FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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The Lavaca River.  Is It Time Yet?

This was strictly a go to the river and see if they are biting.  Since I start 3 days of hard core fishing tomorrow this was a quick trip.  I did not look at the weather, tides, or Solunar times.  I did not even hit the water until 10am.  It did not matter a bit as this trip was simply an exploratory trip.  I know the river well enough that it would take just a minute to find out if they were there and biting.  The thing I am interested in right now is trying to figure out the relationship water temperature and baitfish have on putting the trout in the rivers.  In other words, what brings the trout into the river like they do for a few months.

When I got to the ramp it was about 10am and the tide was way up.  The color of the river is not to bad, basically a copper color, and the water temp was 78.5.  Down the river I went and stopped a little past the power lines and started fishing.  I kept leap frogging down river and had maybe one bite the first few places.  But with the amount of bait in the river I knew it would not be long.   As I got closer to the Swan Lake area the bites started.

The first of 3 headed for the fry pan.

On one stretch of bank I put 3 trout in the boat from 16″ – 18″, the exact supper I was ordered to produce by the boss.  I also caught the small red and black drum in the picture below on the same bank.  There was considerable bait activity, and I saw several mullet being chased.  And when I cleaned the bigger one at the house no wonder he felt heavy for his length, it must have been that 10″ mullet in his stomach.

                 Little but the right flavors.  It won’t be long on the river.

Once I had supper  in the box I started hitting different areas back up river.  In several places I got lots of bites, but they were small.  I probably caught about 10 of those shorts.  The further up river, the less the bites.  After 3 hours of fishing I hit the road to get stuff ready for tomorrow’s POC extravaganza.

So here is my theory and I am sticking with it.  The water temp is obviously relevant, it was 78.5 (Which is about the temp of the bay.) in most places.  Not a big enough differential to drive those fish into the river.  So I think the bait and water temp work together.  There is plenty of bait in the river and the fish are coming in, but for the big influx we still need the cold weather.  It will take those really cool nights to drive the trout and bait out of the bay and all the way up the river.  But they are coming.

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Chad is on a real run folks, and he tells you how to get it done.  About the only other thing he can do besides sharing his reports is take you by the hand and cast for you.  So take his reports and make them work for you.

Are you freakin’ kidding me!

Matagorda island smack down! The catching is great throwing whiskey/ chart. Fishing chest deepwater for trout. Tight to the shoreline for reds. I found doug’s school of reds today. We hooked reds till our arms were sore. Not to brag but over 16 keeper reds for me today, with some heavy weight trout to 23″. The wind was blowing strait down the shoreline. Best results were throwing crosswind at a 45 degree angle towards the shorline. Holding the rod down horizontal with the water produced more bites, than a conventional tip high in the sky retrieve. Maybe i had the hot stick today or stratigies and patterns prove to be me being lucky. Throwing the 1/8 ounce jig head with a med to slow retrieve. With the low clouds and se wind should of threw the topwater. But i was hooked up from the first cast. The picture im sending dont the catching justice. I am pre fishing for some of pops friends from dallas coming in wed evening for 3 days of fishing. Hope the weather holds out for them. Hope you get with the austin crew this weekend. Thanks and good luck folks

First, luck is a part of it, but as you know, a small part.  And it ain’t braggin’ if it is fact.  As they say in real estate location, location, location.  And as with all fishing the more you fish the luckier you get.  It is all about putting it together, and you sure have that going on right now.  So while there might be a certain amount of “luck” involved, results like you have been having dispute that, you clearly have a pattern that you are exploiting, no luck there. That same day I hooked up on topwater immediately, and ended up fishing it way to long, but it is all about fish on the end of the line, no matter how they end up on the stinger.  Our bunch starts Thursday afternoon and fishes until Sunday and with any luck, and good bank selection, hopefully we can sack a few.  It looks like the weather is going to deteriorate just a little Thursday, but actually it looks pretty good for the rest of the weekend.  So thanks for you continued reports.

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I finally bought some “real” waders and wading boots.  Looking back on the last 5 years that I have been wading, it actually costs about the same to buy good as it has to buy 3 sets which all ended up leaking, usually after as little as a year or so.  So the real question to be determined, how long will these Simms last without leaking?  Not only is it a matter of cost, or return on investment, it is just a hassle thing.  In other words, how long before I finally feel that telltale wet feeling in my boots?  Only time will tell.

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So a fun little trip to the river.  The fish are on the way and you can set your calendar to the good bite.  2 cold nights and it will be on.  You can still scratch a few out right now, but it is not quite on yet.  Tomorrow starts the 3 day extravaganza with the Austin Boys.  So this is probably the last you will hear from me for a couple of days.  These guys are not lightweights, they fish dawn to dusk.  So add a couple of adult beverages to the day and there is zero chance I will get anything written before I get back on Sunday.  I know one thing right now, the fishing is good, and can be real good.  And if you have anything to share or comment on, send it our way, we love to hear from you.  So keep stopping in and thank for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines