Fish Catching Travel
There comes a time when you just have to dance with the one you brought to the dance. For the last couple of months, and it seems longer, I have just had a heck of a time catching fish on the Gulf. Today I fixed that. I fixed it by doing exactly what I am good at, and that is using the trolling motor, fishing deeper channels and banks, and tossing that spinnerbait.
Maybe it is my bass fishing past, but I love moving along, working the drops, and trying to pinpoint exactly where the fish are. One side benefit of fishing that way is that there are always some fish on those type of banks in the POC area. Today I stayed with the program and they did not let me down. Or put another way, I did not vary from the plan.
The first of 6 or 7 reds today.
Where did I catch them? On the deeper channels from Big Bayou to the Oil Cut. Today I made up my mind I was going to fish a Strike King Redfish Magic and catch a limit of reds, and for most of the afternoon I stayed with the plan. When I got to POC around 11 the water was not moving, the wind was calm, and it was slow until sometime after 1. From then until I quit at 5 the fish bit pretty consistently.
I had barely turned the handle when this one jumped it.
As the water slowly moved up the reds moved right to the bank. It was one of those days you had to throw that Redfish Magic right on the bank, and I mean shallow. The fish were on isolated oyster, and most of them that hit got it in the first couple of cranks.
The Redfish Magic also catches the occasional trout and flounder.
This guy made the picture grade so you could see the color of the bait. And as an aside, most of the trout I catch on it come when I stop it and jig it near the end of the cast as it gets close to the boat. It will often give you a bonus fish by stopping it and twitching it, and it does not affect the redfishing as most of them hit it near the bank. And flounder like it also, just be sure with them to reel it easier and use the net. They often just have a hold of the plastic, like the one that jumped off today when I tried to lift him in the boat.
Another good red falls for the Redfish Magic.
After I caught a limit of reds I did throw plastics and topwater some. I still have not been able to corner them on the topwater, but the water was noticeably warmer today, and the topwater bite can not be far behind.
I threw plastic some after I put the reds in the boat looking for trout. Finally a few actually fell for that, though only 1 was a real good one.
A really good trout on a paddle tail.
Like I said in my post the other day the fish will really start to bite, and it looks like it is on. And today was a perfect example of how to handle those tough periods you might be having. Go with what you know. When fishing is tough it is not the time to experiment, it is time to settle down and go what you are good at, what you have confidence in. The time to experiment or throw the book at them is when they are biting. Today I stuck with the plan, did what I am good at, and the results were just what I needed.
Random Thoughts
As you know I think fishing is about sharing information. We all love to fish, and nobody did it all by themselves. In fact one of the things that makes me cringe is when I see a big shot guide/writer use the term potlicker. Remember, I have been there done that with around 20 years of guiding, so I know how it goes. It can be tough when folks see you fishing and then the next day you get to your spot and there they are, sitting right on it.
But when I see a big shot use that term in their writing it makes me wonder who they think they are, and who they think “owns” the water. They were not the first person to fish the bay, they did not find that reef first, and they did not learn everything all by themselves. In fact, they are using the water for monetary gain, water that belongs to all of us, and not them. A big boat and fancy shirt does not give you the right of way. They are lucky that we let them use our resource to make money.
So in that vein I was in Academy the other day and a young man was buying lures and he asked me about a couple he had. So I took the time to show him and explain what he needed and why. I got this note from him yesterday.
| “hey thanks for the tips at academy yesterday,went out to saxet lake this morning and landed a couple alright sized bass with the buzz bait, and you were right, its like they jump out of the water trying to attack it. but overall with the tips i learned from you i had a great experience.” |
Thanks Justin for your kind comments. I know you are just getting back in to fishing, keep it up. I kept you email address and let’s see if we can hook up and go to Coleto some day. Fishing can be a lifetime hobby, or in my case a lifetime obsession. Glad you caught some fish. Folks this is not a contest and if people would respect each other more on the water it would be a better experience for us all. Share what you have learned and be nice, the shoe may be on the other foot someday.
Spam
I just want to take a minute to rant about spam. You would not believe the amount of spam that comes to this website. I do not wear women’s clothes, or shoes, or carry a purse. I do not speak Chinese or French, nor do I care a rats a$$ about some website that will bring billions of fake readers to my site. I think online degrees are a BS way to get an education, I have a girlfriend (my wife), and I wish you would stuff that Viagra up your you know what! Just saying.
That is it for today. I hope to get a few things done today and then it will be back to the water. Today got my blood going, nothing like fighting a few redfish to remind you what you like about saltwater fishing. And with the water warm enough for wet wading it will be game on. So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.
Good Luck and Tight Lines
