FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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It was stunning this morning.

My day started not quite the way I would like it but it made a comeback.  The problem?  I spent $350 before the sun came up.  The Coleto annual and $100 gas in the truck and boat, which did not fill either one.  It was raining close by with lightning, but after looking at the radar it looked like a go so I headed to the lake.

It was barely daylight when I put in.  The lake is obviously dropping, the color was a little off the farther up lake you go, and the temp was in the mid 80’s in most places.  I started with buzzbait and a couple committed but once the sun came up that went by the wayside.

Weather

73/94.  Times of clouds and sun with a 80% chance of rain with a couple of thunderstorms.  Wind  SE  10  – 22 mph.

Lake Level

Today   95.32 msl.   7/6/2022 (Last time I fished it.)  –  95.75 msl.

Bite Time 

Minor   10:35 am   to   11;35 am.

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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The good news, landed a big one. 

The bad news, went 1 for 3 on fish bigger than this one, guess I am a little bit rusty.   They were definitely biting this morning and if I had done my part it would have been a really good day, but since I had not fished the lake in weeks boating 15 give or take a few it was not a bad summer morning.

Several like these.

2 jumped on the buzzbait early but I went to plastics as soon as the sun was up.  It stayed cloudy/partly cloudy with a 15 mph wind.  As far as the plastics it was the Berkley Pit Boss, a stick worm, and a 9″ worm.  They all got bit, one of the big fish I lost was on the big worm, she took off and just pulled off, then I broke another off.  The punch line, any color is fine as long as it is a variation of watermelon red pumpkin color.  And there were lots of smalls who would run with it but not there when setting the hook.  But you fish like each bite is the big one and bites are bites.  And this morning they kept after it.

Skinny Minnie on the buzzbait.

They were on wood but of course not all wood.  About 10:30 the wind came up a little so since I was getting my bites shallow time for the bluegill swim jig with a Rage Craw trailer and one jumped on the first cast.  On one point I boated 2 out of 3 and had the other big fish jump off, which I got a good look at.  So I stayed with that the rest of the morning alternating with the plastic to any wood.

I quit at 1:30 and they were still biting a little.  When it was all said and done not a bad morning.  Looking at the weather looks like I will leave the boat hooked up.  It is going to be sunny and a lot warmer tomorrow so will try to be at the gate when they open at 6:00.  After the way it went today I have some ideas, and plan on not losing any big fish in the morning.

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As I watch a little football this weekend I decided to look back at Coleto’s water level a year ago compared with today.

• 8/13/2021   –  98.18 msl.
• 8/13/2022   –  95.31 msl.
• 7/6/2022 (Last time I fished it.)  –  95.75 msl.

Last year when it came up in early summer they went to the new cover and it was buzzbait and silver minnow with a Pearl Knockin Tail.  Not sure what might be working now but with the water still dropping not sure it will be either of those but only time will tell.  The water is almost to the end of the ramp so it has fallen quite a bit.  But it sure did not affect the bite.

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I finally decided to get the skiff out and make sure it was functioning properly.  It started right up but unfortunately it was not peeing on the muffs so off to the shop it went.  It really has not been used enough since the last tune up, never a good thing for an outboard.  It had a mud dauber nest in the hole a few months ago and cleared up when I ran a wire through it, but obviously it did not last.  But as soon as I get it back it will be up for sale.  The time has come, if it is not being used it needs a new owner who will use it.  The hull is a 2000 and the engine is a 2010.  It has served me well and from bluegill to tarpon, on rivers, lakes and bays, it has caught it share.  I will be sorry to see it go but it has served its purpose.

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It was good to be back on the water.  It has been a long stretch looking back on it.  Salmon in Alaska, Snook in the Everglades, trout in Colorado, and back to bass on Coleto.  A lot of miles.  Will be taking it easy for a little, but still want a couple of days on the bay.

I did get called for jury duty on Wednesday so just have to see how that goes.  It all depends on what kind of case it is.  If it is a criminal case then the prosecution will want me off, if it is civil who knows.  But it is the duty of all of us to show up and if selected do your best.  But no matter what it will be back on the water soon.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

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Off Topic –  Sad State of Affairs

At times I am amused by the fickle nature of the electorate.  This country has a real schizophrenic problem with law enforcement.  It seems to come down to either you do, or don’t “really” support them, which is what is happening right now.  We now support them when we agree with them.  You either give law enforcement (FBI) the benefit of the doubt until things shake out or you don’t.  Making snap judgements without all the info is not the best way to go.

And last Rudy, Rudy, Rudy.  He has been informed he is a target of the voting case in Georgia.  Basically that means we already have enough to indict you so now is your chance to get ahead on this.  Which means talk or take it like a man.  Tough choice at his age.  But trust me, after representing hundreds of criminal defendants, almost everybody will rat.  You cannot even trust your best friend.  Once the serious jail threat comes folks start thinking about helping themselves.

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