August is a prime month for bass fishing, offering anglers a unique challenge as the summer heat pushes bass into specific patterns. Understanding these patterns and adjusting your strategy can make all the difference in landing those trophy bass, or at least not going home skunked.
August bass fishing can still catch a big bite! – kayakfishingfocus.com
1. Early Morning and Late Evening Bites
During August, bass tend to avoid the midday heat, becoming most active during the cooler parts of the day. Target the early morning and late evening hours when the water is cooler, and the bass are more likely to be feeding aggressively. Look for shallow areas with plenty of cover like weed beds, lily pads, or fallen trees.
2. Focus on Deeper Water During the Day
As the sun climbs higher, bass retreat to deeper, cooler waters. Utilize deep-diving crankbaits, Texas-rigged worms, or jigs to reach these bass. Drop-offs, ledges, and submerged structures are key areas to focus on when the sun is high. Most of the time bass anglers are not fishing deep enough in the summer. A great place to start on a highland reservoir is 15-20 feet deep and adjust from there.
3. Choose the Right Bait
In August, natural baits that mimic the bass’s local forage are most effective. Soft plastic worms, crawfish imitations, and shad-like crankbaits are excellent choices. Don’t be afraid to experiment with colors; sometimes a slight change can make a big difference. Generally, bass will chase baits early and late, but during the day they want a slower presentation.
4. Stay Patient and Persistent
August can be tough, with bass sometimes seeming elusive. Patience is key—stay focused, keep moving, and try different spots and techniques. The reward of landing a big summer bass makes the effort worthwhile. Maintain appropriate expectations while bass fishing in August. It’s going to be tougher than in spring, but you can do it!
5. Consider Night Fishing
If you’re up for a new challenge, consider night fishing for bass. As the temperature drops, bass become more active, and night fishing can yield some of the biggest catches of the season. Use dark-colored baits that create a silhouette against the moonlight for the best results. Plastic worms and jigs are my go-to for night bass fishing.
Final Thoughts
Bass fishing in August is all about adapting to the conditions, and not giving up if the bite is tough. By targeting the right times of day, focusing on deeper water, and choosing the right baits, you can increase your chances of success. Embrace the summer heat and get out on the water—the bass are waiting!
“I’m looking high and low, don’t know where to go I got to double back, my friend The only way to find, what I left behind I got to double back again, Pumpback again”
Those lyrics from ZZ Top came to mind as we had to make a late switch from the planned Arkansas River for this event to Pumpback due to some logistical challenges. Pumpback has an up and down history in tournaments regarding to how it has fished in the past. For 2024 it was going to perform pretty well for most anglers!
For the Pumpback event, presented by Toadfish Outfitters, a pretty good turnout of 45 anglers hit the water in an always fun shotgun start. Anyone who has never done one of those of any size has missed out on a few minutes of chaos with furious pedaling, motoring, and jockeying for position.
Will Atchison’s Big Bass, one of two 20.75″ fish on the day!
Tournament Results
The switch to Pumpback led to some good totals at the top. Pumpback has a lot of good fish that are thick and love to fight – and they were on display on this past Saturday. Will Atchison took first place with 88.25″ on the day, followed by Fanny Phomsopha with 86.25″, and Dustin Wheeler in 3rd with 86.25″ by tiebreaker. Will also took Big Bass with TWO 20.75″ tanks, winning in a tiebreaker over Josh Landreth who also had a 20.75″ Pumpback beast.
Bryan Caresia won the Trash Fish prize, and Kase Ingram won smallest limit.
Overall for the field, we saw a 3.89 Fish Per Angler (FPA) which isn’t very strong in the overall scheme of things, while a low 40% turned in a limit. These Top 10 were able to catch some fish:
Will Atchison 88.25
Fanny Phomsopha 86.25
Dustin Wheeler 86.25
Terrill Standifer 85.75
Jacob Webber 84.50
Tyler Zengerle 81.25
James Haeberle 81.25
Josh Landreth 80.75
Kevin Tadda 80.75
Kyle Long 79.75
Angler Roundtable
Here’s how the top anglers on the day did their thing in catching some big limits on Pumpback:
What was your overall strategy going into the tournament?
Will – Coming into the tournament I felt like the fish would be holding on points feeding on shad. I knew the main lake points was going to get hammered by everyone, so I wanted to give the fish a different look, than they would be seeing by the rest of the field.
Fanny – My strategy was to go up to the Dam and get a limit with the first 2 hours then move to opposite side of the lake up in the creek arms to finish the day.
Dustin – I came into this event expecting to scope with a drop shot, ned, and jerkbait but I still brought my glide bait rod just in case. I actually had two different glides, a golden baits hellion and a versatile baits vg2 that I was going to throw.
Any key techniques or baits you used to catch them?
Will – My limit was almost exclusively filled by throwing a white 3/8oz buckeye swim-jig out in deeper water on the main lake points. Slow rolling, bouncing it off the rocks in deeper water, on main lake points turned out to be the key strategy.
