FISH CATCHING TRAVEL
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Now I have never been a crackhead, though I defended one or two in court, and now I know how they feel. The last week has me thinking and dreaming about bass rolling out of a log and eating my Bang O Lure. Or the feel of a thump, or the complete loss of feel, as a big one slack lines the swim jig. And the spinnerbait bite, when a big fish stops it in it’s tracks in a boil the size of a bucket ss the stuff dreams are made of. So how do I feel like a crackhead?
Those of you who read this stuff know I rarely fish on the weekend, but not this Saturday. I woke up at 4:am dreaming of the bite, then at 5 thinking about the bite, then finally getting up at 6:00 and heading to the lake. The rest of the day was spent chasing the “crack”. Like Thrusday, I ran around the lake like a mad man knocking the snot out of them. The next cove, the next bank, one more spot, I was, and am, in a bass fishing frenzy. So I may not be a crackhead, but I sure know how one must feel. I can not get enough of the good fishing, and Saturday was as good as hoped for.
Second cast, this one flat out stopped it!
It was 53 degrees when I headed to the lake before daylight. When I got to the ramp there was one in the water and one putting in. Wow, third on a Saturday. But with the weather forecast calling for northerly winds and occasional rain and drizzle, it wasn’t exactly nice out. The good thing was it obviously kept the crowd down. I decided to start in a spawing cove way up lake, right where the water color changes so I could fish spinnerbait where the wind was blowing near the mouth, and then Bang O Lure back in the calm stuff. In the water went the trolling motor and on the second cast the one above came out of a log and absolutely stopped a buzzed spinnerbait in a huge boil. What a freakin’ bite! It turned out to be big fish of the day.
Spinnerbait or Bang O Lure, your choice.
From that point on it was almost a carbon copy of Thursday. I went from one end of the lake to the other, fishing coves, points, and channels. If I had to actually pin down the pattern it boils down to this. Spinnerbait in any area with wind, Bang O Lure in the coves with wood and the protected side of windy poinst, and the swim jig any where you want to throw it. And no matter where you throw it do not miss one piece of wood. Just saying.
This size all day long!
One of the good decisions made today was to return to the creek where I caught them 2 trips ago, then struck out first thing in the morning last trip. Today I waited to fish it in the later afternoon, and boy were they there. I caught 8 on swim jig fishing the channel side and one on spinnerbait. Good timing, which obviously you get better at it when fishing a whole lot. And wood produced today as it has been. Without grass wood cover has taken over. I have caught more fish on wood this year than the previous 3 or 4 combined.
I have given quite a bit of thought as to why I have not had a shot at more big fish. Having to make a guess it might be related to our really early spring. The fishing went from so-so to full out on in a matter of a week, it was that fast. Now every small fish is on the bank looking to spawn, like boys getting to Ladies Night early. The full moon will be here on Saturday the 11th, which has some effects. Who knows, they may move in mass this week. One thing that has been apparent, the different water temps where you are on the lake have been real important, above 65 and it is game on. I have seen 59 degrees to the high 70’s depending on the day. And that has not been real stable due to the couple of small fronts that slid through. So we shall see, but I am going to keep after it for a little while longer.
The day never did get to warm, the wind was cool, and it started drizzling about 10 and did so for the rest of the day. It was not quite as fast as the other day, but by time I talked to the wife before 10 on her way to work I had already boated a good dozen, and it went from there until I quit at 5. Not sure how many, but it has been 3 trips where I caught fish literally everywhere I have been. And mixing up the swim jig, spinnerbait, and Bang O Lure has really been productive, has keep it interesting.
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Sometimes it seems as a customer you just do not matter, not the case at Bagley Baits. Thanks to Billy and his kindness in giving me a couple of Bang O Lures last year, the last one crapped out last trip, but he got me through. And now thanks to Brendan at Bagley Bait Company hurrying my order up when I whined it was on down here, I have 4 brand new ones and a spin tail Bang O lure just in time. Good companies give good customer service and deserve our support.
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Hydro Flask
And speaking of good customer service, there was another great example this week. Back when I stayed up for days as a Nationally Registered Paramedic I acquired a serious coffee habit. If I am in the boat so is my coffee. So when the Yeti cup came out I was all over that. Kept my coffee warm for hours, important when you drink while the boat is moving, then usually not again until you move. But if I ever had a cup not made for a boat it was that Yeti. Being bigger on top than bottom it was always tipping over. Then I left it on the back deck and out it went, lost in Garcitas Creek somewhere.
The Boss and I were in Dick’s when she found a cup that I love, and it does not tip over near as much. It is a Hydro Flask 16oz wide mouth that not only keeps stuff warm for hours, it does not tip over. And like all things outdoors, I am hard on it but it can take it no problem. Well somehow the gasket on the lid came off and I lost it. No problem, I email the company and there is a gasket on the way. Their stuff is guaranteed for life, and their customer service is awesome. So if you are looking for another cup try a Hydro Flask, take it from a coffee nut.
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Another thing I am working on is finding a good craw trailer for the swim jig. The Rage Craw is the best, period. But when they are biting like this they tear them up left and right, they are soft. So I went to Academy this morning and found a couple of different trailers that look like they might work. I do know from yesterday when I ran out, they want those craws to vibrate so the ones I am trying have the flange on the pinchers like the Rage Craw. If either works out it will be easy to tell and I will let you know.
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Tomorrow the conditions will be a ton better. A warm night fallowing a warm day, and rain and clouds. It has all the markings of another great day. I am going to mull over the big girl thing, what am I missing or are they just not up in mass yet? The weather and timing will tell this week. I doubt I will make the bay again this week, I am going to ride this horse as long as it lasts. So sorry to you salt guys, but it is coming. So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.
Good Luck and Tight Lines
