FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

“SAVE OUR WATERS”

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt

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Check out the new Madre Sling

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With the weather forecast calling for crazy hot and humid I decided the lake was logical.  And it turned out to be a good choice when I quit around noon and went to get the truck it was 96 in the shade.  And it was the right call as far as the fishing went.

The ramp is looking like it could be a real issue any day now.  The poles mark where the ramp ends and there is a drop off and it is close.  At least they have taken some of the sand off the ramp.  It is getting real shallow around the ramp area.  So if you go just be careful, if you have a big boat it will be tricky soon.  Easy to see this last 1/2 a foot has really contracted the lake.  The water temp was a low of 89 to 92, depending on where you were, and the color is not all that good.

Weather

79/99.  (Feel like 104!)   Partly sunny, very warm and humid with a 20% chance of showers. Wind S  10 – 20mph.

Lake Level

Today  93.17 msl.  17 days ago  93.49 msl.  (The fall continues.)

Solunar Period

Major  9:46 am to 11:46 am.  (And I will be done by then if it is that freakin hot!)

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The new Knockin Tail is catching fish!  Try them today.

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I am not all about getting up early, until I am gliding across the water, then it is all good.

To bad about the spots, but this was the biggest bass I have had my hands on this year.  This girl was a hoss.

I started with a buzzbait as it was barely light and a nice one jumped on.  But over the next hour only 3 other bites:  One blew up on it and missed, one just took a half hearted swing at it, and one the size of the buzzbait hooked up.  I did toss plastic back at the big blow up but no taker.  Then it was a little pitching with plastics.

It was early.

The real reason I went way up lake was to see how it has changed, it has, and pitching plastics was a whole new game.  This water level drop has really pulled off any shoreline cover.  And though I caught 4 they were really small, I mean peanuts.  So that pattern may have just about run its course.  Next up was down lake around 9:30 to do some trolling.  At that point the wind was blowing with small white caps near the dam area.

Still trolling the shad looking crankbaits that run 10 foot deep about 50 feet behind the boat at 2.5mph.  Right off the bat started catching white bass, 6 or 7 on a windy main lake bank, which had not really happened the last couple of trips.  They were really small but at least there are a few around, I was starting to wonder if we had any at all.  Along with that came a few small bass until 10:30 when a couple of good ones, including the big girl above, started biting.

A nice bass and finally a keeper white bass.

For about an hour if there was shad and fish on the locator it was a bite.  It turned out to be about 2 hours of trolling and catching right along.  The best places has wind on them and were 13 – 18 feet deep.  Points and channel turns had the most fish on them.   A simple matter of following the map contours.  And it was one of those days that the bite was dead on with the solunar time.

When the big one hit she just stopped it, I initially thought it might be hung up, but she came up and jumped which made the morning.  Since it was 10lb test took it easy, which you should do when catching fish trolling with crankbaits, they will pull off.  When I lipped her it was one solid fish.  One of those you could stick your fist in her mouth.  It has been a while between big fish, and it was nice to get that done.  Over the years trolling Coleto in the summer I have caught several really big fish but this girl was the biggest.

So today I learned that if a person wants to crank a 5 or 6XD you should be able to catch fish.  And one thing I have been planning to do, the big flutter spoon could work.  And maybe the Knockin Tail pearl swim bait slow rolled.  They are on shad, at least down lake, and they are not all that deep.

Funny how the lake has changed, NOT.  From a perfect grass and weed covered lake to a lake with no live cover or grass.  Trolling was out of the question except near the dam, now unless you hit timber you can troll for miles.  But it works, just like it did today.  A good way to end the week, trout on the Yellowstone, wolves, and the biggest bass of the year.  Can’t wait to see what happens next week.

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 I almost missed this comment from Adam.

Redfishlaw,

I came across your Chandeleur Island post from 2018–looked like a ton of fun. I’m headed there with some buddies in October and was curious about your experience with the Whopper Plopper? I’m also considering your friend’s product (Marker 54). We targeted a timeframe when the tides will be ripping, and will be fishing with Due South Charters. This will be my 3rd trip with them over the last 20 years. Regardless, I look forward to any recommendations you might have (fish the surf or cuts?). My trip 3 years ago did not produce many fish, unfortunately. Regardless, I look forward to your feedback and appreciate your time sir!

First up, our last trip ended up being fairly poor with not a lot of fish and I did not throw the Whopper Plopper.  When I did a couple of trips ago I got some big bites.  I had the biggest one and was ripping and stopping it like I have seen them used in Venice.  They hit it on the stop so give it a second.  While it caught reds there was one really big trout that blew up on it and just missed.  I did catch one good trout in the surf when the tide was slow, but it was better drifting and tossing it in deeper water on the bay side.  I would probably use the medium/small one in a bone color.  And as far as topwater bone spook junior is always a good choice along with a black back silver Skitter Walk.

The Marker 54 hard plastic shrimp got the job done both in the surf and the bay and is amazingly tough.  It will probably last forever as long as you don’t lose it.  He used a popping cork and the reds loved it, and it caught some real bulls in the surf.  And as far as popping corks I can seriously recommend the 3″ Armor by Four Horsemen Tackle, and I would add an oval with the wrap.  I have a long review coming on their popping corks but here is why I would not go back there without one.  They are really sturdy with a heavier wire, the sound is completely different, and the coating that covers the foam can take a licking.  Built by 2 south Louisiana guides they are the proper tool for the proper job.  And of course whether drifting or wading the Knockin Tail under the cork, or by itself as a swim bait, will catch trout.  Just get a couple dark and light colors and you should be good to go.

https://www.4horsementackle.com/corks

https://www.marker54.com/category-s/1825.htm

The surf was awesome 2 trips ago, slow this time.  You never know but anytime I can cross over and fish it I am there.  Not sure the best time but high tide to going out seems the time to be there.   And when it dropped and stopped moving so did the fishing.  Of course anytime the wind is down, it does not take long to figure out if they are up or not.  Sounds like the tide will be good when you are there, it was really weak our last trip and it showed.  If it is up early and running out during the day I would fish the cuts and drift or wade out with the tide.  Love the area of pockets near the red can on the island.  Last trip when the boys found them they were drifting reefs in 4 -5 foot of water, basically in the area the motherships anchor.  But even when it is tough it is still a great trip.  We will be really interested in how your trip goes.  It is one of the cool trips and when it is good it is crazy good.  Good Luck and thanks for reading and commenting.

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So next week it will be back to the bay some.  The Boss is off and it is time to get her on the wade.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines