Bass

The midday landscape on the back side of Mustang Island was sweltering. The horizon danced and bubbled as the heat index rolled well above triple digits. I was in the danger zone. The paddle that seemed so feathery under the early morning clouds and in the cool breeze at dawn had been...

Texas is home to the best bass fishing in the country. That's a statement anglers in the Lone Star State long have been able to take to the bank, but actually quantifying it has been tough in the past, especially considering other notable largemouth locales including Florida and California arguably have...

Back in the spring of 2006, Billy Greeson had a monster day on the water while bass fishing. The Amarillo firefighter caught a 15-pound largemouth bass on a black and blue jig on the final day of March, setting the Lake Alan Henry record, which still stands to this day....

It’s the million-dollar, age-old fishing question: “What are they biting on?” The great answer for bass anglers across Texas: “Whatever you’ve got on the end of your line.” The spring spawn, when large females move into the shallows to spawn and smaller males stand vigilant over the nest, is prime time...

In the fledgling years of professional bass tournaments, most guys were hoping to catch enough fish so they could pay their bills to make it to the next event. Today, the sport has sprouted albatross wings and soared to garish new heights that even the greatest optimist couldn't have...

The first few casts with the dark-skirted spinner bait sink in right along the edge of the dip in geography, exactly where they should be, but no takers materialize from below as the bait scoots toward the boat. A few more flips and still the drag remains to be put...

Fishing during the middle of the day isn’t just tough — it’s downright dangerous. It doesn’t take much to overheat and take all the fun right out of the pastime. However, if you’re looking to find the magic hour, any success you have clearly will be both audible and visible. Concentrating early...

This time in September has most of us who enjoy outdoor pursuits antsy for the opening day of archery season, which will provide the first chance to treat a lingering case of buck fever. However, it’s tough to dismiss the scaly potential swimming in our state’s lakes and reservoirs, specifically...

Texas bass fishing is akin to Texas deer hunting: You don’t have to go far to find the big ones. Many of the state’s more than 2 million resident anglers have started their pursuit of finding the lunker of a lifetime, while some have hit the jackpot recently. There have...

The vibrant afternoon that held promise only a few hours before had morphed into a shadowy evening crammed no shortage of frustration, as well as no fish. The sloping sand flat littered with waving grass and oyster shells had produced a number of good fish in the past, but on...