Sunday, May 19, 2024
Michael Acosta
Pictured, from left, are Adler Snow with his mom and dad, Megan and Chad Snow. They were celebrating Adler's 12th birthday, fishing on Lake Granbury. They caught some big striped bass to 9 pounds.
HOOD OUTDOORS
As a licensed professional fishing guide, Michael Acosta shows you how to find them. A Granbury resident of more than 35 years, he has been fishing all of his life, and has been a licensed guide since 1998.
Summer is quickly approaching, and many folks take to the water for enjoyment. May is National Water Safety Month and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) reminds boaters to follow some simple, yet effective, safety precautions to prevent accidents and save lives.
In 2022, 207 boating accidents occurred in Texas waters, resulting in 36 fatalities. The TPWD reminds you to wear a life jacket, use an ignition cutoff switch and swim safely.
Drowning accounted for 50 percent of deaths on the water in 2022 and was the leading cause of death in recreational boating fatalities. Of those, 69 percent of the victims were not wearing a life jacket.
Texas law requires that a Coast Guard-approved life jacket must be available for each occupant of a boat or paddle craft. Children under the age of 13 are required, by law, to wear their life jacket while the boat or paddle craft is underway or drifting. It is recommended that everyone always wear a life jacket while on the water.
Selecting a properly sized life jacket is an important safety measure. Adult-sized life jackets are not appropriate for children to wear. TPWD has put together a quick, informative video about how to select the correct size of life jacket for children. Please refer to TPWD’s Boater Education website for more information about life jacket fitting, safety, and regulations.
Safety ignition cutoff switches are another important tool to prevent injuries and fatalities. Most motorized boats are equipped with this device. In the event a boat operator falls off the boat or moves from the helm, the engine automatically and immediately shuts off.
Safe swimming is another precaution to consider while enjoying our lakes, rivers, and streams. It’s important that everyone near or on the water knows how to swim, never swims alone and swims only in designated areas. Safe swimming also includes staying hydrated and sober.
According to the Center for Disease Control, drowning is the leading cause of death among children ages one through four and the second-leading cause of accidental deaths among children ages five through 14. They should be supervised closely and wear a life jacket while near water.
HOOD COUNTY FISHING REPORT
Water levels are close to 2.5feet down, making some shallow creeks more difficult to navigate. Avoid areas with timber that may have stumps right under the surface. Water temperatures continue to be around the 70-degree mark on most days and a little cooler when those cool fronts come through. Striped bass continues to be good to 10 pounds on live bait on the lower ends. Large blue and yellow catfish are good on cut bait fished on the upper ends. Crappie reports are mixed, but some good reports are coming from near deeper docks and near entrances to creeks on small jigs and minnows. Largemouth bass are fair to good to 7 pounds on spinner baits and soft plastics fished near main lake points and in the backs of creeks on their beds. Sand bass are slow to fair on slabs and small minnows fished near Indian Harbor and near DeCordova.
OTHER AREAS
On other reservoirs, Lake Whitney limits of striped bass continue to be common on shad or shiners. Lots of smaller keeper striped bass with an occasional larger fish mixed in. Largemouth bass on Lake Whitney are good to 8 pounds on crankbaits and soft plastics worked in the backs of major creeks. Possum Kingdom Lake striped bass continues to be excellent as well on live shad. Crappie on Possum Kingdom are reported as excellent as well near docks on the upper ends.
michael.acosta@att.net | 254-396-4855
