Tony Goodman of the Jacksonville Bass Club blew away the competition on Brandy Branch Lake last weekend. In the first hour of competition he boated a limit of bass using a Nichols big 1 1⁄2-ounce blue shad spinner bait with blue fleck blades. His top two bass weighed 6.64 pounds and 6.27 pounds.
Goodman’s fishing partner, Tommy Goodman, landed 13.96 pounds of bass, including big bass of the tournament that weighed 6.99 pounds.
Brandy Branch is a small power plant lake just south of Longview. Even in January you can find plenty of warm water in the 60s and 70s. Hydrilla rims the lake out to about 17 feet. In many places there is almost a vertical wall of hydrilla in 17 feet of water. Big bass are now relating to this very prolific aquatic plant.
Tony said they positioned their boat in about 25 feet of water and cast the Nichols blue shad spinner bait to the outside edge of the grass. Most strikes came as the bait was "helicoptering" to the bottom. Strikes came from the 14- to 16-foot depths mostly.
After the early morning bite subsided, the two switched to fishing a watermelon, red Sienko using a Gamakatsu hook, wacky style. They continued fishing near a wall of hydrilla. Their best luck came from deep “patchy” areas on the bottom near the 20-foot depths. Throughout the day they culled bass.
Bass were caught on the hot sides of the lake nearest the hot water discharge and on the colder side of the lake. It was reported bass could be found in three stages: pre-spawn, spawn and post-spawn.
The majority of bass that were caught shallow were the smaller male bass. Most of the large bass were caught out in deeper hydrilla.
Several fishermen reported catching bass on Rattle Traps and Nichols Red Rattle Shads. If you are interested, Nichols baits can be purchased by going on line to www.nicholslures.com .
The Jacksonville Bass Club’s next tournament has been moved up to the first weekend and will be held on Martin Creek. Tournament days will be Feb. 7-8.
Jerry Miller can be contacted at gonefishing@suddenlink.net
