FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

This weather is amazing/crazy, several other descriptive words also come to mind.   It is 82 degrees as I type this after getting back from the lake.  I had a plan, which I have been adhering to, fish the way I want, when I want, without the blog or Facebook being a part of my decision, just see what happens.  So today, how about the Alabama Rig with Knockin Tail trailers?  Boy was that fun.

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

The water level has stabilized again, it is really clearing nicely, and the temp was back up to 73 where it was prior to the rain.  The fog was still thick when I put in at 8:30, it was idle to the first stop.  First up was a brush pile I wanted to try for crappie, which turned out to be a complete bust, so started bass fishing.

I make the first cast with the Lou’s Lures jerk bait and actually hooked up on a big one totally out of position and manage to lose it.  For the next hour kept alternation between the jerk bait and the A Rig.  They both produced fish, as did the Honeydew Knockin Tail on a jig head.

The Alabama Rig and Knockin Tails, a killer combination.

Why in the world anyone would fish a A Rig without Knockin Tail trailers I do not know.  Any swim bait will work on the A Rig, but adding 5 Knockin Tails rattling their butt off is a no brainer.  It caught nice fish, and lots of smalls.  Some slammed it, other just felt something “funny.”  And one thing it will do is put multiple fish in the boat, and it did that this morning.

After having 2 on at once the last 2 trips the Alabama Rig and Knockin Tails got it done!

Basically it was a smaller A Rig without the extra blades like some have, then 4 Pearl Knockin Tails on the 4 outside arms and a Salt and Pepper on the center arm.  As it has a chartreuse tail thought it might add a little something. In the end most hit the Pearl, except when I doubled up.  A steady retrieve with occasional pausing and accelerating some, making the “school” pulse back and forth, ended up being the way most of the bites were triggered.

And the Lou’s Lures custom painted jerk bait did its share this morning.

Where?  Anywhere there is deep water close.  And when you get a bite there are definitely more there, so I re-fished with one of the 3 baits and usually caught at least one more.  And as I am want to do come December I checked the white bass up lake, while I only managed one on a shad color crankbait, it is going to happen, and I mean soon.  As I have often said this is my favorited time of year.

The were smacking the Alabama Rig.  Did catch one white bass when I checked to see if they are there yet.

It was a fun morning as the fishing is really good right now, at least for numbers.  If you catch enough there is good chance of catching a nice limit.  Thinking it over, after they basically deserted the grass I just decided to pretend it was winter, which it is supposed to be by now.  So while both the A Rig and jerk bait time is not quite here due to the warm weather, there is no good reason to not act like it.  And last, hopping the Honeydew Knockin Tail on the jig head  will catch them all day, so of course I am giving the lake a pounding.  My pleasure thank you.

The Honeydew Knockin Tail catches a keeper on the last cast!

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

The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

It was nice to hear from some of you at Thanksgiving.  So thanks Lee, Lacy, Rusty, Patty, Charlie, Dan, SA Joe, and a few more.  Great to know you are all out there.  I am still taking it easy, keeping off Facebook for the most part, and just doing a blog post whenever I fish.  So thanks all for sticking with me during this little mental health break.  After Moab and then Panama it will be back at it hard core with our spring fishing coming.   And a shout out to Mike who I met at the ramp this morning.  Keep in touch so we can fish some together, appreciated the chat.

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

I can not leave the Boss alone for a minute without her working on our next trip.  Now be advised that that following is already planned:  Moab, Panama, and Alaska.  (They do not qualify as the next trip.) Once those are planned/finished she is off to the next big trip, and this one I am all about once she explained.  (Keep in mind that many of our trips are planned at least 2 years in advance, really reduces the f’ups with that kind of planning.)  She wants to go see the Eagle Festival in Mongolia in 2023.  After looking at it what a trip.  I will get my fishing, the rivers have one of the biggest salmonoid, the Taimen, which is obviously a real bucket list fish.  They also have several different cool sheep, so it checks all the boxes.  Over 30 hours to get there, the trip has no hotels or room service, very basic yurt camping.  So sign me up, that is about as far from here as you can get.

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

So that is what a grown man did all day.  As I am keeping my options open who knows when is next.  I learned the creek and the Lavaca are way off color so that is out.  Hope to make it to the bay a day before we head out, just have to see how it all plays out.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines