This week’s Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report is all about that spring window when the Delta starts to feel almost too good to be true.

Peter Jordan joins the show to help unpack a memorable backwater canoe trip where the bluegill bite was so strong it shut down the original plan of chasing bowfin, and the conversation turns into a bigger look at fishing pressure, overlooked backwaters, fly rod setups, popper-dropper rigs, canoes, alligator gar, and why small, hard-to-reach places can show what the Delta is really capable of.

Shannon Woods keeps the bluegill theme rolling with a report from the bream tournament scene, including fish on bed, the role of rain, worms versus crickets, where to look for shellcracker, and why the upcoming mayfly hatch could be the next big thing to watch.

Then John-Michael Chappelle of Chappelle Excursions rounds out the episode with a wider look at the Delta’s plants, birds, wildlife, and natural history, reminding anglers that the same habitat producing great fishing also supports everything from brown pelicans and wild rice to manatees, dolphins, and alligator snapping turtles.

Spring is hitting its stride on the Mobile-Tensaw, and this week’s report is packed with real-time insight from anglers who’ve been on the water.

Justin Dunnam breaks down a near-win kayak tournament on Bay Minette Creek, where a rising tide, backwater ponds, and missed frog strikes made the difference between first and third. He shares exactly how he approached pressured water and why timing the tide mattered more than location.

Matthew Frazier gives a major update on Big Creek Lake, which just reopened after a long and controversial closure. He walks through what access looks like right now, what’s still being fought over, and what anglers can expect if they plan to fish it this weekend.

Dip McMillian rounds things out with a strong crappie report from the Tensaw side, where post-spawn fish are stacking tight to structure in 6 to 10 feet of water. He explains how he’s finding them, why he’s ignoring suspended fish, and the exact jig setup that’s producing right now.

If you’re trying to figure out where the bite is, how spring patterns are shifting, or what changing conditions mean for your next trip, this one’s worth your time.

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This episode of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report captures a spring pattern that’s right on the edge of breaking wide open across the Delta. Host Nick Williams is joined first by Darren Shirah, who paints a clear picture of what’s happening on the freshwater side. Crappie are mostly wrapping up their spawn, while bluegill and other bream species are staging for the next full moon push. Goggle-eye fishing is already strong—especially around wood—and within the next couple weeks, everything should start firing at once. Darren gets into the practical side too, from how to locate beds to why covering water is often more effective than overthinking it, along with a reminder that pressure and overharvest can quietly erase even the best spots over time.

The conversation then shifts gears with Jimmy Styles, who brings a broader perspective on what makes the Delta so unique. From turtle diversity to snake safety, Jimmy connects the dots between fishing and the bigger ecological picture, making the case that understanding the place you fish—its wildlife, habitats, and seasonal rhythms—ultimately makes you a better outdoorsman. It’s a reminder that the Delta isn’t just productive water, it’s one of the most biologically rich systems in the country.

To round things out, Brenton Grace with Hooked Up By The Bay checks in from the causeway with a mixed-bag report that highlights one of the Delta’s biggest advantages. Flounder are just starting to show, with a few solid keepers hinting that the main push is close, while anglers are still able to bounce into crappie and even early speckled trout and redfish. It’s that classic Mobile-Tensaw scenario—one trip, multiple fisheries, and a cooler that can end up looking pretty diverse if you play it right.

Across all three conversations, the theme is the same: stable conditions, warming water, and a fishery that’s about to hit its stride. If you’ve been waiting for the right time to lean in, it’s getting close.

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This week’s Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report centers on a fishery in transition, with spring patterns opening the door to more aggressive bites and a wider range of techniques.

Host Nick Williams checks in with Justin Dunham, who’s leaning into the bass spawn and taking advantage of more active fish by throwing faster-moving baits like topwaters, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits. The key, he explains, is balancing that aggression with the ability to slow down when needed, and being willing to adjust based on what the fish are telling you. With warming water, fish are feeding up, but conditions like tide, wind, and time of day still dictate how long to stay in a spot and how to approach it .

The conversation then shifts to crappie with Dip McMillian, who shares a standout tournament performance driven almost entirely by years of detailed note-taking. His system—tracking tide, moon phase, location, and timing—allowed him to find fish without pre-fishing, reinforcing how predictable the Delta can be if you pay attention over time. He also highlights the importance of moving water, noting that the bite turned on as soon as the tide started flowing, with fish pushing out to feed more aggressively .

Across both segments, the takeaway is simple but powerful: this is a high-opportunity window in the Delta. Fish are active, patterns are forming, and success comes down to staying flexible, covering water, and learning from each trip so you can stack the odds in your favor the next time out.

