March 3, 2011
Lake Amistad fishing continues to be hot while the water temperatures continue to warm. Over the past week there continues to be some major fish movement from deep to shallow and fish are beginning to spawn in many locations on the lake. Last week I saw my first pair of spawners in the back of a protected creek with 64 degree water temps. Huge limits continue to hit the scales in tournaments this past weekend. My best 5 fish limits in recent trips exceed 20+lbs and many days are in the high 20's-30lb range. I have been catching 20+ fish on every outing and many days 30+. It seems as the best action is concentrated on the Rio Grande side of the lake as the Devils River side is still productive but just a little further behind in fish movements. Lake water temps are into the high 50’s and low 60’s and some protected pockets in the backs of major creeks have water temps in the mid 60’s.
Current Patterns -
Shallow: I am targeting cruising males and females in this depth zone with El Grande Lures Hatch-Match sticks in the NEW Triple Laminate Tilapia color. I am rigging the Hatch-Match sticks on 1/8oz shaky head. I have also been working the mouth of small creeks with the Ima Flit 120 with excellent results. As the bigger females continue to migrate to the shallows and spawn I will begin to target fish in this depth zone on a consistent basis.
Mid-Depth: Many of the bigger fish are still best targeted in the depth zone of 10-25ft. I am using texas rigged Gila Monsters and Zoom Trick worms with 3/16 or 1/4oz weights. These fish are located on drops near flats with trees and grass cover producing the best results. Fishing Watermelon/Red Omega football jigs in ½ or ¾ oz sizes (depending on wind) is also taking some very nice fish up to 7 lbs around rocky points with tress. Up to this report the swimbait bite has been very inconsistent, but I keep one rigged and trying because the big fish will be on it somewhere in the lake very soon.
Deep: Same as last report; fishing vertically around main lake and creek channel ledges in 30-50 feet continues to be productive. These fish can be caught using a dropshot rig with a 4 inch Robo Worm or Optimum Wacky Shad to fish vertically over the ledges or dragging a Carolina rig with a 10 inch worm when the lake gets windy.
See you on the Lake,
Kurt
