FISH CATCHING TRAVEL
The older I get the more I appreciate not being a one trick pony. To smack them on the bay and then turn around and do it at the lake is just plain fun. And today was fun. I decided to fish the lake as the conditions were perfect. They bit pitched plastics, spinnerbait, swim jig and even one on a jerkbait. But the real action ended up being on my favorite crankbait, a chartreuse 6th Sense square bill. I found that hanging from a bush on Falcon a couple of years ago and it turned out they really like it on Coleto. But there is a sad ending that we will get too in a little bit.
Weather
46/58. Cloudy with an 18% chance of rain. Wind NE 7 – 12 mph.
Lake Level
11 days ago, 95.95 msl. Today 95.70 msl,
Bite Times
Major 7:18 am to 9:18 am.
**************
The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.
For all your wading needs.
***************
Another Good Day
By far the best of the day. For a while the bite was on.
It was blowing steady at about 15 mph out of the north and it was really cloudy. The water temp was from the low to mid 60’s over most of the lake. The color is clear down lake and a little more color up. It was the perfect set of conditions to catch bass. Basically, I fished it all and did not get started on the crankbait until a little later in the morning. Most of the early fish were smaller, and it was ok until it started to drizzle, as you can see when I put the raincoat on. The bait ran about 4 foot deep and I was tossing it on 10lb mono and reeling it at a moderate pace with a 7.1 reel. A couple hit it right beside the boat, which I learned a long time ago is important. Basically, you can be reeling at little too fast, so I slowed down and the bite was on.
They were absolutely smoking the chartreuse square bill.
They were jumping on the crankbait, and it was not a question when you got a bite. As usual when they are eating like that a couple slack lined me, which is one of my favorite bites. It was a good mix of keepers and smalls, a great sign of things to come on the lake. They were biting right along when disaster struck.
It was all good until disaster struck. I am going to miss that crankbait.
I was just thinking that if I hung that bait up I would do anything to save it. On one stretch, which has deep and shallow areas, it was 6 or 7 when one smoked it right by the boat and went right in the trolling motor, my bait was gone. That thing has caught me tons of bass and it was one of those baits that they just like. You find that with any of the hard bait brands, some just work better and catch more fish. Whatever that difference is that crankbait had it. Just have to start looking for another one.
So it was just a crankbait right? Not so, it was magic. After I lost it, I never caught another fish on a chartreuse crankbait, and I threw 4 similar crankbaits at them without so much as a touch. Not sure if I have ever seen it quite like that, from banging away to not being able to buy a bite in the same area. As most of them were fairly shallow spinnerbait seemed like a viable option, and it was. 5 jumped on but not a one was worth a hoot. I spent a couple of hours trying this and that, but the big run was over. If the weather stays like this and we get a calmer day the Bang O Lure just might hurt them, or maybe a Controlled Descent Jerk Shad.
But what a great morning, definitely worth getting up for. I caught on everything I threw, and once I got the pattern it was great until I lost my bait. But it was [plenty of numbers with some good fish mixed in, and they were definitely on the chew. Looking at the weather it is going to stay like this for at least another week and it will have a positive effect on bay and lake. And I am watching the weather for a trip to North Padre and the Laguna, going to see if I can ge the big bite on the 5″ Knockin Tail. I love winter fishing. Time to put on your big boy pants, fight the wind and cold, and go catch some fish. So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff
Good Luck and Tight Lines
