The spring season is always eventful for the committed angler. Our local kayak GTG events are growing exponentially, and our most recent gathering, held just a few weekends ago at Lake Grapevine, proved this trending math. Of course, there are plenty of pictures, all of which can be viewed by clicking here. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to demo our new Bass Pro Shops Ascend FS128T Kayak at the event, and the response was great. This boat is definitely turning some heads, and if you are interested in learning more about this new fishing platform, I would recommend clicking here and here. Both reviews include a wealth of information, photos, and video. In other news, I recently returned from a really great camping and fishing trip at Lake Texoma. I stayed at Eisenhower State Park and took full advantage of the rare smallmouth opportunity. As always, you can view the comprehensive set of images by clicking here.

I thought I knew what to expect, and as I desperately search for a visual or literal reference, I can’t help but cite the shaky and disorienting sentiments of the Blair Witch Project. Were the swamps completely confusing and disorienting? Yes, they absolutely were. Were they frightening? Not for us. We paddled into this wild anomaly without hesitation, and we were quickly reminded of nature’s challenge.

I didn’t get a picture of her, but a really nice dog with one white eye greeted us at Pine Needle Lodge. Following in the footsteps, or paddle strokes, of the Dallas Downriver Club, we set out to mimic their annual Halloween Goat Island Excursion. It felt good to leave our cars in a private area, and before we knew it, we were deep in the swamps of Caddo Lake. The giant salvinia infestation made it almost entirely impossible to paddle. In fact, it was so thick that we couldn’t tell the difference between land and water. Our first day didn’t allow for much fishing time, and after setting up camp and watching the sun quickly disappear, we bedded down in anticipation of the morning bite.

Unfortunately, our morning efforts were unsuccessful. We had a difficult time finding fishable water, and with the vegetation completely covering the entire area, it was hard to make a read. I caught a few little fish out of some very small holes, but it didn’t take long for us to realize that we needed to make some adjustments to our plans. We headed back to camp, packed up, and quickly made our way down the bank to the Carter’s Chute Paddling Trail Launch. To our surprise, the area offered easy access to more open water, and the launch facility was top notch. We set up camp at our new location and walked down the road to get our cars from Pine Needle Lodge. I fell asleep excited about the possibilities.

The morning air was brutally cold. I warmed myself by the fire until the sun lifted above the trees, and made my way out into the swamp. Our new location was much more navigable, and fortunately, it fished better as well. My first keeper fish finally came, followed by several others. Caddo Lake is a bass angler’s paradise, but I was having a hell of a time with the patterns. I just couldn’t figure them out. Satisfied with a much better morning, I headed back to camp to prepare for the next phase of our adventure. We would be heading over to Moonshadows Hideaway for the remainder of our stay, and a bachelor party would soon be taking place across the border.

Moonshadows Hideaway offered a really nice dock directly adjacent to deeper water, and unlike the first dog, I got a good picture of our trip’s second greeter. The vegetation was still present, but not nearly as much as the previous locations. I spent most of the day struggling, but the quality of wildlife in this area was much better. A few more keeper fish found their way in front of my camera, and I paddled back to camp with my head held high. Our group was quickly growing in anticipation of Saturday’s bachelor party in Shreveport, and I found myself caring less about the fishing. It was really great to see some old friends, and we spent the rest of the evening around the campfire with cold beverages and acoustic guitars.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t make the short trip over to Shreveport. With work calling early in the morning, I spent a little time casting off the dock before packing up. My trip to Caddo marked a possible new direction for Up Down Bass, as I spent most of my time experimenting with some new widescreen photography techniques. I am definitely going to need some more practice, but I rather like the results. Once again, the comprehensive set of images can be found in a recent report I wrote over at the Texas Fishing Forum, and you can easily navigate to the article by clicking here. Congratulations to my good friends, Brandon and Jason. I know you guys will make Kimber and Malerie very happy. Well done gentlemen.

Year after year, the cooling temperatures of the fall season and her evolving foliage trigger an almost innate instinct to head out into the woods. The month of October has seen me on the road, and while fishing is always of importance, so too is the desire to lose myself in the everything and nothingness of the wild. Meridian and Tyler State Park were just two of my recent destinations, and as usual, I am inclined to let the pictures do the talking. The comprehensive set of images can be found in a recent report I wrote on the Texas Fishing Forum, and you can easily navigate to the article by clicking here.

My recent escape to Tyler State Park has been anticipated for what seems like an eternity. As a young man, my first trip to Holly Lake undoubtedly solidified my fascination with East Texas and her rolling blankets of pine. The DFW grind is necessary, but so too is the occasional flight to a land not so far away. You see, it only takes about an hour of eastward travel to understand the complexity of our Lone Star State. The Piney Woods never disappoint, and with a friendly and attentive staff, Tyler State Park puts this natural treasure in clear focus. I awoke on the second day to the familiar but eerie silence of the wilderness, and to lengthen my sense of confusion, I found the lake to be completely covered in fog. What an amazing experience.

First of all, I have to take a few seconds to brag about a friend of mine. Robbie Milam, a North Texas kayak angler and Hobie Pro Staffer, was recently selected to compete in the Hobie World Championship. Robbie is not only a great guy, but he is what I consider to be an outdoorsman of the highest caliber. Congratulations, and may the current flow in your direction. In other news, I recently completed an interview with The Milkcrate Magazine. I really can’t say enough about this intriguing publication, and for what it’s worth, I was very honored and proud to participate. You can check out the complete interview by clicking here.

Has my recent marriage thwarted some momentum here at Up Down Bass? Sure, it most definitely has. But I learned how to tie a new knot. A few weeks ago, Rochelle and I officially sealed the deal on the beaches of Mexico. Fortunately, my wife is completely supportive of my kayak addiction, and I am definitely looking forward to getting back out on the water. I couldn’t be more lucky to have met such an amazing woman. The following images were taken over the past few months, and while I didn’t get a chance to do any fishing in Mexico, I definitely set into a few good bass before we left.

Well, I actually used to be a pretty good basketball player. My height advantage slowly dwindled, and as I made my way into high school, the term “March Madness” quickly became another phrase that I passively ignored. But long before basketball, there was fishing. Even as a young man, I understood the gravity of the spring season. Many of my childhood birthday cakes were soon followed by a father and son fishing trip, and while the landscape bloomed, as it does every March, so too did my instincts as an outdoorsman.

I hit the water this afternoon with a slight change of pace. As I have said many times before, the artificial crawfish is a staple in my angling strategy, specifically the Berkley Chigger Craw. Like any angler, I tend to lock into certain patterns. So, what better time than March to try the Zoom Super Speed Craw? I quickly took notice of the drag, aptly produced by the extreme vibration. It was almost as if I was pulling a small willow blade spinnerbait through the water, which is no small feat for a soft plastic crawfish. When a more aggressive presentation is needed, the Super Speed Craw will definitely have my attention.