HOOD OUTDOORS

What a brutal August we have had. Moving forward in September will be some cooling with the passage of cool fronts on occasion, but I’m also sure summer is not totally over.  We had a small front knock temperatures down a bit this past week and we look forward for more of the fall season that is on the way. 

Barometric pressures will change, and the fishing patterns will change with the passing of these cool or cold fronts. Picking the best times to fish around a front can increase your success rate if you can pick your times to fish. If you are fishing in a tournament, you may not have a choice. Then you must also know how to coax a bite when the bite is off.  There are, of course, many different factors that can affect the fish bite, but knowing how these changes in the weather impact the bite can be to your advantage.

As most of us know, right before the cold front hits is probably the best time for catching fish. The fish seem to know that it’s time to feed before the higher pressure moves in. An overcast sky before the front moves in normally makes for even better fishing conditions.  If the fish are biting right before the front and the front pushes through while you are on the water, the bite will probably continue for a short while after the passage. Active fish will generally continue to bite after the front pushes through for a short while but when they stop biting it may be time to head home.

Barometric changes generally have more impact to the fish species that are closer to the surface. For instance, black bass in 5 to 15 feet of water may stop feeding and hold closer to structure. This is the case for many species. On the other hand, fish that are holding deeper in the water column are less impacted to the changes happening above the water.  I have seen great action in relatively deep water (30 to 50 feet) while striped bass fishing after a cold front.   

Fishing during the transition of air masses during a slow cold front passage can be some of the best fishing of all, especially for stripers. The weather can be cold, rainy, and miserable but the fish seem to prefer this environment. Most of you have probably heard that striped bass bite best in bad weather. Many times, this is true. Just be careful out there when the weather turns.

Cold front systems will start pushing through our area fairly frequently in the next few months. After a front passes, it is usually a couple of days later when the wind will shift back from the south. This is when I generally prefer to get on the water (if I have a choice). Fish that have not been feeding during the higher pressure may start biting due to the falling barometer.

We can never be sure what mode the fish are in regardless of the weather. Fish may bite on those “Blue Bird” days contrary to all expectations. However, there are certain times that are generally more productive than others. The best thing to do is to wet your line and see if the fish will bite. Just be prepared for those weather changes.

HOOD COUNTY FISHING REPORT

Granbury water levels are falling slowly and are about 1.5 – 2ft low. Water temperatures continue to be in the upper 80s to low 90s. Thermocline is around 20 ft down on many areas of the lake. Granbury sand bass are good on spinners and slabs near DeCordova subdivision and are schooling on the surface at times. Striped bass to 10 lbs continue to be good from Blue Water Shores to DeCordova Subdivision. Crappie catches are good on small minnows and jigs fished about 15 feet down suspended on deeper structure.  Largemouth bass are good in numbers with an occasional bigger fish to 7 lbs possible on soft plastics and crankbaits. Deeper docks, main lake points and shallow humps are holding the bigger largemouth. Best catfish action continues to be at night on many areas of the lake on cut shad and prepared baits.

On other reservoirs, Lake Whitney continues to boast on limits of striped bass on live bait from McCown to the Island. Benbrook crappie limits are common on jigs and minnows fished on submerged trees. Possum Kingdom sand bass and striped bass to 12 lbs are good to excellent on slabs and live bait in 20 – 30 feet of water from Hells Gate to the Dam.    

MICHAEL ACOSTA

As a licensed professional fishing guide, Michael Acosta shows you how to find them. The Granbury resident of 30 years has been fishing all of his life and has been a licensed guide since 1998.

michael.acosta@att.net | 254-396-4855