When thinking big: Five steps for chasing down a trophy-sized largemouth
College basketball fans aren't the only ones getting a good dose of March Madness these days. Texas bass anglers are revved up about their chances of scoring big points with a March monster.
March marks the arrival of spring, and that means big bass are moving to the shallows to spawn. More trophy-sized largemouth are caught during the month of March on Texas bass lakes than in any other month, with April a close second.
Ripe as conditions are for catching a big bass across the state's lakes, landing one is not a slam dunk. For every springtime lunker that is caught, several others are lost because something doesn't go just right out there on the water.
Here are five tips that will help improve your chances of connecting with a career bass and sealing the deal when the big bite comes.
Lakes with a rep
To catch a big bass, you have to fish where the big bass play. Some lakes have better reputations for producing those big bites more frequently than others.
In Texas, some 55 public reservoirs and more than a dozen private lakes have combined to produce nearly 450 bass weighing 13 pounds or more for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Bud ShareLunker program.
Lake Fork has cranked out more than half of those fish (238). If I had one day to catch a bass weighing 8 or more pounds and my life depended on it, Fork would be my second choice.
The first would be Lake Falcon in deep South Texas. If you're hankering to catch a monster largemouth and have the time for the road trip, head to Lake Falcon.
Other strong picks are lakes Amistad, Alan Henry, Choke Canyon, Conroe, Lake O' the Pines, Sam Rayburn, Pinkston, Nacogdoches and Toledo Bend.
Ready for bear
Big bass are capable of making quick, powerful bursts that can wreck inferior tackle. Veteran Choke Canyon fishing guide Jerry Dunn summarized it best when he said: "Coming to this lake with lightweight tackle is sort of like going to Montana elk hunting with a .22 caliber rifle.You will probably get a lot of shots, but you aren't going to bring much meat home."
Make sure your reel spools are filled with a premium line with a breaking strength of 17- to 20-pound test. An even stronger braided line might be a better choice for muscling large fish out of bushes, brush and other abrasive habitat.
Use stout hooks and a rod with a medium, medium/heavy or heavy action. A rod with too much flex can spell trouble and allow a big bass to get the edge, particularly in areas with heavy cover.
Keep quiet
Big bass don't get big by making mistakes.
Large, mature bass associate foreign sounds with danger and will spook very easily.
Use as much stealth as possible when approaching a fishing area. Avoid banging anchors, tackle boxes, rods and other gear about the boat floor. Keep the trolling motor on low speed when navigating shallow water whenever possible. Avoid playing music and speak softly -- and only as much as necessary.
When you can see them
Bass have been known to spawn year-round, but the majority of fish in Texas lakes spawn during the three-month period of February through April. Bedding activity often takes place at depths shallow enough that fish can be seen hovering over the bed when water clarity allows. A good pair of polarized sunglasses are a big asset when "sight fishing" for bass, because they reduce sun glare and make it much easier to see beneath the surface.
Sight fishing for spawning bass can be tricky business. Big bass on beds are very easy to spook.
Waco bass pro Alton Jones is one of the best in the business at plucking bass off their spawning beds. The 2008 Bassmaster Classic champion says the easiest fish to catch off beds are often those that are unaware of your presence.
If you spot a fish that is reluctant to bite, make a mental note of the location and return an hour or so later. Position the boat just close enough that you can reach the sweet spot with a long cast. Be cocked and ready to set the hook quickly if the fish takes the bait.
Watch the moon and temperature
Many anglers assume that all the bass in a lake will move shallow to spawn at exactly the same time. This isn't so. Bass spawn in "waves," usually after water temperatures stabilize around 60 degrees.
In Texas, the madness tends to be the wildest in coincidence with full moon phases in February, March and April.
Pay attention to water temperatures, and don't be afraid to use the moon to help you plan your big fishing trips.
• Matt Williams' e-mail address is mattwilliams@netdot.com.
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