FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

I will be headed to the river in the morning.  This starts a couple week stretch of salt, with maybe a day on the lake thrown in.  I have friends coming next weekend and then more during the week, and it is all about the salt.  Time to make sure stuff is ready and new line on the works.  One thing about the river, it has coughed up my PB Texas snook and flounder.  So lets the games begin, it will be another stretch of fishing till you puke!

Weather

63/81.  Partly sunny with 0% chance of rain.  Wind ESE 7 – 12mph.

Tides

Low  8:39 am.  High  11:48 am  Low 7:55 pm.

Here is a really interesting thing today with the tides.  I got there at about 8:00 and it was way up.  At approximately noon it quit going out and was low.  Taking out at 2:00 it was coming in.  Almost the exact complete opposite, so will watch that the next few weeks.

Activity Times

Major  10:31 am to 12:31 pm.

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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There was a little nip in the air, the water temp was 73 degrees, with not that great winter time river color.  After going above the bridge later it was really ugly coming out of the Lavaca.  First up I headed down river to my favorite area and started with a Mansfield Magic Knockin Tail on a  3/16th VMC twist lock jig head.   (I really like that jig head if you can find them.)  It did not take long to catch one, they bit off and on all morning.

They were eating the Knockin Tails!

The wind and tide were perfect and the boat drifted down river.  Just cast to the bank and hop it down the drops.  Most bites came in 3 – 4 feet of water, some were just there, others jumped it.  Every once in while one would finally chew up the body and I found that color was not all that today.  But they were in little pods, not scattered all down the river like it will be soon.

A bunch of these.  The Mansfield Magic did most of the damage today.

I also threw the 4 Horsemen popping cork with a pearl Knockin Tail and probably caught 4 or 5 doing that.  But the best method was just doing the Texas Two Step hop and drop, and you had to be quick.  Not only did some smack it, you really had to be a line watcher, you could see it do something weird so just setting the hook put a few in the boat.

The second bass and of course a catfish.  And the carp got off before I could lip it.

With the water temp still in the mid 70’s it is just a little to warm.  Catching 2 bass, one catfish, and a big carp is a sure indication it is neither cold or nearly salty enough.  But with the weather change that is coming things will only get better.  And no real complaints, If I was keeping them I did scratch out a limit, it was just a matter of working through a bunch of smalls.  It was surprising that no redfish jumped on, and one bite when I set the hook it was just gone, maybe a big flounder.   I give it a B, I love this time of year.

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I filled the truck and the boat last week and busted a $100.  The good thing, fished 4 times on the boat so far, with well over a 1/2 tank left but the truck needs gas.  I can live with that.  All I have to say how is that $80k boat with a 300 hp working out for you at the pump?  It is about to get even uglier.  My prediction – Someone will be the last guy with a monster engine who has to give it away.  It is coming no matter what happens.

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After the report on Boerne Lake SA Joe set along this comment.

Boerne Lake comment. IT SUCKS. Have to be blunt, the many times that i have fished it. Have never gotten any chunks out of it. Great lake to kayak, relax. But the creek channel in is about the only place for cover for the bass…Very hit and miss at all times of the year

Tell us how you really feel!  I knew nothing about Boerne and from what I am hearing no great loss.  Thanks for the comment, guess I will take it off my bucket list.

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Every once in a while the mailman comes through, I am really excited to get to fish My Coast Outdoors’ 2 new Knockin Tail colors.

Honeydew on the top.

Salt and Pepper on the bottom.

I will admit that the Honeydew is “interesting” looking, the Salt and Pepper will absolutely be a killer.  (Though the Honeydew would tear up those Arkansas winter channel swing bass, the color is perfect.)  They are both very popular on the East Coast and I can not wait to give them a try, which will be Wednesday.  They look great and with my fishing schedule the next couple of weeks they will get an honest go.  So stayed tuned for that.

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How about those Cowboys!   The Boss is off tomorrow for one day on what has, and is, a long stretch.  But MOAB is right around the corner so she will get her just reward.  (She would be happy with diamonds and jewels for a present, but buy her a plane ticket to anywhere and you have a lifelong friend.)  Then she is back to work and I will be fishing.  Unless something breaks, as in me, I will be hard at it.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines