FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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It is Monday as I prep this for tomorrow’s fishing.  It is raining and it looks like the leading edge of the front will blow through later this afternoon and things look good for tomorrow and Wednesday.  From there it takes an ugly turn with a couple of days in the low 40’s with nighttime temps in the 20’s.  Let’s hope the powers that be have removed their head from their ass and we do not have another black out like last year.  I have read plenty and the verdict is still out on whether the system can handle another big freeze.  Funny how no one was responsible for last year.

It got warm and the gators were out and about today.

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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Let’s see.  Caught some on swim jig, crankbait, Knockin Tail on a jig head, Alabama Rig with Pearl Knockin Tail, jerkbait, topwater minnow, and probably something else I just can’t remember.  10 came over the side in the first hour and 4 came over the side on the last bank 7 hours later, it was one of those days.  So what is the problem?  I cannot pattern them, other than points.  But when you find them it is usually several in one spot but most are small.

The good news the water temp was up at least 5 degrees to the mid 60’s and even more in some places.  One thing it did was move one bunch I have been fishing from the point to the middle of a big cove on a secondary point.  Can you say pre-spawn?

This will do!

First, I have no idea how many I caught but it was a bunch, it helps when you catch 10 in the first hour.  The best bait today was clearly the jerk bait.  For some reason they actually wanted it paused longer today and the one above train wrecked it.  And I had one more bite that was in the same category, but with my superior skill I broke it off and lost my jerk bait.  It was actually weird, the Boss called while I was twitching it, and I stopped and went to the console to get the phone when one smashed it while I was going the other way and broke me off.

2 on crankbait and a jerkbait fish.

I wish I could be more specific but it really is a matter of keeping it in the water, no matter what you choice of baits.  It will all work right now.  And where?  Just depends.

First one is the last topwater fish.  There are tons this size right now, keeps it interesting.

It was cloudy with a light breeze out of the north until after noon.  It really was perfect for a late winter fishing day.  But as usual, we fishermen can never get the perfect conditions.  Around 1:00 it literally slicked off and cleared up.  There was barely a ripple and I was getting ready to quit when I removed head from rear end and remembered that it is topwater time.  So it was off to a cove with deep water and some brush way off the bank.

It was tough making a good cast with the balsa minnow but 2 jumped on in the first cove, and 2 more in the next.  The Bang O Lure pattern in winter into full on spring has always been good on Coleto, and the warming water temp put them back on the bank.  Which brings up tomorrow.  We have a huge front coming and from Thursday into Sunday it is going to be in the 40’s during the day and into the 20’s at night.  It will slow this thing down a little but at least there is fish to be caught.  You will have to wade thru plenty of little guys, but it is possible to get a big bite right now, and I cannot wait for tomorrow morning.

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I try my best to keep politics out of the blog, but I will never shut up on things like this.  The ex-President at his rally said he would pardon the folks from the violent assault of the Capital on 1/6.  Are you freakin kidding me?  You would pardon violent criminals convicted of assaulting and fighting with law enforcement? I do not want to ever hear out  of anyone’s mouth who support pardons for violent criminals who assault the police that they Back the Blue.  This is a simple either or, you support your police, or you don’t.  As I told my criminal defendants, assault the police and you will go to jail.  So now it is okay to assault and beat police officers and get a free pass?  I just do not get it.

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Don’t forget to watch Mark catch a slam on the Knockin Tail!

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I was lucky enough to meet Jake today out on the water.  Next time I will tell you a little more about him and a very interesting thing he does.  Suffice to say he makes a mean bait.  It was all about the fishing and will get the link up soon.

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See this.  It has saved me $100’s and $100 over the years.

The reason I am showing you this is how well it works.  There is very little this will not get out including A Rigs and crankbaits stuck on wood.  I have probably got that chartreuse crankbait out a good dozen times alone.  The point is why it is on a reel?  By using a reel, you can keep the line tight to the snag and then just clip the retriever on the line and ease it down and start to shake.  Without the reel it is just line and can be a mess, especially in the wind.  And the reel seems to hold enough line to reach most snags.  If it wasn’t for breaking them off on the bite I would lose very little tackle.

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Today was fun, tomorrow could be epic.  Big front coming, water warmed considerably with wind and clouds.  No excuses tomorrow.  And will add more topwater fishing in those places with little wind.  Then the bottom falls out and it will be in the house for several days.  But it is winter so no big deal.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines