Begin Early for August Bass

With general temperatures hitting all-time highs for 2024 this week, anglers are being pressured to regulate their methods when fishing for bass.

Dustin Touche of Slidell, LA, has been limiting out (10 fish) on each journey he’s made this month. His technique? “Begin early, begin early, begin early,” Touche stated.

Touche has been making a particular effort to depart the home earlier than darkish and arrive at his first fishing spot earlier than the solar peeks over the horizon. “That warmth has the water temps hitting 90 levels by 10:00 a.m., so it’s essential to benefit from that further hour or so earlier than the solar is totally up,” he stated.

On Touche’s newest journey, he formulated a plan to begin early, fishing the grass utilizing a hollow-body frog for greater bass. “Man, did that repay!” Touche stated. The bass fisherman was throwing a inexperienced and yellow Booyah Pad Crasher Jr. and caught seven keeper bass earlier than the solar ever totally made it over the horizon. “These fish had been smashing the frog,” he stated. “I simply love that early morning chew.”

Because the day heated up, the frog chew slowed, and Touche converted to a Hen on a Chain coloured Zoom Fluke, however the chew simply wasn’t there. “As soon as it will get to 90 levels, it’s nearly over on Bayou Bonfouca,” he stated.

Whereas attempting to complete off his restrict, Touche had an surprising encounter with the largest bass of the day. It got here on the intersection of two bayous, Bayou Liberty and Bonfouca. Touche noticed water mixing the place the 2 tributaries got here collectively and began casting towards the shoreline. He had a small bass comply with his lure alongside the floor and set the hook when the bass hit. As he was reeling the small bass in, he felt the fish pull more durable. “I actually didn’t know what was on the road at that time,” he stated. Touche braced himself for a struggle and muscled the fish nearer. Because it neared the boat, the large fish let go, leaving a mangled 8-inch bass hanging on the opposite finish of his line. “I set the hook on the smaller bass, and whereas I used to be reeling it in, that massive bass got here and inhaled it,” Touche stated.

After realizing what had occurred, Touche took a second to catch his breath and replay what had simply occurred. “I noticed that fish clearly! It seemed prefer it was no less than 5 kilos,” he stated. After recuperating, Touche continued fishing with the Zoom Fluke and was in a position to catch three extra bass by casting into drains that got here out of the marsh.

Touche recommends getting as early a begin as doable in August till the primary cool entrance passes by way of. “Getting out on the water at darkish has paid large dividends for me this month,” he stated. “I wouldn’t be catching practically as many fish if I wasn’t placing within the effort to get on the market early.”

Keith Lusher

Keith Lusher is an award profitable out of doors journalist that resides in Covington, Louisiana. He owns and operates NorthshoreFishingReport.com and writes a weekly out of doors column for the Slidell Impartial Newspaper. He additionally writes for the St.Tammany Parish Tourism Fee’s VisitTheNorthshore.com. He’s the previous host of The Northshore Fishing Report Radio Present and is on the board of the Louisiana Out of doors Writers Affiliation. Keith contributes to quite a few publications each on-line and in print and prides himself on selling South Louisiana’s distinctive fishery. To contact Keith e mail: keithlusherjr@gmail.com