Canyon Lake - Jewel of the Hill Country

I'm very fortunate to have the time and justification to fish many lakes throughout central and south Texas in the pursuit of both my business and personal interests. All of these area lakes are well aged and therefore remain in more or less a stable condition as far as structure and fish populations are concerned. But every now and then weather events come into play to alter those conditions. At times in a big way. Take for example the 500-year flood of July 2002. Canyon Lake and the Guadalupe River received a major portion of the weeklong onslaught with torrential, unceasing rains. Nothing even comparable had occurred, at least in recorded history. Nor is it likely that such will be seen again - at least for another 500 years, or so.

Since we had nothing to compare this flood to, no one knew what the pressure of all the water with its currents raging into the lake would do to the structure beneath the surface. We were soon to learn, not much. Neither to the populations of any of the species favored by anglers or their habitat were negatively effected, In fact the opposite occurred. With water 46 feet out of the banks, the forage species had vast expanses of fresh water and habitat in which to reproduce, (time after time) and hide until the water went back inside it's banks. This year we've found an abundance of shad with the end result being larger fish in better condition than anyone can recall.

My records covering the last 20 years indicate that spring fishing in 2003 was exemplary by comparison to earlier years. Even now, in the middle of the summer doldrums, this lake and the Guadalupe River that feeds it, is a more productive fishery than any we normally visit in the course of our guiding and tournament fishing each year. That is to say, more largemouth in the 2 to 8 pound range are coming to the boat for our clients now, compared to, say, the past 5 years or so. The lake record happens to be 10.11 pounds. A giant in most any anglers mind.

The lake's impressive smallmouth population remains as aggressive and cooperative as ever, or possible more so, with fish from 1.5 to well over 5 pounds being taken by anglers from novice to those with tournament experience. This spring's striper and white bass "run" produced quality catches, too. As this is written, the summer doldrums have pushed to better quality fish of both species into the depths of 40 to 80 feet where they will remain during the heat August. As soon as water and weather conditions tell them fall is approaching and it's time to filter back into the larger creeks to feast on the vast amount of threadfin and gizzard shad that are the forage for all game fish in Canyon Lake good catches of stripers and white bass will be reported again. Until then, night fishing using live perch or goldfish is going to be the most productive.

Canyon Lake holds secrets known only to fishermen willing to take the time to investigate the promising fishing opportunities of a highland-type reservoir. Like the
little known fact that a lake all the way down in south central Texas has a very good,
self-sustaining/reproducing population of quality brown bass. What is even more surprising may be the distinct lack of direct attention and fishing pressure placed on the smallmouth. For the majority of the year, this lake lends itself to deep water fishing using finesse techniques that require light line in the 6 to 10 pound class, 1/8 oz. or even lighter lures and most of all patience, which it just so happens are ideal for smallmouth fishing.

I guarantee that the simple change in technique from the shallow water approach using bait cast reels with the typical 20 pound line will eventually be rewarded. If you are the typical shallow water bank beater with a boat full of spinnerbaits, topwaters or even plastics and jigs designed more for depths in 2 to 6 feet, this may not be the lake for you to go after the brownies-at least from June through November. Preferred depths of the brown fish are ranging anywhere from 15-30 or more feet this time of year. Thus our recommendation is the use of finesse fishing styles and tackle. But it isn't only the smallmouth that inhabits substantially deeper waters in this lake.

These extremely deep, gin clear waters afford bass an unlimited range in which to find and suspend in the thermocline, their comfort zone; where temperature, oxygen and ph levels mix for optimum conditions during the heat of a summer day. To be successful in your quest of quality bass under these conditions it is absolutely mandatory to take a very slow approach utilizing techniques you may have only heard of. It's time to break out of that shallow water mindset and get into that 10 percent area where 90 percent of the fish actually spend the majority of their lives.

Our day trips begin before first good light, launching our Ranger Bass boat and moving to the first spot of the day under the cover of darkness, where we anticipate the most aggressive fish will be feeding. This is the time of day when a Silver Shad Terminator spinnerbait, topwaters like a Chug Bug or Tiny Torpedo as well as shallow running crankbaits will work for you. Our choices are limited to types of lures and color patterns that we normally have success with, and that of our clients are most comfortable using. A Rat-L-Trap or Frenzy Rattlin' Pro are two of the best for working areas quickly because of the narrow window of opportunity that daylight offers an angler who prefers

To cover water quickly. Main lake points that fall off into channels are good starting places, especially those with standing timber or buckbrush, another prerequisite for locations where quality bass forage and leave early.

Now the sun is up, and the shallow water bite slows to nothing. You catch no more than a small bass now and then. It's time to move. Head your boat to one of the many deep water bluffs on the banklines. It's time to apply those finesse techniques we spoke of earlier. Exactly what are the most productive lures and techniques on this particular body of water?

Over the course of the past 4 or 5 years many basic finesse strategies have evolved, were honed, then refined into such easily understood and practiced methods that anyone willing to apply them can be successful.

Of the more practical and productive techniques are the drop shot or split shot rigs used most easily on spinning tackle with plastic lures. There is a vast array of small profile baits on the market but none more deadly on Canyon Lake largemouth, smallmouth, and Guadalupe Bass than a Devil's Tongue, made by the oldest name in soft plastics; Cr鑝e Lure Company of Tyler, Texas. But wait, I just said there are many productive finesse lures available.

Some of those would be the Yamamoto Cut Tail worm and the new Uncle Josh Drop Shot "worm". 4-inch Disc (or "ring", if you prefer) Worms and 3 inch Super Tubes are other great choices that always produce. 4 or 6 inch straight tail Scoundrel worm rigged either Texas or Whacky style are preferable to say a 10-inch ribbon tail worm, or other such "busy" lures. The clarity allows fish to see bait so much better that small and quite are better tactics than big and loud. Just remember the mantra of soft, small and slow when making your choices. Yes, size does matter.

This deep, rocky lake is just what the name implies, a bunch of flooded canyons, has an enormous population of a bass' all-time favorite food; Crawfish. A slow moving, relatively defenseless appearing "crawdad" will always be the choice of a bass over a speedier and more maneuverable threadfin shad or perch. Hey, if you were a bass wouldn't you rather preserve your energy in the heat and take the easiest of all forage available to you? So as you might suspect, a crawfish imitator will top of our list of lures.

There are so many forage specific imitators available today that a fisherman could get a headache just comparing the varieties of sizes, colors and types of rigging hanging on pegs in tackle shops. While all may attract the interest of bass (and how do we know until we feel that tap-tap on the other end of the line?) some are more effective in drawing that all important act we call a bite. Now I hear you grumbling already about them being difficult to rig and questioning when, where and how to fish them. Simple, Texas rigs or split shot rigs that you would use for your worm fishing is all you need to do as you first begin using these lures.

The Sliding Weight Finesse Craw Fish takes all the guess work out of rigging. They've done it for you. Their color selection is unparalleled on the market. But is it the only crawfish we use? Absolutely not! But it's our most productive Imitation when the fish are holding in the shade of the ledges. Position your boat close to the rock wall and cast perpendicular or parallel to the face of the bluff. Whether you're using a crawfish, 3-inch grub, or worm, drag you lure down the ledges on a semi-tight line in order to feel the strike. As for the when and where, that to is relatively simple.

Refer back to what I mentioned earlier regarding the ledges of deep water bluffs but never overlook submerged rock piles or long underwater points extending out into 12 to 20 feet of water or deeper. Work every inch of these structures; drop off ends and both sides, especially the one offering the most shade to the fish, not you.

Color preferences are easily limited to a select a few. There is no need to buy a bag of every color of plastic lure know to man. Pumpkin, watermelon, June Bug and variations thereof will do fine.

There is no need to make that drive to into San Antonio for any of your tackle needs. One of the best-stocked tackle shops in south-central Texas is right at the lake! Fisherman's Corner at 21910 FM 306 right across from Potter's Creek Road is the headquarters for all of your tackle needs for every species from bass to stripers and catfish. We even found the lowest prices for the best selection of live bait from any size minnow to perch and goldfish, and guess what - live crawfish. You can find them by going to www.canyonlakefishing.com or just give them a call at (210) 213-2534.

After a guided trip either out on the main lake or up the Guadalupe River, we hope even our most novice clients come away from their trip with the knowledge that anyone given the opportunity, adequate instruction and proper tackle can fish like a pro.