I went to Amistad last year and there seine nets tied up everywhere in the shallows. We saw some bass moving up on beds and getting caught in the nets. We spent a whole day cutting nets off stakes.

Just a couple or reasons that keeps me from catching them.
- Wind - I cannot stay vertical over them and the bait must be right against the wall. It must be a very calm day and the lake needs to be slick.
- Survival rate - They will not live if you put them in the livewell. They will continue to air up after being fizzed.

Donald what about a big spinnerbait on those deep ledges? You think that would work? How much of a difference does the nightcrawler scent help? Seems like a great idea.

I have caught lots of big bass slow rolling a spinner bait at 25 to 30 ft. on Amistad. I always use the Minnow scent on them.

Most of the bass over 10 lbs. have come from other fisherman that I have talked to that do this on a regular basis at night on Amistad. There was a group that came down and stayed in the trailer next to me at Tommy's on River St. They would be coming in or at the boat ramp as I was going out each morning and their phones were loaded with big fish every morning. It is something that is better done at night.

I never see very many of these bass that I am talking about on top of or at the edge of the ledge. They are always way deeper and against the wall in the shade, just waiting for the shad to swim down the wall.

And WHEN was this ???

In 1998 when it was low. In 2003 when it was beginning to fill up. In 2006 when the grass was the tallest. Those are the 3 trips that I can remember them being there when I was there. I am sure they come often just to fish at night.

2006! Now that is some fresh info right there.

The fish are still there, they just aren't in a high percentage area, meaning that they aren't where they will be easily caught. I'm sure the population has gone down some, but if the water level was stable and the grass came back the numbers would come up dramatically. It is an awesome fishery, but can be almost impossible to fish effectively when it is in the state it is in now.

Yeah bud light took 11lbs to win with some very good fisherman. Now that's tough! Heard a few being caught in 25-30ft.

My friend you are living in the past.
The OP was asking about present time. The numbers of bass at Amistad from the spring of 2013 until present is just a fraction of what they were from 1996 through 2010

If you could not catch fish on Amistad from 1996 until 2008... You might want to consider golf. The number of bass in the lake during that time period was (UNBELIAVABLE) That was during the time when a 25 pound sack would not get a second look. You would LEAVE 5 pounders to look for bigger fish.

I agree 100%

Well if you didn't want to know when it was, you shouldn't have ask. I have never said the fishing was as good as it was in those days. I just told the poster where they are.

When you get old and fat you don't get out of the house much and all you got to talk about is the past.

Please add, when you fish the lake for 35 years and have gone through seeing the bass disappear for long periods of time over those years; you might have a clue where they are.

Ok guys lets settle down a little. He's just trying to pass info. Use it or don't..Yes its been tough,but Mr. Harper is correct. They are deep may not be in the numbers we have seen in the past but they are out there. When the early bite dies off try deep, Walls on the devils have been producing. Doesn't seem like the wind will settle down but can still hang. Also found them deep off humps out of San Pedro (40 ft). Been in the area since 87 and it's a tough as I can see.