Fishing Report Archive April 19, 2017 The past month has continued to be excellent fishing here at Lake Amistad. The spawn is very evident of nearing closure. I’d guess we are at 90-10… meaning 90% have concluded the ritual with less than 10 percent remaining. Water temps are now solid at the 70-72 degree mark all over the lake. We had some good rain fall on the lake this past week and the water levels stayed steady and rose for a day but now continue to recede with the annual spring irrigations draw down. Over the past 10 days the water has dropped about 5 feet with current levels about 1091.00 above mean sea level or 26 feet below full pool. The early spawners from March are now fully recovered and feeding heavy! The most effective presentations the past several days have been a iMA Flit 120 jerkbait and Pin Jack 200 crankbaits targeting windy points and rocky banks with sparse brush cover. The shad are up on the banks early in the day spawning and if you get on the right bank with correct conditions… it can be lights out in a hurry! We have seen fast and furious action from nice sized bass in the 3-7lb class in the 1-10 foot zone working this pattern. The famous Lake Amistad topwater bite is beginning to ramp up and will get better and better over the next few weeks. Be sure to get those baits wet and keep them working slowly in the shallow and mid-depth ranges. When the water conditions become calm this pattern works the best. Grass growth continues to be very healthy in the numerous drains on the lake. Bass will continue to relate to hydrilla in the mid-depth zones and that will also strengthen as the week’s progress and grass becomes more prolific. Current Patterns - Shallow: Square bill crank baits in the salt cedars and iMA Flit 120 jerkbaits just outside near the first drop-offs… especially on windy days. Topwater is good on calm days worked slowly as well as fishing soft plastic stick baits in the shallow. Be sure to get your New Hayabusa Fsihing Hooks at Karlen’s Tackle… #1 selling bass hook in Japan… and working their way into the U.S.A.! Mid-Depth: Crankbaits that will run from 5-15 feet are producing on windy days. When conditions become calm throw Carolina rig and Texas rig plastics in the drains with hydrilla. Deep: I have not fished depths over 15 feet the last few weeks… but as always on Amistad there are surely fish to be targeted out there. Tight Lines! Kurt |