FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

I have a real dilemma, where to start in the morning.  Not a bad problem to have.  My milk run is a long way from the other couple of places I have caught them.  There is more places closer together, but the lure of “new” water is strong.  And when you add to the choices will it be frog or buzzbait?  It sure would be nice if the clouds would hang around some in the morning to go along with the major period, it could be something.  I will be at the ramp before daylight ready to lay the smack down on them.

One beautiful morning!

Weather

74/94.  Partly sunny and humid; with a 40% chance of a shower in the area in the afternoon.  E   8 – 24 mph.

Lake Level

Today    96.84 msl.   Friday     96.87 msl.  (Holding our own but a little more rain would not hurt.)

Bite Times

Major     8:36 am to 10:36 am.

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

The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

Conditions on the lake remain the same.  Temp in the mid to high 80’s with a little to a lot off color depending on where you are.  The wind was light and it was partly cloudy but when the clouds did come over they did not stay long.  I was expecting a good morning but it ended up being far from that.  Part of it turned out to be my fault.

The best I could manage this morning.  White swim jig and Bone Knockin Tail.

The plan was to quick fish a couple of the good spots with buzz bait and then spend time with the white swim jig with a Knockin Tail and the frog.  Too bad it did not exactly work out that way.  First up the bank that has been producing regularly only one jumped on.  Then another “good” spot just a couple of shorts.  So, at this point guess you would call it spun out.  I fished one more place up lake and caught the one above on swim jig along with a short.  I cranked it up and ran all the way up the plant arm to try a couple of new spots.  That did not go nearly as well as planned.

The rest looked like this.

3 made the most half hearted pass at the frog, I probably should have caught one of those but it was a swing and miss.  As I was moving, I saw a small flat point on the inside of a cove with nice cover, which has been part of the pattern.  The perfect cast and a real one absolutely smoked it.  Set the hook, a huge jump, and off she went.  Probably the biggest fish I have had on in a while.  Just did not get the rod down quick enough.  Too bad, it was a big fish.

Before I quit, I ended up catching 3 more all on buzzbait.  I just could not get the other baits to work.  Not sure what that was about.  But the pattern still holds.  The “sure” thing continues to be flatter points with cover, especially if you can find one on the inside edge of a big cove not that far back in.  There is rarely more than one but they are there.

I fished several places I have not fished in a while, one of them where the big girl was.  But most of the places I added did not produce a fish.  So give me the credit for that, they just did not either have any or I fished the wrong bait.  Probably should have stayed with the buzzbait all day.  And where I caught the bigger fish last trip not a bite.  But it is what makes fishing what it is.  Just about the time you get to thinking sure thing they remind you, we are fish, we have tails, and some days we just are not having it.

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

There was a couple of other things that made the morning, at least on shore.  When I parked the truck after dropping in it was still dark and someone called my name.  It was Colton who was meeting a friend, who showed up while we were chatting.  Sorry I do not remember his name, my bad, but sure do like the baits he gave me.  They will get a workout.  And I had been meaning to ask Colton his preference on the soft jerk plug he throws on the bay which he filled me in on.  Thanks to both of you, appreciate the info and the baits.

And when I took out saw Johnnie one of the Coleto regulars in the bass club.  He reports he struggled the last 2 times out; it happens to the best of us.  But a big thanks for the venison jerk sausage, good stuff.  So between the baits and jerky I came home with more than I left with.  Love talking to folks at the ramp.  You never know what you might learn.

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

The early 70’s was a period of change in fishing.  Bassmaster, boat and engines, progressing at a breakneck speed.  Shot gun madness starts at our tournaments.  New lures coming every day.  We thought we were all that when we got our reels to 5:1 by changing the bearings.  So, when I saw a picture of Lenny on the original Mercury Black Max ad from the early 70’s it brought back tons of old memories.  Our buddy Lenny, who the Boss and I later worked with on the ambulance, became the Black Max and thus the name of the iconic Mercury Motor.  Lenny owned a boat dock on Bull Shoals and was an excellent fisherman who would tear the smallmouth a new one every spring.  Those were the days.

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

Today they were just off, but who knows I might have zigged when I should have zagged.  Until we have a big change in the weather or lake level it should stay like it has been.  With stuff to do tomorrow will start prepping to head to Colorado in a few days but will be back on the water somewhere.  Who knows, might even head to POC.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

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