big headwaters bass

It has been an unseasonably warm December so far, but the big females have been feeding well. Gizzard shad and threadfin shad have been primary forage.

Bass are fattening up for the cooler winter and the approaching spawn. Throwing big 6-8” inch shad profile glide baits and paddle tail swimbaits have been consistently getting bit by the larger females. The punching bite also has been very productive. Punch rig setup is a 7’11” heavy flipping stick rigged with a 1oz to 1 ½ oz pegged tungsten and a small beaver soft plastic in black with a blue tipped tail has been my go to.

Locating the healthy hydrilla within the lake has been key. The areas where the grass is starting to die off is oxygen depleted and the fish will relocate to the healthy grass. A good portion of the fish are also starting to move shallow. Staging nearby their spawning flats. This week we boated an early morning 8lber on a homemade shad glide bait positioned on the point of an isolated reed island on Headwaters Lake. The reed island was near by, a commonly used spawning flat. The blue bird, sunny days with no wind has been more challenging. Working a Texas rigged speed worm, suspending jerk bait and rattle trap has been my go to for those high pressure conditions.

I am now offering advanced big swimbait lessons on the water. If you would like to book a guide trip on Headwaters Lake, you can visit my website at www.blackcloudfishing.com or contact me at 407-693-6153.