FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Nini, Wren, Mia, and Grandpa wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving.

Though I am currently on double secret strike as far as the blog and internet goes, I hope you all have a great holiday.  We were able to slip away to OKC and see the grandkids and a great time was had by all.  As usual spending time with the kids is always good for the soul.  So enjoy your day, we will.  For the first time in years, and maybe ever, the Boss and I will be spending the day together with all the fixin’s and a little football.

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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I was looking forward to fishing yesterday, see if there was a post front bite, and there was.  Most were smaller, but I did miss a big one, so I had my shot.  When I dropped in it was dead calm with occasional passing clouds.  The water temp was in the low 70’s and the water has definitely cleared some.  Unfortunately the water is slowly going down.  Would not want to much of a good thing.

First up was up lake and the spoon and Knockin Tail.  It has continued to produce, and though the fish are not in the grass like they were there are still enough shallow to keep me happy.  The big bite today smashed the spoon and Knockin Tail and for some reason did not hook up, but I did have my shot.

The spoon and Pearl Knockin Tail continues to put them in the boat.

But the reason for the day was to catch the front and crank, and like clockwork it happened.  Around 10:00 it started clouding up and the wind started blowing so I headed down lake to crank channel banks with the wind pounding on them.   They were there and the bite was on.

And once the wind started out came the crankbait.

Whether a chartruese or shad colored square bill they were smoking it.  While not big by any means 8 jumped on the first pass, including 3 on consecutive casts, and from there they were eating as the wind howled.  The deeper banks were better but several jumped on around shallower stuff.  I thought the spinnerbait might catch a few, but after one place with  no bites, it was back  to the crankbait until I quit.

Earlier as I got ready to head down lake a boat idled over and it was Eric Herzog, a guide who fishes Coleto, we had met a time or two over the years.  A good guy he is a ledge fishing guru, not exactly my cup of tea, and he said come on down and meet us and I will show you a couple of spots.  When I ran in to him later they had pulled up on one of his ledges and limited, catching maybe 25 in nothing flat.  He offered to take me there and fish next to them, and though they were small, it happens when you release a ton on a spot, we probably boated an easy 15 fishing beside each other.

Think about it, who does that?  When I get back to it I will put his information on the blog, if you want a ledge fishing education he is the man for the job.  So thanks to him for sharing and we need more folks like him out there.

For the morning, 5 until the wind started, then a good 15 or so on crankbait,  (They were smacking it, a really fun way to fish.) then 4 or 5 fishing with them, so a good day.  While there has been a serious lack of big fish pre-spawn is right around the corner.  And speakin of that made on quick pass through the white bass area and hooked a huge carp in the dorsal fin which was a massive fight.  If I had the cooler he would have ended up in the smoker.

And last, as I dropped off plane on the first bank of the morning it happened to be in the right place.  Now the 15 or so turkeys on the roost did not think so and it caused a unorganized bail out with a certain amount of complaining.  A  great way to start the morning and was a harbinger of the day to come.

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It begins.  While perusing the boats for sale in Texas the first E-Tec dump appeared.  The add included a significant reduction in asking price from book value simply because it is has an E-Tec.  I told you that would happen the day OMC announced they were discontinuing boat motors.   Expect that to continue and even increase.  OMC motors have gone the way of the Edsel, and with the loss of dealerships things do not look positive for E-Tec owners.

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My self severance from Facebook continues, and it is a pleasant break.  I have heard from folks on the blog about my absence and let them, and those of you reading this, know if you want to contact me do it by commenting on the post.  I will be back at some point, but my little break from the blog continues and I appreciate those of you who read this because you want to.  So while things will be a little different around here it is still all about the fishing but not how many people come here.  After over a million visits it is what it is and will continue to change.  So if you want to contact me just hit comment below and I will answer, as opposed to looking at it as a comment, if that makes sense.

And to a couple of you who I have not responded to sorry, but I am not intentionally ignoring you.  John, thanks for your report on the Lavaca.  Small trout under the birds has been a happening this year on the river and the creek.  Depending on how much rain we get I hope to head to the creek this week coming up.

Speaking of that a shout out to our Fayette guru, Rusty.  Besides being a good all around fisherman, no one trick pony here, he is an accomplished fly fisherman who has fished all over and ties all his flies.  So I go to the mailbox the other day and there is a package.

Can’t wait to give them a go.

So depending on how much rain we get the plan was to head to the creek and give it a go, and the fly rod will be the ticket.  Who knows what the creek will look like but we are about to get a cold front to go along with it, and the creek and river will either get going or it just might be done, who knows.  But thanks a lot Rusty, they look mean.

And last to Dan, I appreciate your kind offer.  Your lake is actually on the calendar, with a few friends or by myself.  I love fishing there, nice to boat a few smallies and it is old home week for me after fishing the highland lakes of Arkansas.  Your kind offer is on file and will let you know when I head that way.

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Hoping the Cowboys win today, looking forward to a nap at some point, and the turkey is in the smoker and all is right with our world.  I am thankful for another year, thankful that my bunch is healthy, and appreciate my time on the water more than ever.  And a big thanks to you who have stuck with this thing for the last 11 years, it has been fun.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines