Medina Lake Texas fishing report

Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2003

American Bass Anglers District 51 fished its first tourney of the new year this Saturday on Medina.  The weather was less than cooperative and presented us with cold rain, a predominately east wind, clear water, and water temps in the low 50's. Checked the bluffs expecting to see the shadstacked up. Didn't work out that way.  Threw texas rigged soft plastics and a white bitsy bug but wasn't able to get any takers. Finally picked up a small (not tiny) shad colored crankbait that dove about 8 foot and picked up 2 dinks.  Went farther up the lake and checked out a small creek between the bluffs to try and locate some shad.  Caught a keeper using the crankbait on the point leading into the creek. The flood has left some excellent wood structure positioned throughout the shoreline and this particular creek was full of it.  Found large schools of shad in the 18 foot range and fished hard around the wood and creek channel with jigs and soft plastics.  They were suppose to be there but I couldn't find them. Spent over an hour in the creek before heading out to the main lake.  Ran the boat parallel to the bank in about 15 foot of water and cast the crankbait parallel to the bank in 7-10 foot range.  Managed to complete a limit (small) targeting any rock irregularities that came off the bank. They really seemed to be hanging close to the rocks. The bite was not bone jarring but the fish all had the whole bait in their mouths.  Those of you interesting in catching whitebass could have loaded the boat.  They were schooling just on the otherside of the boat throughout the day. I caught several but couldn't seem to find any blacks/spots underneath them.  Big fish was a respectable 4 lber caught by Al, texas rigging a rubber worm. The fishing was better than I expected under the conditions but should be excellent on Medina with the addition of all the new flood provided wood and a little cooperation from the weather. Our next tourney is an Open Tourney on Choke Canyon.  Check us out at www.alamobassn.com and come fish with us.  Remember...Fish when you can and work when you have to.

Ronald D. Daugherty
American Bass Angler - District 51
jydawg1@msn.com