Fishing Great Winter 2012

Texas Guide Fishing- Mark Parker

Finally got some new water in the lake – Thank Goodness. Richland Chambers has come up about 3 feet with that last big rain – and hopefully more to come. Currently the lake is down about 4 and ½ feet – a Big Improvement.  Keep up those rain dances – they’re working!      

Tip of the week:  How to find & Catch Fish         

Here are the keys:

Go where the bait goes – and all the others (fish) follow. It’s just like golf - learn the fundamentals – proper set up, body alignment – square the club – the proper back swing – in the proper swing path- and finish the swing extended right down the target line.

Fishing is just the same – learn fundamentals – where is the bait fish (I over looked this simple fundamental for way to long). Yes look for those shad but also look for them to not be happy shad/baits (big balls of shad unmolested) - but frightened baits (broken up in smaller groups) with predators chasing them  - find these by using your electronics. I learned this looking for the Biggs (Trophy Blue Cats during the winter months).
 
During the spring – it’s all about the bait - and they go shallow and the Blue Cats and Big Hybrids/Stripers follow right up next to that bank with them. If you see shore birds there – and you can catch shad there – guess what - the others are there also. (Hint – if you pull up to birds sitting on shore – or in the trees over water – and they easily fly away – then they really don’t have fish there anyway – just move on as the birds did. But if they are hesitant to move from that spot – then they have fish right there).

Of Course – always watch for birds (feeding and/or looking) – first and foremost – but you know that. Fishermen love the Birds!

Learn to read the fish and know how to work your baits – if they are active and getting with the program – then you should move that bait quicker. If they are not active and slow – then you should slow way - way down on moving that bait (all the way to Dead Sticking).
 
Of course - get the best electrons you can afford – Side Image units are the ticket and get the best maps for the lakes you fish – that will cut down your learning time (Navionics for me).

Keep moving and looking – until you get on em (and if they stop where you're at – move - know when it's over and move on).

The more you go the better you will get and obtain a feel for them (Stripers/Hybrids, White Bass, Crappie, Black Bass and Blues – they are really all the same – just get on em - Keep moving until you get on em - they are all there waiting for you).
 

Just give me a call or email for your next successful trip – Catch tons and learn more.

Back to Fishing:

The White Bass & Hybrids are still on GO! Limits plus are common and Big Hybrids too. Dead Sticking Slabs with Jig on top is still the ticket for those. 

Good reports on the Black Bass too – on slow rolled crank baits in 5 feet of water – especially where new water is coming into the lake (mouths of creeks feeding into the lake).  

The Trophy Cats are doing very well and should continue thru February. Had a big time on a trip catching several 30 to 40 pounds this past week (they are all Catch & Release).    And the eating size Blue Cats are stacked in the mouth of creeks when the new water is feeding into the lake. 

Good Luck, Have Fun, Be Safe, Just keep what you need and release the rest.

Mark Parker – Texas Guide Fishing

Phone: 254-479-0550

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