Anglers around the country always dread the month of February. The month is arguably the worst for fishing out of the entire year for a large number of reasons. The waters are cold, leaving the fish less active and feeding less, meaning they simply will not bite. The weather above the water can often be treacherous, and the temperatures can be frigid. Ice fishing is a solution for some, but many simply give up; however, there is one part of the country where fishing absolutely thrives during the month of February, although it might involve a lot of traveling to get there.
In February, the Lone Star State of Texas is a fisherman’s oasis in the midst of the frigid and frozen lakes of the rest of the country. Although fishing is definitely not at its peak in February, there is still quite a large bounty available when compared to the rest of the nation. The most promising location is massive Falcon Lake. This lake is located directly on the Rio Grande River separating the United States from Mexico, and it covers nearly 78,000 acres. Most importantly, it is a reservoir packed with largemouth bass. It is downstream from the mid-sized city of Laredo, making it somewhat complicated to get to. After a flight to Laredo, McAllen/Brownsville, or the airports of San Antonio or Austin, a drive of a couple of hours is necessary. Although this may be a little stressful, the bounties of largemouth bass upon arrival are worth the extra effort.
February is actually one of the busiest months of the year at Falcon Lake. The lake is often littered with boats and anglers, all on a quest for one of the lake’s renowned double-digit largemouth bass. The water levels depend on the drought of the year, so checking current conditions is necessary before booking a plane ticket. Droughts are actually one of the biggest reasons why the lake is so successful. During long droughts, grasses, brush, and small trees grow in the exposed lake bed. Once the lake is refilled with rain, the vegetation is submerged and provides incredible shelter and breeding grounds for the largemouth bass, leading to abnormally high success rates in spawning. This phenomenon causes a boom in the lake’s bass supply, making it possible for anglers in February to catch literally dozens of bass.
On top of the surface, fishermen enjoy impeccably good fishing conditions for February. Falcon Lake’s location in south Texas on the border of the Chihuahuan Desert and grasslands of Mexico make the area much warmer than the rest of the state. The conditions under and above the lake make it the perfect spot for February fishing. The only downside is that the lake’s isolation makes it impossible to find a hotel room or RV park of any sort near the water, with the only hotel in the area booking up well in advance. Regardless, for largemouth bass fishing in February, Falcon Lake cannot be beat.
