Author: Lake Havasu Guide

Richland Chambers is located about 100 miles SE of Dallas, on I-45 between Corscicana and Fairfield, Texas. We usually have two-three tournaments a year on this impoundment and this year has been yielding some pretty big fish. Our Saturday day of practice game plan was to throw spinnerbaits and buzzbaits at first light, followed by some finesse fishing and maybe a little Carolina rigging in the deeper creek channels. My husband, Norman, cut the hooks off a buzzbait and spinnerbait so that we would not accidentally hook any fish in practice because we might need to catch those fish in Sunday’s tournament.

First light on Saturday morning found us cruising the shallows and throwing the de-hooked baits. Immediately, Norman had several blowups on his buzzbait and I had one on the spinnerbait. We continued down the bank and switched over to “Wacky” style of fishing on spinning gear and Bagley Silver Thread 12-pound line. It wasn’t even 7:30 before Norman connected with what proved to be his biggest bass yet. There were quite a few boats in the area to witness the event and our red and white Boots Follmar Marine Pro Staff 21-foot Skeeter 210 with a 225 Yamaha EFI stands out like a flashing neon sign, and particularly with Norman’s and my rather large size, we can’t hide anyway. The bass was a gorgeous 8.44 pound largemouth that was caught right next to the bank. We got really excited, and naturally, I had to take pictures. As soon as the last photo was shot, she was very gently released back into the still waters to go about her annual ritual. It was time to leave the area as we had already shown our hand.

We went on to the next spot and continued with our game plan. We hadn’t been in the cove more than 15 minutes, when I cast out my little “Wacky” worm rig and backlashed the spinning real something fierce. While picking out the birds nest, I noticed some pressure on my line, and, as we didn’t want to stick any more fish in practice, I just continued to work out my problem. When I finished getting all the kinks out, I reeled in the slack, and darned if that fish still wasn’t on my line. I reeled her in and she was well over three and a half pounds and it wasn’t even 8:30 a.m. Once again, it was time to move. We were fishing on the Richland arm and continued our way up the lake. We made three more stops with no success, lots of looking and very little fishing and decided to go back down the lake. About 2:30, it was decided that we should go check on our main spot.

The area was still packed with boats, several of which were there when Norman caught his big fish earlier, so we went into another cove and Norman immediately caught a seven pound bass on our “Wacky” rig setup. Then we moved back to the area where his biggest fish had been caught. Norman eased over to talk to one of the boats that had been there earlier to see if they had done any good after we left. Robert Branch was fishing with his eleven year old son, Miles, who had earlier landed an 8.99 beauty. They were fishing in the Halliburton Employees Bass Club tournament (a HONEY HOLE Affiliated Bass Club) and young Miles was socking it to dear old dad! Miles caught his fish on a Chartreuse Super Fluke on spinning gear, and of course, it was his biggest fish ever! According to dad, Miles was very adept at running the trolling motor, backing the trailer, catching good quality fish on his own, and had made a really good partner. Young Miles is an accomplished angler and practices catch and release with his dad on a regular basis. Unfortunately, his big fish did not survive, which was quite upsetting to Miles. That did it, we were excited, pumped and ready for our tournament day!

As the luck of the draw would have it, we drew a high boat number, which meant we were one of the last ten boats out Sunday morning. By the time we got to our primary spot, it was covered with tournament boats. There were two couple’s tournaments going on, besides ours, there was the 2 of Us Couples tournament, sponsored by Skeeter Boats. Most all of the boats in the cove were tournament boats. Norman was quite disgusted and decided we would fish down from them and then work our way into the area holding bigger fish. Norman is quite accomplished at sight fishing and most of the fish we saw were on beds, although it did not appear as if any had actually spawned yet. It’s a good thing he really excels this time of year, because he caught all fourteen+ pounds of fish. Although we were not able to work our primary area, through his skill alone, Norman pulled it out of the fire and managed to get our team in 11th place for the tournament. All I could do was net his fish! All in all, we were quite pleased with our tournament results,
Norman’s biggest bass ever (even if it was on Saturday), and to see 11-year-old Miles Branch with a huge Richland Chambers bass was certainly exciting!
– Lake Havasu

Perhaps there is no finer time in the year to witness the explosion of spring than when a largemouth bass sucks in a “Wacky” worm on light line in shallow water and the fight is on! There is nothing quite like trying to wrench a bass out of tight cover on spinning gear with light line, as the excitement and pure adrenaline will get you every time! For springtime bucketmouths this action has been known to be heart-stopping. When the fishing gets tough, not just in spring, but anytime of the year, get out the spinning gear and try your hand at this easy to master technique.

“Wacky” worming can be versatile and productive in a multitude of ways. The versatility of this style of finesse fishing is only limited by the number of ways you can think of to rig it. “Wacky” worming can also be done on baitcasting gear and can be almost as effective as when used on spinning gear. The reason I believe spinning gear is more productive, is that you can use lighter line on spinning gear. When most people think of “Wacky” worming, the thought comes to mind of a worm hooked through the egg sack with the hook exposed; and yes, this is the traditional method of “Wacky” worming. However, there are many other ways to make this particular style of fishing work to your advantage.

For this type of finesse fishing, we typically use CastAway medium and medium-heavy action graphite spinning rods, but any spinning rod may be used as long as it is not a light action rod. The light action rods are just not stout enough to horse bass out of the brush and weeds because the tip is too soft to give a good solid hookset. The particular reels that we personally use with this style of fishing are Shimano Spirex SR 1000FB and SR2000FB series reels. We use 10-12# Trilene Big Game line on our spinning reels.

The rigging of these rods in very versatile, as we have perfected and use six different variations on this rig:
1. Use a 1/0 Gamakatsu wide gap worm hook tied direct to the line and rig Texas style.
2. Same as number one above, but add a 1/32 oz. or 1/16 oz. bullet weight above the hook.
3. Use a small barrel swivel with a 12-14″ leader and a 2/0 Gamakatsu Super Flipping hook, rigged either Texas or traditional “Wacky” style.
4. Same as number three above, but crimp a small split shot 1/2″ above the swivel.
5. Same as number three above, but crimp a small split shot 1/2″ directly above the hook.
6. Use a small barrel swivel and a 12-14″ leader with a Mustad “Finacky” 1/0 weighted hook and rig either Texas or “Wacky”
As to what baits to use, primarily we use either Riverside lizards, Floating Air Frys, Sling Shots or Big Claw crawfish imitations. We also use Zoom Trick Worms and centipedes for this type of fishing. These baits can all be fished either traditional, Texas rigged or “Wacky” (hooked in the middle with the hook exposed).

On any given day, any one of the above mentioned rigging methods may work better than the others. You just have to experiment and let the fish tell you which method they prefer. Fish these rigs in anywhere from 2-12′ depths in and around buckbrush, docks, creek bends, points, backs of coves and pockets, inside, and also outside grasslines. In the heat of the summer, this type of fishing can be deadly fished in the heavy grass and on the edges of the grass. Simply cast it out, let it sink, and reel it back in just like you do in traditional worm fishing. This rig will also out perform most all other styles of fishing and is exceptionally deadly when used in frontal conditions. It takes some getting used to, but once you have mastered the spinning reel and using these techniques, your success ratio of catching bass during difficult times will dramatically improve. Remember, you are only limited by your imagination on ways and variations to use this simple technique and the results are explosive! This style of fishing can be a money producer and used as your ace in the hole, if you’ll just learn to use it! – Lake Havasu

Fishing small back waters, ponds, tanks and creeks can be lots of fun and exciting entertainment. If you are like most anglers, it doesn’t matter where you fish, just so long as there is enough water to dangle a hook, line and bait in, with the hopes of enticing a fish to bite! One of our favorite pastimes when we go to visit my parents in South Texas is to get dad, John Barnes, and go over to the pond or the creek and spend a few quality hours probing the waters for the ever elusive black bass.

When preparing for a fishing trip, no matter how big or how small, your success often depends on how well you have planned. After years of fishing ponds and creeks with dad, it becomes routinely habit to gather certain items to throw into the tackle box for the trip. Some of those items include: needle nose pliers, assorted hooks, weights and soft plastic baits, small spinnerbaits, scissors, sun screen, bug spray, bottled water and of course, my Skeeter hat.

As pond and creek bass are pretty selective, colors for soft plastics are fairly simple. The water is stained, so they seem to consistently want small baits in neutral colors with some form of pumpkinseed as the primary color. They may vary as to preference for the day being either green, blue, or red flake mixed in with the pumpkinseed. We’ve tried other colors, but they always bite better on pumpkinseed. I’ve fished other ponds with dark, clear water and the primary colors are usually darker such as black, blue, watermelon, red shad, etc.

When selecting bait size for small water fishing, it has been my experience that pond and creek bass want smaller baits than we use on the big man-made reservoirs. To accommodate them, I usually select centipedes, small Zoom Trick worms, 4″ ring worms, or 4-5″ lizards (all plastic). The only time we use live bait is when we’re working a kids fishing tournament.

After gathering an assortment of soft plastics, I also throw in some small spinnerbaits.
Mr. Blitz makes a spinnerbait called the Clown which is great for pond fishing as well as the bigger reservoirs. Norman and I have caught really big bass on this bait no matter what lake we’re fishing. Excalibur and Strike King also make a good bait in the 1/8 to 1/4 oz. size, as well as the old H&H spinnerbait, which works really good with a yellow or chartreuse/yellow skirt. The H&H will usually catch more fish, but they are generally smaller in size. A Beetle Spin is a hard bait to beat on these kinds of waters, especially in the yellow/orange color, primarily because it looks like a natural food in small waters.

In addition to downsizing baits, you also have to downsize line and equipment. We prefer to use spinning gear so that we can cast under and around the bushes and throw at angles rather than straight overhead casts typical of traditional baitcasting equipment. Most ponds and creeks have quite a bit of underbrush, weeds, overhanging trees, bushes, etc. as obstacles for the angler to get either the rod tip or line tangled in. We prefer to use 8-10 pound test line in Bagley Silver Thread, Berkley Big Game or Stren lines.

Once you’ve gathered all the equipment, how do you rig it for the most productive way to fish these kinds of waters? A lot of it is trial and error. You keep trying different methods until you find something that works. On our particular pond, a favorite way to rig is with the mini Carolina rig. Cut off about 12-14″ of line to be used as a leader. Tie a small barrel swivel to the line on the end connected to the rod, and attach one end of the leader to the swivel, to the other end of the leader, tie on a Gamakatsu 2/0 wide gap flippin hook or a size 1/0 wide gap hook. Depending on the wind conditions, you may or may not want to experiment using a split shot (you need enough weight to get the bait to go down, but not so much weight that it mires down in the muck on the bottom). If you do need to use additional weight to get the bait to sink, place the split shot on the line about ½-inch above the hook; or if you want the bait to float up more to attract suspended fish, place the splitshot just above the swivel. Next rig up your plastic worm, Texas style, and your in business. When rigging a centipede, we like to use the Owner 1/0 riggin hook or a 1/0 light wire hook tied to our leader. Because the hook is so light, it lets the centipede float up off the bottom and tends to trigger more aggressive strikes.

Depending on the time of year and the conditions, you’re likely to find the fish in different places. In the spring, look for them on the shallow end of the pond, usually around some type of cover such as laydowns, submerged trees, logjams, buckbrush, bushes, etc. Always make a point of fishing where the cover is on the pond or creek. Other good areas are points, either on the sides or in front of the point. Also, cuts and drains that run into the pond, etc. are always likely places. Always spend a little extra time in these areas as you’re very likely to get bit! In the heat of the summer, the bass are more likely to be suspended in the deeper water, although this is not always the case. Just like on the bigger reservoirs, during the summer the fish are likely to be more aggressive in the early hours of the day and again later in the evening. But most other times of the year the fish are slow to rise and get going, so it’s not critical to be on the pond at the crack of daylight!

While visiting my folks last weekend, a friend of dad’s, Raffael Garcia, went with us to the pond. Raffael had never been bass fishing, but he caught the first bass of the day on a small pumpkinseed with blue flake Zoom Trick worm. Dad caught the most; and, he caught them all on an H&H spinnerbait. Almost every cast he caught a bass or had one knock the blades of the spinnerbait as it was being reeled back to the bank. I caught the biggest bass on a Zoom Pumpkinseed red flake Trick worm, with the fish going about 4-pounds or so. We fished from a little after 7:00 a.m. until around 9:00 a.m. and dad must have caught at least a dozen or more bass on his H&H spinnerbait with the yellow skirt. We fished until the mosquitoes started carrying us off and the air just got to hot and too still. It was time to head back to the house for some of mom’s wonderful biscuits with homemade dewberry jam, bacon and eggs. What a way to top off a great morning of fishing! Dad couldn’t recall when he had caught so many bass in such a short period of time, but it tickled me to watch him reel fish after fish in and holler for me to get the camera to take a quick photo before we would gently release the fish back into the pond so it could be caught another day.

Remember, not everyone starts out with a fancy rig like our Boots Follmar Marine Pro Staff Skeeter with a big Yamaha 225 EFI engine. We’ve each spent over twenty years in this sport competitively fishing and have gradually worked our way into the bigger and finer boats. You don’t have to be rich to fish, but you do have to have patience and a strong desire to succeed and be willing to work at improving skills, techniques and performance.

It’s always more fun to take along someone new to fishing and to share the experience and the fun. Introduce them to a sport that will likely stay with them a lifetime. Fishing is a great experience and the love of the sport should be passed on from generation to generation. Till next time, no matter where you’re fishing, have fun, take pictures for the memories; and remember to practice catch and release. It just doesn’t get any better than this, not even on the big waters! – Lake Havasu

The high desert of the west. New Mexico … Arizona…and lake in the country. Breathtaking scenery, wild burros, big horn sheep, coyotes, dry intense heat. The scene of this story. My Evinurde powered boat is sitting here in Texas, waiting for the next B.A.S.S. tournament. I’m at Lake Mead practicing for the U.S. OPEN in a borrowed boat. My friend, Tai Martin, is practicing with me.

As we leave out of Temple Bar Marina and head up toward the Grand Canyon, we are in awe of the beauty of this desert lake. The sun starts to climb over the tops of the mountains. The lake is smooth as glass as the marina disappears, the last outpost of civilization. Our destination is the Grand Wash, the mouth of the Grand Canyon. A thirty mile run. Just enough gas on board to get there and back. We’ll drive till one tank runs dry, fish for the day, and run back on the remaining tank of gas.

The high canyon walls flash by as our thoughts turn to the bass to be caught, the further away from civilization the happier we are. Off in a little side canyon we see a small aluminum boat with three fisherman, brave souls indeed. Up ahead the Grand Wash comes into view, a great looking area with rocky points and brushy pockets just crying for a lure. Even before the boat glides to a stop I’m on the front deck making my first cast with a Stanley Spinnerbait. out from under the first bush comes a 22 pound bass, and then another. Meanwhile Tai is throwing a small crankbait, he quickly catches a couple of bass. The fishing is great, the company is great. The hours click by. About noon I feel it. A light southwest breeze … just enough to ripple the water. I look to Tai and say “We’re out of here”.

You see by the time we feel the breeze, it’s had 15 miles of canyon to run, 15 miles to build waves. As we head southwest back towards Temple Bar the light breeze picks up speed. The waves pick up height… 2 foot… 3 foot 15 mph 20 mph … 4 foot… 5 foot… 25 mph 30 mph 6 foot… 7 foot. Trim the outboard all the way up, hold the bow high and crash through the waves. Slowly we make progress down Iceberg Canyon and then into Gregg Basin. But we don’t have enough fuel to battle these waves. Up ahead is Sandy Point. A big high piece of land that juts out into Gregg Basin. We decide to take refuge behind it.

Did I mention it’s name? Sandy Point. As we beach the boat the sands pouring off the top right down on us and in the boat. Into our eyes and ears and nose and mouths and turning the boat into a floating sand box. Tai and I climb to the top and look out into Gregg Basin. Huge waves. Looks like the ocean on a bad day. The hours pass by, no let up in wind, gonna be dark soon, it’s gonna be cold at night. It always is in the desert. Nothing to retain the daytime heat. No relief from the blowing sand. Can’t even keep our eyes open. Is the wind letting up? Maybe. Anything better than this sand. Back out into the lake we go. No way. The waves are to big. Tai’s afraid we’ll drown. Can’t go back to Sandy Point. Too miserable. Let’s try the other side. Maybe we can find shelter in a small pocket. Wave after
Nevada, home of the largest man made lake in the U.S. My favorite about three in the Winds still blowing but out in the lake? It is! light at the boat. Must it’s wake and follow it heads towards our fire.

wave comes over the side of the boat as we battle our way across the basin.

There’s a little pocket! Not much relief from the wind but at least there’s no blowing sand. We beach the boat and tie it off to a cactus. The winds howling, it’s starting to get dark, we’re cold and wet. Picking sand out off our ears. Looks like we’re spending the night in the desert. Got to start a fire. The area we’ve beached in is covered with drift wood. What luck! But I don’t have any matches or lighter. Neither does Tai. We search the borrowed boat throughout. A roll of toilet paper and the boats cigarette lighter will do the job. [Do boats smoke?] We warm up and dry out. The sun goes down. The wind continues to blow without let up.

morning I’m looking out into the basin. not quite as hard. Is that a green light I stoke up the fire and flash my flash be a big cruiser. Maybe we can get behind in. I wake up Tai. The boat turns and Wait a minute. It can’t be. Can it? The little aluminum boat with three fisherman. Are they glad to see us and our fire!

They warm and dry themselves as we take turns emptying their boat with the bilge can they had been using. 4:30 AM. We decide
it’s now or never. Once the sun comes up the wind will increase. Two of the three ride with us while the third runs the aluminum boat behind us. I can’t stay on pad for long or I outrun the aluminum. Quite the ride in the dark through 3 and 4 foot waves. Finally we turn west out of Gregg Basin. Drop them off in Burro Bay and head for Temple Bar. Fighting 3 and 4 footers all the way back. Temple Bar Marina! Take the boat off pad at the No Wake buoys, the outboard sputters and dies. Out of gas. – Lake Havasu

Who is Really Regulating Water Quality?

There is a tributary to Galveston Bay named Clear Creek that old timers reminisce about. They will tell you that fifty years ago you could walk the shorelines and catch trout and redfish. Often times freshwater species including bass and crappie could be caught at the same location by simply changing depth and taking advantage of the salt water below the relatively light fresh water. Today this area is not useful as a fishery because of pollution. In the late fifties Lake Houston was an excellent fishery as well. Today I don’t think many people would bother to spend a lot of time fishing either. Why is this important? It is important because, without intervention, history will repeat itself. The lakes of East Texas that we love so dearly will suffer exactly the same fate unless the political bodies, and business, industrial and agricultural interests are made to recognize the economic and recreational value of these reservoirs and tributaries are important. If you don’t think what has happened to Clear Creek can happen in East Texas and other areas read on. Just like Columbine, warning signs exist if we just take the time to recognize them.
Regional Water Quality Assessment
The Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) duties include responsibility for environmental assessments, administration of the Texas Clean Rivers Program, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Non Point Pollution grants Program. The TNRCC has regulatory authority. The Angelina & Neches River Authority (ANRA) has “broad responsibilities for protecting and enhancing the environments of the Angelina and Neches River Basins”.
The information which follows was taken directly from the Regional Assessment of Water Quality Upper Neches River Basin Study, October 1, 1996 which was prepared in cooperation with the TNRCC. “In 1991, based upon preliminary data, state regulatory authorities proposed poultry litter land application regulations which would have severely impacted poultry growers in East Texas, thus detrimentally impacting the poultry industry which is a substantial contributor to the East Texas Economy. In 1993, in response to the proposed regulations and a lack of sufficient poultry litter application research data, the TNRCC contracted with the ANRA who in turn contracted with Stephen F. Austin University to conduct a research pilot program to determine the effects of land-applied broiler litter on water quality of East Texas streams.” Poultry litter is a mixture of wood shavings and poultry manure.
Some of the published observations and findings of the 1996 poultry litter study follow.
· “Today, (1996) the majority of poultry growers in the study area still continue to remove litter
annually and spread 3 to 5 tons of litter per acre.”
· “Despite long-term land application of litter in the tributary watersheds, no adverse effects to water quality were detected.”
· “Nitrate-Nitrogen concentrations in many water quality samples were found to be greater than necessary to support excessive algal growth in both forested and pastured sites.”
“Study findings indicate that current and historical land management practices appear to have no adverse effects on water quality in the study watersheds therefore, if the TNRCC chooses to regulate poultry litter land application rates in East Texas, the current rate of litter application (3 to 5 tons per acre) should be considered for adoption to the standards. However, some growers are beginning to spread litter more than once per year resulting in application rates of approximately six to ten tons per acre.” According to the Regional Assessment do*****ent, “about 400,000 tons of waste material was produced in 1995”.
According to a TNRCC, Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) project status report for the Lake of the Pines and Big Cypress Creek another study, “to assess the current and potential water quality impacts of the poultry industry”, was conducted in 1997 and 1998. The Cypress Creek basin report was scheduled for completion in early 1999.
A typical broiler production cycle takes eight to ten weeks and the poultry farmers we have talked with say they clean out their houses every second or third production cycle, not once a year. The bottom line is this. No one is counting how many tons of litter are applied and there is no regulation; just as there is no regulation or tracking of quantities of herbicide / pesticide applications throughout the state.
Who really cares how may tons of poultry manure, herbicides / pesticides are applied as long as it is profitable? Does it make any difference to water quality or aquatic life? The answer to the first question is; not enough people care to make a difference. At present apathy prevails. The answer to the second question is yes. Read the labels found on herbicide and pesticide containers. The warnings are there for a reason.
Fecal Coliforn Bacteria Concern
In the Regional Assessment of Water Quality Upper Neches River Basin Study, October 1, 1996 do*****ent the following water quality concerns were identified. Sam Rayburn Reservoir was given a “concerned” status because of excessive fecal coliform bacteria in the spring and was not a concern in summer and winter. The Angelina River above Sam Rayburn was given a “concerned” status in all three designated periods, spring, summer and winter because of fecal coliform bacteria.
Fecal coliform bacteria are a result of contamination by human and or animal waste excretions.
1994 Assessment – Sulfate Concern
During the1994 assessment effort, historical water quality data was screened in the period 1982-1991. The “concerns” identified for Sam Rayburn Reservoir classified the water quality as “limited”. In the 94 assessment of Sam Rayburn a “concern” for Sulfates was identified and “possible concerns”, were identified for the following; dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, chloride, fecal coliform bacteria, nutrients, and metals. The most logical source for sulfates and chlorides is the Champion Intl. paper mill which has been in continuos operation and is now owned and operated by Donohue paper, Inc. Sulfates are constituents of pulp mill “liquor”.
TNRCC Non Point Source Pollution Report
On the TNRCC web site page that is headed as Data Collection you will find discussion of the TNRCC Non Point Source Program which states that, “the updated assessment report will be published for public comment in the fall of 1998”. It also says, “the final report will be available in early 1999 after indicated revisions from the public comment period are incorporated”. On another page, under Data Management it says; “the Data Collection section produced several reports of interest to the regulated community” and a link is provided to the Non Point Source Program 1997 Annual Report. The report file will not down load. No explanation or reason is given, it just leaves you hanging out thinking a down load is happening. No link to the 1999 report scheduled to be available in early 1999 was provided. A TNRCC representative was asked how to obtain the report and the response was; they decided not to publish the report and the 303d Impaired Waters List do*****ent was adequate to provide the same information. Note that the 303d Impaired Waters List do*****ent does not list a single tributary to Sam Rayburn. That is not adequate. This lack of information on Sam Rayburn tributaries is unique! All other significant reservoir tributaries are covered in the 303d do*****ent.
Furthermore, in another TNRCC do*****ent titled Guidance for Submitting Data and Information for the Texas 2000 Clean water act, April 27.1999 Section 303d list it says; any data submissions must “limit the data to all water bodies in the following river basins: Canadian, Red, Sulfur, Cypress, Sabine, and Neches”. Thus submittal of information pertaining to the Angelina River, Attoyac Bayou and Ayish Bayou – or any other Rayburn tributary is excluded. According to another TNRCC do*****ent “Sam Rayburn Reservoir drains approximately 3,449 square miles” and there are 31 waste water discharge facilities dumping into the Angelina river. As already stated “results of the assessment screening analysis identify a concern for sulfates, and possible concerns for dissolved oxygen, nutrients, metals, and fecal coliform bacteria are also identified.”
At this point it has not been determined if a Non Point Source Pollution Report actually exists and is being withheld from the public or what. If it does exist you can be sure it would provide additional insight into what is happening on Rayburn and
Toledo Bend. Is it possible that powerful interests are applying political pressure that is preventing information relevant to pollution sources in the Sam Rayburn tributaries from being made public? Decide for yourself.
Apathy or Ignorance
At least one official (not the janitor) of an agency having responsibility for water quality recently took the position that Ammonia is not toxic. He is either misinformed or was attempting to mislead – one or the other. In either case, his position does not instill confidence. Apparently, he has never examined Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) Records available to the public that list Toxic Chemical releases into Paper Mill Creek which empties into the Angelina River arm of Sam Rayburn Reservoir. The TRI records establish that in 1997; 20,768 lbs. of Ammonia, 4,937 lbs. of chloroform, 9,680 lbs. of Methanol and other toxic chemicals were released as surface water discharges into paper mill creek, a tributary to the Angelina River a few miles north of the 103 bridge. The agency this official represents has “broad responsibility for protecting and enhancing the environments of the Angelina and Neches River Basins”.
In mid-May, letters urging support for the determination of the reason for the 1998 Sam Rayburn fish kill and remedy for the decline in productivity of the fishery were posted to the Governor, and to U.S. and Texas legislators, the Director of Inland Fisheries, and the Chambers of Commerce in Lufkin and Jasper. Since then the Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW) has taken some positive actions including collection and analysis of fish specimens and release of information attributing the presence of lesions on fish taken from Sam Rayburn to an infestation of Epistylus. “Epistylus is most often associated with poor water quality”, according to the TPW release and others. Currently, only three responses to the letters asking for support have been received. Responses were received from U.S. Senator Phil Gramm, State Senator Drew Nixon, and a Shirley Green, “Director of Correspondence” for Governor George Bush. Should it be concluded that the economic and recreational value of Sam Rayburn is not important to the non-responsive officials? Perhaps they should be asked this question prior to the next election.
TNRRC Water Quality Planning
The TNRCC has divided the state into five regions or groups. Each year water quality monitoring efforts are focused and intensified on only one of the five groups. Apparently, sufficient funding is not available to support rigorous sampling and analysis concurrently for all regions. Each year a different region or group is selected for an intensified sampling and analysis effort. Up until the present, the region having the most severe water quality problems were selected for intensified water sampling effort. In other words the worst water gets the attention. Unfortunately, this has created a situation where a body of water that may be void of any aquatic life and not suitable for any recreational purpose may get higher priority and attention than a body of water which is marginally suitable for support of aquatic life and recreational activity. In other words, the worst gets fixed first, meanwhile the marginal body of water condition worsens making it much more difficult to remedy. Catch 22!
Once the water sampling data from the intensified effort is available an analysis is performed resulting in preparation of an Impaired Waters List 303d. This list identifies specific water quality issues and based on this do*****ent a requirement for preparation of a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Plan may be generated. The TMDL Plan specifies the action that will be taken to obtain data and perform an analysis that will result in the determination of the maximum amount of pollutant a body of water can receive and still meet water quality standards.
A summary of information pertaining to a TMDL project initiation on Lake of the Pines and a tributary, Big Cypress Creek follows. Detection of high concentrations of Zinc and Selenium and low dissolved oxygen levels have established that the water quality in Lake of the Pines and Big Cypress Creek does not meet the State of Texas Standards. Due to these findings a TMDL project has been initiated. The first step of the TMDL project was the formation of a watershed committee made up of 43 separate agencies with representation from; 4 state agencies, 2 federal agencies, 7 cities, 5 industries, 3 citizen groups, 8 local governments, 5 universities, 3 water districts, 3 agriculture groups, 3 other water user groups. They left out the partridge in the pear tree.
A status report for the TMDL development project lists July, 1998 as a start date and a target end date of August, 2001. That’s three years from start to completion of the TMDL project with the purpose of defining the measures necessary to restore the water quality in Big Cypress Creek and Lake of the Pines. Nothing has been said about action to correct the problems at this point. Putting it kindly, a committee of 43 agencies is inherently constipated and dysfunctional. Who is regulating whom?
Interestingly, the water quality issues identified as reasons for initiation of the TMDL project were excessive concentrations of Zinc and Selenium but one of the “project highlights” was a study of the current and potential water quality impacts of the poultry industry. This is a second poultry litter study and is not the study done in the Attoyac region previously mentioned.
Impaired Waters List 303d, April 1999
The Impaired Waters List summarizes water quality issues for each the five groups in Texas. It typically includes reservoirs and tributaries to the reservoirs, but not for Sam Rayburn. The Sam Rayburn reservoir segment summary says fish consumption use is partially supported, based on a restricted consumption advisory issued by the Texas Department of health due to Mercury in fish tissue. The summary also says; “in the upper arm of the reservoir, dissolved oxygen concentrations are sometimes lower than the standard established to assure optimum conditions for aquatic life”. “Also in the upper portion, bacteria levels sometimes exceed the criterion established to assure the safety of contact recreation.” In plain English this means that sometimes fish will die because of oxygen deprivation and sometimes it’s not safe to swim or water-ski in, because of fecal coliform bacteria. Sulfates are not mentioned in the summary of conditions on Sam Rayburn even though the TNRCC data collection web site page “identifies a concern for sulfates’. The Angelina River, and Attoyac and Ayish Bayous, all major tributaries for Sam Rayburn reservoir, are not even listed in any group; it’s as if they didn’t exist. Some questions which should be addressed follow. Where did the contamination causing elevated levels of fecal coliform bacteria come from? Why are the dissolved oxygen levels insufficient for aquatic life? Reasonable people would look upstream of the reservoir at the tributaries for answers. The trouble is; Rayburn tributaries are missing from the list so we can’t look there. In the 1993 Poultry Litter study previously mentioned herein the Attoyac was a “study stream”. Certainly, it was not selected for the poultry litter study because it was a pristine water body. In the ANRA 1994 Water Quality Assessment previously mentioned herein, a concern for Sulfates in Sam Rayburn Reservoir was identified. In the same 1994 assessment, possible concerns for dissolved oxygen, dissolved solids, chloride, fecal coliform bacteria, nutrients and metals were also identified. Has anything happened to clean up the pollutants or has it just been decided to exclude them from mention? Engineers have a descriptive phrase for eliminating a problem without solving the problem. It’s called “pencil whipping the problem”. Again, who is regulating whom? Are organizations with deep pockets exerting influence and inhibiting accurate assessment of water quality? You decide.
The Impaired Waters List 303d in basin groups a & b which includes the Trinity River and water bodies East of the trinity, discloses a total of 13 “impairments” caused by pesticides Atrazine or Chlordane. Excessive metal concentrations including Zinc, Selenium, Copper and Lead are also present in this region. The typical routine water sample and analysis normally done, determines water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and conductivity. Analysis capable of detecting pesticide / herbicide constituents is not routinely done and it would be reasonable to expect a significantly greater number of “impairments” attributed to pesticides / herbicides if it were.
In late spring many fish caught on Sam Rayburn reservoir and Toledo Bend were covered with external lesions or open sores not caused by predators or handling. Similar findings on lakes Richland Chambers, Fairfield and Limestone were also reported. Logic suggests that there is a common pollution source weakening bass crappie and perch disease resistance and immune systems. A short list of possible, common, pollution sources includes herbicides, pesticides, sewage and animal or poultry manure applied to crop lands as fertilizer. Possible common sources for pesticide and herbicide applications include agriculture (which includes the timber industry), and all agencies using herbicides to control vegetation and underbrush along highways and other right-of -ways. These are the types of pollution sources you would expect to be addressed in the Non Point Source Pollution Report mentioned previously herein which is not available.
The aquatic grasses, Hydrilla and Coon-Tail moss, have practically disappeared from Sam Rayburn. Those who are intimately familiar with the history of Sam Rayburn know that this
is abnormal. TNRCC officials recently said they were not planning to perform water sample analyses capable of detecting herbicide / pesticide constituents in Sam Rayburn reservoir.
Any objective comparison of tournament results from 1999 to preceding years clearly supports the conclusion that the impact of the 1998 fish kill was much more severe than reported. A comparison of fish population surveys although not conclusive also suggests a decline in numbers of legal size fish.
Summary & Conclusion
The preceding makes it evident that information relevant to water quality which is vitally important to the communities economically dependent upon the recreational use of Sam Rayburn reservoir is not available. While the reason this is so has not been clearly established, it is evident that the agencies responsible for assessing, regulating, and maintaining water quality have not been effective. We do not believe these problems are a consequence of apathy or inability on the part of people employed by TNRCC and ANRA but rather the problems may be a consequence of the political influence powerful moneyed interests wield. We believe these interests inhibit regulation in order to secure profits. The situation will not change until the political bodies, and business, industrial and agricultural interests are made to realize that economic and recreational value of the reservoirs of East Texas are enormously important. That is the challenge. It can be met, but only if the merchants, boat dealer associations, boat and tackle manufactures, motel and restaurant owners ,etc. form an alliance with the common purpose of achieving water quality suitable for all recreational activity in our lakes and streams. The first step is to define the economic value of particular water bodies. These lakes and streams don’t belong to industry, timber, or agricultural interests and they should not be allowed to control their fate.
Foot note: A second letter signed by George Bush was received after completion of this article.
A Concerned Citizen
6/28/99 – Lake Havasu

February mean late prespawn or spawn for the bass in Gibbon’s Creek Reservoir. A power plant lake, the water temperature stays a few degrees warmer than Other east Texas lakes. A former holder of the Texas state record bass, you can bet that giant bass swim in this small reservoir. Which is why I guide and fish it myself. Keep in mind that Gibbon’s is strictly catch and release for large mouth bass. But a good shot at your personal best makes it worth that.

As I write this our weather is still fall like, so if this remains the trend expect the spawn to be on. A some what discolored or stained body of water, sight fishing is a rarity. So if the bass are between the inside grass line and the bank you’ll need to fish a locator bait such as a Slug-Go type jerk bait. A white skirted Stanley Wedge 3/8 oz. Spinnerbait worked around all the laydowns and stumps will get ambushed as well.

If the bass haven’t moved to the beds yet, you’ll need to fish the inside and outside edge of the grass which can be accomplished on the same cast as the grass is narrow due to the water color. Start the morning off with a buzz-bait working from the bank to the open water past the outside edge of the grass. Use a big bladed buzz-bait and work it just fast enough to stay on the surface. Never set the hook when you sec the strike, but wait until you feel the bass.

Once the surface bite has stopped I’ll change to a Stanley Wedge spinnerbait with a willow leaf blade around the grass and a Colorado blade around the stumps and laydowns. A red, chrome, or gold Rattle Trap will also be seen sailing away from my rod tip. This time of year I never use less than 18 lb. Triple Fish Camo Escent fishing line. Re-tie (often if you don’t want a story about the one that got away.

This is such a great “Power-Bait” lake that I never throw finesse baits. Doesn’t mean they don’t work, they do. But I catch a lot more fish a lot faster with “Power-Baits”. And if you fish Gibbon’s and don’t do any good, you are definitely doing something wrong. It’s not a high numbers lake but it is a high quality lake. one last note on the lake, it’s closed on Wednesdays.

And if you want some quality instruction on a quality lake in the art of fishing “Power-Baits” give me a call and we’ll set up a trip
Great Fishing.
– Lake Havasu

The hot summer months are upon us again, setting up yet another hot water scenario for catching bass. When water temperatures get hot (75 and up), the metabolism of the bass increases, resulting in more drastic mood swings than the fish experience at other times of year, The personality of the bass is therefore much different at this time of year, than say in the spring or fall when water temperatures are in the 6G’s and low 70’s. In the hot summer, bass are typically either feeding wide open, or they are totally sedentary. One for each mood of the bass.
When the bass go on the prowl and they become active, fast moving reaction baits will do the trick. Fast moving topwater lures, crankbaits, and spinnerbaits are great choices to catch these active fish. To efficiently angle for these active summer bass, the prudent fisherman will put his Motorguide Beast trolling motor on 3/4 or full speed, and cover vast amount of water looking for active bass. Some of my favorite bait choices for these power techniques include topwaters that can be worked fast, such as buzzbaits and small chuggers. Topwater baits such as these are most effective when fished around shallow vegetation or brush. Concentrate on main lake flats and the backs of coves, pockets or washes.
Medium and deep diving crankbaits like the new Berkley Frenzy in shad patterns are another great choice for covering a lot of water in a hurry. Concentrate your crankbait 6shing on steeper rock shorelines or walls, and on windy days don’t be afraid to crank shallow brush.

The Berkley Jay Yelas Power Spinnerbait in a Summer Shad pattern is another great choice for catching active shallow fish in the hot summer. Pitch this spinnerbait around shallow brush and grass, and be sure to use a fast retrieve in clear water. Retrieve the spinnerbait no deeper than 6 inches deep, and wind it fast. Windy days make for especially good spinnerbait fishing in the summer.

I recently designed yet another spinnerbait for Berkley. It is called the Berkley Jay Yelas Spinvisable. I designed this spinnerbait for clear water applications, and it is an awesome spinnerbait in warm clear water.

The theory behind the Spinvisable is one of trying to create an illusion to the fish. Lets face it, spinnerbaits don’t look real, and in clear water it is very easy for bass to identify a spinnerbait as unreal food. In clear water, if bass can visually lock in on a spinnerbait and identify the blades, shah, and skirt, they don’t eat it. Hence the fast retrieve, and hence the Spinvisable. This bait will revolutionize spinnerbait fishing in clear water. It wi0 be available sometime this summer.

Getting back to summer bass behavior, it is therefore important to understand that during a 24 hour period, the bass have brief, wide open flurries of activity that will last for about an hour or so, then they go dormant and rest for a few hours. Bass burn up so much energy when active in hot water that, to survive, they are forced to rest for most of the day. It might help to compare the bass’ metabolism to the RPM’s of your automobile. In hot water, the bass has a high metabolism, and its RPM’s run really high when it is active and looking for food. If it stayed active like this for long, it would burn up, just like your car if it were run for too long at high RPM’s. In cooler water, the bass have a lower metabolism, or lower RPM level, and they can stay active longer at these moderate levels of water temperature.

So, during periods of activity for summer bass, it is a good idea to use these fast moving, (high RPM) reaction lures I’ve mentioned. Match the mood of the bass. When the bass’ mood changes, however, and they go into a resting mode, the angler must slow way down if he expects to continue catching fish.

During a typical summer day, the bass are active for just a brief period of time, maybe a couple hours or so. The rest of the time they slow down and conserve energy, but they can definitely still be caught. To consistently take these inactive fish, the angler will have to switch to a worm of some sort, and
fish slowly.

This is why worms are the best overall summertime lures to catch bass. There are more hours during a summer day when a worm crawled slowly over the bottom will be more appealing to a fish than a topwater or spinnerbait worked spastically fast over the surface.

I have developed so much confidence in Berkley Power Worms over the past few years, that now they are the only worms I carry with me to the tournaments I fish. Berkley has a complete line of soft plastics to meet every worm fishing cir*****stance a fisherman might encounter. Some of my favorites are the 10″ and 7″ Power worms and the 6″ Power Zip Worm in pumpkinseed, red shad, and blue fleck.

Good summertime worm fishing is typically ledge, brush, or baitfish related. Usually the bass are found between 20 and 40 feet deep around good structure. Keeping a close eye on my Lowrance LMS-160 and my Lowrance X75 really helps me in identifying these deep structure areas. Structure varies from lake to lake, you’ll have to find the key area on each lake yourself. Look for dropoffs or ledges, brush on the edges of deep flats, or schools of shad.

One good thing about these deeper summer bass is that they generally stay in the same areas for a week or two, and can be counted on as consistent producers. They are good, consistent tournament fish.

Keep these ideas in mind this summer, and you’ll be on the right track. Good fishing, and please remember catch and release. – Lake Havasu

For years, anglers have been plagued with all types of vegetation growth in lakes, rivers, reservoirs, and off-shore. But, realizing the benefits of plant habitat for fish, anglers have adapted fishing styles and techniques to work with the grass, rather than letting it deter them from their favorite sport. Plant life is vital in the food chain, and it offers many fish a good place to hang out.

Plants in lakes, referred to as cover, are typically categorized as floating, emergent, and submergent growth. Floating plants offer a canopy of shaded cover, but will not limit fish movement underneath it’s thick mat, because it has no stems or vines attached to the lake bottom. It is free floating, and will collect in pockets, coves, or attach itself to other grassy or woody cover. Hyacinths, water cabbage, and duckweed are found on many waterways throughout the United States. Water Hyacinths have dark, shiny leaves with bluish-white flowers, and multiply very quickly. One plant can multiply to several thousand plants in just one season, blocking off many coves, boat lanes, and whole areas of lakes. Hyacinth is not much of a problem to fish, but it is a problem plant to control growth. Duckweed, on the other hand, poses more of a problem for anglers to penetrate the thick mat, than it does in growth control. Floating, weedless lures are best for fishing this type of cover. Sometimes, heavy baits can be punched through Duckweed growth with good results.

Submergent plants build up beneath the surface of waterways. Common submergent plants are hydrilla, coontail, and milfoil. Most submergent plants are fast growing vines that form a thick mat on top of the water, but are not near as dense below the surface. Pockets, trails, and holes will be distinct on the surface, and can be fished through the surface mat. Techniques employed for fishing submergent cover that is matted on top is the jig/craw, Texas rigged worm, and floating lures. When these vines are not matted on top, a crankbait, spinnerbait, slug type jerk bait, topwater, or other moving lure can draw some very reactive, vicious strikes, by running the lure just over the top of the grass.

Emergent vegetation is rooted on the bottom, but also offers plant life above the water. Examples of emergent growth are cattails, maidencane, reeds, bulrushes, and lily pads. These plants give fish cover from above, but allow them to move freely through the stalks and stems, remaining hidden from above. Some emergent plants are better fished with heavy lures using a flip/pitch technique to reach back into the weeds, such as cattails, and bulrushes. Lily pads are better penetrated by using a floating lure, spoon, or Texas rig with light sinker. Bass will move to the outside edges, capitalizing on the small baitfish that wander down the outside edges. Casting parallel to the weedline outside edges can entice many bass to the outside edge, that were previously tucked away just inside the emergent growth.

Weed growth usually has distinct growing lines, and generally start at the shore and extend out several feet. How far they grow from shore and stop, is dictated by depth, light penetration, oxygen, ph, soil composition, and fertility. Topographical breaklines will, often times, give way to two or more different weeds that are a natural attraction to bass on the prowl. Prey will skirt the outside edges, while the bass lays in waiting, stealthily hiding just inside the weedline.

Weeds give bass numerous advantages in foraging for food, and can also give the wise angler fishing advantages that will reward efforts time and time again. Whether lake vegetation is floating, submergent, or emergent, they all give bass a great hiding place to hang out. Rather than getting frustrated with weed growth, learn techniques that will prove to be a more productive fishing day.

Sherry Ruslink is a freelance outdoor writer, professional angler, licensed guide on Lake Fork, and owner of Anglers Educational Seminars, specializing in lady angler education. She may be reached at 817-572-3675, 903-473-1016, email: ladybass@onramp.net, and homepage: http://www.texs.com/ladybass – Lake Havasu

Timber, in any given lake, provides habitat for all species of fish. Anglers commonly refer to timber as cover, and they know it provides a sheltered area for bass hang outs. But, the age old quandary for bassers is which trees will be more productive for their fishing efforts? There are oak trees, pine trees, cedar trees, bushes, buck brush, tall trees, and short trees, that are left in lakes to be inundated with water. Timber, is not all created equal, when looking for specific targets for bass.

Structure and cover are the mainstays in providing shelter, travel routes, protection, and feeding advantages for bass. Timber supplies bass with all the necessary ingredients for top living conditions, and it gives anglers a primary target to key on while pursuing these sought after fish. Wi thin the intricate network of standing timber, anglers can find key holding areas that will always produce bass. But, when every tree looks like a good spot to direct a cast, and the lake houses thousands of the same types of trees, then the lake becomes very intimidating. And, since most ang lers don’t have the luxury of putting a lure next to every tree, then some time needs to be spent assessing the timber, and realizing not all trees will have a bass beside them.

High percentage areas of a lake that hold bass are places that collectively contain structure, cover, food, and shelter, and meet all the requirements of a bass’ needs. Trees aid in the network of providing these things for bass, and help anglers key in on the right areas, by using topo maps, and LCD’S. But, learning to visually read a lake is an exercise that should be given attention also. Lakes with standing timber, offer high spots, or humps, steep drops, creek channels, fence rows, orchards, roadbeds, and numerous other structured areas that will hold timber. By looking at the land mass that is not surrounded by water, take a look at how the trees grow.

Tall trees get more sunlight or osmosis than shorter trees, therefore the shorter trees usually grow on high ground. Cedar trees are generally much shorter than Pine or Oak trees, so to compete with them for the mu ch needed sun rays, they must be able to reach the height needed to grow. Cedar Trees will typically grow on humps or rises, while Oak Trees will glean from much lower down a hump or point, which might be a valley, or a drop. In other words, if the growth is relatively the same age, look for trees that are standing higher than the others. Chances are pretty good that these trees are taller because the lake bottom is higher. This usually projects a high spot in the form of a ridge, hump, or mound on the lake bottom.

Submerged channels are another top structure to fish within a large expanse of standing timber. Often times, trees grew right along the creek banks, and the larger trees will usually mark the route of the channel. So, to find a creek bend, which is a great bass holding area, follow the larger trees. Other likely spots are sloughs, roadbeds, boat lanes, pockets, points, ridges, humps, and tank dams. Humps, ridges, and tank dams will have Cedar Trees, Willow Trees, or some small trees scattered across the top, and will have a drop off side, which bass will naturally relate to the structure somewhere on the this prime piece of real estate. Points, many times will have shorter timber extending out into the lake, and that serves as a natural hangover for many species.

Only a small percentage of the actual cover bass use can be seen above the lakes surface. To locate the most productive timber, use good electronics, and a contour map, along with a good imagery. Bass have a preferred depth that meets their comfort, and they use the cover and structure within that haven to their best advantage. So take a little time, learn the lake, along with the structure and the cover it offers. Don’t be intimidated by all the standing timber, but know that they are not all created equal either.

Editors Note: Sherry Ruslink is sponsored by Stratos Boats/Evinrude Motors, Fin and Feather Sports Center – Pro Staff, Castaway Graphite Rods – Factory Team, Lowrance Electronics, Gene Larew Lures, Tackle Logic Tackle Systems, Triple Fish Fishing Line, Pro Line, Reel Deel, and Power Arm. She is a licensed guide on Lake Fork, Bass’n Gal Touring Pro, active member of Texas Outdoor Writers Assoc., TPWD angler educator, and owner of Anglers Educational Seminars. She may be contacted at 817-572-3675 or 903-473-1016, E-Mail: ladybass@onramp.net, & homepage: http://www.texs.com/ladybass
– Lake Havasu

Structure, in relation to a lake, is any bottom contour change. Cover is any object that is in the lake, natural or man made. On any given lake, fish relate to the available structure, just as humans and animals relate to contour changes on the earth. We all adapt to our environment around us , whether it is located on a hilltop, desert plain, or down in a valley. And, on that structure, we live in a home, just as fish make their home in the available cover that encompasses them.

For a better understanding about structure and cover, consider the following scenario as applied to their daily movements within their environment. You, the angler, live in a house on top of a hill, drive the same road to work each day, and basically have a routine for everything you do each da y. On arrival, you enter your office, go to your desk and sit in your chair. At break, you follow a hall to the break room, return to your desk via the same path. Lunch time finds you hungry, so you seek out a place that can serve you the most food for your money. You return to your office, follow a daily routine of work. Your work day completed, you return home along the same road that you always travel. Once home, you will usually ensue the same daily patterns, and then finally retire to bed, where you are at rest for awhile. Upon awakening, your hungry again, and begin to se arch the refrigerator for a quick and easy meal, before starting your same workday travels all over again. This short description of a human relating to patterns, habits, contour changes, cover, food, and survival can be applied to any specie living within his given surroundings.

A bass will establish a home, travel a given path in their daily living cycles, and will return to the same spawning areas each year by travelling contact points. Put simply, they follow structure to get where they are going, and use cover to live in, ambush prey from, and as an added dimension in following structure parallel.

The above human example exemplifies that all living creatures live a structure/cover oriented life. We have a place we live, have roads we follow, generally eat at scheduled times, rest and sleep, and evolve into seasonal changes, acclimating our bodies to temperature changes and weather elemen ts on a daily basis. The only thing that would prevail our changing or moving would be a threat to our existence. Humans relocate because of job transfers, degeneration of their communities, and food availability. A young bass will establish his living quarters and live his entire existence t here, if he is accommodated with good oxygen and ph, available forage, and safety from predators. Other animals are no different in their habits, travels, feeding and rest. They rest around the same trees, follow the same path to food and water, and their big meal is early morning and late eve ning. Bass are the same in their feeding habits, with two major feeds and two minor meals a day. They have three stages that their brain goes through each day, which is active, inactive, and rest. Per John Hope, noted bass tracker and author of “Tracking Trophy Bass”, when bass are resting, t hey are impossible to catch.” That state is just like our sleep state. However, when they become active, they go on a major feed, much like when we wake up, we want breakfast pretty quick, because we are our most hungry at that time.

Structure affords the bass a trail to follow during his active state, and cover provides him housing and ambush protection. If you encountered a robber in your home, the best place for you would be behind some cover in the darkest area. The robber could not see you, however, if you had a hall light on , you could see him. Dark cover gives a bass his best advantage to ambush his prey. For years, a common myth has been that bass have an aversion to sunlight, which is simply not true! Bass can and do adjust their eyes to varying conditions of light quite well. Because the forage has difficulty seeing the bass which are hidden in darker cover, the bass can use his superior vision for an easy meal.

As you can see, structure and cover are extremely important in the day to day rituals of all species, whether animal or human. It provides us with an obstacle course
to follow, and gives us direction to find our way in the jungle of cover that abounds. So, the next time you go to the lake to f ish, take time to study your topo map before you go. Locate the areas with good structure, and make a few calls to find out the available cover. It just might increase your chance for the lunker of your dreams.

Sherry Ruslink is a professional angler and licensed guide on Lake Fork. She runs a full service Bass Fishing Guide Business, which includes 2 full time licensed guides. Sherry’s guide service offers individual, corporate/ group, instructional, and tournament prefish trips. Day trips, night trips, and ½ day bass fishing trips, as well as in the winter months, Crappie trips. Sherry can be reached at 903-473-1016, 1-877-523-9227 (ladybas), email: ladybass@koyote.com , URL: http://www.texs.com/ladybass/fork.htm
Sponsor’s include – Triton Boats/Mariner Motors, Four Seasons Marine – Longview, TX, Castaway Rods – Factory Team, Lowrance, Motorguide, Lockhart Lures, Gene Larew Lures, McCoy’s Mean Green Fishing Line, and Top Brass Tackle. – Lake Havasu

Springtime abounds with nature fulfilling it’s clockwork course of destination.

A magnificent wake up call to the plant and animal kingdom to start their yearly ritual of mating, multiplying, and growing. This mysterious time of year surrounds our world with beauty, life, and energy that awakens our deepest feelings and senses to a level of childish excitement. For all these signs tell us – SPRING IS HERE, and to an angler, it means fishing time again.

Fishing in the spring is much more enjoyable for anglers because the weather is usually warmer, and the bass are beginning to be more active in their feeding binges after their long winter metabolic slow down. The days are getting longer, and the warm sun rays gleaming down begin to warm the water, triggering a call to the male bass to come to the shallower water and prepare a bed for the ladies in waiting. Bass movements are centered around their spawning, and the spawning is centered around water temperature.

Therefore, if the weather cools, the male bass will move back out into deeper water, but will remain close to the spawning areas waiting for a warming trend again. This pattern may occur several times before the male bass feels it’s time to make the actual bed. When the water temperature reaches about 55 degrees, the males start cruising the shallow water, feeding actively on available bait fish, storing up for the long, energy draining part he plays in the actual spawn. During this time, the female bass are in a period known as staging, and will be located in deeper areas such as points, edges of creek channels, sides of humps, or breaklines. They are waiting for their magic water temperature, which is in the mid 60’s, to signal it is time to move toward the spawning grounds. The male bass courts his lady by bumping his nose into her side, guiding her to his nest. She deposits her eggs and he fertilizes them with his milt. A few days late r, her job is finished, and she moves back out in deeper water for rest and recuperation. Left to his own demise, the male becomes full time guardian of the eggs. Once the fry are hatched, his instincts dictate that he stay with them for a short time protecting his young from hungry intruders.

But, soon he grows wary and hungry, and his will to survive overpowers his parental calling. Gorging his own babies for instant nourishment, he then leaves the vulnerable fry unprotected, letting nature choose it’s destiny.

From the millions of fry that are born, only a small percentage actually reach adulthood, because they are so vulnerable when small. Predators, lack of forage, water temperature drops, and mankind all play a critical role in how many baby bass will reach adulthood.

The north side of lakes and coves will warm the quickest, because it receives the sun for a longer period of the day, and is less volatile to the cold northern wind. Once the bass start their trek up the major creek channels, efforts should be concentrated in the secondary creek channels on the northwest side, and the shallow flat areas at the back and sides of the secondary creek channels. Usually, the murkier the water, the more shallow the bass will spawn. Pre-spawn, spawn, and post spawn will be in different areas of the lake, at different times, making it difficult for the weekend angler to establish a consistent pattern, because each phase does not last very long. However, bass will be spawning somewhere on the lake, from late February through April or May, following the same sequence of patterns of pre-spawn, spawn, post spawn. Study the spawning sites, the creek channels that lead the bass there, and the points at the beginning of the coves. Start a fishing diary of where bass spawn, and note the routes, cover, and structure they use to get there.

Then return there next year, because bass return to their spawning areas year after year, following the same routes. If you notice male bass swimming along the shoreline in a spawning area, then you can be assured that the egg laden females are close by. Within a couple of days to a week, the girls will be moving in to join the boys., providing the water temperature remain warm and constant.

Spawn time is so interesting to watch and study. Witnessing the precise timing of each stage, and to know that each bass that reaches
maturity has overcome great and numerous obstacles to reach catchable size. Our bass need to be respected and handled very gently during this time, and released as quickly as possible. Better yet, just leave the nesting bass alone to natures call. A good pair of polarized sunglasses allows you to witness the beautiful bass romance which is performed underwater.

There is an old do*****entary on video, entitled “Big Mouth”, which shows the life of a bass from birth to death, including the spawn. It can be rented at most video stores, and I highly recommend it to learning anglers for a better insight of how a bass lives, the spawn, and how it relates to the world underwater. Please practice catch and release, and safe handling of bass.

Sherry D. Ruslink
Licensed Bass Fishing Guide – Lake Fork
owner – Anglers Educational Seminars
http://www.texs.com/ladybass
email: ladybass@onramp.net
817-572-3675 phone & fax
903-473-1016 Lake Fork
– Lake Havasu

Post spawn generally causes anglers to question their ability in locating and catching bass. Many anglers are presently facing the inevitable question: Where are the bass hiding? Rest assured the bass are there, close to their spawning flat, traveling the route they utilized to enter areas for nesting. Post spawn is characterized by bass moving back to areas they call home. During this time of rest and recuperation, bass show a tendency towards lethargy and inactivity, which generally lasts about 2 weeks. Post spawn may
deal anglers a low blow in catching numbers of bass, but remember, it won’t last long, and the bass will still bite.

On any given lake, not all bass are doing the same thing at the same time. Given this premise that bass have individual biological time clocks, will help ease the blues while fishing for post spawn bass. Starting in the upper end of lakes, bass will begin the first wave of their spawn on the northwest sides of the lake and coves. Like a giant wave, the spawn will creep slowly down the lake to the lower end over a period of several weeks to a couple of months. The water temperature must be conducive to eggs warming enough to hatch, and with that knowledge the upper ends will warm the quickest, while the lower end will be the last area to warm enough for a spawn to take place. As well, most female bass will not lay all their eggs in one nest with one male partner. Fear that their eggs will be destroyed, females will wave in and out of nesting areas, mating with different males over several weeks. Therefore, an area may have prespawn, spawn, and post spawn going on at the same time. Females stage and recuperate in the same areas, which are most apt to be secondary points right off of a creek channel that leads to a protected spawning territory.

The difference in a prespawn and post spawn female is the activity level. Post spawn bass will not expend much energy in chasing baitfish because they are physically spent. They will suspend in more open water, during the transition period from post spawn to summer phases, and basically be in an inactive state for several weeks. On the other hand, male bass have a tendency to hang around in the shallows and feed more actively on vulnerable forage, before transistioning to summer homes.

While experiencing post spawn in one area of the lake, try fishing other areas that might still be in prespawn or spawn, or has transistioned from post spawn already. Prime post spawn and transitional structure is long sloping points, humps, roadbeds ditches, and tankdams that will serve as migratory routes for bass to travel. Stopovers from one area to another need to have ideal cover which will serve as shade and offer them protection from other predators. Stumps, trees, grass, ledges, tire reefs, and rocks will give bass a place of comfort and security, and give them an advantage in ambushing their prey.

While fishing for post spawn bass may not be to the liking of most anglers, there are alternatives to the actual post spawners, as mentioned above. Experiment a little and attempt to find what stage of the game the bass are in, and then move to the upper end or lower end according to the different stages until all bass are through with the 3 phases of prespawn, spawn, and post spawn.

Sherry Ruslink is a professional tournament angler and guide on Lake Fork. She owns Anglers Educational Seminars which specializes in lady angler education. She may be reached at 817- 572-3675, 903-473-1016, email: ladybass@onramp.net, homepage: http://www.texs.com/ladybass – Lake Havasu

Points are one of the most common types of structure found in a lake. Structure is defined as any contour change in the lakes bottom, and that includes points. There are many different types of points, depending on the particular lake and it’s bottom composition. Points can be structured with rocks , sand, mud, or clay, and may also offer cover on some points, such as trees, grass, stickups, tire reefs, and lay downs. Points (structure) coupled with grass or trees (cover) is an automatic magnet for bass, and other species of fish. Points are heralded as probably the best overall structure a lake has to offer for bass hangouts.

All points are not created equal! There are about four different types of points used for identification. Bar points are found in shallow reservoirs, and are usually flat, sandy rises which offer no irregularities, and run long distances under water before falling off into the main lake river channel. Sometimes bar points may even be separated from the shoreline, and will be situated at the main lake river and a ditch, or secondary creek.

Primary or main lake points are two distinct points on either side of the mouth of a feeder creek, where the two creeks join the main lake. Main lake points that drop into the main river channel, enriched with cover, are key bass hangouts. Secondary points are located in mouths of small coves or pockets that extend back from the main creek arm. These are usually shallower and not as large as primary or bar points. Bluff points fall into two categories: main bluff points, where the channel cuts away from a bluff and forms a shoal which has gravel or rock that lines the turn; and rock bluffs form a continuous ledge underwater, moving deeper and deeper as it parallels the creek channel.

Creeks and rivers also offer points within the tributary, which will be on the bends where years of current has etched away the contour as the river traveled downstream. Channels wind their way across and around the lake floor in every reservoir, cutting across many irregularities and undulations that form points.

When a creek channel runs in close to the bank or a point, it is definitely a place that bass will hangout sometime during the four seasons. Tight bends in creek channels offers a bluff and shoal, where the flow of current has etched it’s way along contour changes. Underwater humps or ridges c an offer points that are either formed naturally, or were formed during construction of the reservoir. Workers push and pile dirt and trees in a given location which forms a point, and naturally serves as home to many fish.

Bass instinctively follow contour changes in a lake during their daily movements, preparing for their annual spawn, and adjusting to seasonal changes.

A bass’ movements are governed by several influences: oxygen, spawning, and feeding. Bass use points as stopovers in their travels to and from

spawning. When the spawn is completed, points again serve as a magnet for bass to grab an easy meal. However, they don’t just relate to points at random. Patterns are followed, using specific type of points and sub-structure on those points, under predictable cir*****stances. Being able to understand these patterns and habits, and key in on which points bass may be relating to is essential in consistently being able to locate bass.

Bass habits can be patterned by the time of year. When spawn movements dictate, they swim into the creeks, and move to the primary points first. As the water warms, bass then move back in the creeks to the secondary points and hold for the conditions to signal the proper time for nesting. After spawning, they reverse their route back to the secondary points, then on to their summer homes.

Bass like points for locating baitfish, which makes points prime feeding locations for predator fish. Water on points is churned through wind and boat traffic, which in turn creates oxygen being rejuvenated in the lake. Points on lakes and reservoirs will normally have some type of cover, whet her it is man made or natural. This makes a point even better. If you are lucky enough to find more than two covers, such as grass and trees on a points, then the point deserves a good look with an LCD. Bass will be there somewhere!

Use a good topo map to locate points and creek
channels. Research and homework should be accomplished before journeying to a lake, eliminating potentially unproductive water. Use a marker buoy system to clearly get a picture of how the point is located. Once the layout of the point is established, lock in the coordinates on a GPS unit, or triangulate position by using landlocked reference points.

Sherry Ruslink is owner of Anglers Educational Seminars, specializing in ladies bass fishing classes. She is a licensed bass fishing guide on Lake Fork, touring pro on the Bass’n Gal circuit, and a freelance outdoor writer – member of Texas Outdoor Writers Assoc. She may be contacted by calling 817-572-3675, 903-473-1016, email: ladybass@onramp.net, homepage: http://www.texs.com/ladybass

Sherry D. Ruslink
Licensed Bass Fishing Guide – Lake Fork
owner – Anglers Educational Seminars
http://www.texs.com/ladybass
email: ladybass@onramp.net
817-572-3675 phone & fax
903-473-1016 Lake Fork – Lake Havasu

Crankbaits are great fish finders, and are productive twelve months of the year. Baitfish can be imitated through various styles, colors, and patterns of crankbait lures. Some are large, fat, and big billed and have a big wobble when retrieved through the water; others are more narrow, compact in size, and have a smaller bill, and travel more fluidly with a tighter wobble; and still other crankbaits possess small bills and barely dive under the water. These crankbaits are generally referred to as lipped or billed crankbaits and all float when not being retrieved. The bill, shape, size, speed of reel, and line size will influence how the lure will respond when retrieved under the water. Then, there is another classification of crankbait which is the lipless version. Most of the lipless crankbaits are sinkers rather than floaters, therefore depth and speed are dependent on retrieve, line size, and reel gear ratio.

Crankbaits imitate baitfish, usually shad, crawfish, bream, or some other forage base particular to that lake. They dive under the water, have an erratic movement, and will tweak a bass’s interest, if presented correctly. Lure manufacturer’s use different material compositions to manufacture their lures. Some use balsa wood, others use plastic, and combinations of rubber, plastic, metal, and wood have been used. Each
crankbait has it’s own particular personality, and reacts differently when retrieved.

Many retrieve methods can be applied to give crankbaits a different action. Straight retrieve, crank-crank-pause, three cranks-pause, all these techniques would make the lure react differently under the water. Sometimes a more subtle approach would be warranted, however other times a more erratic movement would be the most appealing to bass. Line size, reel gear ratio, and even rod action also affects the reaction of crankbaits. The best way to see the reaction of a lure is in clear water, possibly a swimming pool. Therefore, when fishing, a better imagination can be used when working the lure.

Crankbaits are great lures to use on schooling bass, but they are also good when bass are suspending on structure, and can appeal to bass that are hidden in cover if bounced around in the cover. Bass are curious by nature, and are competitive for their food source. Crankbaits appeal to bass as easy, vulnerable prey!

Every color in the rainbow can be found in crankbaits, however natural forage base lures are the best colors to use. Shad imitations, crawfish colors, black, bream or perch color are all good colors to start with on any given lake. Too many times anglers change colors way too often, and should try changing the lure speed, action of the lure, or lure size before changing the color.

Crankbaits can also serve as cover and structure locators. Many pros, such as David Wharton use this technique so as not to disturb the water with their trolling motor. Cast out, and crank back with an easy retrieve, until the lure bumps something. Stop the retrieve, let the lure float up, then start the retrieve again. Most people are a little intimidated by crankbaits because of their reputation to snag cover easily, however staying in tune to what the lure is doing, and stopping on an impact will get lures back. If it snags, then try popping the line while holding the rod taut.

For more versatile fishing, try some crankbait fishing. Summer is a good time to try them out where bass are holding on points, roadbeds, and creek channels. Crankbaits are fun, catch bass, good twelve months of the year, and are very versatile lures.

Sherry Ruslink is a licensed, full time bass fishing guide on Lake Fork. She offers day and night trips, corporate trips or group trip coordination, and gift certificates. Sherry is a professional tournament angler, and owner of Anglers Educational Seminars (specializing in lady angler education). For information on Lake Fork guide trips, Ladies Bass Fishing classes, or Ladies Casting classes, Sherry can be reached at 903-473-1016, email: ladybass@koyote.com , or URL: http://www.texs.com/ladybass/fork.htm
She is sponsored by: Triton Boats/Mariner Motors, Four Seasons Marine, Castaway Rods – Factory Team, Lowrance, Motorguide – Power Gator, McCoy’s Fishing Line, Gene Larew, Pro-Line, Bass Assassin, Top Brass Tackle, and Norman Lures.
– Lake Havasu

Successful anglers most often possess a quality of self confidence in their abilities to locate, tempt, and catch bass. As with all things in life, the more one knows about what they are doing, the more adept they become at that situation. The old saying “Practice makes perfect” certainly holds credence, in that one either becomes better through trial and error, or discouragement sets in and another situation is sought. Not all people will be good at what they attempt to do, however learning as much as one can about the skill desired can equal successful bass fishing.

There is the angler that seems to always catch fish, share knowledge, have a positive attitude, and have everything together. And, there is the angler that catches fish at random, always secretive about what he knows, seemingly negative about life in general, and never is quite ready for anything. Do you know these two anglers? An angler can tell you much about his everyday personality through a fishing excursion. The successful angler has confidence, and it carries over into his everyday life situations. He carries confidence in his abilities to be successful, simple as that! This person has taken the time to learn as much as he can about angling, and it is paying off in his fishing endeavors! People refer to the successful angler as “Lucky”, but luck can only play a very minor part in locating, tempting, and catching bass. Successful anglers carry within their minds a confidence that all too often, unsuccessful anglers don’t possess.

Learning about bass behavior, how it relates to it’s environment, structure and cover, seasonal changes, proper equipment, lake compositions and conditions, weather, topographical maps, and electronics are all important in becoming successful at bass fishing. The successful angler is not just content to chunk and wind, hoping the big one attaches itself firmly to a hook, but he learns all there is to know about what he is pursuing. The more he learns, the more confident he is in being able to put all the variables together to have a auspicious fishing experience. Research and planning are key elements in a fishing adventure. Doing your homework before going to the lake will often lead to time spent catching bass, instead of racing around the lake in total confusion. Confident anglers have learned to read topo maps and their electronics. Homework is started by calling the various water body controls and finding out what the soil composition is, the natural cover of the lake, what the local baitfish are, whether the lake is constant, rising, or falling, and talking to local marinas about depth fish are being caught. Listening to weather conditions, and knowing how these conditions might affect bass, are some key variables that can affect how you might approach your fishing excursion. Confident anglers have studied, and learned the many variables that influence bass fishing, and they adjust accordingly. Instead of trying to locate another anglers honey hole, and fishing exactly the same color of lures, the successful angler does his homework to be successful.

There are a number of ways to increase your fishing knowledge. Classes in fishing have become popular in recent years, and are a good way to increase your knowledge through interaction with pros. Instructional videos and books are out on most aspects of fishing, and can be bought, rented, or borrowed. Talking to successful anglers about what they feel is important in catching fish. Hiring a recommended guide can help on learning discoveries about lakes, structure, cover, and bass behavior in a particular lake. Planning and research into the fishing trip is very important in learning as much as you can about the area, lake, and fish.

Depending upon your own wisdom, and watching your knowledge grow through each fishing experience will most definitely help in fishing success. And, success equals confidence.

Sherry Ruslink is a licensed bass fishing guide on Lake Fork, owner of Anglers Educational Seminars, Bass’n Gal Touring Pro, and freelance outdoor writer (TOWA). She can be reached at 817-572-3675, 903-473-1016, email: ladybass@onramp.net, URL: http://www.texs.com/ladybass

—
Sherry D. Ruslink
Licensed Bass Fishing Guide – Lake Fork
Anglers Educational Seminars – owner
Bass’n Gal Touring Pro
Outdoor Writer – TOWA
http://www.texs.com/ladybass
http://www.texs.com
http://www.bassworld.com/lakefork/
– Lake Havasu

Many anglers have fished for years, not understanding the physical and mental make-up of a bass’s system. To increase productivity in anything, one must first do some homework on what makes anything “tick”. And, that includes the bass. A bass’s senses include sight, hearing, smell, taste, and feel, however they are different than human’s senses because their brain is more primitive. Because of this, their senses must react to their environment differently. Humans can think and reason, animals react. Their lives are governed through genetics, and their existence is programmed through their senses. The physical and mental make-up of a bass is simple, but yet sophisticated compared to other animals.

A bass’s eyesight is excellent, and is absolutely the most important sense it has. Without eyesight, a bass would have a short life span. It is the dominant force used for seeking and selecting food. A fish’s retina is made up of cones for color vision and rods for black, white, and shades of gray vision. A bass’s eyes can receive up to 5 times more light than a human, and this allows them to distinguish shapes, sizes, movement, and color patterns that the human eye can’t, even under varying water clarity and light conditions. They do not have lids, but are able to change the shape of the eyeball to varying conditions of light. They have wide field vision, a full 180 degrees for each eye. Bass’s eyes improves with age, and will continue to grow throughout it’s life. Bass can see color, extensive experiments have been done on color and bass perception. Yellow and blue are both less distinct than other colors. Bass see red and violet best, and green second best, but they can discriminate between all colors.

Hearing – The lateral line is a hearing organ designed for sounds close to the fish. It extends from behind the gills to the tail on either side of the fish. It is as accurate as a radar in pin pointing the presence of an object. Anything moving through the water must displace water molecules. It is this displacement that is picked up by the lateral line, and the fish can strike the source of that sound as effectively as if it were seen with the eyes. The lateral line works only with near field sounds, those that are within a few feet of the bass, but is a deadly system

Hearing – The ear system is inside their heads, although they do not have external earflaps as we do. Their bodies act as a sounding board, and they can hear and react to sounds a long distance away. This organ is real sensitive, and through their ears is what makes bass spook away sometimes.

Bass’s sense of smell is keen, but sense of smell and taste does not really affect their behavior. Sense of smell is called olfaction. Sharks, catfish, and salmon has been studied in depth, and are known to have a greater sense organ, and use it more fully in their lives. Bass use their smell for foraging and protection. Bass preyfish are made of amino acids, building blocks of protein. And. can smell small frightened preyfish up to 25 feet away. They use it to find their way back to certain feeding and spawning areas. Their migrating abilities allows them to return home through their olfactory perception. Smell is used in reproduction, territorial claims, and communicating with each other. Located on each side of the head. Chemoreception is the most primitive sense in the universe, and it is used to avoid harmful PH conditions, flee from harmful chemicals, to find food, and find suitable dissolved oxygen content. It forms the basis
of the bass’ entire behavior.

Scents – potions for adding to the lure, are the rage. They generate 40 – 50 million dollars in sales. They are slow to permeate the water, and are quickly carried off by the water. Scents may make the lure more positive, mask human smell, and make the bass hold the bait longer. You can overpower the olfactory system by saturating the water with scent. Someone who strongly reeks with perfume tends to repel people! Naturally, the manufacturers want you to use it a lot, so they tell you to soak it. Possibly, the optimal time to use scent is in cold water, where water doesn’t displace as quickly. Manufacturers claim their products work on inactive bass, but obviously active bass will hit anything! On the other hand, WD 40 has been used, anise oil, fruit flavored vaseline, and all sorts of home remedies have been claimed to work. You be the judge, of course if you catch a fish, using anything, you then have confidence in the item. But, whose to say that bass wouldn’t have hit your bait, had you not had the scent on?

Taste works the same way. A bass has already sized up whether he wants your lure or not. So you must appeal to his other senses. Sight first, hearing, so he can hone in on your bait, smell and taste so he will hold on to it longer.

As one can see, a bass’s senses is important for the bass to live out a full life. But, it is equally important that an angler understand a bass’s senses to aid in their pursuit of this beautiful creature – the LARGEMOUTH BASS.

Editors Note: Sherry Ruslink is sponsored by Triton Boats/Mariner Motors, Four Seasons Marine, Lowrance, Castaway Graphite Rods – Factory Team, Gene Larew Lures, McCoy’s Mean Green Fishing Line, Pro Line, Motorguide, Top Brass Tackle, and Lockhart Lures.. She is a licensed guide on Lake Fork, Touring Pro, member of Texas Outdoor Writers Assoc., instructor and seminar speaker on bass fishing, TPWD angler educator, and owner of Anglers Educational Seminars. You can reach her at 1-877-523-9227, email: ladybass@koyote.com, URL: http://www.texs.com/ladybass/fork.htm

—
Sherry D. Ruslink email: ladybass@koyote.com
Rt 1, Box 190-D-8 http://www.texs.com/ladybass
Emory, TX 75440 http://www.texs.com/ladybass/fork.htm
903-473-1016 http://www.texs.com
1-877-523-9227 http://www.texs.com/lvl
Anglers Educational Seminars http://www.wmi.org/Bassfish
Prof Tournament Angler http://www.tbbu.com/magazine/index.htm
Outdoor Writer ICQ – 2138299
– Lake Havasu

Of all different aspects of tournament fishing, without a doubt the least understood by the average angler is the matter of prefishing. Even the word “prefishing” itself is awfully ambiguous. Just mention that word to someone who knows nothing about bass tournaments, and you caii get some funny looks.

What I am going to discuss today are the two dift’erent types of prefishing. The first being the practice or prefish that takes place a week or two prior to the event, and the second being the practice which takes place immediately prior to the competition, Both practice sessions can be an integral part of a successful tournament, but if they’re improperly conducted, they can ruin your performance.

I have spent as much time prefishing before tournament off limits periods as anybody in the last ten years, and I think I’ve learned some things that can really pay off for both pro and amateur alike. When I was starting my pro career out West, I literally lived out of my van. I would travel from lake to lake, prefish, tournament fish, and then move on to the next lake. I would say I averaged about 7 days of prefishing for each tournament. Nowadays, because of time constraints and plenty of experience, I don’t prefish nearly as much. I prefish for about 1/3 of my tournaments these days. I think it’s important to prefish on lakes and rivers I’ve never seen before, and these new bodies of water are where I spend my time.

The main objective I am trying to accomplish during this advance prefish is to learn where everything is at inde lake. I want to know what the personality of the lake is. That is, where the different types of structure are, changes in water color, depths, just your basic stuff That way, when I come back for the tournament and I find bass holding on a particular type of cover, I know where I can run to find some more without wasting valuable practice time.

No angler will be able to learn the whole lake in
one week, so just try to become intimate with one or two areas of the lake that look like they will be good when you come back. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. It is far better to spend a lot of time in just a couple of areas, than to spend a little bit of time in many areas.

The one thing that can really mess you up prefishing this early is catching a lot of Rsh. I’ve seen this happen so many times I’ve lost count. A sherman will catch a really nice stringer a couple weeks prior to the tournament, and instantly get totally locked in to that pattern and area. They go back for the tournament and try the same stuff that worked two weeks earlier in the same area, and they fail miserably. Fish change daily, and most of the time they change a bunch in two weeks.

I’ve learned not to be concerned with catching a lot of Gsh during this prefishing period. Sure, I want to catch a few to get a little confidence, but I’m mostly just concerned with learning the lake.

I worry about how to catch them during the oflicial practice period.

If you are not able to spend any time on a lake before the cutoff period, don’t worry about it. Some of my best finishes have come on lakes that were new to me that I had no time to prefish. The whole key in this situation is being able to commit yourself to one part of the lake, and not being at all concerned with what goes on in the rest of the lake. It is hard to gain confidence in a part of the lake without ever seeing it before, so you’ll have to rely on information from past tournaments, advice from other fishermen, or just your natural intuitions. I must comment that this is a very exciting way to fish a tournament. You just have to believe that the bass live in the area you’ve chosen, and figure out how to catch them.

Let’s move now to a discussion on the official days of prefish. Most tournament circuits aUow the fishermen two days of practice before the competition starts. How you spend the time should largely be determined by how many days long the tournament is. The short tournaments of one or two days require that the angler be on the fish right out of the box. There is no time for catch up in these short events. So it is important in the prefish period to determine where you are going to fish, and what you’re going to throw.

The longer tournaments of three or four days like we fish on the B.A.S.S. tour require a different approach during the official prefish. -En this situation,-I-am often just-seeking to-determine what the seasonal pattern is for the area of the lake I plan to fish. I want to get a few bites in prefish, but mostly I’m just looking for that comfort zone; that is an area and technique that fits the seasonal pattern. I’ve learned so much in these long tournaments, and really prefer them over the short ones.

The Bassmaster Pro-Ams have a three day prewash period followed by a three day contest. On those prefish days, I am not thinking so much about present cir*****stances as I am about how I am going to catch fish on the third and fourth days of the tournament. I guess that is why I generally move up in the standings each day of the tournament. I am always thinking ahead.

A lot of guys have a record of busting a big stringer on the first day, and then they slowly slip away as the event progresses. While on the other hand, some guys move up in the standings each day. The difference is their prefish strategy.

To win a one day tournament, you have to be right on the fish from the start. But the longer tournaments require a different approach. I generally get more in tune with the Gsh with each passing day, so I don’t concern myself with catching too many during this o%cial practice period. What I’m looking for, again, is a key area and technique that should produce some quality fish for the existing seasonal pattern.

One of the biggest mistakes people make during this official prefish is trying to cover too much water. Big mistake. I recommend picking an area that you like, then dropping your trolling motor and fishing the whole area. This way nothing will be overlooked, and you will find out what they want and where they are. I can’t tell you how many times I was fishing too fast in practice, and passed right over a huge bunch of Gsh. The faster you fish and the more water you cover in prefish, the better chance you have of overlooking a true honey hole.
I generally don’t set the hook too often during prefish. It is good to catch a couple of fish to see how big they are, but then I shake off the rest of my bites. Remember, what you catch in practice doesn’t count.

The average weekend pro has the tendancy to spend his tournament fishing the same area where he got bit in practice. This is fine if you are truly in tune with the fish, and know exactly what time of day they are active, and what they are biting on. But if you are fishing one area for 30 minutes, then running 5 miles to another spot where you got bit in prefish, then moving again to another spot where you got bit, chances are you are just spot fishing, and not fishing the Ash. You might do 0.K. in a one day event by spot fishing, but this wont hold up for the long tournaments.

