FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

“SAVE OUR WATERS”

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt

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It will be back on the bay in the morning.  My buddy David will be down tonight and it will be off to POC tonight for an early start in the morning.  And while I am not predicting squat, at least the conditions are those that I like.  A good falling tide all day with a prime period before it gets to hot.  About the only question will be wading vs. boat fishing first thing.  So after a stretch without hitting the bay it will be good to be back on the water slinging the Knockin Tail.

Weather

80/90.   Some sunshine with a 60% chance of an afternoon thunderstorm in some areas.  Wind  SE 9 – 15 mph.

Tides

High 7:05 am.  + 1.31.    Low  7:24 pm  – 0.23.  (So freakin’ wrong.  Not sure what the deal was.)

Solunar Periods

Major  10:48 am to 12:48 pm.

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There is some great news on the Knockin Tail front.  Stay tuned!  

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Knockin Tail Morning

You may be tired of hearing this, but if you have not added the Knockin Tail to your arsenal you are missing out.  It catches fish, and this morning it did yeoman work.  What I have come to love about it, as you will see with the pictures, they like all the colors.  It is all about the rattle!

When we got to the ramp it was just cracking daylight and it was all things Froggie’s.  There was a tournament and it was nuts.  Parking lot full, boats everywhere, been a while since I fished when it was that busy.  But the water was clear and 86 degrees, it just had a good feel about it, and that turned out to be spot on.  So we decided to forgo the wading and get right to the fish, good choice.

David with a good one.  Red Shad Knockin Tail. 

We decided to start on my old places and topwater was up first.  Though we found a couple of schools they were intent on rolling on it, following it, popping close, but just not eating.  I did boat one but we switched to the Knockin Tail and it was game on the rest of the morning.

Bone Spook Jr.   White Ice Knockin Tail.

From that point on we stuck with the Knockin Tail and basically just reeled it.  And those that wanted it smacked it.  The only funny thing this morning was the number of reds including rats we caught, but the trout were few and far between. But there was no blaming the trout.

A solid 20″ on the Pumpkinseed Knockin Tail.

And the reason I am not blaming the trout is both of us had a really good trout, as in big, and with our superior skill we managed to lose both of them.  David had his come off right beside the boat, one of those at least we got a look at her, but it sure did hurt to lose them both.

Whether in Big Bayou or the Oil Cut, the reds were on the chew.  We also caught 5 or 6 small trout and David managed a nice black drum.  Always a bonus fish.

David with a red and a nice black drum on the Magic Grass Knockin Tail.

Most came on a slow retrieve but occasionally it was on a hop and drop.  The water fell and then started up, which was totally confusing based on the forecast.  It was not all the way up when we started fishing at 6:30, then it fell around 10:00, then started back up.  As usual I will never fully understand tides, and this forecast was totally wrong.  But there was a silver lining, the water moved all morning until we quit at noon so David could make the drive back to Austin.

The hits just kept on coming.  Pumpkinseed and Pearl Limetreuse Knocking Tail.  Pick and color and throw it!

The better banks were the steeper ones, though we caught a few on the flatter banks to boot.  It was really consistent action all morning and we left them biting.

The last red of the morning on the Controlled Descent White/Limetreuse Paddle Shad.  And the only other trout to hit the cooler and headed to a  fish fry for the Boss.

We finally called it a day at noon.  Not sure how many we caught but it was enough to call it a good morning.  Anytime you can boat as many as we did in 5 1/2 hours it is some good fishing.  In the Oil Cut there were smaller trout other than the big one David lost.  As far as the reds went, it was keep a Knockin Tail in the water and you will get bit.  Since it has been a while for me on the bay I can see why so many good strings are on Facebook and I can imagine how good it is if you are out there regularly.  And fishing with David is always fun no matter how it comes out.  I give it an A!

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This is why I stay home on the holiday and plead with you all to wear your life jackets and kill switch, to keep the booze to a dull roar, and just be the bigger guy.  From TPWD.

AUSTIN – Thousands of Texans headed out to lakes, rivers and coastal bays to celebrate July 4th weekend, and Texas Game Wardens were out in force to ensure everyone stayed safe on the water. Game wardens conducted safety checks on more than 11,000 vessels across the state between Friday and Sunday.

In addition to issuing 1,061 citations and 1,348 warnings for various boating safety law violations, wardens arrested 42 individuals for Boating While Intoxicated and filed one other charge for Driving While Intoxicated. Additionally, another 34 people were arrested for various other charges.

Texas Game Wardens conducted multiple search and rescues over the weekend according to game warden Cody Jones, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Assistant Commander for Marine Enforcement.

On San Jose Island in Aransas County, game wardens rescued three individuals whose vessel became inoperable and washed ashore. All three of the individuals were returned safely to the Port Aransas Marina.

In Austin, four wardens responded to a capsized vessel on Lake Travis. Two occupants were hanging on to a floating kneeboard in the water when wardens arrived. Four other occupants were already removed from the water and onboard another vessel. Game wardens were able to bring the two occupants safely aboard the patrol vessel.

Wardens also rescued a swamped kayaker and located a missing juvenile on Lake Alan Henry.

Additionally, game wardens investigated 21 boating accidents across the state and three boating related fatalities that occurred on Lake J.B. Thomas, Clear Fork of the Brazos River and Lake Bastrop. There were also seven open water drownings that occurred over the holiday weekend.

“The dedicated efforts of the game wardens while working these tragic events is second to none and we keep the families in our thoughts and prayers,” said Cody Jones, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Assistant Commander for Marine Enforcement.

Our thanks for your hard work dealing with the insanity that is the holiday weekend on the water.

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One of the hazards of the internet is knucklehead trolls.  Now the same rear ends have come out trolling the announcement of the new Minn Kota Raptor anchor, claiming it is like the Power Pole.  Well guess what?  It is.  That is the way it goes, if something works and folks buy it of course it will be manufactured in some variation by someone.

We also see these same pinheads commenting on lures, which is even dumber.  Of course one lure might be like another.  So lets look at a couple of examples.  Take Strike King.  They make lots of jigs, but the modern bass jig was developed by Sam Welch in Arkansas in the 60’s, so they are thieves?  And their jerk bait, it is nothing more than a variation on the original Rapala.  How about Zoom?  Since they started making plastic worms are they thieves because it was originally developed in the early 60’s?  Make a crankbait – then you are a thief because it was developed as the original Big O.  Come on folks, that shit is ridiculous.  If it is that close and there is a patent violation the company will deal with it.  Otherwise shut the hell up, we don’t care, there is only one requirement – Does it catch fish?

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This morning got my blood going for more bay fishing.  It will be lake on Monday, then the hearing test etc. on Tuesday, then hopefully it will be back out there.  Though we did not boat the trout we should have that is an easy fix, fish more.  And time to do a little spinnerbait fishing for reds with the Knockin Tail, it could be epic.  I just want to get past this stupid virus thing and really get to fishing, time to get after it.  But be safe!  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines