April 26, 2012
Recently Bassmaster Magazine scientifically ranked the Top 100 bass fishing lakes in America and Lake Amistad ranked #6! That is pretty awesome. Over the last 7 years Lake Amistad has continued to be ranked amongst the top #10 bass fishing lakes in America and was ranked #1 in 2006. These honors speak volumes for how great of a bass fishery we have here in Del Rio. Make sure you come down for a visit! Fishing continues to be very good over past few weeks as the last phase of the spawn is nearing completion. Most of the bass are currently in the post-spawn phase. The water levels continue to remain steady at 1096ft above sea level and the water temps are in the low to mid 70’s.
Current Patterns -
Shallow: Topwaters that walk-the-dog have been very effective this week worked over shallow flats near grass and flooded bushes. The key has been to work these offerings very slow and methodically with repeated casts to likely fish holding cover. The shallow swimbait bite is also beginning to heat up as the fish recover from the spawn and start feeding up before the heat of summer arrives. Wacky rigged soft stick baits have also been taking some quality fish in the backs of creeks that have good hydrilla growth. I have been fishing these soft stick baits in the 4-10 foot zones around the edges of grass that grow near a creek channel. I have also caught some fish on beds this past week but I believe this will probably be the last group of fish to spawn in 2012.
Mid-Depth: A football jig, Carolina rig and Texas rig has been producing some very large fish in the 10-20 foot depths. I have been targeting the ends of flats and steep bluff walls for best success with these tactics. Straight tail plastic worms seem to provide the best success on the business end of Carolina and Texas rigs. The football jig has been especially effective on the bluff walls crawled slowly down the steepest drop.
Deep: The deep bite is getting stronger every day as some of the fish move back out there since spawning. The drop shot bite has been best for me in the 25-30 foot zone. I have used small 4 inch plastic worms with good results.
See you out at the Lake!
Kurt