When I talk about fishing the fish, I mean keeping an open mind every day to changing conditions. Bass change all the time, and the successful anglers are the ones who learn to adjust with them. Just about eery tournainent I fish, I notice the bass changing from the prefish period to the competition days. That is why your top pros aren’t the ones who catch the big stringers during practice. In the longer tournaments, the prewash days should just give you an idea of where to start, then you have to simply be ready for what each new day has in store.
– Lake Havasu

For the past two years I’ve been hearing about all the big fish being caught at Falcon. Not that any fisherman has every been known to misstate a fact but the tales of so many 20 pound plus 5 fish catches were a bit hard for me to believe at first.

These stories started coming more frequently when a couple fishing buddies of mine, Ed Parten and Bruce Shuler, started fishing south Texas bass tournaments last year. Parten, a well known bass fishing fugue around the State, had told me several times that a 20 pound weight in a tournament wouldn’t make a check and that it frequently took 30 plus pounds to win. For those readers who aren’t avid tournament fishermen 20 pounds usually wins a tournament in Texas where we have a five fish limit. In fact it probably would win in most states for a two day catch.

In mid March I made lodging reservations for a trip to Falcon to find out first hand what this lake was all about. The Oso Blanco Lodge in Zapata came highly recommended and a call to them was answered with what Texans know as that special kind of hospitality that can only be found in the Rio Grande Valley. Sonia Delorme, lodge manager, graciously explained the facilities at Oso Blanco and made our reservations.

Falcon is a 6 to 7 hour scenic drive from Houston so our early Sunday morning departure got us to the lake shortly after noon. Us was my beautiful wife, Paulette and a fishing buddy and touring BASS pro, Phil Whittemore. After checking in at Oso Blanco we still had a few hours of daylight and the weather was absolutely beautiful, mid 80’s, sunny with a comfortable breeze from the Gulf, so we decided to get in a couple hours of fishing before dark.

After getting our Mexico fishing licenses we headed east, toward the dam, so that we could fish the lake from one end to the other in the next few days. Falcon State Park is near the dam so that is where we launched. We headed for the first major creek we found on the Mexico side and went to the back of a small feeder creek on the southeast side of the creek. We hadn’t been fishing 15 minutes and got our first fish. In the next hour we caught eight more fish, the largest of which was around 6 pounds. These fish are not the timid garden variety bass we are used to around Houston, when you stick on of these babies you’d better have a firm grip on you rod handle or they’ll take your stuff away from you. By dark, which was just a couple hours, our best five fish would have weighed around 18 pounds. On the ride back to the lodge we talked about the prospects of doing this every day for the next two days.

Next morning we headed out for Old town of Guerrero where we had been told the fishing was good. Old Guerrero is usually partially submerged in Falcon but because the lake was 28 feet low it was high and dry and we couldn’t get to it for the shallow water. We did a little fishing but spend most of the morning exploring.

At 11 we headed back to Oso Blanco for lunch. We me owners Dave and Sonia Delorme in the Lodge lobby and had a very nice visit. Dave and Sonia are a couple of likable Snowbirds who, like many, could make the trip back to New York after the Rio Grande Valley experience. They have been in Zapatta for eight years now where the operated an RV Park before Oso Blanco. It’s very easy to see why they like it so much there. The place has everything you could ask for, spacious and very comfortable newly remodeled rooms, a swimming pool with BBQ pits, RV Park, on site, Oso Loco Restaurant from which you can enjoy a gorgeous view of the sun setting over old Mexico, enclosed fishing pier and even an on site tackle shop.

After lunch we headed to the tackle shop, Lunkerville Tackle, where the owner, Chip Harmon, gave us some tips for catching Falcon bass. Chip and his wife LeEtte run a very well stocked tackle shop and were very helpful in providing us with the right stuff to throw. They have five guides that wok for them and say they often come in with 10 pound class bass. That’s pretty classy in my book. Chip explained that although Falcon may not provide many State Record class bass it did have a very good population of bass in the six to 10 pound range. Our experience on this trip found that to be true.

Following one of Chip’s tips we decide to fish the creek is on. We caught fish in several
areas of the creek throughout the afternoon. Although we didn’t get any big fish, our biggest was around 4 pounds, we did plenty nice fish. The sunset that evening was really spectacular.
The next morning we set out early for some serious bass fishing. We caught fish all morning with our biggest fish just under 7 pounds. No 10 pounders but more than enough quality fish to convince us that this lake was everything I had hear and more. The fishing was probably tough when we were there, especially for big fish, due to bright full moonlit nights. The hospitable atmosphere of the Rio Grande Valley, the gorgeous weather, the excellent fish population and the mean attitude of the bass combined to make this one of the most enjoyable fishing trips I can remember.

For lodging information call Dave or Sonia Delorme at the Oso Blanco Lodge.(210-765-4339) For fishing information, Guide Trips or tackle call Chip or LeEtte Harmon at Lunkerville Tackle & Guide Service.(210-765-3939) – Lake Havasu

The fish are on the move; however, the lake dropped over a foot in a one week period and on Friday, they received over 9″ of rain which had the bass pulled back out of the buck brush and they were relating more to mainlake points, secondary points and inside and outside weedlines. The frontal and post-frontal winning pattern was a Carolina rigged pumpkin green lizard or chartreuse pepper french-fry fished anywhere from 2-10′. The majority of the fish were located 1/2 way back in the creeks and as far back as you could maneuver your boat. Some fish were holding just outside the grass in the coves and pockets with smaller creeks and/or ditches located in the back.

Bill Ritzell and his partner, Allen Mittinen, won our local Port City Bass Club tournament on Toledo Bend using the above pattern and ended up with a two day combined weight of 41#. They were using CastAway Honey Carolina rods with Team Diawa TD1 reels spooled with Trilene Big Game 15# line. And, had it not been for Bill’s sponsor, Boots Follmar Marine in Houston doing some last minute repair work on his engine, Bill might not have had his boat in time to fish the tournament. Luckily, the boat was quickly repaired and he was able to go on and compete; and, win the tournament.

The 2nd place team of John Montgomery and Gary Mittinen, caught their fish primarily on Rat-L-Traps fished on bends and points off the feeder creeks to wind up with a team stringer of over 34 pounds. While 3rd place team of myself and Rusty Traylor caught our fish on spinnerbaits, Carolina rigs and Rat-L-Traps. We caught most of our fish on Sunday in anywhere from 6-25′. We also found our early fish on Sunday to hit Rat-L-Traps holding in front of the grassline in a mainlake cove at about 6-8′. I had big bass of the tournament, caught on Sunday on a CastAway Honey Carolina graphite rod with a Daiwa TD2 reel spooled with 15# Big Game Trilene line with a 3-foot 10# leader and a chartreuse/pepper Riverside Floating Air Fry. Big Bass was just over 5#’s and she was holding off a mainlake island on the outside grassline in 25′. The grass was deep out off the island and grew out as far out as 18′. Due to the recent cold fronts and rains, the bigger fish were staging, getting ready to move into the creeks and were holding in front of the grasslines. They had not yet moved into the backs of the creeks to perform their annual rituals. Due to strong North West winds and frontal conditions of Saturday, they would not bite, but the high bluebird skies and light winds on Sunday found several that went to the scales.

The massive fish kills of last summer on our East Texas lakes has had a dramatic effect on the fishing this spring. Both numbers of fish caught and size of fish being caught are directly affected by the fish kill. Big bass this time of year should be 8+ pounds, instead, we’re lucky to see a 5# bass being caught. There just not catching any big fish this year, and, what big fish are being caught are darn few!

The results of the Texas Oilman’s tournament sponsored by Skeeter Boats and Yamaha Outboards also showed a decline over year’s past in the number of big fish coming to the scales. The predominant pattern was the Carolina rig dragging a lizard or centipede in anywhere from 2-14′ water off of mainlake and secondary points. With all the rain, cold fronts and heavy winds the pre-spawn fishing has definitely been affected and continues to be affecting these migrating fish. They don’t know whether to go in and lay their eggs or back off. If the fish don’t move in by this coming weekend with the full moon, it will be April before the spawn is in full bloom. If you haven’t had a chance to get to the lake, now’s your chance, you haven’t missed a thing and chances are, you’ll be right on target for some of the best fishing the year will offer. – Lake Havasu

For the past month, Big Sam has been as temperamental as most all our East Texas lakes have been, especially in giving up numbers of bass. The high winds, rain and weekend cold fronts have kept the bass hanging out, and as of yet, they have not moved onto the beds to do their spring thing! The last weekend of the month will see a full moon and if the stubborn bass don’t move up then, it will be April before we see any signs of eggs being laid on the beds. In the last few weeks, we’ve seen some small but catchable buck bass move into the shallows in the backs of the creeks. There were signs of some of the bigger fish trying to move into the really shallow water last weekend, but they are so skiddish, they just won’t settle down and can’t be caught (at least not by this angler!)

We were fishing a club tournament last weekend and my husband, Norman, was fishing with his partner, 15 year old John Haehn. They were fishing in our Boots Follmar Marine Skeeter 210 with a Yamaha 225 EFI which had no trouble getting to their fishing spots around the lake in the high winds and rough water. Norman caught nine keepers on Saturday around the outside of the bushes in 2-4 foot depths. While I was in the other boat with my partner, Jan Shaw, and we struggled on Saturday and ended up with just one keeper that Jan managed to scratch out of the same area. We were all using the same pattern we have been on for the past six weeks using CastAway medium action graphite spinning rods, Shimano Spirex 2000FB spinning reels spooled with 10# Trilene Big Game and rigged Texas style with Riverside Floating Air Fry’s and lizards and Zoom centipedes and lizards. When we went to weigh-in on Saturday, eight of our members, including this writer, had big fat zeros, which is very uncommon for the caliber anglers we have in our Club. There were a lot of our members with only one or two fish and that’s strange, for this time of year.

On Sunday, we went right back to the same area hoping to repeat Norman’s prior day’s success story; however, the fish just wouldn’t cooperate as we only caught small one’s where keepers had been the day before. Since nothing was happening in the shallows, we fanned out and went in different directions trying to scratch out some keeper fish for Sunday’s weigh-in. Jan and I went South and fished some mainlake points dragging Carolina rigged lizards and centipedes and Texas rigs with the same baits. I finally caught a keeper in 8-10′ of water off a secondary point on a watermelon Riverside Floating Air Fry and was very thankful for the one fish! Norman and his partner went up North on the lake to investigate some of his other places that fish had been holding but to no avail, they ended up coming back down South and finished up in the same area he started in on both days. Big fish of the tournament was a 4.42# bass caught on a Carolina rig.

On Sunday afternoon, several of our members got into some keeper fish that were caught on spinnerbaits and Texas rigged worms in the very backs of a creek on the south side of the lake and managed to catch ___ keepers from one little area. All in all, the fishing was very poor this last weekend and it was difficult for most everyone to even catch five keepers.

I talked to Scott Soission of Needmore Tackle today and he indicated that last Friday they caught a 7# bass using a “Wacky” worm and were throwing to the outside of the bushes, but it was a cloudy day, and that during the week, they had been catching their fish in the bushes in about 6-7′ depths, using “Wacky” worms on the cloudy days. On the bright days, they were catching most of their fish on Carolina rigs on the mainlake dragging on the slick or bald spots with some kind of grass nearby. He also said that fishing mainlake spots over the weekend was almost nil due to the high winds on the lake. On Monday, an 8.84 and one over 5 pounds were caught dragging Carolina rigs anywhere from the bank to about 10-foot. He also confirmed that the fish should be moving up anytime now and that when they do decide to move in the fishing is going to be fast and furious.
– Lake Havasu