Welcome back to another episode of the Take It to the Bank Podcast! In this insightful and entertaining episode, host Ben Ballou sits down with legendary pro bass angler James Niggemeyer to dive deep into Texas bass fishing in the month of May—especially on the famed Lake Fork. Known for his humble attitude, deep faith, and one of the most unique names in the sport, James shares not only his fishing knowledge but also his inspiring personal story, from his rise in the Elite Series to his unwavering faith through life's toughest moments.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

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• How to find and fish the shad spawn across Texas lakes
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• Why Lake Fork in May is both magical and challenging for bass anglers
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• Proven tactics for fishing post-spawn bass, including frogs, swim jigs, Carolina rigs, and speed worms
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• How James breaks down standing timber and offshore structure
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• The real story behind James's social media fame and how his name became a talking point
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• How faith and fishing intersect in his life and career
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• Keys to fish care during tournaments and maximizing survival on warm spring days
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Bonus Content:

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• Deep dive into Birch Creek on Lake Fork, including map breakdowns and strategic locations
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• Setup recommendations: rods, reels, line, baits, and favorite colors
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• Why color selection may not be as complex as many think
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• Navigating the transition from shallow to offshore fishing during May
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• Top community holes and patterns working right now on Lake Fork
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Whether you're a tournament angler looking to refine your strategy or just a bass fishing fan who loves learning from the best, this episode is packed with actionable advice, heart, and humor. Don’t miss it.

Timestamps:

0:00 – Intro with James Niggemeyer

2:00 – The story behind the name and social media explosion

6:00 – James on faith, fishing, and life challenges

11:00 – Early years, Elite Series memories, and guiding in Texas

17:00 – Boater-on-boater drawdown stories from back in the day

23:00 – Shad spawn: locations, timing, and techniques

34:00 – Lake Fork in May: top patterns and baits

46:00 – Birch Creek map breakdown and how to fish it

55:00 – Offshore structure and southern Lake Fork strategy

59:00 – Gear setups: frogs, squarebills, Carolina rigs, and more

1:11:00 – How to approach standing timber confidently

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Keywords:

Texas bass fishing, Lake Fork, May bass fishing, shad spawn, James Niggemeyer, Take it to the Bank podcast, Bassmaster Elite Series, MLF, post-spawn bass, frog fishing, swim jig setup, Carolina rig, fishing tackle setup, standing timber bass, how to fish Lake Fork, bass tournament strategy, Christian anglers, bass fishing podcast