March is here and the Bass are big time on the move into the shallows, and they will start spawning soon!! You can expect many more big bass to start showing up with the weather warming back up and rising water temperatures in the shallow spawning areas. This spring is shaping up for another great spawn here at Lake Fork so if you haven't made your plans to come out and do some fishing in the next couple of months you might want to start making arrangements and head this way. Water temperatures have been ranging from 53-56 depending on what areas you are in with the warmest water being at the very backs of the creeks late in the day. The water clarity has also varied from stained to fairly clear, in most areas, but the fish have not seemed to mind either way. Warmer water temperature and grass have been the biggest factors in locating productive fishing areas.
Best baits for me have been a combination of several things right now with warming trends and cold fronts playing a role in what is most productive from one day to the next and even from morning to afternoon. On cold front days or cooler mornings, I have been starting out with lipless crank baits, Red or red/orange 1/2 oz to 3/4 oz. sizes have been best worked over the grass on main lake, secondary points, ditches, or drop offs located next to spawning flats in 3-8 feet of water. A steady retrieve while allowing the bait to dip down into the grass and then ripping it free is the key to getting bites. The spinner bait bite has also been fair early and on cooler days, best colors have been white, white/chart, with double willow blades 3/8 to 1/2 oz. sizes.
As the water temperatures rise during the day, it’s time to break out the soft plastics. Many fish will start to move onto the beds during this next warming trend, this is when I will go to a senko type bait, or a wacky rigged Trick Worm, or fluke in these areas, watermelon red, green pumpkin, June bug or black/blue are good choices. Remember working these baits too fast will result in fewer bites, the longer you let them sit in an area that these fish are starting to bed in, the better chance that one of these bass will pick up your bait and move off with it. I always tell my clients, If you think you are fishing slow, slow down some more. Good creeks to try are Long Branch, Glade Creek, Coffee Creek, Birch Creek, these creeks always turn on early for Big spawning Bass! If you would like to book a trip and get in on some great spring fishing you can reach me at 903-629-5085 or check out my web site www.lakeforktexasbigbass.com
Good Fishing,
David Vance
Check out these pictures of the Big Per Spawn Bass we have caught this week!!
