FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

After messing with the salt for most of the last few weeks I am ready to be back on the lake.  As we were not here last week not sure how much rain we got, or how it might have affected the lake.  I do know that Johnny won the club tournament with around 8lbs  and the big fish for the day was under 3lbs, not all that for that group of fishermen.  If I was guessing the white bass should be on the chew, a great fallback position this time of year.  So no preconceived notions on my part, but the weather gives me hope. As usual, you don’t know until you go and I am just happy to be headed that way.  The Boss has put in the fish fry order so the stress will be at an all time high!

Weather

46/70.  Becoming cloudy with a 15% chance of rain increasing in the evening.  Wind  ESE  10 – 15 mph.

Lake Level

Today  93.36 msl.    11/24/20.  (24 days ago.)   93.11 msl.

Solunar Period

Minor  10:05 am to 11:05 am.   Major  3:24 pm to 5:24 pm.

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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At least the Boss is getting her fish fry tonight.  I on the other hand just could not get the bass to go.  It has been so slow, and the ones I did catch, 3 came on 3 different baits and then could not get a bite on that bait.  Crazy!

The lake is noticeably up a little and plenty clear.  The water temp was 61 at the ramp, 63 going past the discharge cove, and as low as 53 way up lake, which ended up be a factor before I quit.

The best I could manage today.  At least this one was not to bad.

First up was a bank that has had some fish on it and one did manage to jump on.  Though I kept after it there not another bite.  It would become a pattern, the 3 fish I did catch casting were it.  To make that long story short, first one on plastics, then one on crankbait, and finally a small one on the Alabama Rig.  And each time that was the only bite I could get.  And the Bang O Lure and swim jig did not produce a fish.  So time to go get the Boss her fish fry.

The only bite on plastics.  A crappie for the fry.

I headed up lake where I have been catching white bass and it started off slow.  Today was very interesting, one where it all worked together.  Starting at the farthest area that had been producing only a couple took the bait.  Shallow running minnow bait and a pearl Knockin Tail on a 1/4 jig head ended up catching a few but it just was not “right”.

Then a fishing epiphany –  the water temp was 54 way up, and it was just the occasional bite.  (Note: it was in the 3 – 8 foot range.)  To boot around noon there were schools of shad a little ways down lake, in deeper, and warmer, water.  So it finally sunk in.  I kept in the warmer, 58 degree and higher water, put on a little deeper running crankbait, and used the map to keep along the break on the shallower side of the river where there shad dimpling

Plenty of these guys.

They were in around 8 foot of water and occasionally both crankbaits would bump bottom.  It was a combination of them starting to bite and the right location.  It was not really fast by any stretch but they were biting.  After keeping a few for the fry out of the 20 or so I finally caught a few small bass so figured it might be time to bass fish.

The punch line, zip.  I fished 3 places without a bite on an assortment of stuff.  It was fairly calm with a nice ripple and starting to drizzle.  And I did something I rarely do when it is like that, called it a day.  If the fishing was just a tiny bit better I would have stuck it out.  When I got back to the ramp there was one trailer, and he pulled out right after me.  When I went to clean fish there was a variety of fish in the can, which I assume was the only other boat I saw all day, and he was crappie fishing.   The lake fishing is still fairly spotty, but I will keep after it until it beats me down or improves.

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And John sent this report on his trip to the Lavaca on the 9th.

Glad you guys had a good day on Lavaca. I was there with my wife and daughter but we did not get fishing until 10:30. So we missed what tide there was today. Found the trout on channel edges on bottom using popping cork with vudu shrimp or the knocking tail on bottom in white. Finally got 5 keepers after culling through a lot of 12 to 14 inch guys.
Still a fun day out with my girls.

Being with your girls is enough, adding a few trout is a bonus.  Hope to get to the river or creek next week a day if they are still cooperating.  If I hear anything else will let you all know.  Thanks for the report.

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And Rick had this question.

Glad you are feeling better. Nice report. Enjoy your time away from the blog, I’ll be here when you get back at it! Just curious, what medications were you on to get over the Corona?

Easy to have a good report when the fishing is good.  As far as the covid here is the quick answer.  The Boss is a PA in the ER and she know her stuff, which was a big help.  Fever only bad once, then an occasional low grade so Motrin and Tylenol.  Same for the aches and pains.  A steroid the first day or two for the shortness of breath which went away, at least the tough part, but it hung around for a couple of weeks.  A little nausea occasionally so a med for that, an antihistamine for sniffles, and Nyquil sure helped me sleep.  Now that I think about it the Nyquil was the best of all the others.  The important part, it lasted almost a month and was the wheel of symptoms.  Any one has says it is like the flu needs to understand one thing, it can be, or one that kills you or leaves lasting effects.  There is no cure, so I just toughed it out and didn’t whine to much.  Good to hear from you.

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And last from SA Joe after my comment about interstate traffic.

Hey Buddy,
Be safe in your travels.

Got me thinking….about the bunches(baitfish) drivers. The cops might split them up and get 1-2 of them, running drugs? One will be the bait car and hang back???

I was just talking about the average drivers but it sure can be the MO of drug smugglers.  The bait car is clean as a whistle and their only job, get stopped so their carry car can keep on rolling.  It is cat and mouse and as the police get better the smugglers just modify what they do.  If we learned one thing with prohibition in the 20’s, it does not work.

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I get the monthly boating magazine from my Sea Tow subscription and was surprised to read this about winterization of boats.  Texas is the leader in freeze damage claims in the US.  In fact Texas has seven times the number of claims than Minnesota.  They are used to hard freezes, folks here are just not ready for it to happen.  Interesting fact.

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Nice to be back on the lake in spite of the fishing.  But better days are right around the corner.  They will be pre-spawn shortly and things will only get  better, though it wouldn’t take much to be “better.”  Will try to hit the river or creek, depending on the amount of rain we get the next couple of days, other wise it is off to the bay.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines