FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Today  98.26 msl.  5 days ago  98.26

Activity Periods

Major  1:03 pm to 3:03 pm.

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

The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

The lake looked just like it has since it came up.  The water temp was in the low 70’s everywhere and the color is fishable, though hardly clear.  It was cloudy and the wind was blowing 15+ straight out of the north.  Perfect……..

Second cast with the spoon and Pearl Knockin Tail.

I decided to head directly to places I have been catching them.  Up lake the wind was blowing basically down lake and around every corner.  On my second cast on blasted the spoon and Knockin Tail.  It came out of an isolated bush when the spoon went over it.  Turned out only 3 more bites on it, caught one little one, all coming after ticking a bush.  It was a little tough to fish it perfectly as the wind was humping.  After fishing 4 places I was headed down lake, had a moment, and took a right.

Plastics.

I can count the number of times I have fished the hot water discharge over the last 12 years on one hand.  Fishing discharges is not something I care to do, though it obviously works.  But today it made real sense:  First major cold front of the year and folks turning on their heat, getting the plant working so they should be running water.  At least it made sense and they were. So I whipped in and proceeded to catch 8, most on the stick worm with a 3/8th tungsten Texas rigged.

They were right on the edge or seam where the water was coming out and meeting slightly slack water.  I had plenty of bites and probably stayed about an hour, if that.  Some jumped it but with the current most felt “soft” and if you got in to much of a feeling contest you lost.  So while it was productive, I have the attention span of a fly and sitting there just casting at the same spot is not my thing.

I fished one more place and called it an afternoon.  Considering conditions not to bad, it sure beat sitting in the house.  Fall is my favorite time to fish, they are biting fresh and salt, and the traffic is way down.  Today, not another boat.   And did I say everyone keep hunting.

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

Got this comment from Winfred, which says it all about what I strive to do with the blog and my interactions with other fishermen.

Thanks Doug, Always enjoy your stuff. Thanks for being above board. Its refreshing to read real first hand advice and not the BS that most of the guides post.

It is not only guides, plenty of posturing by folks who confuse their ability to catch a few fish with curing cancer.  There is very little real sharing online which is sad.  Fishing is a sport and pastime that should bring folks together, not separate us into the big shots and the rest of the world.  If most folks think about it, our love of fishing comes with the memories of fishing with family and friends and somewhere along the line that changes.  I appreciate your comment and will continue to share in the hope that maybe somebody will catch another fish or two.

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

And speaking of guides I have fished with the best, Belize, Costa Rica, Australia, and the worst, Baffin and Peru, and everything else in between.  But for me it has always been in the doing.  I only use a guide when I can not get a particular thing done, like offshore fishing, a drift boat, or getting access to a fishing hole somewhere.  There is a great personal satisfaction in doing it myself, but after guiding I know and understand why folks hire guides.   But as Carmine used to say:  There are so many guides at POC that they have to wear badges so they do not guide each other.

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

And last a very important question from Charles.

This is the 10year older than you that wants to try 3or4 knocktin tails in the Lavaca river.
Which ones should I order? Enjoyed our visit.

Here is my suggestions, then a little about rigging and how to use them.

• Mansfield Magic
• Purple Demon Limetreuse
• Pink Ice
• and either the Pearl or the Pearl Limetreuse

The reason to get the Pearl color is for use on a popping cork.  Just use a jig head and put it a couple of feet below the popping cork, 4 Horsemen is best, and hold on.  And the Pearl Limetreuse was a consistent producer last winter without a cork.

The Mansfield Magic has been a steady bait in the fall and winter, and can really catch the redfish.  The Purple Demon has been my favorite all year, and the Pink Ice will always catch fish.  I am using a 3/16 or 1/4 ounce jig head, screw locks work best, then just working it out in a hop and drop back to the boat.  Generally let it hit bottom, hop it up, and then just let it fall.  You will feel them bump it, which means they have it.  And any of them can be slowly reeled to catch them.  So hope this helps and thanks for reading.

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

The only reason I will not be fishing tomorrow is picking up the rod box.  I have tried to find one of these for over a year and it is finally going to happen.   It holds 8 rods with reels, and they can be spinning, casting, or fly, which fits my travel needs.  Other than that the fishing will continue.  So keep stopping and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines