Coleto Creek 1/27/17.

 

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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The Big Move Is On!

When I checked the weather thursday night it was going to be a low of 46 degrees, high low 60’s, with the wind out of the north at 10 – 20, becoming cloudy as the day wore on.  And that forecast was right on.

Today had 3 objectives, First check on the white bass to see if they are after it yet and sack a limit of bass as the Boss requested that I do a fish fry when we meet her family on South Padre in a couple of weeks.  But most important, to stay out until dark and see if they move in those spawning coves in the afternoon.  All I can say about all that is life is good.

It was freakin’ cold, 48 degrees when I dropped the boat in the water.  It still has some color to it, and while it has stabilized, the temp was 64 at the ramp, same way up the river.  First it was up lake to do some bass fishing so that when noon rolled around I could check out the whites.  It was the bluegill swim jig/watermelon Rage Craw, and they starting biting right off the bat.

What separated today from last trip was the fish were a great average, but I did not boat a big one.  Why you say?  Because I broke 3 off, which really sucked.  That happened for several reasons.  I started slow reeling it, and while I caught a couple of small ones, nothing jumped out at me.  Then I made a long cast on a really shallow point, and I grabbed my coffee as I let it sink to the bottom.  I was thinking how are you going to set  the hook with coffee in your hand if he eats it on the way down?  Well of course the one below did.

This guy made the picture when he tossed this lizard out when I boated him.

When I lifted up she was on.  I wrassled her to the boat and when she popped over the side she spit up a Zoom lizard.  I couldn’t find a hook anywhere so back in she went.  It turned into one of those “Listen to the Fish and they will tell you what to do” days, so I did.  Instead of swimming the jig I fished it like I would a Texas Rig worm, hopping and dropping.  I use 12lb line on the swim jig, usually 17 -20 when worm fishing, which was to heavy for the light jig.

         A small white bass.                              They went all out in the afternoon.

They were picking it up and swimming away like crazy, some of them were almost to the boat, so when I reared back and stuck them, pop.  Occasionally I am hit with the old man’s disease, and today it took me breaking off 3 out of the next 5 or 6 bites before I finally changed to heavier line, but it was not the same fall/feel.   Since it was around noon I decided to try for a few whites.   The water color up lake is still fairly dingy, but I might get a chance to take Korbin for some whites Sunday afternoon so I gave it a go.

I trolled in the area where they gang up and ended up boating 2 and losing a few more.  So they are there, and as most strikes came in 4 foot of water, trolling might not be the most effective, unless you have the right bait, and I had 2 that are perfect for shallow whites.  I have been dying to try Bagley Lures new Rattlin’ B Minus, a new concept in lipless rattling baits that basically stay in the 2 or 3 foot range, designed for shallow grass or cover fishing.  In the case of white bass fishing the Rattlin’ Minus B is perfect.  And if we get our grass back this year it will be deadly.  The other bait is the Rapala Shallow Running Shad Scatter Rap, which also runs in the 4 – 5 foot range on the troll or crank.

Why both are effective is if I had to narrow it down there are 2 good places to catch whites up the river in the spring.  One is really shallow soft bottom banks with the sun on them that are sheltered from the wind.  The other location is on the shoals at the end and head of pools on the river.  So I caught a couple and missed a couple in about an hour, so while not on full blast, it is coming, now.  Next time out I intend to throw the Rattlin’ B Minus, it could be scary.  So after confirming they are there it was time to carry out the rest of the days plan, catch a limit, and see if they are moving in the coves later in the day when it warms up as much as it will.  And both were a complete success.

So first stop was a good spawning cove and out came the Bang O Lure.  All I can say is it is on.  The first cove, 5 in the boat and a few other taking a pass at it.  The an even better location cove choice, 9 came over the side.  Cove 3, 3 more, cove 4, 3 more.  I put 20 in the boat in a couple of hours!  It was freakin’ awesome.  Jerking it under and watching them roll up and smoke it in that clear water is a thing of beauty.  Toss it next to a tree, stump, bush, and jerk it under and hold on.  With the water color good glasses are critical.  My Cocoons did their thing, along with the one of the most important things I have learned about this technique, trust your eyes.  Think you saw one, you did!  They rarely hit it on top, so while it is a topwater technique, the bite is not.  Twitch it a few times then jerk it under and twitch it a time or two, and be ready.  And one more thing, seeing a boil come up behind your bait but without a bite?   If you see that start jerking it like crazy a couple of feet, then stop it, they just can not stand it!  It is a great throw back technique if you miss one, you can trick them and they can’t stand it.

Long before I was fortunate enough to have some help from them I was throwing the Bang O Lure.  It is a fabulous pre-spawn bait, all the way into post spawn, in clear water.  I have caught them on the Rapala, but it has a different profile and action, and is just not as effective.  But no matter what, BALSA is king for this, and I have yet to find a hard bait that acts the same.  I had to quit throwing the Bang O Lure on saltwater or in Canada.  All kinds of toothy critters like it, and I like it more than they do so I do not give them a chance.   There is something magical in my eyes to see a big bass roll up out of nowhere and eat.

After taking a couple of R & R days in Louisiana it was good to be back on the water.  Not sure what is next, that is totally weather dependent as to where, but no matter lake or bay I will be fishing a bunch, starting right now.  The lake is only going to get better, and there are some of those warm cloudy days in the next month where dreams are made on bay or lake.  Where that next jerk an 8 rolls up and swallows it.  Where an hour later it happens again, and then again.  It does not help as I am watching them redfishing on tv and I need to get me some of that.  And of course I am still waiting for the right Baffin weather, and the starts should align sometime in the next month.  It seems crazy but in 7 weeks it will be Australia.  Maybe knock the Barramundi off the list.  Looks like a snook, built like a bass, fight like a white bass, it is one cool fish.  And how knows, maybe finally catch a yellowfin.  It is going to be a good fishing spring around here.  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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