FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

I decided to fish this afternoon on the lake.  The cleaning lady is coming this afternoon and since I am kicked out of the house it will give me a chance to fish the last period before dark to see if there is some kind of evening bite.  Hopefully the last few cool nights are dropping the water temp some which should help, but that remains to be seen.

If I stay real still maybe no one will see me.  This was a big one.

Weather

58/81.  Warm, periods of clouds and sunshine with 0% chance of rain.  Wind  ESE 5 – 15 mph.

Lake Level

6 days ago  93.12 msl.   Today  93.07 msl.

Solunar Time

Major  Period  3:45 pm to 5:45 pm.  (At least the timing today is something.)

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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When dropping the boat in at 1:30 the wind was out of the north east around 15 mph.  The water temp was 75 at the ramp and 72 degrees way up lake and there was not a cloud in the sky.  There was one truck at the ramp, as it has been the last few trips.

A look at the ramp. 

The white pole on the right is the edge of the drop off at the end of the ramp.  A little more drop and the ramp just might be out of play.  But hey, when I complained about the high ramp fee I was told it was for maintenance and improvements, which must be coming any day now.  So be careful as it could be a axle buster.

Before the afternoon was over at least half of that worked out, the other half not so much.  Instead of fishing for bass until I can not take it I decided to do the following.  Fish whites until 3:30 around the time of the major period then finish out the afternoon bass fishing.  Dropped the slim minnow bait and the Pearl Knockin Tail on a 1/8th jig head and it took exactly 2 minutes before the first one jumped on.

They like the Pearl Knockin tail and the slim body minnow bait.

2.5 mph, 50 feet behind the boat, and hold on.  Today the little better ones were farther up the river, where there was lots of water under 4′ deep.  They were smacking it and it was 50/50 between the Knockin Tail and the minnow bait.  It is a little tough trolling in that shallow water, and if a person were so inclined they could easily be caught casting.  So after putting 16 or 17 in the boat it was time to bass fish.

I specifically fished several completely different places.  Points, channel banks, wood, I tried a variety from up the river to the dam area.  Buzzbait, swim jig, and plastics all got a work out.   Shade, no shade, wind, no wind, you get the point.  I intentionally fished 2 places with wood that are sure things, nope.  For 2 hours it was a water flogging failure.  The moral of the story, I do not have a clue.

When I took out a couple of guys in a jon boat came in, they pit in after I did, and said they did ok.  So of course I asked and he said spooning.  Since it seems they are on the shad, and my results surely do nothing to disprove that, it may be the way to go.  So take it for what it may or may not be worth, but it makes sense.

At least the deer were feeding.

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It is good to here from SA Joe with an interesting question.

Got a question about the water you fish.

When your using that Knockin Tail, what is the clarity of the water?

I have flopped in rockport, Aransas pass, South padre using similar baits. Zoom fluke like baits and caught nothing…or just have to be in the right place??
Thanks
Joe

First answer, last weekend on the bay the bigger reds were in 2′ of water and it was clear enough I could see some of them literally eat the bait.  At other times the water is hardly clear, though given a preference I like it with just a tiny bit of color.  A little different from most guys on the coast I fish 8 and 10lb clear mono, never heavier, and use as light a jig head as I can get by with.  And then it is a matter of determining how they want it, from dead slow roll to aggressive hop.  Example: last time out they wanted a nice soft double hop and drop, about half of them were there when I lifted up.  So that is the basic mechanics.

As to the second question, I know you are a big bass guy as I am/was, and one thing we have to learn is that it is just not like bass fishing.  While bass obviously school, it is often pattern style fishing.  Trout and reds hang together, and often with each other, and it is usually simple, are they there or not?  But like all fish, they like change, edges, drops, points, and most of all water movement.  Combine a change and water movement and if you are not getting bit time to move.

Right now we are in our usual fall to winter pattern on creeks and rivers coming off the gulf.  Of course normally it is colder right now, but the fishing is ok considering.  It is the one time period where they come out of the bay and into the rivers and creeks for some security from the really cold weather, which we have not had yet.  A couple examples now is the Lavaca River, the Barge Canal both here and in South Padre, and any other river right off the bay or Gulf.  This will only last a while, water and temp dependent, but until then that is a good place to start.   And  the nice thing, it is just like grub fishing for bass.  The real punch line, I throw it anywhere on the salt.  So hope this helps a little.

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Tomorrow they finally come to replace the big garage door so will have to stick around the house.  But at least I can get back in the garage, just won’t be putting the Mako in it as I have an nice carport for it.  And when I get the Carolina Skiff sold the garage will only be half full.  Then Friday God willing it is definitely back to the salt.  There is a technique that I have been mulling over for the river, until I try it it will drive me nuts.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

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