What Should I Throw?
Tell me the lake and the conditions and I'll tell you what I'd tie on — the technique, the lure, colors, depth and retrieve, and why. It's Bryan's decision-making, drawn from the knowledge base.
Here's what I'd throw on Lake Belton
On Lake Belton, throw a Football Jig — green pumpkin, brown.
Evidence: Assembled from 1 knowledge objects (lake, season, conditions, techniques, lures) in Bryan Cotter's Central Texas bass knowledge base.
Related: Football Jig technique · Football Jig guide · Lake Belton lake guide
High Answered by Bryan Cotter, Texas Hawgs guide · Updated Jul 12, 2026
Technique
Lure
Colors: green pumpkin, brown.
Depth: 8-30 ft.
Retrieve: Slow bottom drag with the rod, pausing at rocks; the head keeps the trailer standing like a feeding craw.
From Bryan's logbook
Belton is the best smallmouth lake in Central Texas, and a very good largemouth lake too - I've caught a 10.13 pound bass here myself. The clear Corps water is a big part of why the smallmouth thrive.
Also good: Finesse Fishing, Drop Shot, Shaky Head.
Assembled from 1 knowledge objects.
What's been working lately
From 2 Lake Belton reports · latest Feb 2, 2014. See the reports →
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