FISH CATCHING TRAVEL
No real change in conditions other than it is slowly clearing. It was dead calm at daylight and basically stayed that way all morning. The water temp was down maybe a degree but basically the lake has remained stable on a very slow rise. Though I am not a big fan of getting up early a boat ride as the sun starts to come up is always on my happy list. Makes you appreciate the day, and today did not disappoint.
Weather
73/93. Partly sunny with a 40% chance of thunderstorm in spots in the afternoon. Wind NNE 7 -12 mph.
Lake Level
Tuesday 96.89 msl. Today 97:05 msl. (It is still on the rise.)
Bite Time
Major 10:59 am to 12:59 pm.
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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.
For all your wading needs.
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As long as this keeps happening, I will keep getting up.
I am fishing shallow; it is what I like to do and as long as this keeps happening it is a no brainer. I am sure there are plenty of other patterns and ways to catch them but when they are eating the buzzbait it is hard to beat. It is not fast by any means, in fact I only caught 13 this morning, 4 were ok. Just a steady medium retrieve is doing the trick.
This one came fairly far off the bank.
Other than a good one the other day who smashed it, these are more eating it. Often barely pulling it under so you had to be on your toes. It is interesting that they are not right on cover and getting a bite with the buzzbait on wood or bushes themselves is rare. I think what they are doing up there is actively feeding at daylight, so they are in there chasing bluegill and shad. Once the sun comes out they flat desert those places.
A buzzbait fish. A good one swimming the 5″ Pearl Knockin Tail in the cover.
I continue to try new places but have not really added any to my current milk run. Of course, part of the problem is by time I get done with those places and try new spots the bite has seriously slowed down. And that was the result today. Before it completely stopped, I wanted to wallow the 5″ Pearl Knockin Tail through a couple of shallow places and the one on the right smoked it. I caught one more on it and missed a couple. No doubt starting with that at daylight in the good spots would produce. As it got closer to noon tossed the stick worm and 4″ Honeydew Knockin Tail on a jig head and both caught a small, but it was go home slow at that point.
They really slowed as it completely went flat and the sun came out. With the water noticeably clearing it makes sense that they would desert the shallows once the sun really comes out. Just means you have to be up early and gone if you want that good morning bite. But all in all, a good morning. Cool to see a couple of baby gators, no wonder I have been seeing one in the same place the last couple of weeks, probably momma.
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I spoke with one of the real young guns who is a great bay and tournament fisherman the other day and it just confirmed what I am constantly hearing, the trout are tough at POC. In his words: “There is just no trout.” He did confirm the fishing in Baffin is better right now, which we sure found. One way to tell is the occasional online dead fish picture that has 5 or 6 trout. Tough when you are proud of 3. Only time will tell next year if the new limits help. It is slim pickings right now on the trout but there are plenty of reds.
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And speaking of Baffin looks like Michael and the film crew got enough fish for a good show. Multiple overs on the reds and one good trout will definitely make the show. It will probably not be out this year, not sure, but will let you know when it is on. At this point I am watching the motel where I stay on N. Padre waiting for the rate to get back to reasonable. Planning on fishing it a lot more than in years past.
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It is great to watch gas prices fall. But it leaves me with a question: Why has engine oil not gone down? It is a little tough to swallow that Opti oil has hit almost $60 a gallon. Can’t imagine what it is costing folks running the 250 hp and up or the guides who are fishing 20+ days a month. At least my mechanic has the last of a 50-gallon drum and is still charging $45 when you bring your own jug. Guess that is why Chevron is doing so well on the stock market.
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No real plan going forward so unsure if will fish another day before the weekend. But I know one thing for sure, the Hogs 11:00 Saturday then the Cowboys Sunday night so football is getting going big time. And I am 11 days from Colorado, and when I get back it is off to the Chandelier Islands for our annual trip. Nothing like fall. So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.
Good Luck and Tight Lines
