Catching sand bass in winter

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.

For most of the year, I discuss sand bass and striped bass fishing (mostly striped bass).  Many anglers focus on catching white bass, or as we call them in Texas, sand bass. Let me talk a little more about catching this species in the winter here on Lake Granbury.  Much of this will apply anywhere you chase these hard-fighting (for their size) gamefish.   

Sand bass, as I have mentioned in the past, are a roaming schooling species. They will frequent several areas of the lake, and they will migrate not only during their spawning season but also in autumn when falling temperatures are right.  

Sand bass will migrate in the fall up major feeder creeks and others may stay near other creek entrances where baitfish are present. Others may not migrate and stay near feeding flats or points near the main lake. The youngest fish are least likely to migrate. During the spawning run, typically in February and March, sand bass will spawn in these same feeder creeks/rivers. Some will actually spawn on main lake points as well. I do know that a large percentage of fish run upstream to shallow sandbars and holes to spawn. Fish congregating in this smaller area make them easy to catch on most days during the spawning run.

Sand bass on Granbury and on most any lake are fairly easy to catch once located. Numbers of good fish are being caught in the main lake and in the river above Granbury. If the birds do not point you to active fish, then you will have to use your electronics to locate baitfish and structure where these fish hold out. 

Recently, sand bass can be caught on feeding flats in 7 to 15 feet of water on the flats near Blue Water Shores, DeCordova, Indian Harbor and in the river near Tin Top. Gulls on many days will point you right to them. I personally have not been up in the river, but I hear some good mixed reports.   

When fishing a river or creek, your best chances are near the deeper holes near turns and bends in the river. When you locate these “holes,” it is good to work the deep water, the ledges or slopes and any flats above/near the deeper water to find active fish. They will be there somewhere. On colder mornings, the baitfish congregate in the deeper holes as that will be the warmest place. As the sun warms the day, movement to the shallow flats will occur as the shallower water will heat up quicker. Bouncing a slab or small jig off the bottom in any of these locations will put fish in the boat.   

Typically I use 3/4 to 1 oz chartreuse, white or silver slab or small jigs in the same colors, bounced off the bottom. The colder it gets the less movement you need to impart to the jig/slab. For the jig presentation, I like to use a 1/4 ounce jig head with a 3-inch grub like a 3-inch crystal shad-colored Bass Assassin. Typically, I like to dye the tail of the Bass Assassin with chartreuse dye. You can buy the chartreuse grub or you can dye them yourself.  Typically the colder it gets, the jig will tend to outperform the slabs on most days. Right now, the slab will still dominate. 

Road runners and/or tail spinners (Little Georges) are also effective most any time of the year. Try tying a crappie jig 12 to 18 inches above the slab, and you will be able to catch two at a time. When the first fish gets on, keep the line in the water and you will feel the second fish load you up. You could even go with more than two if you really want it to get interesting. Just remember, you still have to take them off one at a time.

White bass in Texas are keeper size at 10 inches. You can keep 25 per person per day. I typically like to keep them when they are at least 12 inches where you can get a decent filet. Sand bass fishing is a blast anytime of the year, and winter season is a good time to go.   

HOOD COUNTY FISHING REPORT

Water temperatures are in the low to middle 60s and will eventually fall (winter has been slow to come). Striped bass are fair to good on Granbury to 8 pounds on live bait and soft plastics in 20 to 25 feet of water. Best reports of striped bass are coming from the  DeCordova to Ports-O-Call area. Black bass continue to be good in numbers with an occasional big fish to 7 pounds. Spinner baits and top water presentations have been good early. Soft plastics worked near main lake points and near creek entrances has been good. Crappie fishing is excellent near structure and docks. Good catches are being reported on most every area of the lake. Channel, blues and yellow cats are good to excellent on cut shad or perch mid-lake to Hunter Park.

 OTHER AREAS

On other lakes, Lake Whitney striped bass are good on the main lake on swim baits, jigs and live shad near the island and upstream near Steele Creek. Limits of striped bass are common on Possum Kingdom with some bigger fish to 15 pounds possible under the birds from South D&D to the State Park.   

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