It was good to be back to work and open up the 2016 Bass fishing season this week. We were greeted with heavily stained water and water temperatures ranging from 57 to 60 degrees. There were a lot of complaints about the Bass fishing being slow around the lake. Well as I ventured all over the lake, most people were throwing spinner baits, rattle traps and chatter baits. OK, guys and gals the water is still cold and the Bass 9 out of 10 times won’t chase anything fast moving. Most of you that read my reports regularly have heard me say, “slow down”. Well that is the case right now! We went to a slow moving jig and pig combination and caught some really good quality fish. What we were using was a Santone 5/8 ounce M Series football jig in the Mexican Heather color and using a piece of Uncle Josh #11A Pork Frog as a trailer. We were fishing the jig in 4 to 6 feet of water around grass. One of the questions I get this time of year is; why do you use Pork Frog not a plastic trailer. During cold water conditions the Bass want something that feels natural. So with that being said if the water temperature is below 60 degrees I will normally use the Uncle Josh Frog Pork as a trailer. Our equipment choice this week was a 7.6 Duckett Ghost rod and an ABU Garcia Orra SX reel lined with 17 pound Stren Clear Blue Florissant line.
The White Bass are still active this week. They can be found in 24 foot of water over brush piles and around bridge pylons. The single minnow rig worked the best.
The Crappie fishing was slow this week and they are starting to move up in the water column. I found them in 18 foot of water, suspended over brush piles. The minnow rig is the best way to catch them.
The Catfish weren’t very hungry this week. Punch bait was the bait of choice. You might think about baiting around the trees again.
The spawn is just around the corner! We have a few days open in March and April for guided Bass trips to give a chance for a trophy Bass of a life time.
Give us a call at (903) 413-6916 or E-mail us at: [email protected] . Keep a tight line.