Springtime is prime time to catch lunker largemouth bass in Texas waters, specifically females that have moved up shallow ahead of and during the spawning process.
There are a number of factors that can dictate when these fish will be there, helping you narrow down your angling efforts.
The magic water temperature for largemouth bass spawning is roughly 65-68 degrees, though some fish will spawn before or after those numbers are reached, typically depending on geographic region. Some reservoirs, including notable hot spots in the Rolling Plains and Panhandle, are notorious for having a late spawn as cooler temperatures extend from late winter into early spring. Other lakes, including those in the Pineywoods and South Texas, tend to have earlier spawning periods once air and water temperatures stabilize.
Another consideration is monitoring moon phases as many bass, though not all, will lock onto their beds when they’re ready in and around periods of full moon. Since the incubation of bass eggs is aided by sunlight, that too should be something to consider. In turbid water, a bass will construct a nest shallower than in clear conditions in most circumstances.
Proper technique vital when handling Texas’ lunker largemouth bass
While these biological and environmental factors are important in the quest for locating and landing a lunker, it also helps to know big bass history in Texas, specifically the dates when huge largemouths were caught. The Toyota ShareLunker program has maintained detailed records of 13-pound largemouths — and larger — that were caught and entered into the selective breeding and research program during the past two decades.
There have been 580 largemouth bass entered into the ShareLunker program in its existence, including two this month from Lake Fork and Lake Conroe. Of that overall total, 250 have been caught in March, by far the most of any month.
In looking at the trends, there is a definite spike in activity as March rolls on, and if you drill down specifically, there is one stretch of the month that stands out for ShareLunker entries — March 18-22. The number of entries by date all-time shows an interesting trend that can’t be overlooked — the only stretch in ShareLunker history with double-digit entries over a five-day period:
- March 18: (11 ShareLunkers)
- March 19: (12)
- March 20: (14)
- March 21: (10)
- March 22: (14)
Long story short, this week is the historical peak of lunker largemouth bass fishing in Texas. If you’re reading this, you should be fishing instead!
