JR Howard

July 4th Weekend Report Fishing on Amistad was hot wednesday through saturday...Caught fish on so many different baits it was hard to pick one pattern or bait producing better than others. It was tough on big fish (8lb+) but the 1-6 lb fish were eating good. Averaging 40-70 fish per day. I caught fish in depths of 1ft to 38ft. The areas with the heavy grass are holding more fish than just bushes alone. Here is a list of baits that produced probably a minimum of 20 bass each over a couple days for the guys headed to Big Friendly... Xcite Baits Swimbaits in Rainbow trout/chart color (On 1/4oz weighted hook) Strike King buzz bait w/ rainbow trout skirt replacement Strike King Rage Toad CRig 10" Powerworms in Wat/Red Tx Rigged Watermelon/Chart Lizards Hopkins Hard Swimbait in Tilapia Rio Grande Bait Company Camo Football Jig The swimbaits and the jig were taking the better quality fish. JR Howard Rio Grande Guide Service www.southtexasbass.com 325-656-0463

Choke Canyon wouldnt be too far. Also check out Mathis lake. JR

Yeah that was one heck of a day...Fishing day of a lifetime. Amistad and Falcon make it possible to have those kinds of days. JR

The end of July will be more of a solid summer pattern than the one I described. Topwater mainly very early and very late. Work the grass/bush edges with swimbaits if you get some wind action. Most of the big fish will be in deep grass 20-30 foot where the grass lines cut off drains, ditches, edges of channels. Those fish will be caught on big jigs (1oz+), 10" powerworms on drop shots, etc. For numbers split shot a fluke or lizard around the grass/ bushes as well. Hope this helps. Also, you can give me a call or shoot me an email when it gets closer to time and I will help out with some up to date info. Thanks, JR Howard

Fish a lot of jerkbait fish on Amistad and would have to say that the XRAP has always done me a great job. Cant tell the difference in catches with guys in the same boat fishing both baits. If I had a bad thing to say about an Xrap it is that sometimes the eyes come off the baits. I have had this happen on 3 or 4 out of the probably 50 i own. JR

Rio Grande Bait Company Thunder Headz jig headz (shakeys) are what I have the most success with. Made in USA (Texas) company and great prices that are lower than the national brands made in China. Football and round head. I use the football heads on hard bottom type fishing and use the round heads in heavier cover and for catching suspended fish I can see on my lowrance. I use anywhere from 1/8oz all the way up to a 5/8oz with a 5/0 hook for fishing ledges. JR

I second the mission fish. Great bait that is pretty weedless and has great action. Also, is repairable with plastic glue or burner. My go to big bait. I also throw BBZs with success but the mission fish is so much easier to throw all day and with just as good of results. JR

I was fishing the berkley hollow bodies until I found the xcite baits swimbaits in 5". Great action, colors, and less $$$$$ than the Berkleys. They are also made in the USA. JR

I think if you will look close at the paint detail some of the other tube type baits look much better. Right now my favorite is the xcite baits 5" hollow body. Been catching 50-100+ fish a day on these on Lake Amistad in the short time I have been using them. JR

Thanks for all the welcomes!

Not really sure the jig heads make that much of a difference...The worms are shaped differently than a regular straight worm and that creates some of the action. JR

I happen to only use the screw on hooks because they hold a lot better than the push in types when throwing long casts. On Amistad we make very long casts and will throw off the peg style.

I have been fishing the Xcite Baits brand swimbaits in 5" on a weighted 8/0 hook with screw loc keeper with great success. The baits have an awesome action and run true at all speeds. I have had several 100 fish days on the rainbow color hollow body baits on Amistad. JR

Thanks for the welcomes guys and gals. Looks like a great site. JR

My name is JR Howard...I am a full time guide on Lakes Amistad and Falcon (USCG Lic Boat Captain) in south Texas as well as a tournament fisherman. I am new to the bassresource fishing boards. Anyone needing some help on fishing Texas lakes just ask...I will help as much as I can. JR

Hello All, Fishing on Lake Amistad continues to be hot right along with the weather. Xcite baits 5" swimbaits in rainbow/chart back, spooks on topwater, 10" Trick Worms in Wat/Red and Wat Candy, 10" motoroil red powerworms are working well. Find grass/bushes combined near a deep water drop and run the swimbaits through the bushes in 3-12ft. Fish the big worms on crig in 18-30 on ledges with brush dropping into channels of 50-80ft. Lots of shallow grass right now with sunfish/bluegill spawning and that is what the bass are eating up shallow. Stay shallow with small tx rig plastics for big numbers of fish all day. JR