Bigger fish can be caught in February
For as long as I can remember, bass fishing has been at its best every February on Toledo Bend.
It’s the month I look forward to the most on my calendar, so naturally it can’t get here fast enough. Based on my many years fishing before and after becoming a Living the Dream Guide Service guide in 2014, we can find bass anywhere from 1 foot to 30 feet deep, but it’s a given many of them will be hooked and boated in 8- to 15-foot depths.
It’s mainly pre-spawn time, of course, but don’t be surprised to find some big girls up on a bed. Generally, early February remains a wintertime deal, while the end of February marks a more pronounced push to springtime areas. This is a period in which bass are more aggressive and a lot of them are at their heaviest as they have packed on a lot of weight to get them through the spawn.
Getting back to the depth, my rule of thumb is the colder it is this month the deeper bass will be, while the warmer it is the shallower they can be found. Water temperature plays such a critical role. Some good advice is to look for the warmest and clearest areas.
It’s also prime time to target the areas bass are staging before they move in to lay eggs. Think about creeks and drains being like a funnel where fish filter into spawning areas and concentrate in and around those areas, again, typically 8- to 15-foot depths. If you’re in areas that have plentiful, healthy hydrilla, look for bass cruising over the top of the hydrilla, especially in those “funnels.”
The majority of my biggest bass are caught in February. No other month compares.
Top lures
To work from the top on down, I depend on three artificial lures. A lipless crankbait is very good, as are an umbrella rig and a jig. Those are my three go-to lures.
Bass are aggressive this time of year, which is one reason the jig bite is a little better because they are more apt to hit a big-bodied bait like that.
My lipless crankbait choice is a ½- or ¾-ounce Berkley model, either Warpig or Jack 8, in red and/or orange. Chrome/blue and gold also have proven to be effective. Basically, if a bass angler wants to catch numbers of bass, stick to a ½-ounce model. If they want to fish deeper and possibly catch bigger bass, lean to a ¾-ounce lipless crankbait.
As for umbrella rigs, I throw a pearl or shad-colored Berkley Elite Shiner, a 4-inch long paddletail soft plastic on each hook. I always look at umbrella rigs as a big spinnerbait. They’re very versatile and are most effective in 8-plus foot depths.
It’s hard to beat a 3/8- to ¾-ounce casting jig or football jig. Let the depth and wind strength help you decide. Green pumpkin is a top color because most of the baitfish are pretty dull-colored this time of year. Also try black/blue. What to put on the back? A Bass Assassin Woopah Craw works best for me.
Large crappie
Crappie fishermen are in for a treat when February rolls around. They can be located 30-feet deep to usually about 8 feet this month, staging on timber or grass. Look for crappie around drains and in warmer water near spawning areas. Late February is the time they typically move in to spawn. And best of all, many of the ones caught now are slabs — a lot of 2-pound class fish.
Usually, the almighty live minnow is the bait of choice. Crappie are a little more apt to eat a large minnow this time of year, but any size can work. Get what the store has, hook ’em and fish tightline if fishing deep or use a slip cork if fishing shallow.
One of the most popular and proven artificials this time of year is a Blakemore Roadrunner in 1/16- or 1/32-ounce. Add a chartreuse/black or pearl Panfish Assassin Tiny Shad.
Good luck on the water. Be safe.
Call Living the Dream Guide Service at (318) 256-8991 to make a dream fishing trip come true on Toledo Bend.
