Best Fall and Winter Fishing: Bass in Texas and California
John E. Phillips 11.22.11
Author’s Note: Although water and weather temperatures are cooling down, don’t put away your rod and reel just yet. There are plenty of big bass and fat crappie to be caught in November and December. To find out where to catch the biggest and the most bass and crappie this month, we asked two of the best professional fisherman in the industry – Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Michigan, four-time BASS Angler-of-the-Year and two-time Bassmaster Classic winner.
Kevin VanDam’s Picks:
Falcon Lake in Zapata, Texas – This is the best big-bass lake in the nation. There’s never a bad time to fish Falcon Lake, but in November and December, the weather’s mild and the bass start spawning around Christmas time. Falcon is probably the best lake in the country to catch a 10-pound-plus largemouth bass.
To catch big bass in Falcon Lake, fish big spinner baits (a 1/2- or a 1/4-ounce) around the shallow mesquite bushes in the shad patterns. I also fish a number of big plastic lures, such as the 7-inch Ocho, a stick-type worm, creature baits like the Rage Hawg and big plastic worms like the Anaconda. You’ll catch a tremendous number of 3 to 7 pounders, and this is the best lake to catch a 10 pounder at this time of year. Falcon will be my pick for bass fishing in November and December.
Lake Fork near Quitman, Texas – In Lake Fork, one of the premier trophy-bass lakes in Texas, the bass are starting to move shallow for the pre-spawn at this time of year. Fish a lipless crankbait like the Red Eye Shad around hydrilla on the lower end of the lake. Pitch a 1/2-ounce jig in the black and blue colors with a Rage Craw trailer to the trees on the edge of the creek channel.
California Delta near Sacramento, California – This tidal body of water has a tremendous amount of hydrilla and tulies. Plus, the incoming and outgoing tide creates a lot of current. During November and December, the bass will be relating to the main shoots (canals) and the outside edges of the reeds and to the hydrilla. This area is a maze of canals. One side of these canals generally is lined with rocks and the other side is often lined with tulies. There are plenty of little lakes and bays because it’s a Delta region where the Sacramento area dumps into the bay. The bass fishing is tremendous at this time of year. Anglers can catch an 18-pound largemouth there and plenty of other nice-sized bass weighing from 5- to 10-pounds each.
To catch the bass, I recommend using crankbaits like Strike King’s Series 3 and Series 5. Red is one of my favorite colors because the crayfish in this area turn a very red color at this time of year. Because there’s a good deal of matted vegetation here, fishing a rubber frog like a Rage Toad across the top of that vegetation can get your line stretched and your rod bowed up. The flipping tactic also will produce bass here.
This article is part of a series on fall and winter fishing hotspots. Click here for for Ronnie Capps’ and Kevin VanDam’s hot spots for crappie and bass in Alabama.
John, the 2008 Crossbow Communicator of the year and the 2007 Legendary Communicator chosen for induction into the National Fresh Water Hall of Fame, is a freelance writer (over 6,000 magazine articles for about 100 magazines and several thousand newspaper columns published), magazine editor, photographer for print media as well as industry catalogues (over 25,000 photos published), lecturer, outdoor consultant, marketing consultant, book author and daily internet content provider with an overview of the outdoors.
Phillips has been a contributor to many national magazines, has been affiliated with 27 radio stations across Alabama serving as their outdoor editor and wrote for a weekly syndicated column, "Alabama Outdoors," for 38-Alabama newspapers for more than 13 years. Phillips was Outdoor Editor for the "Birmingham Post-Herald" for 24 years. Phillips was also the executive editor for "Great Days Outdoors" magazine for 3 years.
The author of almost 30 books on the outdoors, Phillips is a founding member of the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA) and an active member of the Southeastern Outdoors Press Association (SEOPA). Phillips also is the owner of Night Hawk Publications, a marketing and publishing firm, and president of Creative Concepts, an outdoor consulting group.
Phillips conducts seminars across the nation at colleges in freelance writing, photography and outdoor education besides teaching courses in how to sell what you write to writers' groups. Phillips received his photography training as a still-lab photo specialist for six years in the Air Force. He was the chief photographer for Mannequins, Inc., a Birmingham modeling agency, for 11 years.
While serving as 2nd Vice President of the Alabama Wildlife Federation, Phillips was in charge of all press releases for the organization as well as serving as Chairman of Alabama's Big Buck Contest, which he founded more than 30 years ago. He also was president of the Alabama Sportsman's Association for three years.
Phillips is the recipient of a Certificate of Merit from the Governor of Alabama and the Department of Conservation for his work in the outdoor field. Phillips is vitally interested in the outdoors and travels the nation collecting personalities, stories and how-to information for his articles and features.
EDUCATION: B.S. degree from the University of West Alabama with a physical education major and a history minor.
EXPERIENCE: 10 years parttime and fulltime physical director for YMCAs and 34 years as a freelance writer, photographer, editor, book author, lecturer and daily-content provider for websites. Currently, Phillips is a field editor for Game and Fish Publications; serves on the editorial board of Grandview Media; is a regular contributor to 12 internet magazines and a daily content provider for 8 websites.
WRITING AWARDS: Runnerup - Best Outdoor Magazine Feature - 1981 - SEOPA; Certificate of Merit - Awarded by Alabama's Governor for writings on conservation; Most Outstanding Sports Writer in Southeast - 1983 & 1984; Best Outdoor Feature in Alabama, 1987 - Alabama Sportswriters' Association 3rd Place; Best Book of the Year - 1989 - SEOPA; 2007 - inducted into the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame as a Legendary Communicator; 2008 - received award naming him 2008 Crossbow Communicator of the Year from the Crossbow Manufacturers' Association; 2009 - GAMMA Honorable Mention for Consumer/Paid Best Essay for July/August 2008 in "Southern Sporting Journal."
