Lake Amistad is about 6 1/2 feet low and water temps on the main lake are in the low 60's and in the high 60's back in the coves. It looks like the spawn will run into April again this year. There has been a delay in the peak spawn due to the colder temps. Some of the better fish are just now moving up. This week fishing has been the way it should have been three weeks ago with lots of solid fish shallow. But as usual, you can catch them using several different methods.

There are staging fish, spawning fish, and post spawn fish.

I am mixing it up through the day, starting in the morning with staging fish while the water is cool. Look for brushy drains 15 to 25 ft and fish it with a 5" or 6" mission fish swimmer, 20 lb Gamma Flouro, and a SB04 swim bait rod. Make long casts, let the bait fall a few seconds, and slow-roll it back. If nothing bites, try a TX rigged senko or lizard 3/16th Tru-Tungsen with 16lb Gamma Flouro and the PT04 or a PG104 are the rods you need to be using. You can follow these drains in and start flippin' the visible bushes 6 to 12 ft with a 3/4 oz or 1oz Tru-Tungsten Tx rigged Beaver or a rage craw. I flip with the PT05 with 65 or 80lb braid.

As the day warms, I have been moving in fishin' the shallow bushes (THE WATER SHOULD BE OFF COLORED) with a green pumpkin fluke rigged on a weighted hook or a wacky senko or weightless senko. A King Shad will work as well, fished like a jerk bait. Look in San Pedro, the two coves before the bridge on the left, and then under the bridge. Also be sure and check out all 5 creeks: The Mama's island creek, Burro, Zorro, Tulie, and Caballo, especially the one at the far left between the boat ramp and the house, and the small one that is in between the two arms.

Lets not forget the main lake spawners which are on just about every main lake flat, hump, and point. We had a calm day yesterday and we sight fished from 18 to 24 ft of water. Any bush or structure had a bed by it. Use swim baits and large wake baits. If it is calm use a 7" weightless senko. Or just fish a Tx rigged 7" lizard or 5"senko 3/16th oz. Look in the mouth of the devil's river on both sides, and the mouths of Evans and California creeks. The ridge in the middle of Castle Canyon, the flats from marker 6 thru 9 on both sides of the Rio Grande, and the flats from marker 12 to 17 on th U.S. side. One other flat is in Zorro on the left past the little island. There is still a good bit of grass on it!!

Great Fishin'

Ray Hanselman