While fishing the CAST South Central last Saturday on Lake Houston with the wife, I had something happen to me that I have never seen in almost 40 years of bass fishing. First of all, the numbers of fish caught and how shallow they were caught surprised me considering the water temps. I saw temps ranging from 45 to just a shade over 50. Anyway, at about 1:00, I put the soft plastic down and picked up a very shallow diving crank bait. About 15 casts in, the bait lands in about 18 inches of water and as I reach down to engage the reel, BAM, a colossal strike that one can only hope for on the best days of frog fishing. The fish ran straight at me and I never was able to catch up to her to get her buttoned properly so I lost the fish, but I digress back to fact that the water was just a shade over 49 degrees and the fish absolutely crushed that crank bait that was sitting on top of the water for less than a second after it hit. My best guess is that the fish was in the 4-5 lb range and was in "protection" mode obviously. Just curious if anyone else has had anything else like that happen to them. Something that defies all the "laws" of bass fishing and just makes you rethink everything you THINK you know.

are you sure it was a Bass, I did that once with a spinner bait, hit right at the bank and the water boiled,..after about 10-15 secs of the fish screaming up and down the bank in about a foot of water, I had a 7 pound catfish.

Oh yes, it was a bass, that was quite apparent when half of her body came up out of the water to grab the crank bait. I was completely shocked and unprepared for that to say the least. I have had catfish do that to me and had I not seen the fish, I would have guessed it to be a catfish as well. 100% sure it was a bass.

All my biggest fish this winter came cranking shallow including a possible DD that I lost at the side of the boat like a dummy. Some days I've caught em 45 feet deep then move to a different spot and caught em in 3 feet. Like they say bass don't read the same books as we do lol.

Bet that gave you a fun surprise. I've read about hot buzz bait bites in shallow timber when the water is in the upper 40s (non Florida strain LMB)

Using a top water like a walking lure during prespawn/spawn is a great pattern. They'll smash it.

At the time, we had 4 in the boat and needed that 5th fish. So while it was fun, it was also frustrating knowing that was #5. Fortunately, I did manage to get that 5th one about 15 min later on the same bait in a more "traditional" way. Thankful for that.

I look for this pattern, but it is usually a bream pattern, and rare.. One minus, other shallow cranks..Work it like a top water, then bring it out..High water as well..

From now on you should pause for a few seconds before you start your retrieve. Ya' never know!!!

John, I am just disappointed I did not get to fish that bait around a certain "dock"!! lol

Yea go figure and what about the classic them guys were fishing in single digit temps and catching them in less than 6' of water-oh wait they know what they are doing and we just think we know lol!

All my huge bass have come on my spook while sitting. Then I will make it turn once and let it sit again and usually that is when it happens.

I think it depends on the lake rather than rules of bass fishing. I have a lake where no matter the time of year or temp of water I can catch fish less than 6'deep while everyone's else is sitting deep scratching their heads.

You can catch fish shallow all year around summer, fall, winter, spring.

Rick Clunn says it is NEVER to cold to throw a buzz bait and he proves it with his practice II have caught and missed fish like that in shallow water. Seems like the bigger fish are the ones that hang out and bite like that. Just goes to show you we never know. Tight lines, keep safe and good luck.

Thad Rains