• Look for places that bass go to eat. That’s where they congregate. Focus on sloughs and points without ruling out bank fishing.
• Never pass any wood, including camp pilings.
• Be patient. Some competitive bass fishermen fish half the day with no fish but end up winning the tournament. Bass have definite feeding periods. Keep fishing until they occur.
• Keep bait selection basic. You don’t have to go through 20 baits. Keep it simple by sticking to a few. Limit plastic baits to crawfish or worms. For clearer waters, use green variations. For murkier waters, use dark colors like dark purple.
• Fish topwaters like frogs, buzzbaits and Chug Bugs early in the morning.
• Blind River is subject to tides. Falling tides are always best. West winds move the tide, while east winds hold it back.
• Hit every isolated piece of cover. A trotline pole with a clump of grass hanging on it is almost a sure-fire spot. It’s cover out in open water. Cypress trees in open water away from the bank are great.
• Go with realistic expectations. Blind River is an excellent fishery, but not a trophy fishery. A trophy bass here is 4 pounds.
• Give yourself some time. If the first time you come and don’t catch fish here, don’t give up. By the third or fourth trip, you will figure out the pattern.
• Bring a camera. Blind River has lots of wildlife and swamp scenery. The yellow, white, pink and purple water lily blossoms are beautiful.