FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

I took it easy today and did not hit the road until 10:00.  Tried to time running water and it worked.  The only problem with that is it is a small tide day and when it dropped it was just barely a foot if that.   The water temp was 71 and the wind was blowing a steady 15 mph right up the river.

Weather

62/83.  Patchy fog in the morning; otherwise, very warm with intervals of clouds and sunshine with 10% chance of rain.  Wind  ESE 5 – 15 mph.

Tides

Low  11:36 am.  -0.1 feet.

Solunar Time

Minor  Period  11:27 am  to  12:27 pm.  

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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It was a tough first couple of hours, in fact not even a touch after fishing a mile of bank.  No matter what I threw they were not having it.  As I came up on a drain things started to change.  As I lifted up it was soft, and then it let go, flounder.  So right back in the same spot and a nice one jumped on.  Of course I did not have the net out so as I tried to get it out he came off, shades of last trip.  Next cast I got it done.  I am not a flounder fisherman by a long shot.

The Mansfield Magic catches them.  No giant but it will do.

From that point on the bite was on.  Whether the Mansfield Magic, Purple Demon Limetreuse, or the Clearwater with a tail dipped in chartruese, they were chewing on the Knockin Tails.   The 1/8th jig heads is right for most of the river.  Caught a few on the Four Horsemen popping cork, but hopping the Knockin Tail off the bottom was clearly the way to go.

Fishing is fun, and catching while you are at it is even better.

The best area was a little deeper with a sandy bottom.  At first they were off the bank but as the bite got wound up they moved to the bank.  A couple were there before it hit bottom.  Today they wanted it hopped up a little higher, and hit it right as it started to fall.  That is actually tough to get a hook in them at times as there is quite a bit of slack.

No big fish today, just lots of eaters.  They were smacking the Knockin Tail.

So it was all good, until trouble showed up.  There is one thing I hate more than a dolphin messing it up, it is a smart dolphin.  So I hear him blow and he is right behind following me along getting some easy pickens.  And the bite slowed immediately.  So now the great plan, just pull up and head back down to right before they started and re-fish it.  But guess what, no stupid dolphin here.  He actually followed me back down and started trailing me again, and he definitely ended the bite, which worked out fine as I was getting ready to quit.

It started off slow but when the bite was on it was an easy 20+ and the majority would measure.  I did lose a couple that felt bigger but who knows, it was good fishing.  I fished about 4 hours and half was good.  One thing I like about the river is compared to the creek it seems the fish are just a little bit bigger.  The only hitch in the git along was 3 yahoos in a flat bottom just moved right in on me.  Oh well, one thing you learn fishing in Texas is folks are just plain rude.  My revenge, them having to watch me catch 6 or 8 before they moved on.  Other than that a great day to be on the water.

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And this question from Lee.

Hey Doug,
Glad to see you are on the mend. May I ask what size and where you get your jig heads from? I’m needing something a little larger than a crappie jig head for a larger silver grub on Lake Travis. The one you’re using looks perfect for the larger grub. As always, thanks for allowing us to vicariously live through you. Always read and appreciate your reports.

Lee

Many of the ones  I am using right now are from Arkansas, I picked them up last spring.  In the Twin Lakes area of Bull Shoals and Norfork grub fishing for smallmouth and walleye is a usual practice and luckily there is plenty to choose from.  One of my regrets when we moved to Texas so the Boss could go to school was selling my lead pot and molds.  I know exactly what you are looking for, which is basically a solid 1/16 jig head with the proper hook (Finer wire, just a hair bigger than most crappie jigs.)  and a keeper for the plastic.  Unfortunately I am not much help.

Here is one that I have had good luck with on lighter baits on the bay, and you can find them at Bass Crap or Cabela’s at times, or order them direct.  The hook shank is long but the weight might be something in the range you are looking for if the length does not detract from the grubs action.

https://bagleybait.com/spoons-jigs/shaky-head-jig/

And as far as jig heads go the price has gotten stupid ridiculous.  Before a guy I have known for over 30 years died he would pour them to my specifications, at $30 a hundred.  Look at your local tackle store and they are $5 for 4 or 5, what a rip.  So my suggestion would be to first define what you need in hook size, then weight, and then see if there is any local guys who make jigs and give them a call.  At least you might be able to get what you need/want.  So good luck with your search, or drive to Arkansas hit up any of the small tackle stores, which might be a tad far to buys some jig heads.  Thanks for reading.

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My buddy Rusty commented that he was having some trouble understanding the tides.  Welcome to the club.  The one way I have finally come to grips with not really being all that sure about the tide timing is going with the flow.  It seems to me that the tables are a guide at best.  The real point of all this, is the ability to recognize when it starts and when it ends, which at times the fish will do for you.  It is learning where to be when the time is right.  Sounds simple huh?  If you have it figured out it would be great if you would share with the rest of us.  After fishing Florida for years before fishing Texas it was really tough.  A big tide here in Texas is just getting warmed up in Florida.

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Finally got the new garage door in and will spend some time this weekend working on getting the garage a little cleaner and more organized.  And if I can keep my head in the game time to do a few things to the skiff and get it sold.  It will be a great deal for someone who can not really afford the ridiculous boat prices, and it is a great all around boat.  Then Monday it will be back at it, maybe POC a day or two and will be looking for a boat partner for Amistad.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

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