Fanny – I sarted out with a buzzbait had blowup on it but no hook up and notice the wind pick up. I change to a jackhammer and slow roll it 19.5″ Largemouth hammer it so I stuck with the jackhammer had several bites only four came from it. Move to new location looking for drop off bank 14ft or less with wind on it throw the jackhammer if deeper no wind throw the shaky head. That was what we stuck with the rest of the day.
Dustin – The hellion caught my first fish in a couple minutes on the south east side of the lake. I followed it with a couple on a crankbait, letting one jump out of the yak on me then I started scoping and managed one each on drop shot and jerkbait. Both back in the creek that feeds into the lake. I decided to leave that creek area and head out to the big island. On my way out I heard a fish bust on a point right on the bank and pulled over with the vg2 and caught a decent fish putting me at 4 fish scored. Fished down that bank a short ways and caught another on the vg2 that was 18” filling my limit.
What’s the story on your key fish for the day?
Will – My key fish, I felt like happened twice. Caught the first 20.75 early, on a point with the swim jig. It’s always a good feeling to get the kicker out of the way on your first three casts. When I finally had filled my limit I knew it was enough for a top ten but I felt like one big one would put me in a good spot. The one that sealed the deal, came later in the day on a crank bait, also on a point. When I finally got him in the boat I knew it could get interesting. The other guys definitely had me scared though, being that they had 86in before the leader board even went off!
Fanny – 30 minutes left came out of the creek sitting at 82.50 caught 2 more no cull 7 minutes left I noticed tree split like a Y in 10ft deep with wind on it took about 2 minutes to get there. The jackhammer came out on the second cast 18” Smallie absolutely crushed it and went airborne three times! I’m a nervous wreck with my history on this lake losing fish after hook up. I had my net out as far as it could reach and caught it in the air on it third jump – pure luck! Thank NWA for always putting on a good tournament. Starting to put names to faces and you guys have been great to me.
Dustin – Now my biggest fish is on my glide so I locked it in my hand figuring I needed to upgrade two more times to secure a win. An hour of glide chunking passes before I catch my biggest, a 19.25” smallmouth at 10:30. I ended up fishing the rest of the day until 1:20 without another bite but at 1:20 I hook into a 20” class fish to only watch it jump off and with it my tournament ended! Had I great time and was a great event! Best day I’ve ever had on pumpback too!
What type of line do you generally use for main techniques?
Will – I usually try to use 12lb Seaguar fluorocarbon on most techniques , but the size of the smallmouth in pump-back caused me to upgrade to 15lb. Turns out I’m glad I did. The two big smallmouth in my limit put up a heck of a fight!
Fanny – I use Berkley Vanish fluorocarbon 10lbs on my shaky head and 17lbs fluorocarbon on the jackhammer.
Dustin – I was using 20lb mono with the vg2 glide and 17lb fluorocarbon with the Hellion.
Heavy Hitters
The Heavy Hitters race is coming into final shape for the year after six events. Anglers keep their best five for the season for their total. With only a couple of events left we have a new leader. Levi can’t get too comfortable, though. Jason Kincy needs only a 20″ in one of the last two events to take the lead, while Josh Landreth is in great position and I predict is the favorite for the title. He can drop two low totals in the last two events and would leap to 1st place! The next two events are not big bass producers, so it’s going to be interesting. I’d rather be sitting in 1st than not at this point!
Angler of the Year Race
Angler of the Year still has a long way to go, but there was a shakeup in the standings after this event. Tyler Zengerle now sits in first place after Levi and Jason failed to deliver a good finish on Pumpback. I’m calling it now, this is a four angler race between Tyler, Kyle, Levi, and Jason. Not saying all the events to now didn’t matter, but if you calculate the best four scores (allowing for two drops), these four are almost all sitting at 388 – basically a dead heat. This is going to go down to the Classic Championship!
Speaking of the Classic, here is your current Top 25 who would make it in if it were today. This Top 25 is going to fluctuate quite a bit with score drops in the next two events, right now I think there are about 35-40 people still in the mix for a Top 25 qualifying ranking!
It is heating up in the Ozarks and it appears that ole Beaver Lake is in full summer pattern based on what anglers saw this past weekend. Some still caught them, and in VERY different ways. No matter how the sport progresses, there’s always opportunity for creativity in catching bass. Read on for the results of Beaver Lake South, sponsored by Capps Mens Cuts.
Tournament Results
This event was a pretty standard warm-weather affair on Beaver Lake. Some good fish caught at the top, but it was a grind for most of the field. The Fish Per Angler (FPA) was a reasonable 4.75, but finding quality was the big challenge. Pretty short story: If you caught a limit with a fish over 17, you did pretty well.
Levi Schneider took first place with 83.50″ caught in a unique fashion (see below), while Tyler Zengerle took second with 78.75″ followed by Jacob Webber in third with 78.75″ on the day (by tiebreaker). Doug Watson took home the Big Bass prize with a mammoth 21.75″ Beaver Lake largemouth bass. Overall, 24 of 44 (55%) turned in a limit, and 41 of 44 (93%) of registered anglers turned in a bass.
2024 Beaver Lake South Champion Levi Schneider
The Top Ten anglers:
Levi Schneider 83.50
Tyler Zengerle 78.75
Jacob Webber 78.75
Jason Kincy 77.75
Doug Watson 76.50
Bobby Hogan 74.50
Cole Sikes 74.25
Christa Hibbs 73.25
John Evans 73.00
Kyle Long 72.50
Doug Watson’s Big Bass from Beaver Lake. This is a giant no matter where it is, but on Beaver is a super giant. Source: TourneyX
Angler Roundtable
Hear from our top three finishers how they did it. Levi, Tyler, and Jacob sat down at the table to share how they did it on a hot June Saturday on Beaver Lake.
What area did you fish and why?
Levi – I fished primarily all the mouths of the small cuts across from Horseshoe Bend marina and Joe’s Creek.
Tyler – At first, I launched at Monte Ne because I practiced there a couple weeks prior and felt confident that I could pick up a quick limit…didn’t happen that way on game day. I only had two fish when I decided to leave at 9:00. I packed up and went to Beaver Shores and picked up the rest of my limit there.
Jacob – I chose to launch at Horseshoe because it’s the area I’m most familiar with and had a couple spots I figured would be good.
Key baits used on the day?
Levi – I caught every fish on either a white or shattered glass flutter spoon.
Tyler – I caught fish on a few things. white fluke, jig, Ned rig, and the trusty shakey head.
Jacob – I caught the most fish on a Freeloader, but the three better fish all came on something different (freeloader, 4” swimbait, and Plopper)
What was your key bass and how’d you catch it?
Levi – My key fish was my 20.50″ I caught around 9:00. I had just switched to the white spoon because the fish weren’t committing well to the shattered glass spoon so I knew I needed to make some kind of change. Within three casts from switching colors that 20.50″ smoked it. I was king of horsing it in because I thought I’d hooked a striper. She also got wrapped up in my livescope pole but I was luckily able to just grab her by the mouth without losing her. I also didn’t catch my last two keepers until 12:30-12:55 and that big fish was my motivation to fill my limit and not let the day go to waste.
Tyler – My key bass was my 3rd fish. It was only a 12.75” fish, but it gave me the boost and confidence I needed to keep fishing the rest of the day. I kept my head down after that and caught my 5th around 11:00 and it was a 19.50” chunk.
Jacob – I think I had a key spot rather than a key bass. I pulled up to a main lake brush pile and caught three fish in about 10 minutes, with two of those being 18”. I would have been in trouble if I didn’t stumble upon that brush pile.
What’s something you wish you had tried that you thought about after the tourney ended?
Levi – I usually ask myself what I would’ve done different every tourney and the only things I wish I would’ve tried or even just given more time with would’ve been a weighted glide bait, a deep diving jerkbait or a slimmer profile hair jig. I threw some really large hair jigs that they wanted nothing to do with.
Tyler – I tried many other baits and nothing worked, so there wasn’t really anything else that I wish I would’ve tried. I do wish I would’ve just went to Beaver Shores first, though, and maybe I also need to learn how to fish a flutter spoon…
Jacob – I wish I just covered more water. I fished a pretty small stretch all day. I knew there was more good fish in that brush pile and decided to come back to it a couple times and try and pull 1 more out. I threw almost everything I brought with me at them but couldn’t get bit.
Heavy Hitters Race
At this point in the season, we now have five events to get the official five best fish limit. There will be opportunities ahead for anglers to drop smaller fish. Technically there are lots of anglers who have a shot remaining – you want lots of green blocks to be in contention. Four anglers in particular I believe have the best chance with three events to go: Jason Kincy, Levi Schneider, Josh Landreth, and Bobby Hogan. They each have at least one 20″ and several other green-rated bass. As always, going to be tight!
Angler of the Year
This has been an incredibly unusual season so far, with all five wins from only three anglers. The consistency at the top of the AOY chart is amazing, with the top four anglers being in the top ten in each event. Because of this, what should be a solid lead is razor-thin, with Levi, Kyle, and Tyler all within easy striking distance. Because you can drop a couple of events, and, the Classic counts double, there are other anglers in the mix as well. If you have 3-4 green rated finishes and do very well here on out, you have a shot.
More importantly, it is going to start being crunch time for the top 25 to get into the end of year Classic. Hard to tell where veryone stands because of drops, etc., but right now, here are your Top 25.
Event four on the season was the first of back to back trips to the Dead Sea for the NSKA NWA crew. Beaver Lake has actually done pretty well in recent years and put out some good limits. The northern stop was likely to be the smaller winning total over the southern stop coming up on June 22nd. With road closures, runaway docks and marinas, and summer boats everywhere, it wasn’t quite as wide open as usual in fishing options. But as usual, the NSKA anglers found a way.
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: Going forward, the tournament recap will be emailed to NSKA subscribers 48 hours before posted live to Kayakfishingfocus.com. If you want to receive the recap sooner than later, GO SIGN UP HEREto receive the club emails.
The smallest bass award and $42 goes to Bryan Caresia – A 3.75″ Largemouth, congratulations!. This is way harder to do than to catch a 20″ Largemouth! Source: TourneyX
Tournament Recap
On the heels of a stormy week in Northwest Arkansas, the fishing was pretty good for some and pretty tough for others. It seemed to come down to location as a key factor – as several of the Top 10 fished within sight of each other.
Kyle Long won his second event in a row with a good 83.00″ limit! Dwain Batey was second with 80.75″, and Josh Landreth third with 80.25″ for the event. Big Bass also went to Josh Landreth for a 20.50″ largemouth.
The Top Ten Finishers:
Kyle Long 82.00
Dwain Batey 80.75
Josh Landreth 80.25
Levi Schneider 80.25
Tyler Zengerle 80.00
Jason Kincy 79.00
John Hall 79.00
Mike Zajicek 78.50
Jobie Vongpraphanh 77.75
Justin Brewer 77.50
Josh Landreth’s Big Bass from Beaver Lake North – 20.50″ Good thing this wasn’t by weight. Source: TourneyX
Angler Roundtable
Pull up a chair and learn how the top finishers found and caught their bass. Thanks to Kyle, Dwain, Josh, and Levi for sharing their experiences with us.
Where did you go and why?
Kyle – I went to Prairie Creek. I had to leave early for my daughter’s dance recital so that was the closest place to be able to stay the longest before I had to go. And because it’s a great area of the lake.
Dwain – I fished Prairie Creek, if the event had been later in the summer I would have went further north, but because of the time of year I wanted to stay mid-lake. It’s always super busy in PC, but I felt like I could fish differently enough to still catch fish.
Josh – I fished a creek arm with the most stain I could find. Thursday evening I fished there for about an hour and found really high quality fish.
Levi – I went to Indian Creek because I knew it’d be the clearest water I could fish that also suits my strengths.
What were some of the key baits or techniques you used to catch your bass?
Kyle – Three baits got almost every bite. Fluke early, shakyhead midday, and spinnerbait late.
Dwain – I started off using a buzzbait, then caught one on a fluke, then one on a carolina rig, then a few pitching a creature bait, and even caught a key fish or two on a wake bait. Basically I was 100% junk fishing after the first run with the buzzbait stopped working.
Josh – I caught my big fish on a chatterbait in about two feet of water. Other than that, it was just junk fishing all day. Two of the fish in my bag were on a wacky rig and two were on a shakyhead. I knew from my hour of pre-fishing that if the fish were still there on Saturday, I’d be in contention.
Levi – I caught my best five on a spook and a flutter spoon but caught others on a Damiki rig and a hair jig.
Describe when you knew you might be in contention for a trophy.
Kyle – I’d say at around 1:00. Culled an inch on a spinnerbait with a 16” which doesn’t seem like much, but based on where I was and the conditions, I knew if I made enough casts in the highest percentage areas I had a chance to upgrade some more. I knew I was in contention for a Top 5 before that, but when I caught that 16 I really believed I was gonna place top three with a chance to win.
Dwain – I was on top of the leader board most of the day and having the board showing was nice, several of us had a good back and forth going towards the end of the event and even though I usually don’t look at the leader board anyway it was exciting to watch it go down real time.
Josh – When I caught the 20.5″ at 6:20am, I knew I’d have a chance if I could get enough bites. I have a feeling it was a fish I shook off on Thursday night.
Levi – Whenever I pulled up to a point and caught my two biggest on back to back casts I knew I had a shot to win because they jumped me to second at the time. Unfortunately I jumped my biggest bite off in the last 10 minutes that would’ve sealed the deal. It still stings a little but I’m always grateful for the opportunity to be in contention
What’s your favorite rod and reel setup and what do you use it for?
Kyle – That new spinnerbait rod y’all got me last year has been phenomenal. It’s without question the best quality set up I own. But after that one, it’s got to be my shaky head rod. Reel is just a spinning reel from Walmart, the rod is a BPS rod that isn’t fancy, but I sure love the way it puts them in the boat.
Dwain – I would probably have to go with an 8:1 gear ratio bait cast reel, I’m not brand loyal but I have a lot of the white BPS reels. I like a MH 7′ 6” rod with that and even though this sounds like a single rod, depending on the brand the vary wildly in how light or heavy their MH rods are. So I have several different brands to cover different techniques. For example the way I rig and fish a fluke I need a MH rod that’s on the heavy side of MH, but for a Chatterbait I might go with a MH rod that is more on the light side of MH.
Josh – My equipment needs an overhaul, honestly. I spend a lot of time on the river, and the river is hard on stuff. And I’m cheap. So, I don’t have the best equipment. If I could avoid ever having a spinning rod in my hand, I would. So those need to be thrown in the trash. Right now, my favorite setup is a 7′ MH TPO Professional rod that I won in a drawing at the Classic in 2022. It’s paired with an old RevoX reel. I’ve been using it as my chatterbait rod. Pretty soon, I’ll swap over to using it for topwater. It’s just a good utility setup.
Levi – My favorite combo is my flutter spoon setup which is a 8.3:1 Johnny Morris platinum with a 7’6” MH bass pro cranking stick that’s equipped with 17lb fluorocarbon.
