FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

What is not to like about this?  One great morning!

The only real difference from yesterday’s report is the water temp was 87 at the ramp, up a couple of degrees over most of the lake.  There are still some areas with a little color but as a whole the lake is clear and fishing well.  And the punch line, looks like the big worm is the ticket.  I may have caught on spinnerbait, 3 kinds of worms, and a couple of smalls right off the bat on buzzbait, but the big worm got it done.

Weather

76/98.  Partly sunny, hot and humid; breezy this afternoon; caution advised if outside for extended periods of time with a 25% chance of rain.   Wind   SSE  12 – 30mph.

Lake Level

Today   95.75 msl.   Yesterday   95.77 msl.

Bite Times

Major   7:02 am to 9:02 am.

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

The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

Use a big worm, catch a big fish.

Just dinking and dunking around, hitting a few different spots while alternating baits and I was getting bit.  Around 8:30 the Boss called on her way to work, and the bite was on.  It was a rocky point and the fish were right on the bank.  Most hit it before it hit bottom, and while most were on the small side the one above also came over the side along with 5 or 6 more.  It sure seems like if you want to increase your hook up percentage you had to let them eat it.  I prefer not to do that, keeps the stomach hooking down, but today setting the hook to early resulted in them getting your worm.  So I let them swim with it just a little before setting the hook.

Spinnerbait will still catch a few.  But looks like worm is about to take over.

The morning was very similar to yesterday.  The fish were near wood of some sort, and I caught several making multiple casts to the same structure.  That also resulted in catching a couple off one good-looking spot.  So there are still fish shallow.  The spinnerbait bite is still on, but they are basically all on the small side so my best advice – throw that big worm.

Along with a great sunrise stuff was on the move.  Saw a bunch of deer, a coyote, and a big flock of turkeys.  I could hear them in a big pasture and as I fished by they were not too concerned.  And the gators were out in full force.  As it is so often when stuff is moving around the fish are biting.  As my old buddy Jimmy Wakenight used to say:  If the cows are laying down on the way to the lake it will be slow.  And today was the exact opposite of that.  It was one of those great days to be on the water, at least until noon.  It is ugly out there right now but get out early and get it done.

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

And from our Texas Game Wardens.

Over the 2022 4th of July Weekend and as part of Operation Dry Water, Texas Game Wardens:

1.) Patrolled 10,202 hours

2.) Contacted 12,537 vessels

3.) Administered 332 standard field sobriety tests

4.) Issued 1,976 warnings

5.) Issued 1,560 citations

6.) Filed 49 Boating While Intoxicated charges

Statewide, there were 38 reportable boating accidents, 1 boating related fatality and 10 drownings.

Our thoughts and prayers are with those who lost a loved one over the holiday weekend.

Were you stupid enough to drink and boat this weekend?  Every holiday weekend I remind folks, don’t do it.  Not only do you put our life in danger it is definitely amateur hour when the Wardens are out in force.  So, stop it, it is not worth it.  And like it tends to be tickets still top 10% of all boats stopped, which is still to high.  When will folks learn?

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

And speaking of game wardens I met our local warden at the ramp.  He has been in Victoria over a year and should be getting another partner in the next month or so.  He is a good guy, and we are lucky to have him.  (He reported things were not out of control at POC this weekend, maybe folks are finally getting it.)  And as a side note:  The crappie are biting and they are around 15′ deep and bunched up.  Just saying.

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

The joys of boat ownership, it knows no bounds.  When I dropped the boat in there was a truck on the ramp with a guy in a beautiful Ranger.  Brand spanking amazing, it had all the bells and whistles.  Only one problem, it would not start.  His comment to me:  $90 k and the (*&^^ won’t (*&#6 start.  His problem was way above my pay grade.  But it reminds me of cars, all the “stuff” is great, but when it won’t work it is not all that great.  I felt sorry for him, what a drag.

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

It would be self-serving to post all of your follow up comments to my last post but suffice to say I hear you.  Your comments were humbling.  And I saved a couple for the information you included so thanks for that, but I will keep these particular comments to myself.  But it means I will keep plugging along.

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

Not sure what or where is next but I am feeling it right now, heat be damned.  But hey, I am heading to the Everglades so I should not be complaining.  And I am really getting excited about Florida, lots of boxes can get checked on this trip.  So, keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines