Summer Schooling Sand Bass
by Tom Lester
 While most youngsters are
enjoying school being out for the summer, there is another type
of school going on, summer school. I don't mean your traditional
classroom education type of summer school, I am talking about
summertime schools of sand bass and hybrids. The action is fast
and fun.
Richland-Chambers reservoir is loaded with sand bass and an
abundant supply of food for them to eat, shad. Each year about
this time, the "sandies" can be found chasing shad to
the surface and create a feeding frenzy that literally makes the
water boil. They are a blast to catch, even for us "serious
bass anglers".
I especially like to take my daughters, Tatum and Megan, for
an afternoon of fishing. I do not know of a better way to capture
the interest of a youngster than to get them out on the water and
let them catch fish, one after another. They love it. Often, I do
not even fish myself. I can't. I'm too busy taking off their
fish. I have hooked both girls on the sport of fishing by taking
them sand bass fishing. The key to kids and fishing is catching
fish.
The best way to catch these guys is with a chrome slab or
chrome and black Rat-L-Trap in the 1/4 or 1/2 ounce size on a
medium action rod with 15 - 20lb line. If you find a school of
fish surfacing or with your electronics, throw either of these
two baits and chances are you will get bit. Look for sand bass to
school in open water where there is a hump or old pond dam.
The birds are also a good locator. They will "dive
bomb" the surface, feeding on shad as the sand bass run them
to the top of the water. Watch for birds in a large group feeding
and you can bet there are fish under them. Be careful, however,
not to run over the area the birds are feeding on with your boat
or you will scare the fish down below the surface making them
harder to find.
If you find fish schooling on the surface, and you get tired
of catching smaller fish, try getting a bait down deeper. The
larger fish will often lie under the smaller fish. Sometimes I
will use a DD14 or DD22 shad colored crankbait by Norman Lures to
get down to the big 'uns. I have caught several large hybrids by
doing this. The bite is not as fast, but the fish are usually
quite a bit larger.
I have found that the best times for fishing the sand bass is
early in the morning and late in the afternoon. They school more
during these times of day more than any other. Besides, it is
more comfortable for the fisherman, too.
If you head out to the lake this time of year, be sure and
take along plenty of water. It gets hot and you can dehydrate
quickly. Wear sunscreen and protect you eyes with good
sunglasses. Be sure to wear your personal floatation device and
operate your boat in a safe and courteous manner. If you don't
have a boat, call a guide like Stan Lawhon or Mike Guide service
in Corsicana, Texas. They will glady get you on some fish. Good
luck and good fishing.
Until next time, enjoy the Texas outdoors.
Tom Lester.
| Author Information.
 Tom Lester owns and operates Four Seasons
Lawnscape, a landscape and lawn maintenance service, in
Corsicana, Texas. He has fished for most of his 36 years to
some degree or another. He fishes competitively in bass
tournaments and is beginning his professional bass fishing career
in the BASS invitational circuit and the Everstart Series.
Tom lives with his wife, Kelly, in Corsicana, Texas, only a
few miles from Richland-Chambers reservoir, one of the hottest
new bass lakes to open in Texas in the past ten years. He
formerly resided in Cleburne, Texas, where he guided part-time
for largemouth and smallmouth bass. Tom is currently on the
field staff for Abu Garcia, Norman Lures,
Inspiration Lures, and Bill Lewis Lures, and on the pro staff for
Kalin's,
CastAway
Rods, P-Line,
and Nuwave Products.
Tom enjoys fishing, hunting and writing his outdoor column for
the Corsicana Daily Sun and freelance writing. He is a
former high school Agricultural Science instructor and animal
health pharmaceutical sales rep. He graduated from Texas
A&M University with a B.S in Agricultural Education and a
Master of Education degree. Tom likes being his own boss so
he can take off to go fishing, whenever he likes, and leave his
wife in charge of the business.
Email Tom at lester01@airmail.net
Visit Tom at his web site: Fishing
Pro Staff |
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