Honey Hole March Fishing Report John Payette

   What can I tell you about fishing in March? I love it! March is my favorite month to fish Lake Livingston as most of the females will spawn sometime during this month. Your chances of catching a large a large egg laden female will increase dramatically. I prefer to sight fish for bedding bass, as it is quite exciting as well as educating. When I see a fish suck in a bait and then spit it out without me feeling it this makes me wonder. How many fish have I missed in the past by not feeling the strike? When I pitch a bait to a bass on a bed and it doesn’t bite I wonder how many fish have I presented baits to in the past and they just didn’t bite it?

     If you are interested in sight fishing for bedding bass you will need to start with a pair of quality polarized sunglasses such as Action Optics. These glasses will cut the glare coming off the water and allow you to locate nests. The nests should show up as large white spots that have been cleaned by the males or what are commonly referred to as buck bass. The buck bass will guard the nest and wait for the females to move up and lay their eggs. Once the female lays her eggs and the males fertilize them the female will usually stay on the nest for a few days and then move to a nearby area to recover. The males will stay on the nest and protect the eggs and the fry when they hatch.

   These nests can be found on spawning flats adjacent to creek channels in areas protected from the wind and waves. Fish will move up and down on the beds from the creek channel as the weather changes. Cold fronts will push these fish back into the creek channels and the warm weather will put them back on the beds. I will use the temperature gauge on my Lowrance X-15 to find the warmest water in a particular area and search these areas first. You will need to find some clear water to do your sight fishing and some good protected areas can be found in Harmon, White Rock, Carolina and Bethey Creek. These creeks are on the north side of the lake and should warm up the fastest. Other good areas to check would be the small pockets that run off Kickapoo Creek or in the Penwaugh Slough area.

  The best bait to throw during March is going to be a Texas rigged lizard. I prefer a 6-inch Gambler Lizard in black/blue or black/red flake sprayed with Bang Combo scent. I will fish this bait on 15-pound P-Line with a 3/16 or 1/4-ounce Gambler Screw Lock weight on a Castaway HG40 Worm Rod with a Daiwa TDX reel with a 6.3:1 gear ratio. Fish hate lizards and will instinctively attack them to protect their eggs or fry. Flipped the lizard past the nest then slowly drag it into the nest and wait for the strike. It may take several casts before the fish gets mad enough to attack it. Sometimes the fish will leave the nest and come right back these fish are usually catchable.

   If a fish leaves a nest and does not come back quickly move onto the next one. If a fish is locked onto a nest it will usually back up and point nose down just before it strikes. If you see a fish do this get ready to set the hook on your next cast. If sight fishing is not for you or the water clarity does not permit try flipping your lizard around cover in these spawning areas or use a 3/8 ounce spinner bait in white and chartreuse or chartreuse with double Colorado blades on a Castaway SB3 Spinner Bait rod with a Daiwa TDX reel on 15lb P-Line. Other good baits to try will be a soft plastic jerk bait like Gamblers Flapp’n Shad or a bubble gum or methiolate color 7 inch Gambler Floating worm. I spray all my baits with Bang

That’s about all we will cover for this month and I hope this helps you put more fish in your boat. Remember to hook up your kill switch and wear your life vest. Try the SOSpenders inflatable life vests they are light and comfortable enough to wear at all times. Don’t forget the Bass Pro Shops Fishing Classic starts this month the sale is March 15-23 and the event is March 21-23.  I will be there helping my sponsors at various booths. This is a great opportunity to get some great bargains on the newest fishing tackle and interact with some of the country’s top pros. Until next month good luck and good fishing!! If you would like to book a trip on Livingston call me at 713-254-7594 or e-mail me at abasspro2000@aol.com.