FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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They just keep eating the chartreuse squarebill.

I had high expectations this morning on dropping the boat in as it was barely breaking daylight.  First up was the bank that produced some good fish on spinnerbait, which did not produce a bite.  No real big shocker, so I started point and cove hopping working my way up lakc.  They just did not want the spinnerbait.  In fact, before the day was out only 1 bite on spinnerbait, and it missed it by a mile.

On a couple of banks that were calmer I tossed the Bang O Lure which produced 2 small bass and one big boil.   But whether main lake or cove, I just could not get the right bite.  I was struggling to NOT throw the chartreuse square bill and was determined to catch them the way I wanted.  Which did not happen.

Another Kentucky/Spotted Bass.  A crankbait bass.

The reason I took such a close up of the Kentucky is in case you fish Coleto and have never caught one.  The lateral line is the dead giveaway, but there is one more tell-tale sign.  Rub your finger on their tongue, it is like sandpaper.  They can be hard to distinguish at times from largemouth.  But what a development.  They are showing up regularly up lake, which right now makes a certain amount of sense.   They are a great winter fish and often the best fishing for them is early/early spring.  It will be interesting to watch as they inhabit more of the lake, and expect them to start showing up on rock ledges.

The fall back position when they would not bite first thing.

After fishing a bunch of places, including the best bank I have had up lake with only a couple of smalls I made a couple of passes for the white bass and caught 4 or 5.  The weather is coming on Sunday, and it will be in the 50’s for a couple of days so that should get them going.

And of course, the day is not complete until another catfish smacks the square bill.

After some of that I gave in and started throwing the crankbait.  And as it has been they were eating it.   The biggest bass above and this catfish both came on rocky channel banks paralleling the crankbait so it just bumped bottom, and they both whacked it.  They are really on it, and it has worked up lake and down, windy or calm, they just like that thing.  And one word on the lure retriever with the chain, it is worth every penny.  I hung the crankbait up 4 times today and managed to get it out each time.  That thing works.

I did not throw the Bang O Lure on too many places, but I kept after the spinnerbait, just knew there was going to be another run.  It just did not happen but times they are a changing and either we get some cool weather or we might head straight to pre-spwan,  But at least I am catching fish.  It has been worse.

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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                     Comment or do not complain if you do not like the result!                                  (From the TPWD website.)

AUSTIN- The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is seeking public input on the proposed rules changing bag and size limits for spotted seatrout on the middle and lower Texas coast. The proposed rules would reduce the spotted seatrout bag limit to 3 fish and restrict the allowable size to 17-23 inches for two years. The goal of this rule is to leave more spawning fish in the water for two spawning seasons in order to help the populations recover quickly from the 2021 winter storm. These regulation changes would only affect Matagorda Bay, San Antonio Bay, Aransas Bay, Corpus Christi Bay, and the Upper and Lower Laguna Madre systems.

The public is encouraged to provide comment on the proposed regulation changes. Opportunities to provide comments for or against these proposals include:

• Public hearings: TPWD Coastal Fisheries staff will be hosting several public hearings on the coast to receive input from stakeholders and constituents concerning the proposed regulation changes.
  • Tuesday, Jan. 11  from 6 p.m.- 8 p.m. at the Natural Resources Center (Room 1003), Corpus Christi, TX 78412
  • Tuesday, Jan. 11  from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. at the Port Isabel Event and Cultural Center, 309 Railroad Street, Port Isabel, TX 78578
  • Wednesday, Jan. 12 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. at the Aquarium at Rockport Harbor Education Center, 706 Navigation Circle, Rockport, TX 78382
  • Thursday, Jan.13 from 6 p.m. -8 p.m. at the USDA Bauer Building, 186 Henry Barber Way, Port Lavaca, TX 77979

• Online: Official public comments of the changes can be provided on the TPWD public comment page until Jan. 26.

• Phone or Email: The Coastal Fisheries Division at 512-389-8575 or cfish@tpwd.texas.gov
• Zoom Webinar: TPWD Coastal Fisheries staff will present proposed fishing regulation changes and answer questions in an online webinar on Jan. 10 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. The webinar will also be posted on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.

I really do not care, so in my case it is whatever.  And if pressed would be all for it.  If the resource could handle it who would not be in favor of more and bigger trout.  It worked when we went from 10 – 5 and I have no doubt a reduced catch and increased size limit can only help the trout fishing.   It will be interersting where the guides come down on this.  The CPR guys should be all for it, the meat guides not so much.  No matter what side of the fence you come down on make your voice heard, or just take whatever comes.

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No promises or guesses on what or where is next.  I need to make a run to a real camera store, and the Boss wants to eat some oysters, so looks like Houston is next on the list.  And with the big weekend coming Saturday I will be glued to the TV watching my Hogs play mighty Penn State.  So enjoy your holiday, do not drink and get behind the wheel, it is amateur night.  I intend to get the year in review up this weekend.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines