Colorado River Guide Blog

Dewey Kendrick, the B.A.S.S Tournament Director, walked into the Jasper High School gym and slammed the door telling one of his staff members to fine anyone else who walked through the door. It was 7pm and in B.A.S.S. you are fined for being late to the meetings. This was a pre-tournament meeting for the Texas Invitational at Sam Rayburn, February 12-17, 1996. There were over 300 hundred of us sitting with our eyes on Dewey waiting for him to start the show so that we could hear all of the rules of the tournament again and get our partner pairings for the next day(the first day of competition).

There is plenty of anxiety for the B.A.S.S. rookies in the house(like me at the time) and some of the other fisherman who are relatively new to fishing national tournaments. You are sitting in the same room with veteran aces like Rick Clunn, Gary Klein, Denny Brauer, Tommy Martin, Zell Rowland, Dion Hibdon, and Larry Nixon to name a few. Some of the anxiety stems from the fact that you could very easily draw one of these “big namers” for a day of fishing(only you cannot draw someone from your home state).

Dewey started reading off the pairings and in the third flight I heard my name called, I stood up and said “Yo” extremely loud, because if Dewey doesn’t here you say “Yo” he gets mad and makes a fool out of you, as I learned the hard way previously at the Arkansas Invitational. He looked up and found me, then looked back to his pairings and said “Larry Nixon”(no doubt, one of the biggest names in fishing). Larry and I left the gym and went outside where there were dozens of pairs of guys who had drawn each other for the following day. We were all huddled in pairs exchanging secret locations and baits quietly so that no other pair would hear.

Larry said he had fish in about the same area that I did and we agreed to go to the area and spend equal time on each other’s fish. We discussed tactics and baits so that I would know exactly what to bring. I could quickly tell by talking with Larry that he was a genuinely nice guy and sincere in everything that he said about his fish and the area.

We met the next morning and launched the boat with all of the other competitors and spectators and made our 3c flight out and headed up the lake. We pulled up to Larry’s area, a big flat with a creek running on one side of it and lots of timber. Larry had three keepers in the boat before I even had a bite, fifteen minutes later he had a limit. The fish
in this area were “easy” Larry said. They were all two pound fish just as Larry had told me the night before. I finally scrambled up three of the two pounders by around 9am. We had been working the same area all morning, Larry was waiting for me to limit before we proceeded to an area that had bigger fish. “We’re not leaving this area until you limit”, Larry kept saying. Not many guys would have been as patient as Larry was, most would have gotten their limit and went on to bigger and better things. He knew that if he waited I would definitely limit which was extremely critical on the first day of a three day tournament. Larry continued catching two pound fish left and right, I could not get bit. We were standing shoulder to shoulder on the front of the boat. I was at no disadvantage except that maybe his twenty five years of B.A.S.S. tournament experience had kicked in. Larry was on another planet catching fish one after another and telling me everything he was doing. My confidence never lowered for an instant because I was so impressed just watching someone “smoke fish” the way he was.

At times I thought Larry wanted me to catch the rest of my limit worse than I did, he was doing everything in his power so that I would. He even stopped fishing at one point. Finally I told him that we could just head to the bigger fish and I would just act like I had a limit. He reluctantly agreed and we moved on through the timber flat to a spot we had both caught big fish in practice.

We pulled into an area and Larry said, “This is it, this is the spot. Flip over by that big stump.” I flipped in there three consecutive casts, nothing. I picked out the next stump and flipped over to it, Larry flipped into the stump I had just fished and set the hook. He wrestled about a five pounder to the boat. He culls a fish and joins me back on the front and we continued. He caught two more solid fish that culled and said, “We need to go back and fish that big stump.” We eased back over to the stump and he tells me to flip in there. I flip in there about eight times; on the sides of the stump, around back, and a couple of times to the front of the stump. Larry flips in behind me and sets the hook on a “horse”. He fights the fish around for a while and finally lips a giant. On his computerized culling system he weighs the fish, 9.15 pounds.

Words could not describe the show he was putting on, it was truly a work of art.

It was almost time for us to head out of the creek and timber and head down the lake to weigh in. I still had three fish. I quickly fished my way out of the timber as Larry sat behind the steering wheel eating a Mars Bar and drinking a Diet Coke. He looked up just at the edge of the timber and said, “Make sure you flip into that stump right up there.” I saw the one he was referring to and flipped into it, automatic hookup. The fish was small but a keeper anyway, and Larry had called it sitting down not even hardly paying attention.

We ran back to weigh in and we had about five minutes to spare. Larry suggested I make a few casts but he was going to remain seated behind the wheel. Without lowering the trolling motor I jumped on the front deck and hurled a rattle trap with the wind about fifty yards. I reeled it in radically trying to catch my fifth fish for a limit. I cast out again with no success. A small mudline was within reach near the bank, I had seen it but not thrown at it intentionally. Just as I was about to make my third and probably final cast Larry said to bring my bait through the mud line. All in one motion I adjusted my cast and sent my rattle trap into muddy water. As I got the line tight I could feel a fish on the other end. I was so amazed I could hardly turn the handle to reel the fish in. I got the fish to the boat which gave me my limit at the very last minute and we quickly entered weigh in. We bagged our fish and walked through the crowd. I weighed first, my five babies weighed 9.15, exactly what Larry’s big fish weighed. Larry weighed in, the scales registered over 24 pounds and the crowd went wild.

I walked over to part of tournament headquarters where the partner pairings for the next day were posted. I found my name, looked out beside it-Ken Cook…..that’s another story.

I still analyze that day and learn something new each time that I carefully think the whole day through. What I probably learned most from that day fishing with such a great fisherman was that there is absolutely nothing that can replace experience, especially the many years that Larry has put in.

Bill Cannan Professional Fishing Guide – Lake Havasu

I hit the snooze button a couple of times before I finally realized that it was actually my alarm clock telling me to get up this morning. My small camper on the back of my truck sleeps well when I am on the tournament trail, equipped with a heater and an electric blanket it is quite cozy so long as I am plugged in at a campground somewhere. I managed to make my way outside and began to adjust to the sudden temperature change, from a nice and warm 70 or so to the cold outside air that was 35 degrees. This was my first day of pre-practice for the Mississippi BassMaster Invitational on Ross Barnett Reservoir.

I was here about 13 months ago for the same tournament last season. The lake was muddy then and it is muddy now. The lake has an enormous amount of bass and proves to be an excellent fishery year in and year out even with heavy fishing pressure. We have just hit it again when the Pearl River is really flowing bringing in run-off and turning the lake off color. There is still some good areas to fish but all the tournament fishermen will be piled on top of each other fishing what clean water is available. These conditions usually make a lake fish small during big tournaments.

When I put my boat in this morning the water temperature was 46 degrees, water temperature of 50 or less should always remind you to be extra patient and fish extra slow, especially when the water is muddy.
I pulled out two rods, one with a 3/8 Stanley Platinum Wedge Spinnerbait (chartreuse) and one with a 7/16 Stanley Jig. I added a pork chunk to the jig and up the river I went. I started looking at pockets off of the river, protected water from the current and also the fresh muddy water the river was bringing down.

The water was cold everywhere, mostly 46 and 47 degrees. I did find some clear water way back in some of the pockets but that also put me back in the woods where there was so many trees that the sun would hardly be able to penetrate to warm the water. I fished the back pockets until around noon and then decided that I could come back to these areas during the official practice just before the tournament.

I went down the river a few miles until it opened up to the lake. I then checked the back of some of the bays where the sun could really pound if it were to ever come out from the overcast skies. I ran flat weeded banks for a couple of hours before I finally caught one on my spinnerbait, the fish was very light in color and weighed about two and a half pounds. Considering the conditions catching one fish in an area could mean there is a whole bunch of fish there. I didn’t catch anymore fish in that bay but I will certainly look at that spot when I come back.

Before I finished out the day I caught two more on the spinnerbait to bring my bass tally to three. Not much for nine and a half hours on the water but believe me it could have been worse. I talked to three competitors on the ramp who all said that they never got a bite all day. Fishing is very tough and if east Mississippi does not get some warm weather before we come back in two weeks it will be a very tough tournament.

Mother Nature always has something to dish out and this particular week it is cold weather and rain. For a very shallow lake like Ross Barnett that is a tough combination. But as usual one of us will figure out how to catch them better than anyone else and will walk away with forty thousand bucks, hopefully me!

The tournament is February 12th, 13th, and 14th. You can check the results daily on the internet by entering BASSMASTER into a search.

Bill Cannan Professional Fishing Guide – Lake Havasu

As you well know if you have read anything about Lake Conroe this year is that the crappie fishing is premier. I think that it is safe to say that Lake Conroe is one of the best crappie lakes in the state this year. Many of us Lake Conroe fishermen have spent a lot of time fishing for the papermouths. We have all got our little tricks of the trade honed up for this crappie fishing. There is definitely plenty of ways to load the boat full of crappie and who is to say which way is best. Some of the crappie fulltimers will tell you crappie jigs under the 1097, minnows sunk around timber, or a minnow-jig combination in the creek channels. All of these methods will work. I have spent my fair share of time on the water “crappie guiding” and come up with a rig that works wonders for catching crappie.

The crappie rig that is used on my boat takes several principles and applies them to crappie fishing. Anytime that you are fishing around the bottom, brush, or standing timber the rig you use must be somewhat weedless. If not you will spend all of your time hung up and retying. When fishing off-colored water a noise making devise within a rig will help attract fish. Taking this into mind a crappie rig that is weedless and makes noise most certainly is the way to go.

This rig requires a one ought crappie hook, two 10mm Top Brass glass beads, and a Top Brass 3/8 oz brass weight. To rig it up slide the line through the eye of the hook. Next slide the line through the brass weight, then through both glass beads. Tie the line to the second glass bead. So now you have line through the

hook, weight, glass bead, and the line tied to the second glass bead. Now take the hook and slide it up the line away from the weight and glass beads about a foot. Pull the hook to the side so that it doubles the line. Take the doubled line and tie a knot in it about three inches from the hook. Make this a double knot. Now take the hook and pull it away from the knot. Make another knot between the eye of the hook and the double knot.

To fish the rig drop it down to the bottom or the desired depth. If the hook becomes hung up don’t pull tight on the line simply lower your rod tip and let the weight fall, it will dislodge the hook. The brass and glass when engaged makes a clicking sound that attracts fish. When fishing the rig simply jig it occasionally or shake the rig. Many times your strike will occur immediately after the brass and glass have engaged. The brass and glass clicking resembles a crawfish kicking its tail for propulsion.

This will be a good month to fish this rig since the water is off color due to the flooding. Be on the look out for floating debris or floating logs caused by the floods. Good luck fishing.

Bill Cannan Professional Fishing Guide – Lake Havasu

For the past for years Marshall Brown, a top fisherman and former guide of Lake Conroe, has been organizing a fishing school that has helped hundreds learn more about Lake Conroe. This school is designed for amateurs as well as veteran fisherman. Top tournament pros and guides from Lake Conroe come and share many of their secrets of success and convey their knowledge to you in a classroom setting.

Many techniques will be discussed like: Structure fishing, verticle jigging, carolina rigging, cranking deep structure, flipping jigs, reading your electronics, and many more.

These super-informative adult classes will be held for four weeks beginning FEBRUARY 20TH and ending on MARCH 7TH. There will be two classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30 – 9:30 pm. Classes will be held in Willis at the Adult Community Education Center.

For registration call the Director of Community Education, Ruth Castlescholdt at (409) 856-1210.
Registration for the entire four weeks of class is $50.

Bill Cannan Professional Fishing Guide – Lake Havasu

How often are you fishing a lure and know that you are not throwing it on the right pound test? Too often probably if you are like me, and simply don’t want to strip all of that line off to replace it with smaller or larger line. If you know the line size is not ideal and you fish it anyway your conscious is at war because it knows that optimum utility is not taking place. Each bait has a line size that allows it to perform with the perfect action, whatever that line diameter is for each bait is what you want every time you fish a different bait.

Before I explain how to choose the correct line size for lures remember that you are looking for long term results by amassing a whole lot of “little things” that characterize your style. No one thing that you do or learn or change is going to make you an ultimate fisherman, but by learning one “little thing” at a time and putting them all together you will become an ultimate fisherman.

A little bait needs little line to be fished properly. Small crankbaits perform best when fished on tiny line because the line does not hinder the lures action. Line creates resistance in the water like friction, the bigger the line the more resistance it has. A small bait cannot compensate for the resistance and looses action because of it. A Model 3A Bomber for example can be fished on 17# test and will dive to about 4 or 5 feet and have moderate vibration. On 12# test the same bait will dive about 6-8 feet and have considerably more action. On 8# test the bait will give you everything it has to offer. Depths of 10 feet or more and more action than with any other pound test. The more action a bait has the more noise a bait makes. Noise because of the rattles and also because of the vibration.

OK so baits perform better with lighter line but what about cover? Well this is where your common sense comes in. If you are fishing shallow timber flats with stumps everywhere you may not feel comfortable with small line. Beef up in this situation then or you can use the small line and accept the fact that you could loose some fish if one wraps you up. You have to weigh the risks. If you think that you will get more bites with lighter line because the bait performs best with small line then fish small line and take the risk of loosing fish in the cover. Remember, you have to get the bites before you break any off. Sometimes line selection is the difference between getting bites and not getting bites, especially in high pressured areas.

Reaction baits don’t need light line to be effective. Vertically presented baits like jigs and crawworms need big line. The object is to drop the bait straight down onto a bass. Heavy line is not going to have much of an effect on the action of a jig falling straight down. Also the fish can only see the bait if the lure is being dropped right onto it and the fish won’t even see the line. Of course heavy line is need here because of the close range hookset and the heavy cover this style is used in.

Here are some matches that I live by in my tactics.

shallow divers 1-3 feet – 8-10#
medium divers 3-12 feet – 10#
deep divers 12 feet+ – 12#, ultra deep depths can be achieved by using 8# or 10# on big crankbaits

spinner baits 1/4 oz – 12#
3/8 and 1/2 oz – 14#-17#
3/4 and 1oz – 17# and up

rogues 10# and 12#

jigs around heavy timber 20#-25#
hydrilla 25#

small jigs (1/4oz) 12# – 17#
topwaters 12#, around hydrilla 20#

carolina rig 17#

I hope this helps you in choosing the right line and catch more fish.

Bill Cannan Professional Fishing Guide – Lake Havasu

SPLITSHOTTING
One of the types of finesse fishing for black bass is called splitshotting. This rig is designed for fishing a worm through mossy areas. This rig consists of a worm rigged on a hook without a weight directly on the worm head. Instead of using a worm weight a tiny splitshot weight is attached to the line about a foot and a half above the worm. A splitshot is about the size of a BB. The weight has a split just big enough for the line. The rig can be fished across loose moss and other aquatic vegetation without being entangled and hung. Splitshotting gives a worm a very natural look because there is little weight used the bait has a good fluttering action.

The splitshotting rig should be fished with a spinning rod with eight to twelve pound test line. The rig is very light, weighing less than a quarter of an ounce. The light line is small in diameter and draws little wind resistance when casting. The rod should have a medium action and the hook should be extremely sharp. The light line will not stand up to heavy hooksets so a milder hookset must be used in order not to break the line. If the hook is extremely a mild hookset will get enough hook penetration to land the fish.
To tie the splitshotting rig run the line through the eye of the hook and tie a knot. Next rig the worm onto the hook like it was a Texas Rigged worm. Once this is completed add a splitshot weight about a foot and a half above the worm. Pliers will aid in pinching the weight in place on the line.
Fishing the splitshot worm is very similar to the Carolina Rig. Cast the rig across aquatic vegetation and start to work it back to you with the same rod positioning as the Carolina Rig retrieve. A slow retrieve allowing the rig to fall into the pockets of aquatic vegetation draws the most strikes. Once a strike occurs use a moderate hookset in order not to break the line. The drag setting on the reel should be set so that line may be automatically released before reaching its maximum stretch factor and breaking. Big bass can be landed using light tackle if they are allowed to run and not “horsed” back to the boat. Patience, once again, is the key to landing fish hooked on light tackle

WEIGHTLESS WORM
The weightless worm is very similar to the splitshot worm only this rig has no weight at all. This rig is designed for areas where the aquatic vegetation is so thick that a worm with any size weight becomes hung up. A worm alone will float and even when rigged with a number one or number two worm hook will still have enough buoyancy to be fished weedless across aquatic vegetation.

Dragging the weightless worm across aquatic vegetation has been a successful method of catching fish out of thick grass for years. There are not many techniques that will allow a lure to fished in such heavy cover. Fishing the hard to reach areas is often effective with the weightless worm because the fish in these areas have not seen very many baits. These fish are less likely to be conditioned to any type of lure. The more times a fish sees a lure and is caught or sees another bass get caught the more chances increase for that fish to become conditioned so that it avoids lures. In an area where not many baits have been thrown the chances of the fish in the area to be conditioned are very slim.

FLORIDA RIG
The Florida Rig is identical to the pegged Texas Rig except that the weight is a little different. Instead of using a worm weight and using a toothpick to peg the weight a Florida weight is used. The Florida Rig weight is a normal worm weight with a spring attached to the end of the weight that faces the worm. The spring attached to the weight is used to screw into the worm, holding the weight against the worm. This eliminates having to use toothpicks. The action and techniques to fishing the Florida Rig are identical to the Texas Rig.

DO-NOTHING WORM
The do-nothing worm is a method of worm fishing used when a cold front has occurred or when the fish are not feeding. Do-nothing worms are a finesse worm used when
a bass has little or no appetite and must be “force-fed”. The worm is a four to six inch worm rigged onto a tiny jig head usually weighing less than an eighth of an ounce. This method of worm fishing requires light tackle. Fishing the bait slowly and tight to cover is effective for catching bass even in the worst weather conditions when they are not feeding.

Bill Cannan Professional Fishing Guide – Lake Havasu

December is one of the best months of the year to fish Lake Conroe. The lake is practically deserted this time of year which is a little ironic because the fishing is always hot this month. Most of the fish are on main lake humps and ridges that apex in 20-33’ of water.

A 3/4 oz Cobra Jigging Spoon is the number one bait for the deep schools of fish. Black bass, white bass, crappie, catfish, and most other game fish will be holding on the main lake humps and ridges. All of these fish will hit the spoons as it resembles a wounded shad when on the fall. Big bass will be common this month on white and chartreuse Cobra spoons. Every marina around the lake has photographs taken during the month of December of big bass caught on jigging spoons.

The main lake structures are easy to find and there are plenty of them with fish on them. Graph out the bigger main lake points looking for the edge of the point where it meets the river. The most distinctly breaking area of the structure will usually hold the most fish. Anywhere you have a bunch of bigger fish within three feet of bottom on top of a hump or ridge is a good spot to mark and spoon. Fish that are suspended on the edges of the humps say five feet or higher off of the bottom are not as active and harder to catch. There is usually allot more fish suspended out on the edges of the humps but you will usually do better if you fish for the few that you see close to the bottom on top of the hump because they are feeding.

The top of the humps is a constant feeding area for fish. Fish are continuously pushing shad up onto the humps. The lunar tables will prove themselves to you daily if you pay attention the highs and lows in the feeding times. Fish turn on and off to these tables almost like clockwork.

Well this spoon pattern carries all the way into January and will get better daily from now on until then.

Bill Cannan Professional Fishing Guide – Lake Havasu

December is one of the best months of the year to fish Lake Conroe. The lake is practically deserted this time of year which is a little ironic because the fishing is alway hot this month. Most of the fish are on main lake humps and ridges that apex in 20-33’ of water.

A 3/4 oz Cobra Jigging Spoon is the number one bait for the deep schools of fish. Black bass, white bass, crappie, catfish, and most other game fish will be holding on the main lake humps and ridges. All of these fish will hit the spoons as it resembles a wounded shad when on the fall. Big bass will be common this month on white and chartreuse Cobra spoons. Every marina around the lake has photographs taken during the month of December of big bass caught on jigging spoons.

The main lake structures are easy to find and there are plenty of them with fish on them. Graph out the bigger main lake points looking for the edge of the point where it meets the river. The most distinctly breaking area of the structure will usually hold the most fish. Anywhere you have a bunch of bigger fish within three feet of bottom on top of a hump or ridge is a good spot to mark and spoon. Fish that are suspended on the edges of the humps say five feet or higher off of the bottom are not as active and harder to catch. There is usually alot more fish suspended out on the edges of the humps but you will usually do better if you fish for the few that you see close to the bottom on top of the hump because they are feeding.
The top of the humps is a constant feeding area for fish. Fish are continuously pushing shad up onto the humps. The lunar tables will prove themselves to you daily if you pay attention the highs and lows in the feeding times. Fish turn on and off to these tables almost like clockwork.

Well this spoon pattern carries all the way into January and will get better daily from now on until then.

Bill Cannan Professional Fishing Guide – Lake Havasu

Going from Winter to Summer without having much of a Spring seems to be a common subject among fishermen. The intricate patterns of Springtime fishing were blurred by the prevailing twenty to thirty-five mile per hour winds that blew from the end of February through May. As of this writing(late May) I have counted only four days that the wind did not blow over fifteen or so.

Many portions of the lake have been totally unfishable because of the wind, areas that are in open water like some of the mainlake humps and ridges. Some of the mainlake brushpiles have been untouched due to the swells rolling over the top of them.

Water temperatures were on a quick rise through April, I was already recording temperatures in the eighties the first week of May. The fish have been responding to the warming water as if we were deep into the summer. I have been taking customers out to fourteen to eighteen foot brushpiles and dragging Carolina Rigs for black bass this month and pretending that its summer time. The early morning bite has been on, rocks and breakwaters have been giving up good fish on crankbaits and Texas rigged worms. Even the Caronlina rig has been producing early fish on the rocks and breakwaters. Later in the morning those deeper brushpiles are holding good numbers of bass in and around fifteen feet. Pumpkinseed, smoke/blue, chartreuse pepper, and watermelon colored french fries have been my number one Carolina rigged baits.

The crappie quickly recovered from their spawn and stacked up on the brushpiles. At times during the last few weeks I’ve graphed a brushpiles to mark and there will be so many crappie suspended over them that the depth will change from the bottom to the top of the school of fish. The crappie are so thick in numbers that they collectively have enough density that the sonar cannot penetrate. Unable to see the brushpile for the fish I’ll just throw a buoy upwind of the fish and start fishing. Crappie numbers are high again this year with alot of fish around the eleven inch mark. When measuring crappie or any other fish close the mouth and push it to the zero end of the measuring board and then sweep the tail for an accurate measurement. Also remember that if the fish is barely legal that it will loose a little bit of length when you throw it on ice or if it dies in the livewell.

Looks like we are in for a hot summer so be ready to fish those deeper structures in the lake.

Bill Cannan Professional Fishing Guide – Lake Havasu

One of most effective ways of fishing shallow shoreline structures for largemouth black bass is using a Texas Rigged worm. The rig is designed for fishing shallow water with precision and thoroughness. Shallow water structures are any object in the shallow water that will hold bass. Some of these structures include: tree stumps, lay down logs, boat docks, bulk-heading, rocks, hydrilla lines, and drop offs.

The rig is very easy to cast with accuracy which is a must for shallow fishing. When casting at shallow water structure it is very important to lay the bait tight to the cover very quietly. The Texas Rig, when cast correctly, can be cast out near cover and land in the water without making a splash. Landing a worm around shallow water cover without making a splash can make the difference of catching fish or not catching fish. Black bass hide around the structure and will be easily spooked if a worm is not presented to the fish quietly.

Tying on a Texas Rig worm is very simple, however, there are a few tips that will give the bait better action. The rig includes a bullet weight, a number two worm hook, a toothpick, and a plastic worm. Start rigging the bait by running the line through the small end of the bullet weight. Slide the weight up the line and run the line through the eye of the hook. Tie the hook onto the line and clip the excess line with a pair of clippers. Next, take the weight and slide it down towards the hook. Take the toothpick and insert it into the big end of the bullet weight(the end facing the hook). Insert the toothpick as firmly as possibly and break it off in the weight. Use the clippers to remove any splinters that may be left.

Now it is time to rig the worm onto the hook. Take the hook and insert it into the head of the worm about a quarter of an inch. Bring the tip of the hook back out the worm and slide the worm up the shank of the hook. Now insert the tip of the hook into the body of the worm. Make sure that the tip of the hook is not pertruding the body of the worm. This will ensure that the bait is as weedless as possible. When the tip of the hook is protruding the bait tends to hang up on everything that it comes into contact with. Now that the bait is rigged onto the hook take the weight and slide it down to the head of the worm. The weight is rigged with a toothpick so that it is pegged to the head of the worm. With the toothpick inserted it will remain stationary on the head of the worm rather than sliding up and down the line. This gives the bait better action and also makes it easier to cast.

Keeping the weight pegged to head of the worm will make it easier to detect strikes. When the weight is allowed to slide every time the rod is lifted the weight hits the worm and it may feel like a strike at times. Pegging the weight will eliminate the false strikes and when a strike is detected there will no question that it is a fish.
Fishing the Texas Rigged worm requires extreme patience. The Texas Rig, like most other forms of worm fishing, must be fished extremely slow. “If you are fishing the worm slowly you are fishing the bait too fast”, is a phrase often used when teaching a beginner how to fish a plastic worm.

Suppose you just entered a small cove that you intend to fish by boat. In the cove there a several stumps that look as if they hold fish. Position your boat so that you are not too close to the stumps but also so that you are not out of casting range. Make your cast past the stump and let the bait fall to the bottom. Let the bait sit there for eight to ten seconds. Now lift the rod tip very slowly to eleven o’clock without reeling. If a strike is not detected, slowly lower the rod to nine o’clock reeling the up the slack line at the same time. Let the bait settle on the bottom for a few seconds and repeat the technique again. When the bait becomes close to the stump your concentration needs to be very focussed in order to detect a strike. The area around a stump or any other structure where a bass will be hiding is known as the “strike zone”. The strike zone is the area where a strike is most likely to occur. Keeping this thought in mind that fish will hit when the becomes close to a structure will allow you to put emphasis on the action of the bait when it is in the strike zone. When the bait enters the strike zone refocus your concentration on the bait and be very alert.

When a strike occurs a powerful hookset is necessary for landing a fish. Largemouth bass have a tough and hard jaw. A powerful hookset is necessary so that the hook
penetrates and does not become extracted during a battle. To perform a correct and effective hookset there are two rules that must be followed. 1)Reel up any slack 2)Set the hook with plenty of power. When setting the hook you need to reel up the slack in the line and jerk back with the rod away from the fish. The rod must be jerked hard enough so that the hook will get deep penetration.

Bill Cannan Professional Fishing Guide – Lake Havasu

Recently I was on the water guiding a father and son party on a fishing trip. We were fishing a couple of main-lake humps down on the south end of the lake and spooning up crappie, white bass, black bass, and yellow bass. The bite was good and even I sort of got caught up in the action. A bank of clouds had rolled in low from the northwest and they covered us before we had a chance to outrun them.

The wind turned from a southerly breeze to a powerful northwest wind and within about three minutes we were bobbing in three to five foot rollers. Quickly getting the tackle stowed beneath the decks I dug out rain gear for the three of us and we prepared for the worst. With life vests zipped and fastened we turned into the wind for the ride back to StowAway.

The waves were to far apart to get on top of them so we just took them one at a time. The Mercury motor groaned as we would climb each wave. To keep the bow up I had to goose it up a wave, let off the throttle and fall into the trough and goose it again for the next wave.

My party was probably thinking that they could have gone offshore and had better conditions than this and I was amazed again at how rough a lake could get. Had we been in anything less than a twenty footer I think we would have had a tough time getting back safely.

We took our time and made our way back up the lake to the marina. My clients were from Houston and don’t get out on the water very often. The afternoon was a real adventure for them and I must admit it was a rush to me as well.

Mother Nature deals out some tricky situations at times that can take you by surprise. Sometimes weather builds up and is easy to spot and avoid but weather can also roll in low and quickly before you are ready for it.

Changes in air temperature and wind direction are definitely factors to take note of when on the water. Especially, when the wind shifts one hundred and eighty degrees. Also clouds patterns can help you make on the spot weather observations. Low rolling clouds, thunderheads, and cloud banks are all indicators of possible bad weather.

Remember to always check the weather when planning a fishing trip. A small radio tuned to one of the many weather stations will also help you avoid unsafe weather conditions.

When fishing in unstable weather, rain gear and lifejackets are a must. Good luck fishing.

Bill Cannan Professional Fishing Guide – Lake Havasu

ROCKPORT, Texas — On Nov. 9, a manatee was spotted just outside of Rockport at an area known as Cove Harbor North, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department experts. The manatee was caught on video by some local residents and T.P.W.D. personnel were also on hand to witness this rare sighting. Aransas County Game Warden Danny Flores and Coastal Fisheries Biologist Dennis Pridgen also responded to the sighting.

“The manatee was videoed swimming in the area before disappearing. Sightings of manatees are extremely rare for this area as well as for the State of Texas,” said Capt. Henry Balderamas. A manatee was last seen just South of Corpus Christi several years ago.

“The last time we have seen a manatee (or more than one) was July 2001,” said Karen Meador, of TPWD’s Coastal Fisheries Division in Rockport. “More than one was observed off Galveston, Port Aransas and in Rockport. Before that, we observed one or more manatees during late summer of 1995. What’s interesting in all three instances is that tropical activity in the eastern Gulf of Mexico was above-average. As you know, this summer’s weather could’ve easily blown this animal west of its habitat. There are no resident populations of manatees in Texas,” said Meador.

Deborah Cohea, administrative assistant in the Rockport Law Enforcement office, witnessed the animal’s rare appearance. “Game Warden Danny Flores said they had a manatee sighting and I said ‘Where, I want to see it, I’ve never seen a manatee!’ So I drove down there to Cove Harbor. I lived in Florida and I never saw one the whole time I lived there, it just made my day. We were standing on a dock and he was about five feet out on the water and he was huge, they said no less than 7-800 pounds, and a full grown healthy male. He rolled over and his front flippers came up by his face and it was just too cool!” – Lake Havasu

AUSTIN, Texas — It is said that giving is better than receiving, but why not do both this holiday season.

Persons who order a Texas State Parks Pass gift certificate before Dec. 31 to give to that special someone will receive a Texas State Parks holiday tree ornament just for giving a gift of the great outdoors.

The $60 state parks pass, which debuted on Jan. 1, provides not only a year of free entry to more than 120 state parks and historic sites for members and their guests, but also discounts on camping, state park store merchandise, recreational equipment rentals and other perks. Through October, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department had sold 53,772 park passes, generating $3.3 million to support Texas state park operations.

“The parks pass paves the way for the gift recipient to enjoy a year’s worth of the beautiful Texas outdoors and many of the state’s most important heritage sites,” said Walt Dabney, Texas State Parks director. “The commemorative tree ornament just sweetens the pot.”

You can purchase Texas State Parks Pass gift certificates at your favorite state park or historic site, or by calling TPWD’s Customer Contact Center at (512) 389-8900. The center’s operating hours are: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

Pass members also are entitled to receive a quarterly e-newsletter, “The Getaway Planner”; a free copy of the Texas State Park Guide; and an “I Belong in Texas State Parks” decal. For more information about the park pass, visit the Web (http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/parkpass/).

In addition to the parks pass, holiday shoppers can purchase a host of other unusual gift items from TPWD, such as books, videos, conservation license plates, posters, wildlife stamps and more, by visiting the Web (http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/) and selecting the “Great Holiday Gifts” link. – Lake Havasu

It’s already the time of the year to start planning your winter bass fishing tactics. Cold weather is possibly the toughest weather condition to fish in because, not only does one have extreme temperatures, but one must also contend with finicky fish.

Here are a few basic questions you may have when changing your tactics from summer to fall:

Color selection:
Most feel color is not as important as the type of lure you use. I disagree. Color has just as an important role as the lure. The color on the lakes I fish tend to be darker colors for plastics and jigs, and lighter colors for spinnerbaits and crankbaits. It is important to match your lure color and size to the baitfish of the lake you are fishing. For example: Lake Conroe’s main source of baitfish is shad approximately 2” in length. They are silver in color and tend to exhibit a blue hue. The lure that I would choose would be a ½ oz. white/chartreuse Bull Dog spinnerbait and slow-roll it around pylon docks.

Retrieval change:
Because a bass’ metabolism tends to decrease during this time, your retrieval should also decrease. This is why jigs are so productive during the cooler season. They have little action and are the big bulky bite bass are looking for to fatten up for the winter season and also for the pre-spawn season as well.

Cover:
When the front passes, the strike zone decreases and bass bury in cover. Turn to tree tops, brush piles, grass beds and docks. When fishing brush piles or tree tops, work the biggest limbs. It is important to remember that bass will bite after a front blows by, but you will have to use more finesse.

Patience is the key, but also remembering these minor changes will help improve your catching more bass.

EAT. SLEEP. FISH. SKEETER. – Lake Havasu

Recently, I was speaking with two of my fellow Skeeter Pro Staff buddies, Andrew Faterkowski and Mark Wheeler. We were going over our tournament plans and started discussing the transition stage from the late-spring post-spawn stage. That conversation inspired me to write about several of the most-asked questions we feel you should know and keep in mind when searching for bass on Lake Conroe.

1. How should your lure selection change?
“Color is important. The tendency on Lake Conroe is a darker color during the spawn and a lighter color during post-spawn,” Andrew stated. “The use of a bait with increased action, such as a Texas rigged Cobra lizard, a steady-retrieved Cobra spinnerbait or a crankbait that runs 7-10 foot in depth with a tight pattern, will increase your odds of catching fish as well,” Andrew said.

2. How should your retrieval change along with your lure change?
Because a bass’ metabolism increases during this time, your retrieval should also increase. The bass have just spawned, are hungry, and looking for action. However, if you are using a Texas or Carolina rig, retrieval should remain at a steady, slower pace.

3. What changes in areas and depths should you make?
Mark, Andrew and I agree that with the water temperature increasing during this time, bass will have the tendency to move deeper. Early morning will be best for a topwater lure or spinnerbait action. When you notice the action diminishing, move to the 4-10 foot depth with a crankbait or Carolina rig. A key to remember is to fish verticle drops where deep water is nearby.

We hope these tips will help increase your chances of catching bass. Remember, bass are at a fragile state during this time because of the stress associated with the spawn. Handle them as little as possible and release them quickly. Remember to give your bass CPR: Catch, Photograph, Release…it’s the best way to catch another in the future.

Special thanks to Andrew Faterkowski and Mark Wheeler for helping contribute to this article. If you can “catch” these guys on the water, they’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Also, a really BIG thanks to Andrew – He jokingly told me he was going to catch a massive fish for my cover story…that’s when he caught this 9 1/2 pounder shown on the cover.

Andrew is sponsored by Skeeter Boats, Louis DelHomme Marine, Cast-A-Way Rods, Cobra Lures and OkieLite Lures. Mark is sponsored by Skeeter Boats, Louis DelHomme Marine and Cobra Lures.

In closing, remember the three necessities:

EAT. SLEEP. FISH.
– Lake Havasu

Attend an Angler’s Choice tournament early one Sunday morning, before the flight numbers are called, and witness which brand of boat dominates the field. If you have been there, you know. If you have not, I will let you in on the secret; it is a Skeeter. According to Angler’s Choice tournament directors, thirty percent of their field is running a Skeeter and this number is certain to increase thanks to the new ZXc line.

Skeeter has made a tremendous comeback over the last couple of years. Skeeter challenged their engineers (some that came from the F-16 sector of the aerospace industry) to build a bass boat that would meet the demands of a serious tournament fisherman. To accomplish this challenge, the boat would have to be fast, turn on a dime, provide a smooth ride in rough water, be durable enough to withstand the pounding of four foot waves, and be laid out to accommodate an angler’s needs. Above all, this boat must be safe at all speeds. The engineers at Skeeter came up with the new “ZXc” class of boats. From the hyper-space quickness of the 190ZXc to the brute strength of the 300ZXc; each boat has been designed to meet all of these needs.

Staring at the front of a new Skeeter, you can’t help but notice the deep-vee that appears to never end. The degree of the vee changes as you make your way up the side of the boat enabling the hull to direct wave spray down and out. This makes for an extremely dry ride. This deep-vee design, although not new to the bass boat market, has been coupled with an idea that no other boat builder can duplicate. The patented reverse draft transom located at the back of the ZXc series offers stability at all speeds and will counteract the “tip to the side” characteristic of other deep-vee bass boats. In addition to greater stability, this transom virtually eliminates backsplash over the transom when coming off plane. This hull design provides an excellent holeshot, (typically not more than four seconds), awesome turning ability, exceptional lift at high speeds, and a comfortable ride in the roughest of waters.

Skeeter has also tackled the gel coat cracks and transom damage resulting from the pounding bass boats endure while running through four and five footers on Rayburn during thirty mile an hour winds. To remedy these problems Skeeter’s engineers have employed a truly composite (that is the “c” in ZXc) material for all structural components. This composite material (technically known as an elastic polymer latex) along with klegicell make up all structural components in the ZXc series. This composite material tested by an independent laboratory to be three times stronger than materials perviously used. Other manufacturers may claim to have tried quote “composite” materials, but usually these materials were some mixture of foam and fiberglass and were only used as either a liner or in the building of the stringers. Skeeter’s hull, transom, and stringer system are made of this composite material while the deck and floor are made of klegicell. The only wood found in this boat is in the compartment walls and where screw retention is a high priority. This composite material, combined with the aid of computer modeling during the design and drafting stages, will allow for precision tolerances ensuring a near perfect product from every mold. Stomp your foot in a Skeeter ZXc storage compartment and then test the competition. There is no question about the quality in this new line of bass boat.

After the performance and durability needs were met, Skeeter engineers turned to the tournament fisherman for suggestions on how to accommodate his fishing needs. The tournament angler responded, “We need:
lighted rod boxes capable of holding 71/2′ flipping sticks,
retractable rod holders that are out of the way when not in use,
large storage boxes that utilize power lifts and have extra tall lips to keep water out,
an intermediate step between the floor and the flipping deck,
massive deck space to accommodate two people comfortably,
a location specifically designed to mount a “hot foot”,
hidden propeller storage,
driver/passenger glove compartments and ice chests,
a tilt steering wheel,
easy
to read gauge placement that is not blocked by the steering wheel,
a place to mount an LCR or paper graph that does not hinder our view while driving,
separate livewells with their own timers, pumps, and release valves capable of
keeping bass alive in the hottest of summer months,
and comfortable seats that reduce lower back pain after a long day on the water.”
The layout of these boats is perfect for anglers who enjoy fishing team events. Each compartment, from the rod lockers to the glove compartments, have an almost identical twin. This feature makes storing a non-boaters fishing essentials a breeze. Skeeter answered all of these requests and many others with the new line of ZXc boats.

From the design of the hull, to the “composite” material that makes up the structural components, to the layout of the deck; the Skeeter ZXc line of boats will remove “the bad taste” from the mouths of previous owners and soon become the bass boat others are trying to copy. Visit Louis DelHomme Marine on I-45 at the Airtex exit to see the new line of ZXc bass boats and understand why Skeeter owners EAT. SLEEP. FISH.
– Lake Havasu

If you want to up your average on catching your fish, try some of the new Fortified Riverside soft Plastics. Riverside, Big Wag, Big Claw, and Big Foot are now hyper charged with the same all-natural, real crwfish extracts found in Riverside Real Claw attractant. The Riverside Grub and Big Gun are hyper-charged with real Baitfish attractant.

The Big Claw has the most lifelike action of any soft plastic crawfish on the market today. The Big Claw in five weeks of feild testing was credited the winnings of almost $15,000 in just four tournaments.

Each Big Claw is hyper-charged with Real Claw, the only real crawfish extract in the world.

On Lake Sam Rayburn, in 1991 the call time B.A.S.S. ; 11 time B.A.S.S. Master Classic Qualifier, 7 time National Champion, 1987 B.A.S.S Angler of the year. One year later Denny’s record was broken by Kevin Van Dam, using the Riverside Big Foot Lizard with Real Craw scent.

The Big Foot Lizard has more detailed features than any other lizard on the market today. The head, body and feet have been sculptured to great detail. The lizard has more flash and action, with the flexible tail and legs.

The Big Wag curly tail worms, with side to side action, will produce unbelievable strikes. The Big Wag is excellent will fishing weeds, brush, and grass. The flat belly and flotation allows it to be perfect for a topwater also. The worm is available in 6” and 7 1/2”.

The Riverside Grub, and Bigt Gun are hyper-charged with real baitfish extract. The Grub comes in the length of 5” and 3”. The Big Gun comes in 4’ and 6’. The Grub and Big Gun jerkbait come iun the colors that will all produce good quality bass.

All of the Riverside plastics come in resealable packages, with easy access for the angler. All plastics have each been hyper-charged with scent and flavor.
– Lake Havasu

The popularity of Richland Chambers is on the rise and will continue to become even more popular. Richland Chambers has some of the best fishing you will find in the state of Texas. If you fish for black bass, white bass, crappie or catfish, RC is where the action is at.

In 1991 my husband and I won a fully rigged Champion Boat, fishing the TABC Classic Championship here on RC. I had located the fish about a month prior to the tournament. The day the fish were located, I had cast a bubble gum/ June bug worm into some timber. The action took place, I had a ~51b bass on and their was at least five other 5 lb.’ers trying to take the worm away from the one I had hooked. Action such as this will get your blood to pumping. I loved it , pulled out of the hole knowing that the quality of fish that lived here would definitely be a win for the boat. We never returned to the hole until tournament morning. First day of the tournament we had a limit within 15 minutes of over 20 lbs. left the hole for the rest of the day. Second day of the tournament had a limit again within 15 minutes , took a little longer to catch our bigger fish, but we done it by ~1:00 and pulled out of the hole with the confidence of winning. That evening we pulled a new rig home.

My opinion of course is RC is the best lake in Texas. It’s normal for a guide to praise the lake they guide on. Other anglers I have spoke with have mutual-feeling as ~I on RC.

Bob Rayel from Whitney a tournament angler, believes RC has better quality and quanity of black bass than any other lake he has fished in 5 years. His experience while fishing was on tank dams. Bob caught fish all over the lake , but the most exciting experience was when a tree would begin to shake, a explosion on his worm while in the tree, out would come a ~51b bass. The shaking of the trees yielded Bob a first place win in a Angler’s Choice tournament in 1992. He has also placed high in other tournaments here.

Ken Knott, TABC President and tournament angler states RC is in the league with Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend as far as quantity of. RC is the best producing lake in the state of Texas. The studies from Texas Parks and Wildlife shows RC has a faster growth rate of fish than any–other lake in Texas. Ken has won and placed high in tournaments here.

I could continue for pages giving different opinions of the fishing , from different anglers. Everyone ~I spoke with agrees 100% RC is one of the best lakes to fish. – Lake Havasu

Over 45 years ago, a man named Holmes Thormond of Shreveport, Louisiana designed what has recognized today as the original bass boat, the Skeeter. Unknown to Thurmond at the time, he was laying the initial groundwork for not only a new company, but also one of the largest booms in the history of the marine industry.

The original Skeeter was a little over thirteen feet long and made entirely from marine plywood, With slanted sides, flat bottom and pointed bow, the original Skeeter was considered a bass fisherman’s dream come true, With the introduction of fiberglass into the marine industry around the same period. the adaptation to the Skeeter came only natural, and did much to assist the boat in gaining quick recognition and acceptance. Idealistic, as the Skeeter was at the time, the people at Skeeter recognized that with the coming of the new man-made reservoirs in the 1950’s, changes were inevitable.

Shortly thereafter, a new and larger version, the “Super Skeeter ” was born, The bass boat, as it was known in those times, offered the fisherman more than he had ever hoped, Capable of handling outboards up to 35 H.P., the Super Skeeter skimmed across the water at unparalleled speeds, better than 30 m.p.h., However, the history of fishing was about to embark on a new trend, which would greatly alter the wants and needs of the fishermen.

With the era of competitive or tournament style fishing taking hold, Skeeter quickly set out designing a boat to meet the competitive anglers’ needs. The demanded boats which would handle even larger motors, take on the rough water the reservoirs handed our, and interior layouts more accommidating to their specialized sport. Skeeter answered these demands with the Skeeter hawk, whose design eliminated the characteristically pointed nose of the original Skeeter, Sponsors at the bow allowed for a less jarring ride, where the raised platform in the front made fishing more comfortable. The demand for the Hawk by both tournament fishermen and guides was phenomenal, vaulting Skeeter to a dominant position in the marketplace. It was a new beginning, a trend of listening
to the customers needs, that has held its theory for over 45 years now.

At this point the bass fishing craze was approaching near epidemic stages. Hundreds upon hundreds of bass clubs sprang up, leading to more and more tournaments, which in turned to new requirements by the fishermen. Faster, larger boats capable of handling the worst of mother nature’s elements were high on the fishemans priority list.

What came next was probably the biggest gamble in Skeeter’s history. Knowing, there was a fishing and boating market growing by leaps and bounds, Skeeter pushed hard to design a new boat which would not only expand the existing market, but create a new one and dominated it. Once satisfied they had developed the “ultimate” boat, it was time, to lay the cards on the table. The showdown took place on the number one lake in the country, Toledo Bend Reservoir, in an American Angler’s Tournament in 1975. Skeeter took with them a boat which was a radical departure from anything any fisherman had ever seen, They called it the Wrangler. The boat was 16 feet long, over two feet wider an its forerunners (89 inches), had a sponsonless vee design, and carried a horsepower rating of 150 HP. With a resemblance similar to that of a bath tub in the water, only Skeeter’s past history of producing superior boats refrained the pros from laughing the boat off the dock. But as they often do, conditions changed come tournament day. The fishermans biggest foe was present for the Wrangler’s debut. The howling norther was there in full force with winds packing four foot waves. At the blast off, the wrangler left all of the fishermen nearly spellbound, The Wrangler, high on its pad, blasted around the conventional boats at near full throttle, yet yielding its occupants a smooth, dry ride, Total amazement was on the, faces of all that attended and competed, A now dawning had evolved in bass boats -Skeeter’s gamble had paid off. During the next five years, over twenty one different manufacturers copied or imitated the Wrangler, Skeeter Products was moved in the early seventies from its’ plant in Longview, Texas to Kilgore, Texas where Skeeter still resides today.

“Anyone can copy a quality product but not everyone can build quality in.” John Ruskin.
During the later 1970’s the fishing public again turned towards Skeeter for something now, innovative and dynamic in every aspect, The pressure on Skeeter to produce back-to-back winners was immense, yet viewed as a rewarding challenge for being the leader in the bass boat market. In 1979 Skeeter took another giant step towards their dominance of the market their introduction of the Statfire, Akin to something out of the distant future, the Starfire left its rivals in awe, The uniquely different, patented hull design allows maximum stability at any speed and offers comeforting abilities far superior to the products that were available in the marketplace. The Starfire series was expanded over several years bringing innovative deck layouts and more choices to the marine consumer. Skeeter led the pack with innovation. Bigger decks, larger storage compartments to accommodate the modern fishermen, new Fish n’ Ski models were introduced, By the end of the 80’s Skeeter fishermen had completely dominated the Professional Bass fishing tour, taken several world championships, and the status of owning a Skeeter boat had poured into an image only a company like this could hold true.

From that point on Skeeter has led the way to modern performance watercraft. In 1989, the all new 200SX series of boats was introduced as a “top end” to the complete Starfire lineup. This boat was bred for speed and handling the demands of the modern competitive fishermen. After throughout the last three years, many changes have come about as a result of this boat, and as Skeeter has grown both internally at the factory, and extemally in market share, new horizons have been approached.

In the Spring of 1993, Skeeter products introduced at the Houston International Sport Show, its first product designed for Sal*****er, Skeeter has brought 45 years of boat building experience to the designig board to make the BAYPRO series. These are deep “V” designed boats that incorporate a “pad” for the boat to run on combing both soft rides along with speed and top end handling benefits. The Skeeter bayboat family offers center console enthusiasts a platform for perfomance in all three (21’ 19’, 17’foot) models. Modem internal design and materials make this one of the most technologically advanced boat in the complete product line.

To complete the circle of 45 years of boat building, Skeeter has brought forward its newest member. the 200ZX. A pinnacle in the line, this boat will be the highlight of the 1994 boat shows and consumer demand has taken production schedules well into the 94’building season. A boat which was designed using Skeeters biggest asset, its ears. The all new boat incorporates the stylish ZX hull and transom design in a 19 foot 9 inch boat, bringing an all new meaning to “Total Performance”. Skeeter has utilized its leading ‘ledge” technology in boat design to build up a strong dealer base, and widespread customer loyalty, The growth of Skeeter has lent itself to look further into the market and begin a new committment to refining the definition of modern boating.
– Lake Havasu

Pre Spawn: When the water temperature is between 45-54 degrees in early spring, bass begin their movement away from the deep water. This movement will be slow. You will find bass in or near deep water during this period, on drop offs, points, creek banks and creek beds. A few bass will move to shallows on warm sunny afternoons. The bass metabolism is slow and they won’t chase fast moving lures. Slow rolling spinnerbaits and crank baits will work, but you must retrieve them slowly. When the water temperature rises over 55 degrees, the bass move from the deeper water into the shallows.

The warmer water will make the bass more aggressive. The best lures will be spinnerbaits, Texas rigged worms, crankbaits and top water minnows. When the water temperature reaches the 60s, tie on a spinnerbait and work the shallows — the bass will be selecting spawning sites.

Post Spawn: Some bass will remain in shallows for a short period and will strike

spinnerbaits, worms and top water lures. Bass will leave the shallows and head for their summer homes. During this time bass are hard to locate so stay on the move, and work creek banks, points and drop offs.

The warmer water accelerates the bass metabolism; therefore, early in the morning and late in the evening, bass will come from deeper water up in the shallows to feed. Spinnerbaits and buzz baits will produce good bass. As the day progresses and temperatures rise, fish deeper waters: drop offs, the edge of creek banks, tank dams, and sloughs. The Texas rigged worm will produce some good bass.

In the early fall, bass will go on longer feeding sprees. Larger lures will work — spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and buzz baits. Your retrieves should be from moderate to fast. When the water temperatures reach about 55 degrees, the bass will begin to move to their winter homes. You can locate them on creek banks and points as in early spring.

During the winter, bass stay deep near drop offs, creek channels and submerged timber. Fish your lure slow. Jigging spoons, jigs and worms will produce some large fish. During winter months, I always use a dark colored worm, preferably black/blue.

If you need guide service, or I may be of any assistance to you give me a call. Happy Holidays!!!
– Lake Havasu

Asking ten anglers to define finesse fishing would likely result in ten different perspectives. To many, finesse fishing is equated with light, ultralight, or microlight tackle and vague concepts such as splitshotting, slipshotting, doodling, shaking, stiching, and other mysterious techniques. Consequently, finesse fishing is frequently dismissed as too slow, too complicated, or necessitating fragile tackle. The common denominator in the various finesse techniques is an unobstrusive, natural presentation. Bass subjected to intense fishing pressure become inured to frequently encountered lures. Under less than ideal conditions they may respond only to specialized techniques, Quiet presentations, and lures that they haven’t grown weary of seeing daily. One of the least utilized finesse techniques for bass is fly fishing. How many Lake Conroe bass have ever seen a Silver Darter or Gray Ghost or Mickey Finn – all very effective streamer flies?

Fly fishing has surged in popularity the past several years, but its positive aspects have been largely overlooked by bass anglers. Generally regarded as a fun way to catch small bass and panfish, fly tackle can produce quality bass, and do so when all other techniques fail. Fly casting facilitates a more delicate presentation than any other system emloying artificial lures. Shallow, spooky bass are extremely wary of intrusions within their environment; a feather is much less imposing than a chunk of wood, metal, or plastic. The long, soft rods utilized are capable of exerting substantial leverage on a fish. And today’s bass boats provide an excellent fly casting platform. The application of fly tackle to bass fishing is limited only by one’s imagination.

Mastering the fly rod is not as difficult as it may appear. I’ve never been accused of being particularly dexterous, and I taught myself to cast unassisted in one afternoon when I was twelve years old. The following year I caught my first tarpon – on a fly rod. Learning the fly rod requires balanced tackle. The line, rather than the lure, provides the weight for the cast. It must be matched to the rod to properly load it. Although really long casts are seldom necessary, balanced tackle will facilitate powerful, accurate casting in the wind. An 8 ½’ or 9’ rod matched to a 6,7, or 8 – weight floating line will provide a good balance of power and manageability, A basic single – action reel will suffice. The reel’s primary function is line storage, although some anglers prefer to play larger fish off of the reel. Tapered leaders enhance accuracy and soft entry by helping the fly “turn over” properly at the end of the cast. They may be purchased or made up from lengths of progressively lighter monofilament.
– Lake Havasu