Author: Lake Havasu Guide

Spirit Lake, IA – Berkley Vanish Transition has been touted as hi-vis line ideal for fishing in clear water and when finesse fishing. But today’s major bass tournaments are seeing Berkley Vanish Transition being used by fishing pros known for using big fishing line and catching big fish such as Davy Hite, O.T. Fears and David Workman. Workman, of Ft. Worth, Texas, won the September EverStart Series Northern Division Tournament on New York’s Lake Champlain. His line was the new Berkley Vanish Transition. His technique was flipping a 4-inch watermelon with red glitter Power Bait Flippin Tube from Berkley into the thickest brush he could find in 8 to 12 feet of water. Not your conventional finesse fishing.

The four-day event found most of the tourney’s anglers seeking the great smallmouth bite, and Workman caught his share. But it was the bigger green fish not brown, that took him to the winner’s circle.

“I found my best fish in 8-foot and deeper water in thick mats of grass and heavy brush”, said Workman. “I had a great largemouth pattern for the week so I just stayed with it. I figured the last day I’d switch to smallmouth but the wind was too tough and my largemouth holes beckoned”.

“I did some Carolina rigging in practice using 20-pound Berkley Big Game with a foot or longer leader of 17-pound Berkley Vanish Transition. But during competition I caught over 50 fish during the four days of the tournament flipping with my Abu Garcia 4600C spooled with 20-pound Berkley Vanish Transition almost exclusively”.

Berkley Vanish Transition is such a popular item at sporting goods stores that finding replacement line has been difficult at times as stores reordered to restock their shelves. Workman was having the same problem. “I only had one spool of 20-pound Berkley Vanish Transition going into the tournament. As a result I used the same line without replacing it during the entire tournament. But I never lost a single fish and I was fishing some really tough areas with tight brush piles. On several occasions I was dragging fish over logs but my fishing line never failed me”.

Workman loves to flip into heavy cover with a tube or jig but this requires the ability to see the line and detect the slightest bites. “Watching my line for bites is the key but I’ve always had to strain to see my monofilament line. I’m sure I was missing bites. The gold color of Berkley Vanish Transition is so visible, no matter what the background. I now can see my line against the water, floating weed mats, timber, the sky, everywhere. Before I always had to strain to see my monofilament line. I’m sue I was missing bites and the best part of Berkley Transition is its clear underwater and virtually invisible to fish. A line that changes color – you gotta love it.” – Lake Havasu

AUSTIN, Texas – Six boat ramp construction grants totaling $2,104,024 were approved Nov. 3 by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission.

The grant program provides funds for the purchase, construction and maintenance of boat ramps, access roads and related improvements. Funds may also be used for capital improvements to existing state boat ramp sites. The grant program is administered by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and is funded by the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act and the State Game, Fish and Water Safety Fund.

Aransas County Navigation District 1 received a 75 percent matching share grant in the amount of $187,202 for renovation of a parking lot and loading ramp, a pollution prevention plan, and construction of a mooring pier, fish cleaning station, and signs. The facility is located at Cove Harbor South on Aransas Bay in Rockport.

The Brazos River Authority received $103,125 in 75 percent matching funds to renovate an existing single-lane boat ramp and parking area, and construct a courtesy dock, restroom and signs. The facility is located at the North D & D Public Use Area on Possum Kingdom Lake near Graford.

Hidalgo County received $500,000 in 75 percent matching funds to renovate an existing boat ramp, dock, fish cleaning station, and lighting. The facility is located at the Anzalduas Dam on the Rio Grande River adjacent to the Lower Rio Grande National Wildlife Refuge near Mission.

The Lubbock County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 received $500,000 in 75 percent matching funds to construct a new 3-lane boat ramp and restroom, and renovate three existing restrooms at various locations on the lake. The facility is located on Buffalo Springs Lake near Lubbock.

The Mackenzie Municipal Water Authority received $33,697 in 75 percent matching funds to construct a courtesy dock, pier, and signs at two existing boat ramps. The facility is located on Lake Mackenzie between Tulia and Silverton.

Sheldon Lake State Park received $780,000 in 75 percent matching funds to construct a two-lane boat ramp, dock, dredging, roads and parking. These facilities will be located at Sheldon Lake Environmental Learning Center in Harris County.

All facilities except the Sheldon Lake project will be operated and maintained by the local government sponsors.

For more information about TPWD grant programs, visit the Web (http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/grants/). – Lake Havasu

JASPER, Texas — Favorable winters and high water levels have contributed to the spread of Giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta) in Toledo Bend Reservoir, one of dozens of lakes affected by exotic aquatic water weeds statewide. Infestations once confined to the backs of a small number of creeks and bayous in both Texas and Louisiana have now spread throughout the reservoir. Giant salvinia is easily spread overland to new locations by boat trailers, propellers, or even the intakes of jet-skis. The possibility of giant salvinia reaching neighboring Sam Rayburn Reservoir by this fall is extremely high, considering the number of boaters and anglers that utilize both reservoirs.

The threat giant salvinia poses to Sam Rayburn is very real and should be of primary concern to anyone who utilizes this premier bass fishery. Under ideal growing conditions in Texas, the invasive plant can double every 5-8 days, is resistant to cold weather, and can live for weeks out of water if kept moist. Once established, the invasive fern forms dense mats that eliminate all other aquatic vegetation in the area, introductions may be apparent as early as spring of 2005. Meanwhile, the potential threat to Sam Rayburn and many other popular reservoirs in Texas and Louisiana continues to grow.

The magnitude of the problem has reached such proportions that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is now forced to concentrate all control efforts near boat ramps and other access points in an attempt to simply contain the infestation to Toledo Bend.

TPWD has begun large-scale introductions of a bio-control agent in the form of a weevil that is totally dependent on giant salvinia throughout its life cycle. Although it may take as long as two years for reproducing populations of giant salvinia weevils to establish, results of these introductions may be apparent as early as spring of 2005.

Concerned anglers and other resource users can help by inspecting and cleaning their boats, trailers, jet-ski intakes, and other equipment of all aquatic vegetation before leaving an infected area. Anglers fishing Sam Rayburn should be aware of any suspicious floating aquatic vegetation, particularly around boat ramps and the backs of nearby creeks. Most new infestations of invasive species occur at or near boat ramps.

Giant salvinia typically has oblong floating leaves from .5 to 1.5 inches long. Leaves have a velvety surface and are usually a shade of green. Younger plants closely resemble common salvinia and have smaller leaves that lie flat on the water surface. In more mature plants the leaves are much larger, folded, and compressed into upright chains.

When viewed with a magnifying glass, the tips of leaf hairs on giant salvinia resemble an eggbeater. In contrast, leaf hairs of common salvinia are forked and do not form the identifying “cage-like” structure.

Common salvinia, a close cousin to giant salvinia, has been do*****ented on both Sam Rayburn and B.A. Steinhagen. Although a serious problem on B.A. Steinhagen, common salvinia persists in relatively small populations on Sam Rayburn primarily isolated to the Harvey Creek and Stanley Creek arms.

TPWD personnel, the Sabine River Authority, and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) have been waging a pitched battle with giant salvinia on Toledo Bend since its discovery in 1998. Aggressive herbicide treatments by TPWD and LDWF soon after its discovery held infestations in check for the first two years. An unplanned and extended drawdown in 2000 helped to suppress the invasive fern, stranding many plants on dry land. Lower water levels during the summer normally help contain the spread of giant salvinia, although small populations will continue to thrive in the backs of creeks and drainages.

Possession or transport of giant salvinia is prohibited by State and Federal law. Any possible sightings of giant salvinia on Sam Rayburn should be reported to TPWD immediately. Any suspicious plants found should be left in place and their exact location do*****ented. – Lake Havasu

ishing on Lake Sam Rayburn is not only back to a summertime pattern but we are back to our 100degree temperatures and late evening thunder showers. Please remember to take along some Catch and Release or ice for your fish. We do want to be able to release them in the best condition possible. With all this hot weather also remember to take along plenty of fluids for yourself and sunscreen.

White buzzbaits along with your favorite top water baits are still producing action early and late. Once the sun is up that bite is just about over. But don’t put your rod away we have had some schooling fish around main lake points and you will want to be able to throw something at them quickly once you have spotted them. Also late in the evening there have been schooling fish around the Black Forrest area . These schooling fish don’t stay up very long so be alert.

Rayburn’s grass is not up to par this year. The grass line is very hard to follow and the matt is not solid. Favorite flipping areas such as Needmore and Farmers are no exception. But the fish are still holding in it. Most of the fish being caught are on the bottom, this is where that 1oz. jig in Black/Blue or Black/Brown/Amber comes in. Start in about 10ft. -12ft. of water. Look for the points of hydrilla. Most of the time if you find one or two fish in an area there will be several more . I use Stanley’s Rattling jig in 1 oz. Sometimes when the bite is tough the rattle makes all the difference. You also need to have a rod with enough backbone to hoist your trophy out . I would suggest a Castaway Grass Rake. The name say’s it all, this is the ultimate rod for grass fishing. You will also need to have some type of braided line . Lynch line in 75lb test or Spiderwire will work great this line has not streatch so your can snatch your catch right out of the hydrilla. Remember that vertically flipping a jig can be boring but the results can also be very rewarding.

On the South end of the lake ,Rayburn has a Friday Jackpot Tournament to offer anglers that lasts 4hours and has a 3 fish limit. This is a tournament open to all, and can be alot of fun.

Gene Larew has out some new colors in Hawg craws that have been very popular . They are core shots. Colors are: redbloodline,bluebloodline, pumpkin core and firetiger and don’t forget glow. Glow is a white hawg craw that is very hot right now. For the lastest in tackle or a fishing report just give us a call at D.J.’s Tackle 1-800-870-0131.

This lake report is provided by La Donna Jones. La Donna is a Tackle shop owner, and an avid angler who is fishing the Bass-N-Gal Circuit along with several other tournament trails, she is a member of the Texas Outdoors Writers Association and provides a weekly report for the Jasper NewsBoy. La Donna is currently sponsored by Castaway Rods and StanleyJigs.
– Lake Havasu

EARLY AND LATE FISH YOUR TOPWATER BAITS SUCH AS : POP-R’S ,BUZZ BAITS AND EVEN A SLUG-GO OVER THE TOP OF THE HYDRILLA. ONCE THE SUN IS UP OR ABOUT 7:30 TRY GOING TO THE OUTSIDE EDGE OF THE HYDRILLA. YOU WILL NEED A 1 OZ. OR EVEN AN 1 1/4 OZ. JIG TO PUNCH THROUGH THE THICKEST MATT . THE BEST COLORS WILL BE BLACK,BROWN, AND AMBER OR BLACK AND BLUE. STANLEY HAS A RATTLING JIG THAT WORKS GREAT RIGHT NOW. SOMETIMES THAT RATTLE MAKES ALL THE DIFFRENCE. THE OTHER OPTION IS TO FLIP A GENE LAREW HAWG CRAW ON THE EDGE OR JUST LOOK FOR THE HOLES IN THE GRASS. CLORS IN THE HAWG CRAW ARE: PLUM, PUMPKIN-PEPPERGREEN/CHART. CLAWS, OR PUMPKINGREEN. IF YOU ARE ON THE NORTH END OF THE LAKE AROUND THE BLACK FORREST TRY A BLACK /BLUE HAWG CRAW AND INSERT A GLASS RATTLE IN IT. THIS DOES MAKE A DIFFRENCE IF THE BITES ARE FAR AND FEW INBETWEEN.

IF YOU LIKE TO WORM FISH TRY THE 4″ RINGWORMS IN PLUM, CRABAPPLE AND CRANAPPLE. EVEN THE RED BLOOD LINE AND TEXAS SMOKE COLORS WILL WORK USE A LIGHT SINKER SOMETHING LIKE AN1/8 OZ. AND FISH SLOW. WACKY WORM FISHING IS STILL PRODUCING SOME NICE KEEPERS. THE COLORS ARE WATERMELON AND PLUM. THIS BAIT CAN BE FISHED ON THE OUTSIDE EDGE OF THE HYDRILLA ALSO JUST REMEMBER IT TAKES LONGER FOR IT TO FALL. BE PATIENCE.

ALSO BE AWARE THAT THE SCHOOLING BASS ARE USUALLY AROUND POINTS IN THE MAIN LAKE AND RUNNING INTO A SCHOOL OF THEM CAN FUN.

IN THE HEAT OF THE SUMMER YOU CAN FIND THE CRAPPIE IN ABOUT 25 TO 30 FT. IN THE BRUSH PILES. BEST BAIT IS A BAG OF MINNOWS.
AS LONG AS THE DAM HAS A GENERATION SCHELUDE THE HYBRIDS WILL BE RUNNING . THE BEST BAITS TO USE OR A SLAB IN WHITE OR CHART. OR A HAIR JIG.

REMEMBER TO CATCH AND RELEASE AND FOR THE LATEST FISHING REPORT OR LAKE ACTION JUST CALL 1-800-870-0131.

LA DONNA AND HER HUSBAND DENNIS OWN AND OPERATE D.J.’S TACKLE IN JASPER, TX. SHE ALSO IS A TOURNAMENT FISHERMAN PARTICIPATING IN BASS’N GAL, ANGLERS CHOICE COUPLES, AND BASS N BUCKS TEAM CIRCUIT. HER WEEKLY FISHING COLUMN ABOUT SAM RAYBURN APPEARS IN THE JASPER NEWS BOY. SHE IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE TOWA. CURRENTLY LADONNA IS SPONSORED BY STANLEY JIGS AND CASTAWAY RODS.
– Lake Havasu

Fishing on Rayburn is back to a summer time pattern. Start off by using a top water bait. I personally like a Rattling Chug Bug. This little chugger will walk like a Zara Spook or pop like a Pop -R. But it has a rattle in it and it drives the fish crazy! The best colors seem to be Tennessee Shad and White Herringbone . Use this bait or a buzz bait in white or chart / white first thing in the morning or late in the evening. Remember if there is cloud coverage these baits will produce all day.

After the morning bite is over start in about 10-12ft. of water throwing a Carolina Rig Zoom Watermelon lizard or centipeide with about a 2ft. leader.

If this is not your cup of tea then go to a 3/4 oz. or 1oz. black/blue or a black,brown and amber color( #93) Stanley Jig. Use a black /blue Gene Larew craw worm with the black/ blue jig and a pumpkinpepper green /chart. claw craw worm behind the #93 Stanley jig. The Gene Larew craw worms are salt impregnated and the fish do hang on to them longer. Also the Gene Larew Hawg Craws in Black/Blue or Pumpkinpeppergreen /Chart. claws will be used this time of year. This bait is used the same way the jigs are, (Vertically) only you use a Florida Riged 3/4 oz. or 1 oz. screw lock weight to secure the craw worm to the weight.

The hydrilla line should be easy to follow, but a flasher is needed if you are really hunting for the hawgs. Also make sure to use some type of braided line. The most popular is Lynch line in 75lb test and Spiderwire in 50lb. test. These lines help you hoist those hawgs out of the hydrilla. The water depth will be determined by the lake level. Most common place to start jig fishing willbe somewhere between 12-and 15ft. As the summer progresses the debth will get deeper.

Terry Oldham also has out a new 1 1/4oz. jig that will bust through the thickest hydrilla. To go along with the jigs ,a new scented craw worm that fits on any jig perfectly. You don’t even have to bite any off. Terry has one last NEW item to offer this year and that is a rattle. This rattle will fit on any hook shank. Making a non -rattle jig a “rattling one” by just adding this rattle. Remember for the lastest fishing report or tackle information just give us a call at 1-800-870-0131.
– Lake Havasu

Sam Rayburn Fishing Report:

LAKE LEVEL: 169.07
WATER TEMPETURE: 69 – 78 DEGREES

Crappie: Crappie action is well on its way. Favorite baits to use now are the road runners in black/ chartecuse , chartecuse and white in 1/16 ounce . Also the spring grugs in 2inch are very pouplar in black /chartecuse and chartecuse. Later in the year 3″ grubs and 1/8 ounce road runners will be more the dominating baits. To be on the safe side take along a bag of minnows and fish 6 – 8 ft. over the moss. Veach , Coleman and Tiger Creek have already started producing . Start fishing in about 8ft. to 10ft. of water on the points early and late. Also use your minnows on your brush piles.

Stripers: With the flood gates open there is plenty of activity now. Use a 2 oz. white or chartecuse slabs on the river side ( Tip), change the hooks out on your slabs and replace them with a flash tail hook .

Bass: The top water activity is getting better. Use your chuggers in chad colors or buzz baits early or until the sun is up. Make sure to use them again late in the evening untill dark. With the lake level up the fish are sitll in the bushes. Several baits have been working. Flipping a Stanley black/blue 1/2 oz. jig with a black and blue craw as a trailer will work well or use a Zoom centipede Texas riged with no weight and place a nail in the end of the worm. The nail will work as your weight. Now you can flip the brush right in the middle without getting hung up as bad. The fish are holding tight to the brush and laydowns. The other pattern is to carolina rig with a 2 1/2 foot leader , use a watermelon lizard or pumpkinseed/chart. lizard over the scattered moss in about 8- 12 ft. of water. If the fish quit hitting a lizard change to a smaller bait such as a centipede in the same colors mentioned earlier. Slowly drifting seems to produce more fish.

For the most up to date lake report or guide service give us a call at D.J.’s Tackle 1-800-870-0131
La Donna Jones is an avid angler following several different trails this year Bass-N-Gal, Bass N Bucks Team, and Anglers Choice Couples, she also writes a weekly lake report for the Jasper News Boy, is a member of the Outdoorwriters Asso. and along with her husband, Dennis, owns D.J.’s Tackle in Jasper, Tx.
– Lake Havasu

This is truly a fish tale. After catching this massive fish and wanting to see just how big her trophy was the couple went to Piney Point Plaza on March 12, to weigh it in. The scales at Piney Point were Postal scales and they are certified but…. they were missed read by the weigh master. Something to remember is that any one that is present and weighs in the fish becomes the official weigh master. And this is where the story gets confusing. This scale has two sides to read and by accident the wrong side was read at 12lb 10 oz. Michelle decided that she wanted to mount this hawg and took it home. This trophy bass was 27 and 1/4 long and 22’” in the girt. Hard to believe it could be mistaken for a 12 pounder.

The story continues, three days later this fish is on ice, they take it to their taxidermist, who re-weighed the fish. To everyone’s surprise she weigh in at 15.00 lbs. His advise was to take it to certified scales and have it re-weighed.

Fourth day the fish is taken to Wingates Meat Market in Orange, TX. and is weighed in at 14.75 lbs. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department was notified and the proper paper work was filled out for certification.

Now , a problem arises that Michelle’s fish can not be certified because in the rules it states that the fish must be weighed in before the 3rd. day on certified scales. This couple had waited until the fourth day to weight her in on certified scales. Not really, because the scales at Piney Point Plaza are certified . Well , the miss read scale was not detected until Mr. Seidensticker was called out to make another certification and he started looking at the scales at Piney Point. On his inspection he found that if you look at the side that read 12.10 oz. the opposite side reads 15.00lbs. This solves the problem of the fish being weighed in before three days , because she was first taken to Piney Point. So new paper work was submitted and finally approved. Sam Rayburn has a new lake record.

Congratulations to Michelle Ford on her outstanding catch. – Lake Havasu

Lot me just start out by saying how much I appreciate the opportunity to write this report and give readers a brief introduction. I have been an avid bass fisherman my whole life, although I have competed in tournaments for about 8 years. I have had the pleasure of guiding on Falcon since 1984. In 1993, my wife LeEtte and I opened Lunkerville Tackle & Guide Service. We have about five guides who work for us besides myself.

In 1993 and 1994, 1 directed a team trail in South Texas, before deciding that I would rather fish as many as possible. Currently, I am fortunate enough to write several periodical articles monthly, as well as fish two team trails. My sponsors are: Falcon Rods, Browning, T.U.F, Line, Stealth Boats, and Angler’s Marine.

Now that you have a little background, let’s talk about the fishing for April on what many anglers feel is the best bass lake in the United States, Falcon Lake.

During April, we will have pro, post, and spawning bass throughout the lake, This is highly unusual during April as the bass down here usually spawn from January-March. The low water level seems to be keeping fish away from the beds until the last second- About 80% of the fish will have already spawned by April.

One of the fantastic things about Falcon fish, is that they will remain active and shallow even after the spawn. They also recuperate from the trauma of spawning and become aggressive quickly. With these two things in mind, there will be several patterns that will produce ten Pounders and thirty pound stringers in April.

First of all, spinnerbaiting the Salinillas Creek is a must, White, gold, and red and chartreuse combinations work for us. Fish the numerous hydrilla Patches around hardwoods. I recommend staying in the 2-4 foot range. Chrome rattle traps have also been a perennial hot bait.

From the Tiger Creeks, north fish big crankbaits along the rocky points. There are several brush piles in these areas, and those places are even better.

I recommend chrome, firetiger, and red colored Rapalas and Storms. The new Norman’s are producing real good also, With the lake down some 27′, we have a lot of off shore ledges and house ruins popping up. While these are terrible navigation hazards, they are awesome fish cover. Be sure to fish them anywhere you see them. A Carolina rigged lizard will produce some heavy stringers.

With this information you can come down and get your string pulled throughout April. I recommend calling us or Oso Blanco Motel ahead of time to get your reservations. For guide, lake, or motel information give me a call at 210-765-3939. Until next month, good luck, good fishing, and I hope to meet you all on the water. – Lake Havasu

This month’s report is a sort of good news bad news scenario here on beautiful Falcon Lake. The bad news is that we are still suffering from extremely low water levels and from all appearances the lake will continue to fall through the summer. The good news is that the fishing is fantastic. As Mr. McCarty talked about last month, Falcon is one of the few lakes that will produce five fish 30 pound stringers throughout the summer’s heat.

For the summer there will be two predominant patterns. One will be deep diving crankbaits fished down rocky points and parallel to rock ledges. With the water so low these areas will be visible. I recommend red, firetiger and chrome.

The second hawg huntin’ pattern is to pitch and flip worms or lizards around 3-6’ hardwoods. This pattern works from the Marker 9 area south. When it comes to colors I would recommend red shad, blue fleck and junebug. In locating the preferred hardwoods limit your search to ,areas that are near deep water.

When coming down to Falcon this summer I have several recommendations. First spool up with braided line. Down here all my guides use T.U.F. line 50-65 pound test. I can personally recommend this super braid as I have used it for the past three years. It was one of the first braids available and I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. Secondly have plenty of sunscreen and water available. Thirdly purchase a good map and run the international markers along the main river channel. There are lots of mean rock piles and trees popping up right now. Finally bring a camera. Falcon can produce the fish of a lifetime, even in the summer months.

Give me a call at 210-765-3939 for any information you might need. My headquarters are at Lunkerville Tackle and Guide can take care of everything from guides to motel and taxidermy. you will find that our unequaled selection of tackle and capable guide Pro Staff will gladly help you in any way.

Until next month hope to see you on the water. If you see a big red silver and red Stealth motor on over and say hello. (Chip Harmon’s sponsors are Stealth Boat, Falcon Rods, T.U.F. Line, Browning and Angler’s Marine. For information on any of these products or a demo ride don’t hesitate to give me a call) – Lake Havasu

We continue to suffer from low water conditions caused by lack of rain and irrigation in the valley. At the bme of this article, Falcon is down about 38′. There is good news though, First of all we have finally gotten some rain, so the lake is rising a little. The best news though is the outstanding fishing right now. Falcon bass are used to periods of low water, and have an uncanny knack to stay shallow and active during tough times.

Our guides are fishing from the Marker #9 area south towards the dam. The hottest pattern is to pitch a spinnerbait into bushes in about 3′ of water near deeper water. Falcon fish are showing a real preference for the now “Tru-Trac” spinnerbait that we sell. They have realistic patterns and a large rattle chamber. Rattletraps in the same type areas are also producing well. As the day goes on, I suggest throwing Carolina rigged lizards and worms and deep crankbaits along the rip-rap of the dam. There are several long deep points in the south end, and these will keep you busy all day. You need to watch your graph and try to locate one of the many off-shore rock piles near the Tiger creeks and along the main lake, These have been big fish producers. They are old houses and buildings that were destroyed when the lake was built. The best way to locate them is to look for such structure on the bank and work your way out, as many of these areas are old “colonies”.

Currently, we have two boat ramps available. One is at the State Park on the south end, and the other is located at Beacon Lodge. One major navigational hazard on the lake is an old highway 83 bridge near the public boat ramp. This bridge has the mouth of the Veleno completely shut off and will wreak havoc on a boat.

Plan a summer trip to Falcon, I assure you that you won’t be disappointed. Our common guide day right now is about 20-40 fish with sever2i in the 5-9 pound range. For 1ake, motel, and guide availability don’t hesitate to give me call at 210-765-3939. I’ll probably be fishing, but our Pro Staff can answer any of your questions. – Lake Havasu

With summer still bearing down on us, I want to begin this month by talking about how to cope with the South Texas heat while enjoying the lake. Our guides at Lunkerville and 1, have a regular list of items that we do not forget, First and foremost take plenty of water on your outing, I recommend a bag of ice and some Gatorade also, A largo hat is another good idea. Good sunglasses are a must out on Falcon right now. Not only will they give you protection, but they help in locating fish holding cover just beneath the surface. Good quality sunscreen is another necessity. While a painful sunburn may not be a problem for some of us, skin cancer certainly is a concern that all outdoors people are becoming more aware of. I also carry a bandanna. You can put it in the water and tie it around your head or neck, or better yet, give it a few minutes in the ice chest.

Now that we are prepared, let’s go fishin’. Currently Falcon is 42 feet low and still falling at a slow pace. There is launching available at the public boat ramp, on the west side of the “park area”. You can also launch at Beacon Lodge, located off of FM 496, there is launching available at the State Park on the south end.

There are numerous navigational hazards popping up, so I recommend that you navigate between the markers, staying in the old river channel. Even then, there are a few old stumps out there so pay attention and go slow.

The fishing right now is absolutely awesome. Despite low water levels, the black bass are still up shallow, Hardwoods and rockpiles near deep water are a sure bet early in the morning. Blue fleck power worms, and shad colored raffia traps are producing best for us right now, Later in the day, fish deep diving shad colored cranks and a Carolina rigged 1 O” worm. Watch your graph closely, for signs of rocky drop-offs or rock piles that have not popped-up yet. Also don’t forget the points and rip rap at the dam.

The striper fishing has picked-up drastically, Striper up to 20 pounds are being caught on jigging spoons at the south end. Early in the morning watch for birds diving to signal schools of striper and white bass. A 3/4 ounce rattletrap can produce constant action especially on calm mornings, If there happen to be whites around, go with the Little George or Blue Fox.

Finally let’s not forget about the catfishing. Good numbers are being caught on the main river near Marker #9. The many stick-ups around the mouth of the Tigers has been another good producer. Shrimp and stinkbait is a favorite of many Falcon “whisker’ hunters.

Don’t let the water level discourage you from coming down to good ol’ Falcon this summer. Even with low water, it is one of the top summertime producers in the country.

Finally, I want to let everyone know that our store at Oso Blanco is closed. We are currently rebuilding just south of there at Godkin’s Restaurant. Our phone number is the same at 210-765-3939. Give us a call and we would be glad to set you up for a guide trip, We can handle all of your lodging and restaurant needs also. We hope to have the store reopened by October.
– Lake Havasu

It’s that time of year again. Yes, the tournaments have started the sun is extremely hot , and our swim-suits, shorts, and tank tops are on. Summertime everyone wants to look good with that rich warm glow of a tropical tan; and we all look good with some color to us. Besides the sun makes us feel good. Being a woman I am probably a bit more vane about my appearance, but I do know that the sun causes premature aging,wrinkles and skin cancer. Here are some words to add to your summer vocabulary: ultra violet rays (UVR), sun protection factor(SPF), and melanoma. I take the sun very seriously and after reading several books and articles on the sun and sun protection, as well as taking into account my own experience I decided to share some information about how you can protect yourself from the sun.

For anglers 3/4 of their time has been and is spent exposed to the harmful UVA and UVB light. What kind of light? This light is the light that burns and pentrates the skin perhaps they should be called ultraviolent rays. UVA pentrates deeply to damage your skin’s lower layers causing wrinkling and premature aging; UVB is asbsorbed at the surface, causing burning and peeling. This UVB light is the most intense between 10A.M. and 2P.M. ( remember tournament hours and most of our leisure time are spent in this time frame) . Twice as many men as women get skin cancer because they traditionally work and spend their leisure time outdoors. Although more women are entering the outdoor fields and sports, the stats are likley to change.

The sun is a matter most take lightly and do not think about twice. But Melanoma is no laughing matter. Its is the fastest growing skin type cancer around. However it is curable if it is diagnosed early enough. Melamonia tends to be more common in Caucasians who are exposed to intense and intermittent exposures of the sun. Melanoma is a cancer that often originates as a dark mole. Most of these cancerous moles or spots did not come up over night. This exposure usually occurs from a series of sunburns while we were children or young adults not aware, nor did we care about the conquences of the sun at that time. Not suprisingly 30 -40% of skin cancers appear on the nose, ears and top part of our hands. This is why proper and simple prevention is so important. Some of the symptons or warning signs to look for are: a mole or spot that starts to grow irregular in size(mole should not be bigger than a pencile erracer), itching,bleeding or darker in color. One scarey part is that you may not have any of these signs at all so a visit to your dermotoligst at least once to check any questiable area out is advisable. The following are some simple tips:

Sight is one of our most important senses and several sunglass manufactors have excellent eye protection avaible for anglers and outdoor people. Most people purchase these glasses because they are polarized and reduce glare; only a handful of these glasses protect your eyes from harmful UV rays. This protection filters out 100% of the harmful ultraviolet rays. This means they absorb 100% and this helps filter out rays that can cause severe eye damage such as: cataract and coreal damage and even eyelid cancer. After all we only have one set of eyes and spending as much time on the water as most do, it is
one investment we should not hesitate about. Proper close fiting wrap around sunglasses are recommended for the maximun protection. So think about this on your next purchase of polarized sunglasses.

Another part of sun protection is a hat or cap to protect the head , eyes, ears, and nose from direct sun. A cap with a large brim or flaps will offer the most protection for the ears, neck, and face. A simple brimmed hat can cut the UVB exposure by half. This is something that almost every angler has and wears. This part comes easy as do the sunglasses.

Sunscreens , on the other hand, are not used as often and do not come as natural as putting the old cap on. But they are the most important of all. A tube packed in your suitcase and one in the glove box of the boat will help remind your self that this protection is needed. If applied in the morning as soon as you are dressing for a practice day or tourney sunscreens can and will be very effective. Remember it must be applied in the morning before we are exposed to the sun. If you make it part of your routine you will hopefuly turn it into a habit. Suncreens come in several diffrent SPF(sun protection factor) numbers. The most commonly recommended is 15 the Skin Cancer Foundation recommends that everyone use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or more. The higher the SPF number the more protection . This protection also will be determined by your complection.

Choose your sunscreen wisely and look at the SPF number. Studies show that it does not have to be an expensive brand to be effective. Several manufactors have a Sport Sunblock out that is sweatproof , waterproof and will not rub off. This is probally best suited for anglers, since we never know what the weather will be like. Apply this lotion or cream liberally. The only catch is that you must apply before sun exposure. Most people only apply the sunblocks and screens after they feel the burning sting of the sun. At this time it is too late to protect your skin. Yes, some of you may think that your skin is as tough as leather (and it might look like it ) but you still need to be protected. Studies show even if you have been exposed to the sun for a long time and have never used any protiction that it is NEVER to late to start and it will help reduce your chances of skin cancer.

We all use some type of lip protection to keep our lips from cracking and drying out. Sunscreens are avaibale now in the lip balms. Taking a few extra minutes to seek these out , can be well worth your time.

With clothing avaible that is precoated with UVR -absorbing chemicals the SPF offers 50,60 and even more times the protection. It should last through 25 washings and evens develops more UVR protection. If you can not find these articles just use common sence. Long sleeved shirts and long pants made of tightly wooven fabric.

So please take a few minutes of your time to protect your skin and possibly save your life
– Lake Havasu

In 1989 I was fishing in a Dallas bass club and we were prefishing Possum Kingdom for the state top 6 tournament. One of my teammates patterned the fish in the old shoreline of the lake in ~8 feet of water, great. Problem was he had was catching said fish on a rattle trap, probably my least favorite bait to fish. My disdain for traps was due to the fact that I lost so many fish trying to get them to the boat. The fella who found the fish grew up fishing Toledo and therefore had spent countless hours fishing a trap. That night he shared with the team several ideas for better boated fish ratios, particularly on crankbaits with small hooks.

First in his equipment, he used a very slow tipped composite rod for several reasons but basically to let the rod absorb as much of the head shaking as possible form the fish. The best illustration; remember the last time you stuck a bait in the side of a big oak tree. Generally from a distance you can shake the bait free. Now remember the last time you stuck a bait on a willow limb as big around as a pencil, you probably wound up going over and breaking the limb to get your bait back. Same principles at work, the oak allows you to jamble the bait around and get it free, the willow absorbs all your shaking and your stuck. The limp rod also kept him from getting excited when he hooked a big fish and horsing him, which I’ll talk more about in a minute. Next in his reel he used almost no drag, again to keep him from horsing the fish.

Why was he so concerned not to horse a fish? The large percent of fish you will catch on crankbaits are what I call skin hooked. Since you don’t have a 3/0 hook to drive through the roof of the fishes’ mouth or gill plate they are hooked in a softer tissue area. Therefore a stiff rod, lack of drag, horsing a fish, or resetting the hook will only enlarge the hole the hook cut on initial penetration and allow the fish more opportunity to shake the hook free. The fact is most crankbait fish actually hook themselves when they intercept the bait, resetting the hook only hurts your chance of boating that fish.

He also had a very interesting philosophy on fighting fish hooked on small trebles. Once he hooked a fish he would put only as much pressure on the fish as was absolutely necessary to keep the fish out of heavy cover. He always kept his rod tip in the water as deep as possible to try to keep the fish from jumping. He also allowed the fish to continue in the direction she was going (even up to the point of leading the fish around the boat like a dog). You’ll find that a fish normally jumps because your pulling her away from the direction she wants to go, so take the trolling motor and go to or follow her. When was the last time you were out prefishing and allowed a fish to swim off with a bait in it’s mouth without setting the hook, I’ll guarantee you that fish didn’t jump because she was getting to go where she wanted to go.

Remember most fish come off when they’re in the air, so keep them down by allowing them to run the show, only bring them to the boat when they are completely and smooth run out. Try this and I’ll bet your ratios of bites to hands on fish increases greatly. If you’d like to take a trip with me on Richland Chambers call Brown Dog Guide Service at (214) 327 6020. By the way we won the BASS state championship that week by over twenty pounds, all on traps. – Lake Havasu

It was a simple enough misunderstanding to start with, the only kinda braid I knew about was the kind girls put in each others hair at bunking parties. The old timers remember braided line, but hey us 31 year olds fish with the new stuff, monofilament. Then a semi-oldtimer from Livingston named Randy Dearman hammered consecutive 20 lb plus stringers out of heavy buck brush at Rayburn to win the Texas BASS Invitational. The cat was out of the bag, what a few pros were quietly doing was using several newer and much improved braided lines.

I discovered braided line at Texoma Anglers choice Draw this year when my partner buried a carolina rig in rock rip-rap, he then proceeded to wrap his line around the cleat of his boat and pull it free with the trolling motor, that made me curious. Then he buried a three pounder in a willow tree and bulled him out like he was hooked on piano wire, I was real curious.

Since that first day I have experimented with a number of lines in many different fishing conditions. I have been impressed with several lines and less than impressed with several others. The real attraction to the lines is the thin diameter and tremendous breaking strength, the lines are also very difficult to cut. From my experience the lines do have some downfalls, mostly revolving around the complete lack of stretch the lines have. They have been very hard on my equipment, seizing up several reels and busting the ceramic out of a number of rod eyes. I have also jerked a 2 pounder completely out of the water and over the boat on the hookset and almost impaled myself with a Big Bite jig hung in a bush.

The line does however have a few very good uses, first for carolina rigs. I use brass weights exclusively on my rigs and have lost only one since changing my rig rods to braided line, I do however still use mono for all my leaders to keep the visibility down. The other application that I like braided line for is pitching in heavy wood like we have here on Chambers. The one suggestion I would make for pitching is to back your drag down a bit. I like mine where it slips slightly on my meanest hookset, the lack of stretch in the line more than compensates for the slippage to assure a good hook up.

There are so many brands of line on the market currently a few helpful hints will save you some wasted money. First buy braided line, not twisted line. If you could see the two side by side the difference is obvious, in an inch of braided line you might see 30 to 40 strands interwoven. Twisted line is simply a few large diameter strands spun around one another. The twisted line will unravel on you, where a good braided line won’t. As to the makeup of the line try to find loot spectra. Spectra absorbs the least water and will outlast and out perform polyester, kevlar or dacron. Some lines are spectra wound around a dacron core, again stick to 100% spectra. A braided spectra line may be 2 to 3 times more expensive than a twisted line of another material but in the long haul you get what you pay for. I would also recommend a colored line especially for flipping. Two lines that I have experience with and like are Izor (which I can find only in white) and Lariat line which comes in a dark greenish color better for flippin. If you have any questions or comments about braided line or what’s happening here at Chambers, or just wanna go fishin, give me a call at (214) 283 7090. Good Luck, Ken Smith – Lake Havasu

In an article a few months ago I mentioned how you should always approach an outing with a game plan, I have been asked since what exactly I meant by the term game plan. Nothing can impact your fishing results like time on the water but there are a few things that will consistently help you catch more fish.

