Lake Ray Hubbard - Quick Bass Fishing Trip

So, I took an hour or so to visit my favorite land spot on Lake Ray Hubbard. (Currently, my bass boat is in the shop, but I felt like casting some of my new pro bass baits - those amazing bass lures that we all want to try.) Anyway, I felt that urge to bass fish, even if only for a short period.

The lake was incredibly windy, dark clouds spanned across the sky, and bass boats were speeding to the launch ramp. A potential storm approached, and quickly! Because of the recent cold front, rain, and constant high winds, I decided to fish finesse techniques and finesse baits: drop shot and wacky worm baits.

I nailed three fish on the rocks in 2-7 foot of water as the waves came crashing into the discolored, finely shaped pavement rip-rap. All three fish were caught with a Kicker Baits 4 inch Junebug Bubble Fry. Dude: These little baits are durable! They float perfectly, too. I can't wait to use them with a Carolina Rig.

And then to end my brief bass fishing adventure, I used one of these Kicker Baits Bubble Fry with a small wacky rig. I pushed a small nail in the lure to add weight and used a Wicked Gamakatsu Wacky hook. I hook set a 1.5lb bass in 2 foot of water by popping the wacky bait off the bottom.

I wish I could have stayed longer, but the weather deteriorated soon after. I'd like to thank Kicker Bait Company and Lunkercatch.com for the opportunity to test some of these baits.

Take a moment to view these images. The bass, including the one in the picture, were released. Catch-and-Release.  I love experimenting with pro bass baits and top bass baits.  Excelling in the sport of bass fishing is difficult - both financially and with mere success on the tournament scale of challenges.  So, I appreciate all the help I receive.  These bass baits and bass lures, when selected carefully, truly revolutionize catching important bass.  On Lunkercatch.com I have access to these baits at an affordable price.

At The Boat Ramp ... Time For Bass

I'm sitting in my truck, waiting to launch for a Lake Fork bass tournament. Decided to make the most of this down time. There's nothing better than those few minutes before take off during a tournament.

Adrenaline.
Game plan.
Bass baits.
Fishing rods.

Considering everything in a moment, in an instant.

Those largemouth bass want my pro bass baits. And thanks to my pals at Lunkercatch.com I have some ATT Jigs and Kicker baits to test during this tournament.

Time to land those big bass. No excuses. Only wins. Only angler strivings toward greatness. Preparing for the future.

Here we go.
It's my turn to launch.

Shaky Head Jigs

If there is one bait that I know will catch largemouth, even on the toughest of days, is shaky head jigs.  Several years ago, at the urging of a fellow angler (a friend, too), I started investing my money into a nice shaky head jig collection - one of varying sizes, weights, colors, and styles.  An angler can feel overwhelmed at the sight of so many options, even on the most logically organized online tackle store.

I started with independent, small business jig constructionists (a fancy, pretentious way of saying "jig maker"), and by contacting these individuals via email, I was able to learn what kind of shaky head jigs I needed for specific conditions and environments.  Though shaky head fishing is generally considered a finesse technic, it can be used with heavier jig heads and bulkier baits, especially in deep water over bass haven structure.

Tourney Jigs, owned by Carl Boaz, makes superb shaky head jigs.  Lunkercatch.com will carry his fantastic jigs in the coming weeks.  Carl even made a 3/4 9/0 football head-style shaky head jig for Lunkercatch.com, which will be used in several upcoming tournaments.  Most likely in the JC Outdoors Fall tournament series on Lake Fork.   There are many different styles and sizes available to anglers.

I'll discuss other shaky head jigs and the actual fishing technique in the coming weeks.  In addition, I will discuss why to use certain jigs in a particular situation.

Photo: Tourney Jigs

Changing Your Fishing Line

Hello, fellow fishing anglers.

Here's a quick reminder that could be the difference between earning a tournament check and merely spending money on a tournament:  change your fishing line before each and every tournament!  And even if you are in the middle of a tournament and find that your line just isn't holding up, breaking more often and under less pressure than you'd like, take one minute to re-spool your baitcaster or spinning reel.

Nothing is more frustrating that landing a fish and watching largemouth snap the line right as you are leaning over to grab the fish.

Take extra time to do it right.  It will pay off (literally and figuratively).

Mad Dog Moore - Memorial Bass Tournament

I had the pleasure and pain of fishing the Mad Dog Moore Memorial Fishing Tournament on Lake Fork, hosted at Oakridge Marina, in Emory, Texas.  Even as early as 5:20 am, there were 100 boats registered, with two people in each boat.  So, going into this bass fishing event, I knew 8 or 9lbs would win a tournament check.  Tough fishing competition on Fork, that's for sure.

Prior to the tournament, I had pre-fished several areas, but I focused on shallow water as the lake was turning over, and I had some TOAD largemouths the previous three weeks in the same location.  I caught multiple 15.25 inch bass with fat bodies and caught over four 20 inch bass and several in the 22-23 inch realm. However, since Lake Fork is a slot lake, I continued to fall short of 1 inch to .75 inches on an over.  Folks, that is Lake Fork fishing.  Despite falling short on 24 inch or longer fish, I had been catching plenty of 15-16 inch largemouth bass.

Well, we had 20-25 Northern winds that churned the lake and made long distance boat travel difficult.  Despite Mother Nature's insistent winds, my partner and I fished the areas where I pre-fished.  The results, not as hoped.  We managed a meagre 5lbs on five largemouth bass, but some folks barely caught any fish.   My partner and I caught plenty of fish - just the wrong size or weight.

I am glad we supported such an amazing event, even though the fishing wasn't as good as expected.  I highly recommend this tournament to other anglers.  Keep your eye on future dates.





































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Crankbaits and Largemouth Bass

Crankbaits are some of the most productive fishing lures for catching largemouth bass.  These often life-like lures displace water and move similar to local forage.  Replicating bait fish can be a difficult task, but many large companies have done a fantastic job.  You can fish crankbaits in shallow, medium depth, or deep water, depending on the style you choose to purchase.  When largemouth bass are aggressively feeding or highly irritated, these lures will effectively generate powerful hunger strikes or reaction strikes.

Here are just a few crankbaits:

As you can see from the pictures, there are many different styles to choose from.  In the coming weeks, I will write a Crankbait Guide that may help beginning anglers save money, time, and frustration.  Choosing the right crankbait lure for the right conditions is definitely a skill that must be mastered by all fishermen. 

You can find high quality crankbait lures on Lunkercatch.com for a great price.  Check out Lunkercatch.com for general fishing information, too. 

Custom Rods for Southern Anglers

Bass fishermen know.

Yes, they know how expensive their sport is.
How expensive the basic, standard fishing equipment can be, even when savings are sought.
Consider the price of your slightly above average depth finder: mind blowingly expensive.

 Fishing rods are no different.

Like golf, competitive fishing requires that participants seek and find fishing rods that meet the demands of fishing different techniques, in different types of lakes, under the harshest of climate conditions.
These high quality rods must contribute to positive results.

Unsurprisingly, novice anglers often feel overwhelmed by the myriad of rod choices and corresponding prices.  To these novice bass fishermen, I say, "Read everything you can about the many different technique-specific rods (and reels!) before committing your hard earned money to rods that are one-dimensional, poorly made, and overrated for the sake of commercialism.  Read, read, read.  And then, read some more.

One of the best ways to learn about rod specifications and a given rod's attributes is to participate in forum discussions and actively seek trades in these forums.  Bass fisherman constantly seek to change and improve their equipment and trade forums (Craigslist, too) are great places to spend less or trade stuff you don't use much anymore for fishing rods that you will use until you desire something better, or simply something different.

And, of course, read product reviews and articles on trustworthy sites.  Look for informative videos that thoroughly examine expensive fishing rods.

In later posts I will discuss what fishing rods I find to be effective for a great price.

An Introduction to Lake Ray Hubbard

Lake Ray Hubbard is a reservoir located near Dallas, Texas.  This large lake extends into Garland, Texas; Rowlett, Texas; and Rockwall, Texas.  Though is often cited as a recreational lake for wake boarding, general boating, and water skiing, Lake Ray Hubbard is home to quality largemouth bass, but it can be a difficult lake to fish, especially in the winter and summer months, when largemouth bass tend to congregate into specific areas of the lake.  Void of much vegetation and fishable timber, anglers focus their fishing efforts on rip-rap, rocks, bridges, points, and local marinas.

Crankbaits, swim jigs, shaky head jigs, and Texas rigged artificial bait prove extremely productive on Lake Ray Hubbard, especially in the spring, summer, and fall months.  If you visit Lake Ray Hubbard in the summer months, be sure to stay clear of recreational boaters who will disturb your fishing trip.

Note: Rocks and rip-rap are your most productive areas to fish, but prepare yourself for frequent tangles and for losing some fishing tackle.

East Texas Fishing

Stay current with all the latest East Texas fishing tackle by visiting Lunkercatch.com, an online tackle store that keeps accurate tabs on what fishing lures work on East Texas lakes and reservoirs.

Right now, Nichols chatterbaits are doing well on Lake Fork, usually fished in 1-2 feet of water.  1/4 shaky head jigs are producing fish on Lake Ray Hubbard.  Fish the rip-rap slowly, with pauses and gentle pulls and pops.  Wait for the strike on the fall.  Oh, and try swimming a jig over rip-rap.  Lake of the Pines is producing largemouth bass off points with 3/4 football jigs, dragged slowly over deep offshore structure (in 20-30 feet of water).  Lake Lavon is producing bass with slowly-rolled spinnerbaits in shallow water, often by the dam.  Lake Tawakoni, in contrast, is producing large bass with punchweights and creature baits when fished in Lillypads.

Introduction to Lake Fork

Lake Fork is a widely respected reservoir, located in Emory, Texas, that anglers of all experience levels enjoy fishing, whether recreationally or competitively.  Regarded as one of the ideal reservoirs for largemouth bass fishing, Lake Fork has produced, and continues to produce, some of fishing's largest, most aggressive largemouth bass.  Anglers from all over the United States visit Lake Fork to land that lifelong-sought largemouth bass that reaches sharelunker status.

Due Lake Fork's immense popularity, many angler tournaments are fished on this lake each weekend, even during the colder winter months, when the bass tend to congregate together, suspending over deep offshore structure.  One of this lake's challenges comes in the form of a slot, designed to ensure Lake Fork's quality of fish remains undisturbed, providing a perfect environment for lunker genetics to persist despite ongoing angler pressure.  This slot makes it difficult to compete in tournaments, often forcing competitive anglers to seek 14 inch to 16 inch largemouth bass, which often effects five-fish limits.

Many different fishing techniques and fishing baits are used on this lake: drop shot, Carolina rig, Texas rig, football jigs, shaky head jigs, finesse jigs, spoons, and so much more.  Flooded with an abundance of structure and cover, Lake Fork offers fishing anglers many opportunities to improve their overall techniques since so many different fishing techniques can be used at any given time - shallow or deep water fishing, too.

If you plan on visiting Lake Fork, be wary of stumps once out of the boat lanes.  These submerged stumps are extremely dangerous, so always proceed slowly once you've left the boat lanes.

Be sure to visit Lake Fork in East Texas whenever you get a chance.  And in preparation for your trip, be sure to visit Lunkercatch.com for the latest gear catching fish on Lake Fork.