Lake Amistad’s 67,000 acres of flooded canyons will fish a bit differently for the Central finale than they did when Ish Monroe won in the spring of 2006 with topwaters and tubes.
Hydrilla will have grown up and spread out and most bass will be in the canopies under it instead of cruising the shallows.
As a consequence, many anglers likely will employ a local technique known as “welding” to put fish in the boat.
“Just about every tournament from June to November is won this way,” says guide and tournament angler Ray Hanselman. “In five minutes, you can have 25 pounds of bass in the boat because you’ll often find several fish in the same spot.”
The technique involves dropping a heavy jig or tube with a 1-ounce weight through the grass. Following a couple of jerks to draw a bite, the angler reels up and pitches again. When a bass takes, the angler feels as if he is “welded” to the bottom.
Fish first move to the outside edges of the grass, Hanselman explains. Then, as the water starts to cool, they follow the bait to the inside, looking for the last bit of warm water.
Crankbaits fished around isolated clumps of hydrilla, as well as along main lake points, also could produce.
For more information on the area, visit the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce Web site: www.drchamber.com.
