FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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I not only do not have any preconceived notions about how the fishing on the lake will go tomorrow, I do not have a clue.  It will be interesting to see how things have settled down after several big cold fronts and added water color from the continuous high north winds and cold rain.  But I have smacked them pretty good on the salt the last 5 trips so time to hit the lake.  Hey it may suck, and if it does it will be back to the bay next week.  (Though I am headed there anyway, the fishing is just to good on the salt.  The old saying” Never leave fish to find fish”.)  I just have a hard time not knowing what is going on at the lake.

Weather

74/48.  Cloudy early with a 20% of scattered showers then clearing skies later.  Wind  WNW 10 – 15mph.

Solunar Times

Best  9:51 am to 11:51 am.

Lake Levels

Today  98.23 msl.  9 days ago  98.28 msl.  (It has been fairly stable the last month.)

*******************Try one on a popping cork!

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Here is what is going on at the lake.  A not a bit more……………….

The first one, and the last one, with 4 other smalls.  It was tough.

It was cloudy and did a little drizzling right off the bat.  The water color still sucks over most of the lake.  The temp is basically between 62 and 64 degrees and I found one place where it was 66.  First up was the one place that has been consistent even when it was tough.

On the 2cnd or 3rd cast the first one above smoked the Bang o Lure.  One of those as soon as it hit in less than a foot of water right in the slop.  Now that should be a good thing, but I got a little fooled, at least I thought so.  Keeping with it exclusively for the next hour and only one other made a half hearted pass.  The next place was a small deep cove, and the first one jumped on the Controlled Descent pearl Jerk Shad, which is what was putting the hurt on them before the new cold water.

From that point on I kept working my way up lake.  At least way up there the water temp was 63, a good start.  The best areas, if you can call it that, was in the coves.  Each one I went in at least produced a bite, but like what happened first thing on the Bang o Lure, I would catch one on the Jerk Shad, but then no bites for a long time.  Then back to the Bang o Lure, same result. But I sure do love them eating the Bang o Lure, to bad it was a little tough to see your bait today.  It finally dawned on me, both baits work, that is just how slow the fishing was!

And I got a little confirmation on that when a guy in a nice bass boat idled over and asked if it was me.  He reads the blog to keep up with lake conditions, which is why I try to include most of them in each report.  He is here camping for the weekend and is just not catching anything.  I tried to help, showed him what I was using, and sent him to a bank that has some on it.  I hoped to see him later but I must have missed him.  Sorry I did not get your name, so please when you read this send me a comment so I have a way to contact you.  He tournament fishes and fishes Sam Rayburn  (On my bucket list.)  and offered to fish with me.  I appreciate the offer and if I come that way I will stay on the lake several days so if we can work something out, just a little showing me around on day 1 would be great.

It was just a grind, but a pleasant grind, but it looks like we  are in the exact same pattern as the last round.  Got muddied up, temp dropped, and this time is the same.  It started back last month with smalls, and each day it got better.  With a nice warm west wind today, it was 61 degrees when I left the house at 7:00 – 76 degrees when I quit at 2:00, a real improvement.  Add some good sun today,  and with the warm temps and moderate winds the next couple of days it should improve a ton.  Monday will have a front and it just might be the day.  Besides the fishing there was one interesting happening today, I got stung by a bee.  Freezing 2 days ago, sweating today.  Love that crazy Texas weather.

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And just a note if you like to bow fish tilapia, Coleto is the place.  Just go in any big cove and they are there.  Some of them are freakin’ huge, and with the cool water they are just hanging out and don’t immediately bug out when you get close.  Coleto could use about 10,000 of them taken out, they are everywhere.  Which brings me to a point I want to make.  The Game and Fish departments in many states have done more to change things than any other factor.  Yes boats can transfer plant life, zebra mussels etc., but when it comes down to it the Game and Fish departments shoulder a lot of the blame.  Experiments like tilapia and other exotics was, and is, a bad idea.  Another good example is the grass eating carp, just ask the fishermen in Austin how that worked out for them.

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Thanks to all who sent along a Happy Thanksgiving wishes, I had one.  Just like I generally prefer to fish by myself, I am all about a nice quiet holiday.  Football, a little reading, messing with tackle, and maybe a little snooze, it was all good.  And the Cowboys look like they are getting on a roll.  And nothing like Zeke tossing Dak in the Salvation Army bucket.  Almost ended up hurting them but they are having fun, which could spell trouble for the rest of the division.  And the Hogs are still awful, and I only say that because I can’t think of a better word.  Horrible, pathetic, push overs, not sure there is a better word to describe how this season has gone.

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And I got one of those comments that makes me blush.  (Being the warm and fuzzy guy I am.)

Thanks for all you do to keep me thinking of fishing and learning new tackle to use and your methods. Really appreciate what you’re doing.
Have a great day and. Holiday season.
Ed Soto

No, thank you for reading.  The blog has evolved over the years but I try to stay true to putting it out there.  Today is a perfect example.  I get no joy, though I am laughing as I type this, in reporting 6 for the day that might have made a fish stick.  But you don’t get to show the good stuff, (That is what Facebook if for, bragging when you catch them, and not a peep when you don’t.)  and then not the bad.  If you want a modicum of credibility each day is what it is, and the lures and techniques I use that day, successful or not, are what they are.  And if someone catches another fish or two from reading any of this I am thrilled.  And like the fellow I met today it is nice to know he uses the blog to keep up with lake conditions.  (And I have met lots of folks on the lake who read this so I know they are out there.)  Again thanks for reading and as usual good to hear from you.

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But no complaints with today’s fishing, bass fishing will always be near and dear to my heart. And if the water will just keep clearing the Bang O Lure is going to come around “bigly”.  Winter into early spring on Coleto has put many big fish in the boat on that topwater, and it is one of my favorite bites.  There is something about it that makes a difference.  But best of all, I have fished 3 different places this week, and intend to keep mixing it up.  I get bored at times when the fishing is to good, if that makes some kind of sense.  The bay right now is a perfect example, it is good and I know I can catch them, which takes a little of the fun out of it.   I already have plans to fish with a buddy on the Lavaca Thursday, so it looks like another fishing week. I appreciate all of you who have stuck with me.  Keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines