FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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As I prepare this the night before I can not help but be excited.  This is the type of day I harp on all the time.  There are few perfect days and this one has fish written all over it. My only problem is I only have 1 Bang O Lure, which could be dangerous.  So it will be real interesting to see how it goes.  My money is on a good day.

Weather

70/54  Showers in the morning, then cloudy in the afternoon.  Wind N 5-10 Chance of rain 40%          (This is the kind of day I have been waiting for, so we shall see.)

Solunar Times

• Best     2:51A – 4:51A
•              3:16P – 5:16P
• Good   9:04A – 11:04A     (The times and weather are right tomorrow.  It was right on!)

After 50 years of hard at it I have learned 2 things.  First, when you have multiple fishing options do what you need to do, when you need to do it, and most importantly where you need to do it.  And right now the lake is the thing.  And working hand in hand with that, if it is early pre-spawn and is going to be a warm night, followed by a cloudy misty day, GO TO THE LAKE!  Today was nothing short of awesome.  And I freakin’ mean crazy good!  I called the Boss from the lake on her way to the dentist a little before 9, and I had already boated 11, and it only got better from there.  I can not adequately make an educated guess how many I caught today, but it was a feeding frenzy.  The only issue today, was did I catch 3, or 6, or 7 out of every place?

I started in a good cove with timber, and it was immediately apparent the bite was on.  7 came over the side, all on Bang O Lure.  They were related to wood and all it took was to throw it close and twitch it under.  And another plug for the Cocoons, the yellow were critical the Bang O Lure and the reduced visibility.  Keeping in constant visual contact under water is tough with wind and glare, not to mention the water being cloudier as you go up lake.  It started with a bang, and they were still banging away when I quit at 3:30.  And several today came out of cover and blasted the topwater on top on the first twitch, it was everything I love out of our sport.

Twitch, twitch, and pull it under, awesome.  What was this guy thinking?

Next up was another cove, and it was like 5, and it only got better from there.  They were biting, so I kept fishing the Bang O Lure and occasionally throwing the swim jig, and they hit both with authority.  I could tell it was going to be a big bite when I made the right decision.

When this size is trying to jerk the rod out of your hands it is a thing of beauty.

I have thrown spinnerbait a little the last couple of trips, completely without success, but I keep throwing it knowing the day would come, and today was it.  I was up lake in the off color water when I started fishing it and my second cast one  just blasted it.  I was basically buzzing it right below the surface, as slow as I could go, making a wake.  5 came over the side on that bank alone.  From that point on it was back and forth between the topwater and spoinnerbait, and it was simply a matter of how you wanted to catch them.  And as you know I love me some spinnerbait.

Unfortunately I did not catch them all, including a really big girl that came out of a stump and ate the Bang O Lure.  I got a hook in her, and she pulled off by straightening a back hook.  At the same time she pulled the wire out and an inch of the balsa is gone.   It was a really big fish.  That is why I was worried with only one Bag O Lure, but that one soldiered on.  And with the off the chain fishing losing a big one did not hurt, there was another one 10 foot down the bank.  And when you have boated dozens and dozens of fish sooner or later they will eat the balsa baits up.  It comes with the territory.  The plastic minnow baits will last longer, but they will not catch more fish.

                  Swim jig anyone?                                 Then the Bang O Lure.

If there was a good breeze blowing right on a bank I would throw the spinnerbait, and they were stopping it.  They wanted a wake, not fast, which can be tricky.  But running it right on the surface led to some epic bites.  I did lose one other big one on the spinnerbait that just came unbuttoned after a big jump.  Some time that stuff happens even with a trailer hook.  And when I would be in a calm pocket, or the back side of a point, it was the topwater.  I caught 4 in 5 casts in one spot alone.  It was that good.  It was one of those days when every lure change at the right time was rewarded.

  Then the spinnerbait.    Then some more Bang O Lure.  I was in heaven!

That is the best bite I have seen on the lake in a good bit.  I don’t know how many hooked up, but it was dozens and dozens.  The spinnerbait is completely trashed, the Bang O Lure has fished it’s last day.  They flat tore them, and my hands, up.  In fact I am surprised both lasted as long as they did, nice to catch 50 and not lose a bait.  Warm sunny days, finally a warm night followed by a cloudy, misty light wind, and it happened just like I knew it would.

To sum it up, fish what you like on the lake right now.  They are still related to wood, though have moved into the coves.  I saw my first beds, including a tilapia bed though I am not seeing them right now.  There really is not any more to say other than it is on big time!  All those days when it is tough, when you fish like crap, or when thing break, all go by the way side.  Today was not fishing, it was catching, and this one will go down in my memory as nothing short of epic.

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You know how we all catch a few big fish?  Well my buddy Chris caught him a bigun”.

Having been fortunate enough to catch a marlin once in my life, it is a thing of beauty you will never forget.  So I really can’t wait for him to get home so I can hear all about it.  Congratulations, nothing like crossing one off the bucket list.  Time for an offshore boat?

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After Joe sent me the report from the river I had a question about parking where 59 crosses the river.

Surprising the day at the river including my truck there were 13. They were just loaded with alot of people.

When i first bought my Basscat, They had automobile Firestone Firehawks on it because of the weigh and speed rating. but i guess over time, All three of them shredded out. Finally got some Primewell Load range d so that i can carry more weight and the tire pressure is 65lbs. Knock on wood they havent shredded yet. Been about 5 months

Thanks.  Doesn’t look like if I sneak over during the week parking will be an issue.  Basically means I don’t have to get up to dang early if I decide to make the trip.  And I will be interested in how that brand of tires hold up for you.  I ordered some Goodyears, first time I have tried them, so we shall see.  And speaking of Bass Cat, that is my Arkansas home town.  Ron Pierce, the owner, was the mayor of Mtn. Home and I think he passed away lately.  I am sure his son Rick is running the show now.  They have always made a great boat.  Thanks for the info.

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Jim has joined the Bang O Lure train.

Greetings Doug
I wanted to tell you I was in Academy in Austin looking for the Bang’o lure. They did not carry that product. I think they do on line; so does Amazon but you know we always want it yesterday. So I went to the Bang’o Lure site and ordered them for 8.79 plus 10 bucks shipping. It was cheaper than Amazon they wanted $12.00 plus for them no shipping for prime. Sure would liked to have had a coupon code like I got from you for the Glasses. The Academy clerk found them one and two here and there; Cabala’s found 12 in Minnesota. H2O has a similar type of lure so I picked one of them up. Those baits sure did a good job of catching me!

Trust me they will be worth the cost, they catch fish, see above, .  And they are about impossible to find most places.  Don and his partner bought the company and are in the process of bringing it back to the glory days, so the baits are just not everywhere yet.   I just ordered 5 from Bagley and they should be here tomorrow.  I will watch for coupons or offers in the future and put them on the site when they have some.  I was glad I was able to get the straight silver foil/black back, my favorite.  One thing I do on most of them, unless they are going to used in the salt, is take off 3 hooks and replace them with 2.  You have to get a little larger size to keep the weight as close as possible to keep the same balance.  That is why I use the lighter red hooks which add a little in clear water.  It is not necessary and maybe it helps, at least it helps my confidence.

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And while he was at it Jim had this other question.

Greetings Doug
Any word on the Crappie bite? My Dad; a life long resident of Baton Rouge soon to be 98 year old is due to visit me in Seadrift likely for the last time. He wants to go fresh water fishing. He and I use to fish years ago; a lot! I hope to do that at Colleto for Crappie and Black Bass. Of course I have my ear close to the ground on your Blog. This will happen in late March or when ever I can determine when the Crappie bite is on. I plan on scouting the lake this weekend for the first time.

Coleto is probably one of the more consistent crappie lakes around.  It has good trees and isolated timber, and with a fairly stable water level they are caught consistently year round.  Most are caught on deeper trees, in the 10 – 20 foot range, and that seems to be consistent year round.  The only guys I see on the lake more than me is a couple of old dudes I call Mr. Crappie 1 and Mister Crappie 2.  Winter, summer and in between I holler at them and they always have 25, 30, 21, but they always have big crappie.  I know from checking the cleaning table trash can they are catching them every day in pretty good numbers.  The only question is if or when they move shallow, but otherwise, a bucket of minnows and hop cover to cover and it usually happens.  I actually got a good report from someone the other day, and this morning half of the folks out were crappie fishing.  So if that is your plan it should be perfect.

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As I finish this up Saturday morning it pains me to not be fishing after I just saw the weather report.  I need to do a little work on the boat, trailer, and tackle before I go again.  (In the morning!)  Taking time to get you stuff together before you go always makes for a better day, so I will be responsible and get stuff done.  With the weather report looking like it does there will be some serious bass fishing.  The salt will just have to wait just a little longer, but the epic big bass day is right around the corner and I will be there when it happens.  There really is not anything more to say about yesterday.  To be able to catch fishing on topwater, spinnerbait, and swim jig is my idea of a perfect fishing day.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines