Jan. 5th - Currently, the deep bite is sporadic with most black bass being caught mixed in with schools of sand bass. They all after shad and it's first come, first serve. Crankbaits, jigging spoons and the A-rig have all been working well for these fish. You may have to weed your way through a lot of sandies to come up with a good large mouth but it is a ton of fun.

The best bite for black bass has been on the grass later in the afternoon. As the sun warms the water, the fish move up to feed and this is the time to throw a trap, jerkbait, spinnerbait or even a swimbait. These fish are ambushing prey from points of grass as well as the many ditches. Most all fish we will catch range between four and seven pounds. Water temps are hovering around 46 degrees and this has an affect on the number of bites. Ten bites in this class of fish is a good afternoon. As the water warms, the bites will increase exponentially as the females feed up for the spawn.

Weather is always the big issue at this time of year. Always dress warm and a good pair of insulated boots are priceless. For those who brave the conditions, this is also the best time of year to land a true giant. Several toads over thirteen pounds were caught in January and February of 2013. You can't join that club unless you are on the water.