Coleto Creek 12/22/15.

Fish Catching Travel

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The best baits money can buy!

After catching so many trout the last 3 trips my hands are still torn up so it was time for an easy day at Coleto.  Coleto has basically kicked my Kartrashian the last few trips and things did not change today.

I took it easy this morning and did not get to the lake until a little after 9.  Since I had a shad crankbait tied on from my trip to Fayette I decided to start with that.  The first main lake bank I fished did not give up even a bite.  So I headed to a big flat point that stuck way out into a large flat.

As I worked down the edge when it got to 6 foot the first one ate it.  It was not one of those tricky bites, he slammed it.  About 2 or 3 casts later another one did the same thing.

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Only 4 today, and they all looked like this, or smaller.

I was using a medium retrieve on 12lb test with the bait running about 6 foot deep when I got the only bites on the crankbait for the day.  From there it was another main lake bank ending in a long point, with no bites.  Same with the next spot.  So it was time for a change.

Normally this time of year on Coleto a balsa minnow bait worked on top is killer, so that was next.  After 2 or 3 spots and only 1 flashing at it, I put that down.  I decided to run up lake and hit a couple of points way up.  The water temp near the dam is 65, up lake is 63, so no big change.  But the water color is still that murky green, not my favorite by any means.

First it was buzzbait over a really shallow point with brush where I have been catching a few, but nothing.  Then it was the senko style bait around wood, and other than one about 10″, I could not even get a bite.  I also threw a Strike King 2.5 in a red in the off-color water, and could not raise a bite.  So after an hour of that it was back down lake.

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This was actually the most fun I had today.

During this trip I threw the plastics, 2 different crankbaits, a topwater, and a buzzbait.  It is clear that I do not have a clue what is going on.  So it was points until I quit, and I did manage to catch one more and miss one, all on the watermelon red senko style bait.  Finally at 3 I gave up, or out.

This last stretch is by far the toughest fishing I have experienced on Coleto.  So many different factors are influencing the fishing.  Today the lake was clearly up quite a bit, after falling and rising, and falling, and coloring up, and never really clearing, in addition to no grass.  It is time to make some adjustment, I just need to think about it more.  They have to be somewhere.  But no matter what pre-spawn will be starting in January and the fishing is bound to get better.

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After 3 weeks it looks like I will finally be getting my truck back tomorrow.  The rental was a Ford F150, not a bad truck, but a 4Runner it is not.  So with any luck the fix will be ok and that will be the end of it.

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I got a few Strike King Swinging Swim Jigs today and I can not wait to put them in the water.  It has a needlepoint hook that swings free off the back of the swimming head.  It has been redesigned for a better swimming action.  It has Perfect Skirt that enhances the body shape.  As soon as I get a chance to fish with them I will give you a report.  They look mean.

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It was hard to tell where this comment came from, but I believe it is from Robert.

Meanwhile Captain Black has been hold up in 40 mile winds inside Baffin but still managing to catch decent numbers of solid keeper trout on small paddle tails fishing sand and grass.

I assume this comment follows the post on us fighting the high winds and tough tides on Saturday.  Captain Black is the guide I read about who first got me started using the 1/32 ounce jig head.  I have heard from several folks who have fished with him and he comes highly recommended if you want to give the Baffin area a try.  And the 1/32 jig head has contributed lots of big trout for me this year wading.  So my thanks to him.

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And last I got this comment from Jordan.

This is a highly informative post, thank you very much. I will be making the trip from Georgia ASAP now to paddleboard and kayak fly fish. Any places I should go to specifically for fly fishing on SUP or yaks? thanks

When ever you are coming this way drop me another comment and I will try to hook you up.  There are lots of good places for both of that style of fishing in our area.

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If all is ok with the truck I should be able to fish at least one more day before Christmas.  The family will be in College Station this weekend and we will be joining them for a couple of days.  The fishing on the lake remains spotty for me, but the Gulf just keeps on producing.  I will check the weather and tides and hope to get in one more day of wading this week.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

About Redfishlaw

I am a retired attorney who just loves to fish. I was a freshwater guide for about 20 years and now have moved to the salt. I am not the greatest fisherman, but I am committed. So if you love fishing, and want to learn what little I have to offer, stop by anytime.
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