Honey Hole Fishing Report April 2003

   I hope everyone was able to get out and visit the Bass Pro Shops Spring Classic and meet some of your favorite pros. This is an excellent event to learn some currant fishing techniques and get a good deal on all the new baits and tackle that came out for 2003. Thank you to everyone that stopped by my sponsor’s booths.

   With the passing of March most of the fished will have spawned by now. Since fish do not all spawn at the same time you will still be able to find fish on beds. These fish will usually be found on the southern end of the lake where the water is cooler and deeper. Pick out a creek or creeks that are not subjected to a lot of runoff from the rain these creeks will be clearer and you may see fish on beds or moving around. You can identify these areas with a good map such as the one Fishing Hot Spots makes. My Lowrance X-15 has a FHS Maps MMC Cartridge in it made by Navionics. This is the electronic version of the FHS paper maps. If you haven’t seen this it’s worth looking at. It will help you run the lake by providing you with depth contours; timbered areas and river channel marker locations as well as creek channels.

   The fished that have spawned will be recovering and will generally be aggressive as the water warms and they feed to regain their strength. They will remain up shallow and adjacent to the spawning flats. Good areas to check for feeding post spawn bass will Carolina, Harmon, Bethey and White Rock Creeks these areas are on the north side and the warmer, shallower water usually causes these fish to spawn first.

   You can generally catch good numbers of fish in these areas on 3/8 to ½ ounce spinnerbaits. White with a Colorado and willow leaf blade for clearer water.  Chartreuse and white with double gold Colorado blades is my all around favorite in stained water. If the water is muddy go to a spinnerbait with a chartreuse skirt and gold double Colorado blades. If the fish are reluctant to hit fast moving baits try a Gambler lizard in Black/Blue glitter or Black/Red Flake. Other good baits to try this time of the year are a Rapala Suspending Husky Jerk, Gambler Flapp’n Shad or Gambler Sweebo Worm. I am a firm believer in scents so spray all your baits with Bang. I spray scent on all my baits including my hard baits and spinnerbaits. But please keep this tip to yourself.  It may put one more fish in the boat when you really need it.

  As the month progresses you can look forward to some good top water fishing. My favorite baits to throw on Livingston for a top water bite is a buzz bait or a Storm Chug Bug. I will fish a regular Chug Bug and will downsize to a Baby Bug if I am not getting strikes. If I do down size I will usually let my bait pause for a short period before twitching it. I like to throw a shad color with an orange belly. I love to fish buzz baits it attracts some better size fish and the strike is heart stopping.  For a buzz bait I like to throw a 3/8-ounce in chartreuse and white under most conditions. Plain white if the water is clear and plain chartreuse if the water is muddy and the weather cloudy. I don’t use a trailer but I do use a trailer hook. Don’t forget to set the hook. I like to throw a buzz bait around lay downs and can usually catch fish by running them next to water hyacinths especially when they form a point in creek channel.

  I fish all my baits on Castaway rods that are built for a specific bait or technique. Seldom do I vary from a rod recommended for a specific purpose. I will use line weight from 12lb for Sweebo Worms to 15lb for spinner baits and fishing lizards and prefer a monofilament line fished on Daiwa bait casting reels. Enjoy the weather and the fishing these months but remember to be safe and wear that life jacket and hook up your kill switch.  Try the inflatable Sospenders they are light and comfortable enough to wear while fishing. It’s always a good idea if you are fishing alone to let someone know where you are fishing and when you will be back. Until next month good luck and good fishing. If you would like to book a fishing trip call me at 713-254-7594.