FISH CATCHING TRAVEL
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Tip of the Day
Next time you see some in the store pick up a package of Flambeau Zerust Plastabs and put a couple in all your tackle boxes. Trust me it is a money (lure) saver. I started using it a couple of years ago and it is worth every penny at $5.99.
I am constantly looking at the 10 day weather forecast for both lake and bay. It at least give you a general idea of what is to come. Of course things change, but looking at this week is a perfect example of why it is important if you fish both bay and salt. Tomorrow is the best wind day this week for the bay, and the island shoreline should be good with a light chop and there should be some clouds. The rest of the week higher winds are expected so time to hit the bay. It definitely is not a low tide day, actually it will be more of a flat high tide day, but just like the forecast you don’t know until you go. I am interested in trying both new baits from My Coast Outdoors, including the solid body. And with some cloud cover the topwater will definitely get some serious work. Hell I am getting excited thinking about it and I can’t wait for tomorrow. (It is Sunday afternoon as I type this.)
Weather
79/60. Partly to mostly cloudy with occasional stray shower. 20% chance of rain. Wind S 10 – 20.
Tides
Low 1:19 AM -0.1
High 8:45 AM 0.2
Low 1:52 PM 0.1
High 6:13 PM 0.2
Solunar Times
Good 7:19 to 9:19 am. Best 1:31 to 3:31 pm. (Caught them during both periods.)
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There is a method to my madness.
When I hit the road at 5:45 for POC the wind was really blowing. I was apprehensive driving down there that it might be rough, but it turned out to be perfect. There was only 3 trucks in the lot when a pickup parked next to me and out comes Jarrod who was going fishing with friends. Now that is a sportsman, spend all day in the outdoors and then fish when he is off, perfect. I worked with him at Academy and he is in his first year as a game warden in the Zapata area. He is a good guy and the kind of person that we need more of in law enforcement. So we shot the breeze until I had to get fishing so off I went.
It was not their lucky day, but it will be ours when they are sizzling in the pan.
The wind was perfect and the run to the island was quick. The water temp was basically 71 everywhere I fished today. It was about 8:00 before I finally jumped over the side and first up was a deep drain. Normally I catch fish there pretty consistently but today not a bite on either topwater or the Controlled Descent Paddle Shad in the new solid body watermelon red flake. They just were not there, not a bite. So I eased out and headed down the bank knee deep tossing the topwater, casting to the bank and then out as far as I could. And the good thing, mullet. Remember this time of year you can almost cruise areas and find bait, then the fish. Most of the bites came in less than 2 foot, and you had to move slow.
Love my Wade Right belt.
For the next couple of hours I moved very slow, it was super clear and they were basically knee deep and really spooky. It was classic topwater redfishing. The Bagley Knocker B has been a consistent producer for me since I started throwing it, and plenty got after it. Of the 6 I caught on that bank, 5 did not get it on the first blowup. You had to just keep it moving with little twitches in the walk the dog pattern, and they would finally eat it. Jerk before you felt them and it was a clean miss. A couple of nice ones missed it and one good one pulled off. And you could see the occasional follow, but for every one that hooked up 3 or 4 did not commit.
One on the Controlled Descent and the size run for the day on topwater.
I stayed with it longer than I should have, but love that topwater. Before leaving that bank one more made the boga on the Controlled Descent. There was not even a swing and a miss from a trout so time for a move. And I did fish both flats on each side of the drain. With the wind just right to lightly blow on the Barroom shoreline I headed over there. It was not even 3 casts before a red jumped on, and I was thinking it was gonna happen. But it didn’t, in fact I never had another bite there. So it was time for a radical change.
It has been awhile since I fished Big Bayou out of the boat, so why not? It turned out to be perfect. I hit one place where they always are, and guess what? The trout were there. The tide was moving lightly and the wind was perfect to fish the deep bank. From that point on, on both watermelon red 3″ paddle tail and the Controlled Descent Paddle Shad, the bite was on. It took maybe 1/2 hour to catch about 20, with a few rat reds mixed in, and fill my limit with a couple of good ones. They were about 3 foot deep and would smack it. About 3:00 with fish to clean it was time to call it a day.
I may not be the best trout fisherman, but when they are stacked up it makes it easy.
It has been awhile since I fished the salt but the fishing is good in spite of me not having a clue, and will only get better this month. I am still not “on” the trout, but plan on fixing that in the weeks to come. But anytime you catch 10 reds and 20 trout is a success. Well worth the drive.
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I got this from my buddy Clyde who is also trolling a fishing show or two.
Saw a 80,000 plus Ranger 50th anniversary ed edition and it didn’t have power poles !!!! That was at the Omaha Sport show ;Paul says hi!
Wow. Just my point on the manufacturers producing more moderately priced boats. Sorry Ranger but that is crazy! (My old fishing buddy and occasional tournament partner was the floor manager for Ranger and I must admit I liked riding in a new boat every time one came out.) And I am sure it was good to see Paul from Muskie Bay Resort. I am still mulling over a trip there this year, but as usual, so many places so little time. And I hope to get back to Arkansas for a couple of days. Good to hear from you and tell your lovely wife hi.
As a side note if you are ever thought of making the trip to Canada, Muskie Bay is a great choice. From basically all inclusive, to a more do it yourself trip, they can take care of you. Not only does Crow Lake offer great muskie and lake trout fishing, it is right down the road from Lake of the Woods, a must location for a bucket list trip. Check out their website, they are great folks who will do all they can to make your Canada trip a success.
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If you are a CCA member it is time to think about renewing your membership. Not only do they give us a voice, by renewing early for the Star Tournament you are automatically entered into the drawing for a boat. Hell, somebody has to win it, might as well be you. I actually know someone who caught a tagged redfish, and he was the only one in the boat without a membership, it happens. So if you are going to set foot in the salt even once this year do it now. And a side benefit is the couple of $10 gift certificates from Academy they usually send every year. Nothing beats free stuff!
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And I got this from SA Joe, sorry I wasn’t clear and obviously my spelling left something to be desired.
Is this the woodys custom rods you were talking about selling the rods? Or the other one??
https://www.facebook.com/Woodys-Custom-Wrapped-Fishing-Rods-120387521331962/ (houston)When you were at the houston show, do the big boys show up like Shimano rods? Or someone selling them? I’m having a hard time finding Shimano Crucial.
It is Woodys from Houston, sorry about that. And as far as the show they had a booth and there was plenty of other rods to buy. Fishing Tackle Unlimited is always there with a bunch of rods and reels with lots of brands and options. I got out of there relatively cheap, but got the fluorocarbon I use for $6.50 a spool and a bunch of marked down baits, also what I use. So if you have never made it there put it on your calendar, well worth the drive. Good to hear from you.
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What is not to like this time of year? The white bass are running, the bass are spawning, and the bay is heating up. It gets tough to decide where to go sometimes, but no matter what it is time to be on the water. I will be looking for a couple of days in a row like this to make the Upper Laguna trip if the timing is right. As far as the next couple of weeks I will be lucky enough to fish with some new folks this weekend then the following week. Funny how just thinking about it I start to put pressure on myself to produce. But hey, I asked for it. It will definitely be fishing in the morning. So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.
Good Luck and Tight Lines
