and these fish can reach large sizes in Poynter.
Technique
Catfish readily take nightcrawers, cut bait, chicken livers or prepared catfish bait (blood bait). Fish with a bobber or straight-line to the bottom. Anglers fishing from the piers at Black Shoals Park and along the shoreline have caught some large catfish over the years.
Target
Target deeper water near old creek channels and timber during the spring through fall.
Additional Information
Directions: From I-20, take Exit 82 (Hwy. 138) north to Sigman Rd. Turn left and then right on Hwy. 20 north. Travel 5.3 miles and turn right on Bethel Rd. In about one mile, turn left onto Black Shoals Rd. into the Park.
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