| Author | Message | ||
| Austin
Minnow Username: Austin Post Number: 3 Registered: 6-2007 Rating: N/A |
I went out this weekend and contended with poor conditions of 20+ mph winds overcast and cool. My water temps were anywhere from 52-54 degrees was the warmest water I could find. Based upon the graph most fish seemed to be holding to structure off main lake points and the first couple of points inside the coves and creek arms. Most of the structure is in 12-25 foot of water with the majority of the fish holding at about 7-10 foot. Fishing was slow as I threw most everything I had at them and picked up 4 dinks. The lake I am fishing is Alan Henry it is a flooded canyon with steep banks and Lots of structure in the form of flooded brush. There are not alot of shallow areas and very little gravely banks. I feel that we are still pre-spawn but think in the next two to three weeks we should be into the 60+ water temps and they should be spawning. Does anyone want to throw out some suggestions as to what I should look for the next time I head out. I realize the lake conditions were not condusive to a good bite this past saturday but I had to try. | ||
| Ozziefish
Bass Username: Ozziefish Post Number: 762 Registered: 8-2004  Rating: N/A |
I would start by looking at creek ditches off the north west banks. They doesn't have to be much of a ditch to hold these fish. 56 degrees is a great temp for a spinnerbait or traps. They are prespawn and really like to eat before doing the deal. OzzieFish "Glory to GOD in the Highest" | ||
| Zeeter
Bluegill Username: Zeeter Post Number: 123 Registered: 3-2007  Rating: N/A |
Austin, welcome to FTN. Man, I used to guide on the used to be wonderful LAKE ALAN HENRY from 2002-2005. Back then the lake was in a lot better shape than it is now. I'm from east Texas so when I started fishing that lake it always baffled me how late the spawn was compared to say Fork. But, hopefully I can give you some pointers on how we used to catch pre-spawn fish. First, you need to decide if you want to fish the mud up the river or fish the clear water to the left of the ramp. I used to do pretty good early by running all the way up the river to where the road comes across the lake. Start there and work your way back out of there flipping jigs in every possible bush from about 3ft to 10ft. The best color I used and thought the fish reacted to the best was Black/Chart. Jig tipped with a black and chart. neon madman craw. Mad Man is out of business now but tip it with anything Black and chartruese. Also a big 1oz White spinnerbait fished around the mesquite tops in the same area worked pretty good. Another good area to fish is go in little grape about half way back on the right there used to be a pretty good flat that pre-spawn fish used to hold before moving up to spawn and then stright across the creek there used to be an island. All around there was pretty good. This time of year in these areas I would throw Bandit 300 crankbaits in an orange or brown craw pattern. Also a good staging area is when your headed toward Big grape and you go past the dam and make the right heading in to Big Grape. The flat on you right that has all the bushes on it. Fish would move up from deeper water to feed here pretty rugularly. After you fish this go to the back of Big Grape and where the creek makes the hard left in the back, Fish used to stack up on the creek bend waiting to spawn. When the fish do finally spawn Little Grape and Ince are the first places to strat looking for beds. So the baits I would be throwing right now are for sure a Bandit 300 in the brown or orange craw, a big white spinnerbait, and a black/chart jig until you find some bedding fish. Man I hope this helps you out on some good key areas and I'm a little jealous that you get to fish such a fishery. That lake is like novacane just give it a little time and wham it will turn on like a light swith. I can't tell you the good times I had on that lake back in the day catching Doudle Digits on a regular basis. If you have any other questions feel free to ask....and if you ever see Darren "Madman" Mooneyham around the lake tell him Zach Hughes said to tell you some good spots on where he's catching them. Good Luck Catching Big Ole PIGS... It's Awesome Man Zach Hughes http://www.vicious-fishing.com http://www.sundogeyewear.com | ||
| Austin
Minnow Username: Austin Post Number: 4 Registered: 6-2007 Rating: N/A |
Thanks for the tips. Zeeter I will definatly check those areas this weekend we had a front push in and I feel that it shut them down. I fished started the day in the muddy water back by the road then moved to little grape and then on around to the first bend in big grape. I hope to make another trip soon and will key in on some of those areas and see what good comes out of it. Still looking for my first double digit so hopefully I can find one. How do you go about finding beds it seems with the steep banks I have a hard time finding any shallow gravel areas for them to spawn. I know we have a much later spawn than other areas and for some reason I always miss it up untill this year I have had a hard time getting down to the lake before mid summer and the bite can get tough then too as the temp rises. If your ever back up this way let me know and we can try our luck it is a fun lake to fish that is for sure. | ||
| Zeeter
Bluegill Username: Zeeter Post Number: 124 Registered: 3-2007 Rating: N/A |
Austin, you can find beds pretty much anywhere when they get right.....the places I used to do the best though is the main lake because of the pressure back then. You can find beds in Big and Little Grape, Ince, and straight across from the ramp. But the majority of the Big fish we caught were on main lake walls. The lake is clear enough to see 10ft down. Just put your trolling motor on about 80% and go down every bank you can. Out there its best to look for the fish rather than a bed, because the fish out there are really just bedding on a rock. Once you find a fish, back off her a little bit and if she comes back to the spot you first saw her 75% of the time you can catch her. Back when it was good we would catch 10 and 11 lbers with in 100 yards of each other. But, most of the big ones will bed on the main lake walls. The best on is the wall between little grape and the ramp on that side of the lake. Also where that big Texas flag is, if its still there across from little grape. Like I said though sometimes the biggest fish would just best on what looked like a pebble in the water. When the spawn is over, it gets real tough....the way we used to catch em would be go to the dam and start graphing once you find a school through out a marker buoy and use a drop shot, most of the fish will be spots but once in a while you'll hang a monster largemouth. Another good area for beds is the cove next to where the gamewardens keep there boats over by the dam. Hope this helps you out a little bit Austin. Catching Big Ole PIGS... It's Awesome Man Zach Hughes http://www.vicious-fishing.com http://www.sundogeyewear.com | ||
| Austin
Minnow Username: Austin Post Number: 5 Registered: 6-2007 Rating: N/A |
Man Zeeter that is better info than I hoped for I will make sure and put it too good use. Bedding on rocks explains alot. I will keep everyone informed on how things progress over the next couple of weeks. | ||
| Charles
Moderator Username: Charles Post Number: 1063 Registered: 7-2004 Rating: N/A |
Pictures man we like pictures of big'ol BASS! | ||
| Zeeter
Bluegill Username: Zeeter Post Number: 126 Registered: 3-2007 Rating: N/A |
Pictures.....you want pictures of fish from alan henry? I got a stack of big girls from photos but at that time man I didn't have a cell phone that took pictures or a digital camera...let me see if I could find some for ya Big Charles. Oh and I should have a good one come say around 3:30 on Sat......  hehehehehehe no j/k Good luck to all in the shoot out (chomping at the bit) Catching Big Ole PIGS... It's Awesome Man Zach Hughes http://www.vicious-fishing.com http://www.sundogeyewear.com http://www.proanglersassociation.com PAA Skeeter Boats / Yamaha Outboards | ||
| Austin
Minnow Username: Austin Post Number: 6 Registered: 6-2007 Rating: N/A |
I have some as well I am sure none as big as Zeeters but I will have to get my old scanner hooked up before I could post them. Don't have much in the way of Digital yet. | ||
| Zeeter
Bluegill Username: Zeeter Post Number: 127 Registered: 3-2007 Rating: N/A |
Actually the biggest fish I ever caught during the time I was guiding was 12.9lbs. I saw fish much larger than that, just cruising but never locked down. I caught two that were in the 12's, 4 that were in the 11's, and a bunch of 10's, but dog gonnet never could break that illusive 13 lb mark. For three years of guiding on the lake you would think I could of done it.....especially when you spend everyday on the lake. But, I do count my blessings everyday to have been able to do that as my income and hobby, and catch some toads. That lake was incredible for the three years that I was there and get pumped just thinking about it. But as always you would have somebody from the crappie dock catch a 14 on a gold aberdeen hook and minnow (blows me away). Austin, maybe you could shed some light on this but from what people are saying is the lake is going down hill. One of my good friends and the former owner of Mad Man lures "Darren" says its nothing like it was back then. He is not the first to say this and was wandering if you knew anything? I haven't been to the lake in probably 2 1/2 years so I don't know anything about whats going on now. Catching Big Ole PIGS... It's Awesome Man Zach Hughes http://www.vicious-fishing.com http://www.sundogeyewear.com http://www.proanglersassociation.com PAA Skeeter Boats / Yamaha Outboards | ||
| Austin
Minnow Username: Austin Post Number: 7 Registered: 6-2007 Rating: N/A |
Zeeter, I think that is probably a pretty fair assumption. It seems to me in the 5 years I have been fishing the lake that with all the development there that the lake traffic has really increased. Both in recreationl boaters but also the number of anglers. It is unreal the amount of fishing pressure that 3,500 acre lake gets. I never had the opportunity to fish the lake in it's infancy but I have noticed the fishing has gotten much tougher in recent years. | ||
| Zeeter
Bluegill Username: Zeeter Post Number: 128 Registered: 3-2007 Rating: N/A |
Man, thats crazy when I started fishing that lake it was just a little creek and the boat ramp was made of dirt and rock....my how times have changed. When I was a guide there was only two others besides me. My roomate Joe Peirce, Me, and TJ Taylor. Then everybody caught on and started coming from everywhere. Kinda reminds me of lake in East Texas that most people on here fish FORK! But man both are great fisheries and both can handle the pressure. We should just be glad we can fish both places. Could you imagine living up north where an 8lber is a Giant .Catching Big Ole PIGS... It's Awesome Man Zach Hughes http://www.vicious-fishing.com http://www.sundogeyewear.com http://www.proanglersassociation.com PAA Skeeter Boats / Yamaha Outboards | ||
| Austin
Minnow Username: Austin Post Number: 8 Registered: 6-2007 Rating: N/A |
Well this past saturday found me attempting to do some good and needless to say our efforts were futile. Did manage a couple of dinks one on a black/chart jig with a black/chart claw salt craw and one on a orange craw bandit 300. The wind killed us you could not control boat position and could hardly cast winds were so bad. As usual sunday was sunny and calm. Water temps way up the creek were right at 60 but couldn't really find any fish in the mud Little grape big grape and the main lake were still about 57 degrees. Depending on the weather I am going back this weekend or nex. Zeeter I have been trying to find a map of that lake and can't find them anywhere. Do you have one and if so do you know who produced it? | ||
| Zeeter
Bluegill Username: Zeeter Post Number: 133 Registered: 3-2007 Rating: N/A |
No I never had a map of the lake....But if you go to the Texas Parks and Wildlife website they might have a map on there of the lake. But no I don't know anybody that makes one. Man with the water temp almost up to 60's that lake is going to explode in the next couple of weeks. The wind really sucks out there and really dictates where you're gonna fish that day. When that water gets over 60 start looking for those big mammas to come up and bed. Good luck Catching Big Ole PIGS... It's Awesome Man Zach Hughes http://www.vicious-fishing.com http://www.sundogeyewear.com http://www.proanglersassociation.com PAA Skeeter Boats / Yamaha Outboards | ||
| Austin
Minnow Username: Austin Post Number: 9 Registered: 6-2007 Rating: N/A |
We caught a few buck bass that you could tell were on beds there tails were developing sores. From what I've heard they did good sunday there were a couple of 10's and several 8-9 lbers. I am going to try again this weekend but it may be the one after before I can go back down. |
