Another week has slipped into the history books and if you didn’t get out fishing you missed an irreplaceable spring day when you might have caught that double digit fish. Lopez Lake continues to be good with some days better than others. Buddy Fred Pasion caught and released a legitimate 10 pounder. Details when I get them. Phil VZ caught another fat one on the Senko, check out the picture. Maynard Small gave us a report about a trip he took Tuesday that was very successful. He threw reaction baits in the Wittenberg Arm until the wind drove him out and did well in the Lopez Arm with worms, catching and releasing about 15 bass, all quality. There have been some good fish caught on the spinnerbait but more fish coming on worms along the drop-offs half way between the points and the backs of coves and cuts in 5 to 25 feet including an 8+ caught by Lopez record holder Paul Pierce. It was about this time two years ago Paul caught the 13 ¾ pounder on a Zipper Shaker Tail worm on Strawberry Flat and there are more big ones to catch.
Santa Margarita seems to have slowed down, crankbaits seem to be the bait of choice and the Senko bite has not turned on yet. There have been some good fish caught along mud/rock banks on the crankbait. Try something gaudy like chartreuse or red. For the persistent there are some trout lure fish to catch but that lake should bust wide open any day. Pray for rain.
The report from the San Antonio tournament of last Saturday seems to indicate the lake has slowed down from what it was a few weeks ago. It turned cold and pushed the fish off the banks and into slightly deeper water. The winner of the WON tournament, Ken Merrit, fishing alone, boated about 15 fish all day and culled up to a 16.92 pound limit fishing a worm on the submerged river bank in the 5 mph area. There were reported to be some good smallmouth bass ‘up’ and many were caught. A few more warm days and the fish will be biting spinnerbaits, Senkos, and probably some topwater. Try Carolina-rigging or Texas-rigging some lizards in 5 to 15 feet along moderate to gently sloping banks and throwing the Senko in the backs of the cuts and coves and into dense cover everywhere.
Nacimiento is doing well on reaction in shallow water and the Daiquiri Senko everywhere.
Cachuma is producing some good smallmouth everywhere on ripbaits and some largemouth flipping dense cover especially near spawning areas. For more information contact us at petesusieskarda@aol.com or call the shop (805)489-9417 or better yet stop in and talk to some of the guys yourself.