FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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Stop by and see them at the Houston Fishing Show  March 6 – 10th.

Finally good weather for a long day on the bay.  I prefer the tide dropping but this will be a rising tide all day.  While not my best suit a good day to learn some.  So it will be up early and gone for a day of wading.  I will be hoping for a big bite and will fish accordingly, though a few smalls for the pan will be appreciated.

Weather

63/71.  Cloudy with partial sun late.  20% chance stray shower.  Wind S 5 – 10mph.

Tides

Low   6:16 AM    -0.4
High   7:05 PM     0.3

Solunar Times

There is no relevant time during daylight.  Must be why the day is classed as poor.  (Wrong!)  Just my luck lately!

*******************Fresh or salt it has a place in your arsenal.  And boy did it today.

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I finally hit the road about 7:30 and it was foggy, I mean thick.  So it was a slow ride to Froggie’s.  When I got there the fog was still thick, but the water looked great and it was a little over 60 degrees.  And for the tide it was a lot higher than I would have thought.  So I hung out getting stuff ready, waders on, then coffee waiting for a break in the fog.  As soon as there was a clear patch overhead I eased out.

I took Army Cut across, which turned out to be a great decision.  There were still big patches of fog, so I took it easy.  The nice thing about going to the island that way is the ferry lane, which worked out great when it got thick.  It was a long ride until I could see the island so I headed down the island and stopped at a drain.  Foggy and drizzly, it could not have been better.  At times I do not fish the bay as much as I will in the future, but I keep saying I was looking for the “right” day.  And today was it.

They flat ate the Controlled Descent white/limetreuse Paddle Shad.

The reason I chose that particular place is there is a nice ditch, 2 great points, and an area of softer bottom with grass.  The tide was still easing out slightly, and the color was great.  I did not get 10 feet from the boat when it started.  The first 4 or 5 blew up on the Spook Jr. and none stuck.  So as I say, listen to the fish, so I switched to a Rapala Skitter V in a gold top with a white bottom.  Great choice.  One thing the Skitter V does is move even more side to side on a short twitch, but it’s rear end staying pretty much in line.  Second, it has finer hooks.  And from that point on it was game on.

They sure like the Rapala Skitter V.

Then it was just a matter of a slower retrieve and keep it coming no matter how many times they missed, and then they would hook up.  Not even gonna guess how many I caught on it, but it sure was fun.  Then another great choice.  Michael, the Owner of Controlled Descent, posted he and his son caught some nice ones on the white/limetreuse Paddle Shad.  What better advice, so as soon as I had them found in a ditch along the drop with the topwater I started with the plastics.

Still listening to the fish, I rigged it on a 1/16th weighted swim bait hook so it would stay shallow.  Hopping it 3 or 4 times, the last hop on the surface, then letting it drop and they were smacking it.  That, along with the topwater, went on until I quit.  Then I made another good decision, again listening to the fish.

The pumpkinseed/chartreuse glitter caught it’s share.

As the topwater bite slowed down, though I caught  trout on it until I quit, the trout wanted the Controlled Descent Paddle Shad fished horizontal and not up and down.  Jerk, jerk, jerk, then stop for a couple of counts.  Several hit it within a couple of feet of me.  It was interesting following them around, first on the point, then along the drop, and finally out on the soft bottom.  The topwater would get a bite and then I would bait and switch, which worked until I quit.

That’s enough pictures, you get the point.

No big ones today, but the average was nice, plenty of keepers.  And now the plug for the Wade Right wading harness from Coastal Fishing Gear.  Today was the proof, carry 2 different rods was the ticket.  I only went to the boat once in 5 hours, and being able to alternate baits, with different line weights made the day.  And not one dunk, which is always a great thing.

There are some days when you just know, and watching the weather for the last month put me on the water under great conditions.  And then choosing a place with lots of features close kept me in the water casting instead of moving the boat, they just kept biting.  Finally I just called it a day.  When you have a bite on your first or second cast, and then catch a fish right before you quit 5 hours later, it does not get any better than that.

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Gage sent along this follow up comment, and my answer might be better this time.

Thanks for the reply have you ever targeted crappie at coleto last year i caught 6 up in the back creek they were all 12 inch or over and all on rattle traps . i was looking for a little bit more specifics on places to try ive seen some of your older post about wading in lavaca bay. thats just as close as sea drift for me. Thanks and always tightlines

Now that I know you have a boat, and having a Carolina Skiff myself, I have a much better idea of a few places.  As far as crappie up the coleto creek arm there is tons of brush.  There is always crappie up there, and as the weather warms they will hit the bank in the next month.  Just hitting piece after piece of cover with small jigs will find them.  Be prepared to lose lots of small jigs, 2″ or 3″ tubes for me, cheaper.  Always count it down as you cast to cover, then a slow reel back.  Once you find them, and get the count down, they will smack it.

And as far as Lavaca Bay, there is the Powderhorn Ranch shoreline, or inside the Powderhorn when it is windy, are both steady places.  And in the Powderhorn itself there is always redfish.  Just be careful, care has to be taken to fish the lake, if you go just take it easy going in following the stakes.  Most of it is shallow, but taking the time to learn it can keep you in redfish.  Of course Keller Bay taking Hwy 172 down to the ramp.  A south wind or a big east wind can be a hassle, but if not to windy the pasture down the same side of the bay as the ramp always hold fish.  Just look for the area that has a high bank.  As will fishing the Strike King Redfish Magic down the bank around the docks.  Good luck and if you want to know a little more email me.  Thanks for reading .

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I will be headed to the Houston Fishing Show on the 7th to take in all the new stuff, and who knows, maybe spend a buck or two.  And also a little time covering the Controlled Descent booth while Michael takes time out to be at his son’s school activity.  Now that is a good dad.  Of course I will be stopping in at the Wade Right booth to chat up Tim and Jason.  We are all getting excited about the Chandeleur trip after lasts years rousing good time.  For a saltwater fisherman it should be a bucket list trip.  Good food, fellowship,  fishing, much less being treated like a king, it does not get any better than that.  So if you have a little time this weekend, especially if the weather sucks, head to the show and tell them I said hey.

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Not sure what is next but as soon as the weather straightens up, looks like Friday might be a go, it will be back to the bay.  I wanted to fish corky style stuff, I did catch a couple on the Hoover Shad from Academy today, and if Friday pans out it will be more of a try to catch a big fish day.  Today it was one of those why in the hell would I leave when they kept biting for over 5 hours, especially when the average size was keepers.   So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines