FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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

Hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday.  Back to work and school for most folks, back to real life.  But our spring fishing is just around the corner and as the weather warms folks will return to the water after the fall hunting season.  With this cold front we are having it will be interesting to see what it does to the fishing.  I have a couple of things to do in the next few days but will be back at it in a day or two.

Panama, it just is not happening.  We spent a lot of time talking about it and just decided to cancel for several reasons.  First is the possibility of testing positive to the covi  and having to quarantine in Panama for 5 or 10 days before we could re-enter the US.  And since that period is a little up in the air we just were not willing to chance it.  We have both had our shots and are not worried about getting “sick” but being stuck in a hotel in Panama for a week or more is not on the schedule.

Second the airlines are not exactly having a good day either, with over 12,000 cancellations since Christmas.  (Actually, just saw on the news, now 15,000 since Christmas and over 1,400 today.)  Since it was not a non-stop that added to our decision, getting stuck at a layover would be the pits. When we combined the potential flight issues with the covi issues we decided discretion was the better part of valor.  The funny thing, these are airline tickets that have been paid for that have had to be canceled in the past due to this stupid pandemic.  But cancelling cost us nothing and the tickets are still parked in travel limbo.  And the hotel in Panama was not paid for so that was no problem.

In our travels we have been fairly lucky, this time it just did not feel right.  Traveling out of the country has its own issues on a good day, which is why our big trip this year is Alaska.  As of today, I am instituting a no foreign travel policy until this pandemic straightens out.  We have missed out on Africa, Thailand, and now Panama.   We have learned 2 very important things about out of the country travel that has saved us big $$$ over this pandemic.  First use a reliable reputable travel company, and second, travel insurance.  Stuff happens and while I am sad we decided to not go, we are going somewhere so not a total loss.

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

The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

Nice to get a Fayette report from our resident guru Rusty.

. Fayette Lake fishing reports: 20-30’ is where the bait fish are at , as well as really good bass. Ned rigs using watermelon/red Senkos Ton of boats fishing as well as mucho cast netters in the shallows. It’s been fun catching them. I’ve lost couple hawgs that will give me nightmares for a while. Mexico bass fishing coming up last of February . Tight lines mi amigo

I will admit I deleted some of his post, just say we are not getting any younger.  (Just back from the eye guy and will be having some laser surgery on Friday, no big deal.  It is hell getting old.)  But he fishes Fayette regularly and his reports are reliable.  And this one is like my current Coleto, more folks fishing, which will slow down now that the holiday season is over.  But it won’t last as spring is on the way.  Thanks for the report and can’t wait to get your Mexico report.

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

Oklahoma

Every once in while a Game and Fish Department does something innovative, and Oklahoma has done it.  While not what they are calling a complete 180 degrees turn around, it is close.  The statewide bass limit will go to 6, but only one may be over 16″ with the rest under.  Their studies for the last 20 years revealed that catch and release worked to well.  The science says a body of water can only sustain so many pounds of fish per acre based on its make-up, end of story.

I have been saying it for years, time to eat the small ones, it does not hurt anything.  This total catch and release philosophy is not based in science, unless you want tons of small fish.  There was a time, like when I first started guiding in Arkansas when the limit was 10 with no length requirement, when the fishing justified the new rules and catch and release was a good thing for the fishery.  But times have changed and bass fishermen need to get over it.  (Of course bass fishermen are all scientists, ask em!)  There are plenty of bass and if we want bigger fish time to eat some.  It may sound counter intuitive, but that is the facts.  A big congratulations on Oklahoma’s decision to follow the science.

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

Good!

An Italian anti-vaxxer and COVID-denier who sparked outrage after declaring himself a “plague spreader” and boasting about how he walked around sick and maskless in a supermarket is now dead of COVID-19.

Remember when it “was” just 15 cases and would be over soon?  And then when folks denied it existed, or that it was not as bad as they say? Or that the vaccine does not work?  (Tell that to the majority of folks on vents in the hospital who are not vaccinated.)  Say that to the face of folks who have lost their loved ones, or the folks in the hospitals and ERs who have worked their ass off and faced it head on for your freakin sake and see what response you get.  It is fools like this who are spreading it with no thought for others and could cause the death of you and your family.  It killed this fool, wonder how many people he infected?  He gives selfish POS a new meaning.  So no sympathy here, it could not happen to a more deserving person.

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

Today our high is expected to hit the low 70’s, which should really get the white bass moving.  As it will be a couple of days until I get there just have to wait and see.  I will be watching the weather for some cloudy weather for the Gulf, time to fish for that “one” bite.

But at the moment the car in the shop getting some fancy work and the truck is at the hospital, so no fishing for me.  Now I could have dropped her off but since the Boss works until midnight on this rotation I will pass.  We should have things back in order tomorrow and who knows, may hit the lake later in the day.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines