FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Thanks for the picture Nate!

I am rested up and chomping at the bit to get back on the water.  Tomorrow morning the cleaning lady is coming so I will actually be on the lake at daylight.  While fishing on the weekend is not my preferred fishing time I am so interested in the current water level and conditions so off I go.  This is my favorite time of the year and I intend to take advantage of it.

Weather

72/88.  Partly sunny, warm and humid with a 25% chance of rain.   Wind S  8 – 13 mph.

Lake Level

15 days ago 97.53 msl.   Today  98.35 msl.

Activity Times

Minor  11:03 am to 12:03 pm.    Major  4:18 pm to 6:18 pm.

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

The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

Who Knew?

It was still dark when I got to the ramp.  You could easily tell the lake was up almost a foot.  The water color turned out to be less than optimal from the ramp to up lake.  The temp started out at 79 degrees and was 84 when I took out at 1:00′

Spoon and a Pearl Knockin Tail put the hurt on them this morning.

Since they have been eating that Knockin Tail and spoon in the grass seemed like the right thing to do, and it was.  I ended up boating 8 on the first bank, and it went from there.  It was dark when I started so time to throw buzzbait until it got light and 2 smalls jumped on.  I specifically fished that bank so I could turn around and re-fish it with the spoon and Knocking Tail.  And it worked like a charm.

Lots were smalls but the average was fine by me.

They are shallow, and I mean most that jumped on today were in a foot or so.  The advantage of that bait is you can throw it all the way to the bank no matter how shallow and get it back out without hanging up.  The most important thing I have found is the Knockin Tail needs to be trailing straight or slightly up.  If it is down it ruins the action of the spoon, which you want to wobble like it is supposed to.  Speed is just below the surface and hoping it over the occasional isolated bush so be ready.  Every once in a while it will simply disappear.  Once straight it is perfect with the Knockin Tail ratttling along, today they were eating it and the first couple of hours missed very few.

Several this size, the rest smaller.

I wish I could tell you exactly where they are but right now when you get bit it is either several, or not another.   Of course one will jump on near a point, but they want a little water close with big grass areas.  You can almost toss it on dirt and get bit.  They bit right along until around 10:00 when the sun came out and it slicked off.  Not sure how many I  caught (15 or 20.) but it was plenty good.  It was good fishing and bodes well for the rest of the week.

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

And here is the report from my readers trip with Capt. Howie which was the same time as ours.

Doug, I would give you a more detailed report but it would sound just like yours! Topwaters dominated for us with the Knocking Tail a close second. We swam the jigs as well. Like you, we found them in knee to thigh deep water and caught several trout over 20″ with the biggest going a touch over 26″. Reds up to 45″ as well! Just an awesome trip and already looking to book again next year.

We didn’t have any shark problems, but saw plenty of them! First trip and it was everything I had hoped it would be! Boxed our 150 trout and 30 reds in 2 days and spent the 3rd day just having fun.

By the way, Capt Howie and DT said to tell you and your crew “hello!”. Those were some top notch folks.

Anyone thinking about going, just go! It is one of my favorite trips I have taken and I have fished all over! Fished for a week in Alaska in August and believe this trip topped Alaska!

Thanks to your previous reports, Doug, I had a little bit of a clue of what, when, where, and how.

Glad y’all had a great trip as well! We could see y’alls boat anchored up to the south of us a ways. Not sure how far North y’all ever went, but we may have crossed paths a little while out on the water.

That was definitely us anchored South of you.  My partner and I fished near the boat in the Redfish Point area for 2 days, and when I  fished with David we were up past the Southern Belle.  From a couple of pockets south of the Red Can to the houseboat cove was the main group’s stomping grounds.  I am real glad you all had a great trip.  We actually already scheduled next Octobers before we left.  It is truly a remarkable place anyway, and when the fishing is like that it goes into the bucket list.  Of course over the years I have been around a shark or two, but at least the water was clear and I won those fights.  And last, so happy you had a good time with Howie and DT, great guys and definitely Chandeleur OG’s.  And if DT likes you, you are in.  So thanks for the report, hard to describe how good it can be.

Turn out the lights the party is over, but what a trip!

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

And my buddy Rusty said it best in his comment on the trip – Awesome!  He was so right.

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

I can not believe how the Guadalupe has flooded, it sure was not all that due to our rainfall.  The last thing the bay needs is another ton of fresh flood waters.  At least the lake should be as clear as normal since it should not have received that much influx.  (Though once I checked it is actually up 3/4 of a foot.)  I will be on all of them this week so will just have to see.

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

I spoke to a couple of guys from San Antonio who had only been here a couple of times.   They were working wood and basically struck out, catching 3.  So I showed them the pics and the bait and filled them in.  Remember, the spoon and Knockin Tail will work  anywhere, especially if the bass are on the shad like they are on Coleto right now, and of course if there is grass.

And when I was putting stuff away a boat was right across from me getting ready to put in and I had one of those encounters that says a lot about fishing.  He asked how I did, I told him, and then he said they must be deep by now.  I gave him the low down and it was clear he did not believe me, which says: I don’t believe other fisherman.  So I ended it by saying they must be deep, and he will head out and do exactly what he planned on.  Sad fishing and lying  (Or just not being totally truthful.) seem to go hand in hand.  For me it is more fun to help a brother out, just like folks did for me 45 years ago in Arkansas.

 ***************

So here is the punch line, I am not unhooking the boat this week.  The weather looks great, the fish are biting fresh and salt, and the Boss is on a long stretch.  The next couple of months is the best fishing in both fresh and salt, with creeks and rivers looking up, reds schooling up, and the bass getting that early pre-spawn urge.  Combine that with some clouds and drizzle and hold on.  It feels like I am about to get on a roll so those fish better look out.  Keep stopping in, there is going to be lots of fishing, and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines