FISH CATCHING TRAVEL
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Okay, I know you are sick of hearing about the wind. Well, here I sit on Sunday afternoon looking at the weather planning for the week. And for the next 4 days we are talking over 30mph every day! It will not stop me from going to the lake but it does nix the bay where it will be up to 30 mph and more. I am just not interested in the pounding coming back. And no complaints anyway as I plan on trying to feed a big bass the 5″ Knockin Tail. Plus this period on the lake will be over soon and it is time to take advantage of the bite. Once the spring bite is over, it is over. The trout aren’t going anywhere.
Weather
60/88. Mostly sunny and very warm with a 25% chance of rain. Wind ENE 12 – 27 mph.
Lake Level
Friday 96.62 msl. Today 96.58 msl. (Amazing how often lakes get a drop during the spawn which does not help a lick. We need rain badly!)
Bite Time
Major 3:17 pm to 5:17 pm. Minor 8:16 am to 9:16 am.
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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.
For all your wading needs.
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And speaking of trout a couple of the best trout fishermen I know had a little something to say about trout fishing since the freeze. One said it just isn’t what it used to be, and this guy catches big trout most of us just dream about. The other intends to start freshwater fishing more. Both agree the numbers are down significantly. So let the big experiment begin. Hopefully the 3 fish limit will replenish stocks by time it ends in August 2023. And my compliments to the guides who are going with the flow and giving the trout a rest. I do think an interesting study for TPWD would be requiring guides to keep a log of their catches/kept and comparing it to the rest of the fishing public. The numbers would sure be instructive. And think that is to much “work”? We the citizens provide you your office and your product to sell, not many industries or professions like that so it doesn’t seem to much to ask your to let us know what you took.
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Waking a Spinnerbait
I had a couple of interesting question and I realized while I have been talking about spinnerbait fishing, I left a few things out so here is the basics. These are based on 50 years of fishing spinnerbaits and I am set in my ways, it is not just tossing and reeling. And my experience in the “old days” on the clear highland lakes serve me well to this day. But remember most of this pertains to waking a spinnerbait, a very precise technique in application and time of year.
First let me say you can catch them fishing it slow, buzzing it fast, or anything in between, day or night. As an example I have caught bass over 9lbs slow rolling it on Falcon, and in that range buzzing it on Coleto. And as long as you have fish less than say 20 feet it is possible to catch them year round. For me it is the spring time buzzing that gets my blood running.
When it comes to baits there are plenty of options. I keep it simple. As the bite this time of year is a true reaction bite, you are tying to entice a big bass to explode on it without thinking. This is generally a clear water pattern, you want them to come for it so it is also a shallow water pattern. As far as blades my preference is a tandem spin with a #2 Colorado or round blade on the front and a #5 or 4 willow blade on the back. Whether a 3/8th or a 1/2 ounce the most important factor is does the bait run straight up and down? When the fish looks up it should be one streaking “shad” under the wake made by the blade right below the surface. I can not stress how important it is to keep it running straight. If you think about it this is the small version of smoke trolling for marlin. Same principal.
As far as the wire I am a big fan of a lighter wire on the bait. Part of what makes it so enticing to good fish is not only the flash of the blade but the vibration, so the finer the wire the better the vibration. I want to feel it “pulling back” as I crank, which is what ends up making it work. And at times a trailer or trailer hook might be appropriate, just depends on the conditions.
In Arkansas those lakes historically have little cover so a couple of things come in to play. First, a trailer hook will catch a few more and there is little to get hooked on compared to say Coleto or Falcon, on Amistad I use one all the time. But when we talk about trailers, plastics, that is another story. Going back to rule one the bait has to run straight and most plastics want to tilt it to one side or the other, plus it is not the kind of “drag” you are looking for. Again using Arkansas as an example, due to the clear water the addition of a trailer increases the profile and action. When trying to call the from deeper water it helps. A thin twister style trailer is the biggest I use when I do, but when you are slow rolling and bottom bumping a craw style plastic is fine.
When we are talking about buzzing speed can kill. So let me tell you how I do it. First, from the time I cast until it hits the water I switch the rod to my other hand so that I am reeling the minute it hits the water. As soon as it gets to the top I slow it down, not slow but steady quick. Why? The problem with a high speed reel, as in 7 plus, reel it to fast and it will pop out of the water. Occasionally you will catch one that way (Generally fall.) but it is not the plan. You want to get it on top making a wake and then keep a steady pace. This is no hop and drop or shake thing, this is a fleeing shad. While most come close to the bank what makes this style of fishing so fun was reinforced this week when several big fish blasted it closer to the boat (See above.) than the bank, I got to see them eat. To make a really big bass expend that much energy to eat is what it is all about.
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I continue to feel ambivalently about the forward-looking sonar and other variations. I fully understand it for guides and hard core tournament fishermen but for the average fishermen it seems to take some away from the outdoor experience. While watching fishing Sunday morning one of the guys was talking about using it and said the following: “We will just stare at this all day.” That about says it all. What about the alligator eating the duck? Or the big bucks fighting? Or a killer sunset? The older I get the more I realize it is just not all about the catching. Do I want to catch a bucket full? Of course, but there is a lot more going on in the outdoors than staring at a video screen all day.
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Congratulations to Colton Knipling, Chase Blackwell, and Colton Blackwell, Team Everlast, the Team of the Year in the Saltwater Legends series tournaments. Basically 4 months of working their tail off this is an epic performance and is a credit to their hard work. When you consistently put trout over 8lbs on the scale in all weather and under stressful conditions you have earned it. They should be proud.
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Of all things I have a couple of friends contacted me as they are looking for a boat. Of course you regular readers know I look at them constantly, often daily. And it is still tough out there. The price of used, especially 15 year old and up is high. Now in some cases no big deal, others no way. When looking at older boats the company reputation and construction techniques, as in NO wood, combined with the ability to have it refurbished and repowered can justify a higher price. Both guys need something for fresh and salt, which always involves compromise. If it is going to be used in the salt then that takes precedent even if used mostly in freshwater when deciding what to buy. Right now the best plan seems to buy a quality manufacturer and go from there. I will keep watching.
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I will fish a couple of days this week but do have some things to do. Medical issues a day (I have avoided the medical community as long as I can.) and then off to Oklahoma City to spend some time with the Grandkids. They are getting bigger and we are getting older. Funny how it works that way, so we want to start spending a little more time with them. Not even a guess how tomorrow will go on the lake but at least I will have a rod in my hand. So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.
Good Luck and Tight Lines
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