Winter time in the area of Lake Texoma usually lowers the temperature of the water in the lake to the forties, as well as the position of the fish in the deep water structure. While some days may be highlighted with good numbers and the size of a small mat, a large genus or a stripper, many of them are sluggish. For those anglers who want to correct slow action in the winter months, there are several options that are not too far away.
If you are an avid fisherman or a woman and are not experiencing one of the thermal reservoirs, you are missing out on some wonderful winter season when you practice bass. Lakes Welsh and Monticello, located a couple of hours east of Lake Texom, along Interstate 30, offer a unique variation of typical winter fishing patterns. Since most of the lakes slow down during the December and January periods, the bass player in Welsh and Monticello is in frost and spawning modes.
Both of these lakes in East Texas have an area of one to two thousand acres and are used to cool the coal-fired power plants located on their shores. Due to the small size and the continuous flow of warm water, these lakes remain in the range of 60-80 degrees throughout the winter. The lakes Welch and Monticello are excellent for the number of fish, but are also known for their great bass, since each of them once held a Texas record.
Lake Wales, built in 1976, is a 1200-acre reservoir located south of the mountain. Pleasant, tx. Fishermen will find many options for fishing, as there are a lot of flooded forests in the lake, as well as aquatic algae and water grasses. Some of the best winter fishing is designed to target both inert and spawning bass by throwing massless soft plastics into and around the edges of flooded grass. The Lake Record, a large bass caught in December 1983, is a healthy 15.23 pounds of fish. Wales is the 18-inch minimum lake for all types of bass and is available on one public boat built on its western shore.
Lake Monticello, accommodating 2,000 acres, was built in 1972 and is located south of Interstate 30 between the cities of Mt. Vernon and Mount. Pleasant, tx. This lake is responsible for the wild bass boom that began in the early 80s. His record bass (14.90 pounds), made in February 1980, broke the previous record of the state of Texas, which was held for 37 years. When the word about fourteen pounds of generosity spread throughout the state, Lake Monticello became one of the main bass lakes in the south-west.
This East Texas Lake also has plenty of cover for anglers, including flooded wood, hydrilla and lily. Some of the best winter bass fishing species are located on the northern tip of the lake. Anglers can fish for spawning with soft plastics and spinners in and around dead lily stems found in two of their northern streams. Another fishing ground is outside of the hot water outlet. Carolina plants and crank baits work well in training fish that are located in their current state. Lake Monticello has a limit of 14-20 inches for bass, which offers an excellent opportunity to catch a few four to five pound fish.
The best time to plan a trip to these lakes is during the week, as most weekends are spent by the host tournaments during the winter months. If you have never been on a lake with power plants, be extremely careful when you boat in the early morning hours, as thick fog will cover the entire surface. Visibility will be only a few feet, until the sun warms the surrounding air.
Usually the coldest winter days are best on these lakes. Dress in bed for warmth, but also remember that the surface of the lake will be warmer than the surrounding land. If your hands or fingers are numb from the cold, simply insert them into the water to warm them.
