December Monthly Fishing Report

I don’t know about everyone else but this year has flew by for me. I thought we were going to have a fall this year with the temps staying cooler but NOT. We will probably go to winter from summer just like the last couple of years. The cooler temps gave us some really great fishing days and the fish did bite. With all the little fish we caught in Sept. Oct. Nov. this shows we had a great spawn this past year. The grass has grown in so many spots around the lake and is very green and healthy. This is a plus for the coming spring. This will be a fish magnet for all species. The usual pattern for December is get out your jigging spoons and tail spinners. The fish will usually start going deep and finding the bait fish will be the key. Humps, main lake points, and road beds are all good spots to start you’re your search. Big spinner baits slow rolled along the top of the afore mention areas can be a deadly approach. Remember the coldest day with drizzle can be good as the big females like to get out on these days. If your looking for a fish of a life time, from now on through the next three months you need to spend as much time as possible on the lake. Creek bends with 15 to 20 foot of water can be a good area to probe with the ever popular jig and pig. Bulk up your jig with two skirts for bulk and slowing the fall. Everyone has their own ideal about whether to us pork or rubber. With so many new rubber baits I opt for them. Pork is so hard to keep. But the pork does have a more fluid movement in the coldest temps. You will have to be the judge of this. Remember as the water starts cooling down the presentation will be SLOW and then SLOW down some more. Line size will come into to play in the winter when fishing spoons. It is hard to believe that a spoon will fall different on 10 pound line over 20 pound. But the fish can tell the difference. Some days as the water gets cold the fish will only want you to stand the spoon up on its end and and hold it still and on others they want you to hop it. You will have to try different presentations. When you mark fish with your electronics and they wont bite a spoon try the holding still approach. If they are still there and the spoon wont draw a strike then try the drop shot. I have been rewarded many times with stubborn fish biting the little drop shot rig. This tactic calls for a rod with 10 pound line a very small bait such as the Wave Tiki drop. I usually have 18 inches between the weight and the hook. I opt for a half ounce weight so I can stay in contact with the bottom. If you know the bottom well you can cast it and use a slow retrieve with little hops or just a slow drag. For those who are unfamiliar with the drop shot the way to rig this is to tie a small hook about two feet up your line and then attach a weight like a bell sinker or the drop shot weights to the bottom of the line. When you drop the bait down to the bottom the weight will hit the bottom and the small bait will be suspended above the weight. Small jiggles of the rod tip will give the bait a life like appearance. I always keep a Carolina rig handy own my deck. Even in the winter this rig can get you bit when all else fails. The water temps wont fall over night to the forties even with the coldest cold fronts. It will be a while so the shallow water will hold some fish for quite sometime.

The crappie will soon start their approach to the main lake deep water. This is a time of year when the fish will stack up on humps and main lake points and just like the bass look for the bait fish and drop your favorite jig or minnow down to where the fish are suspended. Most regulars will anchor so they can keep the boat still. The crappie are layer fish and when you find the depth you will need to mark your line so you can get back to that spot.

December also starts the KEEP THE FIRST 25 YOU CATCH. This starts every year on December first and runs till the end of February. If you get caught throwing back small crappie the game warden wont be smiling when he approaches your boat. This is also a good time to put some extra clothes in you boat as you may never use them but should you get wet from rain, rough water, or should you fall in they will come in handy. If you plan on fishing alone this is a good time to tell someone where you plan on fishing and what time you plan on coming in. Wear a life jacket at all time as cold water is a killer. You can die in a short period of time in cold water.

If you need a good present for that special someone a guided trip on Lake Fork Can be a special surprise.

I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Safe Holiday Season.

Jim Reaneau

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