02-01-2004, 09:57 PM
[left][font "Arial"]Falcon Lake Fishing Report February 1, 2004[/font] [font "Arial"]- [font "Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]A number of tournament pre-fishermen and their boats pulled into Zapata this weekend to checkout the lake and figure out where the highly elusive black bass are hiding at the current 278.54' lake level. Lake water temperature has been edging up and reached 62 degrees yesterday in some parts of the lake. [/font][/font][/left] [left][font "Arial"][font "Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]Speculation as to where the blacks are and why the bite headed South several weeks ago run the gamut from fish being hunkered down deep or suspended due to cold water temps to their being back in the brush in shallow water where fishermen cannot get to them. Fishing this weekend did little to clarify this issue. Some fishermen reported a few bites, a few small blacks and Beacon Lodge reported that one of their guests had caught one measurable fish in the State Park area. Overall, black bass action has been slow-to-poor. A few bass were reported being caught in the Veleno, but more fishermen had a double zip for bites and fish than caught fish and overall results merely obfuscated the issue. Here is what we know and a little of what we suspect:
[/font][/font][font "Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]The small number of bigger fish caught the last few weeks have been in deeper water 9 to 14 ft on crankbaits and watermelon red plastics. A few spinnerbait fish have been showing up shallow as have a few on watermelon red plastics. Some bass club fishermen found a Mexican net with their lower unit and when they cut it out and pulled it up, there found 5 black bass in the net, which they released alive. A number of talipia and carp were in the net also. A McAllen fishermen flew the lake from the Veleno to Marker Six and observed six or more commercial fishermen from Mexico at work setting their nets. We reported this to the local Game Wardens and were advised that they were aware of this activity and had been pulling nets. Based on these observations and realities, it may be that the bass are still in or near the same shallow bedding areas they have always been and are just not active. If this is the case, you might have to use multiple casts to the same area, dead sticking or blasting caps to get some action.[/font][/left] [left][font "Arial"][font "Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]Catfish up to 23 lbs have been reported by bank fishermen and those fishing from boats.[/font][/font] Smaller good eating size catfish are also being reported caught on shrimp and stinkbait.[/left] [left][font "Arial"]February major tournaments scheduled for Falcon include the Tommy Gray Memorial on February 14 and 15, Bass Champs on February 21st and B.A.S.S. Federation on February 22nd. Since Bass Champs will be off limits for the week following the Tommy Gray Memorial think about fishing the Tommy Gray and picking up some good door prizes, possibly some cash ($3,000 1st place for 75 teams) and always some good information. Entry rules and forms can be downloaded from the tournament front page at www.falconlaketackle.com.[/font][/left] [left][font "Arial"]The State Park and Zapata County Ramps are both working, as are most of the Lodge and RV Park ramps. The ramp at El Tigre Island is closed. Last report was that the San Ignacio Ramp is working only for small boats. It is recommended you call and check before planning a trip to San Ignacio. Launching below the dam on the Rio is best accomplished from the center of the approach road (turn-off just past the RV Park) off the rocks. Small boats and 4x4 vehicles are recommended. Fishing in the River varies from day-to-day based on a number of factors. The amount of water being released seems to have a direct impact on the fishing, but for the last few weeks fishing has been reported as fair-to good. . Mexican Licenses and Boat Permits are required for boats that carry fishing equipment into Mexican waters and are available locally from Falcon Lake Tackle in Zapata or by mail call 956-765-4866 or e-mail lbridgeman@starband.net. Everyone in the boat must have a fishing license whether fishing or not. [/font][/left]
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[/font][/font][font "Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]The small number of bigger fish caught the last few weeks have been in deeper water 9 to 14 ft on crankbaits and watermelon red plastics. A few spinnerbait fish have been showing up shallow as have a few on watermelon red plastics. Some bass club fishermen found a Mexican net with their lower unit and when they cut it out and pulled it up, there found 5 black bass in the net, which they released alive. A number of talipia and carp were in the net also. A McAllen fishermen flew the lake from the Veleno to Marker Six and observed six or more commercial fishermen from Mexico at work setting their nets. We reported this to the local Game Wardens and were advised that they were aware of this activity and had been pulling nets. Based on these observations and realities, it may be that the bass are still in or near the same shallow bedding areas they have always been and are just not active. If this is the case, you might have to use multiple casts to the same area, dead sticking or blasting caps to get some action.[/font][/left] [left][font "Arial"][font "Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]Catfish up to 23 lbs have been reported by bank fishermen and those fishing from boats.[/font][/font] Smaller good eating size catfish are also being reported caught on shrimp and stinkbait.[/left] [left][font "Arial"]February major tournaments scheduled for Falcon include the Tommy Gray Memorial on February 14 and 15, Bass Champs on February 21st and B.A.S.S. Federation on February 22nd. Since Bass Champs will be off limits for the week following the Tommy Gray Memorial think about fishing the Tommy Gray and picking up some good door prizes, possibly some cash ($3,000 1st place for 75 teams) and always some good information. Entry rules and forms can be downloaded from the tournament front page at www.falconlaketackle.com.[/font][/left] [left][font "Arial"]The State Park and Zapata County Ramps are both working, as are most of the Lodge and RV Park ramps. The ramp at El Tigre Island is closed. Last report was that the San Ignacio Ramp is working only for small boats. It is recommended you call and check before planning a trip to San Ignacio. Launching below the dam on the Rio is best accomplished from the center of the approach road (turn-off just past the RV Park) off the rocks. Small boats and 4x4 vehicles are recommended. Fishing in the River varies from day-to-day based on a number of factors. The amount of water being released seems to have a direct impact on the fishing, but for the last few weeks fishing has been reported as fair-to good. . Mexican Licenses and Boat Permits are required for boats that carry fishing equipment into Mexican waters and are available locally from Falcon Lake Tackle in Zapata or by mail call 956-765-4866 or e-mail lbridgeman@starband.net. Everyone in the boat must have a fishing license whether fishing or not. [/font][/left]
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