Sand Pocket Bass
Dateline 01/25/99
On a rainy Sunday, January 17th, at Clark's Hill, Tommy Holloway and Russ Hamilton showed me how to catch some shallow bass for a Georgia Outdoor News article. The rain was warmer than the lake water, and the warm day before had made the water temperature start up. Although not a major increase, this small warming trend made the bass move into short main lake pockets to feed.
On Saturday, Russ had fished a South Carolina Anglers' Choice tournament and placed second - with a five bass limit weighing 18 pounds, 13 ounces! And his partner had big fish of the tournament with a 9 pound, 12 ounce hog. It took over 19 pounds to win that tournament and over 15 to place 4th, and there was a second nine pounder weighed in! The warmer then normal mid-January weather has really turned on the bass at Clark's Hill this year.
A couple of pictures will show you the kind of day it was - and some of the smaller fish we caught. Russ had one about five pounds that day and Tommy and I both caught three pounders. Our best five would have easily weighed over 15 pounds.
Tommy Holloway with Clark's Hill bass.
photo by Ronnie Garrison
Russ Hamliton with Clark's Hill bass.
photo by Ronnie Garrison
Russ was using a Suddeth Boss Hog crankbait for all his fish. I caught fish on Shadraps and Norman's Little N's, while Tommy stuck with a firetiger pattern Bomber Model 7A. That is the same crankbait Tommy used in a 1985 Super BASS tournament in Florida to catch most of his fish for a third place stringer. He did use a big worm to entice a bedding 11 pound, 7 ounce bass - and it was netted by his partner that day, Forest Wood, owner of Ranger Boats. That bass held the big fish record in BASS tournaments for many years.
If your lake is warming, look for short pockets, and a sand bottom is good. Throw a crankbait that will match the water color and baitfish there, and you should be in for some good winter fishing. Russ says the bass will move into shallow water as soon as the water starts to warm, but will be near the channel. They move further back if the warming trend continues.
Got any information about January bass? Tell me about them. If so, you can also post information about it for others on my message board - you must register to post but can read the board as a guest. Also, if you have a story about fishing in cold water, let me know about it at fishing.guide@about.com. for a "Fishtale"or discuss it in the chat room on every night at 8:00 EST. Tell others what you like.
ONE YEAR AGO THIS WEEK - 01/26/98
- Ultralight Fishing
Use thin line, light rods, small reels and tiny baits to catch fish.
Check out Coming Next Week - Next week's column topic, contest prize and new additions to the resources lists.
