How to Roll Big Bass in Texas
We’ve been getting a lot of questions about bass fishing in Texas, and it’s no wonder why the state is so popular for fishing with its over 6,000 reservoirs and nearly 5,000 square miles of inland waters.
Before embarking on a Texas fishing adventure, we must first cover a few things, such as the pests that you will encounter. Black widow and brown recluse spiders have been known to haunt Texas, along with scorpions, centipedes, fire ants, and a host of stinging flying insects. Also, copperheads, rattlesnakes, and the Texas coral snake may be living close to where you visit, so prepare yourself by arming yourself with knowledge of what to treat and how to treat it. It is never a bad thing to bring a first aid kit combined with some special items just for the area you are traveling to, especially if you are taking children with you.
Now don’t let a friendly advice of warning divert your head from Texas, as dangerous and painful pests can and do reside everywhere else. The best thing about fishing in Texas is selection, and here are some great places to start looking:
Caddo Lake used to be a natural lake that was greatly expanded by the construction of a dam on Cypress Creek. Caddo Lake is a great beginner area to catch loads of bass all day and year round, but only if size doesn’t matter so much to you. Over £ 6 each is exceeding expectations here, but the scenery is beautiful and the payoff is bountiful. Check out the Cyprus trees at Caddo Lake to find some great hiding places.
Lake Fork is a great place to find a record catch. Beautiful, spacious, and with plenty of hiding places, this lake is definitely where it is, but the fish here are wise and require a great deal of tricks to catch. My advice here is to sneak out at night without a motor and catch them when they let their guard down.
Lake Sam Rayburn, with its treasure cove filled with hideouts and structures, has long been a winning area in Texas and shows no signs of losing anytime soon. A vast and scenic area close enough to civilization to mix a family fishing trip with some city life, this lake has what it has to do with large quantities of great looking, great tasting bass almost year round, although I suggest during the week when things go slow.
Toledo Bend is about as good as it can be for cover, even rivaling Lake Sam Rayburn in size and structure. Another beautiful area, this reservoir is partially located in Louisiana and is fed by a large number of streams as well as the Sabine River. The best spot in the spring is just across from where the Sabine River flows into the reservoir, particularly the large muddy areas next to the river, but watch out for the current.
The Rio Grande flows into Amistad, which can be a great spot for the experienced bass fisherman, but beginners should stay away from the area or just go with an experienced guide. This fertile surface area is not only a powerful place if you know what to look for, but it can also be dangerous with the winds that frequent the area for much of the year. Even an experienced boater in a small enough boat can get tipped here!
And that’s just a drop in the bucket of what Texas has to offer.
