FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

*****************

It was looking like I would be fishing with friends on the bay Monday but they were not going to arrive until later in the day so I re-scheduled for Wednesday.  So it will be my usual Monday on Coleto for a short day.  But I have a few things to do including take the boat to the mechanic for the yearly, and get the last vaccine shot Tuesday and some truck service.  Then all will be right with the world and it will be back to fishing.  I am making no projections on the fishing tomorrow, but I am looking forward to improving my last results.

Weather

60/74.  Pleasant with a blend of clouds and sun and  a 15% chance of rain.  Wind ESE 10 – 20 mph.

Lake Level

Today  93.79 msl.   Last Friday  93.73 msl.

Solunar Period

Major  8:49 am to 10:49 am.

*******************

The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

*****************

A great way to start the morning.

The water temp was 63 at the ramp, 67 here or there over the rest of the lake.  Color in some places was poor, but it was a light wind with increasing clouds so decided to stay with the plan as much as possible, fish the balsa minnow topwater.  They liked it last week and a few liked it today.  And it appears the lake is improving.

The Pearl Knockin Tail put the best one in the boat today.

I caught a small one on my first cast, though no more bites there, so on to another cove, and not a bite.  For the first part of the morning not much was happening.  But the few bites I had were on wood so I headed up lake and fished main lake and coves, a couple of places I caught them the other day were empty.  But I managed to pick one up here and there, ended up with 8 on the minnow bait, one on spinnerbait, (I just can’t help it!) one on swim jig, and the best one on a Pearl Knockin Tail.  All came off wood.

But the topwater minnow was the bait of choice.

It was clearly wood as far as bites went, but there was plenty of empty wood, though I did not pitch, which might have been a little better.  Later in the morning I tried slow rolling the Pearl Knockin Tail around wood to see if there were any crappie shallow.  (That is coming very soon.)  and of course caught the best bass of the day.  But like everything I fished besides the topwater, each only produced one fish.  Almost forgot, had one blow up on the Controlled Descent Pearl Jerk Shad fished right under the surface like a spook, but she just did not get it.   It is also another good option right now.  Welcome to spring fishing.

And the baby gators are still hanging together.

I quit early but can live with the results.  The size was a tiny bit better, and it will continue to improve.  There are a few days every spring where it all happens, and that day is just around the corner.  Now we just keep after it and see what happens with the lake.  I can honestly say that I do not expect it will be all that good, but there is just no way to tell after our poor winter.  At least there are a few shallow, which is enough to keep me happy.

*****************

The real reason for the afternoon was to get the boat squared up, this is no time to not have it.  The boat job is one of those it could be expensive, or it could be real expensive.  The beginning of steering tightness, which is as simple as running the brush through there, or it is a cable issue.  And another problem that has come up before, the paint job on the power tilt is coming off.  Bob told me that lots of the parts/additions on the engine actually come from suppliers and are bolt on for Mercury.  No matter, I replaced the last one and it should not happen twice in 12 years.  (I mean it has only been fishing over 1000 times!)  At least they both came up at the same time as the yearly maintenance.  So time to crank up the skiff and run it a little, then when the Mako is back the skiff will finally be hitting the road.

*****************

Just saw the Thursday weather report and they are talking 30mph plus.  Perfect.  But if those boys are willing I will be on the bay Wednesday somewhere.  After that who knows but it looks like spring has sprung.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

 ********************

A Better Cork built a Better Way

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.)

******************