FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knocker B topwater, not just for freshwater.

Weather

86/65  Cloudy  Wind SSE 10 – 20  Chance rain 30%

Tides

M   23      Low  12:40 AM     0.1
23     High  11:30 AM     0.9   (the good bite was at the start of the fall)

Solunar Times

• Best Times  12:05A – 2:05A
•                       12:29P – 2:29P  (Right on – notice it is close to when the tide started)
• Good Time  6:17A – 8:17A

Clairvoyant?  or You Didn’t just say that!

(Or I am not superstitious, much.)

The forecast was for rain and wind on Monday so it was what has become my usual Monday Coleto trip thanks to the weather.  So I had this big plan.  I was telling the Boss that today with the clouds and wind I was going to use that unopened Whopper Plopper that I have been saving for Canada.  Her comment right before I could stop her – You might lose it.  Dang it, you know what came next.  After catching this small one right off the bat I had the best bite I have had this spring.

If you have not tried one yet, you need to.

A buzzbait style hard bait it gives off a completely different sound.  I have seen it fished for redfish and I can see that spreading across the Gulf.  If any fish will hit a topwater they will hit the Whopper Plopper.

So I took a picture of the first one and on to the next bank.  I reeled it right by a downed log and had the best bite I have had this spring.  That big fish just flushed it, I set the hook, and the line parted.  $16.95 down the drain.  On looking at the line it was impossible to tell what happened.  So chock it up to a bad connection between the braid and mono, my fault, or a bad spot in the braid.  Who knows?  The offshoot of that is the pike and muskies and smallmouth will destroy that thing in Canada, so off to Cabela’s I go.  It will be on a 85lb wire leader up there, those fish have teeth.

But back to the fishing.  The punch line is a dozen fell for the popping topwater, 5 pitching the senko, 1 on spinnerbait and the one on the Whopper Plopper.

There is the bone popper I am catching them on.

Reeling it along at a moderate speed and popping it without stopping was the method of choice, and today I actually missed very few of them.  They were in coves, points and on the mainlake.  You just had to keep popping it.  Of course I stopped at my bank up lake that has held good fish for over a month.  They are still there, so I put a few in the boat pitching and went back to popper fishing.

This is the size you will catch pitching.

Pitching plastics up lake is still the most stable pattern I have found, but as the last few trips have shown, fish what you like.  There are fish shallow from the lower end to way up lake.  And with the lake on a slow rise and all the cover inundated the shallow fishing should stay good for a while.  And the water color is actually perfect right now, after about 6 months of ugly.

It did rain a couple of times today, and the wind was a steady 20 out of the SSE, which is actually great conditions for topwater.  With good cloud cover the fish are more likely to get out and roam a little.  With clear skies they hold a lot tighter to cover, making pitching the way to go.  But either way the fish are shallow and biting on the lake, and I like it.

A good representative for the average size on Coleto right now.

Besides the abundant cover there is finally some grass growing underwater, most of it near the bank.  It is that good green stuff they like to hold in and hopefully the lake will remain up long enough to keep it growing.  It will only help the fishing the rest of the year.

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Drumming up Business

Last post I made an observation on drumming while white bass fishing.  I can honestly say I have caught thousands, and I mean thousands, over a 25 year run in Arkansas.  From early winter deep jigging, to the spring run, white bass were always on our schedule when the bite was on.  But until hearing about it from Todd, and then seeing Hank Parker doing it, I was unaware how drumming really worked.  But not only does it work in various places in this country, but some folks are serious about it.

First I got this comment from Jay.

Redfishlaw,
Nope, don’t know a thing about drumming up Striper, hybrids or whites…. LOL. Yeah right.

Then I got this from Todd . . . . . .

That is freaking nuts!

This is a picture of Todd’s buddies boat.  No matter how long you fish, or where, there is always something to learn.  So if you have never tried it you better, it works.  And I am sorry that when I am in Canada Todd and the boys will be down to POC so I will miss what is one of my favorite bunches to fish with.  So good luck to you guys and keep us informed on how it goes.  And thanks for the picture, I am still trying to digest that whole thing.  And Jay, your secret is out.  I can just hear Clyde and John now, drumming their ass off on Norfork with that new Lund.

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Jim, who won the tourney on Coleto last week sent me this.  I would call this a good week.

Looks like a Corona commercial.

Doug,

It doesn’t matter where I am, I really enjoy reading your reports. Hard to believe it was just last Saturday and I was on Coleto watching the sunrise catching those incredible green bass. This morning I am on Oahu watching the sunrise from the beach thinking of bass fishing. There is something spiritual about being up early and watching Mother Nature wake up!

Mahalo,

Jim

I appreciate the kind remarks and looks like all is right in your world.  Thanks for the share and keep  in touch.

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It Must Be Nice to Have all the Money you Need.

I am sitting here at the house trying to find an electrician.  It is no big job, a barn light that is not functioning properly.  The first 3 I called from the phone book did not even answer, I finally left a message with number 4.   I am trying to find a good local guy and not some big company.  But it looks like that is a dream.  So I will give the guy until noon to answer, then I will try some others.  When I was an attorney I always answered – Somebody might be trying to give me some money.  Reminds of when I needed the  sewer reroute and 4 different plumbers promised to come by or call me back, and one finally did, 4 days later.  It must be nice to have all the money you need.

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Brain Tate, a good friend of my buddy Jeffish, and an aqauintance of mine, was killed in a tragic accident the week.  Always smiling and an all around good guy, he leaves behind a wife and 3 children.  His wife is a police officer in Victoria and her law enforcement friends started a gofundme page to help out the family.  So if you heart moves you here is the link.  My condolences to the friends and family.  https://www.gofundme.com/25baybg

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It is really hard to get motivated right now.  Canada is less than 2 weeks away, and we will be fishing a week from this Friday.  I have lots of stuff laid out, and have made the usual rod and reel and tackle decisions.  And my thoughts are of big pike crashing topwater, a muskie munching a jerk bait right in front of me, and smallmouth the size of moose coming one after another.  There is just no place like it and if you are a fisherman put it on your bucket list.

Just look at that pig.  Lake of the Woods here we come!

And I can not say it enough, your participation makes this a so much better place.  We all learn something from each and every comment.  Keep them coming, there is always something to be talked about.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines