FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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Weather

67/61   Scattered thunderstorms.   50% chance.  Wind NE 5 – 10 mph.

Solunar Times

Best  10:14 am  to  12:14 pm   (Only relevant time.)

Lake Level

Today  97.04 msl  Last trip 11/28  97.10 msl

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A Sad Day

I was on my way to the lake by about 8:00.  With the prime period midday and cool weather there was no hurry as I was expecting a late bite.  The water level is still stable but the color still sucks.  I have some thoughts on that which I will get to another day.  The water temp was 60.5  at the ramp and the wind was light out of the north.

The first stop was the discharge just to see if they were running water, and they were, and to see what the temp was, 69.0, which was the highest anywhere.  I gave plastics a quick go there with out success.  I fished the channel side out and had 2 bites on Bang O Lure and landed a peanut. From there it was a big cove, and like basically everywhere I fished the water temp was low 60’s, cooler as you went back in them.  Since I caught the small one I kept with the Bang O Lure and missed the only other bite on it.

All 5 today looked just like this.

I hit one more main lake bank on the way to the big cove on the right in the plant arm, where I did manage to catch one on a swim jig.  As I started halfway back in the cove there was a bald eagle on down the bank that I figured was eating a fish.  I thought about getting the camera out, it was raining, but figured he would fly away.  As I got close it was apparent he was in real trouble.  He was dragging one wing with no control over it.  It was scared and started running in the woods and was banging and dragging it, no way it could fly.  It was impossible to see if it had been shot or just an accident.  Not having a clue what to do I called TPWD in Austin after the Boss texted me the number.

I explained where I was and what happened.  She took my number and said she would contact someone.  I could still see the eagle but it was getting further in the woods.  Unfortunately I waited in the rain for almost 1 hr 1/2 and no one called.  I did catch 3 on plastics in standing timber to pass the time, and they were small.  So I called her back and she took the information again and in 1 minute a Warden from Victoria called and said he would be right out.  At this point it was raining pretty good and I fished a couple of places without success waiting for them.

When they got there I led them to where it went in the woods and they started looking.  They spent quite a while, it was thick, without success.  So before I hit the road they told me they were going to troll the banks and look on the back side and see if they could spot it.  I have always respected Game Wardens, and these guys are great examples of why.  Someone calls and out they come.  Raining, snowing, middle of the night, their birthday, doesn’t matter, they love their job and most of what comes with it.  I apologized for getting them out there and of course their response was no problem.

So now that I am home it looks like I will never know what happened to that eagle.  But it is a cruel world out there, and with the number of coyotes and bobcats on the lake little chance it will make the night.  I felt bad seeing it like that, I just hope it was from an accident or fight, and not some knucklehead taking a pot shot at the symbol of America.

Today was not the way I wanted it to go.  After hanging for a week I was looking forward to a great experience catching fish or not, unfortunately the plight of the eagle took all the fun out of it.  I think it was the same one who has come the last 3 or 4 falls and usually hangs in that area.  The ospreys always harass the crap out of it and I saw them at it last month and actually mentioned it on the blog.  So who knows, might have lost the fight.  They are just so magnificent, and from Canada to Florida I appreciate seeing every single one.

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I heard from Billy after our less than successful trip to POC last week.

Dam, it’s bad enough I have to claim him as my cousin, and you want to call him my brother.  (When I said he and his brother were gigging some good flounder.)
Yep, most definitely believe the regulations have increased the average size of flounder.
As for the fishing, yes, you are right, there have been better days. Water was just too dam cold.
Any time you feel the urge to go on a weekend, give me a holler.
It’s the rare occasion that I don’t have at least one, if not both days open.

Sorry about getting it wrong.  The way my fishing has gone the last 2 weeks I might take up knitting.  But if I get a weekend hankering will drop you a note.

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And speaking of Coleto, Dustin dropped this comment.

I’m curious as to the temp as well, we are headed down for our New Years tradition. Last year we caught over 200 fish before I blew my motor, most of them were white bass. I hope it’s the same this year

The water temp is obviously way down from where it was just 2 weeks ago.  Unfortunately I did not get to fish how and where I wanted today, so my results are not very helpful.  But I will be back on the lake this week at least one day, hopefully the results will be different.  Todays results were my fault.  So thanks for the comment, I really appreciate hearing from any of you that have anything to say.  I get tired of listening to me!

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The weather looks like it will remain this way for the week with off and on again rain.  The river is calling so will hit it in the next day or two, then another day on the lake.  It just might be crankbait time on the lake, and I definitely want to spend a little more time on the swim jig.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines