Texas Rig Fishing on Demopolis Lake
Demopolis Lake · Alabama · Southeast
This extensive reservoir, formed by the Demopolis Lock and Dam, encompasses the convergence of the Black Warrior and Tombigbee rivers, creating a challenging yet rewarding environment for bass anglers. Its character is predominantly riverine, featuring deep channels, bluff walls, numerous sloughs, and a considerable amount of standing timber, with water clarity often stained.
A bullet sinker slides freely on the line ahead of a wide-gap hook with a weedless-rigged soft plastic. The rig is completely snag-resistant, making it the go-to choice for grass, timber, and heavy cover. Works with virtually any soft plastic — worms, craws, creatures, lizards.
Texas Rig Setup for Demopolis Lake
| Rod | 7'–7'3" medium-heavy casting rod, fast action |
| Reel | 7.1:1 or faster baitcaster |
| Line | 15–20 lb fluorocarbon or 30–50 lb braid in heavy cover |
| Weight | 3/16–1/2 oz tungsten bullet weight (peg it in heavy cover) |
| Hook | 3/0–5/0 EWG wide gap hook sized to plastic |
Seasonal Tactics on Demopolis Lake
Lake: During spring, bass stage in channel bends and then migrate into backwater coves and sloughs for spawning, making lipless crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and shallow-diving crankbaits highly effective.
Texas Rig: Slow drag through spawning flats and around beds. Lizards and creature baits in crawfish colors.
Lake: Summer patterns often see bass relating to deeper structure in the main river and creek channels, especially submerged timber and ledges, where football jigs, deep crankbaits, and large Texas-rigged worms can produce.
Texas Rig: Pitch into shade — docks, mats, and laydowns. Pegged weight for matted grass punching.
Lake: As water temperatures cool in the fall, bass follow migrating shad into creek mouths and shallower pockets, providing excellent opportunities for topwater lures, chatterbaits, and lipless crankbaits.
Texas Rig: Cover water quickly on points and along weed lines. Faster retrieve with a reaction element.
Lake: Winter fishing requires patience, with bass congregating in deeper holes along river channels and bluffs; slow-rolled jigs, spoons, and suspending jerkbaits fished with extended pauses are critical.
Texas Rig: Slow drag on deep structure, 15–30 feet. Finesse Texas rig with 1/4 oz and 6" worm.
Best Conditions
Heavy cover — grass, timber, laydowns, docks; murky to stained water; any season; pre-spawn and post-spawn periods
Peg the weight with a rubber toothpick when fishing grass. A sliding weight catches weeds; a pegged weight punches through clean.
More Techniques for Demopolis Lake
Ready to fish Demopolis Lake?
Ask Hank about current conditions, water temp, and exactly what to throw today.
Ask Hank →