FISH CATCHING TRAVEL
Please excuse the lack of reports, but I am on a mini hiatus. Every once in a while it seems like I need a break to recharge and regroup. The weather has been so hot and humid I just can not seem to get my mack on. We just took a few days off for a Louisiana trip and will be headed to the desert (crazy huh?) for several days for my birthday this week. I really love the desert and we will be traversing Big Bend looking for mule deer, javelinas, rattlesnakes, and in my wildest dreams, a lion. So I am still here and trust me, it will back to hard core fishing soon.
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What a Deal! 2 for 1!
Before I get to the other stuff here is one great deal. As you all know I have worn Cocoons for years and flat love them. They have been kind with their support and they stand by their products. Then a couple of days ago I got this email offer from them. They labeled it for VIPS so I emailed them to see if it would be ok to share it with you. Here is their response –
Hello Doug,
Yes, the email went out to our loyal Cocoons fans that have registered their warranties and requested to receive special offers. If you would like to share it with your readers that would be great! We always hope that our VIP members spread the word and share the benefits Cocoons offer with their friends and family. One of those benefits is exclusive offers like this one that only VIP members receive by email. This is not something that we would email out to a generic mailing list, but is definitely something our fans can share with their friends and family.
Thanks for asking and I hope you have a safe and fun 4th of July!
Best Regards,
Dave
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Coleto
I did manage to crawl out of bed early for a quick trip to Coleto. The purpose was to catch fish, but something came up that did cut off some of trip. I was way up lake when another boat, one of the only two I saw all morning, came idling over about 9:30. It was my buddy Bobby who gets out occasionally and we shot the breeze. He reported a grand total of zero over the side, and I actually had not caught a fish until right before he stopped.
The only bites I could get were on the lizard, and I put three in the boat along one stretch of a deep wood covered bank. I would have a picture on one good one but he was hooked and bleeding so I promptly got him off and put him back in to reduce the stress on him as much as possible. So Bobby headed back down lake and I moved to another bank and started fishing when the phone rang.
Bobby had just made it past the bridge when his motor just quit. Trim worked, lights worked, it just buzzed under the dash when he tried to start it. I tossed him a rope and back to the ramp we went. Funny how over the years I have only needed one tow back to a ramp, but have towed a ton of folks over the years. Just luck, and good maintenance. So next time you are out and see someone in distress do not pretend you do not see them, stop and see if you can help. So you lose a little fishing or recreation time, that will be returned to you ten fold.
So once I dropped him off I hit 5 more banks with only one bite. That one was a good fish, but I just could not pull him out of the wood and he broke off. So around 11:30 I called it a day.
The water color on the lake is still terrible, and I can find almost no deep grass growing anywhere. But I am seeing something up lake that may be a real problem.
Water hyacinth
Water hyacinth is a free-floating plant native to South America. It was introduced in Florida during the late 1880s. It currently infests 218 public water bodies in Florida and many more private waters. Water hyacinth has a fast growth rate (populations can double in as little as two weeks) and expands rapidly on Florida waters. Unmanaged waters typically become filled with dense, floating mats of water hyacinth. This species caused such severe problems that federal efforts to control water hyacinth were initiated by Congressional action during the 1890s.
“Thanks to the Southwest Florida Water Management District for this information.”
Though there seemed to be a few small pockets here and there now there is lots of it floating up lake, some of it is starting to really mat up, and I wish I knew why. They sure are right about doubling, as I have only fished a day a week there over the last month it is real evident it is expanding rapidly. Is it related to the increased nutrients from the off colored water? Has it been brought here big time by other boats? Has the lake had this in the past or is this increase something new? Whatever it is I just have a feeling it is not a good thing. So if you have any comments, suggestions, or information please chime in.
The water temp was 89 over almost all of the lake. It seems that those fish that were shallow in the heavy cover are rapidly deserting the banks. So after this little hiatus there will be a major change in my tactics. You have all heard the old saying -“Insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result.” I may be crazy but I am not insane so time for a change.
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We are about to enter one of the busiest outdoor weekends of the year. With gas prices way down there will be more people traveling and enjoying all this country has to offer, so here is your 4th of July rules for a great weekend.
- Be nice. Yield to the other guy on both the highway and the waterways. Be the bigger guy. No reason to ruin your weekend with a confrontation over absolutely nothing.
- Hydrate. With our humidity this high dehydration is not some abstract theory. A trip to the ER will ruin your weekend.
- Sun screen. Keep covered up, a sunburn may not kill you, but it sure can ruin your weekend.
- Life jackets. It only takes a moment for a kid to pull a fast one. Not only does the law require them, they save lives. So if you are headed to the water make sure they fit and are in good shape.
- Equipment. Whether the car or the boat take a second and make sure it is all working. Tires good? Spare have air in it? Stickers and inspections good? Tie downs, winch, tires, bunks, there is lots to look at before you hit the water this weekend. And it just might save you a massive tow bill or a big ticket.
- Alcohol. Hey I love a cold one as much as the next guy, in fact maybe more. But mixing booze and the steering wheel is a horrible idea. Not only does it expose you to a DWI both on land and on the water, but you are p0tentially taking the lives of the rest of us in drunken hands. So have fun, then when you are settled in for the night have at it.
So have fun this weekend. Enjoy family and friends along with whatever you have planned for the weekend. There are lots of other rules for a safe weekend but it all comes down to safety first. As a former paramedic I have seen the results of a simple bad choice. Do not let it be you or your family.
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For you crappie fishermen I have a good report from the lake. As I was putting the boat in at daylight a nice lady offered to help and we got to talking about fishing. She has been fishing with a friend and they are just knocking the crappie stupid. So they are there to be caught. She also wanted me to show her a few bass baits and I was happy to do so. Sharing information is the heart of what I try to do and taking a few minutes our of my fishing day is a small price with a big reward. I did not get her name but she was willing to to help me put in and I was happy to share information. We both had a better day because of it.
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There you have it for today. The offer from Cocoons is off the chain (Thanks Dean), my fishing report was marginal, and the weekend looks like it will be busy. So please be safe. And if you have any comments of suggestions please send them this way. Your participation is crucial to making this blog what it has become. I really appreciate every one of you who reads this stuff. So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.
Happy Birthday USA – God Bless America!
Good Luck and Tight Lines
