BY DUSTIN BARRON TEXAS IS THE LAND
OF LUNKERS. PHOTO: CHRIS COUFAL
GETTING A JUMP
ON THE SUN. PHOTO: CHRIS COUFAL
WIDE SKIES. PHOTO: CHRIS COUFAL
I
t’s true. Everything is bigger in Texas. Espe- cially the bass. Largemouth are found under every rock and around every bend, and they’re big.
And why not? Texans take care of their own. The Great State’s ShareLunker program ensures that big sow bass pass their genes to the next generation. Largemouth 13 pounds and up are eligible for pampered residency in the state’s Lunker Bunker.
Most of the big girls come from the highland lakes, particularly those around Lake Fork east of Dallas. It’s no surprise. These reservoirs offer amazing bass-growing structure. There’s submerged timber, huge chunk rock and steep contours. Best of all, mild winters and sultry summers make bass fishing a year-round game. But there’s far less pressure on the beautiful Colorado River, a true kayaker’s paradise with its limited access and remote launches. From one end to the other, the Colorado has some of the best fishing found in the state. Spring brings the spawn, the best opportu- nity to catch the largemouth of a lifetime. But don’t blink or you’ll miss the seasonal changes. It goes from winter, to warm, then to hot scorching summer.
30 …KAYAK ANGLER SPRING 2012
The Texas Rig, what else? This weedless staple is simple, effective and easily fished out of a ‘yak. This deadly trick starts with a 1/8- to 1/4-ounce tungsten bullet weight— it depends on the thickness of the vegetation. Arm it with a hook sized to the plastic of choice, typically a worm. A standard 3/0 extra wide gap hook works in most cases. Go with natural colors, an arsenal of watermelons, greens and browns. The Texas rig gets bit almost anywhere.
BASS BATTLEWAGON
Most bass catchers are tackle junkies. You can’t have too much storage space for tackle flats. The Ocean Kayak Trident 13 does the job in Texas. This agile boat is built around the Rod Pod, a rectangular hatch easily accessed from the cockpit. At 13 feet long, the Trident is equally at home on lakes and rivers. Most importantly for bass, many anglers find it stable enough to stand Texas tall.
FAVORITE
BASS FISHERIES
Falcon Lake: This nationally famous bass Mecca grows ‘em big. A day with a five- to nine-pound bass is typi- cal. Larger fish 10 to 12 pounds are caught on a regular basis.
DON’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT
A Hog Trough fish ruler. You didn’t catch that lunker unless there’s photographic proof. The Hog Trough has a concave face that cradles bass for easy measurement.
Native Texan Dustin Barron was born with a fishing pole in hand, as befits the son of a lifetime tournament angler. He loves to mix it up on the water and claims top finishes from the local to national level.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56