FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

My life now is on full weather watching control, and with it my fishing choices.  Until this present weather pattern, which is beautiful for walks in the park, cahnges it is not full on winter fishing yet.  Of course looking for that couple of days of clouds, drizzle, etc and it will be off to the Upper Laguna for a chance to catch a big trout.  But until then will take what nature gives me weather wise, which in tomorrows case means heading to the river.  I really have a case of fishing boredom right now.  I need a trip.

Weather

43/76.

Tides 

Low  9:10 am   -0.51   High  9:13 pm  1.46.   (Looks like some actual tide movement.)

Solunar Periods

Minor  8:21 am to 9:21 am.   Major  1:43 pm to 3:43 pm.

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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 The Lord Giveth…………

You know the old saying about the Lord Giveth and the Lord Taketh Away, today was the exact opposite, first he taketh away.  I was fishing along, had caught a couple of shorts, when I stuck a good trout that looked like it was around 25″.  But when it got to the side of the boat I realized the net was still in the hold, then it jumped off.  It was tough losing that fish, so I got the net out and 15 minutes later it saved the day.

Now that is a flounder.

The tide was up when I got to the ramp at daylight.  The water is still fairly clear and the water temp was 70 degrees putting in and 72 on taking out.  The wind was blowing straight out of the north, since the air temp was 48 it had a little bite to it.  It was blowing right down the pike, good thing it was around 10 mph or it would have been a hassle.  First up was my favorite bank on the river.

Since I had the Pink Ice Knockin Tail on from the other day I  started with it.  The water was not moving initially and it got a bite or two, but all were small.  Finally the water started falling out and with it a little better bite.

They were loving the Mansfield Magic.  Talk about a fattie.

And then the Lord giveth back.  As soon as the water started moving I put on the Mansfield Magic Knockin Tail, which has been my go to all fall.  A few casts later when I went to lift up it felt like dragging a log.  The log turned out to be the flounder above.  Good thing the net was out.  Unlike a lot of flounder who barely have it this one had it so far down in his gullet that I could not even get the bait in mouth picture.  And since it was on thin 8lb mono it could have been bitten off at any moment, that thing had a mouthful of chompers.  It was the biggest flounder I have caught in quite some time, and maybe my personal best.  But either way talk about a big bite, this was it.

Several trout like this, just measured.  And here is the rat for the slam.

For the next hour they kept biting as the water ran out.  Some were shorts, and some just keepers.  2 rat redfish made the boat and another small flounder.  Basically the fish were on 2 places.  Best was a big flat point, almost like fishing a channel swing on freshwater.  Concentrating on the flat to deep stretch.  And of course drains, there are several on the river, and when the water is falling out they are a no brainer.  Today they wanted it hopped off the bottom, not extremely aggressive, just a double hop and let it fall to the bottom.  No interest in slow roll or since I only threw it a little, no bites on the popping cork.

To finish off the morning I headed under the bridge and into the The Lavaca.  That spot is my “Why did I go fishing with the wind blowing 25 out of the north with the temp the same.”  It is a last ditch place when the weather is to tough for the big river.  There were a few smalls there, which makes sense.  It just has not gotten cold enough to drive big numbers of fish that far up.  Which is why the fish are being caught farther down the river.  And last, on the Lavaca it almost as simple as putting down the trolling motor and head down river and fish.  Of course they are in specific places, but just moving down river you will bump into bunches here and there.

So not a bad morning.  Catching that flounder on a spinning rod with light line was cool.  And there was just enough trout to keep it interesting.  Have a couple of chores tomorrow then back at it.  As I said it is weather watching time, which will dictate where next.

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What was I thinking?

I should have known better, but there is always hope.  Shopping at Bass Pro for what is now 46 years, (Ouch!) starting in 1974 when living a couple of hours outside of Springfield Missouri, I have seen tons of changes.  It has gone from a fishing/tackle store to nothing more than a department store.  And with that comes sales associates who know nothing and are happy to share that with you.  The issue, their oil.

When you look it up on their website it says the following:  “Formulated and safe for use in direct Injection outboard motors – NMMA Certified”.   So simple question, is it ok for my Optimax?  So I go to where else, the boating department.  And I meet Mush for Brains.  We go to the oil display and I ask, can I use this in my Opti?  At this point it is obvious he does not have a clue.  He does not know what his company says about their oil, in fact I have a feeling he does not even own a boat.  So he says the following, if you use any oil but Mercury it will void your warranty.  Which is not only not true as long as it meets the NMMA requirements for that engine, but does not answer the question.  And then he says he would not use their oil.  (Yikes – Great employee.)  From there it is just a shaking my head experience.

The moral of the story, Bass Pro has no more to do with Bass or professionals employees than the man in the moon.  That it would hire someone in the boating department with absolutely no knowledge of their products, or their use, makes zero sense.  So just remember next time you need some fishing/boating advice try your local marina or tackle shop, they probably have a clue.  All this guy had to do was say I do not have a clue, and he would have been right.  Suffice to say I did not buy their oil.

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More Fun with Spam

This comment from Bernardine on my post about the Austin Boys.

Great article. I will be facing many of these issues as well.

Did not know you are planning on fishing with the boys.  I feel for you, fishing with the Austin Boys does take a certain amount of intestinal fortitude.

And this from Aaren on a recent Coleto Creek post.

If you want to use the photo it would also be good to check with the artist beforehand in case it is subject to copyright. Best wishes.

Astute comment Aaren,  since there was not a picture on that post.  It really is amazing now often many of these comments are recycled over the years.  I have never figured out the point, but one thing is obvious, they do not read the blog.  It has actually lessened some but there is no way to do away with it, it comes with the territory.

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The only other news around here is I am going to try one more place for some relief from the roaring in my left hear.  Really nuts not being able to hear but I can sure hear the tinnitus.  The Boss found me a place in San Antonio, and confirmed I do not have to have another hearing test.  Had 2 and they agreed, just looking for something to take this to a dull roar.  It really is irritating.

Glad to feel that early morning cool temp, we need some more of that.  It will only help what is actually pretty good fishing from all reports.  And boy were they shooting some ducks this morning and I saw my first big flock of snow geese.  Fall is almost here.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

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A Great Deal From Four Horseman Tackle

If you fish a popping cork and have not tried the Four Horseman popping cork, or even if you are currently using them, here is a GREAT DEAL.  They have been kind enough to give my readers a discount. It will be a 20% discount so get them while the getting is good.  What a deal.  Use the code 4H6 at check out to save some serious bucks.  No better time to stock up.  (I will leave this up for the time being, you never know when you will need some new corks.)

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