Prepare and Pursue Fishing Checklist for March

Cole hooked up with a nice trout
Photo: Chris Carson

March is a great month to be on the water.  From the bays and marshes to the lakes and rivers, the waters are coming alive.  Black Drum are making their run, Largemouth Bass are in pre-spawn or even actively spawning, White Bass are on the move in the rivers, and trophy Specks are prowling around looking for warmer water. 

Get out that tackle box and take inventory. Below are a few common species and what you can expect to catch them on this month.

Here is your Prepare and Pursue Fishing Checklist for March:

White Bass.  White Bass are still running in some rivers down south and beginning to make their runs in the Texas Hill Country.  I have heard and had some pretty decent luck throughout the years fishing for this plentiful and tasty species fishing between the first and second rapids along the Guadalupe River above Canyon Lake. The best access to this area is by kayak. Put in at the 281 Bridge and take out at the Rebecca Creek Boat Ramp.  This is about a 12.5 mile trip.  Fish all the good looking spots and work the areas near the rapids for spawning sandies. By boat, launch at the Rebecca Creek Boat Ramp, head out to the river and head up stream as far as you feel comfortable.  Throw Speck Rigs or any soft plastic tandem rig, Unfair Lures Rip N Slash, or Rat L Traps and of course, live minnows.  When you find them, keep throwing at them.

Backwater creek empties into the Guadalupe River
Photo: Bryan Taylor

Crappie. These spunky little fighters in the backs of creeks and other tributaries in sunken brush piles, laydowns, standing timber.  Other than live bait, they can be caught on Marabou jigs,  Road Runners, Beetle Spins, and other soft plastic jig and spinner combos including the Matrix Mini. Ultra light gear is best and makes for a fun fight with this little bruiser.

Largemouth bass can be caught in the typical pre spawn areas.  They will be staging on ledges, bottom transitions and other structure near bed areas.  The baits to throw are going to be moving baits designed to bring about a reaction strike such as crank baits and swim baits.  Bass are patrolling and looking for nest sites, so they will be looking to clear the area of potential threats. Nest raiders like lizards and craws are a good idea too, but with more of a power presentation than finesse. These fish are looking for a fight!

Speckled Trout are looking for warming water this time of year. Look for muddy bottom that holds heat on warm days.  Just a couple degrees of change in water temperature can hold a monster! Paul Brown Corkies, Unfair Dawgwalker, and Unfair Shrimp under popping cork are deadly.

Chris Castro of Next Level Fishing TV with a Black Drum
Caught on Vortex Shad
Photo: Chris Castro

Black Drum. Huge Black Drum are making their way back into the bays and marshes to spawn.  A great place to look for them is deep in the passes and channels as they head in from the Gulf of Mexico.  Catch these big uglies on live bait fished on the bottom.  A difficult fish to catch on artificials, but it can be done on the Vortex Shad as my friend Chris Castro of Next Level Fishing TV proved last year.  Check out the video here https://youtu.be/JWIRVtohj-8?t=2m  and give him a like and a follow.

The spring months are the best times to introduce your kids to the outdoors.  A target rich environment along with a plethora of different activities provide a multitude of things to do.  There is bound to be something that everyone will enjoy.