Fish Catching Travel
I have not posted the last couple of days but I have been outdoors. Our weather is great, the fishing is still consistent, and there is some waterfowling to be done. Before I get to Coleto, let me tell you about the great goose hunt.
My buddy Jeffish, his mom’s boyfriend John, Joseph, Russell, a young lady who’s name I can’t spell, and I all met first thing this morning to do a little goose hunting. We were hunting a picked corn field where the geese had been feeding for the last several days. So we set out a spread of about 60 decoys, then hunkered down and waited for the geese.
What a beautiful morning.
John lets us know the plan.
Joseph and Russell.
Me calling it a morning.
The day before the geese were really on the move, and there were tons of them landing and feeding in the field where we set up. It did not take long and here came a big bunch. Then another, and another, but they were flying high and not having the decoys. So we moved out about 150 yards closer to where they were flying, and finally managed to get a couple of shots in. Even then, with John closer to the decoys and calling, we could not coax a couple to break off from the big groups.
How many did we see, lots, but they just were not buying into the decoys. We had geese around us for several hours, and it was an awesome visual and auditory show. For me, who has never hunted them before, it was really cool. I see how people get hooked on it. Who knows, I may be lucky enough to get to go again this year.
I can guarantee you I did not hit anything, but we did knock one down for sure, and maybe a second one. Now you would think that with 6 people, and one dog, that there was no way a goose could elude us in a cut corn field, but think again. I bet we spent an hour looking, they were just gone. Who knows, maybe they hit the ground running. But I can guarantee you we did our best to recover them but it was not to be.
After we called it a morning in the goose field it was off to a small pond on John’s family farm. We snuck over the pond bank and out came a pair of Wood Ducks. Now I am not sure who killed them, but it was not me. I did not even fire a shot. I am still uncertain as to the true effective range, so I kept the gun down. When we recovered them it was amazing how stunning the drake was.
Wood Duck Drake. We shot the female also, a great matched pair.
Look at the colors on this Wood Duck.
To bad for him he tastes so good.
After that we called it a day and headed to John’s where Linda had stopped by Mumford’s and picked up some barbecue, and with a few tators and beans, we were in business with a great lunch. Even though I did not kill a goose, it was awesome to see those big flocks all around us. And we also saw lots of Sandhill Cranes, but none of us had a permit, though in the area we were hunting they were legal.
But all is not lost, first thing in the morning I am lucky enough to get to hunt with them again. John has a pond that is one limit producing pond. Last year when I hunted with him we killed a 4 man limit in nothing flat, which was a good thing as it was cold and raining. So it will be up way to early with renewed hope. And I do have some video of the geese and will try to get it, with tomorrow’s ducks, on as soon as possible.
And thanks to my buddy Jeffish for taking the photos and video today. He is an accomplished photographer, artist, and web designer. So if you ever want a real cool custom website give him a call, you will be impressed. Stop by his website, he does some awesome stuff.
http://www.vgrfx.com/index.html
Coleto Creek 1/10/14
After whacking some pretty nice bass on Fayette Tuesday, I was hoping to fish it again after a day in College Station for the ball game. I really did expect my Hogs to whip the Aggies, but it was a good old fashion butt kicking. Of course I took some ribbing. And yes Rusty, your Aggies gave us a good Gigging. You’ll see, just wait till next year. But I digress. So on the way home Thursday it was pouring when I passed Fayette, so I drove on by and headed to the house.
I had an appointment to have the truck looked at Friday first thing, and as soon as that was over it was off to Coleto. It was raining lightly, and never really did stop except for rare moments, the rest of the day. Due to the rain I never took any pictures, but all you have to do is scroll down and there they are in the last couple of Coleto reports, the fishing is so stable right now. I just threw the BangOlure the 6 hours I was out and ended up catching 17, with about 5 nice ones.
It is so hard to watch that thing every minute, and of course the one time I took my eye off it, a hoss smoked it, and then pulled off. To bad, it was the biggest fish I have had on there this year, and the scale on my treble was no little one. But a good sign. The fish are starting to move, and with this week’s promised weather, they should really be getting after it. And a little plus, with the ramp closed Monday – Friday, they should get a little break.
The pattern for me is still the same, points, and secondary points in big coves, basically what I would fish early spring on almost any bass lake in the country. And while I am throwing the topwater exclusively right now, it is not the only way to catch fish. I spoke with a guy who fished most of the day and he figured they caught 15 – 20, but they caught them on everything and did not establish a real pattern. Our good fishing is right around the corner and if we get the promised warming trend, look out, it will be game on.
This week coming up my lovely wife will be studying for her recert boards, and I have been informed that she wants me out of the house during the day. With that in mind I am thinking of doing one of those 4 or 5 different places in that many days thing. I did it before and it turned out to be really fun, and a good way to test your fishing ability. And with Coleto out of commission it will be a real salty week. So stop in tomorrow for the duck report, and then get ready for the saltwater extravaganza this week. Plus, how many guys are lucky enough to be banned from the house and be told to go fishing every day? Thanks for reading my stuff.
Good Luck and Tight Lines
