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Black bass are spawning this month in the shallows. Spinnerbaits, Texas rigged lizards, and wacky worms are the best baits for the big females. On the warmer days they will occasionally come up to get a surface bait like a pop r, zara spook, or boy howdy. Buzzbaits and tiny torpedoes can do wonders on bedding fish as well.

White bass are in full swing making their annual run up the creeks. Harmon, White Rock, Bedias, and Nelson are all loaded with whites. Rattle traps and small jigs are the ticket. Twenty five fish a piece with a minimum length of twelve inches are the laws for white bass. Harmon Creek Marina has excellent facilities and is located right near one of the best areas of Harmon Creek.

Crappie are shallow and spawning along the shorelines. Fish the creeks with live minnows and crappie jigs and you should do well. Around the bridge piling in some of the creeks I have seen people catching them regularly.

Catfish are hitting an assortment of baits. Prepared dough baits, nightcrawlers, shad, and chicken liver all will work for catching catfish. The catfish are in the shallow water already but will really move in next month as they usually spawn just a few weeks behind the first waves of the other spawning fish species.

Bill Cannan Professional Fishing Guide – Lake Mohave

BLACK BASS
Many of the bass here have spawned. The last two weeks of March were real hot for spawning bass. Creek backs and rocky shorelines held spawners. Those fish have not left those areas at all in fact many of the fish were in those exact areas to begin with. Livingston is definately one unique lake when it comes to black bass migrations. The bigger bass over four pounds have a more distinct migration than the smaller bass. Livingston is without a doubt a lake that you can number os bass shallow under any condition in any season.

The Carolina Rig is being fished a little more every year on Livingston. Fishing for black bass after their spawn can be tricky. Initially the female bass are sore and not ready to feed, they are in a lull state. Using their side fins as “kickstands” they prop themselves up on the bottom and just sit there for a few days and heal up from the spawn. The Carolina Rig set up with one of Top Brass new Finesse Carolina Kits and a weenie worm or french fry will entice the moody females to bite. Since the bass spawn is intermittant through February, March, and April their is always fish in the “lull” state that I am talking referring to.

WHITE BASS
The white bass made their usual run up the creeks at the beginning of March and then turned right around after a few days and headed back to the river. They got up into the backs of the creeks ready to spawn but the water was low with no current. Since we had no rain the creeks had no running water, a necessity for a white bass spawn. At the time of this writing their have not been any white bass being consistently caught day after day anywhere which is usually the norm this time of year. I cleaned twenty four on March 24 th and females were still full of eggs, but the eggs were not that pretty gold/yellow color that they are at the beginning of the run. These eggs were not held together by the clear membrane that surrounds them and there were no red veins surrounding the egg sacks. They appeared to me that the eggs were overdue and soon to be discharged freely. So we may not get a white bass spawn at all this year. I am not a fisheries biologist by any means but I see enough fish and clean enough of them that I can put two and two together and give a pretty logical assumption. Mother Nature has her ways some of which we do not understand but maybe she knows what she is doing by not giving us our normal average rainfall this year. We’ll see.

Bill Cannan Professional Fishing Guide – Lake Mohave

Black bass: Some bass are still spawning at the time of this writing but the majority of them have spawned out. The bass that have recovered from the spawn will be aggressive and ready to feed. Sluggos and jerkbaits as well as topwaters and crankbaits are some of the baits these bass will eat. The number one bait this month is usually a buzzbait. Fish can be caught on a buzzbait here all day on overcast days and sometimes all day on sunny days. Pop r’s and Zara puppies fished around shallow cover are also effective this month. Carolina, Harmon, Bethy, Caney, White Rock, Newton, and Sandy are all good creeks on the north end of the lake.

Crappie: Live minnows and crappie jigs fished in brushpiles 10-15 feet deep should be one of the top patterns for crappie this month. Also standing timber in the creeks hold good numbers of crappie.

Catfish: This month catfish will be spawning so they will be shallow, especially on the bulkheads. Night crawlers, shad, chicken liver, and prepared dough baits are just a few of the baits these spawing cats will eat.

Bill Cannan Professional Fishing Guide – Lake Mohave

Black bass will be recovering from the spawn this month and will be extra aggressive at times. Sluggos, jerkbaits, pop r’s, zara puppies, and buzz baits are some of the “junk baits” that you will be able to draw strikes on. Most of the female bass have healed from the spawn and have come out of their lull ready to feed. However, not all bass spawn at the same time so remember there will be a few fish still on the bed and also many bass will still be in the lull mode.

Probably the most prodominate patterns will be the buzzbait fished around shallow timber, rocks, and other shoreline cover. Chartreuse, black, or white skirted buzzbaits are top choices. If the cover is not too thick try adding a trailer hook or even a trailer treble hook. When the bass really get on the buzzbait the single hook of the buzzbait is enough. But the bite can change from day to day and the trailers will help you land the short strikers(especially on sunny days).

On overcast days the topwater baits can be effective for a few weeks this month. You can catch bass on a variety of topwaters on your most productive areas that you never dreamed held topwater fish. When conditions are just right they will hit topwaters all through the year, but this year the conditions stay right longer for days at a time.

Carolina, Bethy, Newton, White Rock, Caney, and Sandy are a few of the creeks up on the North end of the lake that I frequently fish. All of the creeks have excellent shoreline cover. Bethy has plenty of rocky shorelines, Carolina has reeds as well as White Rock and Caney, and Newton has log jams. Whatever cover you like can be found in the Northern creeks even coontail moss if you look hard enough. The lake is a little high right now so you have to look around for clear water if you are fishing up north. There are always clear water pockets up north no matter what the conditions are.

Bill Cannan Professional Fishing Guide – Lake Mohave

Black Bass: The summer bite is on and in full swing. Quick bites early in the morning on buzzbaits will be a prominent bite all summer. Once the topwater action slows a firetiger crankbait, chartreuse/ white spinnerbait, and a Texas rigged Power Worm make the rest of the day real simple. Shoreline structures like laydowns, stumps, rocks, boat docks, and reeds are the prime targets. Harmon, Bethy, Carolina, White Rock, and Caney are my favorites up North. Run the shorelines fishing the baits mentioned should put fish in your boat.

White Bass: The whites will start stacking up on the mainlake this month and schooling. The 190 roadbed and flats, mainlake points, Pine Island, and many other mainlake humps will be productive all summer. Birds usually are dead givaways when they are working shad over white bass so watch for them. Cobra jigging spoons in white or chartreuse are the key bait for the deeper fish while Rattle Traps and topwaters will work on the schooling fish.

Crappie: Standing timber in fifteen to twenty foot of water along with brushpiles in the same depth will produce crappie all summer. Minnows and black/chartreuse jigs being the prime baits for the white perch.

Catfish: Early morning action is good this month along bulkheads and shallow timber. Trotlines along the river and creek channels have been producing well in the last few weeks and will probably get better with the warm temperatures of summer. Night crawlers, shad, shrimp, chicken liver, and prepared dough baits just about always work for catfish.

Bill Cannan Professional Fishing Guide – Lake Mohave

Black bass: The summer heat has arrived and the summer bite is kicking in. Quick bites early in the morning on buzzbaits will be a prominent bite all summer. Once the topwater action slows a firetiger crankbait, chartreuse/ white spinnerbait, and a Texas rigged Power Worm make the rest of the day real simple. Shoreline structures like laydowns, stumps, rocks, boat docks, and reeds are the prime targets. Harmon, Bethy, Carolina, White Rock, and Caney are my favorites up North. Run the shorelines fishing the baits mentioned should put fish in your boat.

White bass: The whites will start stacking up on the mainlake this month and schooling. The 190 roadbed and flats, mainlake points, Pine Island, and many other mainlake humps will be productive all summer. Birds usually are dead givaways when they are working shad over white bass so watch for them. Cobra jigging spoons in white or chartreuse are the key bait for the deeper fish while Rattle Traps and topwaters will work on the schooling fish.

Crappie: Standing timber in fifteen to twenty foot of water along with brushpiles in the same depth will produce crappie all summer. Minnows and black/chartreuse jigs being the prime baits for the white perch.

Catfish: Early morning action is good this month along bulkheads and shallow timber. Trotlines along the river and creek channels have been producing well in the last few weeks and will probably get better with the warm temperatures of summer. Night crawlers, shad, shrimp, chicken liver, and prepared dough baits just about always work for catfish.

The lake level is around normal pool and right now. Mainlake water color up north is a little off color due to the rains but the creeks are holding clearer water. Fishing will continue to be good on Livingston through the summer so plan a trip here and enjoy it.

Bill Cannan Professional Fishing Guide – Lake Mohave

Black Bass:
The lake is just over two feet low and the water temperature has been in the mid to upper eighties for the last few weeks. All through June the bass were aggressive except during the week that the lake level fell over a foot. Buzzbaits, crankbaits, and crawworms have all been exceptionally productive on shallow bass. Most of the bass on Livingston are in one to five foot of water. Believe it or not on some of the hottest days you will pull solid keepers in less than two feet of water. Concentrating on shallow cover is the key; stumps, laydowns, rocks, and reeds(toolies).

White Bass:
Good limits of white bass have been coming off of the 190 roadbed, 190 flats, mainlake points, and Pine Island. Jigging 3/4 oz Cobra Jigging Spoons has been one of the hottest producers all summer. Stripers have also been mixed in with the whites quite often and will also hit the Cobras. The birds will give away the schooling activity most of the time but if they are not schooling graph the humps and ridges and find schools of whites close to the bottom on the top of the structures in 14-25 feet of water.

Catfish:
Plenty of catfish have been caught early in the mornings around the bulkheads especially after a good rain. Night crawlers, shad, chicken liver, shrimp, or prepared dough baits will usually do the trick. Later in the day head to a creek channel or the main river channel and fish deeper through the hot hours.

Crappie:
Crappie have been pretty good around marina boat docks and standing timber in 10-20 feet of water. Minnows and crappie jigs have been responsible for most of these fish. Crappie jigs in black/chart., black/blue, and pink/white have been working. Remember through the hot months that the crappie will suspend so figure out how many turns off of the bottom that they are.

Bill Cannan Professional Fishing Guide – Lake Mohave

Black bass: The bass have positioned themselves from about half way back in the creeks to the mouth of the creeks near the main lake. The bigger fish have been concentrated near the creek mouths and have been hitting an assortment of lures. Most of these fish are relating to shoreline structure in one to ten feet of water. Flipping Texas rigged worms and craworms around shoreline cover has been one of the most productive presentations. Black/chartreuse, black/blue, red shad, and tequila sunrise plastics have been the most effective baits. Shallow to medium diving plugs in fire-tiger cranked around shoreline cover has also produced strikes. Early and late the buzzbait will draw them to the surface.

White bass: Large schools of whites have been common on the main lake. Plenty of schooling fish have been easy to spot most of the summer, just look for the birds working or fish boiling on the surface. Main lake points, Penwaugh slough, the tram, the 190 roadbed, the 190 flats, the Banana ridge, and Pine Island have been prime areas for the action. When the fish are not schooling, use your graph to scan these areas and look for the whites and schools of shad. Once you locate a school spoon with a 3/4 oz Cobra jigging spoon, white with silver sides. Stripers have been abundant this year so don’t be surprised if you hook up on a fish that rips line off of your real and gives you a real war.

Crappie: Many of the marinas are set up to accomodate crappie fishermen. They brushed the areas for years and have strong concentrations of crappie right under their boat docks and piers. These marinas provide some of the best crappie fishing on the lake. Minnows around standing timber in White Rock, Kickapoo, Caney, and Indian creek will also get you hooked up with soc-a-lait.

Catfish: As always catfishing is excellent. Baiting areas with soured maze will have you catching catfish in large numbers. Shad, chicken live, and dough bait will all work well for whisker fish. Lake Livingston is one of the finest catfish lakes in the country and constantly produces monster catfish.

Bream: Panfish have been easy to catch around rocks, piers, shallow timber, bulkheading, and reeds. Night crawlers and meal worms are two sure bets for catching plenty of bream. All of the marina have access for bankfishing and there are plenty of bream to be caught in these areas.

Bill Cannan Professional Fishing Guide – Lake Mohave

Black bass: The bigger fish have been concentrated near the creek mouths and have been hitting an assortment of lures. But be careful getting to these areas especially up north some of the creek mouths are blocked off by sandbars because of the low water level. Most of these fish are relating to shoreline structure in one to ten feet of water. Flipping Texas rigged worms and craw worms around shoreline cover has been one of the most productive presentations. Black/chartreuse, black/blue, red shad, and tequila sunrise plastics have been the most effective baits. Shallow to medium diving plugs in fire-tiger cranked around shoreline cover has also produced strikes. Early and late the buzzbait will draw them to the surface.

White bass: Large schools of whites have been common on the main lake. Main lake points, Penwaugh slough, the tram, the 190 roadbed, the 190 flats, the Banana ridge, and Pine Island have been prime areas for the action. Once you locate a school spoon with a 3/4 oz Cobra jigging spoon, white with silver sides. Stripers have been abundant this year so don’t be surprised if you hook up on a fish that rips line off of your real and gives you a real war.

Crappie: Many of the marinas are set up to accomodate crappie fishermen. They brushed the areas for years and have strong concentrations of crappie right under their boat docks and piers. These marinas provide some of the best crappie fishing on the lake. Minnows around standing timber in White Rock, Kickapoo, Caney, and Indian creek will also get you hooked up with soc-a-lait.

Catfish: As always catfishing is excellent. Baiting areas with soured maze will have you catching catfish in large numbers. Shad, chicken live, and dough bait will all work well for whisker fish. Lake Livingston is one of the finest catfish lakes in the country and constantly produces monster catfish.

Bream: Panfish have been easy to catch around rocks, piers, shallow timber, bulkheading, and reeds. Night crawlers and meal worms are two sure bets for catching plenty of bream. All of the marinas have access for bankfishing and there are plenty of bream to be caught in these areas.

Bill Cannan Professional Fishing Guide – Lake Mohave

The month of September is the beginng of some excellent bass fishing on Lake Livingston. The heat waves of summer are almost over and we will start getting mild cool spells from time to time which in turn get the fish out of their lull and biting.

Black Bass: Spinnerbaiting bass on Lake Livingston each Fall has become well known among the local bass fishermen. Running the shoreline and slow rolling spinnerbaits around laydowns, standing timber, rocks, reeds, and other shoreline structure is the ticket from now until December. This pattern works well all year long but is especially effective during the Fall. Also fishing buzzbaits, pop r’s, and zara puppies will draw aggressive strikes from black bass as the water begins to cool. Cooler water temperatures will create bigger strike zones for bass and make them easier to catch.

White Bass: The first few months of Fall sends the white bass in many directions. They tend to scatter and gradually push into some of the major feeder creeks and up the river. By October there is usualling some good schooling activity around Bethy and Harmon Creeks. However, there is always some whites on the main lake humps where we have caught them all summer.

Crappie: The old timers on this lake catch more crappie than anyone realizes. They usually fish standing timber and fish minnows and jigs. They are very secretive of how and where they catch them probably because they fish visible structure and know that without secrecy their spots will get pounded. Maybe one of these days someone will follow them and find out where they catch them.

