FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

When I got to the ramp at daylight the only truck was my buddy Rusty.  And as I was getting ready to back in here came Larry and his friend with the old Carolina Skiff.  Props to you Larry, it looks awesome, your work sure paid off.   What made that little encounter something is Larry was driving the skiff, Rusty has an LTS like me, and had sold his jon boat to Larry’s friend that was with him.  So we each sold a boat to both guys.  Small world.

Weather

Tides

Low 2:25 pm.

Bite Times

 Major 8:00 am.   Minor 9:38 am.

************** 

The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

***************

There was a real change on the creek.  The tide was super high, and the color was past poor.  The temp was 71 degrees and the water was not moving.  It was the kind of color where I almost headed to the river but I stuck it out.  Not sure in the long run it was worth the effort, but guess that means I am spoiled.  When catching 15 – 25 give or take a few is not worth the effort guess I should not whine.

Had the light coat on for the skeeters, which did not show up this morning.  She ate the Pearl Knockin Tail I colored with a hot head.

First up was a bank not all that far from the ramp that has been good to me this fall.  I stopped and tossed the corky style jerkbait down most of it.  It produced one bite and it was small.  A couple of tosses with the Knockin Tail did not produce a bite.  But one thing would become really apparent as the tide finally started going out, the color was getting worse.  Just to check I fished it on the way back and did not have a bite, by then it was chocolate.

Next was a point which had fish on it.  The one above came there on the hot head Knockin Tail.  It ate it and ended up breaking the line when she flopped in the boat.  I got a quick pic and she flopped right in the water with my bait.  I did not have another one but there is definitely some work to do on that color.  And maybe something in the future from My Coast Outdoors on that point.

Going down that bank a couple smacked the crap out of the corky and did not hook up, several others did and a couple got on the plastics, all small.  But no matter what if the number of 12 – 15″ is a sign of things to come it is going to be a good year on the bay.  Then it was time to head down the river to near the bay.  The color was better, which was not saying much, and I am not hopeful that it will be any better the next few days.  And if we get some significant rain it might be over for the winter.  It has happened in the past but only time will tell.

When it was all said and done it was the 4″ Honeydew Knockin Tail on a 1/8th screw lock.

I spent way too much time on the jerk bait, the water was just not clear enough, so finally settled in on the Honeydew Knockin Tail.  I would say most of my bites on the Knockin Tail came in a couple of feet of water, and like it has been several jumped on it as it sank after the cast.  So they were really shallow like they have been.  Until I quit at 1:00 it was fairly steady, the were mostly small and I never did catch a red or a flounder.  The wind at the point was blowing almost 20 up the river.  It blew the water in against the tide and the prime falling just did not happen.  So I finally called it a day.

Rusty and his friends caught a bunch of small black drum and reds on popping cork and a shrimp imitation.  But only one of their reds made the grade, it was that kind of day.  I am not confident the creek will be worth a hoot for a while.  Since I did not see it yesterday not sure if it was getting worse of better.  Guess it might be time to fish the river, depending on how dirty it is.  And who knows what they really wanted today but as usual feed them a Knockin Tail and you will get bit.

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The weather tomorrow is going to be sketchy with the wind predicted to blow 20 – 30 mph which is basically unfishable unless you absolutely have to, which I don’t.  I will take the day to fix a couple of things that have been lingering on the boat.  Plus a trip to Habor Freight is also on the schedule.  Wednesday will be the lake for sure, from that point on who knows, no matter what I will be on the water.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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While watching the Cowboys, they are playing poorly, I checked the blog and found this interesting question.

Hey Doug, still love your reports and stories . When you tell how you rig a bait or thyme if hook /jig you use. I would be grateful if you would include a pic of what it should look like too. Just for us novices who are trying to figure this thing out. Lol.
Great stuff again as always. And especially since it’s about the salt!
Thanks
Ed

I am not expert by any means but here is a quick primer on a big subject that might help you some.

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

***************

The Baits

I will get this out of the way as far as color goes.  Your choice, but at least a light and dark color in which ever size Knockin Tail you fish.  For me the Honeydew and the Pearl in the 4″, the Glass Minnow and the Nuked Glow in the 3.25″, and last the Halloween and the Pearl in the 5″.  See the pattern there?  But these are the colors I have confidence in and of course those are not the only ones I fish.  Yours may be different so fish the color you want that you have confidence in, it will put more fish on the line.  It comes down to where and how you use it.

First let’s look at some of the characteristics that set the Knockin Tail apart from other plastics.  Of course the rattle is the key.  There is absolutely no downside to the rattle and with the baits ability to rattle on the fall you have a deadly combination.  Plus it is surprisingly durable.  To achieve the right set up for the conditions requires several options whether using a jig head or the swimbait hook.  It is so important no matter what hook you use that the bait is straight on the hook.  Whether you are rigging the 3.25″, the 4″ or the 5″ think perspective.  Small bait, smaller hooks, big baits bigger hooks, sounds simple but your choice will definitely influence the action.

When deciding on which hook you want to use it is pretty simple.  The first issue is grass.  Have lots then the swimbait hookup is the way to go.  Less grass or deeper water the jig head generally comes in to play.  And if you want the Knockin Tail to fall face down, or stop level as you do in the winter, there are several options to get it done.

The Jig Head

4″ Knockin Tail jig heads, ball jig, and more of a swimming jig head.  Notice one similarity?  They are all screw locks.

One of the characteristics of the Knockin Tail I love is how durable they are but still have the tail action to rattle.  When you combine it with a screw lock you just might be able to fish all day with the same bait unless you break off, have done that many times.  No more body slipping down off the jig head as the hole gets wallowed out, finally ending up on the floor of the boat as you change plastics.  But here we go again, it must be straight on the hook, if not it might spin and believe me they just don’t like it.  And of course scale hook size it to the size of the Knockin Tail.

Options on the 3.25″ Knockin Tails.  Notice how short the hook shanks are for the smaller bait.  Most are a 3/0.

Jig heads generally run from 1/32 to 3/8th of an ounce when talking bay fishing.  I am a lighter the better kinda guy, but I use light line.  Head size often has more to do with water depth than anything else.  No matter the size Knockin Tail be sure the jig head you want lets it wiggle on the fall.  That is different from using a swimbait hook which you normally are reeling a lot more than hopping and dropping like you do with a jig head.  So there is a difference in which jig head you use when fishing 2′ or 8′.  With practice you will feel the tail doing its thing no matter the depth.

Here is the 3.25 as an example.  Carefully insert the hook in the dead center/middle of the head.  If you notice on top of the Knockin Tails is a barb slot, try to bring it out dead center at the beginning of the upper slot.

This is what it looked like when I put the jig head on the Knockin Tail.  Seems like a good marker for bringing the hook out is when it goes in about deep enough to come out in line with the end of the barb.  Then out and start screwing it on and when you are done it should/must be straight.  See the Honeydew at the bottom of the first picture above: almost perfect.  And notice how the hook does not go past the end of the body into the tail on either the 3.25 or the 4″.  Shank size does matter.

When hopping and dropping, the Texas Two Step, if you start seeing even a little twist looking stuff on your line your bait is spinning on the drop.  The fish do not like it spinning on the fall or running sideways on a steady crank.  As long as the tail is wiggling it is all good and the more you fish it the better your feel will be.

Swimbait Hooks

•  Drop Dead by VMC.
• Another rear weighted.
• The Slayer brand swimbait hook.
• Academy.
• Not sure where.

Here is quick tutorial on the difference.  Drop Dead – great in the winter when you want your bait to just stop or fall level.  The middle one is a Slayer which is my basic go to in swimbait hooks for general use.  The last 2 on the right are for when you want a nose down fall which at times triggers the strike.  An example:  Winter – on deeper water boat fishing you want it to fall nose down to keep contact with the bottom, but if wading in 2′ of water you might want it to fall level when you stop it on a steady crank.

But the swimbait hooks are still a screw lock, it just attaches at the eye of the hook.  Then exactly like you insert the hook it in a jig head make sure you sink the screw lock dead center into the head of the plastic.  Before inserting the barb through the tail take the hook and see where it will be in the tail when you have it where you want it then insert.  See the second one below?  I laid it down next to the body to see where to insert, it must be straight so when the bait swims or falls it does not spin.  Did I say straight?  Whether jig head or swimbait hook it must be straight he said again.

The 5″ Knockin Tail with swimbait hook options.  Notice the underside of the top bait, there is a reason.

Of course they are the hook of choice in the grass or if you plan on slow rolling on a steady retrieve.  I personally like to leave the barb exposed when slow rolling it without anything to get caught on.  Especially in fresh water as a swimbait for bass.  When you see the indention at the bottom of the head on the top one it makes sense.  When you set the hook the weight can slip in the indention increasing the chances of getting a hook in them.  As an example of hook size when fishing for big stripers in Arkansas or snook in the Everglades a 5/0 is a good choice, when trout fishing a 4/0 may be better.  And of course when talking the 3.25′ a short shank 3/0 is the better size.  It is all about matching up the hook, either jig head or swimbait hook, to the bait and the conditions.  It is not rocket science, just being flexible enough to give them what they want.  Listen to the fish.

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Hope this gives you a place to start, it sure is all I know and I am far from a pro.  There is a world of combinations but when it is all said and done, keep it simple.  A couple of colors, a couple of different size jig heads and swimbait hooks will cover it, and you will learn how the baits react to each.  You want to be able to replicate your technique, giving the fish what they want, with your favorite Knockin  Tail.  Sometimes fishermen get to concerned with doing this and doing that, the more you are familiar with what you like and use the better your results will be.  So good luck and thanks for asking.

I will try to remember to take a few more pictures occasionally illustrating what i am fishing.  And coming soon will be a how to for the applications of the Knockin Tail and spring freshwater fishing.  Tomorrow it is off somewhere, depending on the rain.  But as long as it is not a frog strangler or lightning, I will be on the water at daylight.   So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Weather

Tides

Low 11:47 am.

Bite Times

Minor 7:07 am.  Major 4:52 pm.

************** 

The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

***************

Look so cool in the water.

The water looked great when we got to the river.  The temp was in the 60’s and the water level was low, so thought the tide was out but that turned out to not be the case.  It slowly fell all day.  Our first stop was down river and we started catching small trout, and it continued all day.  No matter the color or the size of Knockin Tail we used we kept catching them but there was only one problem, they were small.  Even the few rat reds and flounder that came over the side did not cut the mustard.

This is what they looked like all freakin’ day.

I did manage to break off an easy 20+ trout trying to hand land him at the boat.  It was nice one but it was not meant to be.  All days it was 3 or 4 here, 3 or 4 there.  We did not fish anywhere we did not catch at least one or two but just could not get on the good ones.  I put a few in the boat on a gold flake Soft Dine, saving my custom Coastal Marsh for the bay and a shot at a real one.

But the worst thing about the day, skeeters.  With it basically calm they were brutal until way late in the morning.  A friend of mine sent me a message asking how our day went, he was at the creek and they also ate them up.  One crazy thing about Texas winters, freezing and ugly one week, then the next it is in the 80’s with mosquitos driving you nuts.  Why my backseat in the truck has everything from weather gear to light rain gear, you never know for sure.

So the day was ok, if you like catching trout all day, we just did not find the “spot”.  But there is a bunch of trout in the river.  I even lost one when a I made a cast at the ramp before loading up.  It was one of those days that at times we would appreciate, catching fish all day.  But this time of year if can be so much better.  And it left a bad taste in my mouth when I lost the only good fish I had, and then a good flounder.  Shows you how the difference between a bad day, an ok day, a good day, and a great day is a fine line.

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Got this comment from Richard who is going to give the Knockin Tail a go.

I ordered my first Knockin Tail in white. Looking forward to trying it out in Rockport in mid December. Don’t fish there, so it will be hit or miss.

Good Luck.  Let me tell you a couple of things that will help some.  If you are using a jig head get the screw locks.  The Knockin Tail lasts a lot longer than many plastics and the screw lock keeps it from sliding down all the time or tearing as much, I often fish the same one all day unless I get broken off.  Use an 1/8th if it is shallow, 1/4 if deeper.

Now if there is grass go with a swim bait hook that has the screw lock to attach before you put the hook through.  When you get you baits look at the top and the bottom and you will see a line on both sides, allows you to get it on straight.  No matter what the straighter on the hook the better.  Usually, a 3/0 is about right with the 4″.  Don’t give up on them, once you get the hang of it it will be a permanent part of your arsenal.

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Aransas Wildlife Refuge

The Boss and I made out annal trek to the Aransas Wildlife Refuge to look for the Whoopers and got lucky to see 3 pairs.  They were way the hell out there and we could see them just fine with the good binoculars.  So here is a couple of pics, thanks to the 600 lens at least we could reach out and get a couple.

The Whoopers…..a long way off but we saw 3 pairs this trip.

A Roseate Spoonbill one of the really beautiful birds in this world.

As usual the rest of the cast of characters were out and about.  For serious birders there is a world of feathered friends to see and since we go there a couple times a year should probably buy a book.  At least we would know what some of the ones we are looking at are.  But we always like going and every trip you see something different.

Why serious birders from all over the world come to Aransas.

Plenty of gators.  The first one is all I could get of him but this was a monster.

There are lots of gators though the water is down in the ponds so we did not see as many.  But as long as it is not really cold you can always see some, and occasionally a real monster.

He got what he was after.

A cormorant, also known as a creepy shad eater. 

Mom and daughter.

There are plenty of deer, pigs, snakes and assorted other wildlife to see and like all real wildlife viewing timing is everything.  The Refuge is a great way to spend the day and with my “Old Man” pass it is free, though I think the $3 entrance fee is cheap for a chance to see one of the rarest birds alive.

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My fun fall continues.  3 days of fishing this week with a trip to the Refuge thrown in.  There is a great big world out there if you get outside.  We cannot all run rampant but spend some time outdoors no matter what it is when you can.  I will be fishing up a storm for the rest of the month before heading to Colorado.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

It was time for the creek and all I have to say is having fun now.  As I keep saying I love this time of year and it is fun to alternate between salt and fresh.  One is usually on and the bay is happening right now.

Weather

Tides

Low 7:22 am.   High 5:56 pm,

Bite Times

Minor 6:09 am.  Major 4:38 pm.

************** 

The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

***************

It was foggy as all get out on the way to the creek and it stayed that way until about 10:00.  The watercolor was fine and I actually forgot to look at the temp even though the graph was on all morning.  But when it comes down to it who cares, the bite was on.

A nice 19″ on the 5″ self made Knockin Tail Hot Head.  How foggy was it, I am 20′ from the bank!

One thing I wanted to mess around with today was taking the 5″ Pearl Knockin Tail and color it up a variation of the hot head color.  It was easy with permanent markers and the first fish was the one above.  And it led me to understand a little of how they wanted it today.  Whether the Coastal Marsh Soft Dine of the 5″ Knockin Tail they wanted it jerked right below the surface and you could see some of them roll on it.

Nothing like feeding it to one swimming by.

The next bank went to the 4″ Salt and Pepper Knockin Tail on a 1/8th jig head.  All I can say about it is you can catch all you want, and I mean that.  I sat in one place and caught a dozen before putting the trolling motor down.  And like the other day they were usually in the first couple of hop and drops, not all that far from the bank.  It was not hard to tell if you had one on even if you did not feel the bite, they just took off with it.  They were on the serious chew.

It was like this all morning.  4″ Salt and Pepper Knockin Tail did some damage on the numbers.

I just spent the rest of the morning alternating between the Knockin Tails and the Coastal Marsh Hot Head.  It was one of those times I would throw one or the other a while and catch some fish, then switch and keep catching them.  I am getting a little better at fishing the Coastal Marsh, the wanted it walked the dog pretty fast, the stop it.  Not sure how many I actually saw eat or take a run at it, but it was a bunch.

This one ended up going home with me.  It literally ate the Coastal Marsh Soft Dine Hot Head.

A couple of things to take away this morning.  The tide was down and then it started to come in, and when it does that head to the shallower side and the fish move to it.  And once you see the reds start to cruise the bite is on.  When the tide is not moving points and drops are the ticket.  So it works out to once the tide starts moving fish fast and shallow, when stagnate slow and easy.  It makes it pretty simple right now, and when it is like this experiment.  The time to try new or different stuff is when they are biting, and that is now.

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Not much else to say about today.  Do know that will be at it in the morning, when it is this good go if you can.  And starting to get excited about the Colorado house, it cannot come soon enough.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Well that sucked, poor choice on my part.  One of the joys of a blog is you have a duty to report good and bad, unlike your average fisherman who can crow about the good days and then ignore the bad, not my style.

Weather

Lake Level

Today 95.79.    One Week Ago.  96.87.

Bite Times

Major 2:15 pm to 4:15 pm.

************** 

The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

***************

The Boss wanted a fish fry so figured just head to the lake and put a few whites in the boat and maybe whatever else I needed to fill her order.  With the creek and river starting tomorrow and Thursday, I decided the lake because I have trolled up white bass the last few trips, so no big deal, right?  Wrong!  She is highly allergic to shrimp, I mean bad, and when the saltwater fish are feeding on shrimp she can literally have a reaction, and has, to simply eating them.

Here is a long story shortened, not a white bass, lost a big catfish on the troll, then boated 11 bass and not a one measured.  Sure not picture material.  So, no fish fry for her.  As far as the white bass the water temp has risen over 10 degrees way up lake and they hit the road.  Oh please, oh please bring back winter!  And about 12:00 it started blowing 20 mph out of the south which I thought might help some but it sure didn’t.

I caught on spinnerbait, Controlled Descent Jerk Shad, and crankbait but just could not buy a keeper.  And then it got over 80 degrees, good gravy.  So write this day of fishing off.  Happy to be out there but not filling the order was a little depressing.  The only way to beat that is head to the coast and beat on the trout and reds some, and that is just what I am going to do the rest of the week.  Today we are headed down to Aransas to see the Whoopers this afternoon.

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One of the downsides to getting older is you sometimes forget things and I happened to on one of the more interesting things I have seen in the outdoors in a while.  While I was fishing a cove off the main lake there were hound dogs barking off in the distance.  Then here came a doe swimming for her life with a really big black and tan hound in pursuit, or so I thought.  He was wearing what looked like a GPS collar and I assumed he was a dog used to recover injured deer.  But what happened next flat stunned me.

She swam not 50 feet from the boat with the hound about 20 feet behind her.  When she hit the bank you could tell she was really tired and just stood there, they swam one of the biggest open water areas on the lake.  The dog got to the bank, jumped up and walked within 10 feet of the doe and paid her no mind.  The dog kept going and hit the woods and was gone.  The doe was just standing there watching.  It seemed after she caught her breath she ambled off into the woods.  What was happening I have no idea, but it sure was strange.

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You know I bitch quite a bit about game and fish commissions often being nothing more than a rubber stamp for commercial interests, Texas being a perfect example at times.  But this goes way beyond that.  Here is a direct quote in a letter from the major commercial deep sea fishing interests, they are labeled by many as the Snapper Barrons, to the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council:  “Find real solutions to managing unrestricted, open access private angler fishing sector.”  WTF!  Think about it for just a second.  The commercial fishing interests think they own everything outside the jetties!  But here is the scarier part – That they think the management council would be receptive to that.

Who in the Sam hell do these *&^%%^&’ers think they are?  They want to keep you and your family off the OCEAN in your own boats.  That we need to be “managed!”  This is a perfect example of federal management bodies being tied way to closely to commercial interests.  We have to watch them like a hawk, and we all need to keep informed.  This is the bunch who “controls” the offshore snapper regs, so you can fish 5 days, and they fish year-round.  We need more folks on these councils that should a letter like that be received they blow their nose in it and toss it in the garbage.

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And on that note here are the numbers for Chronic Wasting Disease that is spreading in our deer herd:

 To date, 428 captive or free-ranging cervids — including white-tailed deer, mule deer, red deer, and elk — in 17 Texas counties have tested positive for CWD.

But the spread continues and so do the studies.  The state has previously acknowledged that it can take years to manifest itself in the population.  The time has come to take drastic actions but do not expect anything to change in the near future.  Keep on studying while the spreading in our herd continues.  Great plan.

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After we ordered snow chains for Colorado they arrived in only 2 days via Amazon.  Last week I got a text from Tim at Wade Right thanking me for sending him some swimbait hooks I had turned him on to on the Louisiana trip.  He liked them so I picked 6 at the store so he would have the company name and sent them first class to Houston.  It took 2 weeks to get from Victoria to Houston via the post office while it took 2 days for 30lbs of steel to get to the house from a private company.  Just saying.

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Guess I will stick with the salt as long as it stays this warm.  Cold water makes winter fishing what it is on the lake, and this crazy summertime warm up is counterproductive.  Hopefully it will break at some point before it starts driving the saltwater fish back into the bay.  This warming trend is really a double edge sword.  Back to the creek tomorrow then I hope Knockin Tail Michael will be able to join me Thursday and we lay the smack down on them.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Weather

56/77   Rain showers early with overcast skies later in the day. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.

Bite Times

Major 12:43 pm to 2:43 pm.  Minor  1:13 pm to 2:13 pm.

************** 

The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

***************

After smoking them on the creek the last couple of trips decided to head to the lake.  When you have been a bass fisherman for the last 50 (Yikes!!!) obviously I like to catch them.  Plus, as we get closer to the end of the month I will keep checking on the white bass at least weekly.  Can’t wait to smoke, literally, a pile of them.

The weather was cloudy and calm, the water temp came up a hair to the mid 60’s and higher with an air temp of 60 when I dropped it in at daylight.  To make an ugly story short until I started throwing spinnerbait around noon it was slow.  Crankbait did not produce a fish, but with no wind not surprising.  What was is the swim jig only produced 2.  But there was a clue, but not sure what it meant.

Best I could manage today.

When I started trolling for white bass to see if the big bunch is up yet there were shad dying.  They were threadfins about 2″ long and were fluttering on the top.  Last week there were no shad upriver but with the water temp up they came back after the cool down.  Trolling put 2 in the boat really quick both standard Coleto size, and a couple of small bass.  Then I had an epiphany – give the bass some shad looking stuff.

I keep checking and they are not quite there yet.

Last early spring the silver spoon and White Ice 4″ Knockin Tail put the hurt on them in the new bushes.  Right now we only have old dead bushes but there are some.  Not sure why the following happened – I had 5 smack it and not a one came over the side.  One hooked up for a second, but the rest did not.  Not sure if it was a color thing or operator error.  I even tried putting it on a heavier rod but the little bigger line seemed to reduce bites.

Finally about noon the wind began to blow some out of the south.  So I cranked it up and ran down lake to the windiest, brushiest place I could find.  Picked up the spinnerbait and proceeded to catch 3 including the one above.  They were right on the bank in the stuff, and of the 5 I ended up catching only 1 came more than about 3 cranks of the reel handle.  And only 2 bites counting one that I missed came away from the stuff, they were not interested in chasing.  Thinking back on it now should have got the Controlled Descent Jerk Shad out, put it on a heavy rod and tossed it all the way in.  Might have lost a couple but if that is where they are that is the price you often have to pay.

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We are getting close to closing on the house so next week will be contacting utilities and all those things needed with a new house.  We are simply going to continue whatever local services they have so it will be seamless as they will be in the home until closing.  Since it is furnished (And I actually like the decor.) it really helps so will just have to get out there and see what else it needs.  But not having to mess with furniture is a big ass bonus.  I threatened the move to Victoria was my last and to not have to move stuff will be a blessing when the Boss retires.

One thing I thought of was snow chains.  Growing up in the north country tons of snow is no big deal.  I remember giant drifts on the way to the cheese factory down the road with grandpa on the sleigh pulled with his giant draft horses.  Really aging myself with that.  So that part of it is nothing new for us.  But in Colorado some of the passes in the area the house is require snow chains to even drive on them when it is coming down.  They came and tomorrow the Boss and I will practice taking them off and on.  Pulled over in the chain lane during a snowstorm is probably not the time to learn how to do it.

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And I got this comment from Larry.

Doug:
Just wanted to let you know that I had the Carolina Skiff out in the creek yesterday and
it handled like a champ!
Do you happen to have the manual to the “Lowance 5 HDI” ?

Glad to hear it.  That boat will be chugging along for someone way after we are gone.  And creeks and rivers is where it really shined.  Unfortunately, I bought that unit as a display at Academy and if memory serves right it did not have one, big surprise.  But there are plenty available online, which is not as good as one in the hand but they are out there. Thanks for reading.

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The weather sure looks good for next week though the wind will be in play.  Guess I will keep alternating between fresh and salt and I am still waiting for the 2 better days in a row for a trip to the laguna out of Bird Island.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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It is going to be back on the water in the morning.  We shall see how my fall/winter rule works out the next 2 days.  Tomorrow it is post cold front and basically sunny, then Friday cloudy with chance of rain.  The basic rule: Sunny creek/cloudy lake.  Will be off early and really looking forward to seeing how the next 2 days go.

Weather

48/63.  Partial sunshine with a 18% chance of rain.  Wind   NE  10 – 20 mph.

Tides

   Low   6:30 am 0.93 feet.  Low 4:03 pm 7:48 pm 0.36 feet.

Bite Times

Major 7:14 am to 9:14 am.

************** 

The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

***************

It was ugly this morning, but I put on my big boy pants and took off.  When I left the house the wind was blowing a good 15 mph plus straight out of the north, so I altered my plan to head to the river and switched to the creek.  Good call.  The wind was blowing a steady 15 right down the pike and it never got below that all day.  At least the creek has a few bend in it keeping the wind to a dull roar.  But the watercolor was flat ugly, I mean obviously there has been some run off and it was looking tough, and the tide was moving right along with the wind.  It was cloudy, not sure where the sun in the forecast went, and it stayed cool all day.

Open Wide!  Think they like that Coastal Marsh?

I started off on a deep point with the current flowing over it.  The color sucked but the fish were there.  I had a couple make a half hearted pass at it, so slowed it way down and basically crawled it over the drop and they would just get on.  But a good 10 jumped on the Knockin Tail but nothing worth talking about.

The 4″ Chicken on a Chain Knockin Tail did some work today.

Then on the next long bank a funny thing happened, and I actually got a clue.  The water was a little bit clearer and the next couple hit it on the first fall right after it hit the water.  There were baitfish there doing the occasional flip so out came the Coastal Marsh Soft Dine and they went to eating it.  It took a bit but I finally figured out they wanted it jerked right along, in fact fast enough that a couple blew up on it halfway back.

It was a weird bite on the Coastal Marsh Soft Dine.

I wanted to fish the 3.25 Knockin Tail but the wind was so tough that when you cast it would put a huge bow in the line, or blow it sideways away from the bank.  And to make matters harder the tide was going out so with the wind it was ripping so the light jig head was not the way to go.  So I stuck with the 4″ Knocking Tail on a heavy 1/8th head, there was definitely no color preference.

My slam and a good finish to a tough day.  The Mansfield Magic Knockin Tail catches flounder when winter fishing.

As I worked my way back upriver the Mansfield Majic was the bait of choice since it was a dark color to go along with the water.  A few more trout jumped on then the flounder above jumped on.  It seems like I am getting the hook in them way better than before and have not lost one the last couple of trips.

It was tough today, but I stuck with it, listened to the fish and managed to have a pretty good day.  The number of trout we have in the 12 – 15″ class is excellent and we can look forward to a really good year next summer.  And since they will get to spawn before TPWD potentially takes off the 17″ length limit the future is bright.

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And they are surprised why?

“The incubation period of CWD can span years, creating disease detection and management challenges as seen in this recent detection,” said Andy Schwartz, TAHC Executive Director and State Veterinarian.

Prior to this detection, the high-fence release site was identified as a “trace herd” property to the Hunt County CWD-positive deer breeding facility reported on March 31, 2021, meaning deer were transferred from the Hunt County facility to this release site prior to discovery of CWD in that facility.

News Release: Nov. 28, 2022: Chronic Wasting Disease Detected at a High Fence Release Site in Kaufman County – TPWD (texas.gov)

I have brought this up several times.  If they cannot get this under control there is going to be a reckoning coming.  This is serious business in Texas, both breeding and high fence hunting (Read $$$$$) but if it puts our deer herd at risk all the studies in the world will not stop CWD from spreading.  Take their own words on CWD:  “The incubation period of CWD can span years.”   What they are really saying is the herd could be infected at a higher rate than is known right now!  They know where it is coming from so time to take some meaningful action before it is too late.

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Savage 170 Pump

These are pump deer rifles that many gun folks are unaware of. Produced from 1970 to 1981 according to the Blue Book of Gun Values.
A fast handling woods rifle; one of few if any made by any manufacture chambered in 30 30 Win. (Some were also produced in 35 Rem) Sollid streel receiver with impressed checkered Walnut Stock set and easily accessed (upper) tang safety. 22″ barrel with folding rear and factory drilled (with one piece Weaver Base) Tubular mag with 3 round capacity (4 with one in the chamber). One of or perhaps the only alternative to the now difficult to find Rem 760
This is a fast handling woods rifle with 22″ barrel.

I have owned this gun for over 30 years and it killed the only 2 deer I shot at, have not shot it since.  It puts them down with the 30 30 Win.  It is pre-drilled for a scope though when I bought it had a red dot aimpoint. It is not perfect by any means but is a great brush/hog gun. The reason I am showing it is I have a great high power, Model 700 with a Leopold, that will be used now that we are slowly transitioning to Colorado.  Not interested in selling, looking for a trade.  Would consider a revolver in a caliber higher than a .22, maybe a quality scoped .22 rifle or another pistol of some sort. Don’t expect perfection, just a good functioning gun. From what I have seen online, do your own research, they sell from $300 to $1000 for perfect.  So what do you have to trade?

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Today was some classic winter fishing.  Tough, cold but if you keep it in the water they will usually cooperate.  Tomorrow I am fishing somewhere, it will probably be first thing in the morning when I go outside and see what is up.  But lake or creek, this is my favorite time of year on the coast.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Last Day!!  Michael has extended the 50% off Black Friday sale for cyber-Monday so get there quick, it will never be any cheaper and boy do they catch fish!! Use Code KTL50!

Definitely the high point of the morning.

The Boss just worked the whole weekend, so I decided to fish the lake instead of the river and call it an early day and spend a little time with her.  She and folks like her work the holidays, nights, days, when the family has a gathering, it does not matter.  It comes with the territory, and we are long used to it now.  But big props to her and folks like her for what they do.  Especially if you stick a 6/0 circle in your neck on a Sunday morning.  It happens.

Weather

65/74.  Sunny to partly cloudy with a 3% chance of rain.  Wind   E 8 – 18 mph.

Lake Level

 6 days ago 95.76 msl.  Today 95.87 msl.

Bite Times

Minor   11:49 to 12:49 pm.

************** 

The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

***************

The wind was less than 10 mph out of the north and it was almost dead calm.  The water temp was up around 5 degrees over most of the lake, mid to high 60’s and there is some color both up and down lake.  I was not sure what to expect but it was just about like I thought it might be, slow.

Starting off cranking only 2 really smalls jumped on and it was apparent that with no real wind that was not the way to go.  Since I was up lake of course made 2 passes checking on the white bass.  4 whites, one bass, and a catfish came over the side on a couple of passes.  The point, it is not quite time for that but it is coming.   The real problem was a total lack of shad way up lake.  Without the shad it will stay slow but the urge to merge is strong and it won’d be long.

The size of the 7 caught trolling.

What the 3 on swim jig looked like.

After that picked up the swim jig and got a bite on 3 straight banks, but all were small.  With those results headed back to the lower end but that was even slower.  By this time it had totally cleared off and gone almost dead flat.  Other than one that hit a small jerk bait not sure I had another strike before I called it a morning at 12:00.

Really no big whoop.  Just another fall day in the neighborhood.  Funny how your expectations can constribute to the outcome.  Fall can be tough on the lake but there is always the fallback position, the river.  Not sure when but soon as I have not even looked at the weather.  You would think I would know by now, cloudy lake – sunny creek, is the rule this time of yeard.  Might want to apply that rule myself when headed out next.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Michael has a 50% off Black Friday sale so get there quick, it will never be any cheaper and boy do they catch fish!! See below!! Use Code KTL50!

After today’s results at the lake I am hoping for a better day on the creek tomorrow.  I probably fished them in the wrong order, but you take your best guess and live with the results.  But I expect it to be good so we shall see.

Weather

68/61.  Warmer with variable cloudiness with a 13% chance of rain.  Wind   ENE  8 – 14 mph.

Tides

   Low   8:08 am -0.34.  High 7:48 pm +1.39 feet.

Bite Times

Major 11;57 am to 1:57 pm.

************** 

The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

***************

There were a couple of trucks at the ramp when I got there, and by time I pulled out there was a bunch at the ramp.  The tide was falling hard, the water temp was 56 way up creek and 50 at the mouth going in to the bay.  The water had just a slight color and the wind cooperated by not blowing to hard.

I felt like a crack dealer this morning.  The crackheads were eating what I was selling – a 3.25 Purple Lime Knocking Tail.  Once I figured it out it was game on for 3 hours.  As I was telling you last post I always keep a heavier and lighter Knockin Tail tied on and let the fish decide.  Today they decided and I obliged.  In at 7:00 and out at 11:00 it was one great morning.

The 3.25 Purple Lime Knockin Tail absolutely did the job.

When was the last time you used the same plastic 2 days in a row?  They were eating it.

One of the advantages of using screw lock jig heads is clearly illustrated by the bait above.  They absolutely chewed it up, and this one produced way over 50.  It may be ugly, and I could probably replace it but as long as they keep eating it, I will keep tossing it.  One thing you can say about the Knockin Tail is it is durable.

My theory worked to perfection today.  By basically using the exact same set up, rod. reel and line it only took about a half hour to figure them out.  I started with the 3/16th jig head and a 4″ Mansfield Magic Knockin Tail and though I was getting bites they were not just killing it.  So I picked up the same Purple Lime Knockin Tail from the other day and they were absolutely eating it.  It turned out they were right on the bank, and I mean first or second drop and the heavier one was falling to fast.

To illustrate my point as I idled by a fancy big boat the guy looked at me and made the “catching anything” gesture.  So being me I stopped and filled him in best I could as they were having almost no luck.  When I told them what I was doing he said:  “No wonder, we have been going heavier all morning trying to get down to the fish.”  They were actually fishing to deep.  I have said it before and I will say it again:  Listen to the fish.

Redfish, trout or flounder it got the job done.

