Sunday, May 19, 2024
Michael Acosta
HOOD OUTDOORS
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.
Water temperatures are moving toward the middle 80s and the summer patterns are settling in. The heat has arrived after a fairly mild spring, but we knew it was sure to get here. Enjoy the summertime and be safe out there.
Water temperatures are getting hot and the lake is stratifying, which causes thermoclines to start setting up. A thermocline on Lake Granbury is typically around 15 to 20 feet down and can be much deeper on larger lakes. The top layer of water has sufficient oxygen for life. The thermocline region is the transition from the top layer of water to the bottom layer of water. Sufficient oxygen exists for most fish in the thermocline and the lower layer does not have sufficient oxygen to sustain life. The good news here is that you can find most of the fish in the top layer, which can assist you in locating them.
The last couple of days on Lake Granbury, I can only keep my live bait alive down to maybe 15 feet due to the thermocline. If you notice your live bait dying, you are probably fishing too deep.
The typical summertime patterns for feeding fish are best early and late. There are exceptions, but I certainly prefer to get on the water early. Some days the fish will only bite early, and you don’t want to miss that opportunity.
Summertime fish are usually willing to chase when they do feed. Down rigging or trolling with artificial baits that have rattles in them is extremely effective. DD-22, Fat Free shad deep divers trolled near drop-offs can put fish in the boat. Down rigging hair jigs with white or chartreuse curly tails are effective as well.
Slabs or spoons are effective on humps and ridges where fish are holding especially for sand bass right now. Trolling rattle traps and pet spoons/hellbender rigs are effective alternatives for summertime sand bass.
Live bait is a good choice in the summer as when nothing else will work live bait is hard to beat for all species.
The last piece of advice for striped bass and sand bass is to call them in as I mentioned in a previous article. Thrashing the water to simulate feeding fish will bring in curious predators.
Enjoy our Texas lakes this summer. There is a lot more boating activity on the lake now, which may be another reason to fish early and late. Drink plenty of fluids and keep the sunscreen handy. See you on the water.
HOOD COUNTY FISHING REPORT
Water temperatures are in the middle 80s and warming. Thermocline was around 15-20 feet down this past week. Striped bass and sand bass are on humps and ridges from DeCordova subdivision to the dam. Striped bass to 12 pounds are best on live bait. Sand bass are fair to good on slabs and trolling. Largemouth numbers are good on top water and crankbaits early and soft plastics later near shaded areas. Catfish are good on cut bait, preferably at night. Crappies are good to excellent on small minnows or jigs fished near bridge pilings and standing timber on many areas of the lake.
OTHER RESERVOIRS
Striped bass to 15 pounds are good on Possum Kingdom Lake on live bait fished on the lower ends. Lake Whitney striped bass limits continue on live bait and down rigging jigs mid-lake to the dam. Possum Kingdom Lake largemouth bass to 9 pounds are possible mid-lake near Broadway.
michael.acosta@att.net | 254-396-4855
