WRB-2.0

Don Iovino, known as the father of finesse fishing, earned entry into the Fishing Hall of Fame doodling Texas rig called "brass n glass". Doodling a T-rig in deep cold water still works today. Tom

Today's modern bass angler only knows water surface temperatures, unless they also use a deep underwater camera system with a temperature sensor. We use our sonar units temperature probe for surface water temps, bass may feed near the surface, they don't live on the surface. You see and read bass anglers talking about 38 degree water and they are catching bass..... in deep water and don't have a clue water the water temps are where the bass are located. Back in the dark ages before sonar Dark Ind sold a temperature probe on a reel that you lowered down to read temps to 60'. We actually knew about the thermocline long before bass boats were invented. During the cold water periods we were looking for warmer deep water to locate bass. If you caught a bass all you needed to do was put the temp probe into the basses throat and measure the body temp. Using a measured depth probe you lowered the the probe down to the basses body temp and fished at that depth, usually never colder than mid 40's, even with skim ice on the surface. Tom PS, Florida strain LMB die off in water colder than 45 degrees, same for threadfin shad.

Lake Jacomo is another small lake however it has classic pre spawn water; a major center point across from the dam area, creek arm to the right and main lake basin with river channel and a few more arms or bays. The launch ramp is located in good looking area with a few main lake points and coves where bass will locate. The arm or bay across the lake from the ramp has a mother major point that will hold staging pre spawn bass that use this bay to spawn. The fish tail shape bay up lake (away from the dam) on the same side as the ramp is similar to the spawning bay across the lake, has a good looking point . The creek channel Is interesting in this area and up lake with excellent ledges and breaks. The arm to the right of the dam has spawning coves and ends in a classic fish tail shape that wherever this occurs holds spawner's. I have not studied your attachments in detail, however use the same tactic as before; study 10' to 20' depth* lines looking for sharpe turns and wider separations in depth between this depth indicating holding areas or small flat zones within sloping banks. This how I study deep structure lakes. Tom * actual depth depends on what depth you meter bait and fish, 10' to 20' is about average during pre spawn.

There are two types of luck one is good. Tom

Also contact Dave Nichols of Nichols lures in Texas. Dave makes a excellent spinnerbait and is very knowledgable regarding blades. Tom

The past 5 years Jennings Ultra Sport 30 has worked flawlessly for me. I believe it's now Ultra Sport V2 30. This is a compact digital scale with tape measure and very accurate. Tom

Just took a peek at this map. The flowage dam area up about 1 1/2" you see a point tapers to 40', fish that. Out from where you made 2 circles near the legend, out from there is a U shaped hump 20 to 25' fish there. 79th street Piont fish the entire 10 to 25' break. Outside where the channel is marked a Y intersection there is 20' flat that breaks into deep water, 2 banana pockets? Check that area out closely! Everything else, the islands, rock rip rap areas are obvious. Take a few minutes with a high lighter and follow the 20' deth line completely around the perimeter of this 5' evelation map, note the sharp turn areas and check them out with your sonar. Tom PS, didn't see the link webertime posted, that helps to put this perspective.

Sometimes we take catch and release to far! If the bass is bleeding from hook removal it's chances of survival is very low, especially when they get treble hooks in the throat or gills. You put Please Release Me on the wound and use Catch & Release in the live well and see if the bass is doing well or poorly. If the bass isn't going to make it, keep it if it's legal size, they are a good renewable food source. When fishing soft plastics like Senkos that bass tend to swallow, use a circle hook to eliminate the problem. If you learn to keep in touch with what your lure is doing all the time you will reduce the swallowing hook problem to a minimum. Hooks don't dissolve in a basses stomach, the get covered over with tissue in time, if the injury isn't fatal. Remove hooks whenever possible using care not to damage organs or gills. Tom

The lake below this is Jacomo, post a link to this lake and we can tell you more about where bass will during pre spawn. The saddle or bench is the shallower water at the mouth of the small cove on the east arm, the west arm end, not shown on the attached map is the obvious spawning area to me on Paraire Lee. Steep banks make this a good football jig and crankbait lake, there isn't any outside humps or creek channel that is visible on this good map. Jacomo has lots good topography to fish, why don't you fish there? Tom

The below the dam looks a lot better! Looking at this small lake with steep banks, you have a few spawning areas, find those first. The arm that is cut off in your attachment looks like the area to start with 3 small coves, the points that separate the coves will hold staging bass. The opposite arm has a interesting deep pocket that creates a bench, bass should stage there or on the rounded adjacent points. A small lake doesn't offer a lot reasons for bass to stage, the docks become spawning sites as they provide wind protection and shallow structure/ cover. Tom

If you bought rods and reels in the past use what you have, just service them. I purchased 3 new ALX rods 2 years ago and 1 new reel this Dec. My other rods snd reels are over 15 to 20 old, well maintained. if you buy good quality it will last longer and cost less at the end of the day. Terminal tackle like line, hooks, weights only get replaced as needed. Hooks I use are premium Owner for worms, Gamakatsu for jigs and VMC (trebles), always sharp and reliable. Big Game mono in 1/4 lb spools, I change mono often. Blackwater or Sunline FC, will not use other brands of FC due to poor performance. Hooks and line attach you to the fish. You shouldn't need to replace most hard lures unless you loose them, they are very durable. Bottom line take care of your equipment, retie often and you will not need a lot more tackle. Tom

In Texas you can fish at night! 125 acres you can cover easily in 6 hours, fish the entire lake until you discover where the big girls are located. I would use a swimbait as suggested and also fish jigs and big worms, no reason to limit yourself. Tom

Couple of factors for Mission Veijo lake; 1. Private lake, 124 acres, boating hours are 1 hour after sunrise, 1 hour before sunset. Fishing for shore allowed sun up to 10P. 2. lake record is 19.7 lbs and get lots of pressure form trophy bass anglers during pre spawn (now) until spawn, about March. Tom

If you fish Mission Viejo the big bass could 2X 8 lbs! Try a Matt's Hard Gil or similar swimbait the next 2 months and keep a lower profile, fish low light periods. Tom PS, if they are stocking trout use a trout swimbait the same size as the stockers. Bass over 4 lbs are almost always female.

The term search bait is fairly new and most use it to describe fast moving lures like crankbaits it spinnerbaits. the lures fished fast to cover a lot of water using a trolling motor to keep the boat moving searching for active bass. Swimbaits are fished slower, not fast. However swimbaits do cover a lot of water because they can be cast over 50 yards and in clear water bass can see them from a long distance and swim up to take a look or give the lure a bump. It's similar to musky fishing, you raise a fish to know where it lives. Swimbaits are more of a hunting bait than a search bait. Tom

I have several 80's vintage rods and reels that are in the boat that get used regularly, the oldest rod would my 70' Fenwick popping rod I use for cranking. We do a 50's vintage day on the lake trip each year and use my Langley Target or Lure Cast bait casting reel on a pre Garcia Connolin rod with Ashaway Dacron line, 50's era lures, lot of fun and brings back good memories.

Pair the new reel with the m/MF rod, 3 rd rod you listed. Tom

Avoid CA in march!

The bass aren't moving, fish the winning tournament presentation and location and dress for weather conditions. I would also waste some time fishing jigs on those points, just something that can't be passed up. Tom

There is another factor to consider, the bass feed on high protein prey during pre spawn instinctively to get ready for the spawn when bass don't eat anything. Like most things in bass fishing there isn't set rules and bass can be very aggressive during the cold water period during short time periods. We fish trout swimbaits during this time period and bass are often aggressive when feeding on trout. Tom

First you need to understand that bass are bass but not all bass are the same. Northern strain LMB are the fish most anglers think of when they say bass. However Smallmouth, Spotted and Florida strain LMB are also common bass depending where live and bass fish. The basics; lake classification affects bass behavior and pond bass behave differently than river bass, natural lake bass behave differently than reservoir bass. Most anglers fish in man made impoundments or reserviors. Reservoirs are classified by the type of dam and topography they located in. Flood control, water storage, power generation make up the 3 basic types of dams. Canyon, highland, hill land, flatland, lowland make up the 5 basic reservoir classifications. Bass being a cold blooded animal, water temperature is a major factor in their life cycle. Winter is known as the cold water period and winter varies with altitude and latitude. The higher in altitude or further north the lake, river or pond is the colder the water gets and may freeze in the coldest locations. The further south and lower the altitude is the warmer the cold water period may be. The seasonal period basics; Winter, 40 to 50 degrees Pre spawn, 50 to 60 Spawn, 62 to 67 Post spawn, 65 to 70 Summer, 70 to 85 Fall, 65 to 60 I suggest to take some and study seasonal periods. The type of bass in your area and what prey/food sources are predominate during each seasonal period and what type of water your bass live in. Tom

The jig I make and fish 90% of the time weighs 7/16 oz. Awhile back I weighed some popular over the counter jigs and was surprised to learn none of the jigs weighed their listed package weights, all the 3/8 & 1/2 oz were heavier by a least 1/8 oz. You may think you are fishing a 3/8 oz jig and it may weigh over 1/2 oz, less trailer! Tom

Explain shallow? Are you casting or pitching your jigs.The weight of the jig should be selected to generate strikes from bass and then be able to detect the strikes and get a good hook set. The shoreline cover can be heavy or sparse, the water clear or off color, you may be fishing docks, lay downs, weed beds, etc., etc. The rod length needs to be comfortable for you to fish and keep in touch with what the jig is doing, handle the bass after you get a good hook set. Tom

The issue with snagging is usually the weight, lighter is better. Another factor is keeping the worm or jig moving and not settling down into the snags. Shape, the tubular mojo style weights with wire walkers are very good in the rocks fished finesse slip shot rigged. The simple 1/8 oz round head jig with wire weed guard works good with soft plastics; worms, creatures, grubs or tubes. Tom

Acetone should be OK as a solvent cleaner as long as no plastics, except Teflon are being cleaned. You are better off using a acid brush in lieu of Q-tips, the cotton fibers can be a problem in bearings. Work in a well ventilated area, wash your hands and use some lotion. Thin latex gloves help. Tom PS, ketone!