Using Ross Barnett Reservoir as an example, FLW Tour pro Pete Ponds of Gluckstadt points to spillways as some of the best riprap spots you’ll find. Draining backwaters through sub-highway pipes, these flushing points reach open water through culverts buttressed by riprap.
Here, anglers find a target-rich environment meriting extensive effort.
“Current breaks all the rules, so anytime I have current in play I’m going to focus on that area,” Ponds said. “Bass are lazy; they want to lay there and wait on baitfish and other things to wash through that culvert.
“These culverts are built to keep water from backing up on the other side, so when the water drains into the lake, bugs and (other forage) washes out and that makes it a good opportunity to catch a fish or two.”
There’s nothing wrong with targeting the perimeters of these current spots with the same moving baits you’d use along the open riprap, but Ponds prefers Texas-rigged lizards. Unlike the hazardous rocks on either side of the drain, dropping to the bottom is not only safer, it better fits the fish’s M.O.
“Where that water pours through, it’s going to create a hole, and I want to hit the back side of that hole,” he said. “Those fish can lay in that hole and wait for something to wash through without putting any effort into holding his position.”
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