Spring has been great along with early summer. We have scored Big Largemouth bass, Bowfin, Carp, Alligator and Longnose Gar, Freshwater Drum, Striper and even some decent Bluegill! Top water Bass and Bowfin fishing on Fork and other east Texas lakes has been stellar and making it hard to streamer fish because why not get that topwater bite! Most days though Bowfin reject topwater but a well placed craw or bait fish pattern will usually get it done. Crappie have been hitting some fairly big streamers when poking around for bass too and Sunfish have been crushing small poppers most are on beds.
The Brazos river has had some decent flows this year making for great fishing and allowing us to float some sections that typically run to low. Its always fun to explore and change it up and the fishing is fire. Same deal topwater bass fishing has been all day but of course the streamer bite can be more consistent and theres been Common carp, Buffalo, Gar and Freshwater drum sight fishing chances here and there depending on clarity and water pushes.
Lake Ray Roberts has been a little wetter and water levels a little high and dirty especially up the creek arms. But that has not stopped us from scoring some big Largemouth bass or from sight fishing Common Carp. Find the grass find the bass and the carp are on most flats but especially ones with some type of grass.
We are starting to transition into summer with some days hitting low 90s this last week. Hot days like that can have slower mid day bites as the water hits up but theyre saying El Nino is here so were hoping for some nice rainy periods making for stellar all day bites like weve been having. Dont count out those hot days though they can make for some great sight fishing opportunities with shots at Bass, Bowfin, Common Carp, Freshwater Drum and anything else we see cruising the freshwater flats. The transition to summer can be tough dont sleep in.
Look forward to shorter bite windows over the next month especially on hot full sun days for most species in freshwater but not all. Get up early for Largemouth bass before sunrise if you can or fish that last hour or two of evening light. Its also not a bad time of year to topwater fish in the dark even. Freshwater Drum, Carp, Bufflao, Gar and even Bass can be found shallow thorough out the day on or near “flats” typically on the edges of sand and grass or on a bounder pile or near logs even in on to 4 foot of water. Crappie and white bass are mostly transitioning out deeper but sonar and a sink line can make things happen. White bass are schooling up on the surface though off points and humps just have to find the schools and same deal dont sleep in.
Alligator and Longnose Gar fishing has been awesome this last month and its looking like itll be a great year with water. The hotter the better with these fish. Look for them to be feeding and gulping air or just layed up. Summer can bring sight fishing chances but expect educated blind casting to be better most days depending where youre fishing. Yes you can sight fish long nose all day some places even with a popper but for Alligator gar it can be tougher especially in higher traffic areas.
Come Fly Fish with me this summer or get on my fall calendar. Also if your interested in a Pecos river or Devils River trip this fall the earlier you book the better.
