The bass-per-acre odds are getting better for largemouth bass fishermen on Lake Bistineau in Webster Parish. A drawdown to control giant salvinia began in August and as the water falls, bass are congregating. “It’s gong to be on like a chicken bone,” veteran bass angler Homer Humphreys said. “You will be able to catch good numbers of fish, and if you use the right techniques, catch some really big fish.”
“The news today is there are several ways to consistently catch largemouth on Bistineau this month and on into the fall,” Humphries said. “If you want to catch 3- to 6-pound largemouth or bigger, I’d get back in the sloughs and throw a conehead half- ounce Homer’s Clown spinnerbait with No. 5 Colorado blades. Use 20-pound line, hold your rod tip up and retrieve it just under the surface making a wake. You won’t catch big numbers, but the ones you catch will be big. As a sportsman, I’d encourage people to throw those back because they are the future of the lake. Those are the main breeding fish.”
That spinnerbait is one that Homer developed over decades of North Louisiana fishing, and they are sold at area sporting goods stores. For more action but smaller fish, Homer says just hit the points on the main lakes with a 1.5 or 2.5 Strike King crankbait or a 200 Series Bandit. Anything with shad color seems to work.
“There will even be good topwater action,” he said. “When the bass school, I go old school’and throw a clear Tiny Torpedo or shad colored Chugger. Don’t overlook shallow fish either. Watch for shad activity and you can throw a Sweet Beaver or Z-worm even in shallow water. Sometimes the fish are so shallow you’ll see the mud stir when the fish inhale it.”
Dark worms seem to work best, something in candy bug, black-and-red flake or junebug.
Humphreys had a serious word of caution as the lake falls.
“If you aren’t very familiar with this lake, don’t try to run it wide open,” he said. “Even in the channels when it gets on down, there are stumps bigger than your outboard motor.”
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries plans to draw the lake down to about 10,000 acres of water. According to LDWF, boaters will be able to still access the lake through the fall and early winter at the Port of Bistineau ramp, Bossier Public Ramp, Grice’s and Bayou Dorcheat public launch.
For up-to-date info on the lake and area accommodations, contact the Webster Parish Tourist Commission at www.visitwebster.net.
