FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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2020 had been one of the craziest years of my life, as it has been for many of us.  Hell, I survived the Covid and we crossed our fingers the Boss will make it without getting it.  And my left ear decided that it had done all the work it was going to do.  But good times or bad, most of us weathered it one way or the other.  Sadly we lost some folks, but life goes on and we added some more, all in spite of the insanity that was 2020.  But looking back on the year in review the fishing had its moments and we went to some great places.

January

I spent the majority of January chasing bass  on Coleto.  While not fabulous it stayed fairly consistent.

A big Tilapia and they were on the spinnerbait some.

And I did manage a couple of respectable ones this month.

And there is always this!

And we spent some time in Zion National Park and went to see Lady Gaga in Vegas.  I got to meet Robert Duval.  Since the Godfather is my favorite movie I was awestruck.  A nice guy.

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February

The fishing on the lake remained good, and once the white bass run was on it was catch fish from start to finish.  And the crappies started biting, leading to some great eating.

Of course the gators spent the month sunning on any warm bank they could find.

And lots of fish fell to the prototype Knockin Tail.

And the usual early spring catfish bite on lures.

And I did manage a couple of good ones this month.

And the bite was on for everything else that swam.

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March

I ended the month with my 1,2ooth post.  What a long strange trip this has been.  Not sure if I have another 1,200 in me, but will die trying, so to speak.  And I got to spend some time in Arkansas on my old stomping grounds and caught some great fish.

Even managed to catch a few trout working on the Knockin Tail prototype.

Lake Norfork and Bull Shoals did not disappoint.

And I was fortunate to catch a couple of real stripers on Norfork.  Just like the old days.

A nice walleye on a Lou’s Lures custom jerk bait.  And Clyde nailed this huge white bass on the Knockin Tail.

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April

I did not fish all the much this month.  It just worked out that way.

Did some serious damage on the Knockin Tail!

And the Boss joined me for a day on the bay.  I am the luckiest guy in the world.  Just saying!

And we spent a day on the Aransas Wildlife Area.

And it began, and until this day continues.  The Boss at work saving lives.

And I finished the month on the bay when the Power Pole would not come back up.  It never ends.

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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May

A successful month all the way around.

The pitching to cover on Coleto was red hot.

And I put the hurt on them out of POC on topwater and Knockin Tail.  That was the best trout of the year.

Colorado never disappoints!

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June

As I was driving to meet the Wade Right boys to head out on the Chandeleur Island trip the hearing in my left ear disappeared, never to return.

Nathan and I with a couple of reds on the Chandeleur trip.  Slow this year with a couple of disasters, but a good time was had by all.

And the lake stayed consistent for numbers with the occasional good one.

The sunrises were great and nothing beats the flush of a buzzbait by a real one!

And we closed out another great Colorado trip.  I am starting to like this fly rod thing.

It really has become my happy place.

July

The occasional wacky fish.  Beautiful summer sunrises!

And the lake fishing really started slowing down.

David and I put the hurt on  them with the Knockin Tail out of POC.

August

I did not fish all that much in August but ended up boating the heaviest bass I have in a while.  This was a real one.

But Yellowstone was on the plate and these photos say it all about one of the great parks in the world.

Hard to describe how wonderful it is.  Even put some browns in the boat on dry fly.  And knocked off the drift boat thing. Way cool!

And had a great day at POC on the Knockin Tail.  Little did I know how hot the Mansfield Magic Knockin Tail would be later in the year.

September

I got freakin’ Covid the third day of a Colorado trip.  At 10,000 feet it is hard to breath when it is hard to breath, if you get my drift.  We had 18 days and I got sick as a dog on day 3, and it would last a month.  Nothing more to say about that.  But here is how it was going until then.

Why we keep on returning.

The only Coleto picture for me this month.

October

As I got to feeling better the fishing on the lake had its moments.  And the white bass started biting.

My favorite saltwater time of the year – The Lavaca River and Garcitas Creek.  Part of a 5 days in a row stretch as I was finally starting to get back to it.

November

The lake flat sucked and it would continue to this day.

The river and creek continued to be hot.  And I boated my best flattie!

And I could not get away from the overs one day at Green’s.  It was cool to watch them eat right in front of me in a foot of water.

December

Fished the South Carolina Low Country.  A good red and put the hurt on the trout with the Knockin Tail.

And finally got to fish with Michael on the river and we caught on them with his Knockin Tail.

And the lake fishing left me feeling like this guy!  Sleepy and grumpy.

What a year it has been.  So many highs, with some serious lows.  It was the least I have fished the bay since I have been here, but it was always a success when I did.  The lake stayed ok until summer and then started a slow decline until now, the toughest stretch ever.  And it was great to fish with the Boss several times this year.

In spite of everything we had some great trips and saw some great stuff.  Wolves, a lion, and all the stuff on 4 legs you can see out west.  We fished the Yellowstone, South Fork and a couple others for trout.  And getting to fish in South Carolina was different, it is a whole other saltwater world compared to the Texas coast.  Bull Shoals and Norfork were good and will be back on the list this spring.

So what about next year?  We really had been looking at several places to move, but as usual the best laid plan can be turned on its head.  I really had no plans or thoughts on next year other than getting a potential move worked out, now it has all changed.  Since we know we will be here at least 2 more years time to come to grips with that and think about the future.

I developed a love/hate relationship with the blog and actually took a couple of breaks, and was really considering a big break and then a new story.  The blog seemed stale at times, which it was, tough to keep it fresh.  Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would post what is soon to be over 1300 times, or that a few hundred thousand would read any of it.  But at times I have felt the well was running dry.  So this year, no plans, no pre-conceived notions, I intend to just take it as it comes.  Maybe I will fish a bunch, other times I won’t.  But no matter what, as long as my brain is working I will have something to say, like it or not.

And last to you folks, thanks.  Your comments, kind words, and occasional additions are so appreciated.  It is why it is so good to hear from you.  Whether you love it or hate it, always love to hear from you.  So thanks.  May 2021 be a new day for all of us,

Good Luck and Tight Lines