Fish Catching Travel
I will give the weatherman the real props he deserves today. He said it was going to be cloudy, maybe a little drizzle, then the temperature was going to drop like a rock and it was going to blow like the dickens at 10:30 this morning. He was absolutely correct.
With the norther coming this morning Voe and I headed to Coleto to hopefully catch the bite right before the front. We were hoping the weatherman would miss it by a few hours and we might get most of the day, but that was not to be. The first thing we noticed when we got to the lake was it had come up another couple of inches. And once the boat was in the water it was 61 degrees at the ramp, up several degrees from the other day. As we headed up lake the water temperature kept rising and it was 65 up lake.
We began the morning on a big flat way up lake and I started with the Strike King Swim Jig and started catching them right away. I told Voe last trip that I really liked the Lunker Lure Buzzbait so he had picked one up at Bass Pro. On probably his 3rd or 4th cast he had a good one blow up on it. With three or four in the boat already on the Swimming Jig, and now a big blow up on buzzbait, I couldn’t take it so out came the spinnerbait.
The first nice one on spinnerbait.
The fish were very active and wanted the spinnerbait buzzed. I was making a big wake with the big rear willow leaf blade, some were getting it right on the bank, others right beside the boat. Nothing like a 3 pounder hitting it like he means it right beside the boat. The first couple short struck it so I put on a trailer hook and they started sticking.
Here is number 2. They were not really big, just good solid fish.
With the forecast I knew it was not going to last to long, or at least we weren’t, so we started covering lots of water.
Voe caught several on white chatterbait with a swim bait trailer.
It was clear they were on the chew and we fished as fast as we could. We had bites on topwater, Swimming Jig, spinnerbait, and topwater. But the spinnerbait was the ticket and when one would come for it they ate it.
Nice solid fish who were just stopping that spinnerbiat.
I try not to trash particular baits, but I have to say something about the Booyah spinnerbait. I had several break last fall and they were kind enough to replace them. So I have not thrown it much this winter but today I was tossing the one already tied on my rod. About the 3rd or 4th one I set the hook and came back with the knot. The wire broke right at the eye, where the others have been breaking. Since I throw it on braid, and run it a 100 miles an hour, I guess when they stop it in its tracks and I put the road to them the wire just can’t take it. So take that for what it is worth.
The bite is on, we will have to see how this weather affects things.
The bite was great the first hour, then stayed fairly consistent for another hour, and then we caught one here and there but it was slowing down. Initially the wind was blowing about 15 out of the south, then about 9 it went calm, and I knew it was coming. We fished a couple of more places, putting another 2 or 3 in the boat but it was obvious the front was starting to affect them.
Last nice one of the day.
About 9:30 there was a little drizzle with a light north wind so we put on our rain gear and it was time to head down lake. I could tell it was about to get ugly and there was a bank down there I wanted to fish so we headed down lake. I also wanted to be closer to the ramp when it finally did come. So we ran down lake, dropped the trolling motor in the water, made a couple of casts, and here it came. The wind was howling towards us and it hit like a freight train, and so did the cold. It was a rough ride back in the wind and rain, and when we got it on the trailer the temp had gone from 72 degrees to 48 in the matter of 2 minutes. Now that is a front.
So I am real happy we did not try to squeeze in a couple of hours at the Gulf today. It would have hardly been worth it, plus, it was nice to see the water temperature up at the lake, the fish biting, and there were Tilapia everywhere. It will probably take a few days to recover after this front but the fishing is improving. There is a tournament Sunday and there should be a bunch of fish caught. If you are fishing it be ready to boat around 20lbs, at least. It could be something.
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After I posted those big fish Aaron caught the other day I got this from Evan.
Wow! Those are some real pretty bass! Glad to know someone is doing good on those! I was checking a property I have access to. Its a nice little lake that has been benefitting from the recent rains. The water is up and I’m headed out with a friend next weekend to see what we can do. Its pretty muddied up though. My chrome rat’l trap went down not even a foot before I couldn’t see it anymore. Any suggestions as to catching a bass out of muddy water? We’re gonna give it a go no matter. Hopefully the water will clear up in 6 days. (Happens to be the same place as my duck hunting honey hole….. So I’ll be crying a little because its still loaded with ducks!) *I’ll let you know how the fishing goes…. and how much I complain about the number of ducks on a day I can’t hunt them.
TPWD is just another government program. It has its own agenda and they sell it to us with beautiful phrases that keeps us doing what we do: Voting them in place and bitching about it. I’m not sure what to do to stop it.
Government and Trust are two words never used in the same sentence in our house.
Have a great week sir. Catch some big ones!
Evan
First, if the water stays off colored consider a Chartreuse chatterbait or even a black jig and frog. Either high contrast or so dark they can see it. It took a long time to sink in to my pea brain, dark colors dark days, light colors bright days, and black at night. Always seemed counter intuitive. I appreciate your occasional comments, and if you think my buddy Aaron had some nice fish the other day, check below.
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Aaron and Strike King, a dangerous combination.
Aaron who sent me the pictures of some really nice fish I posted the other day dropped me this note, he is back at it again.
I also went back the next day and had another 38-40lb day of my biggest 5.
All I have to say about that is, look at these girls!
One………
Two…………
Three…………
Four……
#5 and we have a limit! When was the last time you caught a limit like this?
All I know is those fish up there in East Texas better look out as long as he is fishing. Once that boy gets on them he is like a bird dog on a covey of quail.
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I will be tossing the Down South on the next Gulf trip.
Voe was headed to Falcon in the morning, Aaron wants me to come up there, and I have a job in a couple of days helping a friend. Helping out a friend takes priority so I had to miss both offers. So what is coming the next couple of days is up in the air and I am not sure where, or how, I will be fishing. One of the little lessons I learned last week with the guide is the second or third day after this nasty front will really put the big trout on the feed. So as soon as this all shakes out I will be heading to the Gulf for some trout action. I really want to try the Shimano Waxwing, and after Voe bringing one this morning he used on the Pacific Coast on Yellowtail and seeing how it was torn up, I can’t wait to try it. So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.
Good Luck and Tight Lines
