November 19, 2013
The lake has come up about 1.5 feet since early Oct. but most bass seem to be staying suspended out in the 30-50 foot range and the bite continues to be tougher than normal. I have been catching fish consistently… typically 10 fish a day (18 was my best trip) with several keepers mixed in and usually a nice fish in the 4lb range for a kicker. It’s just a grind… you gotta want it bad and you have to work hard to get’em.
Finished 5th (35 boats) in a team charity tourney with my buddy Olin Jensen a couple weeks back with 7.5lbs… not your typical Amistad for sure. Since then I believe things are on the upswing. Water temps are finally down into the mid 60’s and that has created some activity in the shallows. Search for creeks and drains with the most bait and fish slowly going back and forth around those areas for best results.
Current Patterns -
Shallow: Plastic worms worked around rocky 45 degree banks right on the shoreline have been the most consistent producer for me. I have been utilizing a light weight and slowly crawling it on the bottom. Topwaters continue to produce some but that bite has tailed off over this past week with the colder air temps. Squarebill crankbaits continue to be productive around pods of bait in the backs of the creeks and running it around any available shallow brush.
Mid-Depth: Fishing a football jig on quick dropping ledges will create some action for the determined. I have been catching more fish on a Carolina rig ribbon tail worm in the middle of mid-depth drains. Once again you have to be stubborn with this depth zone but there are fish available and some good’uns.
Deep: The deep bite is still terrible for me. I have caught a few fish with finesse drop-shot presentations but they have all been very small fish and very far between bites. They might group up down there if the water temps get into the mid 50’s, until then I am sticking with the tactics mentioned above.
Good Luck and Tight Lines,
Kurt
