FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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I am preparing this Sunday afternoon so I can be efficient with my time, in other words not let other’s incompetence mess up my fishing tomorrow.  The bank stays open late enough I can still fish much of the day and get there in time to get the last screw up fixed before we head out to the Great Smokey Mountain National Park.  Though I will be gone this week if you bass fish it should be on.  This last little front ran them off shallow water but pre-spawn to actual spawning fish will happen as the week wears on.

***************The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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I was sure right about them deserting the shallows.  The first thing I noticed was the lake is slowly dropping, guess it is time to start putting the levels and weather back in the report.  To “help” matters further the water temp dropped over the whole lake.  Most of it 4 – 8 degrees depending on where you were.  Add some ugly color here and there it was not a recipe for success, and guess I followed the recipe.

It would be embarrassing to post any of the other fish, it was slow.

The wind was light out of the north and cold.  To make a really short story shorter, it was 5 smalls on Alabama Rig and Knockin Tail, one on the Honeydew Knockin Tail on a jig head, nothing on swim jig or spinnerbait.  Since I wanted to check out the temps I fished scattered stuff from near the plant to all the way up the main arm.  Including coves, points, brush, fished a little of all of it.

It was not one of those lost the big one days, or could not stop catching the small ones, it was flat slow.  The only good bass hit the A Rig right beside the boat and did not hook up, it was nothing special.  And while I was up lake did a little checking on the white bass and caught the one above and a small bass on the chartreuse crankbait.  One thing I do not know for sure is whether they are done or not on yet.  If the weather does as it is supposed to the whites should be there, or it is over, but the bass fishing is going to be back, they are ready to spawn.

Probably the only thing I should have done was switch to the jerk bait.  I thought about it and then did not follow through, which was stupid considering the conditions.  And since I had to call it a day a little earlier than I wanted to if there was a bite it was later in the afternoon.  But that is the way it is with fishing, fish when you can and be happy you are there.  (But it will drive me nuts while I am gone, it is going to get serious good.)

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I got the following response from my buddy Clyde on my comment about pros running around the boat like a chicken with their head cut off landing a fish.

I remember your brother circling the boat on Falcon on back-to-back-to- back hogs!

Definitely a case of Falcon Lake Madness.  But anytime you catch 3 in a row that weigh well over 21lbs it is a case of whatever it takes.  Glad we got in on a few of the good old days on Falcon.  It was any cast.  With the water down for several years it just ain’t what it was.  Too bad the Mexican government has shown little interest in complying with the water treaties they signed with the US.  No big surprise.  No matter what Falcon needs some water.

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2 Favorite Quotes of the Day.

The Gazpacho Police  –

 Moron.

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Wishing Michael a good show as he will be taking the Knockin Tails on the road to the Bassmaster Classic.  The rattle in the tail has obvious multiple freshwater applications.  Plus, it catches fish.

We are off again.  The Boss has a travel habit that rivals my fishing habit.  But no complaints, just happy we can still keep after it.  The only time I was in the area was as a freshman in high school when our church group went and worked on the Cherokee Reservation.  We tubed a mountain stream and saw a bear, which is about all I remember about that trip.  But the Boss has not been to the Smokeys so it will be a good trip no matter what.  And if the timing is right, we should see a bear or two and will get the pictures up if we score.  Plus, it will probably be Travis the week I get back and if I can find a couple of good weather days’ time to fish the Laguna.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines