Boy have we been waiting on it to get here, now is the time to book that dream trip to your favorite lake.
If that dream trip happens to be to Kentucky Lake or Lake Barkley, I got someone you need to meet, this guy can make that dream bassin trip become all you want it to be.
Who is this miracle worker? Let me introduce you to a friend of mine.
He is Dave Stewart, full time professional bass guide and owner of Bassbuster Guide Service.
By the way Dave is the good-looking thin guy in the striped shirt.
I recently attended the Kentucky Outdoor Press Association (KOPA) meeting, and Dave was one of the guides that provided his services to the writers while we were staying at Moor's Resort on Kentucky Lake.
I had fished Kentucky Lake a few times but it had been years ago, I had no idea what to except as far as how good the fishing would be. I would like to invite you along while we tell you how we found the bass just waiting for us to do a little "Lizard Wizard" fishing.
When I found out that I was going to get to fish with Dave I wrote him to see just what he thought would be the best way to catch some of these spring bass. When he wrote me back he told me that a "Texas Rig" was going to be the best way to go on the weekend that we were to be there.
I have to honest, that wasn't what I was hoping to hear, I hadn't use a bottom draggin bait in a long time, as a matter of fact, it had been years since my plastic dragging days.
I was going to take my own advice; I had told my own clients when I was guiding, trust the guy that was getting paid, he knows what he's doing. This turn out to be good advice, you might even want to take some notes.
My daughter (Christy) and I met Dave for dinner on Friday evening to plan our fishing day. Dave told us where and how we were going to catch some fish, we agreed to meet for breakfast and then to head out for the day.
By the time we hit the water it was about 8:45 a.m., we knew that one of the largest open tournaments of the year was blasting off before we would hit the water.
We expected to see a lot of tournament boats and that's just how it was. Dave took us to the first cove where we would rig up and make our first effort to catch a fish. He broke it down for us, telling us just what the fish were doing and that the really large fish were on the nest.
We both agreed that these fish were off limits, we were not going to take bedding bass, they were plenty of good bass to catch that was still feeding in a weed known as "Mustard Weeds".
Apparently these weeds grow on the flats that get flooded as the lake makes it way to summer pool.
I believe a picture is worth a thousand words, so rather than trying to describe them, here is a picture of just what we are talking about.
These weeds were all the way under the boat, if you look close you can see some of the tops just at water level. We Texas rigged our rods with a 6-½-inch Zoom Lizard, (green pumpkinseed) the one with the curly tail, using a 3/8oz bullet sinker.
Oh! One other little secret; Dave dipped the tails in chartruse dye, now we are ready!
Dave hits the trolling motor and gets us in position. It's like they were waiting on us, we cast out the Lizard and drag it slow keeping it low in the water.. tap.. Tap... Bam!
They pound it, the war is on! Time after time we bring fish to the boat. This is Christy's first time ever using a lizard so it takes her a little while before she picks up on just how to work the bait.
After catching a dozen fish or so we move to a different location, but the results were the same, the Wizard Lizard fishing is working like a charm. The wind is picking up on the main lake areas but the little private coves that Dave takes us to seem to give us a break.
At this point we have caught and released over a dozen fish apiece. Dave asks if we want to
take a bathroom break. Man this guy is reading my mind! We head for a marina, where we can walk
up to the restroom, after the pit stop, Dave ask if we want to do a little road bed fishing
with a crankbait.We agree, and we head to a road bed; the wind is a killer here and the fish decided not to play with us.
After about 20 minutes Dave says "How about heading back to the shallows".
We both are eager to get out of the wind, and it's no time till we are back to catching fish on the Wizard Lizard!
Most of the fish we catch are look-a-likes-- we have no dinks, but 18 inches or so is about as big as anything we put in the boat. Dave does hook a monster, but it breaks him off at the boat. As Christy catches the last fish of the day, we see some of the tournament boats start to head in for the weight in and we know our time is about over.
What a day we had, with over 20 fish each caught. I couldn't have asked for a better day. I can't say enough about how professional and prepared Dave was, this was one of the most productive and fun days I have had on the water in a long time.
If you want to tap in on some of this Wizard Lizard fishing I suggest giving Dave a call. If the lizard isn't working, he can tell you what is. He can make that spring bassin' trip one that you will remember for the rest of your life!
Contact;
Dave Stewart
Bassbuster Guide Service
1-270-354-5039
Till next time,
Good Fishing!
Chris "Trimmer" Erwin
KentuckyAngling.Com
Member, Kentucky Outdoor Press Association