FISH CATCHING TRAVEL
The bite I live for! She blasted it!
It was still dark when I got to the ramp. The wind was light, the water temp remains in the mid 70’s though the watercolor had deteriorated somewhat down lake. While I normally do not fish the weekend we had a big front coming through yesterday evening and I was banking on it staying cloudy for a while, which it did. And the fishing was definitely better than the other 2 days this week.
Weather
56/79. Not as warm with times of clouds and sun with a 6% chance of rain. Wind NE 7 – 15 mph.
Lake Level
Two days ago 95.99 msl. Today 95.95 msl. (The slow declines resumes.)
Bite Times
Major 11:01 am to 1:01 pm.
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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.
For all your wading needs.
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About the only pattern that seems to have held is big stumps with some water over them and deep water close. I headed to a bank that is exactly that, and the one above was my second bite. What made that bite so amazing is how it happened. She came out of a stump in over 5 foot of water, and literally smashed it with 5 feet of line out right beside the boat. It was the classic bite that I love so much on buzzbait. Big fish like this don’t screw around, they usually kill it, and she sure did.
Love it when they are eating a buzzbait.
I stuck with buzzbait until around 9:00 when it slowed down and the sun started peaking through the clouds. But until then they were on it. The buzzbait put 8 or so in the boat the first couple of hours. Then the one above added to the good bite as she smashed it. No matter who many I catch on buzzbait there is just something about a bigger fish eating it with gusto. It keeps me fishing it.
From that point on I threw several other baits. The spinnerbait might have accounted for 2 or 3, a jerk bait a couple, and a few on the swim jig. A couple probably measured though on the small side, but at least they were biting. As the clouds slowly went away so did the bite. But things are looking up as far as numbers. But at this point I don’t have a pattern, and I am not sure but both of the good ones today could have probably been caught on other baits. It really is a matter of timing, get up early and be ready because it does no last long but there is a chance to catch a real one.
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Now I am not exactly looking but if a good 14 – 16′ Lund or equivalent came up I would sure consider it. Basically wanting something light with a V, a small motor is preferred, with a trailer for fishing the small lakes around South Fork. Of course it all has to be titled, not interested in wading through that mess. Does not have to be anything special or even a late model, I can handle locators and trolling motors etc. No hurry but I will be spending quite a bit of time out there and there are plenty of lakes within an hour of town. But with most on gravel light and not to pretty fits the bill.
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When the bite quit it was good timing. I got home in time to watch the second half of the A&M game and it sure was ugly. Not sure what is going on there but wonder if they feel like they are getting their $90,000,000 worth. They have now lost 5 in a row, the first time since 1980. Ouch. His record is now worse than Sumlin’s and they rode him out of town on a rail. So only time will tell how long Aggie fans can take it.
I do not wish them any ill will but hope this is a warning to all teams, fork out the big bucks with much/all guaranteed and I have no sympathy for you. If memory serves they even gave him a contract extension last year. Not sure what for but there just might be a real expensive lesson here.
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Arkansas, and I called the A&M game ugly. There is not much to say but we played terrible. Could not block, tackle, pass, run, in fact not sure we could do anything. But on a side note can see why Liberty is rated in the top 25, but that is no excuse. This was our worst effort of the year. It has been a long time since I have heard boo’s in Razorback stadium.
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Not sure what or where is next but it will be on the water for a few days. Then a quick trip to Arkansas to see my mom and hopefully the grandbabies. But no matter what I am ready for winter and it sure would help the lake fishing. The creek and the river could use some cold weather to move more fish in, hopefully making it a better fall/winter than last year. So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.
Good Luck and Tight Lines