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Spring is settling into the Mobile-Tensaw Delta, and this week’s report paints a clear picture of a fishery in transition.

Nick sits down with Josh Gunter, Shannon Woods, and John Michael Chappelle to break down what’s happening across the system right now, from Mount Vernon down to the lower marsh. Water levels have finally stabilized after a manageable high-water pulse, setting the stage for improving conditions, but not every bite has caught up yet.

Crappie are scattered and stubborn in a classic post-spawn funk, forcing anglers to cover water and stay mobile rather than camping on known structure. Catfish, on the other hand, are carrying the load, with strong reports coming from limb lines, bank poles, and set lines across the Delta. Bass anglers are finding success shallow with swim jigs and chatterbaits, while bluegill are just beginning to show signs of life, though the big bulls haven’t committed to the beds yet.

Shannon Woods looks ahead to the upcoming panfish tournament season, including a new Mount Vernon event and expanded rules that open the door to heavier mixed-species bags. It’s shaping up to be a strong year if water conditions hold.

The conversation shifts as John Michael Chappelle with Chappelle Excursions brings a different lens to the Delta, highlighting the unmatched biodiversity that surrounds the fishery. From bald eagles and swallow-tailed kites to alligators and migrating waterfowl, the Delta is as much a wildlife experience as it is a fishing destination. His perspective is a reminder that even on slow fishing days, there’s no shortage of reasons to be out there.

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This week on the Mobile Tensaw Delta Fishing Report, Nick Williams sits down with Meagan Fowler to talk about a fast-moving issue that could have lasting impacts on the Delta. Meagan shares the latest on proposed utility-scale solar developments in the Stockton area and what they could mean for the rivers, creeks, and wetlands that make this system so unique.

The conversation also marks the launch of Friends of the Tensaw River, a newly formed nonprofit that’s grown out of a grassroots effort to respond to these projects. The name isn’t new, though. It’s a revival of the original group led by the late Davida Hastie, who spent decades fighting to protect these same wetlands. In many ways, this moment feels like history repeating itself, with a new generation picking up the torch.

Nick and Meagan dig into what’s changed on the ground, from the scale of these projects to the lack of local oversight in unzoned areas, and why so many people who live, fish, and hunt in the Delta feel blindsided. They also touch on the broader forces driving this push, the confusion around messaging and media coverage, and what residents can actually do right now if they want to have a voice in what happens next.

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This week on the Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report, Nick sits down with Wade Perry of Mobile Baykeeper and Justin Dunnam, the Eight Mile Drifter, for a conversation that covers both the health of the Delta and how to catch fish in it right now.

Wade gives a boots-on-the-ground look at what’s happening in Mobile Bay, from the ongoing coal ash threat to the push to restore oyster reefs and improve water quality. It’s a reminder that the future of fishing in the Delta depends just as much on conservation work as it does on tactics and timing. Wade also shares a detailed look at fishing dock lights on Dog River, including setup, timing, and the small adjustments that make a big difference when targeting speckled trout and redfish at night.

Then Justin breaks down a strong early spring bite, with bass pushing shallow, crappie staging around structure, and backwater oxbows heating up fast. The guys talk through how to approach these areas, what baits are producing, and how to adjust as fish move between shallow feeding zones and deeper structure.

If you want to understand not just where the fish are, but what’s shaping the fishery itself, this is a can’t-miss episode.

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Fishing is heating up across the Mobile-Tensaw Delta, and this week’s report checks in with three anglers who spend a lot of time on the water across the system.

First up, Brenton Grace from Hooked Up by the Bay shares what he’s seeing around the Causeway bait shop and along the marshes of Mobile Bay. With shrimp starting to show back up after a slow stretch, anglers are looking forward to better conditions and improving redfish opportunities heading into the weekend.

Next, Darren Shirah from Reel Time Outdoors with Darren talks about exploring different parts of the Delta, including bass fishing trips around the Boatyard area and the endless maze of creeks, lakes, and backwaters on the Tensaw side of the river system. The conversation also dives into how anglers can find productive water in a place as vast and complex as the Delta.

Finally, Dip McMillian from Dippie Outdoors joins the show with a crappie update, reporting that some of the better fish are coming from shallow grass and shoreline areas, with many fish running over a pound. Minnows and simple presentations around cover and grass lines are producing steady action.

If you’re fishing the Delta this week, this episode covers everything from Causeway redfish to Delta bass and crappie patterns so you can plan your next trip with confidence.

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Dixie Building Supply

Black Buffalo

SlipSki