Submitted by Jeff Buchanan -- Pro Guide Service and Lodging

Date Fished: 4/11/2006
Water Temperature: 70
Water Clarity: 2-3 feet

McDonald's Big Bass Splash Tournament Report from Pro Angler Jeff Buchanan

Water Temps 60's to 70's Lake Level 1.8 feet below pool

When the McDonald's tournament comes to Big Sam, it gets exciting. We have thousands of guests coming to our lake from throughout the country with the dream of catching a 10 plus pound bass and taking home the $100,000 first prize.

The lake this year is different than in years past. We are usually a few feet above pool right now with the lake starting to fall. But this year our lake levels haven’t gotten above pool at all, and with the lake levels expecting to start falling soon, the willows and buck brush of years past won’t be holding the quality fish that they have historically produced. This year I believe 6-14 feet is where you will find the big ones. This depth is important for several reasons. First, it is where the outside grass edge is, and the grass edge makes a great place for a big female to pull to when she is stressed from the spawn. Second, this depth is historic for the winners of this tournament. Many checks will be caught in more shallow water or even deeper water, but for this tournament most winning fish will come from this depth range. Third, the big fish on Rayburn know when there are thousands of fishermen running up and down the lake in search of them. Each day of the tournament, the fishing generally gets tougher and the weights decrease. So the big bass will pull out to deeper water and "hunker down" in the grass to seek shelter from all the fishing pressure. Of course there will be fish caught at all different depths, but my money will be on 6-14 feet of water.

There are several baits that work great at these depths. A Carolina-rigged lizard or worm is a great choice for working the grass. Remember that you are fishing for one big bite, so don’t be afraid to step up to a Mag lizard or a 10 inch worm. Make long casts and work the bait slow, try to key on drains, creeks, or flats with grass along the edges. A deep running crank bait would probably be my choice if I were in the tournament. There are many baits that work in this range, I like a Norman DD22 and DLN in shad and chartreuse patterns, or a Rapala DT-16 and DT-10 in the same colors. Work the crank baits over and around the grass edges, making sure to "tick" the grass every now and then. This bait can be a work out, so make sure you have a comfortable cranking rod and good reel. The third bait I would suggest to throw in the McDonald's tournament this year is a ¾ to 1 ounce double willow or Colorado/willow spinner baits slow rolled over the grass. Put a big grub or trailer on the spinner bait-- this will make a big offering for the giant bass you are after. Make long casts with the spinner bait and then let it fall to the bottom. Once it hits the bottom, start your retrieve, making sure the blades are turning (but not fast enough to bring the bait up to the surface.) This technique is called "slow rolling", and it's a great way to catch a giant bass on Big Sam. As far as spinner bait colors, I like any white or shad patterns; also a bream color is good. When choosing your trailer color, try to find a color that is different than the spinner bait skirt. Some folks even use a black or red trailer that clashes with the skirt.

I have been getting calls and emails from my map customers inquiring about where would I fish in the tournament. I think grass flats are a great choice, along with the mouth of coves and creeks. We sell two maps that will put you right on these areas. One of these maps is a complete guide to my all-time favorite spots on Rayburn that have produced twelve bass for me in the last 9 years that weighed more than 10 pounds each. This map comes with a 100 pages of specific instruction on fishing Rayburn and has individual maps of each spot with hidden structure hand-drawn on it so you can see exactly what to target and how to attack it. We also have a seasonal spring map that will put you on some great spring areas that consistently produce fish. Both maps are great tools and will surely help you get on fish for the McDonald's event. Here are some of the spots that I know have big fish in them right now:

* Rayburn Favorites Map : Areas # 3, 10, 12, 14, 17, 23, 27, 30, 31, 38, and 41 are all good grass areas and places that I would spend some time on working the grass flats, edges, creek channels, and road beds (if there is one on that spot.)

*Spring Map: Areas # 2, 4, 11, 15, 18, 24, and 27 are also good grass areas to key on. Work the flats, road beds, and points on these spots also.

I know the boat pressure in this tournament can be crazy, so if you are on a flat try to utilize a big area there. If you are on a point, work up and down it.

Boats/Motors
Boat Ramp Stories
Trailers & Towing
Boats For Sale
Tournament Tactics
Striped Bass