Spring Has Sprung

The winds are warming. Livestock are dropping calves in the growing, tall, green grasses. Coyotes stalk the herds for a free meal. Snakes are sunning on the banks after a long hibernation. Water is warming on the lengthening sunny days. Fish sense the change and are staging near the drop-offs in anticipation of the springtime spawn.

The location is Sundown Valley Ranch. The occasion is the gathering of family. The activities include loading feeders, checking game cams, trapping beavers, blowing bubbles, sidewalk chalk art, riding toy cars, four wheelers and horses. The  good meals and good conversation, along with my granddaughter’s first experience fishing with Paw Paw. I was pleasantly surprised how the two year old listened and slowly reeled as the bobber and jig made its way back to us while repeating my commands “reel it slow”. As it  usually turns out, the largest fish of the trip was caught on the cheapest equipment. Yes, I was testing the pole my wife bought Chloe on the pier in an attempt to see if the bream were biting. I thought that would be an appropriate target species with lots of action. Little did I know that the crappie jig under a cork would draw the attention of a large female bass full of eggs. That reminded me that the Texas state record bass weighing 18.8 pounds was caught caught on Lake Fork by a crappie fisherman Barry StClair in January of 1992.

The challenge for the weekend would be to fish two ponds and determine at what stage the bass were and what bait to use to catch them. It didn’t take long on the small pond as the second cast of a craw worm on the drop off just past the grass line produced a willing male bass. The same pattern proved to be effective on the large pond for small males near the banks just around the grass line. It seemed most of the larger fish were staging just outside the grass line in deeper water. The water was still cold and murky from recent rains which made it a challenge. The lure that seemed to draw the most strikes was a chartreuse chatter bait with a gold blade. The vibration drew a lot of reaction strikes as I slow rolled it parallel to the bank just outside the grass line. A lot of the strikes came on the fall in deeper sections of water.

The strong wind was also factor as it kept the water churned up. We used it to our advantage as it pushed a lot of bait fish into the three small coves on the large pond. I think that is why the bass were willing to take the chatter bait because the blade flash mimicked the flash of a shad getting pushed into the cove. When the wind layed down, we were able to throw some topwater lures over the grass lines to take a few aggressive bass. One afternoon I took out the 8 weight fly rod and a popper and walked the shoreline trying to draw a strike. On the corner of the dam I found a willing taker as you will see in this video. (turn sound up)

On the last evening the sunset over the water was a picture only GOD could paint. Thus the name Sundown Valley Ranch. An oasis of fellowship, family, food and fishing have me looking forward to our next visit.

I hope during this challenging spring with the consumption of our thoughts and energies on the corona virus, that we can take the time to hold our loved ones near and give thanks for all GOD has given us. Remember that GOD is in control and his love is made complete in us. (1 John 4:18) GOD bless you and thanks for taking the time to read my blog and enjoy the video.

Sincerely,

Tim Lumpkin

Instagram: @Tlump10

Blog: Legacy-outdoors.net