Heavy Hitters
There were some good fish caught on Beaver Lake, but only one 20, so it didn’t do too much to shake up the Heavy Hitters race. This was Landreth’s second 20 of the year, so it definitely puts him in a good position to move up. With four events left, it is still pretty much anybody’s to win.
Green means it is a “great” score and yellow means a “good” score – no color means it needs replaced by another score if possible.
Angler of the Year Race
It has been an unusual season so far, with all four events being won by only two anglers. This has resulted in a couple of leaders, but others have also had consistent top finishes. With four events to go and the ability to drop two, there SEVERAL anglers in serious contention. More importantly, almost the entire field has a chance for the Top 25 and a Classic spot. Theoretically, with four events to go, an angler would only have to keep two of their first two scores. It’s going to go down to the wire!
Green means it is a “great” score and yellow means a “good” score – no color means it needs replaced by another score if possible.
Yakpots in NW Arkansas
Summer Yakpot season is underway, with the first one of the summer at Hwy 412 ramp on Wednesday, June 5 at 6:00pm. We will set up a Yakpot schedule for the next 2-3 months. Stay tuned! In the interim, be sure to join the NWA WEEKLY YAKPOT FACEBOOK GROUP to stay on top of days and locations going forward.
Fishing a kayak bass tournament is exciting, challenging, frustrating, and rewarding all at once. I’m also convinced there’s not a better way to get better at fishing than to enter kayak bass tournaments because of the time on the water and focus it generates. For some, the point is to win, and for others it’s just to have fun and fill some competitive spirit. Either way there are some basic tips that can make the most of your experience.
Step Out and Get Signed Up!
The first step to anything is to commit. I remember my first kayak bass tournament and it was a cold day in December and I only caught one fish. But it was a BLAST and I was hooked from there. You won’t know if you have fun until you try it. Kayak tournaments and anglers are much more accepting than the boat circuits. Low to no pressure, only about you and personal goals to get better. The first NSKA NWA event in March 9, you can sign up here on Tourney X, or try a different upcoming tournament.
Set Personal Goals
Every angler at all levels of skill and experience has personal goals they are trying to achieve. New kayak bass tournament anglers can set whatever goal based on their situation. First goal might be to just enter a tournament, or to successfully submit a bass. For others it could be to catch a limit, or finish in the money. The key is to identify where you are in the process and set goals that are a challenge but that you can strive to meet. As time goes on you can keep raising the bar. Many kayak fishing club members started very slowly (like myself) and have turned into seasoned competitors over time.
Meet Other Anglers
If you’ve ever fished in the bass boat tournament world, one thing is clear – nobody helps you or talks about anything that happened on the water. The kayak bass fishing community is different. Anglers share tips and ideas, will help you with information about a lake, and after an event will be more open about what worked for them. Participating on the Natural State Kayak Anglers Facebook page, or talking with other anglers at the post-tournament weigh-ins is a way to make some great friends but also to accelerate your skill set growth. There is not one great angler in the club that hasn’t learned something from another angler. Many of my friends I’ve met through fishing, so get out there and get social.
Get the Basic Gear
For a kayak fishing tournament there are only a few things you absolutely need to compete. (beyond a kayak!)
For safety purposes, you have to have a personal flotation device (PFD), safety whistle, and a light visible from a 360 perspective if it is still dark in the morning – either on a pole, or a headlamp. Complete rules including safety are found here.
To submit your catches you would use the TourneyX app on your smartphone, and would need a Ketch measuring board to measure your fish.
Dress for the day, either with warmer clothing or when it is hot have skin protection and plenty of water.
Don’t forget a fishing license!
Practice Catch-Photo-Release
The unique aspect of kayak bass fishing tournaments is that we don’t hold on to the bass. After you catch it, you should then take a photo of it and submit into the app to record your catch. There are specific rules for this, including keeping the mouth closed, don’t cover the eye or the tail, make sure your identifier is in view, and more. A video from Kyle Long helps with more details. Most importantly, PRACTICE managing your fish on the measuring board and taking photos before you have a tournament. Seven Sins of Catch Photo Release Submissions covers the basics, but note it shows a non-Ketch board in the examples. Every time you catch a bass, measure and take a photo. You’ll lose one in a tournament, happens to everyone, but practice makes a huge difference.
Bonus Tip – Watch Game Film
Like I said above, kayak bass anglers love to share and help others. There are several in Natural State Kayak anglers that share their tournament experiences in video form. You can learn A LOT from watching these videos that will help you know what a tournament is like, and what to do and sometimes not do! For some great YouTube tournament videos, check out KayakFishingFocus, Josh Landreth Fishing, Kyle Long Fishing, or TZ Kayak Fishing. There are more, but these are some of the most consistent in sharing tourney videos.
Every few years, nature treats us to a phenomenon that leaves anglers buzzing with anticipation for cicada fishing action – the periodical cicada emergence. In 2024, the cicadas are set to make their grand entrance, and bass fishing enthusiasts have a unique opportunity to capitalize on this natural event. In this article, we’ll explore the impact of the periodical cicada emergence on bass fishing and share some tips to make the most of this extraordinary fishing season.
The timing of the cicada hatch in 2024 varied depending on the specific brood and geographic location. Different broods of cicadas have different emergence cycles, with some emerging every 13 or 17 years. Each brood has its own distinct emergence pattern, with some appearing in spring and others in summer. The first brood of cicadas in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri area begins in April to May and will run throughout the summer.
Cicada Fishing Information
The Cicada Spectacle: Periodical cicadas, known for their synchronized emergence in large numbers, create a spectacle that’s hard to ignore. These insects spend years underground feeding on tree roots before emerging en masse for a few weeks to mate. As they emerge, they provide a protein-rich feast for fish, including bass.
Timing is Everything: To make the most of the cicada emergence, timing is crucial. Keep a close eye on local reports and entomological predictions to pinpoint when the cicadas will start appearing in your area. Typically, this event occurs during the warmer months, usually in late spring or early summer, when water temperatures are ideal for bass activity.
Topwater Extravaganza: One of the most exciting aspects of the cicada emergence and cicada fishing is the opportunity for explosive topwater action. Bass are known to aggressively strike at these large insects as they clumsily make their way to the water’s surface. Equip yourself with topwater lures such as buzzbaits, poppers, and prop baits to mimic the movement and sound of the cicadas. This surface action can lead to heart-pounding strikes that make for unforgettable fishing experiences.
Natural Color Imitations: Cicadas are known for their distinctive black bodies, transparent wings, and orange-veined accents. When selecting lures, choose those that closely resemble the appearance of cicadas. Black or dark-colored soft plastics, topwater lures, and even crankbaits can effectively mimic these insects, increasing your chances of enticing bass in the midst of the cicada emergence.
Focus on Shaded Areas: Cicadas often seek shade when they emerge, and bass are quick to follow. Target shaded areas such as overhanging trees, docks, and vegetation where cicadas are likely to congregate. Casting your lures near these areas can yield impressive results as bass lurk in the shadows, waiting for an easy cicada meal.
Be Patient and Observant: While the cicada emergence can create a cicada fishing feeding frenzy, bass can also become selective. Be patient and observe the water for signs of bass activity. Look for subtle ripples, splashes, or any disturbances on the surface that may indicate bass are actively feeding on cicadas. Adjust your techniques based on what you observe to maximize your chances of success.
The 2024 periodical cicada emergence is not just a natural wonder; it’s also an exciting opportunity for cicada fishing for bass fishermen. By understanding the timing of the emergence, using topwater lures that mimic cicadas, and targeting shaded areas where bass are likely to gather, you can elevate your bass fishing experience during this unique event. So, gear up, stay informed, and get ready to witness and capitalize on the buzzworthy bass fishing season that the cicada emergence brings.
As winter holds its grip, many anglers might be tempted to stow away their gear, but February offers a unique opportunity for bass fishing in a unique time of year. In this article, I’ll tell you why February can be an excellent time for bass fishing, along with some essential tips to make the most out of your winter boat or kayak fishing adventures.
Why Bass Fishing in February?
Contrary to popular belief, bass fishing in February can be surprisingly rewarding. As the water temperatures drop, bass tend to gather in specific areas, making them more predictable and targetable. Understanding the seasonal patterns and adjusting your approach can lead to some big catches during the colder months.
Slow and Steady Wins the Race:
In colder waters, bass metabolism slows down, making them less active. Opt for a slow presentation with your lures or bait to entice lethargic bass. Working the bait methodically to match the lethargy of the bass is what you want to do.
Targeting Deep Structures:
Focus on deeper structures such as points, ledges, and drop-offs where bass gather to find more stable water temperatures. Use fish finders to locate these structures, and target them strategically for increased success. Shad can also stack up in areas near drops, and that will attract the bass.
Special lures come into play:
In colder water fishing, there are some lures that excel during this period better than almost any time of year. Some of my favorites include a jigging spoon, Alabama rig, or a blade bait.
Weather Monitoring:
Keep an eye on weather patterns as bass activity can be influenced by temperature changes. Warmer days, even if rare, can trigger increased bass activity, with some even moving shallow. Plan your fishing trips around milder weather conditions for optimal results.
Patience and Persistence:
February fishing requires patience. Bass may not be as aggressive, so persistence is key. Work your chosen area thoroughly and be prepared to wait for that subtle strike.
Get out and do some winter bass fishing!
Don’t let the winter blues keep you indoors. Winter bass fishing presents a unique challenge and an opportunity to experience the thrill of landing some impressive catches. Armed with the right knowledge and tactics, you can turn the colder months into a rewarding time on the water. Embrace the winter wonders of bass fishing this February, and you might just reel in a memorable catch.
Are you a passionate bank or creek angler, always on the lookout for the perfect tackle kit to enhance your fishing experience? Look no further than the Lurenet Bank and Creek Fishing Tackle Kit, a comprehensive set of baits designed to elevate your fishing game and help you make the most of your time on the water’s edge. In this article, we’ll explore the features and benefits of this all-in-one seasonal tackle kit, breaking down why it’s a must-have for every bank and creek angler.
Lurenet’s Bank & Creek fishing tackle kit provides seasonally relevant fishing lures, presentations, and color patterns for multi species fishing scenarios. Each lure was hand selected by bank fishing and creek fishing experts to assure each fishing tackle kit is comprised of value, quality and confidence.
Let’s delve into what makes this fishing bundle stand out:
Diverse Lure Selection:
The kit includes a variety of lures, each designed to attract different species of fish commonly found in bank and creek environments. From vibrant crankbaits to versatile soft plastics, this kit covers the essentials.
The January-February kit includes some go-to winter baits such as the Booyah lipless one-knocker, Bomber Long A, Yum Ned Dinger, and Booyah Boo Jig. In total, there are 13 items in the current kit.
Quality Construction:
Lurenet is renowned for its commitment to quality, and this tackle kit is no exception. Each lure is crafted with precision and durability in mind, ensuring they withstand the rigors of bank and creek fishing.
Limited Edition Lures:
Each Lurenet Bank and Creek kit includes a few lures that are only available in the Bank and Creek lineup. Custom colors designed specifically for small water fishing environments are included.
Let’s explore how the Lurenet Bank and Creek Fishing Tackle Kit caters to the unique challenges and opportunities presented by bank and creek fishing:
Shallow-Water Expertise:
The lures in this kit are ideal for fishing in shallower waters, where many bank and creek species thrive. Whether you’re targeting bass, panfish, or catfish, the kit provides the right tools for the job.
Versatile Retrieval Techniques:
From slow retrieves to aggressive jerks, the diverse lures in the kit allow you to experiment with various retrieval techniques. Adapt to the behavior of the fish and increase your chances of a successful catch.
Winter Bank and Creek Kit
In conclusion, the Lurenet Bank and Creek Fishing Tackle Kit is more than just an assortment of lures – it’s a game-changer for bank and creek anglers looking to up their fishing prowess. With its diverse selection, quality construction, and tackle organization, this kit is a valuable investment for anyone passionate about angling in these unique environments. Elevate your bank and creek fishing experience today with the Lurenet Tackle Kit and unlock the potential of your favorite fishing spots.
With this winter being particularly cold and unfriendly to my fishing schedule, I have gone to the basketball gym a few times to get some exercise. Recently, while watching a group of five on five go at it in a pickup game, I recognized some parallels between bass fishing and basketball.
For some context, at this gym it was mostly older guys whose athleticism, speed, and explosiveness are long gone. But for the most part they can play. Like bass fishing, the game of basketball has nuances that can separate the average angler (player) from a really good angler (player) in tournament competition.
Level of Play
Anyone who has played many pickup games with older, out of shape, and slower players knows one thing. These guys can shoot! Almost everyone can fill it up in a rec game, and the older you are and still playing, the more likely that you light it up from three. In fishing, experience counts. More time on the water and time spent fishing makes you more productive and have a higher success rate. In tournament fishing, these guys can shoot, so you really need to hone your skills.
Know Your Intensity
Are you bass fishing for fun? For competition? For both? Especially in tournaments, identify your goals and tailor your approach accordingly. In pickup basketball, you can kind of tell where everyone is at. There are the guys who defend like it is the NBA Finals. There are also the two guys who seem to have a tacit agreement they won’t defend each other hardly at all – and they usually pair up on D. Mr. Stand in the Corner and shoot it but don’t move otherwise guy knows his game and isn’t going to strain too much. Set your own pace, get out and enjoy the day and have fun. Or, be that guy who never stops running and make 1,000 casts a day and cover water like a madman. (looking at you, Dwain)
Fundamentals
These old guys didn’t become three-point snipers or pinpoint passers without any practice. There are fundamentals in any sport, and fishing is no different. Learning different casts and making them with accuracy can really help. How about understanding the weather and how it will affect the fish that day? Do you know how to really work all of the baits you use to present them properly? Sometimes if a tourney is coming up where I think a technique is going to be a big player, pre-fishing is more about shaking off the rust on that technique than it is anything else. What fundamentals do you need to improve on for tournament competition?
NBA guard Paul George and Jacob Wheeler show their catch in a bass tournament. Source: USAToday
Know How You Can Score
The main objective in pickup basketball is to score, put the ball in the hoop. Same thing for fishing, get hooked up on a bass. What’s your go-to move to score? For some it is rebounding and stick-backs, others is long range camping out and shooting threes, for Mr. Energy guy it is just running around after loose balls. How can you score when things are tough in bass fishing? When times are tough, go to what you are confident you can do. Shakey-head, drop shot, Ned rig, etc. If you are spun out on the water, narrow your game to a confidence bait and get on the scoreboard.
Get In the Game
I’m not sure if there are serious parallels between pickup basketball and bass fishing – or it’s just been a long winter off the water. Either way, it’s time to get ready for the season, shake off the rust, and find your game for Spring!
The season came to a close for 2023, with the 2023 NSKA NWA Ace of Blades Classic on a stingy Beaver Lake. The top 25 regular season points leaders, plus the Shootout winner competed for the Championship.
