Before I get to the fishing wanted to say a little about the “ditty” bag, or whatever you choose to call it.  As I pushed the throttle forward I reached for my sunglasses, oops, not there.  I forgot them, and it would have been miserable.  But I opened the bag, found one of the spares, and off I went.  That bag has a spare hat, sunglasses, gloves, nek gator, spray, among other things.  It goes on the boat every time and this is the reason.  Really can save the day.  Now to the fishing.

Weather

78/92.  Partly sunny and humid with a 7% chance of rain.  Wind  SSE 12 – 17 mph.

Lake Level

Wednesday  98.29 msl.   Today  98.37 msl.

Bite Times

Minor 5:57 am to 6:57 am.    Major 1:13 pm to 3:13 pm.

(Water level remains stable, it is slowly clearing, and the water temp was around 90 degrees in most places.)

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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Best of the day cranking.

I literally had a plan, and like they do on occasion, it all came together.  First up was the one bank where I have been catching them each time.  The plan, fish the whole thing with buzzbait first, then the same chartreuse square bill crankbait.  And not a bite on the buzzbait, so I went all the way back to where I started and fished the whole thing with crankbait, only catching the one above.  But like they have been doing he smoked it, hard to  miss them when they hit like that.  I only did that to learn something, but it wasn’t much.  Then it was time for the real purpose, trolling.

The first couple.

I have never understood why come folks look down on trolling.  It is simply another technique to catch fish, like any other it has a time and place.  In Coleto’s case that would be summer time.  So out went the crankbaits 75 feet behind the boat on the bank where I caught them the other day

First up was a white bass, and that would be the last of them this morning.  But the small bass were there.  It was an easy 7 or 8, all coming around 10 foot deep on that bank.  I made several passes but could not catch any more white bass so time for a move.  That turned out to be a good thing.

Man they smack that crankbait!

Next up was the area where I killed the catfish last summer on crankbait.  I have caught tons of catfish of all types bass fishing with crankbaits, but the catfish on Coleto are not a little bit shy about eating a trolled crankbait.  I started in 15 feet and ended up catching the ones above, most coming where the point broke off from 10 feet to deeper.  By keeping it on the break I managed to catch 6, couple were really small, and the ones above.

The baits I was using are the same ones for whites in the spring, and being balsa they do not hold up all that well.  Catfish do not mess around when they hit, and generally get multiple trebles all up in their face.  Today is one of those days I wish I had brought the fish cooler, but they are biting and as we like them on the ice and in the grease the same day no problem later getting a fish fry.

Today was a lesson in doing what it takes.  And after a couple of sessions this is what I have learned.  Almost everything I am seeing on the locator is in the 10 – 15 foot range.  It helps to have shad obviously.  But the big thing is most of the bass I am catching are small.  But it sure does beg the question:  How about cranking a big bait that runs to 15 feet?  It just might be the ticket, other fish sure like it.  So no matter how you fish, keep it in the 10 – 15 foot range.  (I need to take my own advice now.)  I have trolled miles and that is where I am seeing most of the stuff.

Whether catching marlin on the Great Barrier Reef, or fly fishing out west, there is a big fishing world out there.  And sometimes you have to do what it takes to get it done.  Plus, each fish, each place, each method, all are an adventure in their own right.  I just prefer not to be a one trick pony, and trolling is another technique to get it done.  I give the day a B+.

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And this from TPWD.

AUSTIN- The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is extending the emergency spotted seatrout regulations in the Laguna Madre for an additional 60 days. These temporary regulation changes for spotted seatrout in the bays and beachfronts of the Upper and Lower Laguna Madre bay systems include:

• a three fish bag limit,
• a minimum size length of 17 inches
• a maximum size length of 23 inches and;
• no fish over 23 inches may be retained.

While the 60-day extension of regulation changes is warranted now in the Laguna Madre, additional focus on trout fishery recovery in the San Antonio and Matagorda Bay systems is needed as well.

So my quick read from the last sentence, things may change in our area.

And if you will remember when TPWD took trout from 10 down to 5, guides, and lots of other folks, went half nuts.  Look at us now, at least before the freeze.  The fish were definitely bigger, and a limit was a lot easier to catch.  My point, I have no problem if they lower the limit, it is in the catching.  To bad folks seem to forget that in their belief that it is only about a limit.

To read the whole press release –  News Release: July 21, 2021: Emergency Spotted Seatrout Regulations Extended 60 Days in Laguna Madre – TPWD (texas.gov)

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ICAST is going on right now and it will be interesting to see what the new products are this year.  No matter what there will be a trinket or two most of us can not live without so there should be lots of articles coming soon.  And it looks like Michael and family had a great time visiting.  He saw some old friends, made a couple of new ones, and did a little business.  Hope he can get me in there next year, looks fun.

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And the day would not be complete without the favorite comment I get on the blog.  This is just awesome.

The next time I learn a weblog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as a lot as this one. I mean, I know it was my option to learn, however I actually thought youd have one thing interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you could repair when you werent too busy looking for attention.

I get this often, it is my favorite.  Guess he knows how I feel about the way the fishing has been on the lake.  How about this for interesting?  Lots of folks have sent me this over the years and it makes me smile every time I get it but does remind where things fit in this world.  So keep those cards and letters coming.

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Next up will be POC Monday and Tuesday.  Will stay all night, save the drive, and enjoy some shrimp and a cold beverage.  And it will be nice to get up later on Tuesday morning, and get a good parking spot at Froggie’s before everyone and their brother gets out.  It will be good to do some wading, it has been a while.  Later in the week is Green Day in Houston.  Bought the tickets for the kids and worked out they can’t go so I will be happy to use them.  Those little guys put on a great show.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines