BY MIKE STEVENS
WINCHESTER – The bass bite at Lake Skinner has shifted almost entirely to a finesse game at Lake Skinner, but the lake is still pumping out lofty largemouth numbers as well as some quality fish, including a double-digit model.Other species are also cooperating, and while one has been missing in action, anglers still have plenty to choose from.
Just before press time at Western Outdoor News for this issue, Lake Skinner Marina staffers put out word that a 10.5-pound largemouth was caught by a shorepounder who was working a 6-inch Roboworm in Margarita Mutilator just to the left of the kayak launch ramp. Roboworms have been a recurring theme among Skinner’s bass anglers including former WON staffer George Kramer who stuck a bass that fell just short of 8 pounds on a Roboworm. There were also no shortage of reports of other anglers pitching Roboworms around and just offshore of tule-lined banks.
Catfish action at Lake Skinner has been good is it should only get better following a stock slated for July 31. Shrimp and sardines have been the top baits according to Marina staffers who also reported cats of 22, 14 and 13 pounds being weighed in. They said bluegill fishing has been productive close to shore for anglers using mealworms, and some trophy-sized ‘gills are starting to show up.
Unfortunately, Lake Skinner is not quite firing on all summer cylinders as the striped bass scene has been as dead as it gets.