Well we are in the peak of the spring fishing right now. The fishing is only going to get better too! We are seeing tigerbass caught on lizards, worms, creature baits, and crankbaits. If you’re having a hard time catching them, change up your retrieval slightly. Try bouncing the bait then slowly dragging it on the bottom that little bit of change can get you a bite!
Some of the bass have already spawned and we are seeing some bass fry (baby bass) swimming around. This is a good sign, means we will have some bass in post spawn & some still staging (sitting on beds). Look for shallow water shelves that are near deep areas too. They love to hang around those areas because they can stay on the bed & wait for the shad to swim by in the deep areas.
Look for some videos here soon, I’m going to try and get some film on some areas we covered during this month’s fishing club meeting.
Tight Lines!
17 inch Tiger Bass caught by Jack on March 4th
The bass are starting to get into spawning mode. With all of this warm weather they are getting more & more active. The hybrids are schooling up and hitting the shad too! Ah, this is why we love the spring in the lowcountry. Great temperatures, beautiful days, and great fishing. The tigerbass are hitting on lizards on a Texas rig, spinnerbaits, & crankbaits (shad colors preferred).
I’m fishing the shore lines and into the shallows. On really warm days fish the shade after lunchtime the bass like to hold close to shelter & shade during the sunny times of the day. I like to use the crankbaits to search my areas then pick that area apart with the Texas rigged lizard. Spinnerbaits are great search baits too. I like to use silver or white colored spinnerbaits. They mimic the shad very well. The biggest thing is to get out on the lake and scout. Look for the bedding bass and commit that spot to memory. Come back later and hit it again. This is how you can catch some really nice, fat bass!
Don’t forget our fishing club meeting March 10th 2pm @ Doc’s boathouse. RSVP with us so we know how many to plan for. We will be going out on the lake and demoing how to approach the spots and how to cast to them.
Tight Lines Everyone!
I mentioned in this month’s fishing club meeting about using weather websites to your advantage. The point I was trying to make is that plan your fishing trips around the weather. Look for some days that are good mild temperatures. The best thing to do is fish right before a weather change. In other words if it is a high of 68 today and tomorrow’s high is only 49 go fishing this afternoon! The bass go into a feeding frenzy to pack on some food before the cold front pushes through. After a storm you would want to wait for a few days of warmer weather again before you go at it.
All of this I’ve learned through experience over the last few years. This really stacks the odds in your favor. The weather plays a big role in the beginning months leading up to spring. Now when we get into days that we are consistently seeing warmer weather and not much fluctuation, that’s when we don’t have to look at it too much. Now storms are great for us in the spring. Fish right before a storm, the fish do the same thing they do before a cold front. They go into a frenzy!
The sites I use to help aid me in my pre fishing planning are www.weatherunderground.com & www.scoutlookweather.com . Both are great sites to use and are the most accurate I’ve seen (as accurate as weather sites get)
Keep getting out there and slinging some lures
Tight lines!
Well if you’re thinking the fishing has been slow, tie on a chrome or crazy colored rat-l-trap. The hybrids have been hitting consistently & often! Just fishing off the dock one weekend I caught 5 hybrids in 5 or 10 mins! It was nuts, The pattern of the lure was Firetiger Rat-L-trap. The weather is the contributing factor to a good bite. The hybrids have been consistent on the 2nd or 3rd day of warm weather. I know we have been having up and down temperatures but once we get a warm spell wait for the 2nd day and go fishing! Christmas Eve was a perfect day, roughly day four of warm weather & there was a cold front coming that afternoon/evening. Those are the kind of days that are good days to go fishing.
I use the website Scoutlookweather.com to check my forecasts. They give you good times to go due to the weather & the pressure system. It really helps me be successful on the water. The Tigerbass have been just as active on those kinds of days. Look for a change in weather on the forecast and use it to your advantage. A cold front coming through? Fish before it comes in. The fish start to get into a feeding frenzy and gobble up shad and bluegill before the cold. That is why the Rat-L-Traps are so productive, perfect imitation of shad. Now the complete opposite after a cold front, the bass seem to get lock jaw and not eat. Wait for a couple days in a row of warm weather then hit the water. That’s when I notice more productivity.
Hope to see everyone at the next fishing club meeting January 14th at 2:00 pm. We will be covering part II of our spring fishing and getting more in-depth with the weather forecasting
Tight Lines Everyone!
Jeffrey Scheider – Fishing Guide
Well the Crappie have arrived! Wednesday December 21st we stocked the lake with 4000 fingerlings throughout the lake. The crappie are getting settled into the lake now. We are not going to harvest any of these for sometime so they can grow. That doesn’t mean that we can’t catch them, the brush piles are some of the crappie’s favorite hiding places.
Also the Hybrids are as active as ever! These warmer days have really had them in a feeding frenzy, not to mention all the shad around the lake. During this month’s population survey we saw a large number of full size and fry size threadfin shad (candy to Hybrids). The are eating well and growing. A 5lb hybrid was caught off the dock at the boathouse (not on fish feed 
)
Here are some pics of the stocking
Well the weather is cooling off and so is the water. The fishing is getting more challenging, yet it is a very pleasant time of year to be out on the water. The fish aren’t eating as much as they do in the spring, but they’re still active. If you’re struggling with getting bites, we recommend slowing down your retrieve and presentation. Matching the food source is an excellent tactic too. Bluegill and Threadfin Shad are the main forage fish the Tiger Bass and Hybrids feed on. By using lures that resemble these fish, you will increase your chances of success. For more helpful fishing tips, join us at our monthly Fishing Club meetings in the Lakeview room every 2nd Saturday of the month at 2:00pm.
“I took my buddy, Walt, out today with the sole intention of putting him on some good fish. I ran the boat and put him in the front seat so he would have a first and clear shot at where the fish might be holding. The results follow and will speak for themselves.”
- Jack Horowitz, awarded Elite Angler and owner at Hampton Lake
This 19.5 pound Tiger Bass hit a Bomber square bill shallow diver just as night was coming on. Jack continues to “hook” us with his photos!
Check out the latest catch by owner Jack Horowitz! This is a 15.57 lb. grassy carp, 34.5 inches in length and 19 inches in girth and was caught on a KVD shallow diver and snagged in by the dorsal fin. The fight lasted over 20 minutes! It’s no wonder he was awarded “Elite Angler of the Month” on Berkleybigfish.com.
Hampton Lake anglers continue to catch big Tiger Bass. New residents Jack and his son Mike are pictured here with a few of their trophies, including a great hybrid bass and a 24″ bucketmouth that surpassed 8lbs!
