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Magazine about Bass Fishing in Texas
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Visit Us Online www.txbassmag.com
Fall 2010FREE ISSUE
SWIMBAITS for
BASS
SummerFallThe
of
Returns to Lake
Conroe
TEXAS BASS FISHING
Magazine
OCTOBER 2 & 3, 2010Lone Star Convention & Expo CenterConroe, Texas
AT TICKETS ON SALE
Texas Parks & WildlifeAdventures Area
Televised Bass FishingWorld Championship
Publisher/EditorEddie R. Thomas
Executive EditorDoris Thomas
Graphic Designer/Illustrator Jason Yates
ContributorsShane BeilueRuss Clark
Ryan AndersonCody GreaneyJulia Kralka
Advertising(936) 588-4500
sales@txbassmag.com
Director of Sales: Eddie ThomasSales Manager: Jason Yates
Sales: Tanner Morgan
Subscription Information936-588-4500
www.txbassmag.com
Texas Bass Fishing Magazine is published by
Lonestar Publications21574 Eva Street,
Montgomery, Texas 77356
All rights reserved.Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content without the
permission of Texas Bass Fishing Magazine is prohibited.
Texas Bass Fishing Magazine assumes
no responsibility for any kind of unsolicited materials.Printed in the U.S.A
FEATURES
ColUmnS
TEXAS BASS FISHING
Magazine
Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Fall 2010 3
SWIMBAITS for
BASS 10
SummerFallThe
of
15
Returns to
08
By Shane Beilue
By Russ Clark
Ryan AndersonBy
An American Spotlight........................05by Cody Greaney
Bassin Babes......................06by Julia Kralka
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Cody Greaney
An American Spotlight
Up to bat, bottom of the ninth
inning, three balls, two strikes,
two outs and the bases are loaded. It
is all tied up and this hit could mean
winning the World Series. You kick
your back foot and twist your toe
twice to get it planted firmly. Spit
on home plate and with one hand
toss the ball in the air to yourself…
Crack! Line drive into center field!
The crowd goes crazy! Remember
those days? Baseball, an American
heritage, a tradition and way
of life as a child. The glitter
and glam of baseball is still
there, but making a strong
push forward in the sports
world, is the revolution of
competitive bass fishing.
The progressive
movement of the bass
fishing world in the past few
decades is unlike anything.
Fishing has been around for
hundreds of years worldwide. It has
meant feeding a village, a family and
a country. Now more than ever, it
means big bucks and coverage on
television and the internet spanning
across the globe. For years few
people knew that fishing was or
could be competitive. The sports
world was unaware that so many
people could relate to a sport which
was virtually untapped at the time.
For the folks at FLW Outdoors, this
was an opportunity.
The Bass Master Classic
was all you ever heard about growing
up. If you were not seeking out the
local bass clubs at the Veterans of
Foreign Wars (V.F.W) on the first
Wednesday night of every other
month, there was not much attention
or thought given to the sport. The
Classic came and went each year. If
you did not know someone in the
classic or happen to catch it on the
local news, it was merely old news.
Maybe you would hear a mention of
the classic at the local breakfast joint
followed by endless fishtails told of
personal catches. That is until the
spot light highlighting the classic in
recent years really began to grow.
In Texas alone, you are able to
find a tournament on just about any
given weekend. If you have a boat
or not, there are opportunities to
become competitive and win huge
sums of cash. If you are lucky enough
to have a few sponsors, and maybe
a cool jersey, your “appeal factor”
draws attention from the public.
I remember being asked not long
ago, while wearing my tournament
jersey, “Are you going bike riding
or bass fishing, hun?” Bass fishing is
becoming a recognized sport among
many top Universities across the
nation. People around the world
rearrange their schedules to travel
and fish tournaments here in the
United States.
In my mind, it has become
a cross between Nascar and Golf.
You have those who are so obsessed
with a certain brands, that it has
become the grounds for arguments
on boat launches across our lands.
Not only that, but bring in
some serious paydays and
you have the makings for
a sport that is attracting
the attention of even the
most respected businesses
and riches portfolio’s in the
world. Wal-Mart is currently
signing a multi-year contract
with FLW Outdoors. T.
Boone Pickens becoming an
equity holder in the circuit and it is
by no means an accident.
I can see it now… It is the
last day of the Forrest Wood Cup
and your down by just two pounds.
You grab your pole, tie on a Road
Runner and make a cast paralleling a
bank of the neighborhood pond. The
fish smashed the bait, thrashes and
pulls drag. This could mean winning
one of the most coveted trophies in
the world. Pulling the fish on to the
sloping bank, the crowd goes crazy!
With the prestige and advancement
that competitive bass fishing has
become to the world, it is not
unlikely. Fish ON!
Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Fall 2010 5
Cheryl Bowden
6 Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Fall 2010
Julia Kralka
Doing it together: Tournament Style
Warning: If your primary motive for going out fishing is to get away from your woman, DO NOT let her read the following article. She might want to join you.
o it all started a few months ago when the man I love, a passionate bass angler who dabbles in the tournament scene, told me
i n front of a few guy friends that I would never be able to hack it in a bass tournament. Big mistake pal… Fast forward to May 22, 2010. Scott and I are embarking on our first couple’s largemouth bass tournament at lovely Lake Ray Roberts. Here is how it all went down. While I was none too pleased with waking up before 5am and being in the water before sunrise, I wanted to be a good sport so I did not complain. Decked out in my pink life vest and carrying a Pink Lady rod, I jumped into the Champion with Scott and took off from Jordan Park at 6am with nine other boats of eager angler couples. Since it was May and we were looking for the bass in their post-spawn patterns, we headed right for some main lake points only to find that 25 mile per hour winds had beat us there to foil our plans. When the very first wave crashed over the bow of the boat I yelled, “Let’s get out of here!” and we headed for some coves. Out of the wind it still was not smooth but we found some water we thought was fishable. As I went to unbuckle my pink life vest I imagined Scott fighting a Lunker as the boat took a wave and I toppled over the back. I wondered if my absence would be noticed promptly, or even at all. Needless to say, the life vest stayed on for the rest of the day. Since we had not pre-fish this spot we were more or less guessing at what might work. Finding an area where a creek met the back of the cove, we headed for the creek’s mouth,
covering a lot of water fast with spinner baits and lipless crankbaits. Approaching the target area I noticed fluffy bunches of stuff floating just underwater which Scott tells me is called milfoil. (MILF oil guys? Seriously…) We were casting about the milfoil in three feet of water when Scott’s rattletrap hooked up with something very powerful and after a vicious fight I manned the net for the first time in my life to scoop a 4lb 12oz bass into the boat. We were both shaking with excitement as
we slapped high fives. I took half credit for that fish since I did get it with the net. Even at half credit, it was the biggest fish I had ever caught. I named her Mamacita and into the live well she went. The excitement was followed by three hours of disappointment and only one other small keeper. We decided to make a run to the other side of the lake during which I am pretty sure I inhaled a small bug. Some rocky shores with a few secondary
points looked good and the wind had laid down a bit so we posted up and started throwing a Carolina rig and a shallow-diving crankbait in two to ten feet of water. Scott hooked up on the second cast with his crankbait and keeper number three joined Mamacita in the live well. At this point I was very jealous and contemplated a temper tantrum, but opted instead to just get my rig hung up on the bottom so severely that Scott was forced to come and get it unstuck for me. In doing so,
he asked me to hold his rod and reel which I gladly agreed to do. A fish jumped in the distance in about 10 feet of water and I chunked that crankbait out there as hard as I could. A two pound bass hit it and bam--my first tournament fish was now on our stringer. Total bliss… At the end of the day we weighed in 9.5 pounds and took fifth place. Mamacita missed big bass by half a pound. We had people take pictures of us holding our fish and holding our plaque and I texted all my friends immediately. Even though one rod tip and the trolling motor’s batteries were wounded in the day’s
battles, Scott and I have not been able to get these silly grins off our faces as we keep tossing back and forth our favorite moments. Looking back, I am really glad that my man had the nerve to challenge me to a try something new. I think I proved that I can hang at a bass tournament and I learned a little something along the way: Doing it together--tournament fishing I mean, really is the most fun you can have with your life vest on. I can not wait until our next one.
Giant Salvinia chokes lakes, kills fish and can double in size in seven days. It can live out of water for up to two weeks, and you spread it when you enter other lakes.
HELLO INVASIVESPECIES.GOODBYETEXAS LAKES.
www.texasinvasives.org
SO CLEAN YOURBOAT, TRAILERAND GEAR!
Giant Salvinia chokes lakes, kills fish and can double in size in seven days. It can live out of water for up to two weeks, and you spread it when you enter other lakes.
HELLO INVASIVESPECIES.GOODBYETEXAS LAKES.
www.texasinvasives.org
SO CLEAN YOURBOAT, TRAILERAND GEAR!
Returns to
Event site for fans moves to Lone Star Convention
& Expo Center in ConroeRyan Andersonby
CONROE, Texas – Fifty of the greatest anglers in the world will descend on Conroe, Texas, October 1-3 as the Toyota Texas Bass Classic (TTBC) returns to Lake Conroe for the second consecutive year. The tournament, which is sanctioned by the Professional Anglers Association (PAA), will draw the best anglers regardless of tour affiliation.
“This year’s tournament will determine the true world champion of bass fishing,” said Tournament Director Lenny Francoeur. “We’ve brought in the top anglers from PAA Bass Pro Shops Tournament Series, Bassmaster Elite Series and the FLW Tour to compete head-to-head for the tournament title.”
The TTBC’s 50-angler field will include defending TTBC champion Dave Lefebre, the top 15 from the 2010 FLW Tour Angler of the Year Points, the top 15 from the 2010 Bassmaster Elite Series Angler of the Year Points and the top 15 from the 2010 PAA Bass Pro Shops Tournament Series presented by Carrot Stix. The final four anglers will be selected by TTBC officials.
Lefebre won the 2009 TTBC in dramatic fashion by catching his last bass with only 15 minutes left in the final round to win
by four ounces over Andy Montgomery. Todd Auten and Aaron Martens also finished within one pound of Lefebre’s three-day total.
The tournament remains a non-entry fee event, with all 50 anglers taking home guaranteed prize money. The 2010 champion will earn $150,000 and all competitors must be members of the PAA to compete. In addition, the TTBC will continue its focus on conservation and adhere predominantly to a catch and release
format that has earned the event national praise the past three years. Each day, the pros are allowed to bring to the scales their largest single bass 21 inches or greater. All other fish will be weighed and recorded by an independent judge on each boat then immediately released back into Lake Conroe. Fans can follow along with the real-time leaderboard online via the tournament website, www.toyotatexasbassclassic.com, and onsite via the large video walls.
Expected to join Lefebre in this year’s tournament field are 2010 Bassmaster Classic Champion and Elite Series winner Kevin VanDam and 2010 FLW Angler of the Year Bryan Thrift.
In late July, VanDam won his third consecutive and sixth overall Elite Series Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year title with a great postseason. VanDam finished the Elite Series regular season tied for fourth, but posted a third place finish on Lake Jordan in Wetumpka, Ala., and capped off the postseason by winning on the Alabama River, in Montgomery, Ala.
One of the greatest anglers of all-time, VanDam has fished professionally since 1990 and won Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year during his first year on the Bassmaster circuit in 1992, then again in 1996, 1999, 2008, 2009 and 2010. In 2001, he won the FLW Angler of the Year title, and in 2004 and 2005 Kevin became the first Bassmaster Elite 50 champion. He also won the Bassmaster Classic championship in 2001 and 2005.
Thrift clinched the FLW Angler of the Year title after a ninth-place finish at the FLW Tour finale on Lake Guntersville, Ala. Thrift tallied four top-10 finishes and his first FLW Tour victory en route to becoming FLW Angler of the Year.
The TTBC will feature a tape-delayed broadcast on FSN Southwest. Details on the broadcast will be announced soon.
The TTBC features more than just world-class fishing. Tournament officials recently announced that Academy of Country Music
8 Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Fall 2010
Award-winner Blake Shelton will headline a country music performance on Saturday, October 2 that is sponsored by Evan Williams Bourbon. He will be joined by country music legend Tracy Lawrence. Montgomery Gentry will be the feature performance on Sunday, October 3 and they will be joined by emerging star Jeff Allen.
“The TTBC has proven that it brings unparalleled entertainment value to the Houston-metro area and I believe that it has hit a homerun with this year’s concert lineup,” said 100.3 KILT-FM Music Director Greg Frey. KILT-FM is the official radio partner of the TTBC.
The concerts, along with other ticketed activities for fans of all ages, will take place October 2 and 3 at the Lone Star Convention & Expo Center in Conroe, Texas. Ticketed events include tournament weigh-ins, interactive expo areas, fireworks shows and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Adventures Area. Fans can purchase tickets online at the tournament website, www.toyotatexasbassclassic.com or by phone at 1-866-907-0143. Tickets are also on sale at all H-E-B store locations throughout Texas and Academy Sports and Outdoors stores around the Houston metro area. Tickets cost $15 in advance
and $20 at the gate and are available for Saturday and Sunday individually. The daily tickets include grounds admission to the TTBC for that particular day and admission to all concerts, tournament weigh-ins and interactive exhibits during that day. Children 17-years old and under are admitted free with a ticketed adult. All active military, police, fire and EMS
personnel are admitted free with identification.
Proceeds from the TTBC benefit the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s youth outdoor recreation programs. Through the TTBC, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has received $750,000 over the past three years to benefit their first-class youth fishing and outreach programs. For the fourth-consecutive year, a minimum of $250,000 will be donated to TWPD.
For more information, visit www.toyotatexasbassclassic.com or call 1-866-907-0143.
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Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Fall 2010 9
SWIMBAITS for
BASSBy Shane Beilue
Swimbaits have proven to be more than a passing west coast fad on the national bass fishing scene. The ability of these big baits to attract double-digit bass continues to entice a bass fishing public
initially skeptical to the notion of lobbing chunks of heavy plastic up to 12 inches in length. However, to a more devoted cadre of trophy hunters, the swimbait is an outright obsession.
Texans traditionally have an affinity for “bigger is better”, so naturally, the swimbait has a core following within the state’s big bass waters. One such pioneer that was an early adopter of the jumbo swimbait in Texas is Ben Kirkpatrick, a west Texas angler based out of Lubbock. With a Toyota ShareLunker trophy to his resume and another 14 pound fish that was never submitted to the program, Kirkpatrick has built a reputation in west Texas bass fishing circles as a big fish specialist.
10 Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Fall 2010
Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Fall 2010 11
12 Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Fall 2010
After much experimentation and success with the big west coast baits, Kirkpatrick became so enamored with the art of tossing swimbaits. He decided to design his own hand poured lures now sold under the heading of “Triple J Swimbaits” (taken from the first letter of the name of his three sons). Kirkpatrick, a former linebacker at Texas Tech University, says, “I probably own every swimbait on the market from years of fishing the different west coast lures because I learned early in the process the size of fish they can attract. I had a lot of success throwing the big California trout baits in Texas, but found that I had to buy separate baits with different sink rates to fish various depths of water. I wanted to make a swimbait that allowed an angler to alter the depth by simply adding or subtracting lead weights inside the lure, and didn’t cost an arm and a leg to purchase.”
As one might expect, there is more to catching bass on these lures than just chunkin’ and windin’, so Kirkpatrick provides his expertise into how, when and where to best utilize swimbaits for Texas trophies.
When swimbaits are mentioned, many anglers think only of the large 10 to 12 inch baits that mimic the forage
trout in California waters. Triple J’s largest swimbait is a hefty 8.25 inch model (the “Big Jake”) and Kirkpatrick emphasizes these are niche baits used to attract fewer, but trophy-sized bass. “The largest bass I’ve ever laid eyes on swiped at the stinger hook on a Big Jake, made a mad run past the boat, tail-walked and spit
the hook”, Kirkpatrick recalls. “There is no doubt the biggest fish in the lake are attracted to these plus-sized lures; however, you simply won’t get a lot of strikes when tossing them. You really have to commit to throwing a lure this size and be prepared to go for long periods without
a strike; but, when that 12 pounder decides to feed, you want that big lure tied on!”
Kirkpatrick believes trophy bass are big for a reason: they are older and wiser than smaller bass; therefore, they maximize their energy and feeding opportunities by going for quality forage when the opportunity presents itself, hence the attraction of such a large lure. He adds, “We’ve all caught bass with the tail of huge gizzard shad or even a smaller bass sticking out of their throat. Bass are predators and they are naturally attracted to that bigger meal, which is what these big lures imitate so well.”
Kirkpatrick’s go-to offering on a day-in, day-out basis is his 2 oz, 6” version. He explains, “The 6 inch swimbait is still larger than a lot of fishermen are initially comfortable with due to the weight of the lure and 10/0 hook; however, the bait will definitely attract double digit bass, as well as fish under five pounds.” Triple J also makes a smaller 4.5” version that casts easier on lighter tackle and attracts greater numbers of bass than the larger models.
As with any lure, there is a time and a place to employ it. “First of all, a swimbait
is not a reaction bait”, adds Kirkpatrick. “The swimbait is a quiet lure, so the bass need to be able to see it, stalk and attack it; therefore, the ideal water clarity is 4-5 feet of visibility.” Fortunately, there are a number of west Texas lakes that fit that criterion: Alan Henry, Hubbard Creek, O.H. Ivie and Amistad are widely known as quality big bass waters and will typically have the type of clarity conducive to attracting strikes on a swimbait.
In Kirkpatrick’s estimation, the swimbait is best utilized under specific weather conditions. He adds, “If I could draw up the perfect day for tossing a swimbait, I’d pick a cloudy day and light chop on the water. When the sun is bright and the lake is calm, those bass just won’t seem to chase it very well.” Regarding optimum locations, Kirkpatrick likens the swimbait to anywhere you’d utilize a Texas rigged worm: lily pads, boat docks, cattails, bushes, tree tops, etc. Triple J even makes a slender weedless version for flippin’ shallow cover or casting with a steady retrieve. Optimum depths for swimbaits are also as varied as the angler’s willingness to fish them. Kirkpatrick likes waking the bait to draw fish from nearby cover early in the year, but isn’t afraid to drift his weighted models near the bottom in 40-50’, when necessary.
Baby Bass
Chartreuse Shad
Clear Shad
Tilapia
Crappie
Dana Pearl
Light Hitch
Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Fall 2010 13
The ideal water clarity for fishing the
swimbait also provides a benefit to the angler, as one can commonly
see the bass rise from its cover to follow the bait – often all the way to the boat. Kirkpatrick adds, “Swimbaits are notorious for getting bass to follow the lure without fully committing to eating it. I can’t explain why, but sometimes the fish just seem almost mesmerized by the size of the lure; so, it is critical for an angler to look behind the swimbait for a ‘follower’ as it nears the boat. Sometimes, speeding the retrieve, pausing the lure or pumping the rod tip can get that fish to strike.” In those instances when the bass won’t fully commit to attacking the lure, Kirkpatrick will often
use his swimbaits as a search tool to get the bass to reveal its location, and then follow up with a secondary lure such as a Senko or Carolina rigged worm. “This is a great technique at Amistad”, he adds. “Because the water
is so clear down there, I like to get on top of a hump, cast
to deep water and bring the swimbait up the slope. A bass will often show his location by following the bait out of deep water up onto the hump. Before that fish returns to the deep water, I’ll make a cast in the same area with a Carolina rig and often catch the same fish.”
Finally, Kirkpatrick cautions that once a bass sees a big swimbait without committing to eat it, that fish likely will not approach the same lure a second time. He advises returning to where the big fish was seen later in the day and present the lure from a different casting angle. “At least you now know where that big fish lives and can return later to try and catch her”, he adds.
“The best months to throw a swimbait are February through June in Texas”,
says the west Texas lure maker. “The fish are staging in February and are likely
still shallow in June, depending on the climate, so the swimbait can draw up some really large females during this time. Target the spawning flats or the deeper areas adjacent to the flats during these months.”
In the summer, the bass are typically out on deep structure throughout mid-day, so slow-rolling or drifting a weighted swimbait across deep structure can get results; however, Kirkpatrick believes early and late in the day is best for running a swimbait through shallow feeding areas. He notes, “During the summer months, think of throwing a swimbait the same times and places you would use a topwater lure.”
Fall is another time the fish are active and moving to the backs of creeks. During this time, Kirkpatrick often reaches for his 6” swimbait and fishes it in the same places a spinnerbait and crankbait would typically be used.
Winter is also a time when the bigger swimbaits can really shine. Kirkpatrick targets deep staging areas where the bass will congregate prior to moving up for the spawn. He weights his biggest swimbait model and drags it slowly along this deep transitional structure to produce some of his biggest bass of the year. He smiles and adds, “This is something I didn’t want many people to know about until I started producing swimbaits for the public!”
Kirkpatrick recommends no less than 50 pound braid for its lack of stretch and
subsequent ability to drive a large hook into a bass at the end of a long cast. The only exception to this rule is Lake Amistad, where the water is often so clear that he opts for flourocarbon for less visibility to the fish. When fishing the 2.5 oz, 8” version, Kirkpatrick says an 8 foot, extra heavy action rod is mandatory. Anything less is just not enough backbone to lob the lure all day, or drive the hook home on a strike. Any of the smaller swimbait versions can be fished on 7 to 8 foot rods with medium-heavy action.
The weedless swimbaits require a special hook for rigging (sold separately). A 7/0 or 8/0 hook by Owner or Lake Fork Tackle is ideal for the 4 inch 1-J version; however, a massive 10/0 hook by the same manufacturers is required when fishing the 6 inch model 2J.
The Triple J tagline is “Feel the Power”, a testament to his passion and excitement for fishing swimbaits, as well as his Christian faith. Says Kirkpatrick: “I love teaching people about fishing swimbaits, but I’ve been changed by the power of knowing Jesus Christ and want others to know that same power.”
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SummerFallThe
of
For most of us here in Texas, the end of summer is typically a mad rush with back to school sales and last minute haircuts for the kids. With that being said, it seems as if summer never
ends when we are out chasing the ever allusive largemouth. Texas summers are known for extending well into October and sometimes early November, often with little or no relief from cool fronts that move through and fool us into believing that cooler weather is on the way.
Most largemouth bass will remain on their summertime patterns until the water temperatures begin to drastically cool. The one thing that instinctively happens for a large number of reservoirs throughout Texas is the fall shad migration. Even though daytime temperatures may still reside in the high eighties and low nineties, the nighttime temperatures will tend to be much cooler as we move later into September and early October. With the help of shorter days and cooler overnight temperatures, oxygen levels will begin to stabilize in the back of coves and shallow water flats driving the growth of plankton that shad will begin to feed heavily on throughout the fall.
It is a predator’s instinctive nature to follow the food. Largemouth bass are opportunistic feeders, which means; if food is near and available more times than not they will eat.
One thing to remember is that not every cove will change and draw shad in for the feed; it takes a combination of lower water temperatures and good oxygen content in order for plankton to develop and draw shad in specific coves and backwater.
Once you notice the overnight temperatures beginning to drop, start scouting out your favorite backwater and coves. Look for signs that shad are in the area, by the subtle pops on the surface, and if it is calm enough, look for the slight surface ripple rings shad leave when traveling in small schools.
One if the best ways to determine shad are on the move to the shallows, is by utilizing your electronics to locate heavy concentrations (large shaded areas on electronics) of shad suspended in the mouths of creeks not far from main lake depths of 15’ plus.
These larger balls or shaded areas you see on your electronics will begin to break down into small schools as they look to enter the coves.
One trick that may help in locating and staying on top of the shad movement is marking or setting a waypoint where you have located shad movement that seem to be staging prior to moving back into the shallow flats. When utilizing your electronics to mark bait movement or location you have actually given yourself a productive starting point to work from.
There are many different types of electronics in the market today; however the one common denominator is how
Story by Russ ClarkIllustrations by Jason Yates
Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Fall 2010 15
Coming Soon!
Lake Conroe, Texas936.689.0400
TAKING ORDERS NOW On-line store coming soon!
Fall is a great time to get out and hit the water, remember here in Texas it is HOT for a long time.
· Take plenty of water· Keep your coolers full of ice· Remember the sunscreen
As always, be safe on the water, think conservation and introduce someone to fishing!!!
16 Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Fall 2010
shad are displayed. Typically on the two dimensional sonar systems that shoot a 10’ cone to the lake bottom, shad will appear as a shaded ball or cloud. When utilizing the side imaging technology shad will appear as white clouds or balls in the water column. Once you’ve located and determined the depth shad are at, lure selection becomes your next priority. With shad on the surface early in the morning, topwater would be the best technique. I like to throw plugs that pop or produce a good bubble of water on a steady cadence stopping briefly during the retrieve. My other favorite is the buzz bait with a white or white/chartreuse skit, on a steady retrieve. If you’re locating shad in 15’ of water, and they are suspended between 8’ and 10’ then tie your favorite crankbait on that will dive to 12’ deep stopping briefly during the retrieve in or near the school of shad. When chasing these mid depth schools of shad, I like 4” long cranks with a tight wobble that duplicates the tight swimming action of shad fleeing. During this time of year shad typically suspend in the water column, however if you locate shad near or on the bottom bass won’t be far away. I like a shaky head with a 7” natural color (watermelon, watermelon green pumpkin) floating worm for this bite.
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Alba, TX 75410Phone: 903.765.2764
www.lakeforkmarina.com
Fisherman’s Cove Marina resort2712 N. FM 17 • Alba, TX 75410Phone: 903.765.2943 • Lake Forkwww.fishermanscovelakefork.com
Lake Fork ResortLocated 1/2 Mile South of Hwy 515 on Hwy 17
5004 North FM 17 • Alba, Texas 75410Phone: 903.765.2987 • Toll Free: 800.230.4367
Oakridge Resortand Marina
“Eat, Sleep, Fish” Lake Fork
2919 W SH 154 Quitman, TX 75783LAKEFORK, TEXAS 903-878-2529
www.oakridgemarina.com
Needmore Tackle STore
www.needmoretacklestore.com
4239 Hwy 255Sam Rayburn, TX 75951Phone: 409.698.9430
The source for fishing tackle, supplies & info on Lake Sam Rayburn!
Hwy. 255 Piney Point Plaza
Lake Sam Rayburn • 409.698.9495
Sam RaybuRn maRina ReSoRt Lake Sam Rayburn, tX
Phone: 409.698.2696 www.samrayburnmarinaresort.com
Cabins • RV Sites • Boat Sips • Fishing Dock • Motel
PoweLL Park Marina
On Lake Sam Rayburn971 CR 459
Broaddus, TX 75929Marina: 409.584.2624www.powellpark.com
Shaded RV Sites - Cabins Boat Slips - Camping
Restaurant - Store
Jackson Hill Park marina1705 FM 2851
Broaddus, TX 75929Phone: (936) 872-9266www.jacksonhi l l .us
Reel um N Guide Service Owner: Lynn Atkinson
865 Norris St Zavalla, TX 75980
Cell (979) 220-0251Home (936) 897-3400
w w w . r e e l u m n . c o m
Reel um NGuide Service
lAkE ConRoE
SAm RAybURn
lAkE FoRk
bASS AngLER’S CLASSIFIED DIRECToRy
lAkE lIVInGSTon, PAlESTInE & RICHlAnd CHAmbERS
WATERFRonT LoDgE
Marina & RVlAkE lIVInGSTon
317 Navaho TrailOnalaska, TX 77360Office: 936.646.3525
www.thewaterfrontlodge.com
Lakeside rV resorT & Marina
Lake Livingston15152 US Hwy 190 WOnalaska, TX 77360
RV Reservations: 936.646.3824Resturant: 936.646.4734www.lakesideresort.net
Lake Palestine ResortTyler, Texas
8900 ruby LaneFrankston, tX 75763Phone: 903.876.2253
www.lakepalestineresort.com
CHokE CAnyon
Choke Canyon Lodge141 Jeff Street (Corner of Jeff Street & SH 72)
Three Rivers, TX 78071 Phone: 361.786.3999 • Toll Free: 866.792.3999
www.chokecanyonlodge.com
FOOd - FishiNg supplies - RV paRkwww.cooson3@aol.com
p.O. Box 846Junction, TX 76849
phone: 361.786.2685
18 Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Fall 2010
bASS AngLER’S CLASSIFIED DIRECToRy
Falcon Lake Tackle2195 South Highway 83 • Box F-10
Zapata, TX 78076 • Phone: 956.765.4866www.falconlaketackle.com • www.falconlake.com
Tackle, Live Bait, Guide Service, Motor & Trailer Repair2425 S. Hwy 83 • Zapata, TX 78076Phone: 956.756.1442 • Falcon Lake
Robert’s Fish N’ Tackle
FAlCon lAkE
Install the Original
For A FREE ESTIMATE
Call A Dealer in Your Area!
TEXAS DEALERS
Email: kbranch@hughes.netServing: Archer, Erath, Hood, Jack, Parker, Palo Pinto, Tarrant ( west of I-35)
Wise and Young Counties
Spider Be Gone Systems of Southwest TexasTommie Hatfield, Owner (800) 803-0987
Email: swtpm@apex2000.netServing: Brewster, Coke Crane, Culberson, Ector, El Paso, G lasscock,
ward, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Loving, Irion, Midland, Mitchell, Nolan, Pecos,
Presidio, Reeves, Regan, Sterling, Terrill, Upton, Ward and Winkler Counties.
Spider Be Gone Systems of Toledo BendRobert Buttross, Owner (800) 403-6799Email: rbuttross@sbgstoledobend.com
Serving: Jasper, Newton, Sabine and Shelby Counties
Spider Be Gone Systems of West Texa sShane Schramm, Owner (806) 333-2128
Email: hammertime@suddenlink.netServing: Deaf Smith, Potter and Randall Counties
Bugz Pest & Lawn, LLC Ron Guthrie, Owner (800) 450-2847
Email: guthrie79@gmail.comServing: Bandera, Blanco, Bell, Burnet, Coryell, Gillespie, Hays, Ke ndall, Kerr,
Lampasas, Llano, McLennan, Milam, Travis and Williamson Counties
Spider Be Gone Systems of North Central TexasKenneth Chambless, Owner (940) 389-6219
Don Neafus, Owner (817) 456-3033
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Spider Be Gone Systems, Inc. Jan Threlkeld, Owner (800) 299-8584
Email: sales@spiderbegone.comServing: Grimes, Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity and Walker Counties
Spider Be Gone Systems of Abilene and LubbockSteve Patton, Owner (877) 710-9976
Email: rspgjp@hotmail.comServing: Brown, Callahan, Coleman, Crosby, Garza, Hockley, Kent,
Lubbock, Scurry and Taylor Counties
Spider Be Gone Systems of Greater Lake WhitneyJosh Skains, Owner (866) 524-1315
Email: j.skains@hotmail.comServing: Bosque, Ellis, Hill, Johnson, Somerville, Navarro,
Spider Be Gone Systems of Houston CountyDennis Ivey, Owner (936) 544-0696
Email: divey@valornet.comServing: Angelina, Houston, Leon, Nacogdoches and
San Augustine Counties
BioMist Pest Control, LLCCliff Yates, Owner (866) 597-6151
Email: cliff6884@yahoo.com
and Freestone Counties
Serving: Walker, Montgomery, Grimes, Brazos,Madison, Burleson, Limestone, and Robertson Counties
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