Building a game plan for me usually starts with my map. Making a game plan is like making anything else, the better the materials going in the better the product coming out. I can’t stress enough the importance of getting as good a map as you can find, in many cases I’ll spend a few extra bucks and buy several and compare them, some will show one feature that another leaves off and vice versa. Once I have my map I’ll check in with my network of fishing friends that have spent time on the lake in question. once again the crud in, crud out, theory applies. If you have helped them in the past with good info they’ll respond likewise.

After consulting with my buds I begin looking to my map, in deciding on map locations to fish I first consider the time of year and what the fish “should” be doing. If it’s summertime the fish should be in areas the allow them deep water access and if possible shade. I believe many fisherman don’t consider the tremendous impact of shade on fish in the summertime.

Once I have decided where to fish I begin allocating my time. I usually do a best and worse scenario, i.e. if I have no fish by 7:30 I’m going here, if I have 3 I’ll continue fishing the area until x time. I find that if I keep up with the time and have pre-planned spots number 2, 3, etc., the day doesn’t get away from me (specifically tournament days) the way they do if I’m not paying attention. I also feel more in control and have more confidence if I have already thought out a no fish at 10:00 game plan. That may sound stupid but a great example of this is in 1990 my partner and I were fishing the TABC championship on Richland. At 1;00 we had no keepers in the boat, between 1 and 1:20 we made 7 cast that netted 6 keepers, the best of which weighed 20 pounds even, we had just pulled up on our fourth spot of the day.

Weather plays an important role in developing a game plan. Aside from the obvious, will the wind keep you from getting to the areas you want to fish, will it blow you off the water once you’re there, there are other factors to consider. First in the type baits you tie on, if the weather is going to be overcast typically the fish are going to be more scattered and a horizontal presentation or moving bait (blade, crankbait, buzz bait) will allow you to cover more water and hopefully catch more fish. If clear skies prevail then a vertical presentation will be in order (worms, jigs, jig & spoon). Another factor to consider that the weather affects is how good will the bite be. I consider this because if you have a norther move through the night before, or other conditions are going to make the fishing tough, I typically hunker down in an area that I believe is holding fish and fish very deliberately. If I believe everybody is going to have a tough day I can psyche myself into looking for very few bites through the course of the day, and still know I have a chance at winning, *

A game plan only has to be as specific as you want it to be. I know some anglers that like to fly by the seat of their pants, but typically these are guys who spend allot of time (3+ days a week) on the water and have learned to adapt as they go (David Wharton as a great example) , but I find preplanning my best ally. Give it a try, maybe you will too. – Lake Havasu

Seems that most of the anglers one talks to these days here on Richland respond to the question of how’d you do with one of two answers, they either didn’t get a bite or they crushed ’em. One need only look at the tournament results to see that Richland, in only four years, has become one of the premier fishing lakes in Texas, if not in the country.

How about a lake that is basically brand new, but it takes 24 to 29 pounds to win just about any tournament. What’s really amazing is that many of these stringers have a big fish under 8 pounds. The average fish coming out of Richland these days has to be in the area of 3+ pounds. Two questions come to mind, why and where. The first one is easy, Richland has an excellent forage base of shad, probably Mr. Bass’s favorite, and we have unbelievable structure or habitat. Richland has tremendous deep timbered creeks, good shallow to deep points and many other fish condo type structure (not unlike our east Texas neighbor). Another factor that has helped Richland is the lake just made reference to, namely Lake Fork. If Richland was an hour from Houston or any other major city in the nation you would wait in lines to launch on Saturday mornings in March and April. Thanks to Fork the lines aren’t here, but the fish are.

The where is a bit more complicated. I’ve heard many rumors about how and where Richland was originally stocked. Rumors aside Richland, in it’s first few years, demonstrated a peculiar trait of having big wads of fish in some areas, while having other areas that you couldn’t buy a bite in. In the last two years this problem has rapidly begun to disappear. Due to an increased number of fish overall and tournament fisherman redistributing them around the lake bites are now a bit more spread out. There are still wads of fish, and my experience is that to find them you need to fish a little different. Specifically if it’s your first time on Richland or your normal fish don’t seem to bite, cover water, lots of water.

What I’m suggesting here is that Richland has 47 thousand plus acres of water, most of which is fishable. Don’t waste your time in an area if your getting no bites. I want to say fish quick but I’m afraid my meaning will get lost if you race through an area. What I’m suggesting is that you use baits (crank baits or spinner baits) that cover lots of water, I always have a 3/8 ounce Mepps spinnerbait and a Poe’s 300 series crankbait tied on. Both these baits cover lots of water and catch lots of fish. You don’t want to be throwing these baits and burning them back to the boat, but you need to keep moving. once you get bit fish the area thoroughly.

Before you come to Richland get a good map and mark 8-12 places that you can find easily. These need to be places that meet the fish holding criteria we all know, creeks, points, humps, tanks, etc.. Hit these spots until you get bit. The pros don’t come to a lake without a game plan, neither should you. – Lake Havasu

This article has been rattling around in my noggin since BASS at Rayburn in December. It’s interesting being on the inside and looking out as a professional fisherman. It’s even fun sometimes to see guy’s reaction when they get on the circuit and realize just how different fishing at this level is. I’m going to pick on fellow Skeeter/Yamaha team member and good friend Dickie Newberry of Houston. Ask anybody that fishes East Texas in the last two years and they will tell you Dickie is a certified hammer (won three or four boats in 97 and about the same in 96 ). A week after Rayburn I called Dickie to get his temperature, he was hot. He explained that at least 25 friends had called to say how they could have easily caught 21 pounds in three days on the best bass lake in America, why in the world didn’t he? Now like everybody else that fished I could explain the fight over who’s boat we’re going in, fishing time, battling over water, illness, partners equipment breaking down, guy’s jumping you’re water, eleven 3’s that got off at the boat, and every other reason I finished 45th instead of first, but till you’ve seen it yourself it’s all horse you know what.