Catfish: Trotliners are continuously catching numbers of catfish. There are regulars that fish out of Ed’s Marina that bring in fifty and sixty pounders everyday. For rod and reel action fish the main river channel on the north end or any of the bulkheading of the south end. Also most of the marinas have fishing areas and catfish can be caught there. Various prepared doughbaits, chicken liver, or fresh shad will get you hooked up with catfish day in day out.

Bill Cannan Professional Fishing Guide – Lake Mohave

The month of September is the beginng of some excellent bass fishing on Lake Livingston. The heat waves of summer are almost over and with the rains we are getting the lake level is sure to be on the rise.

Black Bass: Spinnerbaiting bass on Lake Livingston each Fall has become well known among the local bass fishermen. Running the shoreline and slow rolling spinnerbaits around laydowns, standing timber, rocks, reeds, and other shoreline structure is the ticket from now until December. This pattern works well all year long but is especially effective during the Fall. Also fishing buzzbaits, pop r’s, and zara puppies will draw aggressive strikes from black bass as the water begins to cool. Cooler water temperatures will create bigger strike zones for bass and make them easier to catch.

White Bass: The first few months of Fall sends the white bass in many directions. They tend to scatter and gradually push into some of the major feeder creeks and up the river. By October there is usualling some good schooling activity around Bethy and Harmon Creeks. However, there is always some whites on the main lake humps where we have caught them all summer.

Crappie: Standing timber and brushpiles in 10-15 feet of water have been producing crappie. Minnows and jigs have been the best baits.

Catfish: Trotliners are continuously catching numbers of catfish. For rod and reel action fish the main river channel on the north end or any of the bulkheading of the south end. Also most of the marinas have fishing areas and catfish can be caught there. Various prepared doughbaits, chicken liver, or fresh shad will get you hooked up with catfish day in day out.

Remember the lake is low and be careful running the timber and also the creeks. The creek mouths up north can be difficult to enter because of the sandbars that build there. Some of these sandbars are exposed and some just below the surface. The lakes are easily navigable if you pay attention to water color(looking for shallow sandbars) and watch your flasher.

Bill Cannan Professional Fishing Guide – Lake Mohave

Black Bass: Bass have been very aggressive and this will continue through the Fall. Spinnerbaits fished around laydowns and standing timber has been a hot ticket. Also firetiger crankbaits fished around rocks, timber, and reeds has been effective. Early and late a buzzbait is very effective-chartreuse and white skirt and fish it just fast enough to keep the bait on the surface. Zara puppies and pop r’s will also work. Also look for bass schooling in the backs of the creeks.

White Bass: Whites are sporadically schooling with black bass up on the north end creeks. September 25 we got into schooling whites in Harmon and Carolina Creeks. There were also some black bass in there with them. The fish were schooled up on shad that have been in the creeks spawning and hit anything chartreuse. The whites are not real predictable this time of year so when you get into them you better stroke em’ because more than likely they’ll be off to some other creek the next day

Catfish: Trotliners are bringing in good catches with some really big catfish showing up in the river. Also rod and reel fishermen have been catching them early in the morning feeding around bulkheads. The best baits have been shad, chicken liver, prepared dough baits, and live earthworms.

Crappie: Many of the marinas who have their docks baited with brushpiles are preparing for Fall crappie fishing. A cold spell or two will cool the water and get the fish active and biting. Minnows and jigs fished around the brushpiles is a sure bet for catching crappie this month.

Fall is Lake Livingston’s highlighted season for fishing. Overall fishing is excellent and the temperatures are mild so make sure to plan a fishing trip and enjoy the lake.

Bill Cannan Professional Fishing Guide – Lake Mohave

Black Bass: The cool front we had that last weekend of September gave a jump start on the Fall bass fishing. Bass have been very aggressive and this will continue through the Fall. Spinnerbaits fished around laydowns and standing timber has been a hot ticket. Also firetiger crankbaits fished around rocks, timber, and reeds has been effective. Early and late a buzzbait is very effective-chartreuse and white skirt and fish it just fast enough to keep the bait on the surface. Zara puppies and pop r’s will also work. Also look for bass schooling in the backs of the creeks.

White Bass: Whites are sporadically schooling with black bass up on the north end creeks. September 25 we got into schooling whites in Harmon and Carolina Creeks. There were also some black bass in there with them. The fish were schooled up on shad that have been in the creeks spawning and hit anything chartreuse.

Catfish: Trotliners are bringing in good catches with some really big catfish showing up in the river. Also rod and reel fishermen have been catching them early in the morning feeding around bulkheads. The best baits have been shad, chicken liver, prepared dough baits, and live earthworms.

Crappie: Many of the marinas who have their docks baited with brushpiles are preparing for Fall crappie fishing. A cold spell or two will cool the water and get the fish active and biting. Minnows and jigs fished around the brushpiles is a sure bet for catching crappie this month.

Fall is Lake Livingston’s highlighted season for fishing. Overall fishing is excellent and the temperatures are mild so make sure to plan a fishing trip and enjoy the lake.

Bill Cannan Professional Fishing Guide – Lake Mohave

Black bass: The bass have positioned themselves from about half way back in the bigger creeks to the backs of the creeks. The bigger fish have been concentrated near the creek backs and have been hitting an assortment of lures. Most of these fish are relating to shoreline structure in one to five feet of water. A 3/8oz Stanley spinnerbait(white with a silver Colorado blade) is one of the best baits this month. Flipping Texas rigged worms and craworms around shoreline cover has also been a productive presentation. Black/chartreuse, black/blue, red shad, and tequila sunrise plastics have been the most productive baits. Shallow to medium diving plugs in fire-tiger cranked around shoreline cover has also produced strikes. Buzzbait have been effective all day especially on overcast days.

White bass: White bass will be scattered among the upper end of the lake feeding on shad and preparing for the winter and their run next Spring. Look for sporadic schooling in the bigger Northern creeks and in the river.

Crappie: Many of the marinas are set up to accomodate crappie fishermen. They brushed the areas for years and have strong concentrations of crappie right under their boat docks and piers. These marinas provide some of the best crappie fishing on the lake. Minnows around standing timber in White Rock, Kickapoo, Caney, and Indian creek will also get you hooked up with soc-a-lait.

Catfish: As always catfishing is excellent. Baiting areas with soured maze will have you catching catfish in large numbers. Shad, chicken live, and dough bait will all work well for whisker fish. Lake Livingston is one of the finest catfish lakes in the country and constantly produces monster catfish.

The lake is still low so be careful when entering creeks. Be watching for sandbars and timber when running unfamiliar areas.

Bill Cannan Professional Fishing Guide – Lake Mohave

Black bass: Bass have been biting a jig pretty well all year long. Here lately the jig bite has been on due to the cold fronts and cooler weater. The fish are still scattered throughout the creeks with the majority of them being near the creek mouths and closer to deep water. Trolling the shorelines flipping a 1/4 oz Stanley jig with a no.11 Uncle Josh pork frog has been the best bait for me for the last two months. The bait falls slow and this is what the fish are looking for this time of year. On warmer days the water has a chance to warm a little and you may need to go to a 3/8 oz or 1/2 oz jig for a little faster fall. Caney, White Rock, Kickapoo, Carolina, and Bethy are all good creeks to flip a jig this month.

White bass: Mostly scattered throughout the north end of the lake in creeks. They are slowly pushing their way north and feeding in the creeks on shad. Sometimes they will school around Caney and White Rock and also in Carolina Cove. The schooling is sporadic because the fish are always on the move. 1/4 oz chrome rattle traps are probably the number one bait for locating and catching white bass right now.

Crappie: Crappie fishermen have been catching good numbers of crappie in 10-18 feet of water around standing timber and brushpiles. Minnows and jigs have been the best baits. Creeks with clear green water have been producing the most crappie. The standing timber in Kickapoo usually holds good numbers of keeper crappie this time of year.

Catfish: Fishing creek channels and the main river channel has been productive this fall for whisker fish. Chicken liver rolled in strawberry jello, prepared dough baits, nightcrawlers, and shad have worked well for producing catfish.

Bill Cannan Professional Fishing Guide – Lake Mohave

Black Bass: This month bass will be shallow as usual on Lake Livingston. This report probably seems a little redundant at times but the patterns are usually about the same only the fish locations change. Fish will move towards the bigger portions of creeks towards main lake. Main lake bass will pull to the points. A 1/4 to 3/8 oz black jig with a blue no.11 pork chunk will be a good choice this month. A slow rolled spinnerbait near shallow cover is another top choice.

Crappie: The brush piles and standing timber in 15-20’ of water will hold crappie this month. Minnows and jigs are top baits. Also the floating boat docks around some of the marinas with depth will also hold crappie.

White Bass: Sporadic action on the upper end will be common as the fish push uplake to the bigger creeks and river. Rat-L-Traps and model A Bombers in chrome and firetiger are top choices for white bass.

Bill Cannan Professional Fishing Guide – Lake Mohave

My January column titled “Little Things” was about all the little steps you take as a fisherperson and how they all work together to make you a better angler. I am going to be writing about some of the little things that you can do that will make you a better angler, regardless of your experience level. Some of the “little things” I will be discussing may be tips that you already know, in that case it will be very valuable for you to read them and let your mind be reminded of these crucial tips that make you a better angler. Whether you know these tips already or not is irrelevant because touching areas of your mental arsenal with these tips will open your mind to new ideas and allow you to discover new tricks and tactics.

No one fisherperson dreams up all of the best ways to catch fish. You can be just as productive at discovering new tricks within your techniques as a professional fisherman. Great fishermen were not born great, they developed into great fishermen by years of on the water experience. Some excelled faster than others because they picked up on patterns quicker than others. And patterns being within techniques as well as within catching fish.

The guys you want to pay close attention to are the older, salty veteran pros that have been fishing professional tournaments for years and years. I shouldn’t even have to mention any of them because you already know who the “DADDY’S” are. The reason I use them as examples is because they are going to go about their work the easiest and most efficient way possible. They flow through situations and travel the path of least resistance even if the situations they are in are unpleasant. They subconsciously flow with their surroundings because that is their home, they have been there for thousands of hours. They don’t have to react to weather and pattern changes they act with them.

There are allot of “little things” within this article but I am going to pinpoint one of them in particular. Watch two television shows. One hosted by Larry Nixon and the other by Shaw Grigsby. Both of these guys are tournament champions of the past and present and every single move they make and attempt to teach you is one they learned through years of tournament fishing. If you don’t trust baits they are throwing is what they really throw in the tournaments that’s fine, sometimes I am skeptical of that, IGNORE the lures they are throwing. Watch their mechanics, every single move they make. You will learn from their mechanics, pick out one thing that they do and practice it next time you are on the water. You must master your fishing mechanics.

Bill Cannan Professional Fishing Guide – Lake Mohave

Dewey Kendrick, the B.A.S.S Tournament Director, walked into the Jasper High School gym and slammed the door telling one of his staff members to fine anyone else who walked through the door. It was 7pm and in B.A.S.S. you are fined for being late to the meetings. This was a pre-tournament meeting for the Texas Invitational at Sam Rayburn, February 12-17, 1996. There were over 300 hundred of us sitting with our eyes on Dewey waiting for him to start the show so that we could hear all of the rules of the tournament again and get our partner pairings for the next day(the first day of competition).

There is plenty of anxiety for the B.A.S.S. rookies in the house(like me at the time) and some of the other fisherman who are relatively new to fishing national tournaments. You are sitting in the same room with veteran aces like Rick Clunn, Gary Klein, Denny Brauer, Tommy Martin, Zell Rowland, Dion Hibdon, and Larry Nixon to name a few. Some of the anxiety stems from the fact that you could very easily draw one of these “big namers” for a day of fishing(only you cannot draw someone from your home state).

Dewey started reading off the pairings and in the third flight I heard my name called, I stood up and said “Yo” extremely loud, because if Dewey doesn’t here you say “Yo” he gets mad and makes a fool out of you, as I learned the hard way previously at the Arkansas Invitational. He looked up and found me, then looked back to his pairings and said “Larry Nixon”(no doubt, one of the biggest names in fishing). Larry and I left the gym and went outside where there were dozens of pairs of guys who had drawn each other for the following day. We were all huddled in pairs exchanging secret locations and baits quietly so that no other pair would hear.

Larry said he had fish in about the same area that I did and we agreed to go to the area and spend equal time on each other’s fish. We discussed tactics and baits so that I would know exactly what to bring. I could quickly tell by talking with Larry that he was a genuinely nice guy and sincere in everything that he said about his fish and the area.

We met the next morning and launched the boat with all of the other competitors and spectators and made our 3c flight out and headed up the lake. We pulled up to Larry’s area, a big flat with a creek running on one side of it and lots of timber. Larry had three keepers in the boat before I even had a bite, fifteen minutes later he had a limit. The fish
in this area were “easy” Larry said. They were all two pound fish just as Larry had told me the night before. I finally scrambled up three of the two pounders by around 9am. We had been working the same area all morning, Larry was waiting for me to limit before we proceeded to an area that had bigger fish. “We’re not leaving this area until you limit”, Larry kept saying. Not many guys would have been as patient as Larry was, most would have gotten their limit and went on to bigger and better things. He knew that if he waited I would definitely limit which was extremely critical on the first day of a three day tournament. Larry continued catching two pound fish left and right, I could not get bit. We were standing shoulder to shoulder on the front of the boat. I was at no disadvantage except that maybe his twenty five years of B.A.S.S. tournament experience had kicked in. Larry was on another planet catching fish one after another and telling me everything he was doing. My confidence never lowered for an instant because I was so impressed just watching someone “smoke fish” the way he was.

At times I thought Larry wanted me to catch the rest of my limit worse than I did, he was doing everything in his power so that I would. He even stopped fishing at one point. Finally I told him that we could just head to the bigger fish and I would just act like I had a limit. He reluctantly agreed and we moved on through the timber flat to a spot we had both caught big fish in practice.

We pulled into an area and Larry said, “This is it, this is the spot. Flip over by that big stump.” I flipped in there three consecutive casts, nothing. I picked out the next stump and flipped over to it, Larry flipped into the stump I had just fished and set the hook. He wrestled about a five pounder to the boat. He culls a fish and joins me back on the front and we continued. He caught two more solid fish that culled and said, “We need to go back and fish that big stump.” We eased back over to the stump and he tells me to flip in there. I flip in there about eight times; on the sides of the stump, around back, and a couple of times to the front of the stump. Larry flips in behind me and sets the hook on a “horse”. He fights the fish around for a while and finally lips a giant. On his computerized culling system he weighs the fish, 9.15 pounds.

Words could not describe the show he was putting on, it was truly a work of art.

It was almost time for us to head out of the creek and timber and head down the lake to weigh in. I still had three fish. I quickly fished my way out of the timber as Larry sat behind the steering wheel eating a Mars Bar and drinking a Diet Coke. He looked up just at the edge of the timber and said, “Make sure you flip into that stump right up there.” I saw the one he was referring to and flipped into it, automatic hookup. The fish was small but a keeper anyway, and Larry had called it sitting down not even hardly paying attention.

We ran back to weigh in and we had about five minutes to spare. Larry suggested I make a few casts but he was going to remain seated behind the wheel. Without lowering the trolling motor I jumped on the front deck and hurled a rattle trap with the wind about fifty yards. I reeled it in radically trying to catch my fifth fish for a limit. I cast out again with no success. A small mudline was within reach near the bank, I had seen it but not thrown at it intentionally. Just as I was about to make my third and probably final cast Larry said to bring my bait through the mud line. All in one motion I adjusted my cast and sent my rattle trap into muddy water. As I got the line tight I could feel a fish on the other end. I was so amazed I could hardly turn the handle to reel the fish in. I got the fish to the boat which gave me my limit at the very last minute and we quickly entered weigh in. We bagged our fish and walked through the crowd. I weighed first, my five babies weighed 9.15, exactly what Larry’s big fish weighed. Larry weighed in, the scales registered over 24 pounds and the crowd went wild.

I walked over to part of tournament headquarters where the partner pairings for the next day were posted. I found my name, looked out beside it-Ken Cook…..that’s another story.

I still analyze that day and learn something new each time that I carefully think the whole day through. What I probably learned most from that day fishing with such a great fisherman was that there is absolutely nothing that can replace experience, especially the many years that Larry has put in.

Bill Cannan Professional Fishing Guide – Lake Mohave

Anxiously awaiting the first tournament of the 96-97 B.A.S.S. Central Division season on the Arkansas River reminds me of my first B.A.S.S. event. My first event was this same tournament last year on the Arkansas River and what a rough one it was.

My traveling partner and I had located an area full of bass in practice. Quality fish where I felt that I could get an easy limit each day. In a three day tournament a limit a day has got to be your number one goal. Well one draw back to these fish was that they were 65 miles from the tournament headquarters and there were two locks on the river that I would have to lock through to get there. Each lock takes approximately 30 minutes. So I was looking at two hours of travel time one way. As rumor had it many of the fishermen made the run and made success with the limited fishing time on the unpressured fishing areas that were so far away.

I intended to make the run if my partner did not win the toss. Once you meet your partner you have to flip a coin to see who’s boat you take and also to see who’s fish that you go to first. My first day partner was from New Jersey and he was willing to make the run. We left out in our flight and started our long run. Two locks and two hours later we pulled into my area. I quickly got the trolling motor down and started fishing. I made a few cast and eased up to a big laydown. I made a cast down each side of the tree and let the spinnerbait fall as it reached the end of the log. No fish, so I picked another target and cast. My partner is flipping a jig and flips into the same laydown I had just fished and sets the hook. A three and a half pounder comes to the boat and into his livewell it went. First of all I was amazed that the fish had not hit my spinnerbait because I know that fish had just seen it and secondly this guy was catching my fish. We fished our way around and this guy catches two more quality fish on the jig fishing behind me, used water. I come off of my game plan and put the spinnerbait down and tied on the exact jig he is throwing.

I pull up to a big tree top in the water on the edge of the bank. I have good position on it so I make about ten casts into every little nook and cranny. No fish, so I pick another target and cast. This “guy” flips in there and sets the hook. A solid fish is in the tree tangled up and dangling under a branch. I get on the trolling motor and crash into the tree trying to knock the fish off, just kidding, trying to get into the tree far enough so that I could reach it. I did and he has four solid fish in his livewell. I back off of the tree that I had just crashed into, banged into all of the branches, and even ran the trolling motor all over and figure I had better make a couple of casts into anyway. I make several flips and feel there are no more fish in it or that if there is they are so spooked that they won’t bite and then I flipped to another tree. My partner flips in there and sets the hook. It’s another three pounder and my mind is now totally gone. I was a FISHING FRUITCAKE from that point on. I somehow managed to catch a keeper fish to keep from blanking that day before we had to head back, but that was totally by mistake because I was in la la land kicking rocks with a fat lip.

Day two and three went about the same and I ended up way…. way back in the standings. It took me a while before I could analyze the tournament and see what all I had learned. One thing I had learned was don’t get waxed by your partner on your own fish. But looking back now it is kind of a humorous memory. Maybe I could have been a little more tuned in and a little more aware and the outcome would have been better for me.

Well I will be there the third week of this month and with the knowledge of what not to do and with a little luck maybe I will come out on top.

Bill Cannan Professional Fishing Guide – Lake Mohave

Last spring I was guiding everyday on Lake Conroe during my two week off limits for the Texas Invitational at Lake Sam Rayburn. I had been counting down the days before the event and running bass fishing trip after bass fishing trip, either two half days or a full day everyday before the tournament.

I had scheduled guide trips all the way through the Sunday before the tournament week which would begin on Monday. Well during the weekend I became so caught up in preparing for the tournament and taking care of business that I forgot about a trip that I had booked on Sunday afternoon.

I knew I was guiding Sunday morning and did not need to look at my schedule for that trip because I knew where to be and at what time to be there.

I had booked the trip for Sunday afternoon a week or so before and had good intentions of running it. When I was discussing times and meeting places with this regular customer of mine he said that he was going to be staying at April Plaza Marina over the weekend at their motel on the water. It was a thirty minute drive for him from April Plaza Marina to marina where I run out of up the lake. Even though that marina is ten miles by water out of my way I offered to go and get him and then drop him back off when we were done.

Running this afternoon trip was going to put me at Shane’s (Shane Allman, a friends where I was staying at Rayburn that week) late that night. But I figured that I could tough it out, a fishing guide/tournament pro always needs the extra money.

O.K., now you are informed on the situation so I am going to change tenses in this story and tell it as it was happening step by step.

I just got finished with my morning trip and put my boat on the trailer. My bags are packed in the truck and I get on I-45 to head up to Huntsville to take 190 to Jasper. About thirty minutes go by and it hits me, I have a guide trip booked for this afternoon. I pull over and look at my schedule, I was supposed to be at April Plaza Marina at 12:30 and it was about 1. I call April
Plaza and ask if there is anyone there looking for me, she says that there had been a couple of guys there and that they weren’t real happy with me and that they had already left.

I call the number that I have down on my schedule to at least leave a message. It’s a fax line, I know I have called them before at this number what is the deal I thought? Oh well, there is nothing I can do about it now except go on to Shane’s. What got me was that they were not at the marina waiting for me as I came off of my morning trip because I had told them that I would pick them up down the lake. I was trying to be nice but it cost me because I forgot. This would have never happened if I would have had them come to my marina like normal.

I get to Shane’s and try the number again but the fax sound comes back again. I guess that I’ll just have to wait for them to call my house and leave me a message as to where in the hell I was and why I wasn’t there to take them fishing.

On Tuesday night I call my house to check the messages on my answering machine. They had called and left me a polite message wondering why I didn’t show up and also left their phone number.

I called them right then. My customer answered the phone and I tell him who I am and he awaited my explanation. I told him that I completely forgot and that I had tried to call the marina but they had already left and that I tried to call his house but only got a fax. He said that they had accidentally left the fax on instead of the answering machine and he seemed as though he might forgive me. I told him that I would take him out fishing for free trip in order to make up for my mistake. This is where the story begins.

A few weeks later when I take them out on their free trip they tell me of their horrible weekend that goes like this.

He and his friend had come to the lake with their own boat on Friday, got settled into their room and decided that they were going to go out on the town that night. They called a limousine service and arranged for a nine O’clock pick up at their motel. About ten thirty they were still there waiting, they called and waited some more but no limo. About eleven they said the heck with it and went to sleep.

They got up the next morning and went fishing. They caught a few fish and had a good morning and decided to come in and rest up for the afternoon. They went out that afternoon and caught a nice bass, about a seven pounder and wanted to take a picture of it but the camera was in the truck. They got back, pulled the boat in their wet stall and left the livewells running to keep the fish alive. They decided they wanted to take the picture the next morning in the daylight.

The next morning they get into the boat and push off, they start rigging their rods and gear, meanwhile the wind pushes them out into the lake. They get ready to start the motor but the battery is dead from the livewells running all night. They drop the trolling motor in but it doesn’t work. They try paddling but the wind is too strong. They finally wave down another boat who comes and gives them a jump. They put the boat on pad and run back to the marina to charge the battery and check on the trolling motor.

They go to get tools out of the truck but remember the keys are in a jacket on the boat. They look for the jacket but it must have blown out of the boat while running back to the marina. The keys are gone. It’s Sunday morning about eight am, not the best time to be trying to get a locksmith. Anyway they finally get a locksmith and for eighty five bucks he opens the truck and makes him an ignition key. They start charging the battery and work on the trolling motor until they get it working. They figured that they would just right off the morning and wait for me to show up to take them out at 12:30. About 12:15 they go out on the dock to wait where I said I would pick them up. They waited and waited, but I never showed. They ask the marina operator but she didn’t know where I was.

Finally, agreeing that I was pretty much a you know what, they went fishing in their own boat. They ran way up the lake to fish some rip rap. They put the trolling motor down to start fishing, one of them on the trolling motor and the other was digging in the tackle box for the right lure. The trolling motor was not running properly and they were about to be blown into the rocks. So the one on the trolling motor jumped behind the wheel and cranked the big motor and goosed it to avoid hitting the rocks. The other guy fell into the tackle box and got a treble hook buried in his hand pass the barb on two of the three hooks. They went to a marina nearby and tried to get someone to help. One guy tried the string trick to get them out but they were too deep. They left the boat tied up and got a ride to the Medical Center in Conroe. For three hundred and seventy five dollars the emergency room removed the hooks and sent them on their way. They got a ride back to April Plaza to where their truck and trailer was, packed up their stuff and went all the way around to the north end of the lake to get the boat. They successfully got it on the trailer and made it back to Houston all right by midnight on that Sunday night.

We have had some laughs together over this and this has got to top any of the mishaps that I have experienced. Someone really took a lot of things into consideration when they said, “Once a fisherman always a fisherman.”

Bill Cannan Professional Fishing Guide
– Lake Mohave