Most bass anglers know pre-frontal conditions can present some terrifying and terrific fishing conditions on the same trip.
It can be terrifying if you’re caught on the water when a strong weather front moves in. Winds speeds can pick up drastically creating waves that would qualify for coastal waves. Also a strong frontal passage may come equipped with thunder and lightning…not a good time to be holding a fishing rod, acting as a lightning rod.
However, if you can time it before all the high winds and the electric light show begins, it can present some terrific fishing action.
Check out what the fishing was like in late December on the south end of Toledo Bend Lake for a couple of Louisiana anglers.
Pre-frontal: “We started out fishing a small hump that came up to four feet of water on the top and managed a few smaller ones. We then moved to shallower water to find ditches and channels that led to spawning flats.
“At the first spot, on the first cast, I hooked up with a three pounder that came off at the boat due getting caught on my rub rail when I tried to flip it in. On my second cast, I hooked up again. Halfway to the boat the fish came unbuttoned on a Crawfish colored Rattle Trap. Third cast to that same spot resulted in a 5.98 lb. beautiful bass. My partner caught two more fish behind me, each over 3.5 lbs., using a Watermelon Red Swamp Swimmer. After that I boated another good fish on the Trap. We weighed our best five fish and had a total of 18.5 pounds.”
After a frontal passage: ‘We went back on the New Year's Day after the fog lifted to see if we could have another good day, but only managed one fish weighing 4.5 lbs on a Poodoo Craw. The rest were six inch long baby bass.”
Before this recent frontal passage, water temps were right at 60 degrees in the coves and along the shoreline. It won’t be long and fishermen will be bringing in 10 pound bass from Toledo Bend as the bass will be going into their pre-spawn mode. If you do choose to do some pre-frontal fishing, be careful. Check the latest weather advisories before you launch, and wear your life jacket in case quickly changing weather conditions catch you off-guard.
