FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

I almost left it on the trailer.

Weather

49/76.  Sunshine and patchy clouds with a 2% chance of rain.   Wind  NE 10 – 15 mph.

Lake Level

2 Days ago  94.01  msl.    Today   94.01 msl.

Solunar Periods

Major  8:51 am to 10:51 am.  Minor  2:18 pm to  3:18 pm.

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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When I got to the ramp it was immediately apparent it was going to be tough, not only the catching, but the actual fishing.  The wind was blowing almost 20 mph almost straight out of the north and white capping right on the ramp.  It was 34 degrees colder than yesterday, and it was clearly apparent it was one of those cold fronts, north wind and mile high sky, that just makes it tough.  And fishing out of the skiff when the wind is blowing around every corner and in every cove just makes it tougher

First up was the point where I have been catching them, it was somewhat out of the wind.  Not a touch, one pass with a spinnerbait and one pass with the swim jig.  So I bit the bullet and headed up lake, all the way into the wind.  Once I got there it was tough, nothing like a bow in your line using the swim jig, but I did manage to get one good bite.

Worth toughing it out!

The water color was a little worse so I stuck with the blue swim jig with a blue trailer.  For some reason they have liked that color this year.  The one above just swam up, ate it, and kept swimming.  That was about 8:00 in an area I have been catching the big ones, and then 4 more smalls jumped on and I missed a couple, all on the jig.  I spoke with the Boss about 9:45 on her way to work and little did I know I would fish another 3 hours without so much as a touch.

So to switch things up I gave a bluegill swim jig with a watermelon red Rage Craw a go.  But it turned out it was not the color, they really shut off.  So to test went down lake to a couple of places I have been catching them on spinnerbait and not a touch.  Fished one more bank with the swim jig without a bite so at 1:00 I called it a day.  If it had been just a tiny bit better would have stuck it out.  The big fish are up, need to get em’ while the gettin’ is good.

It was a good thing that I carry snow suits, rain suits, different sweatshirts, along with assorted gloves in my day bag, needed them this morning.  And really missed the LTS today as a little more weight with the boat would have helped some.  But no matter what it was hard fishing.  An old man (Funny how I call someone an old man, said the guy who is 67y/o.)  put in right after me, saw him crappie fishing, and he was still out when I quit.  Other than that not a soul around.   But all in all put a good one in the boat, making the effort worth it.

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And this report from Rusty.

Doug, good to see you at Houston show. Fished Bastrop lake today and what a nice change. Didn’t see another boat for first two hours. Water temp was 68 and clear. Started with swim jig and caught a couple. Then switched over to Zoom fluke in Smokin Shad color with no weight on 10 lb line. That was the ticket!! Couple hours later changed to light colored swim jig with pearl Knockin Tail and boom they were hammering it. Ended up with 30+ in 4 hours. Weather was perfect. Have a good trip out west!
Tight lines
Rusty

Nice, not many days like that on the water anymore.  And will have to give the jerk shad a try over here. I am really looking forward to the Snake River, and just maybe seeing a bear or two.  Good to hear from you and to see you at the show.

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My buddy Clyde was in Arkansas this week, and I would have joined him but of course wanted to do the show.  He sent along some pictures of him with his crew of “knuckleheads”.  Like herding cats!

Now that is a crowd.

They were fishing the Dry Run catch and release area on the North Fork for trout.  One of our friend’s boy caught 3 by himself.  Nothing like passing it on!  Way to go, that is a handful.

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Have some stuff to do tomorrow with the Boss, but looking at the weather might try to get out tomorrow as Friday looks really sketchy.  The forecast, severe thunderstorms, damaging winds, hail, flooding, think I will pass on Friday.  Then it is off to the Snake River for a few days.  So we shall see, but a good cloudy day with lighter winds could easily produce a multiple big fish day, a real improvement for Coleto.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

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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.)

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