Fayette County Fishing Report

August/September/October 2003

 

Let’s see, summer in Texas, a power plant lake, and micropterus salmoides (large mouth bass). What does that mean for us as fisherman? Conventional wisdom says that it is much harder to catch bass under these circumstances. I disagree. It’s hard to catch bass ANYTIME!  Winter is, well winter. Spring is full of cold rain and might winds. Fall is full of strong fronts, hunting season and football games. Fishing is hard anytime. Now, if you do your homework, you will catch fish in any season and this report covers the peak of one, the beginning of another.

Quite frankly, I am sick and tired of hearing people cast disparaging words in the media about Fayette County. The most recent came just yesterday in an unnamed Texas fishing periodical that said, “Bass fisherman are not hassled in the way that anglers on Fayette County are, and do not have to get in line to fish any stretch of water that looks like a hotspot.” Now, this implies that the lake is overcrowded and difficult to fish. May I hazard a guess? The writer of this misinformation has not been on Fayette County in years!

I can honestly say I have never been hassled by the implied recreational anglers nor do I have to jostle other anglers to fish my “hotspots.” Even in August! Why? Because I am up early. You need to start your day one half hour before sunrise, the most beautiful time of day, when the world is just beginning to awaken. Throw a buzzbait or popping bait on the points and secondary points that have deep water nearby. The fish will be there. I prefer a Yellow Magic popping bait and a Bass Pro Shops buzzbait. If they are not willing to bite, throw a shallow crankbait. I have had tremendous success this year with the Strike King Series 3 in chartreuse/blue. My computer records indicate that as of this writing for the year, my clients and I have boated 559 bass on that color. Have one tied on.

After the sun is up and you begin to sweat, move to the deep humps. They are plainly marked on all the maps. Get your Carolina rig out and fish in about 15 feet. Small baits work best. Baby Brush hogs in watermelon/red with a chartreuse tail cannot be beaten. Deep diving crank baits also will produce on these humps. I have been using the Rapala DT 16 in shad or chartreuse/blue with great success. Finally, don’t forget your drop shot. It can produce fish when nothing else will.

The late summer has been known for tremendous schooling action. Many of us remember when 3-5 pounders were on the surface busting about any plug you threw out there. Well, things change. Those days are gone and we must change with them. The schooling has not been strong in the last few years. What will this year hold? My best guess is another year of poor schooling. But remember, the fish are still there and can be caught using the above techniques. The grass is gone, the schooling likewise, the bass cannot go anywhere.

September will be the same until the first fronts arrive. The cooling water will call the shad shallow (remember we have both threadfin and gizzard shad here) and the bass will follow. I will still start on the same points but after the sun is up and the topwater action dies (if it does) I will move to the creeks and drains leading to the back of the coves. This time of year I will work from deep to shallow. Looking to locate the baitfish. The bass will not be far behind. A Carolina rig, and my Strike King crankbait and a Rapala DT 10 will be the ticket, as will a BPS Stick-O and a wacky worm.

The rush into the shallows to feed will only continue to improve throughout the month of October. Spinner baits will also produce nice fish during this time. I prefer the War Eagle in a Mouse color during this season. Most fisherman love to fish during this time of year and it is definitely a period when you should forsake the football game on the weekend and hit the lake.

As for the “hassle?” Forget about it. The only hassle you will have is making sure your drag is set lightly enough to play these strong bass. Someone smarter than me will have to explain why Fayette bass are so strong; three pounders fighting like fives, etc. I cannot explain it but anyone who has fished here knows it is true and in the fall the bass are doing nothing but getting heavier.

            Remember to wear your lifejacket, use your kill switch, bring a rain suit and drink plenty of water while on the lake. Don’t forget, I teach bass classes at Bass Pro Shops in Katy on alternate Sunday mornings. If you are interested in attending call the store to get a schedule (281) 644-2200. The classes range from basic bass fishing or women in fishing to advanced classes refining your skills and even a specific class on Fayette County. You can get a complete monthly schedule at our store website: basspro.com