Monday, April 29, 2024
Acosta
HOOD OUTDOORS
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.
Lake Granbury usually is a nutrient-rich lake that breeds baitfish in unbelievable numbers. However, the recent Golden Alga event, which I believe is over, has reduced the numbers of baitfish right now. There is still an abundant supply, but you will have to work a little harder to get the size and quantity you need for the day.
Another good live bait on Lake Granbury is live bream. Bream can be caught in a trap or you can use a small hook under a cork with a piece of worm to catch them. In my opinion, natural bream from the lake is a good second choice. Live bream is a good choice for striped bass, yellow catfish and largemouth bass. Many will bait their trot-lines with live perch.
The third option is to buy some bream or minnows at the bait store, as they will work as well. If you have a hard time getting bait, the bait store can supplement what you have. Another good option is to focus on using artificial baits as many do. There are a variety of artificials for different species, as you all know. However, there will be slow days when live bait will be the best choice.
Small minnows are always effective for crappie. Right now many are catching crappie in the backs of creeks/sloughs where they are spawning.
Learning to seine or tossing a cast net are a couple of options. I use a cast net all the time. Right now working the backs of the sloughs and also the entrances to those sloughs are good choices. The warmer days will have more shad back in the shallows. Of course, try to avoid areas where there is a lot of underwater snags. Losing or tearing a net is no fun. You will get snagged on occasion and you will have to repair your nets on occasion as that is part of the deal. If you are just learning to throw, it is a good philosophy is to practice throwing in the yard before heading out. The positive side to catching bait comes afterward when you are out catching fish.
Generally, once you pattern the bait fish out, you can catch a sufficient quantity of baitfish for the day. I have noticed that there is an abundance of bigger shad to be caught right now. You might think they are too big, but keep a few of those bigger ones. On a recent trip on Lake Granbury the bigger shad up to 10 inches were preferred and the striped bass we boated were large. I know you have heard “match the hatch,” as I believe these stripers are currently used to feeding on larger baits (my theory). They hit some smaller baits, but the bigger ones were preferred at least on the last couple of trips.
In addition, if the bait population is down due to the dreaded alga, then the fish are more apt to find your bait presentation. Fishing for striped bass has been really good lately which may be partially due to forage issues (less baitfish) and the fish are getting more active as the water warms.
It is good to see Granbury action picking up as it appears that the Golden Alga is over. So if you get a chance, get out there and experience the fishing on our area lakes. See you on the water
LAKE GRANBURY FISHING REPORT
Granbury water temperatures are in the middle to upper 60s. Some 70-degree water can be found in the backs of sloughs. Black bass are either on their beds or are close to their spawning grounds and are good to 8 pounds on soft plastics and spinner baits.
Crappies are good to excellent on small minnows and tube jigs in the backs of sloughs where they are spawning. Sand bass spawn is still on-going, however I believe most of the sandies are returning to the main lake. Striped bass up to 12 pounds are possible on live bait and Alabama rigs fished from Indian Harbor to Striper Alley near channel ledges. Large yellow and blue catfish to 30 pounds are possible on cut shad/drum fished near Hunter Park.
Comanche Creek closed March 31 and will reopen in October.
Lake Whitney stripers are good to excellent on live bait and umbrella rigs with sassy shad tails. Best areas are from McCown Valley to Cedar and Bear Creeks. Lots of good largemouth bass are being caught in the river from Lakeside north
Lake Whitney stripers are good to excellent on live bait and umbrella rigs with sassy shad tails. Best areas are from McCown Valley to Cedar and Bear Creeks. Lots of good largemouth bass are being caught in the river from Lakeside north!
michael.acosta@att.net | 254-396-4855
