Cooling water will bring on the action

Cooling water will bring on the action

MICHAEL ACOSTA

As a licensed professional fishing guide, Michael Acosta shows you how to find them. A Granbury resident of more than 35 years, he has been fishing all of his life, and has been a licensed guide since 1998.

The fall feeding frenzy has been ongoing for a while now. The next season is showing its face on those cooler days, and those winter patterns are sure to be in force shortly. If you think fishing slows down during the winter season, it does not!

Striped bass anglers know that the winter months are a great time to fish for our landlocked striped bass. These eating machines thrive in the cooler water and when they decide to feed they gorge themselves. When you clean these fish in the winter, they are typically so obese their insides are lined with fat and their stomach is usually packed with baitfish.

These fish, in my opinion, will be in the healthiest condition of the year. Weight per length is at a higher ratio due to this feeding, and the stripers are also starting to develop their eggs and silt for the spawn the following spring.

Granted, fish (cold-blooded creatures) in general have metabolic rates that slow in the winter. This is a true statement for all species. However, the striped bass are most active when water temperatures are in the 50s to the 60s. When water temperatures fall into the 40s, feeding may slow more but that is much later in winter. When the water temperatures fall down to this level (low 40s) feeding will occur less often but they will continue to feed in “spurts” — gorging themselves when they do.

The cool mornings and the passing cool fronts are dropping area lake temperatures into the 60s. The winter patterns I use typically start below the 60-degree mark.

The cooler mornings right now will also have the fish feeding, with the birds pointing you to active fish. Chasing birds can be some of the most exciting, fast and furious action to be had. When the fish are very active, you cannot miss. Most any shad imitation bait will work. Just make sure you match what they are feeding on.

Striped bass can be easier to catch in the winter if you can locate them. Some days, they may travel miles, and this may require you to travel as well. In a few weeks, there will be a migration of the bigger striped bass to the upper ends of the reservoir. Usually after the first freeze, which is typically the end of November, you will be able to find these fish on schools of bait that move upstream looking for warmer shallower waters.

Later in the winter season, the warmest water may be on the bottom in deep water. Look for these changes by looking with your electronics to see what depth the majority of the baitfish are holding. The warmer days in the winter may have them moving up with the bait fish of course.

Chasing river run striped bass is hard to beat for action. Above Lake Whitney is probably the best river fishing for striped bass closest to Granbury. Lake Texoma’s striped bass will either run west on the Red River or north on the Washita. These fish are fairly predictable; you just have to learn to locate them.

Remember to dress in layers and overdress if possible. Stay warm! A cold day on the water can be fun if you are dressed right. Many folks use those inexpensive chemical warmers in their gloves or boots to keep warm. Once you start catching fish, you won’t be cold anymore.

FISHING REPORT

Lake Granbury is still around 3 to 4 feet low. Low water hazards are present. Be careful out there. Water temperatures are in the 60s and cooling. Birds have returned and they can point you to active fish. Crappie fishing continues to be the best action on small minnows and jigs fished near structure. Channel and blue catfish continue to be good on cut bait fished near channel ledges. Largemouth bass are good in numbers on crank baits and soft plastics fished near main lake points and creek entrances. Sand bass and small striped bass are slow to fair on live bait fished by Indian Harbor and near DeCordova.

Comanche Creek black bass, catfish and tilapia continue to be excellent. Largemouth bass to 6 pounds are good on most any presentation. Channel catfish limits are common on prepared and cut bait. Tilapia are good on worms fished under a cork.

michael.acosta@att.net | 254-396-4855