Keith Lusher 08.20.24
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 mentioned.
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 make the most of that further hour or so earlier than the solar is absolutely up,” he mentioned.
On Touche’s newest journey, he formulated a plan to start out early, fishing the grass utilizing a hollow-body frog for larger bass. “Man, did that repay!” Touche mentioned. The bass fisherman was throwing a inexperienced and yellow Booyah Pad Crasher Jr. and caught seven keeper bass earlier than the solar ever absolutely made it over the horizon. “These fish had been smashing the frog,” he mentioned. “I simply love that early morning chew.”
Because the day heated up, the frog chew slowed, and Touche converted to a Rooster 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 mentioned.
Whereas making an attempt 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 mentioned. Touche braced himself for a combat and muscled the fish nearer. Because it neared the boat, the massive 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 huge bass got here and inhaled it,” Touche mentioned.
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 a minimum of 5 kilos,” he mentioned. After recuperating, Touche continued fishing with the Zoom Fluke and was capable of 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 via. “Getting out on the water at darkish has paid big dividends for me this month,” he mentioned. “I wouldn’t be catching almost as many fish if I wasn’t placing within the effort to get on the market early.”
