Before you head off for a Texas fishing adventure, first we need to cover a few things, such as pests you'll find. Black widow and brown recluse spiders are known to frequent Texas, along with scorpions, centipedes, fire ants, and a plethora of flying, stinging insects. Additionally, copperheads, rattlesnakes and the Texas Coral Snake may all be living close to where you visit, so be prepared by arming yourself with knowledge on what to treat and how to treat it. A first aid kit combined with some special items just for the area you are traveling to is never a bad thing to bring along, especially if you will be taking children along with you.
Now don't let some friendly cautionary advice turn your head away from Texas, as dangerous and painful pests can and do reside all over the place elsewhere, too. The best thing about Texas fishing is the selection, and here are some great places to start looking:
Caddo Lake used to be a natural lake that received quite a bit of expansion upon the building of a dam on Cypress Creek. Caddo Lake is a great beginner's area to catch loads of bass all day and year long, but only if size doesn't matter so much to you. Over 6 pounds per is pushing expectations here, but the scenery is beautiful and the bounty is plentiful. Check the Cyprus trees at Caddo Lake to find some great hiding spots.
Lake Fork is an excellent place to find a record catch. Beautiful, spacious, and plenty of hiding spots, this lake is definitely where its at, but the fish here are wise and require a great deal of trickery to be caught. My advice here is to sneak out at night without motor and catch them when their guard is down.
Lake Sam Rayburn, with its treasure cove full of hiding spots and structure, has long been a winning area in Texas, and doesn't show any signs of losing in the near future. A vast, scenic area close enough to civilization to mix up a family fishing trip with some city life, this lake has what its got to get great amounts of great-looking and great-tasting bass almost year round, although I suggest during the week when things are slow.
Toledo Bend is just about as good as it gets for cover, even rivaling Lake Sam Rayburn in size and structure. Another beautiful area, this reservoir is partially in Louisiana and is fed by a large number of creeks as well as the Sabine River. The best place in the spring is just on the other side of where the Sabine River empties out into the reservoir, particularly any large muddy areas off to the side of the river, but be careful of the current.
The Rio Grande River empties out into Amistad, which can be a great place for the experienced bass fisher, but beginners need to either steer clear of the area or only go with a seasoned guide. Not only is this fertile topwater area only a potent spot if you know what to look for, but it can also be dangerous with the winds that frequent the area for a good part of the year. Even an experienced boater in a small enough boat can get tipped here!
And that's just a drop on the bucket of what Texas has to offer.
Do you know what the top three lures for catching bass are? Professional bass fishermen were surveyed and it was found that plastic worms came first followed by spinner bait and then crank bait.
However, choosing one of these three lures is not enough. Some other factors are still needed to be considered. You need to consider if it's better to cover a smaller segment of water thoroughly or skim across a larger area as quickly as possible to find fish. Using a worm is a slow but effective way to catch bass.
The problem that usually arises when fishing with a worm is the inability to sense strikes. Usually the inability to sense them is due to a sinker that is too heavy and a line that is too thick.
To help overcome this problem it's a good idea to use a variable buoyancy worm using lead strip sinkers. To find out how much lead strip is needed, wrap one strip around the hook and bury the barb in the worm. Ease it into the water and watch it sink; it should barely settle toward the bottom. If it sinks too fast, take some off, et cetera. Be sure to use a maximum eight-pound mono line - preferably six-pound.
On the other hand, a spinner bait can move quicker across the surface and can bounce on the bottom, sent against a tree limb and moved in lots of different ways in order to stimulate strikes. It's also a great probing lure for the shoreline because of its tangle-free construction.
Finally, crank baits cover a lot of water quickly. When you use them you can check out a spot without wasting a lot of time. They're handy for locating scattered fish.
The most important thing is, no matter what lure you select for the particular lake that you're fishing, you need to make it as easy as possible for the bass to get it. Drop that lure right in front of them. Scientific research has shown that bass calculate the amount of energy it will take them to go after their prey.
Aside from using the correct lure, it's also important to go bass fishing at the right time. Big bass can be brought in during dawn and dusk. Bass love ambush spots offering lots of cover from the bait fish. Bass like to hide and pounce on their prey.
Early morning or evening are when bait fish are most active. Bass follow and pounce on bait fish when they feed, so go fishing during these times for the best success.
When retrieving an underwater lure in poor light, keep it coming at a steady pace once it's moving. This will make it easier for the bass to locate and grab it.
Don't bother going out in the dawn or dusk when water is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature wipes out certain bass prey so there won't be much chance of catching a bass.
Lures and bass fishing at the right time are some of the factors that must be taken into account when bass fishing. Other factors such as the right water quality and weather conditions are also necessary for you to catch a prize bass!
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