ON FISHING Fighting the wind

MICHAEL ACOSTA

As a licensed professional fishing guide, Michael Acosta shows you how to find them. He has been a licensed guide since 1998. [email protected]

Spring winds can put a damper on the fishing, especially when you have lake wind advisories. Lately, it seems that we are having a windy April. Lake wind advisories are typically issued with forecast of winds over 20 mph. If you do get on the water and the winds are strong, you may have to alter your game plan by looking for areas that are partially blocked from the wind so that you can safely fish.

Smaller craft are obviously more impacted by the wind, but even larger craft can get swamped if the conditions are right.

Lake Granbury has lots of bends and there are places that you can fish where the wind is partially blocked. Other bodies of water with large open spaces are more dangerous as the waves can get really large.

If I am running down the lake in high winds, I try to stay closer to the side of the lake that partially blocks the wind (common sense). When you do get to an area you have to cross with high winds, try to go perpendicular to the wind which essentially is cutting through the waves. Running parallel with large waves is dangerous as a rogue wave hitting the boat sideways can end your day on the water.

If you have to partially cut through the waves at an angle, position your folks on the opposite side of the boat so that the spray doesn’t soak everyone.

Best advice when the winds are really high is to stay off the water. If you get caught in the wind, go slow and safe. Many have flipped their boats going too fast.

Bass tournaments are rarely cancelled due to winds. Tournament anglers fish in all kinds of conditions and being safe should come first. Please be careful out there.

Fishing in the backs of creeks and sloughs is good right now for black bass and crappie and, on windy days, these are great places to safely fish.

Working your baits in really high wind can be challenging with the boat bobbing up and down. You may have to counteract the boat movements to effectively work your presentation.

And of course, use lifejackets and have that throw device at arm’s reach always.

FISHING REPORT

Lake Granbury water temperatures have been swinging with the passage of several cold fronts. Water temperatures on the main lake are varying from the low 60s to near 70. Black bass fishing is good to excellent on soft plastic-type baits and spinnerbaits in the backs of creeks and near main lake points. Crappies are excellent to 2 pounds on small minnows and small tube jigs fished under a cork in the backs of creeks on many areas of the lake. Sand bass reports have been few. Striped bass are slow to fair on slabs and live shad fished in town and near Indian Harbor. Catfish action continues to be good on cut shad. Yellow catfish to 30 pounds are possible.

OTHER AREAS

Lake Whitney striped bass limits are common on live bait mid-lake near McCown Valley. Possum Kingdom Lake striped bass are good to near 16 pounds near Costello Island and the state park. Possum Kingdom crappie and largemouth bass are excellent as well.