The Thanksgiving holiday kicked off a feeding frenzy on Lake Travis.

The water is finally cooling off enough to let the bass population know it is time to fatten up for the winter.

A recent overcast morning proved to me that big bass are prowling the shallows in search of tasty sunfish.

My first cast with a perch-colored Bandit crankbait got attacked by a small black bass who ejected the plug on the first somersault.

My third cast resulted in a solid strike and the heavy feel of a really big bass. My line began to angle up toward the surface and I knew I was about to see the shaking head of an irritated big bass.

I kept my rod tip low and kept pressure on the fish to minimize the chances of the fish shaking the hooks loose.  The gaping mouth and sheer size of the head made me think ten-pounder.

A long surging battle finally ended in my landing net.

The bass measured 24 inches long but was not very wide in the shoulders. My digital scale revealed the bass to be a few ounces over seven pounds, enough to get my heart pounding. Catching a big bass never gets old.

The early morning crankbait bite is steady and should hold up another few weeks. Slow swimming a smoke grub has also been good for my clients.

The deep-water bite kicks in after 10 a.m. in the 25 to 40-foot zone off points and deep boat docks.

A four-inch watermelon hued Senko rigged drop shot style has been a great producer for bass up to four pounds.  For best results use a ten-inch leader between your lure and the drop shot weight.

It is easy to overwork this rig. Do not shake it too much and crawl it very slowly on the bottom. Bass will suction in this salty plastic and refuse to let go. Make a smooth sweeping hook-set and enjoy the battle.

For updated information or a holiday gift certificate, call Lakeway Marina at 261-7511 or me at 441-6682 or email achristenson1@austin.rr.com.