FISH CATCHING TRAVEL 

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Merry Christmas!

It May Not Be A Cure…..But It Sure Made Me Feel Better!

She knocked a foot of slack in my line!

A couple of things happened this morning that ended up with me on the lake.  First I almost felt like a human when I woke up.  Second, there was good breeze out of the south and it was drizzling.  My favorite weather to bass fish, so at 10:00 I loaded up and hit the lake.  And boy was I glad I did.

Weather

70  Cloudy.  20% chance or rain.  Wind 10 – 20 South.  (It drizzled 20% of the time.)

Water Level

This Trip   95.55   Last Trip  95.55   (stabilized)

Solunar Times

• Best Times   6:04A – 8:04A
•                         6:26P – 8:26P
• Good Time    11:54A – 1:54P  (Yes it was.)

I started on a couple of main lake banks near the ramp throwing the Bang-O-Lure.  It was just a little to windy, it was blowing 15+, but I had one roll on it and miss.  I tried another bank with a spinnerbait and had 2 just plain miss it.  So I headed up lake and caught one on a spinnerbait on a tree on a point.  Then I made the best decision I have made in while.

Though I have had a tough time up lake up, I went.  I started on a flat with the wind hitting it at an angle.  It looked to good to not have fish on it.   There was a little color and chop, and when I had another one miss the spinnerbait, I switched to the swim jig and it was game on.  Like I always say, listen to the fish, and they were telling me we do not want to work that hard to catch our supper.  So I slowed down and it worked.

            They were munching that swim jig in a couple of feet of water.

Basically the boat was sitting in about 4 – 5 feet and they were a little ways off the bank.  The best retrieve seemed to be slow until it hit bottom and then steady.  Some pounded it, some ticked it, and a couple knocked slack in it.  It always amazes me how they can eat it when I have the rod pointed right at them and line watch, and then it moves a couple of feet before you know they are on.  When the big girl above ate it the line just went completely slack.  I love that!

                A couple on spinnerbait but the swim jig was way better.

There are still fish on the wood, both spinnerbait fish came off logs, one on the third cast to the same piece.  The couple I caught on spinnerbait blasted it, but the rest were behind it.  If I had to guess only 2 out of 6 or so caught the spinnerbait.  Once I switched to swim jig I caught at least one everywhere I fished before I quit.  The average size was good, and I added my share of smaller ones, all on the swim jig.  I was throwing the bluegill/watermelon red Rage Craw trailer.  That is probably my go to bait most of the year on Coleto.

They just kept eating the swim jig.

I actually re-fished a bank, which I hardly ever do, and that one area, a couple of flat points, probably gave up 15 or so.  It was hot.  The water temp is barely 60 up lake, and not a whole lot more than that down lake.  I can tell you all I want, but those yellow Cocoons are the bomb for cloudy days.  Being able to see the wood before you are right on it put several fish in the boat during the day.  Make the right cast with the swim jig, reel it close, give it a hop, and hold on.  Sure is fun.  I really look forward to this time of year on the lake, catch the right day and you can put them in the boat.

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Let Dez handle all you boat lighting needs.

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I got a couple of condolences for my whining about being sick, including this comment from Texas Jim.

Sorry to hear about your illness Doug. Don’t sweat it everyone gets sick some times, get some rest, enjoy some family time, and get ready for a better year.

On another note this will be the 3rd year I will go on the annual trout fish alone. I am alone this time of the year, so that is what I do. Launch XMAS day out of Seadrift.

Thanks for another great year of reporting. I do my best fishing reading your blog and looking at your catch pictures OH< and enjoying the comments about the Austin Boys and the rest of your fishing gang. Bless Your Wife for putting up with you…..

First my wife thanks you.  To be so lucky to have going on 30 years with the best woman in the world, I married way above my pay grade.  She lets me pursue this without complaint.  I wake up every day thankful for her.  What wife tells her husband, “Why don’t you go fishing in say, Australia, this year?”  (Note: Going in late March, I can not freakin’ wait!)  What a bomb.   And whether it is the Austin Boys, Chris, the Mad Trout Fisherman, Bobby, or Billy, anyone who fishes with me is part of the Bar Hoppin’ Fishin’ Crew, just like all of you guys who have supported this blog.  I am so thankful for all of you.

Time for a funny story.  The first saltwater tournament we fished we called ourselves “Bar Hoppin’ For Tail.”  Get it?  Well it was a catholic tourney and when we won some money the priest said, “And the third place trout goes to Bar …Hop…pin’ For …………….Tail?”  Ooooppppsss.  So we changed our name, but you have to admit that was funny.  At least all the fishermen in the room thought it was!

And about the time you will be slipping out of Seadrift I will be dropping the trolling motor down on the lake trying to boat that big one.  I love Christmas morning solitude, time to reflect.  And when folks tell me they appreciate “fishing” through me when they read this ranting it warms my heart.  So good luck to you and keep in touch.  Would love to hear how it goes no matter what.

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And it was special to hear from Rusty, the Fayette-Bastrop guru.

Doug, I feel your pain.. I have had the same thing since last Wed, over a week now. My wife started getting it about three days ago. Hope you and your wife get better!
Merry Christmas, Rusty

First I want to personally thank you for staying with me on this fishing journey.  One of my longest running readers, his reports are always good to get, and I appreciate his support.  My wife and I have both turned the corner just in time. Merry Christmas to you and your wife, and we can all look forward to another great year on the water.

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This day on the lake is what makes Coleto what it is.  A steady bite and a nice average.  We are in the early/early stages of pre-spawn and it will only get better.  The next couple of months is the time to catch a really big bass.  And as soon as the Christmas festivities are over it is Baffin, then South Padre for a snook I hope.  But first the wife and I are off to Colorado.  We have had a husky for many years and love the breed.  One of the things on her bucket list is to do some winter dog sledding, and we are headed that way.  Should be a real experience, they are such fine animals.   That is it for today, hope you all have a Merry Christmas!

Good Luck and Tight Lines