COOPER LAKE MONSTER BASS

COOPER LAKE MONSTER BASS
By: Jim Holderfield

The sun was just peaking above the horizon when Cooper Lake Guide Marc Mitchell fired up the Mercury on his Cobra Bass Boat and headed for some of his favorite bass spots. A little chop on the water and the cooler temperatures assured he would have a challenging day looking for Monster Bass on Cooper.

This day started at 5:30AM when he met my son Danny and me at the Burton’s Restaurant, right next to the Best Western Motel in Suphur Springs Texas. This location is convenient to both Cooper and Fork, where Marc offers guided trips. Both these lakes have gained a reputation throughout the U.S. as one of the top candidates for an opportunity to catch trophy Bass.

Looking through Marc’s photo album during breakfast, I could see why in the Fishing Community, these lakes are high on the list for those attempting to break the Texas State Record for Black Bass. Dozens of photos of past clients were testimony to the size of bass that come from these two lakes.

It was hard to imagine being present when this many BIG fish were caught. Marc still gets excited when he tells stories about his clients that had the good fortune to hang onto one of these exceptional fish in t he 10 lb. Range. In detail, he would describe

each move that took place to finally boat the fish, take a quick photo, and just as quickly, release the fish back into the water.

Marc has been guiding on Fork and Cooper for over eight years, and as his photo album attests, has the uncanny ability to find the trophies. My stomach was in knots, just thinking about the possibility of having the chance to add my photo to his album!

After finishing a hearty breakfast at Burton’s, Danny and I followed Marc in our vehicle to the boat-launching ramp near the dam. Just at daylight, looking across the rippled lake, I could see the wide-open waters near the dam. Mark assured me there was lots of structure left in the lake when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers constructed the Dam. I was soon to find out just how much structure, as the boat lanes were the only passageways through large expanses of uncleared areas.