E
WHAT TO EXPECT
AT LAKE HAMILTON
ven though Lake Hamilton is only 7,200 surface
acres, it fishes plenty big enough for 52 pros
thanks to miles of shoreline and more docks and
brush piles than a bass angler could fish in a season.
Most of the patterns will focus on those targets, says
Lake Hamilton local George Cochran, who won the 2005
FLW Cup on his home lake. He also predicts a few other
typical summertime strategies will be in play.
According to Cochran, Hamilton is brimming with
bass, and three-hour night tournaments regularly
require 18 pounds to win in the summertime. Daytime
fishing is much tougher, as bass clam up and refuse to
bite, plus anglers have to deal with heavy boat traffic
on the well-populated lake.
The silver lining is a typical strong morning bite in
the first two or so hours and some surprisingly large
bass (fish approaching double-digits) that call Lake
Hamilton home.
“The difference between a lot of winners and others
is you have to be so focused to catch them when it’s
slow fishing, and you can’t lose very many fish because
every fish is going to be priceless,” Cochran says. “The
one that’s going to win the tournament is going to get
on something, and he’s going to be focused and hun-
gry to win. You’ve got to really want to win bad like I
always did.”
Probable Baits and Patterns
1. docK-fISHING
Buzzbaits in the morning, frogs in the middle of
the day, and swimbaits, jigs and finesse plastics at
any time will catch fish on the myriad docks.
2. BRUSH pILES
A crankbait, under-spin or swimbait reeled over
brush might work early, but once the fishing pres-
sure sets in, it’ll probably take a big worm worked
slowly through the brush to get bites.
3. BANK GRASS
A little bit of bank grass could attract enough
baitfish to hold some bass, especially in the morn-
ing or if boat traffic stirs up the water.
4. ScHooLING fISH
Catching schoolers with topwater and under-
spins is unpredictable, but could produce big bags
early.
70
5. RIpRAp ANd SEAWALLS
Hard cover and structure on the shoreline, par-
ticularly if the water’s a little deeper next to it, can
be targeted successfully with topwater, drop-shots
and jigs.
fLWfISHING.coM I SUMMER 2019