FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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This is the day that was projected for Monday, but the wind change caused a change of plans.  Yesterday it was supposed to blow 15 – 25 mph, while Tuesday was 5 – 10, so it was a no brainer.  The plan is to fish only the Controlled Descent Lures.  I will be giving them a solid go and plan to experiment with the different styles and colors.  As I prepare this in advance Sunday I am really looking forward to Tuesday.

Weather

74/64  Scattered thundrstorms   60% chance.  Wind SE 10 – 15

Tides

Low 7:16 am  -0.4   High  7:43 pm

Solunar Times

Major  8:26  to  10:26 am   Minor  1:58 to 2:58 pm

There was no doubt in my mind!

You can plan and scheme, and talk all you want about how good a new bait looks, but nothing beats time on the water.  The weather was exactly as advertised, except it never rained.  The sun was just up, the tide was out, and the wind was blowing right on the Barroom shoreline, my first stop.  I specifically went there as the tide was almost out, and there is a huge shallow flat where I could try the new baits.  It took a while but I caught one, and then another, and while I never did stick a big red or trout, the fishing was good until I quit at 1:30, and the tide was just starting to move.  But I learned lots today about fishing the Controlled Descent Lures.

It started off slow on the slack tide, but I still boated a few on the shoreline.

Lets get to the punch line as far as rigging goes.  From tossing them a few times at bass they float easy, so I wanted to reduce the amount of foam.  So it was about 2/3rds of a piece with a rattle.  Since I was going to be in the water I went ahead and rigged several Jerk Shads and Paddle Shads in multiple colors to put in my wading box.  Once I did that I did not want to be stuck with them all prepared the same way knowing the 2 places I was going to fish and then the fish want them deeper.  So I solved that by bringing along split shot, turned out to be the ticket.

Just did not get into the bigger reds today, but did catch 6 or so of these.

The lures did float higher with less foam in the salt.  It seemed I got the amount about right as it would just suspend under the surface.   That caught a couple but they were just not up shallow, so I moved out and tried a small split shot.  When I found the right one  I just clipped it on the line above the bait.  It made for a really nice medium fall, which when I moved to a deep drain, was perfect.

              Nothing spectacular today, but a good steady bite later.

I caught on the Paddle Shad and the Jerk Shad.  The Jerk Shad was the better bait, and I fished just like I would any other plastic.  The Paddle Shad seemed to work better in rapid jerks shallower in the water column and they hit it on the stop.  Of course I caught several in the conventional hop and drop also.  As far as colors blackgold/limetreuse, pink lime aid, pumpkinseed/chartreuseglitter, and the white/limetreuse all caught fish, though the blackgold/limetreuese was by far the better bait today.

The drain had water just starting to flow in, and the wind was trying to blow the water out.  It was super clear on the island, and I could see the edges of the channel.  A good toss up on the edge and off into the channel was a bite.  The water moving finally got them going, and I caught a good dozen plus out of the drain.  It was nice to be able to throw up current, cross current, and down current and get a feel for how the baits worked.  Some I felt thump it, some were just there when I picked up.  3 different colors worked in that one drain.

Like I said before they are soft, but you just have to keep working that screw lock around and I did not use any more baits than usual.  The most important thing, as with all plastics, is you get the bait on straight.  It lets the tail do the work, the thing that makes them bite, instead of falling crooked or spinning on the drop.  And last, I did throw one on a jig head, and it worked just fine.

So after one go at it here is what I am taking away from using these baits.  The fall is the ticket, and so far using a small split shot, and having several sizes, really allowed me to control depth and fall.  As I use them more it will be easier to have a clue, and insert the shot in the bait instead of putting it on the line.  And what I like about that is like I did today you can prepare them by putting foam in to get good flotation, and then adjust with weight accordingly.  It will be fun to experiment, the good gulf fishing is coming and it will be interesting.

So not a bad day considering it was new baits, and only the second time I have been in a month.  The weather cooperated, the tide could have been better, but no complaints when I am catching.  Never look a gift horse in the mouth.  For the long morning it was a good 20, and it just worked out there were no big fish today.  But that will change next trip.  Always the optimist.  Tomorrow it is the Houston Fishing Show, and if you go stop in at the My Coast Outdoors and Coastal Fishing Gear booths and say hi.  Then the very next time the wind allows it will be back to the Gulf.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines