FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Getting this together so it is ready to go after I fish tomorrow (Tuesday) has me reflecting on the fishing the last couple of weeks.  Every once in a while, you get on them and I am on them.  Of course, it really helps when they are up and on the chew.  Unfortunately, the water is dropping during the spawn, enough that it is visible everyday.  But they are persistent, and the bite has stayed consistent, make the right move at the right time and the big one can happen.  I hope it is cloudy tomorrow and there is a big cove or two that is out of the big blow just enough to fish the Knockin Tail 5″ Smoke Shad swimbait.  It just might produce a real one.

Weather

72/79.  Periods of clouds and sunshine; breezy in the afternoon with a 7% chance of rain.   Wind   ESE 15 – 38 mph.   (For God’s sake quit blowing!)

Lake Level

Today   96.55 msl.    Monday   96.58 msl.   (The water level drop is becoming serious. We need rain badly!)

Bite Time

Major   4:14 pm to   6:14 pm.     Minor   9:01 am to 10:01 am.

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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They did not like the air temp drop and add in the full moon and it really slowed down the bite first thing.  It had them slightly off their feed but I stayed with it and got my reward.  So while it was a little tougher, when you are catching fish like this hard to really call it tough. Where most had been just pulling the buzzbait under today they were blowing up on it, and lots were missing it.  The small ones, and they were most prevalent, ended up being hooked in the head, under the jaw, among other places.  Always thought the one in eye must hurt!

When one this size smokes a buzzbait it is a thing of beauty.  She has definitely not spawned yet.

The wind was blowing pretty good when I put in at daylight and it picked up from there.  It was blowing out of the north and as the morning wore on it slowly turned to the ESE and really started blowing.  When I quit it was white capping anywhere it could get up a head of steam

The only other good one on a buzzbait but it was not the fish’s fault.

Today there was no particular place any better than any other.  I was getting bit from smalls but the style of bank that produced the big bites was all over the place.  Some in coves but most today on outside stuff.  And the whacky bite had me missing some really nice ones, and I lost several.

And the spinnerbait did it’s part.

I threw the 5″ Smoke Shad Knockin Tail and ended up losing the biggest fish of the day.  It was right on the bank and I never felt the bite and did not catch up with her.  This might be one bait best thrown on braid.  The 2 big fish I have had on it neither smoked it, they just ate and swam and the braid might help feel it a little better.  Several others nipped at the tail or would swirl on it.  It seemed like that was the state of the bite all morning.  I have a feeling they are on the bed bigtime, and as I do not fish bedding bass I rarely even looks for beds so do not know for sure.  The moon was full last night and on the way to the lake as it started to barely crack daylight you could see it slowly clouding up, which probably had as much to do with the flakey bite and anything else.   I definitely lost more good ones than I landed today, and while plenty of smalls jumped on it was just a little tougher for me today.  But the fishing remains good and I have no complaints.

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There was a couple of things happening in the outdoors besides the fishing.  The turkeys up lake were having a gobble fest, which surprised me.  And I saw a covey of quail, the first I have seen in Texas.  Reminds me of my old hunting days, not the best shot but when a cover flushes at your feet it is always exciting.  Speaking of flushing at your feet there was an analogous situation this morning.  I was on a calmer bank throwing the buzzbait when all of a sudden a big ass, and I mean big, gator boiled right behind the boat.  Scared the crap out of me.  Plenty of small gators chase the buzzbaits but that is the first time I called a big boy in.  Just a little close for comfort.

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When I got to the ramp there was a note on my windshield from SA Joe to give him a call.  He is one of my long term readers and decided  to make the trip from San Antonio to fish.  And as it always is there is more than one way to skin a cat.  He caught 15 on the first  bank doing something exactly opposite of what I am doing,  He is fishing a speed craw on light line and catching them right and left.  Once it left the grass they were jumping it.  The only real difference is no big fish.  As it so often does this time of year it comes down to what do you like to fish?  Fish your strength, it will serve you well all year round.

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The Coleto Bassmaster tournament is on Coleto this Saturday and all I can say is put on your big boy pants.  It is going to take some serious weight, and 20lbs+ would not surprise me.  As we all know timing is often everything in fishing and with the way it is right now someone will smash them, it would not surprise me if it took one in the 9lb range to win big bass.  Almost makes me wish I still fished tournaments.  But on that note hope someone revives the Wednesday pot tourney, I will definitely be up for some of that.

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It has been a good run but like all good things it has to come to an end.   But that is all on me.  Some medical stuff the next couple of days, then the weekend with the grandkids so it will be next week before I am back on the water.  After looking at the forecast, which is for high winds the next 4 days it is a good time to take a break.  In the perfect world the wind will finally start laying next week and I can head to the Gulf.  The new 3 1/2″ and 5″ Knockin Tails are burning a hole in my tackle box.  The small one should be a numbers getter, and I expect to catch a sea monster on the 5″.

I want to take this time to thank all of you who have remained with me over the last 12 years.  This is my 1,531st post, that is a lot of posting.  I never in my wildest dreams did I think it would last this long.  The people I have met and the new friends I have added to my life makes it all worth it.  Everytime I begin to think this has a real shelf life I get renewed and on we go.  And when the fishing is like this it is easy to keep going.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines