FISH CATCHING TRAVEL
Sad to report our heat continues. The weather dude even said it looks like it will warm up next week. Summer’s last gasp. I will slip out in the morning for another round of buzzbait fishing, there are a couple of places that are calling me. After that it will depend, but with school back in session things should have calmed down a little at POC.
Weather
96/78. Humid with intervals of clouds and sunshine with an 18% chance of rain, will feel like 108 degrees. Wind SSE 10 – 16 mph.
Lake Level
Today 97.18 msl. Monday 98.13 msl. (Not sure if I have missed something otherwise that lake has dropped a foot in 4 days. Only know when I see it.)
Bite Time
Major 10:59 am to 12:59 pm.
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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.
For all your wading needs.
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Got there before daylight and was surprised that 2 other boats were there. The water temp is still around 90+ depending on where you were, the color looks like what it might be from now on, and the water was definitely down some. Before I get to the fishing on my way back in a giant crane was working on the dam, and it makes sense that whatever drop we did have was related to the work. Hope they do not drop it any more, the fishing is just starting to stabilize. But enough of that.
This one blasted the buzzbait to finish the day.
It was just cracking daylight when I started on the first grass bank. The plan, throw the bigger Whopper Plopper buzzbait to see if it was possible to provoke a big one. That turned out to be bad thing, 4 misses, and a good thing, time to switch. The last few trips have definitely shown me there are fish in the grass, it just depends on which grass.
The Pearl Knockin Tail on a silver spoon did some damage this morning.
I changed to the regular buzzbait and finally caught one. And he taught me a little something, he puked up a 1 1/2″ shad, they are definitely on shad which explains some of the half hearted buzzbait bites. It is just a little to big. The important part though was at least 5 or 6 just did not seem to want it, but they were where they were supposed to be. A couple of trips ago I caught 4 on the spoon with a Pearl Knockin Tail trailer and it made sense.
Just throw it as far back in the stuff as you can then set the hook quick!
First cast on a grassy point one blasted it on top, it was in maybe 6″ of water. As I worked the point and the grass I missed a couple on the spoon and Knocking Tail then I got the hang of the bite. Reeling it slow enough to just be barely in sight your line is not tight and you had to be on your toes. But for the next hour on that spot they bit really well and I fished it 3 times and caught several each pass.. The big one above was the last fish in that place, and she smoked the buzzzbait.
The first one on buzzbait clued me in. Listen to the fish.
Before I quit I headed back to re-fish the first 2 places where they were not eating it, and managed to catch a couple on each place in spite of the fact it was sunny, hot, and getting late in the morning. The bite really slowed down, but the last thing I learned today was something important. The fish were green, real green. They did not just show up from somewhere offshore, they have been in that green stuff a while to get that dark. So that begs several questions.
Obviously they like the spoon and Knockin Tail, but what else might they like? Today 2 fish puked up shad and they were both the same size, 1 1/2″. And as a rule, even the smalls that did not make the pictures, were nice and solid, they have not been starving by any stretch. So it would make sense that a white swim jig and Pearl Knockin Tail might just be the ticket. Trim the skirt some to reduce the profile and hold on. Another possibility would be a trick worm. They are not interested in chasing anything,
And last, if that is the pattern, green grass, not to much of that stuff that is like a vine, just nice green grass, stick with it. A good main lake point with grass helps. There is lots of that stuff here and there, and it does not all have fish on it, but find 4 or 5 good spots and it just might be a good day. Today was fun, plenty of bites and some good fish. It has been a while and I can not wait to get back out there and do it again.
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This from Rick.
Well, continuing our habit of following your Fish Catching Travel destinations, the wife and I along with 4 high school football buddies booked a 3 days of fishing trip with DMJ Charters out of Pass Christian. DMJ was great, mother ship was the 120 ft Backdraft. Food and acommodations were great. Weather and wind good.The first two days really slow fishing. Of the 8 people fishing 4 or 5 were good fisherman, just could’nt find the “chew”. not even 5 shades of knocking tails. On the last morning the deckhand Chris had all us follow him about 8 miles to a little 2 acre island and he caught finger mullet in his cast net. The six of us got about 8 reds and 5 trout in about 2 1/2 hours…pretty decent. Then the last afternoon more of the same. One boat started using real small jigs and caught 8 trout but every other boat 1-2 fish. So the fishing was a little disappointing but a great time was had by all and the Chandeleur Islands is a very unique and beautiful place. I enjoy your blog and reading your”stuff”, so keep it up….please!
First, sorry the fishing wasn’t so hot, but that trip it is not all abou the fishing. Of the 3 times I have made that trip the fishing has been: great, so-so, and tough. As I have said in the past, it is still fishing. This year will be my first trip in the fall so I will be interested in how the fishing is that time of year.
For every great trip, there has been a dud. For every cool place, there has been disappointment. Fishing travel is always an adventure one way or the other. But if someone asked me to really give them advice on the best chance to have a successful trip there is only one answer: Canada. It is the best fishing hole on the face of the earth, end of story. Even a slow trip is good, and a great trip is off the chain. Great scenery, lots of different fish, and a lot cheaper than some far off destination, it offers the best bang for your buck.
But glad the boat was good and the mate helped you out some. That should be part of it. And I did look at the boat, wow definitely first class. After our wind experience last year nice to have the wind down. Nothing will screw up a trip faster than high wind, no matter what water you are on. So thanks for the report and good to hear from you.
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It is Biden’s fault, Trump’s fault, Hillary’s fault, Bozo’s fault, or My Little Pony’s fault, for what happened in Afghanistan. I get so tired of the blame game. The problem is they would not fight for their own country, end of story. They cut and ran, and there is no way one more American life, or dollar, is worth any one of them. We spent literally billions and billions of dollars and what did we get, the same radical Islamic country it was 20 years ago. Watching the Taliban beating men, children, and women in the street, they are stone age animals. Time to stay out of this kind of stuff. They are apparently fine being under the rule of the Taliban, they seem to have loved killing each other for generations, so good luck, this is not our fight.
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More from SA Joe on his motor issues.
I’m off the water in the boat for awhile. That simple $400 repair didn’t work. The small crack around the sleeve of the piston is allowing water to get into the piston.
So its going to cost $8500 for a reman job on a 200 Merc EFI. Compared to $35k for a decent used boat and up and not knowing what you get. To $30k for a new motor. Bass Pro said its up to $150 a horse…..Im getting a deal from my mechanic that I trust.
Others online are asking $6500 for a motor, but have to travel back up to Chicago for it….
Thoughts?
Ah the joys of boat ownership. I feel your pain.
The crack top left. So little, so expensive.
So the question: Different boat, buy a new motor, or fix what I have? Have had that dilemma several times in my life, and every time I went the new motor route. But times were totally different, last time when the 50hp on the skiff crapped out it was $2500 to fix, and I found a new one for $5000. And when I needed a new engine for my Champion 16’8″ in the 80’s a new Black Max 150 was $4000 complete. (Think about that. In the 80’s a 150hp Black max was $4000 and then $5k for a 50, and now $30k plus. Wow.) The reason for the 50hp story is I found a link on the Bass Pro boat site that referred to discontinued motors, and low and behold there was a 2 year old, brand new, 50hp in the crate in San Antonio. Paid cash and took it to my mechanic who mounted it. That was about 10 years ago and I doubt they have that link anymore, in fact not sure how I found it. Now it is a different story. (As mine now has 1000 hours it could happen anytime. Maintenance is the key to glory, ignore it at your peril.)
And I am with you on the used, when looking at a good used if there is no documented annual/hourly work done with a print out of the compression at the last check, no sale. If it involves serious money, an SCB as an example, I would want/demand the print out on fault codes and rpm use. They exist and a serious boat owner can provide them, or the mechanic’s name so you can check it out. We are not talking a few grand these days, this is serious business. Some folks take care of their stuff, others abuse it, and you can not tell by looking at the boat or them. You can not imagine how many folks I have fished with over the years who had no idea how to use, or take care of, their engine. A couple of times I was amazed we got it off the trailer!
As far as having it rebuilt, if you trust your mechanic, and he will stand behind his work, go for it, not that it won’t hurt for a minute. My big question would be to him – If I buy a new one when can you mount it? And then, if you rebuild it when might I see it? And last, are we talking you building it, or is it a a bolt on power head? (I do not know how that works.) After having one in the shop for almost 4 months this is a difficult time for parts. My job was held up over 1 small part, which if my mechanic had not found in Florida would still not be repaired.
But the most important question: How much is it worth to you to fish? Those of us who have been doing it for a lifetime that is not a hard question. So no matter what you choose, hope you get back on the water soon.
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Wonder if there is anyone interested in starting a fishing club at our 2 other area high schools? Or just starting an outdoor program? East and West might seem to be a candidate for a TWPD program.
AUSTIN – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is now accepting grant applications for the Community Outdoor Outreach Program (CO-OP). CO-OP provides grant funding to tax-exempt organizations for programs that engage under-represented populations in TPWD mission-oriented activities. These grants support community-based conservation and outdoor recreation activities such as archery, fishing, camping,, hiking, hunting, nature education and more.
Here is the link with everything you need to know if anyone cares. My reading of it folks from the YMCA to church youth programs are potentially candidates. It is free money for a good cause. Get a kid outdoors and off the evil computer. It you are a nonprofit it is worth a look. (Hey Jamie, maybe something for the Vine School?)
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That was the best bite in a while. I know I have whined about the fish not being in the grass but looks like I might just be figuring it out. For a summer morning with a 90+ degree water temp it was a good bite, and if the pattern holds it might get better. Just hope they do not drop the water any further, the lake was just starting to stabilize. But hope springs eternal and now I can not wait to do some serious pattern fishing. So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.
Good Luck and Tight Lines
