When I lived there, it was ice out - usually about April 15th and if I was close it would be the same.
I know the empirical evidence says otherwise, but with the significant amount of brown plants that still go in at Frankfort, I have to believe there has to be a few around. Probably would look for them in the bay first and then more towards the point on the pebble rock where the gobies would be. That never would have been a destination in the early spring when the smelt were the main forage for spring browns, but the browns don't seem to be on the sand now without that bait. They need to feed on something.
I drive 6 hours most Saturdays here Dec - Apr to have a chance to get on a few browns. The lake only gets about 15K 10" browns a year with an approximate 5% survival rate after a year in the lake that is 7500 square acres. That makes only about 750 browns that are in the 20" range the following year and a lot of water to look for them. A 5# brown is a South Carolina "master angler." Been about 15 years on that lake now and still looking for my first double digit brown. Have had one or two on but none landed yet. Most days the typical Jocasse trout fisher is fortunate to have 1 over 20" (that is the limit) and that It can be a tough slog, but would rather be out on the water chasing.
Last Saturday was a good day there.
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