Falcon Report

[Pepe]

When the arctic weather hit a couple weeks ago we were able to arrange a house to stay at in Zapata, Texas, so we called some friends who loaded the boat, packed the sunscreen and headed south to Falcon Lake. Our friends barely made it ahead of the wintry weather but got out on the 8th, a couple days ahead of us. We arrived Saturday afternoon after dealing with some mechanical issues.

Three severe cold fronts had preceded us and the town of Zapata was not very crowded. News at the tackle shop was depressing and the local fishermen were glum. The water temperature had dropped 15 degrees and the fish had lockjaw. Our friends, very good bass fishermen, had no luck finding biters but they were eliminating water.

We were fortunate to hook up with B.A.S.S. Elite Pro, Matt Reed, who had just arrived to spend a couple months guiding on Falcon. What a treat Matt is to fish with. Main lake structure at the mouth of creeks seemed like a good place to start so we worked a bunch of those spots. It looked like the skunk was on us but my wife, Lily, caught a fat bass on a Carolina rigged Yum Dinger to lift the stink late in the day.

Monday was so windy we stayed close to home, but there is no place to hide from the breeze when it gets howling across that lake. A single white bass was the yield for the day. Very few boats were on the lake but we had a good time, again eliminating water. Tuesday was a nicer day but we were still struggling to catch anything. The few folks at the ramp also said they were struggling. It was sunny and warm, though, and we were happy.

Matt had one last free day, with six straight weeks of bookings ahead of him, and he took the ladies while we stayed nearby and in contact. As it warmed up we caught a few feisty bass flipping bushes and slow rolling spinnerbaits in 3.5 to 4 feet of water inside creek/river mouths. The water temperature was 56-57 degrees.

The sun kept shining and the water warming. As it did the bite picked up along creek channel edges, still at the same depth and in the bushes. We picked up several between 7 & 8 lbs and all fish were smoking hot with a ton of attitude. It was all I could do to turn some of these bass on a MH rod and 20lb line. Some of them successfully ran for cover, wrapped the line and were gone.

On a modified spinnerbait, I hooked a big girl that went into a bush. My buddy was shoulder deep and had a hand on her but she broke me off and swam away with my lure. The next day we found the lure about ½ mile away, up in a bush. She swam quite a distance before tossing that thing.

We had a great time, but once again were reminded that Falcon does not usually give up a lot of fish. There are still some big bass in that lake, though. We got home just in time to watch the games today.

As a side note; we aren’t real impressed with the local restaurants and most meals were home cooked. I was especially unimpressed with Texas beef. I guess we are very fortunate to have good quality meat in this region

[merc1997 Bo]

hearing you speak of the texas beef not being what you liked, did you look at the grocery store? one of the grocery stores there in zapata had a quite good meat counter. Plus, they have great sales on their steaks. we usually stock up on new york strips and rib eyes before heading back home when we go down to do some fishing. they are as good or better than what can be had here in cassville for a whole lot less money.

bo

[abkeenan]

Best BBQ (mainly brisket) I've ever had was in Texas. Best steak I've ever had was in Texas. Pretty sure they have some good beef down there.

[Pepe]

hearing you speak of the texas beef not being what you liked, did you look at the grocery store? one of the grocery stores there in zapata had a quite good meat counter. Plus, they have great sales on their steaks. we usually stock up on new york strips and rib eyes before heading back home when we go down to do some fishing. they are as good or better than what can be had here in cassville for a whole lot less money.

Thanks for your help and I am glad you have had better luck than me. We did visit Three (3) grocery stores (Riverview, Superfoods & the real small one) in Zapata. All have meat counters. We bought ribeyes and T bones. Ribeyes were 8.99 lb and very tough. We also had steaks at a couple local restaurants. This was my third trip to Zapata and I haven't had a good steak there yet. But, of course, we don't go for the cuisine. We have had very good chicken-fried steak at "The Steakhouse"

We stock up on tri-tips and beef tenderloins from Country Fresh in Shell Knob and sometimes the beef at Harter House in Kimberling City.

There is a popular place south of San Antonio called Bill Miller's that has good barbeque, if you prefer brisket.

My hope is that the report will help the next guy(s) as II know some folks from the area are headed down there soon. We met some folks just arriving who were from Tablerock area and some guys from Bentonville.

[Quillback]

Thanks for the report, always interesting to read about fishing those TX lakes.

[Champ188]

Nicely written report, Danger Close. Thanks for sharing it.

[Mitch f]

Great report, I always buy rib eyes at Costco.

[Sore Thumbs]

Danger. I ran into you guys at the mexican steak house that was behind the courthouse. I appreciate the help you gave us. We went to that spot where you told us to go and there was 10-15 boats within 500yds of that spot. Lol. I guess the word was out. After 2 days of no fish we decided to go to Lake Fork. That was our 3rd time to Falcon and it was by far the worst trip we had ever had. That was my first time on Fork. We fished for about 4 hours and I caught two good ones. A 5lb 15oz and a 4lb 7oz. I would much rather drive 5hrs to Fork than 14 to Falcon. Thanks again for your help.

[Quillback]

I keep thinking that one of these days I'm going to get down and fish Fork.

[Sprint21fter]

Fork is like any other lake down there, when its on its hotter than a fire cracker, when its off its off. However, even when it is off you make a cast you have a shot at a fish of a lifetime.