I will tell you the fishing was really tough, maybe an analogy will help. All major league baseball players will tell you they can crush a fastball, as a matter of fact the faster it’s thrown the further they can hit it. So why can’t Juan Gonzalez’s rattle every other pitch 450 feet into the bleachers? Because all he gets isn’t fastballs. Sometimes they start them right at your pumpkin and you got about 1/2 a second to decide if it’s a fastball and a ride to Rampart emergency, or it’s an embarrass you sitting on your tail in the batters box while the ump punches you out curve. Heck last year Tiger Woods went to some golf course in Florida and shot a 59, a 59. BUT that was for fun and there was zero pressure. Dickie and I talked during practice at Rayburn and we were catching the crud out of them, I had 20+ bites with two over 8 the second day of practice alone. My point is when you mix in a few really big factors, this isn’t batting practice. Probably the biggest factor being that these are not Pro Am’s, the guy you fish with is your competition. Now if I tell you all this and you’re still convinced that since you finished in the top six in your bass club (not to knock it, we all started there) you’re ready for the big leagues, well here’s you’re chance.

The last of the four BASSS Central Invitational’s is coming to Lake Texoma March 12-14th. I constantly get asked at boat shows “How do I get in?,” here’s how. The fourth tournament each year rarely fills up, so you can call BASS and ask for the tournament department, tell them you want on the waiting list for the 1998 Oklahoma Invitational. You will have to put down a $200 deposit, which they will refund if you don’t get in or if you are on the waiting list and decide you don’t want to fish. They will start working down the waiting list on about February 20th. Once you get in you will have to join the Association for BASS Professional’s which is $100 (I think) and pay the balance of your entry fee, another $400. I will tell you in all honesty that I have been doing it four years and I still get excited before every one, you will never forget your first BASS tournament. Once you’re in you can show us just what we were doing wrong at Rayburn and by the time this is published probably at Ross Barnett (yuck) too. By the way I’m fishing out of a Skeeter 202 this year with the Yamaha VMAX counter rotating prop 150. If you’re considering a new ride this spring look this boat over at your local boat show, and if you see me out ask and I’ll be glad to let you take mine for a spin. It is the best performing, finest ride I have ever owned. – Lake Havasu

A few months ago we lost my 33 year old cousin. Wayne and I spent many days and nights wandering my grandparents farm together. It started with BB guns and cane poles and blossomed to rod and reel and shotguns. My earliest memories of fishing are with Wayne and my grandmother. She would sit between us on a old wooden chair, spacing us out the length of a cane pole so we could swing fish, or unbaited hook to her for service work.

These incredibly fond memories from my childhood have given me reason recently to do some deep pondering about life. Specifically about how I grew up as compared to how many of my generations kids are growing up. What’s been troubling me is so many of today’s kids are missing a parent, specifically a dad, at home to walk with them through the early years of life, and to share so many things with them. I believe that when you take a parent out of the child’s everyday life the parent at home is so busy trying to pay bills and keep up with all of life’s little problems that quality time is really hard to come by. I lost my dad in 1983 but by then he had instilled in me so many things, and given me so many memories, that he’ll always be with me.

Right and wrong aside many of these kids never get the chance to experience the outdoors and the wonderful lessons it can teach us. At the ripe old age of 32 I’ve never been married and therefore have no kids of my own. But on occasion I get a guide trip where a father brings his son, and even once a daughter, out to fish. It amazes me to see these kids when they get in the boat. They are mature and good natured, and always mind. There are no distractions, no phone calls, just us guys out having a great time. My point is that the kids may act like terrorist at home but when you get them out and spend good uninterrupted time together, well it’s just not something you can describe.

I don’t want this to appear as a sales pitch but I do want to see more of these kind of trips, so my offer is this. Bring any kid under age 18 on a guide trip with me in the next 30 days and I’ll cut my rate by 20%. If you are a single mother (nobody scream discrimination please) I’ll cut it by 50%. Let’s do our part to get our kids outdoors and show them the thrills the good Lord gave us. I guarantee it will be one of the best and most memorable days you ever spend on the water. – Lake Havasu

Seems that all fisherman love to read about fishing (those that can read of course). It takes about five minutes in my garage, like all my other buddies, to find my four foot tall stack of back issues of Cosmofisherman, NEWSFISH, The Walleye Street Journal, Seventeen Pounder, etc. These magazines are all well and good, but I want specifics, I fish Richland Chambers, obviously if your reading this you do to.

Everybody wants to know what to throw. In the last four years I have seen just about everything catch fish on Richland, but there are a few tried and true tricks that always seem to produce. Before I go on I must say that I have only one bait sponsor (not because I wouldn’t love some free baits), and it will be in the mix below.

First lets talk crankbaits, a real favorite on Richland. Most of the locals here really like some chartreuse in their baits. A Mann’s 20+ in fire tiger and a DB-3 in the same color catch allot of fish (including a few 10+ pound catfish my partner Kev “Aquaman” Reid has caught). Chrome or shad catch allot of fish, but the sandies will eat your lunch, not to mention your shad colored bait if they’re in the area. Another insider favorite here is a Poe’s 300 in a white side with a yellowish (some call it chartreuse) back.

Spinnerbaits are responsible for a great deal of the giant spring strings that get caught. Favorite baits seem to be 1/2 or 3/8 ounce Mepps, Stanleys or Strike Kings. The colors vary per water color but gold blades seem to be predominant. White and white/chartreuse are my favorites for skirts but I did get my clock cleaned by a buddy throwing chartreuse bladed, chartreuse skirt and orange bladed, orange skirted baits last spring.

The warm water will see the soft plastic bite start to pick up in the next few months. A peculiarity that I seem to find only here is a 6 or 8 inch junebug pearl ring worm, another heavy favorite with the local crowd. Another bait that I know has caught a lot of fish is a junebug chartreuse claw Guido bug (the big one). Pumpkinseed and black/blue Jawtec or Hale craworms also produce real well, especially in the clearer water. No I didn’t forget, the centipede still catches allot of roadbed and point fish, watermelon or pumpkin blue flake are favorites.

“What about jigs?” you ask. Year round on Richland they’ll eat ’em. Since we have no grass, stick to the lighter half ounce or less. Black/brown/amber and black/blue/purple can do little wrong, trailed with plastic or pork. My pick for jigs would be a Stanley, All Terrain or a new guy in the jig market Jawtec, if you haven’t tried this jig do, my hookup to boated fish ratio with it is excellent (no that’s not my bait sponsor). – Lake Havasu