FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

“SAVE OUR WATERS”

*******************

The Wade Right Fishing Belt

Brought to you by

Check out their new sling!

My initial plan was to head out early and wade, but the Boss said she wanted some sun so change of plans.  The nice thing, did not have to get up early, which I have become really good at it since this all started.  So around 10:00 we headed to POC.

Of course we stayed with the social distancing plan but there was a huge violation, if inanimate objects can violate.  There were trucks and trailers filling the whole lot and much of the field.  It was very much like a Saturday in the summer.  Lots of folks fishing, but with the perfect weather and so many folks off it was not surprising.   When we dropped the boat in the water temp as 74, and we found some as high as 78 during the 3 hours we fished, and the water had cleared.  So off to Big Bayou to see if we might catch a red.

Weather

63/81.  Partly sunny with 2% chance of rain.  Wind ESE 7 – 12mph.

Tides

High  3:03 am  0.89.     Low  9:20 am  0.61.     High 2:44 pm  0.83.

Activity Times

Major  11:54 am to 1:54 pm.

******************

Knockin Tail!  Can’t wait to get back to my old ways and sack them up!  It catches fish.

*******************

The KTL Pearl Limetreuse getting it done.

The Boss kept with her popping cork and I kept with the jig head.  We (me) only caught 4, 2 reds and 2 trout on my best places.  So instead of keep fishing there time to head to the Oil Cut and see if the trout were still on the same spot.

The Knockin Tail is in his crushers.    The KTL Red Shad put 6 trout in the boat in the Oil Cut.

At this point one would think that your fishing partner would want to get after it where she put the hurt on them the other day, but no.  Not very  often my fishing partner is laid out on a lawn chair soaking up the sun in her swim shit.  (And to the rest of my fishing partners spare me the Speedo!)  So the Boss didn’t fish for the next hour and half.

It was interesting when I hopped it along on the bottom and started reeling it in for the next cast and one smoked it.  So then it was 3 hops along the bottom then start reeling, which ended up putting another 5 in the boat, and one rat redfish.  As she was about ready to hit the road it was back to Big Bayou and make one more pass for a redfish.

I love catching them on spinnerbait.  Changing from a regular paddle tail to a Pumpkinseed Knockin Tail got it done.

On the first bank one smoked that spinnerbait in Big Bayou, and it sure felt good.  I will always be impressed with how redfish hit a spinnerbait, with gusto.  They seem to hit it one of 2 ways, smoke it like this one, or all of a sudden your line goes slack.  Either way is fine with me.

Since the Knockin Tail came out I have wanted to put it on the spinnerbait, it had to work.  When you add the vibration of the spinner blade with the tail rattle, it should be a real killer.  And since I only fished one short bank with it and caught the one above that clears that up.  And the good thing, just buy a pack of gold blades on wires in most tackle stores, then just add your jig head with a Knockin Tail and you have what is a $4 spinnerbait for less than half that.   And for me, a good reminder of a technique that I have ignored the last couple of years, but that is about to change.  I am already running through a list of banks in my head, and they are about to get a visit.

We hit one more bank and disaster struck, sort of.  (Don’t count your picture before its taken.)  On my last cast with the Knockin Tail as soon as it hit bottom I was hung up.  So with the trolling motor on high I head that way and when I got there it moved.  Moved?  What?  And then it took off, and it was big, I don’t mean 20lbs big, I mean ginormous and on 1olb line!  And the fight was on, that bulldog big black drum tussle.  Having boated a few real monsters over the years it was a no brainer that this was really big.  The fight went on for quite a while, it would come to the  boat, and then just swim away against the drag, repeatedly.  I did everything perfect but it pulled off about the time it seemed like I was winning.  If I was guessing, and I am, I never really set the hook, so my bad.  But the Boss said quit whining, what a fight.  Good point, it was an epic battle while it lasted

So a fine 3 hours of fishing.  The Boss didn’t catch any, but when you are flat on your back in your swim suit it happens.  It was not quite as good as I hoped, but hey, a dozen.  If I average that every 3 hours all day I am good with it.  And the Boss got her sun.  And I will admit it has been fine to have her in the boat.

*********************

Jeramie sent along this question.

Any word on when coleto is opening?

I check their website daily and it still says it is closed along with the TPWD park closures until April 30th.  It looks like Abbot is going to reduce restrictions and my guess is GBRA will follow along with the state parks as far as opening.  And today the state announced the state parks will reopen on Monday.  So hopefully the rest of the ramps in the state will follow.

Of course today the rising lake along with no wind and a nice drizzle is making me crazy, can you say buzzbait?  So as soon as it is open I will post that immediately, on my way to the lake!  Till then as I get out more it will be the Gulf for the time being.  As a side note I am watching Falcon as it is still closed, including private ramps, which I do not get.  If it opens soon, and we have a good weather window, I am out of here!  Keep in touch.

Since I wrote this the state parks opened which means you can launch at the state park on Falcon.  But you have to go to the state park website and get a pass and read the rules.  But hey, you can fish.  I just checked Coleto and it is still closed until the 30th.  Those fish are gonna be dumb when it happens.  Hope it is a sign of things to come.

*****************

And a word to the Russians who are spamming the heck out of my site:  F’ off!  Since I can not read Russian save your efforts, even if I could you have nothing I would ever be interested in.  So I fixed it, have a good Comrade.

*****************

I have commented before on how watching MLF is good for the regular guy who gets out when he can.  There may be 10 of the best bass fisherman in the world fishing, but there is always one or two who just have an awful day while others are smacking them.  It does not matter how good you are, or how many times you see someone’s bragging pictures online, everyone has tough days, often no matter how good the fishing is.  So take heart and remember, there is a lot more to being outdoors than how many fish you caught that day.

The thing I was personally glad to see was multiple guys breaking their rod setting the hook, I am not alone.  That has happened to me dozens of times over my fishing habit, including twice in the last year.  You hear lots of reasons it happens, I don’t have a clue why, it just happens.  Unfortunately the last one I broke was one of my favorites.  At least it happens to the best of them, and the worst of us.

*****************

As I get more comfortable with the social distancing, and can get to the water without any interaction, time for more fishing,  I almost headed to Keller Bay today, and now that I caught one on the spinnerbait time to head that way.  There is miles of good spinnerbait water there, and a very good wading bank.  So as soon as this wind and front pass it will back on the water.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.  Stay safe.

Good Luck and Tight Lines