November and December are the Turkey
Month's

• Let's talk turkey since it's Turkey season and almost Christmas. You know when it's time for turkey and dressing, it's also Deer Season and a lot of our fisherman quit fishing and go to the woods to try and get that big buck they have been watching all summer and early fall. Can you believe it they actually stop fishing. They stop everything their doing and put deer hunting first and you will never guess what that does for me. You know I love to deer hunt, I really do, I love getting out there in the woods before day break and the thrill that you get when that big buck works his way out in front of you and the shivery felling you get as you raise your gun to draw down on that buck of a life time, and that feeling you get when you at last get to pull the trigger on that big high caliber rifle and the big boom the rifle makes as the firing pin drops down on to the primer and last but not least is taking your big buck into camp and showing it off to your hunting pals. Wow that's the felling you think you will never forget, but then on the other hand there is the fisherman. 

Yes, the fisherman! He's the guy who loves hitting the deck before day break and hooking up to his Ranger bass boat and going out on the water searching for that one big giant trophy bass or crappie or maybe the big stripe bass or the big flat head catfish. Which ever he go's for he gets that same felling the hunter gets when he has been in the woods and made that big kill and weather it's the fisherman or the hunter that has gone fishing and he hangs into that big trophy fish he to will sometimes forget about that kill for a while, for when he hangs into that big trophy fish his heart will begin pumping faster and faster making him think only of that big trophy fish.
I bet you hunters didn't know that there was anything out there that could make you forget that big trophy buck for a few minutes “now did you”. It's true that big bass will make you forget everything for the few minutes you have him on the line, and did you know the best part of fishing verse hunting is when you catch that big bass you can kiss, take a picture and then let her go but on the other hand when you shoot that big pretty buck your fun is then over and the work begins. That's right the work begins when you kill that big deer. Now you now have to field dress him and then take him in to either clean yourself or have someone else package it up for you and your hunt is over where as if I boat a big bass I can measure her, take that photo, kiss her and release her to be caught again by someone else and that's a great feeling knowing you can keep right on fishing and you don't have to clean her.
OK, now that you have killed that big buck are you ready to go fishing again if you are here’s what you will need to do to catch that big trophy bass this November.

​Now this is for the fisherman out there.
​(LAKE PALESTINE )

Well the lake has been about two feet low but with all the rain we are hopping it will get back to normal, but at this time it doesn’t look like it will just yet.
When it comes to catching bass on Lake Palestine here’s how I'm doing it. First thing early you will find some bass feeding up on shad on your points and around boat docks. These bass can be caught on a variety of baits one being a Yellow Magic top water lure, another lure is the Big Eye Buzz Bait white in color. The Big Eye Buzz Bait is a new lure I have started building to go along with the Big Eye Spinner Bait, the new Big Eye Swim Jig and the Big Eye Jig. Well I get to thinking about these bass and I get myself off track so let's get back to my assortment of lures while fishing the points. My next lure of choice or should I say lures are the famous Shimmy Shaker in the thread fin shad color and the Big Eye Spinner bait and then last is the Carolina rig, rigged with a Mister Twister Pocket Phenom curl tail worm.
I will find these bass chasing shad on the points and start out with the top water lures first then move to the other baits and then on to the Carolina rig.
Now here is another thing I will do to catch these bass and where I will look for them.
Bass will also be in the back of your main lake creeks and feeding up on shad, craw fish and small perch.
Up north you will find your bass in the channels around the stumps and any type grass that you can find, which is mostly weeds around the islands. The best locations to find your bass will be where you find a drainage or a slough that feeds into the creek. These spots should have stumps in close to them and when you find these areas you will find bass.
Now the lake as I said earlier is about two feet low and now with all the rain we have had ,we have been hopping it will come up to normal making it less dangerous to run. In areas up north. The boat lanes are OK to run at this time but if it comes back up you will need to be very careful when running up north.
Now when I refer to up north I mean north of the 155 bridge and this gives you several good creeks to explore. You have Caney Creek, Flat Creek, the Neiches River and Kickapoo creek. All these places are great when it comes to catching big bass. Remember Lake Palestine is about 21/2 feet low and all these creeks are very hard to move around in at this time so be careful or fish in a flat bottom boat this will make it much easier to move around.
Here are my lures of choice. 1st my choice is my Big Eye Jig in both the Black/Blue and the famous black/brown/amber colors and both are great when it comes to catching big bass. Fish every stump and every grass point that you can find and fish very slow hitting the same spot two or three times and this will help you get more strikes and with more strikes you catch more fish. Remember when your fishing a jig that the bass won't hold on to the jig as long as he will a plastic worm so if you feel something different with your jigs action give it a jerk it just may be your trophy of a life time.

Pictured below is one of my largest bass ever on Lake Palestine.
This bass was caught on my Big Eye Jig and in a new color. I was testing, this jig color I call Blue Candy. I had my jig trailed with black/blue Mister Twister's Pocket Craw.
Look for your Mister Twister Products I use at Porter's Sporting Goods on Lake Palestine. If your not close to Lake Palestine so you can go into Porter's , well you can go to Porter's website and order all your lures.
Before I go !
I want you to remember that special one or one's that like to fish this Christmas with a Gift certificate from Ricky's Guide Service. When you purchase that gift certificate I will give you a $25.00 gift pack of my Big Eye Lures. You tell me what you would like whether it be my Big Eye Jig, Swim Jig, Spinner Bait, Buzz Bait or the Famous Shimmy Shaker. I will mix or match what you would want.
You can call me at (903)561-7299 office or (903)530-2201 my cell and also you can Google me at [email protected].
Be sure and check out my January fishing report after Christmas.





The Mister Twister Swim Sation featured below.
I will work the new Mister Twister Swim Sation on back of My Big Eye Swim Jig and I will Texas Rig the Swim Sation with a 1/16oz. Bullet weight and then I will fish it around the the same places I fish the Big Eye Jig working it very slow next to the grass and stumps. Another way I fish the Swim Sation, I will cast on a Carolina rig with a baby bass color Swim Sation, this works great on the points.

​ Down south of the 155 bridge I like to fish the boat houses where you find brush and I will

pitch my Big Eye Jig in under the boat dock and work it back out very slow. I also love throwing my Shimmy Shaker in and around the docks as well because it puts off so much action the big bass just can't hold back, they have to eat it. Now I will warn you docks are far and few between that have the right water depths under them so you will have to work a bit to find them. The depths I like best is 5 to 8 foot in front of the docks, they seem to hold more bass under them.

Below is my Big Eye Jig in the new Blue Candy color.




Above Is the Big Eye Jig in the Black/Brown Amber color!


Above The New Big Eyed Jig in the new Black Blue Red Flash color.






Above is the Shimmy Shaker pictured in my new crayfish color featured with the Mister Twister Pocket Craw.

Crappie in November will be found under the bridges near the 20 to 25 foot depth ranges. You can catch them on both jigs and minnows. You will also find some big crappie in the man made brush piles that are in about the 20 foot range and another good area at this time is in the standing timber you see out from the bridge.
​
​Pictured below is a nice crappie from a deep water brush top.










​

​Lake Fork

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​Bass will be in the same type locations as on Palestine you will find them in the back of your main lake creeks where you find grass and stumps along your channels.
​Bass can also be found out on the old road ways and on the humps out in the lake. It will take some work to find these bass but when you do you will find big numbers of them. It takes a good Lowrance fish locator and a good map of the lake and a lot of patience but when you do find these bass you will go home a winner.
​Look for Bar Fish on your humps bass love to feed on them. The bar fish looks like a white bass but have yellow on their belly. The Bar Fish in your fish and game books are listed under the name Yellow Bass.
​When you locate these bass you will need a good jigging spoon, one that I use is my Dimple spoon, it won't twist your line when fished vertically and it has plenty of flash. It comes in two colors chrome and chartreuse chrome actually works best for me. Just find your fish and vertical jig your spoon up and down or cast it out and fish it back, you will not go wrong on either technique. The Dimple Spoon comes in 1/4 oz., 1/2 oz. and 3/4oz. Fish the Dimple Spoon and I think you will agree with me that there is not a better spoon around. Lake fork at this time is almost full pool and still rising with the rains. Lake Fork can be very dangerous if you get out of the boat lanes.
​The lures I have mentioned you can purchase from the Texas Spinner Bait Company or you can call your order in at (903)561-7299 or you can mail your order to 18179 CR 1108 Flint Texas 75762 or you can now find us on the web at www.texasspinnerbaitcompany.com and [email protected] and I now take most credit cards for both lures and guide trips and if you like you can pay through PayPal as well.

​Well if you are hunting for that big bass this November and December try some of my tips and I feel very confident you will find a trophy bass to brighten up your month. You know us fisherman are just like the hunters they are looking to fill their freezer with meat and put a big head on their wall and we are trying to catch that trophy bass to get a replica made, to what? Go on the wall.
​If you are a hunter be sure to hunt safe and I will see you in the woods or on the lake.​
​Good hunting to you and I hope this Turkey season and Christmas is the best ever for you.
​Until next time. I hope you hunters all get your trophy bucks and all you great fisherman catch that bass or crappie of a life time.
​Remember the fish you release today our kids can catch tomorrow.

​For you East Texas Hunters (This Deers For Me)


And I'm still trying to get him! Good hunting and fishing this November and December.

​Before I close let me tell you about a new sponsor I just picked up to work with.
​Have you ever heard about the Lew's company? Well let me tell you about them. Back in the early 70's I began fishing with the Lew's BB1N Reel and the Lew's Speed Stick Rods. I'm here to tell you back in those days you couldn't find anything better. They made products for many years and then slowed down on the market and others came along with newer things changing the way fishing tackle will do they go for many years after they make it big and then come back with a better product and now would you guess Lew's is back and this makes me a happy fisherman.
​Lew's is not only back but they have brought back the old but new BB1 reel taking over the market today. Featured below is the new BB1 Reel and The new Speed Stick Rod.
​You can see these reels up close and in hand if you go by Porters Sporting Goods on Lake Palestine in Dogwood City. Just tell Greg I sent you by to see the new Lew's reels.




















Get your Lew's Today and fish with the best.







Until next time get out on the water and start fishing. This is the month that our bass begin to put on eggs for next years spawn so when you catch them treat them easy for the bass you injure now won't be here next year for your children to catch.

Good Luck and Great Fishing to you and yours and don't eat to much turkey on Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day.
If your coming to Lake Fork or Lake Palestine and need a guide then give me a call at (903)561-7299 or (903)530-2201 or just email me at [email protected]. On Lake Palestine I have served you since 1976 the longest running guide service ever and on Lake Fork I have served since November 1980. Now over 43 years helping you find the fish of your life time. Call me today and set your next fishing trip up with experience.
For you I also offer gift certificates for that special person you may want to get out on the water. If you buy a gift certificate in 2019 it can be redeemed any time in 2019 or by December 31, 2020 so that you may get the day on the water when it's good for your schedule.
Buy a gift certificate for that special one for Christmas and I will throw in a $25.00 lure pack to help you say Merry Christmas to your special person.










This Bass weighed in at 14.8 lbs my all time best but I'm still trying to get that 20 plus, so come on lets go fishing and just maybe you will get one to.