FISH CATCHING TRAVEL
https://bagleybait.com/metal-lures/shaky-jigs/
I do not have a fishing report today as I was hoping to be picking the boat up. When I called they promised to get to it today or tomorrow, so we shall see how that works out. Thank goodness there have really been some great comments the last couple of days, so if I am not fishing at least we can talk about it.
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I got this first time comment from Chad and it is so instructive for our current summer fishing conditions.
You do a good job with this blog, im not much for attention so its kinda out my comfort zone to comment. I fish poc or seadrift or kellers year round. We usually fish lures till the water gets 85dgr. Then if we want to do more catching than fishing. We use croaker. Example fished greens area the other day. Fished lures on one side of the bar caught 7 trout 16-18″ walked across the bar and threw with no results. Switched to croaker and caught 20 trout 20-23″ . We went to kellars this morning caught 4 keeper out of 40 trout only threw lures. Talked to two other boats at the ramp. They didnt have one keeper. Thanks for all your reports.
Folks this is exactly what I am talking about when we share information. I instinctively knew that the water temp was the relevant factor when the trout switch from lures to croaker, but it is nice to know that 85 degrees is basically when it happens. And I love your comment “if we want to do more catching than fishing.” That says it all about why croaker are the way to go, and his experience fishing the other day is absolute proof of how effective croaker fishing can be, no bites on lures, sack them on bait.
And another point I appreciate, Chad is just a guy who loves to fish and has shared specifics on where and how. He did not have to do that. What we should take away from his report is where, not a specific place, but a type of place. Be it Greens or Keller, the pattern is the same right now, they want bait. In fact, my last trip was to Keller and I was lucky to eek out enough for supper on lures out of a bunch of fish. So don’t jump in your boat and run to Greens, apply it to where you know and like to fish, you will catch them.
Last, thanks for getting out of your comfort zone, or as the Boss says “your warm and fuzzy spot”. You have really provided some great information that folks can use. This blog is all about all of us getting better at putting fish in the boat. So feel free to drop a report anytime the mood strikes you. Thanks again.
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And I heard back from Lee who was having a little line breakage issues.
Thanks for the new knot. Hoping to get out tonight to fish some canal lights and will give it a try. I quit using a leader and just went straight braid as I don’t think a leader is necessarily in the murky Galveston marsh waters. I still lost two fish (only two fish I caught), a really good spec and a really, really good red that hit right at the boat. The red was a heart breaker and took me a few minutes to recover from. I just put myself in time out on my kayak for a minute or two. Oh well, it was certainly cool as I was standing in my yak and just saw it roll up on something. I never felt the bite but knew my lure was in the area so I just set the hook and the fight was on. It lasted for quite a while so still a fun experience. But, every knot seems to be failing me right now. I guess it’s back to knot school for now. I use an improved clinch knot for tying to my lure. I’m switching to the palomer knot as maybe it works better for straight braid. Or maybe I’m jinxed.
Concerning Lake Travis in late summer, the key word is bluffs, bluffs, bluffs. Actually, shade and bluffs. Once the shade is gone the fish are gone. Also, deep boat docks. And the magic bait on Travis is always a smoke glitter grub with a jig head. Catches guads and largemouth. You can also try smaller crankbaits, 4 inch ring worm, and of course tops before the sun comes up.
Make sure and hit up the Gnarly Gar for a meal and to watch the monster catfish.
Sounds like things are looking up some. And I agree, if you are going to tie the braid directly to your lure the Palomar knot is the way to go. It is the only thing I have found that seems to not slip. And your redfish experience is one of the things I love about them. You can be reeling a spinnerbait along fairly fast and all of a sudden it just goes soft, they have just eaten it. In fact occasionally it is one of those why is my bait 5 foot to the side from where it was? Add a Redfish Magic to your arsenal when you find shallow reds and you will put them in the boat, hopefully! Keep after it, you are getting there.
Now a big thanks for the Travis information. Sounds like my old stomping grounds in NW Arkansas. Grubs, bluffs, shade, been there, done that. Not sure how much fishing I will get to do, being Grandpa you know, but I will fish a little so will let you know how it goes. And thanks for the tip on the Gnarly Gar, with a name like that I would eat there no matter where I was. And the kids, including this one, will love the big catfish. If you are still fishing good luck and keep in touch.
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And speaking of knots, I got this comment that spares few words and I wanted to pass it along.
Albright knot.
Thanks Jay. Of course I have heard of that knot but being lazy I have not tried it. So here is a link to figure out how to tie it.
http://www.netknots.com/fishing_knots/albright-special
After reading it I realized I used it in the past to join mono to a real heavy mono leader for tarpon. It is a great knot, better than my memory. So thanks for letting us know what you use, makes sense for joining braid and mono.
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And here is a link to find the light jig heads that the Blacks are marketing. They are the premier guide service on Baffin, and it was article written by Aubry that got me in to fishing the light head. This link is from Billy who has fished with them multiple times and reports they are the real deal. Though they give him a hard time because he won’t get off that Bone Skitterwalk!
These are a screw lock head and run $4 for 3 according to their website. I will try them as soon as I see them in a store, but I still find it hard to beat the ones I use, which were actually .09 each, a steal. So thanks for the link Billy.
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And Joe Bass had this response to my latest post.
So at least someone else feels my pain!!!!!! It’s okay to laugh at the comments. Have to make light of a bad situation sometimes. Get a little spoiled also when fishing gravel pits where you can see 20ft down in clear water. Makes you curse when they turn at the boat and are 4-7lbers. Damned if you see them, Damned if you dont !!
Fishing is just that, fishing. And nothing beats fishing turning into catching. But at least you and I are not the only ones suffering this summer.
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Talk about tough fishing, Jay in Alabama is feeling our pain.
Oh, talk about tough fishing….
I’m tearing up cast nets left and right just to get a couple dozen mix of threadfins and gizzards.
Then the TN river catfish won’t even eat ’em!
I can see ’em looking at it on the graph, pole dancing like a long tailed cat in a room full o rocking chairs from my bait going nuts. But those fish just won’t bite….
Spots on Smith been tough too. Only option is ledge trolling in 70-125FOW at about 30-40′. Still trying to find the 30-40lbs Stripes.
There’s your N. AL summer report.
Though I have never been fortunate enough to fish either the TN river or Smith lake, I am familiar with both. The catfish on the TN are world class and any hardcore fisherman knows about Smith spots. Must be nice to be close to both, gives you lots of options. And as far as the big stripers, the years I guided them with downriggers in the summer it was always in that 30 – 40′ range, which on the highland lakes of Arkansas is the general summertime thermocline. And it was always a catch them early and done by 9am deal. So thanks for the report and I appreciate you reading my blog. Send us stuff anytime the spirit moves you.
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And speaking of summertime deep water fishing for stripers, it was a great time in my guiding experience. They were relatively under fished and had never been exposed to downriggers. What really made it great, our fish ran a good 10 – 20lbs and 3 or 4 a morning was the norm. And there was nothing better than getting a customer several big fish like that. Everyone went home happy, me too.
We caught a couple that day. My only question is what was up with that mustache and sideburns on Clyde? Those were the days!
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So here I sit watching fishing. I have already changed hooks on some new jerkbaits and made sure all the stuff is ready to go. If I get the boat back I will be out early the next day. It may be hotter than hell but at least I can get in a few hours before I melt. Plus it is really a lot more fun to catch them than watch someone else do it. So keep those comments, suggestions, and reports coming. It really helps me keep focused and working and I love reading them. So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.
Good Luck and Tight Lines
