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In this week’s Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report, host Nick Williams checks in with Wade Perry of Mobile Baykeeper and Justin Dunham of Eight Mile Drifter for a conversation that covers a lot of ground across the Delta. Wade brings an environmental and dock-fishing perspective from Dog River, including an update on Mobile Baykeeper’s restoration work, the ongoing coal ash concerns near Barry, and a surprisingly strong late-winter to early-spring trout and redfish bite around lighted docks. Justin follows with a broad freshwater report focused on pre-spawn bass, scattered but catchable crappie, and the kind of hidden backwater oxbows that can really shine this time of year for anglers willing to paddle, scout, and experiment.
Conditions Recap
A brief cool snap rolled through, but the bigger picture still looks like a spring transition is underway across the Mobile-Tensaw system. Nick noted signs of warming around Miller’s Ferry, where he and his family caught bass, crappie, blue cats, yellow cats, and found an area that looks promising for bluegill in the coming weeks. Justin’s report backed that up from the Delta and Escambia side, where bass are pushing shallow, shad are flipping in warming backwaters, and crappie are beginning to stage but still seem somewhat scattered depending on location, water depth, and how quickly those areas warm. On the saltier side, Wade said the Dog River dock-light bite has been unusually good for this time of year, likely helped by a lack of rain and enough salinity to keep bait and game fish hanging around longer than usual.
Dog River Dock Lights, Speckled Trout, and Redfish with Wade Perry
Wade’s report centered on fishing from his dock on Dog River, where a combination of depth change, nearby creeks, shell bottom, and well-placed lights has created a dependable setup for trout and redfish. He said the bite has been better than normal for late winter and early spring, and that the key is letting the lights stay on consistently so bait and fish relate to them over time. He also emphasized that dock-light fishing is one of those situations where being quiet matters. Pulling up too fast, making too much noise on the dock, or throwing oversized tackle can all work against you.
His approach is simple and scaled down. Wade said he prefers 8- to 10-pound monofilament and mostly throws a Berkley PowerBait Swim Shad, with a quarter-ounce silver spoon mixed in from time to time. He also recommended downsizing corks at night, noting that anglers often do not need a loud, heavy popping cork when the fish are already positioned around the lights. He works the water column in thirds, starting shallow and then moving deeper, and he changes his casting angle based on tide direction. He added that redfish often stay closer to the bottom and tighter to pilings than trout, which makes light line fun but risky around structure.
One of the more useful takeaways from Wade’s segment was that anglers should not assume the bite shuts down just because a fish was caught. Sometimes it takes 10 or 15 minutes for the rest of the fish to settle back in, so patience matters. He also pointed out that blue herons are a great real-world signal. If a heron is actively working the area, that is often all the confirmation he needs that bait and fish are present.
Mobile Baykeeper Update and Why It Matters to Anglers
Wade also used his time on the report to explain what Mobile Baykeeper is focused on right now. He described the organization as a regional nonprofit working not just to prevent further damage to the waters around Mobile Bay, but to restore them so future generations have a better experience on the water. A major topic was the ongoing concern over the coal ash pond near Barry, which Wade described as a serious threat to the Delta and Bay. He said Mobile Baykeeper wants a firm commitment from Alabama Power to remove or recycle the coal ash rather than simply cap it in place.
He also highlighted the oyster restoration side of the organization’s work, including efforts to grow oysters off local piers and use them to help rebuild historic reefs in areas like Portersville Bay and Heron Bay. That matters for anglers because oysters are not just habitat. They are also natural water filters, and better water quality supports seagrass, bait, shrimp, and juvenile fish throughout the system.
Pre-Spawn Bass and Backwater Crappie with Justin Dunham
Justin’s report leaned heavily into the kind of fishing that makes this stretch of the calendar so much fun. He said he has been spending time chasing pre-spawn bass on faster-moving baits before shifting to crappie once he finds the right treetops, drop-offs, or little hidden oxbows off the main river. He has been focusing on the Escambia River and the Delta, looking for out-of-the-way places with depth, cover, and reduced current. His overall takeaway was encouraging: the fish seem fired up, and despite the recent cold snap, he does not think it lingered long enough to kill the momentum.
For bass, Justin said this is a great time to throw reaction baits that often shine before summer heat settles in. He mentioned spinnerbaits, larger crankbaits, and even glide baits as good tools when fish are pushing shallow and willing to commit to bigger profiles. He likes to cover water first, then slow down once he has caught enough bass and start probing slightly deeper areas for crappie.
For crappie, he has been relying on Z-Man Shad FryZ-style baits and working around treetops, first targeting the obvious cover and then gradually backing off until he finds the level where fish are actually suspended. He said the crappie he has caught have not always been tightly grouped, so anglers may only pick off two or three at a time before needing to reset the drift and rework the area. The fish he cleaned recently had eggs developing, but did not look fully ready, which suggests at least some areas are still a few weeks away from a full-blown spawn.
Where to Look Right Now
Justin’s advice for the weekend was straightforward. Get on a map, find an oxbow, creek bend, or tucked-away backwater, and go explore it in a kayak, canoe, or johnboat. Places that are a little harder for bigger boats to reach can be especially productive this time of year. He suggested starting with crappie around treetops or deeper structure, then moving shallow and throwing spinnerbaits or crankbaits along the banks for bass. If the crappie are not positioned right on the cover, he said to keep adjusting depth and backing off until you find where they are holding.
Nick’s own observations lined up with that. He described warming afternoon backwaters where shad were actively flipping and multiple species were feeding, which is about as good a sign as an angler can get in late winter and early spring. The common thread in this report was that diversity is high right now. There are bass, crappie, catfish, bluegill prospects, and even bowfin opportunities for anglers willing to target specific kinds of habitat.
Bowfin, Clear Water, and Hidden Water for Adventurous Anglers
Justin and Nick also spent time talking about bowfin, and while that was more of a side conversation, it was a useful one for anglers who like exploring overlooked water. The discussion centered on heavily vegetated backwaters, little clear creeks, and tucked-away sloughs where bowfin can be found alongside bass. Nick noted that some of these areas, especially the clearer creeks north of the Causeway and certain swampy backwaters, can offer surprisingly visual fishing opportunities. Justin, who has made catching a bowfin on fly gear one of his personal missions, clearly sees this time of year as a good opportunity to keep experimenting in those kinds of places.