I ended up tossing it right on the bank and almost all of them hit on the first or second drop.  They were shallow and on the chew.  Using the 3.25 Purple Lime on a light 1/8 jig head it was easy to work the really shallow stuff slower.  And by hopping it fairly agressively they would smack it on the way down.  Not sure it made any difference today whether it was a shalllow or deeper bank, they were sitll positioned on the first drop.

Not going to guess how many trout today, but it was a full scale beat down.

From that point on it was lots of trout for over 3 hours.  At 11:00 I called it a morning; it came down to a what’s the point kinda trip.  But as far as action it was one of my best salt trips in a long time.  There is no way I will guess how many I boated today but it was a bunch.  When the creek is on it does not get a whole lot better than that.  Next up after the weekend will be the Lavaca River.  It should be hopping.  If today was any indication if you are going this weekend get out early, it will be crowded.

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Coastal Marsh Lures

That answers that question!  He smoked it.

https://coastalmarshlures.com/

I have it on very good authority, in fact the best I know, that the Coastal Marsh baits are the bomb for big trout.  While he shall remain nameless trust me, he is the real deal.  So with that in mind I headed over to the Coastal Marsh headquarters to pick up what will be my go-to besides the Knockin Tail for the rest of the winter.  I definitely have a lot to learn about fishing this style of bait.

Robbie who owns the company and I had a lot in common as he is a diehard bass fisherman which gave us plenty to talk about.  His baits look crazy good, cannot wait to dunk them in some salt.  And just for the fun the Soft-Dine Xl will get a go on Coleto.  If the current forecast holds it will be “winter” for South Texas and time to catch some big fish.  I can already feel the thump.  So will keep you up to date on the fish I catch on them as the winter progresses.  And while you are at it peruse his website, nice stuff right here in Victoria Texas.

I did not think I would fish it some today, I feel more comfortable fishing it while wading.  But on my way back to the ramp I stopped at a fairly shallow bank just to see, and they liked it!  I boated 2 small trout, the big red above, and ended up losing it to a flounder about the size of my garage door.  While I am not a big braid guy will be throwing it on braid from now on.  I hate breaking an expensive bait like that off, but it is just the price of doing business.  That big Soft Dine XL is a fish catching son of a gun.  Cannot wait to do some serious wading, looking forward to feeling the thump!

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Have a great Thanksgiving and be careful out there.

Not much else to add to the report, it was flat good.  The Boss starts a stretch over the holiday weekend, I will be watching football and having a cold one.  Then when the weekend is over it will be fishing until I puke.  Did I say I love winter fishing?  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

As I write this it has been raining and the wind is blowing as it has done the last week.  But at this point I cannot take it so will be heading to the lake first thing in the morning.  After checking the weather, and looking out the front window, I am concerned that we might just have got enough rain to muck things up on the creek and river.  Looking at the Corpus weather there is a coastal flood watch which does not bode well.  The current plan, fish the lake and if it is good enough fish it again and then head to the salt next week when it has had a chance to settle down.

Weather

48/56.  Times of clouds and sun with a passing shower with an 80% chance of rain.  Wind   NE 7 – 13 mph.

(Other than an increased chance of rain the forecast is the same as my last trip to the lake.  Interesting to see what happens.)

Lake Level

 Today 95.76 msl.  (95.79 msl when I got home.)  Thursday 95.70 msl.

(Since I am doing this the day before it will come up even more as it is pouring outside as I write this.)

Bite Times

Major   11:03 am to 1:03 pm.

************** 

The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

***************

It was 45 degrees; the wind was blowing 15 out of the North and would continue until I quit at 2:00.  The watercolor has deteriorated a little, and the water temp dropped just a hair which surprised me and hurt things up lake.  Today it was 60 at the ramp, 66 at the discharge and 55 way up lake.  And the lake has definitely come up some.  It was lightly drizzling off and on and calling it cold is giving it a break.  There is a silver lining, I hope that since the rain did not color the lake up should be good to go to the creek tomorrow.

2 of the 4 today.  Both hopping a Honeydew Knockin Tail on a 1/4-ounce jig head off the bottom.

Wanting to see if the rain had an effect first headed way up lake and the color was fine, but the 10-degree temp drop did not help anything.  I could not buy at bite on the crankbait so ended up throwing beaver style baits near wood, swim jig, and a 5″ Pearl Knockin Tail on a swimbait hook.  Even ended up trying a jerk bait later, but they were stunned and were just not having it.  Before I headed back down lake even trolled for whites and not a touch, and the shad were definitely not there.  So with that result went way back down near the dam and fished clear water.

I slowed way down and slow rolled the 5″ Knockin Tail and even a A Rig, both of which are coming soon to a lake near you.  Both produced a small, which were the first 2 bites I had after fishing 5 hours.  All the places I have been catching them were dry so I headed to a long channel back and stuck with the 4″ Honeydew and managed to catch the 2 above, both after 1:00, both coming off a deep point.  So at 2:00 I called it a day.  It was just starting to warm up some and the bite was probably later in the day.

The only good thing about today was I did not miss a bite, which is not saying much.  But that there is a good chance the creek and river are not messed up gives me hope for tomorrow.  It will be up early and off to the creek with high hopes.  I have said it before and will say it again – I love winter fishing.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines