FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

“SAVE OUR WATERS”

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt

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My Favorite Time of Year

My buddy Rusty, a serious multi species fisherman and fly tier,  gave me a heads up on the river after he laid the smack down on them.  In fact, when I saw him early this morning they had already caught 16.  Every year I wait for the rivers and creek to turn on, and even though we have not had any serious cold yet, the fish are on the move.  (And thanks Rusty, I found the secret bait on my door handle when I took the boat out.)

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The new Knockin Tail Lures are coming soon.  Now I am really excited.

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I put the boat in at daylight and headed down almost to the bay.  It was still calm, the water color was good, and looked like it might be topwater so that was first up.  The tide was really high as it has been, which did not bode well for it.  Unfortunately it was not that fast, caught 3 and had several blow up on it, including the old knock it a foot in the air and miss.  For about an hour I kept after it but as soon as the sun was really up it was over, at least where I was.  So time to feed them some plastics.

I of 3 on topwater.  Then the new Knockin Tail Lure took over.

While not really fast by any means it was steady.  Today they were bunched up a little so when you would catch one it would be another one or two.  My favorite bank is usually shallow, but not today.  In fact I generally prefer that side of any river if given the choice. The tide was way up and the wind was blowing right in so the water never did drop.

I had one last Knockin Tail Lure and caught 6 or 8 on it before a  redfish broke me off.  You can tell I am a little out of practice fishing the 8lb line, to much pitching and jerking bass out of cover. Then it was the DOA Cal in what is a color genericly called chicken on a chain, depending on the company, and they liked it too.  A 1/8th jig head is usually enough, and I was just hopping it up off the bottom and letting it fall.

About half of them I felt or saw the line jump, the others were there on the lift.  I am fairly sure one of those that was just there was a big flounder, I probably did not set the hook hard enough and lost it.  As we all know with flounder, give them an instant of slack and they can get off.  After catching a good wad is was time to head back to the ramp, by working my way up, checking old haunts to see if they were farther up, which they were.

The Knockin Tail Lure continued to catch them until I lost my last one then switched to the DOA Cal,  followed by the popping cork.

I did throw the spinnerbait some but the reds were not active, though when the water is that high they slide up the little drains and head into the marsh so who knows.  So after giving it a serious go time for the old faithful this time of year, the popping cork.  I don’t throw the regular big one all that much until creek/river time, but it definitely catches fish this time of year, including my first local snook on the river last winter.

Starting with a fancy shrimp lure, which for some reason they did not want, it was back to old faithful.  I changed to the cheap ass shrimp plastic that I bought on clearance several years ago and it was bite after bite.  It is a clear with metal flake, which I think is a good baitfish or shrimp imitation, and I generally use it about 2 foot under the popping cork.  And you do not have to jerk your arm off, just give it a pop and let it rest.  To bad after having about 10 bags there is only 3 left, lures not bags, and they can not be replaced as they are not made any more.  To bad, they really like it.  But to simplify your rig just get a couple of bags of Gulp and you will be in business.

The big surprise was while the fish were scattered on the shallow side, on the deep/channel side they were just lined down the bank.  I idled across from the flatter area where I usually catch them to the deep side, about half way back to the ramp, and first cast one ate.  Staying on the deep side I went with the wind and started catching the snot out of them, not unusual there this time of year.  By this time I was way back up towards the ramp, and while they were willing, they were smaller the farther up I went.  Toss it right on the bank and pop it once and they bit, none came over 10 foot off the bank.  And tossing it around trees was best, different, finally figured the bait was in the cover and the trout were hanging close.  For some reason I find the whole popping cork thing to be fun, and it makes me laugh trying to stick them all.  I can be tricky to get the hook in them before they let go but I don’t use Gulp which would fix some of that.  Think next time I will go to that small cork they like on the bay and see if they like it.

So today was exactly as I hoped.   I wanted to fish all my usual places and see where they were, and I definitely got that done.  The fish have moved in the creeks and rivers, and with another great cold front coming tomorrow it will drive the better fish in with them.  I fished about 5 places and there were fish on all of them.  And the fact that the I only caught one redfish says more about the tides than anything else.  So the serious catching is coming, we just do not need a bunch of rain to mess it up.

And just a comment on catching trout.  I really do compare it to crappie fishing.  Find them and you will catch them.  It is not rocket science.  Of course that has nothing to do with catching big trout, which are a totally different animal.  But it always tickles me to see those Facebook post with lots of dead trout, the point?  I guess it is the old look what I did, not how or where, the same thing hundreds of people do every day on the Texas coast.  And as you know I quit doing the stupid dead fish pics years ago, so today as I usually do, it was CPR.  For me trout fishing is all about the catching, and if I want to keep a limit I will.  But if you want to see the dead fish on the deck picture you have come to the wrong place.  My days of the meat haul are over.  I respect the fish and the outdoors, and that is enough.

Those of you who read this stuff know where I am talking about.  It is about to get real good, and for the next 6 weeks the bite will be on.  Of course it is always better in the morning, but if you can fish a falling tide it is always a good thing,  So the time is now to fish your favorite river or creek along the Texas coast.  Just cover the miles and you will find some.  I on the other hand am headed to Florida, just looking around at where we might want to retire.  And there are a couple of things to be said for Florida, tarpon and snook.  There is something about a 100lb tarpon smashing a Zara Spook boatside that gets my blood going.  (That actually happened to me an hour after I started in the first cove I fished on my first trip to the Everglades.  It will always be my favorite bite of all time.)  And as soon as I get back it will be fish till you puke.  I love winter fishing.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines