Author: Guide

As we reach the end of another year it’s time to reflect on our accomplishments and take a look at our goals for 1999.

Most of our members and sponsors are probably unaware of what a critical year 1998 was for Texas Black Bass Unlimited and our Black Bass magazine. One year ago this organization was deep in debt, over $90,000.00 to put a perspective on it.

As a result of some very hard work by our current board of directors I am proud to say that the organization is now out of debt and things are looking very positive for 1999.

The magazine has undergone some very big, and time-consuming changes during ’98. Most of these, although, transparent to most of our readers, were very significant indeed. We moved the layout of the magazine from Dallas, Texas to Nacogdoches, then to Willis, where it will stay for the foreseeable future. We also moved the layout from a Macintosh computer platform to PC, a very labor-intensive transition. The net result of all these changes was that our delivery of the publication on a timely basis suffered dramatically. With this issue, in fact, we remain one issue behind schedule. The January issue will be only one half issue behind and by March we will be back on schedule. Although these changes were costly in terms of magazine delivery they represent a dramatic improvement in the bottom line, long term, and to no small degree, account for the improvement in the organizations financial position.

As if we weren’t busy enough with all these changes many of our board members were busy helping to form a new organization you have been reading allot about in the past few isues, S.M.A.R.T.

In mid 1998 Texas bass fishermen, fed up with the impact habitat eradication was having on bass populations, united with clean water and clean air advocates to take a stand against this “War on Hydrilla.” Organizations like B.A.S.S. Federation, Texas, Black Bass Unlimited (TBBU), Texas Association of Bass Clubs (TABC), Honey Hole, Angler’s Choice, Bob Sealy Enterprises McDonald’s Big Bass, Pro Team Trails, Texas Oilman’s, F.I.S.H., B.A.I.T., H.A.W.K., Clean Water Action, The Chemical Connection, Lone Star Chapter of Sierra Club and many, many others put their heads together and formulated a plan. The plan is twofold, one of public education and to promote sound aquatic resource management, such as mechanical harvesters, rather than eradication. This coalition, now with over 300,000 combined members, has become well organized and formed a Non-Profit (501c) Corporation under the name of S.M.A.R.T. which stands for Sensible Management of Aquatic Resources Team.

One very important issue S.M.A.R.T. has been addressing with the Texas parks & Wildlife Department is the weed eradication issue on which S.M.A.R.T. has the following position:

Aquatic vegetation, as much a natural resource as our forests, is targeted for eradication. Bass fishermen say aquatic vegetation is habitat for game fish. Naturalists say aquatic vegetation is habitat to waterfowl. Biologists say that it is habitat for game fish and waterfowl. Environmental scientists say it is a natural filtration system for our lakes and rivers and that it is vital to clean water. So why would anyone want it eradicated….MONEY.

In keeping with our policy of defending conservation issues for bass anglers, Texas Black Bass Unlimited has taken the lead in forming this new organization to defend bass habitat in Texas. Your support will be greatly appreciated.

Results are already being recognized from the efforts of S.M.A.R.T. in that over $40,000.00 has been raised for the purchase of a Hydrilla Harvester to demonstrate the effectiveness of mechanical, rather than chemical, control of unwanted weeds and over $30,000.00 has been raised for the production of an education do*****entary video. This video will be distributed in our secondary and high schools around the country to educate youth and the general public on the benefits of aquatic vegetation to the environment and as game fish and waterfowl habitat.

Looking forward to 1999 your can expect to see, aside from a more timely delivery of this magazine, more informative conservation news stories, more insights from the pros on fishing and tournament strategies, more fishing reports and more sponsors with great new products for you to review. We also plan to offer more lake reports in upcoming issues. Anyone wishing to contribute please feel free to contact us.

Black Bass magazine and Texas Black Bass Unlimited has been and will continue to be the leader for conservation of our freshwater fisheries. Our many accomplishments, in that regard, speak for themselves. We have demonstrated and will continue
to demonstrate our concern for conservation by pro-active involvement with tough environmental and conservation issues in Texas and around the United States. As we have for years, we will continue to lead the way in freshwater fisheries conservation.
– Lake Mohave

They came from the hills of Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia in reply to a call for help from Texas anglers. Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone? No, even bigger heroes, Ray Scott, the “Father of Professional Bass Fishing,” and Tennessee Valley River Authority Aquatic Weed Manager, Doug Murphy.

Who sent out the cry for help? Ed Parten. Who’s Ed Parten? Ask any bass fisherman in the State of Texas who Ed Parten is and nine out of ten will tell you he’s the guy that led the battle to keep Carp out of Lake Conroe. Though he lost that battle he has won many, many others. No individual has done more for bass fishing in Texas than Ed Parten. If there’s a project going on to improve Texas’ fisheries you can bet your last dollar that “Big Ed” will be involved, probably organizing the project.

Standing with Parten, Ray Murski of Strike King Lures and thousands of concerned Texas anglers. Bass Club members, Texas Black Bass Unlimited, Texas Association of Bass Clubs, Honey Hole and many other Bass Fishing Organizations.

Why was the call sent out? To prevent the killing of another Texas Lake. This time Bastrop, less than a hundred miles from the Alamo. Makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up just writing about it.

Who’s killing our lakes? Chemical and Power Generating Companies. Wielding the kind of power and influence that comes from selling “Toxic Chemicals,” under the labels of “Aquatic Herbicides,” to state government and electric power generating companies for $2,000.00 per gallon, Chemical Companies have influenced River Authorities and the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department to pour thousands of gallons a year into Texas lakes and rivers. Many of these water bodies are used as water supplies for Texas towns.

Anglers agree that aquatic weeds need to be controlled. What they don’t agree on is using “Toxic Chemicals” to control them. There are other ways.

Smart management programs use a variety of other means of controlling unwanted vegetation. One such means is “Mechanical Harvesters.” Lakes in the north central United States, that have used mechanical control say that they have enhanced aquatic life in their lakes and the water remains clear and clean. Most lakes need aquatic vegetation to filter the water and control bottom erosion.

Eradication leaves a leaves without any vegetation for habitat or filtration. After a few years the lakes are taken over with “Algae Bloom” and become murky and are unhealthy fisheries.

Most of the lakes with a history of “Mechanical Management” report enhanced game fish populations.

Back to our “heroes” at the “Battle of Bastrop.” Ray Scott wrote a letter to Texas Governor George W. Bush asking Governor Bush to declare a moratorium on the use of Toxic Herbicides and implement a feasibility study on the use of mechanical devices to manage unwanted aquatic weeds. Bush agreed and Scott arranged with the Tennessee Valley River Authority to bring a “Mechanical Harvester” from Tennessee to Lake Bastrop for a test.

The test results were very positive. In less than two days all aquatic vegetation was mowed down to five feet below the surface. Not one fish was killed and a stand of sub-surface vegetation was left for aquatic habitat and filtration. No this didn’t put another $100,000.00 or so in the Chemical Companies bank accounts but it did cost $8,000.00. $8,000.00 to bring a machine all the way from Tennessee and back and cut all the vegetation in the lake in less than a week.

Who paid the expenses? You might think the power company that wanted the weeds gone in the first place, they’d have bought the “Toxic Chemicals.” Or you might think the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department or the Texas Water Quality Board or the EPA. No.

Heroes paid for it. Over two hundred anglers and fishing industry companies, that’s who paid for it. In a little over three days checks from $5 to $1,000 flooded in.

A pretty impressive
display of concern and generosity by any measure.

Where do we go from here? SMART, it stands for Sensible Management of Aquatic Resources Together. Ray Scott, Ed Parten, Ray Murski, Lindy Ellison, Randy Kindler, Pat McCarty, Texas Black Bass Unlimited, Texas Association of Bass Clubs and many, many others put their heads together and formulated a plan. The plan is to raise money to purchase a harvester and demonstrate its effectiveness in managing aquatic weeds. SMART is the name of the organization formed to implement this plan.

You can be a part of it. If you have time to volunteer for working with the fund raising committee you can call “Big Ed” at 713-648-6152. Or you just want to send a contribution to the fund you can mail a check to SMART at PO Box 11729, Houston, Texas 77293.

Fund Raiser. ” An Evening with Ray Scott.” The first fund raising event will be held August 14, 1998 at the Hotel Sofitel Greenspoint in Houston, Texas. Other pioneers of the bass fishing industry already scheduled to join Scott in Houston at this event are; Roland Martin – Legendary angler; all-time tournament winner and TV Superstar, Bob Cobb – 30-year pioneer with B.A.S.S. Bassmasters Magazine and Bassmasters TV, Glen Lau – Renowned cinematographer and creator of the award-winning epic “Big Mouth Forever” and host of his own TNN TV show, Earl Bentz – Founder of Triton Boats and 30 year innovator and pioneer in the quality and performance of bass boats, Bill Dance – Super Star and bass fishing pioneer celebrity. The list of “Bass Fishing Super Stars” is still growing.

Tickets are $100. A limit of 500 tickets will be sold and each ticket holder will be entered into a drawing for a 1999 Dodge Quad Cab truck. For information email tbbu@tbbu.com – Lake Mohave

Texas Black Bass Unlimited is planning a fund raising event to place channel markers in the Trinity River on Lake Livingston from the Highway 190 Bridge to the Highway 19 Bridge.

TBBU is an all volunteer non profit statewide organization that is dedicated to the preservation and conservation of our freshwater fishing and resource conservation. They work closely with the Texas Parks & Wildlife to control the use of exotic fish stocking in the State’s freshwater fisheries that threaten the native game fish. TBBU has demonstrated their dedication to the preservation of the State’s freshwater fisheries, since it’s inception, by donating their time and energy to the placement of artificial reefs, petitioning the State Legislature to increase the penalties against poachers who steal game fish from other law abiding citizens and by donating their time to work with children’s groups interested in fishing such as the “Get Hooked on Fishing Not Drugs” campaign. The Houston Chapter formed a steering committee headed by Ed Parten to plan the event.

A banquet and raffle combined with a fishing tournament is being planned to be held in The Woodlands this fall. A similar event was held last year in Dallas and raised over $30,000.00 that was used as seed money for the construction of the new State Fish Hatchery.
The GALA scheduled for this fall will be an excellent opportunity for anyone wishing to make a “great deal” on a new boat and motor or any of the other items that will be auctioned off. Six brand new 93 model fully rigged bass boats will be auctioned off at the banquet along with a wealth of fishing tackle, boating equipment and other sporting equipment.

Ticket sales to the GALA are off to a great start with over 11 Platinum Sponsor Tables already sold. Tickets will be sold on a first come first serve basis so get your order in early. Platinum Tables will seat 11 at the banquet and are selling for $1,000.00. Gold Tables are $750.00, Silver Tables are $500.00, Individual Tickets are $50.00 and an Event Ticket is $25.00.

For ticketing information call Bruce Schuler, who heads the Ticketing Committee, at 713-334-3346.

Anyone wishing to attend and or participate in the event as a Sponsor, Advertiser or Auction Item Contributor should call one of the following Steering Committee Members.

For Auction Items contact Rick Dixon at 713-875-0300 or Lonnie Hernandez at 713-783-2961.

If you would like to have a booth at the GALA contact Woodie Amos at 713-353-6031 or Ed Churchman at 713-648-3253.

For advertising information in the Commemorative Program contact Pat McCarty at 409-856-8537.

Other committee heads all of whom are also volunteering their time to organize this event are as follows;
Jack Allen, Membership Booth, 713-862-9733
Dale Driggers, Printing, 713-448-4703
Dan Ellis, Reservations, 409-327-4084
Bob Gatewood, Decorations, 713-686-1919
Shirley Gatewood, Decorations, 713-686-1919
Vicki Follmar, Decorations, 713-649-2709
Lorin Lively, Tournament, 713-458-6954
John Lee, Treasurer, 713-452-6344
David McGee, Raffle Items, 713-376-9425
Larry Miller, Security, 713-891-1906
Frances Nettles, Secretary, 713-580-1469
Tom Nettles, Auction, 713-580-1469
Randy Nichols, Computer Data, 713-862-9733
Mark Seale, Ticket Sales, 713-334-3346

Call for details. Help support TBBU in their effort to make Lake Livingston a safer place to boat and fish. – Lake Mohave

Ask any die hard tournament or weekend bass fisherman that question and you will receive the same answer.YUK!!!! But ask Wayne Stark long time “BASS CAT” driver and local tournament angler that question and you will hear I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT! This writer and Wayne with a group of local anglers made an exploratory trip few years ago to Port Mansfield, to verify the stories told of Salt Water top water and artificial fishing action to rival the best days we have ever had fresh water fishing. Wayne was so impressed that last year he and his wonder wife Mary bought a place at Port Mansfield and constructed what we affectionately call STARK”S COMPOUND.

Effective Jan.1 ,1997 Capt. Wayne and Mary opened “Capt. Waynes Bed and Breakfast Guide Service “, Port Mansfield ,Texas. Capt. Wayne has the unique ability to meet anyone’s Salt Water fishing requirements, from flats fishing in the Laguna Madre to Blue Water adventures offshore. He can provide a complete package including lodging , meals and guide service, or one day guide trips. I recommend the complete package as not only is the fishing outstanding, the food and lodging are first cabin.

On a recent trip this writer, Charlie Adams, and Keith Porter spent three days with Capt. Wayne and as usual had a great three days of fishing. Thursday was spent in the Laguna Madre catching reds, specks, and founder. Friday was spent off shore where at ten AM we had limited out on red snapper in the four to ten pound range. As Keith had to leave on Friday it was myself, Charlie and Capt. Wayne on Saturday where we had another outstanding day in the Laguna Madre, we caught reds, specks and twenty four flounder. Catching flounder on Hogie plastic shrimp tails is as challenging as Carolina rigging for bass.

The photos along with this article should help in reassuring any skeptics that Capt. Wayne has arrived at being one of the premiere lower coast guides and his ability to take his fresh water knowledge and apply it to salt water gives him the ability to put his clients on outstanding fish day after day. To contact Capt. Wayne call 956-944-2508. NOTE: if you book the complete package be sure to request Capt. Wayne’s home made chicken noodle soup you will not be disappointed, I quarantee!

Capt. Wayne is sponsored by All Stars Rods, Mariner Salt Water,Hogie Baits, Shallow Sport Boats, Wahoe Boats, Quantum ,MotorGuide, McClain Trailers, Boots -Follmar Marine and Lowrance Electronics. – Lake Mohave

Wake up “Bubba” it’s time to sell your bass boat. You know that shiny new metalflake rig out there in the garage? You need to take it down to your local boat dealer and see what they’ll give you on trade for a flat bottom, cause while you were settin there on your butt someone was out there killin your favorite fishin hole. You know that fancy new Shimano reel you bought last week for that “High Tech” CastAway worm rod? You can hang that sucker on a couple nails on your wall and head out to the hardware store for a ball of twine cause your next fishin trip is gonna be spreadin “Stink Bait” on a catfish Trot Line.

SMARTen Up “Bubba.” Yea that’s what they call us, “Bubba.” They think bass fishermen all have tobacco juice droolin down their chins and vacuum chambers for brain containers. They think you’re so STUPID that you won’t even notice they’re killin your favorite fishin holes. They think you’re so STUPID that you can’t see all the potholes in the dilapidated marinas on Lake Livingston after they killed that lake and turned it into the states biggest “Pig Wallow.” Well guess what “Bubba” they are bringin that dog and pony show to your lake. They’ll turn your great fishery into a “Mud Hole.”

Now that I have that rant out of my system let me explain my point in a more logical fashion. It’s very hard not to be overwhelmed by cynicism in the face of such a perverse ecological tragedy.

God blessed Texas with this nation’s greatest bass fishing waters. A combination of ideal climate and the world’s best fish and game department produced prolific bass fisheries, like Sam Rayburn, Toledo Bend and Lake Fork, that were the envy of bass anglers from all over the globe. Aside from smart Texas Parks & Wildlife (TP&W) biologists there is one very important factor that makes the fisheries outstanding, Hydrilla. As I’m writing this story I realize I was hesitant to even put the word down in print, Hydrilla. The “Spin Doctors” from Lewisville have put out so much negative Propaganda in the past few years on Hydrilla I’ve subconciously begun to believe it’s a bad word. “Bull Corn”. We all know it’s been good for Texas waters.

Before they killed all the Hydrilla
in Lake Conroe, my home, water clarity was 8 feet or more and it was one of the best bass fishing lakes in the country. Now it’s another “Mud Hole” like Livingston, Lake Houston and Cedar Creek. I walk out my back door every day and it turns my stomach to recall standing on the deck and looking down into crystal clear water at every kind of fish there is swimming by in great numbers. Now I won’t even let my kids swim in it and if I have to get in it to do any repair work on the bulkhead I feel I have to rush in the house and take a shower to wash the crud off me.

Now river authorities around the state like Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) and the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA) are dumping Toxic Herbicides into our lakes and rivers, on a regular basis, to kill Hydrilla. Why? Because a few wealthy waterfront property developers wield powerful political influence on state officials and because the Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Foundation (AERF), Inc. represented locally by USAE Lewisville Aquatic Ecosystem Research Facility, Lewisville, Texas, has been conducting a massive, nation wide, propaganda campaign to convince the public that Hydrilla is a horrible menace that will completely take over lakes. They constructed a series of shallow ponds in Lewisville so they could make sure they would mat over . Then they take pictures of the matted ponds and show them around the state telling people this is what will happen to your lake if you don’t put Toxic Herbicides in them to kill the Hydrilla. The sad thing is that people believe them, assuming since they are scientists and have a research facility, they must know what they’re talking about.

Here’s something the public isn’t told. Who is AERF? Gold Members are American Cyanamid, Applied Biochemists, Cygnet Enterprises, Dow AgroSciences, Elf Autochem, North America, Monsanto Corporation, Rhone-Poulenc, SePro Corporation and Zeneca – all chemical companies. There are many more chemical company members. You decide why they are telling the public what a menace Hydrilla is. Duh…

Let’s assume for the sake of argument that Hydrilla is a problem, although I don’t personally completely accept this premise. How do we deal with it? First of all we don’t have to turn our lakes into biological wastelands. Hydrilla can be managed, it doesn’t have to be annihilated. We can have our cake and eat it too. There are many lake managers in the north central U.S. that will point to their management records of “mechanical weed control” that produce improvements in aquatic life (fish “Bubba”), water clarity and recreational boating access.

I’m not alone in my evaluation of this Hydrilla situation. I stand in very good company with Ray Scott, (you may have heard of him), Ed Parten, Roland Martin, Bill Dance, Earl Bentz, Bob Cobb and Glen Lau just to name a few.

This is where you come in “Bubba.” It’s time to prove to the chemical pushers that your ole noggin is good for somethin besides a hat rack for that new Skeeter cap you got with that shiny bass boat parked out there in the garage. Here’s the plan.

A new organization has been formed SMART. SMART stands for Sensible Management of Aquatic Resources Together and our members are not chemical companies. Our members are a coalition of the states largest bass fishing organizations. Texas Black Bass Unlimited (TBBU), Texas Association of Bass Clubs (TABC), Texas B.A.S.S. State Federation and Honey Hole, to name a few. The mission of this organization is to provide leadership and education in the arena of aquatic resource management and to demonstrate the benefits of mechanical control of aquatic weeds.
“OK, OK McCarty I get the picture, what can I do?” – you’re saying to yourself. Here’s what you can do “Stink Bait Breath” – SMARTen Up. Right now….that means as soon as you put this magazine down…send in a tax-deductible donation to the purchase of our first Harvester: $5, $10 or whatever you can afford.

The first fund raiser will be held in Houston on August 14th at the Hotel Sofitel Greenspoint, ‘An Evening with Ray Scott.” Other pioneers of the bass fishing industry already scheduled to join Scott in Houston at this event are: Roland Martin – Legendary angler; all-time tournament winner and TV Superstar; Bob Cobb – 30-year pioneer with B.A.S.S. Bassmasters Magazine and Bassmasters TV; Glen Lau – renowned cinematographer and creator of the award-winning epic “Big Mouth Forever” and host of his own TNN TV show; Earl Bentz – founder of Triton Boats and 30 year innovator and pioneer in the quality and performance of bass boats; Bill Dance – Super Star and bass fishing pioneer celebrity. The list of “Bass Fishing Super Stars” is still growing.

Tickets are $100. A limit of 500 tickets will be sold and each ticket holder will be entered in a drawing for a 1999 Dodge Quad Cab truck.

Seriously now, I give twenty, sometimes, eighty hours a month in support of this organization because I want to do my part to preserve a sport that has given so much to me over the years. Please lend a hand and do as much as you can to support this project. Make your check payable to SMART and send them to PO Box 11729, Houston, Texas 77293. Thanks – Pat McCarty – Proud to be called “Bubba”
– Lake Mohave

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to fish with a Nationally Ranked Professional Angler?

Judy Wong is a full time guide on Fayette County Lake when she’s not fishing the Bass’n Gals Pro circuit. She lives in west Houston with husband, Glenn and son, Scott, who is currently attending college.

She has enjoyed fishing all her life and started when her father took her fishing as a young girl. Three years ago Judy started fishing professionally and fished the Bass’n Gals circuit, qualifying for the Classic in her first year. In 78 and 89 she won two boats and has qualified for the Classic every year since fishing Bass’n Gals. Last year she finished in 5th place in the Angler of the Year race and is currently in 12th this year. Judy is sponsored by Red Wing Boat Company, Champion Boats, Zebco/Motorguide, Pradco, Culprit, Limberneck Spinner Baits and Gamagatsu.
When she’s not fishing in a Bass n Gals tournament or practicing for one she is guiding on Fayette County Lake, working a Boat Show for sponsor, Red Wing Boat Company, giving corporate seminars on Bass Fishing, and as if that’s not enough she gives of her time for charity work like the “Get Hooked on Fishing Not Drugs” program and the “Make a Wish Foundation”. Judy also volunteers her time for the “Sunshine Kids Tournament” sponsored by Houston Fish.

Fulfilling such a demanding schedule would not be possible, Judy says, without the support of her husband Glenn.

When she talks about her guide business her face lights up and you can tell she really enjoys this part of her profession. She especially enjoys mothers with children type trips where she gets to teach fishing. She is probably better suited for this kind of fishing because of her patience. A crusty old fishing guide might have less patience to deal with children.

Don’t be mislead though, this lady can hold her own with any guide when it come to catching fish.

Recently I called Judy to see if she was available for a photo session for one of her sponsors. I explained that I would prefer to get some photos of her on the water and ideally with a big fish. When faced with this challenge myself I usually think, “yeah right like I can go out any time I want and catch a big fish”, but she said OK and told me to meet her at Emmett’s and Velma’s Store on Hwy 159 near the Lake at 6:00 am later that week.

At 6:00 am later that week I’m setting in Emmett’s store solving world problems, with Emmett, over a cup of coffee and in walks this good looking lady dressed like a bass fisherman, Judy Wong. After chatting with Emmett awhile we headed for the Lake. I followed Judy in my boat so I could get some pictures. She started fishing shallow vegetation along the shoreline with various shallow running jerk baits. I’m staying close behind concentrating on getting some good pictures and enjoying the morning. After about an hour and only a couple of misses on the jerk baits I’m beginning to think that I’m glad I’m not in her position because I’d be getting awfully nervous without a fish by now, but Judy seemed quite relaxed and confident and continued to patiently and methodically work the shoreline cover that she had set out to fish. When she had finished the shoreline of that cove she moved out to deeper water to try some deep water structure. Not long after, she bowed up on what appeared to be a pretty good fish. I’m in a panic thinking this may be the only fish we get on and want to get some good pictures. Finally the fish blows up and it’s a five pounder. As though she was in a tournament Judy coolly played the fish to the boat, lands it and we get a few posed pictures then release the fish. Nice way to break the ice. About fifteen minutes later her rod doubles over again. Another fish close to 5 pounds.

With a big smile, Judy says, why don’t you do some fishing Pat? I’ve never been able to refuse a good challenge, and besides she had just boated two 5 pounders in the past fifteen minutes and I should easily be able to get a few good fish real quick.
An hour and a half later the score was Lady Angler 6, Photographer 2. I had just been given a first class fishing lesson. Out of eight fish or so in about two and a half hours Judy had put us on a couple three pounders, 2 fish between 3 and 4 pounds, four fish in the 5 pound range and a 7.5 pounder. That’s what I call producing under pressure. It’s easy to see why Judy has made the Classic all three years she has fished Bass’n Gals. In about three hours she had patterned the fish and produced the big fish I had asked for. This Lady is not just another pretty face but a very good professional angler.

For a great guide trip, with a Nationally Ranked Professional Angler, call Judy Wong at 713-933-9724 – Lake Mohave

Allot of questions have been raised in this magazine, over the past few months, about the fish kills at Sam Rayburn. Now reports are all over the Internet and phone lines about similar occurrences at Lake Fork early this summer.

Texas Parks & Wildlife in public meetings at Sam Rayburn and Lake Fork state that the significance of the fish kill is minimal in terms of harm to the fish population. They further stated, at a public meeting in Athens, that the reason for fish kill on Sam Rayburn was Angler induced stress and hot weather.

At this same meeting in Athens there was a presentation on a study conducted on the survivability of fish caught and released in fishing tournaments. This study concluded that 20% to 65% of the fish released in tournaments die, depending on the water temperature at the time the tournament are held.

Numerous questions were raised about this study. Most were along the lines of my thinking, “Why don’t you see dead fish floating after a tournament?” The answer by all the biologists present was that most of the fish that die don’t float to the surface. They are eaten by turtles and other scavengers. Hmmmmm…..
If TP&W said they counted 1,800 fish floating during their few day study, and anglers reported dead and dying floating fish, large fish, for months after the Rayburn kill.

If TP&W counted 1,800 in a few days and dead fish were reported for a few months, lets say just two for the sake of making my point (many would contend it went on much longer) then 1,800 times 10(few days in a month by my scientific calculation) would mean 18,000 per month for two months would be around 36,000, according to my TI Scientific Calculator.

As I recall the scientists at Athens stated it something like “ a very small percentage of the fish that die after being released in fishing tournaments float to the surface.”

If a very small percentage of the fish float to the surface and somewhere around 36,000 floated to the surface on Rayburn last summer doesn’t that mean that 36,000 is a small percentage of the fish that died on Rayburn, by the experts opinion. Does that mean then that 360,000 big fish died on Rayburn last year? You tell me.

There’s so much BS being floated on this topic, who knows. Imagine if only a small amount of this BS we see being floated is a small percentage of the total BS???? Hmmmmmm……

A few concerned anglers, that care enough about the problem, to spend weeks researching potential causes have found some very interesting information. Scientific studies conducted by the Texas Natural Resource Commission on Rayburn over an 8 or 10-year period say that chemical pollution on Rayburn has been high enough to harm or kill aquatic life many times during their study period. One article in this issue regarding this study can be found on page 12. Please read it and decide for yourself whether this is a serious issue or not.

Here are a few things the board of directors of T.B.B.U. and S.M.A.R.T. feel need to be done:

1. 1.. Conduct tissue studies on fish found dying or with lesions. The studies should be conducted by an independent authority.
2. Conduct water quality studies on lakes where a fish kill is occurring while the fish kill is in progress.
3. Report any herbicide or pesticide application operations going on around the lakes to the T.B.B.U. or S.M.A.R.T. offices.
4. Report any aquatic vegetation herbicide applications to T.B.B.U. and S.M.A.R.T. – Lake Mohave

Fishing in the heat of the summer doesn’t have to be a traumatic experience. As tournament anglers who fish all year long, Norman and I have had to adjust to the elements, reduce the amount of time on the water during periods of hot weather; learn to preplan strategy; and, adapt our fishing methods and tactics accordingly.

Toledo Bend Reservoir is located on the Sabine River. This deep, clear water lake is surrounded by red rolling hills and piney woods. It is nestled in the heart of East Texas on the Louisiana border. The lake is 65-miles long, contains 185,000 surface acres and has 1,200 miles of fishing shoreline. The lake was impounded in 1967 and is one of the most well known and publicized lakes in the Country. The lake is very fertile, has a tremendous fishery and the lake record for Black Bass is 14.69, caught in March 1998. There is an abundance of grass and most all the bass tournaments are won on the south end of the lake because of the massive amounts of vegetation.

As our tournament circuits are winding down, Norman and I approached our Toledo Bend tournament for the East Texas Anglers Choice Couples circuit with a great deal of hesitation. We had not been on the lake in over two months. We arrived late Saturday afternoon and opted to trailer our Boots Follmar Marine Pro Staff Skeeter 210 over to registration and then back down to a friend of ours camp on the South end of the lake. We had pretty well determined our game plan of what and how we were going to approach our tournament day and didn’t want to disturb the fish or get out in the heat and beat up on them before the actual tournament day began. Of course, this kind of thinking is either very confident or, at the least, very risky! After all, we went into the tournament in 8th place overall; and, in order to qualify for the championship, we were going to have to do good in that tournament.

In year’s past, we were always out there in the extreme heat, practicing from sun up to sun down and never missing a beat . . . but this year, something changed and we decided that we could take a more sensible approach to the heat. Why burn yourself and your partner up and make each other miserable practicing all day in the heat, especially when you know exactly what your going to do, where your going, and what baits your going to use. Instead, we went back to the camp house and got our gear ready for the next day’s competition and went to bed early and got plenty of rest. Come Sunday, we were ready, a little nervous though as we had never taken this laid back approach before and were treading new waters.

As luck would have it, our boat number was 1, and we headed to our first spot. We pulled up, put the trolling motor down and started throwing topwaters. Norman had several strikes but no takers and then the topwater action seemed to subside. We picked up our spinning gear and started to work our Zoom Trick worms along the deep water access on the edge of a huge grassbed located north of Pendleton Bridge. In the next hour, we boated nine bass, but only one was a keeper. We cranked up the Yamaha 225 and headed south. We went to our second spot which was a mainlake flat near Housen. We stuck with this spot most of the rest of the day because we had continuous bites there and because the grass was just perfect for the kind of fishing we were doing. We put two more keepers in the boat and thought we’d go to our last spot in hopes of landing a kicker fish or two (5 fish limit) to anchor our weight and cinch the day. It didn’t happen, so we went back to our number two spot and finished out the day there and stuck another keeper fish and caught several smaller fish.

We must have easily caught over 30 fish that day, but only four of them were keepers. Even though we finished up with only four fish, we were quite proud of our accomplishment, especially in view of the fact that we had no practice and were just going on gut instincts and past experience. Previously, practicing in the heat has just killed us and by tournament day, we were always worn out and exhausted before the event ever started. This year was different, we were refreshed on tournament day and able to focus on the task at hand and it really made a big difference. We didn’t win our tournament, and we probably only placed somewhere in the top 20, but we did amazingly well for the little effort we put into it. You know, fishing tournaments doesn’t have to be nerve wracking, intense competition. Sometimes you just need to calm down, relax and let the conditions dictate your game plan, and just go with the flow. After all, Texas in August is no time to get in a big old hurry to do anything. Always respect the water and the elements and learn to work with them instead of against them! – Lake Mohave

We continue to suffer from low water conditions caused by lack of rain and irrigation in the valley. At the bme of this article, Falcon is down about 38′. There is good news though, First of all we have finally gotten some rain, so the lake is rising a little. The best news though is the outstanding fishing right now. Falcon bass are used to periods of low water, and have an uncanny knack to stay shallow and active during tough times.

Our guides are fishing from the Marker #9 area south towards the dam. The hottest pattern is to pitch a spinnerbait into bushes in about 3′ of water near deeper water. Falcon fish are showing a real preference for the now “Tru-Trac” spinnerbait that we sell. They have realistic patterns and a large rattle chamber. Rattletraps in the same type areas are also producing well. As the day goes on, I suggest throwing Carolina rigged lizards and worms and deep crankbaits along the rip-rap of the dam. There are several long deep points in the south end, and these will keep you busy all day. You need to watch your graph and try to locate one of the many off-shore rock piles near the Tiger creeks and along the main lake, These have been big fish producers. They are old houses and buildings that were destroyed when the lake was built. The best way to locate them is to look for such structure on the bank and work your way out, as many of these areas are old “colonies”.

Currently, we have two boat ramps available. One is at the State Park on the south end, and the other is located at Beacon Lodge. One major navigational hazard on the lake is an old highway 83 bridge near the public boat ramp. This bridge has the mouth of the Veleno completely shut off and will wreak havoc on a boat.

Plan a summer trip to Falcon, I assure you that you won’t be disappointed. Our common guide day right now is about 20-40 fish with sever2i in the 5-9 pound range. For 1ake, motel, and guide availability don’t hesitate to give me call at 210-765-3939. I’ll probably be fishing, but our Pro Staff can answer any of your questions. – Lake Mohave

With summer still bearing down on us, I want to begin this month by talking about how to cope with the South Texas heat while enjoying the lake. Our guides at Lunkerville and 1, have a regular list of items that we do not forget, First and foremost take plenty of water on your outing, I recommend a bag of ice and some Gatorade also, A largo hat is another good idea. Good sunglasses are a must out on Falcon right now. Not only will they give you protection, but they help in locating fish holding cover just beneath the surface. Good quality sunscreen is another necessity. While a painful sunburn may not be a problem for some of us, skin cancer certainly is a concern that all outdoors people are becoming more aware of. I also carry a bandanna. You can put it in the water and tie it around your head or neck, or better yet, give it a few minutes in the ice chest.

Now that we are prepared, let’s go fishin’. Currently Falcon is 42 feet low and still falling at a slow pace. There is launching available at the public boat ramp, on the west side of the “park area”. You can also launch at Beacon Lodge, located off of FM 496, there is launching available at the State Park on the south end.

There are numerous navigational hazards popping up, so I recommend that you navigate between the markers, staying in the old river channel. Even then, there are a few old stumps out there so pay attention and go slow.

The fishing right now is absolutely awesome. Despite low water levels, the black bass are still up shallow, Hardwoods and rockpiles near deep water are a sure bet early in the morning. Blue fleck power worms, and shad colored raffia traps are producing best for us right now, Later in the day, fish deep diving shad colored cranks and a Carolina rigged 1 O” worm. Watch your graph closely, for signs of rocky drop-offs or rock piles that have not popped-up yet. Also don’t forget the points and rip rap at the dam.

The striper fishing has picked-up drastically, Striper up to 20 pounds are being caught on jigging spoons at the south end. Early in the morning watch for birds diving to signal schools of striper and white bass. A 3/4 ounce rattletrap can produce constant action especially on calm mornings, If there happen to be whites around, go with the Little George or Blue Fox.

Finally let’s not forget about the catfishing. Good numbers are being caught on the main river near Marker #9. The many stick-ups around the mouth of the Tigers has been another good producer. Shrimp and stinkbait is a favorite of many Falcon “whisker’ hunters.

Don’t let the water level discourage you from coming down to good ol’ Falcon this summer. Even with low water, it is one of the top summertime producers in the country.

Finally, I want to let everyone know that our store at Oso Blanco is closed. We are currently rebuilding just south of there at Godkin’s Restaurant. Our phone number is the same at 210-765-3939. Give us a call and we would be glad to set you up for a guide trip, We can handle all of your lodging and restaurant needs also. We hope to have the store reopened by October.
– Lake Mohave

It’s that time of year again. Yes, the tournaments have started the sun is extremely hot , and our swim-suits, shorts, and tank tops are on. Summertime everyone wants to look good with that rich warm glow of a tropical tan; and we all look good with some color to us. Besides the sun makes us feel good. Being a woman I am probably a bit more vane about my appearance, but I do know that the sun causes premature aging,wrinkles and skin cancer. Here are some words to add to your summer vocabulary: ultra violet rays (UVR), sun protection factor(SPF), and melanoma. I take the sun very seriously and after reading several books and articles on the sun and sun protection, as well as taking into account my own experience I decided to share some information about how you can protect yourself from the sun.

For anglers 3/4 of their time has been and is spent exposed to the harmful UVA and UVB light. What kind of light? This light is the light that burns and pentrates the skin perhaps they should be called ultraviolent rays. UVA pentrates deeply to damage your skin’s lower layers causing wrinkling and premature aging; UVB is asbsorbed at the surface, causing burning and peeling. This UVB light is the most intense between 10A.M. and 2P.M. ( remember tournament hours and most of our leisure time are spent in this time frame) . Twice as many men as women get skin cancer because they traditionally work and spend their leisure time outdoors. Although more women are entering the outdoor fields and sports, the stats are likley to change.

The sun is a matter most take lightly and do not think about twice. But Melanoma is no laughing matter. Its is the fastest growing skin type cancer around. However it is curable if it is diagnosed early enough. Melamonia tends to be more common in Caucasians who are exposed to intense and intermittent exposures of the sun. Melanoma is a cancer that often originates as a dark mole. Most of these cancerous moles or spots did not come up over night. This exposure usually occurs from a series of sunburns while we were children or young adults not aware, nor did we care about the conquences of the sun at that time. Not suprisingly 30 -40% of skin cancers appear on the nose, ears and top part of our hands. This is why proper and simple prevention is so important. Some of the symptons or warning signs to look for are: a mole or spot that starts to grow irregular in size(mole should not be bigger than a pencile erracer), itching,bleeding or darker in color. One scarey part is that you may not have any of these signs at all so a visit to your dermotoligst at least once to check any questiable area out is advisable. The following are some simple tips:

Sight is one of our most important senses and several sunglass manufactors have excellent eye protection avaible for anglers and outdoor people. Most people purchase these glasses because they are polarized and reduce glare; only a handful of these glasses protect your eyes from harmful UV rays. This protection filters out 100% of the harmful ultraviolet rays. This means they absorb 100% and this helps filter out rays that can cause severe eye damage such as: cataract and coreal damage and even eyelid cancer. After all we only have one set of eyes and spending as much time on the water as most do, it is
one investment we should not hesitate about. Proper close fiting wrap around sunglasses are recommended for the maximun protection. So think about this on your next purchase of polarized sunglasses.

Another part of sun protection is a hat or cap to protect the head , eyes, ears, and nose from direct sun. A cap with a large brim or flaps will offer the most protection for the ears, neck, and face. A simple brimmed hat can cut the UVB exposure by half. This is something that almost every angler has and wears. This part comes easy as do the sunglasses.

Sunscreens , on the other hand, are not used as often and do not come as natural as putting the old cap on. But they are the most important of all. A tube packed in your suitcase and one in the glove box of the boat will help remind your self that this protection is needed. If applied in the morning as soon as you are dressing for a practice day or tourney sunscreens can and will be very effective. Remember it must be applied in the morning before we are exposed to the sun. If you make it part of your routine you will hopefuly turn it into a habit. Suncreens come in several diffrent SPF(sun protection factor) numbers. The most commonly recommended is 15 the Skin Cancer Foundation recommends that everyone use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or more. The higher the SPF number the more protection . This protection also will be determined by your complection.

Choose your sunscreen wisely and look at the SPF number. Studies show that it does not have to be an expensive brand to be effective. Several manufactors have a Sport Sunblock out that is sweatproof , waterproof and will not rub off. This is probally best suited for anglers, since we never know what the weather will be like. Apply this lotion or cream liberally. The only catch is that you must apply before sun exposure. Most people only apply the sunblocks and screens after they feel the burning sting of the sun. At this time it is too late to protect your skin. Yes, some of you may think that your skin is as tough as leather (and it might look like it ) but you still need to be protected. Studies show even if you have been exposed to the sun for a long time and have never used any protiction that it is NEVER to late to start and it will help reduce your chances of skin cancer.

We all use some type of lip protection to keep our lips from cracking and drying out. Sunscreens are avaibale now in the lip balms. Taking a few extra minutes to seek these out , can be well worth your time.

With clothing avaible that is precoated with UVR -absorbing chemicals the SPF offers 50,60 and even more times the protection. It should last through 25 washings and evens develops more UVR protection. If you can not find these articles just use common sence. Long sleeved shirts and long pants made of tightly wooven fabric.

So please take a few minutes of your time to protect your skin and possibly save your life
– Lake Mohave

In 1989 I was fishing in a Dallas bass club and we were prefishing Possum Kingdom for the state top 6 tournament. One of my teammates patterned the fish in the old shoreline of the lake in ~8 feet of water, great. Problem was he had was catching said fish on a rattle trap, probably my least favorite bait to fish. My disdain for traps was due to the fact that I lost so many fish trying to get them to the boat. The fella who found the fish grew up fishing Toledo and therefore had spent countless hours fishing a trap. That night he shared with the team several ideas for better boated fish ratios, particularly on crankbaits with small hooks.

First in his equipment, he used a very slow tipped composite rod for several reasons but basically to let the rod absorb as much of the head shaking as possible form the fish. The best illustration; remember the last time you stuck a bait in the side of a big oak tree. Generally from a distance you can shake the bait free. Now remember the last time you stuck a bait on a willow limb as big around as a pencil, you probably wound up going over and breaking the limb to get your bait back. Same principles at work, the oak allows you to jamble the bait around and get it free, the willow absorbs all your shaking and your stuck. The limp rod also kept him from getting excited when he hooked a big fish and horsing him, which I’ll talk more about in a minute. Next in his reel he used almost no drag, again to keep him from horsing the fish.

Why was he so concerned not to horse a fish? The large percent of fish you will catch on crankbaits are what I call skin hooked. Since you don’t have a 3/0 hook to drive through the roof of the fishes’ mouth or gill plate they are hooked in a softer tissue area. Therefore a stiff rod, lack of drag, horsing a fish, or resetting the hook will only enlarge the hole the hook cut on initial penetration and allow the fish more opportunity to shake the hook free. The fact is most crankbait fish actually hook themselves when they intercept the bait, resetting the hook only hurts your chance of boating that fish.

He also had a very interesting philosophy on fighting fish hooked on small trebles. Once he hooked a fish he would put only as much pressure on the fish as was absolutely necessary to keep the fish out of heavy cover. He always kept his rod tip in the water as deep as possible to try to keep the fish from jumping. He also allowed the fish to continue in the direction she was going (even up to the point of leading the fish around the boat like a dog). You’ll find that a fish normally jumps because your pulling her away from the direction she wants to go, so take the trolling motor and go to or follow her. When was the last time you were out prefishing and allowed a fish to swim off with a bait in it’s mouth without setting the hook, I’ll guarantee you that fish didn’t jump because she was getting to go where she wanted to go.

Remember most fish come off when they’re in the air, so keep them down by allowing them to run the show, only bring them to the boat when they are completely and smooth run out. Try this and I’ll bet your ratios of bites to hands on fish increases greatly. If you’d like to take a trip with me on Richland Chambers call Brown Dog Guide Service at (214) 327 6020. By the way we won the BASS state championship that week by over twenty pounds, all on traps. – Lake Mohave

It was a simple enough misunderstanding to start with, the only kinda braid I knew about was the kind girls put in each others hair at bunking parties. The old timers remember braided line, but hey us 31 year olds fish with the new stuff, monofilament. Then a semi-oldtimer from Livingston named Randy Dearman hammered consecutive 20 lb plus stringers out of heavy buck brush at Rayburn to win the Texas BASS Invitational. The cat was out of the bag, what a few pros were quietly doing was using several newer and much improved braided lines.

I discovered braided line at Texoma Anglers choice Draw this year when my partner buried a carolina rig in rock rip-rap, he then proceeded to wrap his line around the cleat of his boat and pull it free with the trolling motor, that made me curious. Then he buried a three pounder in a willow tree and bulled him out like he was hooked on piano wire, I was real curious.

Since that first day I have experimented with a number of lines in many different fishing conditions. I have been impressed with several lines and less than impressed with several others. The real attraction to the lines is the thin diameter and tremendous breaking strength, the lines are also very difficult to cut. From my experience the lines do have some downfalls, mostly revolving around the complete lack of stretch the lines have. They have been very hard on my equipment, seizing up several reels and busting the ceramic out of a number of rod eyes. I have also jerked a 2 pounder completely out of the water and over the boat on the hookset and almost impaled myself with a Big Bite jig hung in a bush.

The line does however have a few very good uses, first for carolina rigs. I use brass weights exclusively on my rigs and have lost only one since changing my rig rods to braided line, I do however still use mono for all my leaders to keep the visibility down. The other application that I like braided line for is pitching in heavy wood like we have here on Chambers. The one suggestion I would make for pitching is to back your drag down a bit. I like mine where it slips slightly on my meanest hookset, the lack of stretch in the line more than compensates for the slippage to assure a good hook up.

There are so many brands of line on the market currently a few helpful hints will save you some wasted money. First buy braided line, not twisted line. If you could see the two side by side the difference is obvious, in an inch of braided line you might see 30 to 40 strands interwoven. Twisted line is simply a few large diameter strands spun around one another. The twisted line will unravel on you, where a good braided line won’t. As to the makeup of the line try to find loot spectra. Spectra absorbs the least water and will outlast and out perform polyester, kevlar or dacron. Some lines are spectra wound around a dacron core, again stick to 100% spectra. A braided spectra line may be 2 to 3 times more expensive than a twisted line of another material but in the long haul you get what you pay for. I would also recommend a colored line especially for flipping. Two lines that I have experience with and like are Izor (which I can find only in white) and Lariat line which comes in a dark greenish color better for flippin. If you have any questions or comments about braided line or what’s happening here at Chambers, or just wanna go fishin, give me a call at (214) 283 7090. Good Luck, Ken Smith – Lake Mohave

In an article a few months ago I mentioned how you should always approach an outing with a game plan, I have been asked since what exactly I meant by the term game plan. Nothing can impact your fishing results like time on the water but there are a few things that will consistently help you catch more fish.

Building a game plan for me usually starts with my map. Making a game plan is like making anything else, the better the materials going in the better the product coming out. I can’t stress enough the importance of getting as good a map as you can find, in many cases I’ll spend a few extra bucks and buy several and compare them, some will show one feature that another leaves off and vice versa. Once I have my map I’ll check in with my network of fishing friends that have spent time on the lake in question. once again the crud in, crud out, theory applies. If you have helped them in the past with good info they’ll respond likewise.

After consulting with my buds I begin looking to my map, in deciding on map locations to fish I first consider the time of year and what the fish “should” be doing. If it’s summertime the fish should be in areas the allow them deep water access and if possible shade. I believe many fisherman don’t consider the tremendous impact of shade on fish in the summertime.

Once I have decided where to fish I begin allocating my time. I usually do a best and worse scenario, i.e. if I have no fish by 7:30 I’m going here, if I have 3 I’ll continue fishing the area until x time. I find that if I keep up with the time and have pre-planned spots number 2, 3, etc., the day doesn’t get away from me (specifically tournament days) the way they do if I’m not paying attention. I also feel more in control and have more confidence if I have already thought out a no fish at 10:00 game plan. That may sound stupid but a great example of this is in 1990 my partner and I were fishing the TABC championship on Richland. At 1;00 we had no keepers in the boat, between 1 and 1:20 we made 7 cast that netted 6 keepers, the best of which weighed 20 pounds even, we had just pulled up on our fourth spot of the day.

Weather plays an important role in developing a game plan. Aside from the obvious, will the wind keep you from getting to the areas you want to fish, will it blow you off the water once you’re there, there are other factors to consider. First in the type baits you tie on, if the weather is going to be overcast typically the fish are going to be more scattered and a horizontal presentation or moving bait (blade, crankbait, buzz bait) will allow you to cover more water and hopefully catch more fish. If clear skies prevail then a vertical presentation will be in order (worms, jigs, jig & spoon). Another factor to consider that the weather affects is how good will the bite be. I consider this because if you have a norther move through the night before, or other conditions are going to make the fishing tough, I typically hunker down in an area that I believe is holding fish and fish very deliberately. If I believe everybody is going to have a tough day I can psyche myself into looking for very few bites through the course of the day, and still know I have a chance at winning, *

A game plan only has to be as specific as you want it to be. I know some anglers that like to fly by the seat of their pants, but typically these are guys who spend allot of time (3+ days a week) on the water and have learned to adapt as they go (David Wharton as a great example) , but I find preplanning my best ally. Give it a try, maybe you will too. – Lake Mohave

Seems that most of the anglers one talks to these days here on Richland respond to the question of how’d you do with one of two answers, they either didn’t get a bite or they crushed ’em. One need only look at the tournament results to see that Richland, in only four years, has become one of the premier fishing lakes in Texas, if not in the country.

How about a lake that is basically brand new, but it takes 24 to 29 pounds to win just about any tournament. What’s really amazing is that many of these stringers have a big fish under 8 pounds. The average fish coming out of Richland these days has to be in the area of 3+ pounds. Two questions come to mind, why and where. The first one is easy, Richland has an excellent forage base of shad, probably Mr. Bass’s favorite, and we have unbelievable structure or habitat. Richland has tremendous deep timbered creeks, good shallow to deep points and many other fish condo type structure (not unlike our east Texas neighbor). Another factor that has helped Richland is the lake just made reference to, namely Lake Fork. If Richland was an hour from Houston or any other major city in the nation you would wait in lines to launch on Saturday mornings in March and April. Thanks to Fork the lines aren’t here, but the fish are.

The where is a bit more complicated. I’ve heard many rumors about how and where Richland was originally stocked. Rumors aside Richland, in it’s first few years, demonstrated a peculiar trait of having big wads of fish in some areas, while having other areas that you couldn’t buy a bite in. In the last two years this problem has rapidly begun to disappear. Due to an increased number of fish overall and tournament fisherman redistributing them around the lake bites are now a bit more spread out. There are still wads of fish, and my experience is that to find them you need to fish a little different. Specifically if it’s your first time on Richland or your normal fish don’t seem to bite, cover water, lots of water.

What I’m suggesting here is that Richland has 47 thousand plus acres of water, most of which is fishable. Don’t waste your time in an area if your getting no bites. I want to say fish quick but I’m afraid my meaning will get lost if you race through an area. What I’m suggesting is that you use baits (crank baits or spinner baits) that cover lots of water, I always have a 3/8 ounce Mepps spinnerbait and a Poe’s 300 series crankbait tied on. Both these baits cover lots of water and catch lots of fish. You don’t want to be throwing these baits and burning them back to the boat, but you need to keep moving. once you get bit fish the area thoroughly.

Before you come to Richland get a good map and mark 8-12 places that you can find easily. These need to be places that meet the fish holding criteria we all know, creeks, points, humps, tanks, etc.. Hit these spots until you get bit. The pros don’t come to a lake without a game plan, neither should you. – Lake Mohave

This article has been rattling around in my noggin since BASS at Rayburn in December. It’s interesting being on the inside and looking out as a professional fisherman. It’s even fun sometimes to see guy’s reaction when they get on the circuit and realize just how different fishing at this level is. I’m going to pick on fellow Skeeter/Yamaha team member and good friend Dickie Newberry of Houston. Ask anybody that fishes East Texas in the last two years and they will tell you Dickie is a certified hammer (won three or four boats in 97 and about the same in 96 ). A week after Rayburn I called Dickie to get his temperature, he was hot. He explained that at least 25 friends had called to say how they could have easily caught 21 pounds in three days on the best bass lake in America, why in the world didn’t he? Now like everybody else that fished I could explain the fight over who’s boat we’re going in, fishing time, battling over water, illness, partners equipment breaking down, guy’s jumping you’re water, eleven 3’s that got off at the boat, and every other reason I finished 45th instead of first, but till you’ve seen it yourself it’s all horse you know what.

I will tell you the fishing was really tough, maybe an analogy will help. All major league baseball players will tell you they can crush a fastball, as a matter of fact the faster it’s thrown the further they can hit it. So why can’t Juan Gonzalez’s rattle every other pitch 450 feet into the bleachers? Because all he gets isn’t fastballs. Sometimes they start them right at your pumpkin and you got about 1/2 a second to decide if it’s a fastball and a ride to Rampart emergency, or it’s an embarrass you sitting on your tail in the batters box while the ump punches you out curve. Heck last year Tiger Woods went to some golf course in Florida and shot a 59, a 59. BUT that was for fun and there was zero pressure. Dickie and I talked during practice at Rayburn and we were catching the crud out of them, I had 20+ bites with two over 8 the second day of practice alone. My point is when you mix in a few really big factors, this isn’t batting practice. Probably the biggest factor being that these are not Pro Am’s, the guy you fish with is your competition. Now if I tell you all this and you’re still convinced that since you finished in the top six in your bass club (not to knock it, we all started there) you’re ready for the big leagues, well here’s you’re chance.

The last of the four BASSS Central Invitational’s is coming to Lake Texoma March 12-14th. I constantly get asked at boat shows “How do I get in?,” here’s how. The fourth tournament each year rarely fills up, so you can call BASS and ask for the tournament department, tell them you want on the waiting list for the 1998 Oklahoma Invitational. You will have to put down a $200 deposit, which they will refund if you don’t get in or if you are on the waiting list and decide you don’t want to fish. They will start working down the waiting list on about February 20th. Once you get in you will have to join the Association for BASS Professional’s which is $100 (I think) and pay the balance of your entry fee, another $400. I will tell you in all honesty that I have been doing it four years and I still get excited before every one, you will never forget your first BASS tournament. Once you’re in you can show us just what we were doing wrong at Rayburn and by the time this is published probably at Ross Barnett (yuck) too. By the way I’m fishing out of a Skeeter 202 this year with the Yamaha VMAX counter rotating prop 150. If you’re considering a new ride this spring look this boat over at your local boat show, and if you see me out ask and I’ll be glad to let you take mine for a spin. It is the best performing, finest ride I have ever owned. – Lake Mohave

A few months ago we lost my 33 year old cousin. Wayne and I spent many days and nights wandering my grandparents farm together. It started with BB guns and cane poles and blossomed to rod and reel and shotguns. My earliest memories of fishing are with Wayne and my grandmother. She would sit between us on a old wooden chair, spacing us out the length of a cane pole so we could swing fish, or unbaited hook to her for service work.

These incredibly fond memories from my childhood have given me reason recently to do some deep pondering about life. Specifically about how I grew up as compared to how many of my generations kids are growing up. What’s been troubling me is so many of today’s kids are missing a parent, specifically a dad, at home to walk with them through the early years of life, and to share so many things with them. I believe that when you take a parent out of the child’s everyday life the parent at home is so busy trying to pay bills and keep up with all of life’s little problems that quality time is really hard to come by. I lost my dad in 1983 but by then he had instilled in me so many things, and given me so many memories, that he’ll always be with me.

Right and wrong aside many of these kids never get the chance to experience the outdoors and the wonderful lessons it can teach us. At the ripe old age of 32 I’ve never been married and therefore have no kids of my own. But on occasion I get a guide trip where a father brings his son, and even once a daughter, out to fish. It amazes me to see these kids when they get in the boat. They are mature and good natured, and always mind. There are no distractions, no phone calls, just us guys out having a great time. My point is that the kids may act like terrorist at home but when you get them out and spend good uninterrupted time together, well it’s just not something you can describe.

I don’t want this to appear as a sales pitch but I do want to see more of these kind of trips, so my offer is this. Bring any kid under age 18 on a guide trip with me in the next 30 days and I’ll cut my rate by 20%. If you are a single mother (nobody scream discrimination please) I’ll cut it by 50%. Let’s do our part to get our kids outdoors and show them the thrills the good Lord gave us. I guarantee it will be one of the best and most memorable days you ever spend on the water. – Lake Mohave

Seems that all fisherman love to read about fishing (those that can read of course). It takes about five minutes in my garage, like all my other buddies, to find my four foot tall stack of back issues of Cosmofisherman, NEWSFISH, The Walleye Street Journal, Seventeen Pounder, etc. These magazines are all well and good, but I want specifics, I fish Richland Chambers, obviously if your reading this you do to.

Everybody wants to know what to throw. In the last four years I have seen just about everything catch fish on Richland, but there are a few tried and true tricks that always seem to produce. Before I go on I must say that I have only one bait sponsor (not because I wouldn’t love some free baits), and it will be in the mix below.

First lets talk crankbaits, a real favorite on Richland. Most of the locals here really like some chartreuse in their baits. A Mann’s 20+ in fire tiger and a DB-3 in the same color catch allot of fish (including a few 10+ pound catfish my partner Kev “Aquaman” Reid has caught). Chrome or shad catch allot of fish, but the sandies will eat your lunch, not to mention your shad colored bait if they’re in the area. Another insider favorite here is a Poe’s 300 in a white side with a yellowish (some call it chartreuse) back.

Spinnerbaits are responsible for a great deal of the giant spring strings that get caught. Favorite baits seem to be 1/2 or 3/8 ounce Mepps, Stanleys or Strike Kings. The colors vary per water color but gold blades seem to be predominant. White and white/chartreuse are my favorites for skirts but I did get my clock cleaned by a buddy throwing chartreuse bladed, chartreuse skirt and orange bladed, orange skirted baits last spring.

The warm water will see the soft plastic bite start to pick up in the next few months. A peculiarity that I seem to find only here is a 6 or 8 inch junebug pearl ring worm, another heavy favorite with the local crowd. Another bait that I know has caught a lot of fish is a junebug chartreuse claw Guido bug (the big one). Pumpkinseed and black/blue Jawtec or Hale craworms also produce real well, especially in the clearer water. No I didn’t forget, the centipede still catches allot of roadbed and point fish, watermelon or pumpkin blue flake are favorites.

“What about jigs?” you ask. Year round on Richland they’ll eat ’em. Since we have no grass, stick to the lighter half ounce or less. Black/brown/amber and black/blue/purple can do little wrong, trailed with plastic or pork. My pick for jigs would be a Stanley, All Terrain or a new guy in the jig market Jawtec, if you haven’t tried this jig do, my hookup to boated fish ratio with it is excellent (no that’s not my bait sponsor). – Lake Mohave

There are a group of guys that I’ve fished with for years that have a rather twisted sense of humor. A long running joke amongst these guys is to tell you what bait they’re throwing by using the nickname they’ve assigned to that particular bait. For example a rattle-trap is a click since most older reels have that bit of slack in the gears and when a fish hits a trap the reel will make a loud click noise. To these fellas a spinnerbait is a blade or a chicken leg (I don’t know). A red rattle trap a marquee, a jig is a voodoo doll, unless it weighs 3/4’s of an ounce or more, then its a cannonball. One more, if your fishing with spinning tackle you’re using a sewing machine (equally difficult to master).

This leads me to my title, the light bulb. I’ve written in a number of previous articles about my affinity for crankbaits here on Chambers. It’s time to take a serious look at big crankbaits and what has been happening to our favorite lake. As RC is maturing a couple of things are changing to cause one to take a closer look at this type of presentation. The first factor is fishing pressure. In 1991 – ’92 it wasn’t unusual to get on a spot and catch a ton of fish without ever touching the trolling motor. Now pressure on the classic spots (humps, dams, roadbeds, etc.) have moved most of those fish, if they haven’t been caught and transported 8 miles to a weigh in.

The second factor is the trees in the lake losing a big percentage of their horizontal limbs. This does a couple of things but mainly it makes a crankbait much more fishable. Fish that in the past you had to make a vertical presentation (pitching or flipping) to can now be cast at.

A third factor is the maturing of the population of shad and other baitfish. The lake is now about six years old and the percentage of big baitfish and big black bass that like to eat them is way up. All these factors add up to a bait that is becoming increasingly easy to fish, it allows you to cover a lot of water quickly and thoroughly, and catch some really big fish.

As a matter of fact I had a conversation recently with the winners of one of this summers big team tournaments and they commented that opposite from their normal thoughts they had been catching limits early on Carolina rigs and then switching to crankbaits to catch their kicker fish later in the day.

Now, I personally like to throw several baits under different conditions. If I’m fishing 15 feet of water or less I prefer to throw a I oz mud bug or a DD-22. If real shallow I’ll go to a 3/4 oz mud bug or a DD-14. If I’m trying to catch fish that are deeper where the fish are either suspended or I simply can’t reach the bottom I’ll go with a 300 or 400 series Poes or a Manns 20+. All these baits are large, which is part of the attraction.

Even though it’s getting into fall or what some might call winter fishing (there is no real winter in Texas) I still am a very firm believer in these big baits, only trick being throw them in the thickest stuff. If you’ve ever been to Rayburn in February and thrown a rattle trap in 48 degree water you know that big fish will chase them down. So next time your on RC I would suggest getting the light bulb out. If you want to book a trip or just talk fishing, give us a call at Brown Dog Guide Service (214) 443 1880.
– Lake Mohave

Spring has sprung and the dawg days are upon us. Fish have vacated the shallows and living in those 300 foot shady depths of Richland where they’re tough to catch. Time to stuff the rig back in the moth balls and stay indoors for the summer, not! Allow me to let you in on one of the best kept secrets in north Texas, night fishing RC style. Everybody knows about our excellent moonlight crappie fishing on Chambers, but man oh man the things swimming our shallows after dark will make you forget Letterman.

For the past two years I’ve been sneaking out after dark on Chambers anytime I get a chance, and I’ve yet to have a unproductive trip. The same fish that are so spooky and difficult to catch with those bright sunny summer skies during the day get almost kamikaze like after dark. Heck one night last June a buddy and I caught over 25 fish up to almost 8 lbs on one point.

So now you’re sold but you’re not real experienced at night fishing, let me give you a few safety tips and some pointers. First it is a state law ($76 ticket last time I got one) that anytime, and I repeat anytime whether you’re running or anchored, that you’re on the water at night you must have your anchor light on (white light on the back). Next always wear your life vest and kill switch at night. I know Chambers probably better than all but 2 or 3 people in the world and I ALWAYS wear mine. It is incredibly easy to get disoriented on the water at night, so be careful and carry a compass.

one of the good things about night fishing is that darkness serves as excellent cover so you don’t have to fish the real heavy cover in the Richland arm to get bit. As a matter of fact I prefer to stay on the open parts of the lake or in the Chambers arm. You could idle out of Clearview, Chambers Creek or Midway marinas and start fishing the points and have some of the best fishing of your life. In night fishing stick to one of two types of areas, first points, try main lake points first and if you don’t get bit try secondary points. If that doesn’t produce for you use funnel points to find fish coming from deeper water to shallow to feed.

As for baits I like a black half ounce spinner bait, a noisy topwater if baitfish are flicking about or a worm like a 611 JAWTEC bogus wiggler or 711 ribbed wiggler that tend to move a lot water when you work them. Most dedicated night fisherman will tell you that the bite is best on a dark moon phase, followed closely by a full moon. I would suggest to make your first few ventures into the night on a cloudless full moon, the ability to see will greatly off set the few less bites you get. ~I will also tell you that in the heat of the summer usually the first two to three hours after sundown are by far the slowest. The best action usually doesn’t occur until well after midnight, so don’t get in any hurry to get on the water unless just to familiarize yourself with the areas you plan to fish. If you really want to make it easy on yourself call me at BROWN DOG GUIDE SERVICE (214) 327 6020 and I’ll take you. Good luck and good fishing. — Ken Smith – Lake Mohave