FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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It is just wrong when life gets in the way of fishing.  As I write a lot of this Sunday afternoon it pains me to not be going to the bay tomorrow.  Looks like a beautiful day with light winds, unfortunately I have to go to the dentist tomorrow afternoon.  So with an early quit time I will be on Coleto at daylight so I can make it off the water at 1:00.  Oh well, it is not like a bad thing, the bass are biting and there are a couple of places I want to try.  We will just have to see how it goes.

Weather

76/49  Mainly sunny.  WSW 5 to 10mph   0% chance of rain.

Solunar Times

Best Times   12:30P – 2:30P   Good Time      6:17A – 8:17A

Lake Level

Today     96.15msl

It was barely chilly when I backed the boat in the water.  I had already made up my mind I wasn’t going to fish anything I had in the last month.  And other than one place I kept to that plan.

                                       Everybody was fishing today.

The water temp at the ramp was 61, down a couple degree, but as the water clears it loses heat quicker.  The wind was light out of the NW and not a cloud in the sky.  First up was a main lake cove headed up the plant arm.   I stuck with the Bang O Lure but they were not interested.  The next place was a whole lot better.

                                       The spawners are on the way!

Fishing a creek channel bend about halfway back in a cove with the swim jig turned out to be a good choice.  Though most were the same size, I caught 5 in there.  From there I just kept hopping cove to main lake.  The fish are definitely moving up fast, and while I did not boat a big one today, that is coming.  A cloudy drizzling day and I am there.

                           Nobody catches more fish than an Osprey.

As the water started to warm they finally started eating the Bang O Lure.  Here is the tip for the day, find a cove with timber in it, especially if it is a spawning cove, and the fish are on the wood.  It is awesome when they appear next to a log and eat it.  Today a couple ate it right next to the boat.

                                   You can see what size is on the move.

Unfortunately I had to quit at 1:00 and the fish were just picking up a head of steam.  I caught around 10 altogether, most nice solid fish.  The day was not what I would expect to be a big fish day.  But later in the day as the water warms you can find those big girls in those bigger flat coves.   Between the Bang O Lure and the swim jig, that about covers it for me, though I will admit to throwing a spinnerbait some today.  I really like the way the lake is fishing right now, hit the right spot and you can put some serious fish in the boat, at least I hope so!

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I know I tend to rag on some segments of the fishing industry, but I want to give a shout out to the FLW.  In conjunction with United Fishing Tournament and Special Olympics they held a fishing tournament with the kids and it was a success.  That is the kind of thing I like to see, the industry giving back.  It can be big or small, but our sport benefits whenever we do something.

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I got this question from Jim, and it gave me a couple of additional thoughts on fishing the Bang O Lure.

Doug, that was a really, really good report. Tons of good information to be gleamed from it. That is why I like reading your stuff. One question regarding the Bang O lures you throw. Is it the 4.25″ or 5.25″ model? Thanks in advance for the information.

Jim

Definitely the 5.25″ 3 hook.  I have a few of the 2 hook models, but to get them to act right they need to be thrown on light line and a spinning rod.  If there is not to much cover to break them off or hang up I prefer to throw the 5.25 on a medium action with 10lb fluoro.  I will go as high as 15lb, but that is about it for this technique.  It is hard for me to adequately tell you how it should work when it is perfect, the best I can say it “shimmers” with a tight wobble.  It may not seem like it but it requires finesse to fish it properly, but once you get the hang of it you are in business.  I really think that the body being deeper giving it a larger profile than the Rapala is why it is more effective.   Big fish like big supper.  And one last word, I love the silver foil/black back.  They are not always available, so the Gray Ghost or the Black Stripes on Silver Foil will do.  So good luck if you try them. let us know.

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I forgot to tell you about one of those crazy outdoor experiences I had the other day.  As I was sliding down the bank there was a buzzard sitting on a big branch on one of the large trees in the lake.  He was going back and forth down it making buzzard noise.  It just seemed funny as he was worked up.  When I got to the tree I saw why.  There was a spinnerbait hanging from a branch in front of him, and it was moving with the wind and he was trying to figure out just what it was.  Funny, but a reminder of what could happen.  Since it was only attached by mono it looked like it was floating and who knows, maybe a bird could attempt to eat it and get hung up.  Just a reminder to make every attempt to get baits and line back, no reason to litter or hurt innocent wildlife.  It really came home when I freed that Blue Heron last year caught on a limb line that was left in the water.  So do what you can.

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From the Falcon Lake Tackle website comes this comment on the big fish kill that happened last year on Falcon.

TPWD has still not released a report on the fish kill that happened in the Veleno.. Or any plans on what they plan to do about it.  There’s another government entity that has continually fallen short. More on that in a forthcoming post.

I love the way he holds their feet to the fire.  It has been MONTHS and still no word.  If memory serves me it took them quite a bit of time to even respond.  There is no reason for it to take this long, and there sure should be consequences if a violation is found.  No wonder people lose respect for government.  Come on TPWD, what is the deal?  As usual it appears they do not care what we think.  Sad, if they do not investigate and report on “our” fish being killed who will?

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Just a quick word on etiquette on the water.  Fishing is off to an early start this year and folks are really hitting the water.  With that comes busy ramps and crowded fishing spots.  All of us can do our part by being the bigger man.  Getting stuff ready before we get to the ramp, and then when pulling out pull way out of the way.  When running be nice, yield if you need to, this is not a race, it is fishing.  Give people space, give waders their area, give a boat fishing a bank all the way to the next point they are heading too.  If someone needs help or a tow, just do it, it will be returned to you in spades.  If you are way up a narrow creek or river idle with no wake by folks fishing, it will make you happier if someone does that for you.  And please give the guys in the kayaks a break, they have a right to water just like we do.  It really is common sense, almost the golden rule:  “do to others what you would have them do to you…”  It will sure make a better experience for all of us.

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Sorry to the saltwater guys, but it is going to be a long day at the lake tomorrow.  I got a case of the bass right now.  I am getting the numbers, and the size is consistent, and the big girls are not that far behind.  And besides, keep a bait in the water all day, in the right place, and it will happen.  This is my favorite time of year on Coleto.  So back I go in the morning.  Keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines