FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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Port O’Connor Texas

Chris was coming to the house at 5:30am so we could make Froggie’s by 6:30.  I was up early so decided to run to the station and get gas and ice and be ready to go.  On the  way I cut a corner to close and dinged a rim on the trailer.  Dang it.  It was a slow leak so I got gas and went back to the house to put on the spare.  Not the best start to the day but with no delay in the fishing no harm.  And just a note, since we were going to be wading deep I waded wet as it might have gone over my waders.  So no pocket no pictures today, sorry you will have to take my word for it that we caught a 37″ trout.  Just kidding.  And I did not prep the conditions so here they are – Hot – Humid – Wind 20mph out of the South,  water temp 90 degrees most places, and tide dropping most of the day.  Summer time on the coast.

When we got to the ramp it really dawned on me – Poco Bueno.  The parking lot at Forggie’s was almost full at 6:30, and it was a day of high dollar horsepower.  With an expected 120+ boats in the inshore half that starts on Friday it was on the brink of mayhem.  There were boats everywhere, lots of SCB, Simmons, Majeks, Haynies, etc. running all over, lining miles of bank, it was busy.  And I saw something I have never seen before, a dude burning the shoreline, behind folks wading deep.  Crazy, it gives you and idea of what is to come.  But even with the traffic we were able to do what we needed to.

It was tough.  The first place was near South Pass.  I started in on shell and grass,  Chris headed deep, and I mean he fished way out there.  Right away I had a 18″ absolutely crush a topwater.  Now I am thinking it is going to happen, not.  But I did have a big one come off the topwater, so I had my chance.  When I finally picked him up other than that one keeper I caught a couple on plastics that did not make the grade.  Chris struck out.  I learned something from that wade that payed off later.

Next it was an oyster bar in South Pass.  We did not have a bite.  I attribute some of that to the wind out of the South blowing it off color, and it had some color.  The only redeeming value in that stop was the tide was out and it is nice to see places where you can see it all, which will obviously pay off in the future.  But with only one in the box another move was in order.

We fished the mouth of a drain we fish regularly and the only thing I remember about that is we caught a few, Chris caught a rat red and I caught a 17″ red which was it for reds for the day.  It seemed like we just were not in the right place, obviously!  We gave that area a good go, but the bites were just not there.  The floating grass was also starting to be a problem, so what next?

I was going to head to Barroom, but was worried about the water color with the South wind.  As we are headed there I had a moment of insight – the old Coast Guard station.  It should be fairly protected and it has a good drop.  So we detoured and headed that way.

It turned out to be a good choice and we started catching trout on the drop.  How close to the drop you say?  With the boat anchored Chris went over the outside and in to his chin he went.  I went out the other side and it was a little over knee deep.  We both threw plastics and I had another moment of insight, paddle tail deep.  So using a pink limeade Controlled Descent Paddle Shad on a 1/8th swim bait hook, big rattle inserted, I tossed it deep, let it sink, and then slow rolled it back.  The water had some color and the slow retrieve with the rattle let them find it.  But the best thing?  They flat stopped it, most of the bites were solid hook ups.

Before it was over I caught another 3 nice keepers, and would have had my limit several times but lost them messing with the Boga.  Of course usually if I am keeping them I generally use a net, but man I hate messing with a net and topwaters so I left at the house.  If I were guessing it was maybe 10 for me there, and not sure how many for Chris but it was several and he added a keeper.  So back to his first wade.  Where he first went way out, and I mean way out, and did not catch a keeper it clued me in a little, it just took a while to sink in.  Deep might be right, but the drop is the key.  And trust me, there were tons of folks out there chest deep today.  Putting on my thinking cap, it finally dawned on me, during this period they want, and like, a nice 3+ drop to hang on.  Guess I should have searched my blog for that, it is a good pattern.

Looking back on the day, if we had stuck to drops on our wades the results would have been much better.  I am no trout expert but it makes sense, they lay up and as a general rule stay off the heated flats much of the day.  Plus, since that info is actually on this blog I might have done a little research on my own stuff.  But after 3 slow places to finish the afternoon with a pretty good bite was a great way to end the day.  And the 5 keepers are headed to his house as the honorary guest at a fish fry.  It was one of those days were fishing that one more spot paid off.

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Get inhaled!  

There is something innovative and new coming!  

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One consequence of the crowded water, which is about to be as busy as it gets in our area all year, was I called of a Friday trip with Michael, owner and designer of the Controlled Descent Lures.  And he was fine with that.  This weekend anywhere within a boat ride will be jammed with folks, some of them doing some awesomely stupid stuff.  We were going to fish Friday, but the tournament will be in full swing.  If Wednesday is any indication it will be nuts.

I was able to get a chance to hear what is coming in the plastic department and I can’t wait.  It is a cool idea and there is no way the fish won’t like it.  So as soon as it is out I will fill you in.  And we will reschedule the trip as soon as he can shake lose.  But trust me, if you think fishing the POC area this weekend will be a nice outdoor experience you really do need to fish more.

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The proper tool for the job.

And I wanted to talk a little more about catching them the last place.  No matter what bait you are using there are times when conditions just dictate a certain approach.  The last place had grass with a good drop and was definitely off color from both wind and boat traffic.  The fish were deep and not particularly active so taking a bigger bait, letting it hit bottom and then slow rolling it resulted in some really solid thumps.  I wish I had started that earlier, that slow roll, no jerking, technique has it’s place, and summer time seems to be it.  I learned that from the Mad Trout Fisherman, and his results with plastics before he goes to croaker are spectacular.  So put that in your fishing book, you never know when it might save the day.  They were stopping that Pink Limeade with a solid thump.  And the 4/0 swim bait hook keeps them hooked up.  Wish I was headed to the bay, I am feeling a killin’ coming on.

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Random Acts of Kindness.

I did want to give some props to a couple of folks this morning.  First I headed to Discount Tire to get a new rim.  The dude takes one look at it and says no problem, we can bend that right out and it will be fine, and they did.  And then no charge.  That was a good way to start the day but that was not the real act of kindness.  It has been hot down here, really tough to be outside.  And up rides a guy on a bike who is obviously homeless, he comes in the door and asks if he can get a water, and maybe one for his friend.  The same guy who helped me said sure, take a couple.  He said it with kindness and understanding and at least the dude and his buddy will have some water today.

And then another one happened on the way from the library.  There is a really old couple who have been on the corner with all their stuff early mornings.  One look at them and it is clear they are definitely having it rough.  In the inside lane was a real piece of junk pickup, which appeared to be on it’s last legs.  The window opened and they handed them some money.

Kindness comes in all shapes and sizes and to see 2 perfect examples in one morning was refreshing.  When we all do little things like that you learn that when you do, you actually get more out of it than the person you helped.  So pass it on when you get the chance, it makes the world a better place.

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My last stop was the Tackle Box to pick up a couple of reels that needed cleaning.  The guy who waited on me turned out to be Colton, who is a facebook friend.  It was nice to put a “real” face to a name and we talked some fishing.  He is one of the really good young fisherman in this area.  And I appreciate that he, like several other good young local fishermen, fishes both fresh and salt.  Some of us like catching this or that, or doing it this way or that way, and some of us like fishing in what ever form it takes.  He is in the later group and the sport of fishing is in their hands.

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So know I am sitting here finishing this and trying to figure out when I will get back on the water next, like maybe tomorrow at the lake.  There is something I have been wanting to try and it will eat at me until I try it.  And I definitely want to get back to the bay after it calms down and work on the drop thing.  So whether on the water or off it is on my mind constantly.  And if a person has to have an obsession at least this one is moderately harmless.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines