Extreme Fishing

[catt951]

It’s the middle of the spring spawn and the hawgs are on the bank, problem you can’t see the bank.
The banks on the south end of Toledo Bend are covered with buck brush, button brush, willow trees, cypress trees, & numerous other types vegetation. Today the lake level is 7 ft. below normal pool, which is allowing more vegetation to grow. From late January through April, the spring rains will bring the water level back to and above normal. Now all that under growth is in 7 to 10 ft of water and the bank is some 30 yards from the outside edge of the brush.
Question how does one take these extreme amounts of cover and turn it into a productive pattern. First, you gotta park that big ole bass rig in exchange for an all welded aluminum rig. The aluminum rig is lighter, narrower in both bottom width & width of the beam. The approach is simple but methodical, start by selecting an area of brush that is thinner or where you can see openings/trails. At pitching distance from the outside edge, work any isolated brush. Work a 20-ft path on both sides of the selected entry point, and then slowly work to within flipping distance. Once you worked the outside edge thoroughly, you can start flipping the first 10-ft into the cover. Target the outer branches first, then all the way to the trunk. The next part is where the extreme fishing begins, use your trolling motor to pull you as far into the as it can. With you and a partner standing on the bow deck grab the branches and pull your boat forward. Look for openings in the brush and maneuver the boat in that direction but stopping every 10 yd. to flip the area.
Next let’s look at rod-n-reels, a 6’ or 6’6” is all you’ll have room to maneuver. A medium heavy rod with a lot of backbone to move large fish off the bottom but with enough tip to feel light bites. A quality reel with a solid drag, spooled with 20 to 25 lb. test line. Lastly the bait, a 6” plastic lizard, ¼ oz. pegged bullet weight, & a 4/0 hook and a 3/8 oz jig-n-craw. This is extreme close-up angling be ready to set hook on any line movement, tap, light feeling, or heavy feel. Set hook hard, straight up, & move the fish fast out of the cover. If the fish is to big to move on the hook set, your first concern is a solid hook, give no slack, and then go to the fish.
Yea it’s a lot of work but this pattern has produced numerous stringers of 25 lb. plus kicker fish in the double the digits.