- A call from Nucanoe Dealer Johnny Ross in Sulphur Springs confirmed what a fishing trip close to my home had had indicated: largemouth bass are on their beds and shallow water fishing is the name of the game. Regardless whether you’re fishing at heralded largemouth hotspots such as Fork, Lake Brownwood or Fairfield, you will want to concentrate most of your efforts in shallow water. This is the time of year when a shallow draft craft such as the Nucanoe that Ross fishes from allows access to prime waters. “Last week, we were catching bass from water as shallow as 18 inches. We paddled back into some areas that were packed with spawning bass. The Nucanoe draws only 2 inches of water and can get you to areas that bass fishermen in bigger boats simply cannot go. The boats are very stable, and 42 inches across the beam.” tips Ross. Regardless how you choose to access those backwater shallows where bass are now present in large numbers, keep in mind that you don’t necessarily have to sight fish for bass on nests. “Truthfully, we catch more bass that are cruising the shallows, staging around lay down logs and brush, than on nests.” added Ross. “Remember, bass are now in all stages of the spawn, some are locked down on nests, some male bass are busy making nests and some females are already in post-spawn. If you are in a new area looking for bass, concentrate on the warmest water you can find, often in the backs of creeks, at depths of 2-4 feet.” When asked his favorite lure for catching bass during the spawn, Johnny emphatically replied “Texas rigged lizard”. No doubt, soft plastic lizards do a good job of imitating the salamander which predates heavily on the eggs and fry of largemouth bass. As far as colors go, the basic black/red lizard is always a good choice but other patterns such as pumpkinseed or moccasin pattern can also be highly effective. Shallow diving crankbaits can also be effective in catching shallow water bass. A  slow, stop-and-go retrieve often works best, pulling the baits just fast enough to cause them to wobble. Very often the strike comes the instant the bait pauses, or is pulled under the surface a few inches by a gentle sweep of the rod. 

SLOW is the name of the game when fishing lizards for shallow water bass. Ross likes to drag the baits along bottom slowly and when they arrive at a bit of likely structure such as lay down logs or stick ups, he stops the bait and shakes his rod tip. “This causes the baits to shake or quiver in place and the movement is often more than the bass can stand.

To learn more about fishing from the Nucanoe, go to www.brightstarclassics.com  or call Johnny Ross at 903-885-8485.

Article by Luke Clayton's Outdoor Column