FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

The Wade Right Fishing Belt

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I wanted to get a really early start so that I could give the Whooper Plooper a serious go after the big bite the other morning.  Since it was going to be a really early quit time I was out early hoping to have a big bite, which did not happen.  The wind was blowing out of the south at a pretty good clip once I dropped the trolling motor in the water up lake but I had hope.

Weather

76/96.  (Heat index 108 degrees.) Partly cloudy with a 41% chance of a thunderstorm.  Wind  S 10 – 20mph.

Lake Level

Today  96.86 msl.      4 days ago   96.95      (The steady decline continues.)

Solunar Time

None relevant to today.

An early start! A beautiful way to start the day.

*******************The Knockin Tail Lure with a built in tail rattle!   Coming to a store near you!

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Right off the bat one about the size of the Whooper Plooper jumped on, one thing you have to give small bass, they will have a go at just about anything.  I stuck with the plan, but after 2 hours with just 2 bites I finally succumbed to plastics.  Still throwing the 5″ watermelon red stick worm with a 3/8ths tungsten on 15lb mono.  And like they have been, I caught 4 in the same areas where I have been catching them.  Again they were all shallow, with 3 coming off one place.  It might be possible to squeak out a limit on plastics, but they would not be all that heavy.

The plastic is still the most consistent for the smaller ones.

Around 9:30 I headed back down lake and caught 2 on the Bang O Lure.  There are still fish chasing shad in some coves, and both came on a major point near the mouth.  The better one actually came half way back while I was jerking it under the water, using it more like a jerk bait.

The Bang O Lure will put a nice one in the boat every once in a while.

From then on it was no bites as the wind picked up.  As it has been for me, it seems after 10:00 it gets pretty tough.  And with it hot as it has been (see 108 heat index today)  hard to keep motivated when the bite slows.  Now normally I would have stayed a while longer as it might get cloudy, but with a long day tomorrow I put it on the trailer.

A water snake.  As an aside, over the years when we had tons of grass seeing snakes was rare.  If they were swimming they did not live long but not the case now and I see lots more.

The fishing is not fast by any means, but it is nice to finally have a little better fishing.  Tossing the plastic is still the way to go for the most bites, but the better fish are still coming on buzzbait and Bang O Lure.  Makes for an interesting scenario/question, keep catching smalls hoping to get a better one, or stick with the other stuff and hope to put some weight in the boat.  All I have to say about that is hopefully this is a sign of things to come after a tough year.  We shall see.

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I got this from Mac after my little whine the other day.

Please “Keep on Truckin” Doug, By this long ago phrase you can guess my age . I grew up fishing and hunting and worked my way through college by guiding others. Now that I am older, I do not get the chance to fish and hunt as often. You do it now for me. Most of my fishing now happens in Sept, Oct, Nov. The rest of the year I rely on your stories to keep me abreast of whats happening. Outdoor Life and Field and Stream Magazines, years ago was my ‘Redfish Law’ informant of the out of doors. Friend. over the last 9 years you have been my Outdoor Writer to keep me involved in the love of the outdoors. Thank You for your interest from all who look for your blogs every day.

The day you ever stop, even though I have never met you, I will feel the loss of a true friend. I, however, know that the day will come, when you give it up but” boy howdy” not for a good while.

All who read your work, fish and hunt with you even if we are not by your side.
My wife now even reads your words. Because of your stories on Colorado, we are soon going to Pagosa Springs.

In closing–There is a man in a nursing home in Smithville who is blind but asks me often if I have heard from you. He lights up when I visit him to read one of your experiences. You make a difference to all who read your words

Mac

I am so humbled by your kind words.  And you reading it to your blind friend is all the motivation I need to keep going.  You faithful readership, along with the rest of you who also keep up, has kept me sharing with the hope that folks will get something out of this.  So thanks again, you made my day!

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With 2 tournaments on the lake this coming weekend there were several bass fisherman out.  And the crappie fishermen are still hard at it.  It has been a good year for crappie and one of these days I will catch a couple for the pan.  And to the lazy fool who replaced his bunk boards at the parking lot and left the old ones laying in the grass, shame on you.  If they were left in your yard you might feel differently.  Plus there are 2 big dumpsters and it would have only taken a minute to toss them in.  Sad.

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Tomorrow it will be up real early to meet Aaron for a morning of fishing on Fayette.  One of my favorite bass lakes, it has been a while, but he is on a good bite so I am looking forward to that.  One thing about Fayette, she is like the little girl with curl in the middle of her forehead – When she is good she is very good, and with any luck we will put the hurt on them.  After that who knows what is next, maybe if it gets below a 100 the bay will be on tap.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines