The Texas Team Trail Tournament will host its final regular season event of the 2013 tournament season on June 1 at Cedar Creek Lake. Registration for the event is already underway. Anglers can pre-fish Friday, May 31, by completing their registration online or via phone prior to midnight on Thursday, May 30. All anglers that pre-register will also be entered into a drawing for a free Minn Kota Talon shallow water anchor.
Cedar Creek fishing guide, Jason Barber (903-387-7896) offers his advice on what it will take to win. Barber finished third in his first B.A.S.S. Tour event in Florida and collected his first tournament championship at Sam Rayburn, all in 2002.
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department reports lake conditions at 3.43' low and water temp at 68-73 degrees.
"Usually when this lake is low and your spawning coves are cut in half, there is not a lot of natural spawning cover. The fish will gravitate to rock," says Barber. "The dam, the spillway, the bridge rocks, things like that, in water 1-10 ft--there is usually going to be a lot of activity on the rocks."
Topwaters, crankbaits, soft plastics on shaky heads or Carolina rigs all work on and off the rocks.
What would Barber tie on for his first casts along the rocks?
"A topwater bait, a medium diving, shad colored crankbait and a shaky head jig or a split shot rig with watermelon colored stick worm or finesse worm," replies Barber. The fish are eating shad and bream now so a couple of different colors are going to work for you. Main thing is to make sure it's something you have a lot of confidence in."
He would spend the first three hours of the morning along the rocks, then moving offshore fishing underwater structure on the south end of the lake. If none of that works, throw caution to the wind and start hitting the docks, pitching, flipping and throwing crankbaits. "If you can find those special docks that are holding fish, you are going to earn a check."
How many pounds will it take to win? About 21 lbs is Barber's guess.
The first-place prize for this event will be a fully-rigged Stratos 189VLO with an Evinrude 150 HO package, valued at $25,000. On-site registration is set for Friday, May 31, from 4-7 p.m. at Log Cabin City Park (13620 Alamo Rd., Log Cabin, Texas 75148). One team member must attend. The tournament will launch Saturday, June 1, at safe light from Log Cabin City Park with the weigh-in beginning at 3 p.m. at the same location.
Anglers with questions or anyone interested in more details on the event are encouraged to visit www.texasteamtrail.com or call 210-788-4143.