Fish Catching Travel
When I wrote the other day I commented on how it seems that when I look at the weather it must be someone else’s weather. Yesterday they got it right, right on the button. It was forecasted to be warm and calm until afternoon when a norther was going to blow in, and it sure did. So with that forecast it was back to the lake, I was not interested in crossing some Gulf bay with 30 mph north winds.
With the boys coming midweek I decided to only fish areas I have not fished lately to see if I could find some other fish. You can never have to many places with fish. Over the course of the day I did find a pattern. So for those of you who fish the lake here it is – topwater, spinnerbait, buzzbait, Senko, grass, points, rocks – let’s see, did I miss anything? Oh yea, crankbait.
Here is the obligatory fish picture.
I included the picture above because every fish tale has to have a picture. I took this one late in the morning because I just did not boat a big fish today. On the other hand I caught a bunch like this. By time the day was out at least 20+ came over the side.
From the point at the mouth of the ramp cove, to the intake at the plant, I caught fish here and there on everything I tried. While there was no clear winner, it would be hard to tell as I fished the works as I was looking for some extra knowledge for the boys next week. As the morning wore on the fish just kept biting, and the most I caught in one place, until the last cove, was 4, and that was still in the main place I have been catching them, isolated grass off the bank. The best places seem to have at least 8 foot of water close.
The fish that hit the spinnerbait wanted it buzzed making a wake. Topwater included a Zara, walking the dog, and a balsa minnow twitched on the top. I threw a Strike King square bill for a little and boated one on that.
Around noon as I fished a main lake point I noticed a fish hit a baitfish in the middle of a cove. So why not? While in the coves would not seem to be a pattern right now, I headed in there and threw the balsa minnow on any grass I could find, and they were there. I even caught one in the back. And before I quit I caught 6 out of that one cove on top. It was dead calm when I looked up at a bass boat running down the lake, and it was a good thing I did, here came the front. I had been concentrating so hard I did not notice it. It was black, and I could hear the wind blowing even though it had not reached me yet.
So up came the trolling motor and off I went to the ramp. Good thing, by time I crossed the open area at the damn it had started white capping. By time I got it on the trailer it was pouring. Lucky this time!
So here is what I learned today. There may be as many patterns on the lake as there are fishermen. They are on the fall feed and there may be no better time to fish the way you like. The only thing I could not get a bite on this time, or last, was a topwater frog. It is clearly a baitfish bite. Not saying all patterns are great, but from what I saw yesterday, it is still a matter of location. location, location. And that is grass – I think the front rolling in had them up, but even if the grass was sparse as it was in the cove I finished in, they were still related to it.
One interesting note – I did not throw a buzzbait much as I was looking for other ways to catch them in case it goes to crap this week when the guys come. And I did not boat a big fish, so who knows whether that played a factor in things but it is noteworthy.
Thank goodness the weather looks a little better tomorrow. I am still wanting to fish Indianola and if it holds I might get there tomorrow. Last year I was catching lots of trout, and some good ones, off the end of the boat lane on a reef, and it has been making me crazy thinking about it. Not to mention the very consistent redfishing that the Powderhorn has.
So thanks for reading my stuff. We have finally had our first real front of the winter and it should turn those fish on. Drifting for trout in the bays is one of my favorite ways to catch them this time of year. Find them and you will catch them. I guess I will start looking at fishing in Panama today. It looks like that will be in February and you can never plan to early. Life is tough.
Good Luck and Tight Lines
