Happy New Year friends and fellow anglers! I hope all of you have a blessed and prosperous year. The big girls are chewing now! This past week my clients (and son) have caught 5 fish over 8lbs. with the biggest being a giant 10lb 9oz hawg.

The lake is way over regulation. I have not had a chance to see the latest numbers but it has came up a little more since my last report. The main canal is wide open as of noon today.

Top baits this week for me has been Zman Jackhammers, John Laurenza Jr. Lure Concepts Spinnerbaits, and the Mike Bucca Trick Shad 7”.

I’m fishing spinnerbaits slowly in ditches and canals. The half ounce size has been the best for me and I use a paddle tail 4” die dapper by Bass Assassin for my trailer. White and white/chartreuse were my best colors.

I’m fishing the half ounce green pumpkin and dirty white (has a gold blade) Jackhammers in areas with scattered hydrilla. I use a 4.5” Hogfarmer Spunk Shad in green pumpkin magic or Blizzard gizzard. Fishing these on flats with scattered hydrilla or along ditches with hydrilla edges.

The Mike Bucca Trick Shad in Gizzard Shad color is my go to bait for swimbaits. Get on the Bullshad email mailing list so you can get the bait drop info. The only way to get the Trick Shad and Glides are go to a bait show that Bullshad attends or through the bait drops. Sign up at Bullshad.com

The live bait bite is on fire. Grass edges near deep water is the key. The bigger the shiner the bigger the fish. Lots of big females full of eggs are being caught right now.

Tight lines!