History of the Classic has been fairly consistent in what it would take to win. Looking back at the one and two day totals for past Champions, you see a couple of patterns:
At the launch on day one, I said to an angler, “You can’t win it on day one, but you can lose it.” Looking at the history, this may not be totally correct. Each time except one, the higher total was on the first day. So, definitely have to get off to a hot start. Secondly, 147″ seems to be the floor for a chance to win. Each year I feel like if I can get to 150″ then I’ve got a shot. Thirdly, other than Cole, your name must start with the letter J. Ha!
2023 Classic Results
Overall, it was a very difficult day on the water. Beaver Lake seemed to be turning over, fish were scattered, a small cold front had just come through, and this may have been the lowest water level for an official NSKA event, ever. These created some challenging conditions.
Out of the 24 registered anglers, 13 caught a limit on both days – which is pretty good. Overall, the BPA was 4.81, putting it as slightly below average for an event. These numbers were buoyed by the fact that these were the top anglers for the year. But even that fact did not mean a fishing bonanza!
Jacob Webber took first place with a two-day total of 147″, with your AOY winner – Tyler Zengerle, finishing second with 146.75″. Third place went to Jamie Shumate with 137″. Big Bass was taken home by Justin Brewer for an 18.50″ largemouth bass.
Big Bass for the Classic by Justin Brewer – 18.50″
Here were your top ten:
Jacob Webber 147
Tyler Zengerle 146.75
Jamie Shumate 137
Justin Brewer 16.50
Jason Kincy 133
Terrill Standifer 131
Tony Sorluangsana 130.75
Sam McClish 128
Jason Coleman 127
John Evans 126
2023 Classic Champion – Jacob Webber!
Angler Roundtable
The Classic is a great two-day challenge that requires adjustment and diversity from the top anglers. Day one zone was from Hwy 12 bridge up lake to around Monte Ne. Day two zone stretched from Ventris down lake to just past Van Hollow. Our top finishers, Jacob Webber, Tyler Zengerle, and Jamie Shumate shared how they made it happen.
Going into the first day, what did you expect to work to catch fish…and did it work?
Jacob – I didn’t have any expectations going into it. I figured I would start with topwater and go from there. I had about five bites in the first 30 minutes on a Whopper Plopper and kept that in my hands for most of the day. Every once in a while I would try another lure, but couldn’t get anything else going. At the end of the day I pulled up to a giant brush pile that I marked earlier and was able to catch three on a jerk bait. I wanted to fish that spot earlier but there was a boat on it for the majority of the day.
Tyler – I expected to throw a Whopper Plopper for the first few hours but I gave up after a couple hundred yards of using it. It didn’t work in practice the weekend before, so I was quick to put it up on tourney day.
Jamie – Day one I went to Monte Ne. I started with a Whopper Plopper paralleling the bank when I would find a brush pile I would throw a shakey head. I basically kept the topwater in my hand all day.
What key baits or techniques caught most of your bass?
Jacob – I caught most of my fish on a Whopper Plopper day one, aside from three at the end that came on a jerk bait. Everything came on the Whopper Plopper on day two.
Tyler – Day one, all my fish came on a shakey head with a Gambler Sweebo 6.5” worm in Green Pumpkin and picked up a couple on a Ned rig using a Gambler Power Ned also in green pumpkin. Day two, my first three fish came on a Whopper Plopper (usually produces on the north end), and the same shakey head as day one.
Jamie – Whopper Plopper and shakey head.
Day two was a really difficult day for most. Were there any adjustments you made from day one that helped you get a limit?
Jacob – The only adjustment I made was going from a bone color to a more translucent color. I just wanted to cover as much water as I could on day two and hoped I would eventually come across some fish that would bite. I ran the battery on my motor down and ended up having to paddle back to the ramp.
Tyler – I didn’t make too many adjustments on day two, other than committing to the Whopper Plopper—As I knew it usually produces better on the north end. I tried to stay positive all day to grind out a limit which came later than it did on day one. I only caught six fish that day, but it was the self-encouragement that pushed me to the end.
Jamie – I started day two the same way but it was tough – I only caught six fish all day. They all came on a Whopper Plopper, last one at 9:27.
As the season ends, what was the biggest highlight for you this year on the water?
Jacob – The biggest highlight for me would have to be the first hour of the Beaver north tournament. It seemed like everywhere I threw resulted in a good fish. I feel like I’m usually grinding all day for a decent limit, so it felt great to have a good limit early for a change. Tenkiller is right up there too. I always have a ton of fun at that lake.
Tyler – This whole year has just been simply amazing. From a 13th place finish at the All-American Classic to placing my highest finish in an NWA event at our Classic(2nd) and of course earning the Angler of the Year title. I ended in a position that I didn’t think I would be in for a couple more years, and I’m thankful it happened this year.
Jamie – Can’t say that really had any highlights for the year – I guess finishing 3rd in the Classic is the best moment of the year for me.
That’s a wrap for 2023
Whether you finished at the top, met personal fishing goals, learned some things, or just did your first kayak tournament – Congratulations to all who participated this year. Thank you for turning out, and we look forward to next season.
Congrats to those who had some great accomplishments for 2023:
