Christmas Day 12/25/16.

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL 

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Santa Did Not Do Me Any Weather Favors

No matter what you did yesterday I hope you had a good day.  I did what I have done on many a Christmas day, went fishing.  The wind was blowing about 15+ as I drove to the lake, and it never looked back.  It began howling out of the SSE at 25 -30 and it never let up for the rest of the day.  I was late, there were actually 2 trucks out already.  First up was the bank where I caught them the other day.  The first one jumped the swim jig and I did not get a hook in him.

So I kept at it and ended up boating 6 on swim jig before I got blown off up lake.   The wind was howling straight up the lake and it was tough.  Definitely a put on your big boy pants day.  Then moving down lake to clear water, the last couple came on the Bang-O-Lure.  If there was just a little calm spot down lake I could get a bite, and managed to boat 2 and miss a couple.  It had potential to be a great day, but throwing a topwater was tough.

If you could find just a stinking foot of calm water……..

Except for one, all of the swim jig fish were small.  It was so windy that I missed more than I hooked.  It was a constant fight to keep position, and feel a light bite with a foot of slack in the line.  They still wanted it in that 3 foot range on a steady retrieve.

They wanted it splashing along on top.

I thought they might hit a crankbait so I made a pass on the good bank and missed one, on the next bank nothing.  Interspersed with those baits I would pick up that spinnerbait and toss it, but did not have a bite.  The water temp was from a low of 64 way up lake, to some low 70’s down lake.  The drop up lake is pretty quick, dropping 5 degrees in a short distance.  Funny how they didn’t bite when it only dropped to 64.  And that is why I just can not believe, but it is true, they do not want to chase the spinnerbait up or down lake, even with the water temp that high.

                                     They love that sun this time of year.

This is the time of year you really see some big gators.  They love getting out on the bank and sunning.  It has not been that cold, and they have been out every morning I have fished.  This one was not concerned and when he turned around as I got close he gave me a mouthful of teeth and looked at me like I was finger food.  And as I went down a bank a while later there was a doe bedded down in a bush right on the bank of the wind.  I grabbed the camera but before I could turn the boat she hightailed it out of there.  And speaking of animals, there are more ducks on the lake than usual.  A few coots have shown up, but the only grass is in the cove buy the fishing pier, and it is just that old nasty stuff.  That is another consequence of no grass, that huge mass of coots we had every winter.  Not that I miss them.

The best one on the swim jig.

Once I went back down lake I would just tuck in trying to get out of the wind so I could fish the Bang-O-Lure.  They want it right now, and it will only get better.  Both of the topwater fish came in a cove, as did the misses.  It is the very beginning of pre-spawn.  Time to really concentrate on the points and first 1/4 of the coves as they begin to stage.  Has the feel of a hot spring on Coleto.

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It was nice to get this timely comment from Dustin.

Thanks for the report, your blog always makes me want to make the trip to the lake. I took off the week after Christmas and will be in Goliad the entire week I can’t wait to get on the water.

If the wind will take a break, and we get the warm cloudy weather they are forecasting, the fishing should be pretty good on the lake.  I am sure there are other techniques to catch them, so do what you know.  But there are some shallow fish looking to eat.  Let us know how you do.  Thanks for commenting.

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I did want to make a comment on a short article in The Lone Star Outdoors news.  The boating industry is all in a tizzy, as they should be, because boaters have not been replacing themselves and numbers are on the decline.  So I am sure there will be cussing, discussing, and a study or two.  Here is my .02 worth.  Boats are getting to expensive, to technical, and the engines are getting to big.  Yes, there are a few entry level boats, but in the bass and bay type boats there is not much under $30,000 by time you are done.  And moving up from there folks are paying $70,000 plus for a flats boat, and $125,000 for a low end center console, neither a small purchase.  Add $300 fishing reels, $200 rods, and $500 waders, it has gone crazy.  I have been concerned about what has turned into “the cost” of fishing keeping younger kids from even getting started, and the cost of boats is not helping matters.  When you are talking these kinds of dollars it is easy to see why new buyers are not entering the market.

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The next time I post it will be dog sledding pictures.  We loved our Huskies and actually getting to go on the sled and help with the dogs will be cool.  And it knocks off one of the Boss’s bucket list.  And it will be crazy to go from 80 degrees with gators sunning, to a couple of feet of snow and 15 degrees.  When I get back it will be the Upper Laguna countdown.  Just watching for that 2 -3 day window when clouds meet calm, and I will be gone.  Time to catch a big trout.  Looking forward to a great year, and am glad that any of you want to come along.  And if you have anything to say, jump in, we love hearing from you.  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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