Lake Amistad

[Jason]

Diane and I are fishing Amistad this weekend. Today was a little slow but the weather and lake were perfect.

I got to meet Denny Brauer this morn. I am a huge jig guy so it was super cool to get to meet someone of his skill.

The swim toad was the most productive bait today. I'll post more and pics when we get home. There's also a pretty good story, which my pride is the victim, that I'll share as well.

I hope you have a great weekend.

In Him,

Jason

[mrex]

Love that Lake use to live right up the road in a town named Eldorado. Crossed paths one time with Bill Dance on the water he threw me some sand eels never caught anything on them come to think of it. The hot color there years ago was a very light blue with silver flake with a very bright lime tail.  Been a few years but there is some islands around marker 5 that is worth checking out. Depends on water level they may or may not be visable.

[BassDetective]

What an awesome trip.  I wish I wear there - that lake looks like a lot of fun.  Curious about how  you were fishing the toad?  Top, under the surface, as jig trailer?  Grass, wood, rock?  Depth and water clarity.  I love that bait and I am always looking for more ways to fish it.

[mrex]

There is places on that lake that will make you feel small fishing up against a cliff that is 200 ft tall in 20 foot of water and you can see boulders on bottom bigger than cars.  Think it would take a life time to fish all of it. That lake did teach me to get off of the banks and fish where others pass over. I loved the lake and area my wife hated it. Fished the Texas top 6 1988 Bass club invitational. There was over 600 boats entered. Only reason I am mentioning this is it changed my life really kind of embarrsssed how I acted then. There was actually two tourments one for the top 6 members and one for the non- boater. I been married maybe two years then and choose to take my wife as my non-boater (Only reason is I did not want anybody else knowing where I was catching fish) Was catching fish in the middle of the lake in 20 to 30 foot of water.

Anyway was in 3rd place after 1st day with somewhere around 20 lbs with 5 fish limit. Was less then 1 lb out of first, cold front blew in that night everyone else was worried to death. I was not worried at all the first day I caught all my keepers in about a hour then I moved and got off of them. Did not want others to figure out what I was doing. Second day we arrived on spot and fished a worm nothing. About noon switched to a 1/2 oz slabbing spoon and got bite right away put 3 decent fish (3 lb range) in boat. Bite slowed back down but I keep working that piece of lead I knew the fish were tucked in tight against the underwater cover. It was getting late only had like a hour to fish. When I hooked another 3 lber. While reeling him in (water was pretty clear) Seen a hog following up the one I had hooked. Got real exicted and rushed to get the one I had on in the boat.

Make a long story short I flipped him in boat and was reaching for another rod did not even take the fish I had on off the hook off just flipped him on the floor. Now back to my wife she had been with me this entire time. Just fishing a white speinner bait her instructions was to cast behind the boat try not to get hung up and stay out of my way. Most likey did not talk a total of 10 minutes to her the entire time. Well while I was getting that 3 lb fish in the boat the wind had turned the boat around. Looked up and saw the white spinner bait flying in a perfect arch thru the air.  Soon as it hit the water ole momma sow inhaled it. Talk about mad that does not even come close to what I was feeling. Just sit there holding my little dink and watched her reel it in.

Anyways she was entered in her own tourament guess who would of won around 10K dollors if someone would have entered her in big bass. Thats right she caught the biggest fish of the weekend. 7lbs 9 ozs. Being young and stupid was not very happy with her I lost the Top six tourment that year by less than 2 lb really wanted that baby blue ranger. 

Do not fish any kind of tourments now I am just to competitive takes the fun out of fishing. If I did would put my wife in the front of the boat and try my best to get her on some fish. Have grand kids now that is not to far from being able to go with me plan on taking them a lot and honestly most likey I will not even pick up a rod when they are with me.

Sorry did not intend to hi-jack thread Moral of story Go fish have fun (thats all there is to it)

[firetiger]

It's a beautiful lake with some big ones in there.  Jason, I hope you got to throw that swimbait.

[mrex]

Messing around with the x2 colors this evening and almost nailed that Amistad Blue. Might need be just a touch lighter but it is close.

8oz
4 drops x2 flo. Blu
4 drops x2 Blue
Pinch of .015 Silver Holo

Try to take a picture later it makes a great bait in clear water.

[firetiger]

Looking forward to taking a look at it!

[mrex]

Not sure the picture does this bait Justice. This is the first time I tried to take bait pics.
Is there a way to upload pictures directly to this site?

[ghostbaits]

Nice! You can upload directly if you put the bait in the gallery area....

Jim

[Jason]

Not sure the picture does this bait Justice. This is the first time I tried to take bait pics.
Is there a way to upload pictures directly to this site?

That looks awesome for clear water.  Great bait!!!

Jason

[mrex]

Thanks Jason. Really had a hard time getting it light enough using x2 colors I love them though do not change them. Mixed 4 oz and added one drop blue and one drop flo. Blue then poured 3 oz of clean and added 1 oz of the mix to make a new cup. Trying for a icey blue look this bait acheives that. Promise you on Amistad this color knock there socks off. I guarded this secret like a mad man for years but since I no longer fish the lake guess it does not hurt to share.

[firetiger]

Nice color.  I'm going to have to give it a try!  I think it would look great in that 14" worm mold. 

The Big Blue is down 24.47 feet right now, but plenty of water to fish still.

Hey mrex, while your passing out secrets, do you have any more?   

I get to fish it often, so I consider myself lucky!

[mrex]

Do you live close by? You ever use a Chrome slabbing spoon? You can work those deep holes fast just vertically jigging just move around slow with trolling motor better be ready cause one of those stripers will take the pole out of your hand but some big bass will be there with them.
Biggest key to catching big bass on Amistad (IMO) is to get off of the banks you can catch lot of fish beating the banks but that is not where the big ones hang out. 

Which part of the lake do you fish Rough Canyon area? Really do miss that lake never been to another one that comes close. Nearly all the water down here looks dirty and is 5 foot deep.
Have to learn to fish the tides which I am still trying to get the hang of.

[firetiger]

In three hours I can be on the water.  I hear you on getting away from the bank.  The big ones definitely like the deep stuff.  I'm still trying to learn to fish the super deep stuff.

I fish all over the lake, so if you ever make it back this way, maybe we can make out there for a day.  And get you away from that dirty water!