FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Weather

56/77   Rain showers early with overcast skies later in the day. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.

Bite Times

Major 12:43 pm to 2:43 pm.  Minor  1:13 pm to 2:13 pm.

************** 

The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

After smoking them on the creek the last couple of trips decided to head to the lake.  When you have been a bass fisherman for the last 50 (Yikes!!!) obviously I like to catch them.  Plus, as we get closer to the end of the month I will keep checking on the white bass at least weekly.  Can’t wait to smoke, literally, a pile of them.

The weather was cloudy and calm, the water temp came up a hair to the mid 60’s and higher with an air temp of 60 when I dropped it in at daylight.  To make an ugly story short until I started throwing spinnerbait around noon it was slow.  Crankbait did not produce a fish, but with no wind not surprising.  What was is the swim jig only produced 2.  But there was a clue, but not sure what it meant.

Best I could manage today.

When I started trolling for white bass to see if the big bunch is up yet there were shad dying.  They were threadfins about 2″ long and were fluttering on the top.  Last week there were no shad upriver but with the water temp up they came back after the cool down.  Trolling put 2 in the boat really quick both standard Coleto size, and a couple of small bass.  Then I had an epiphany – give the bass some shad looking stuff.

I keep checking and they are not quite there yet.

Last early spring the silver spoon and White Ice 4″ Knockin Tail put the hurt on them in the new bushes.  Right now we only have old dead bushes but there are some.  Not sure why the following happened – I had 5 smack it and not a one came over the side.  One hooked up for a second, but the rest did not.  Not sure if it was a color thing or operator error.  I even tried putting it on a heavier rod but the little bigger line seemed to reduce bites.

Finally about noon the wind began to blow some out of the south.  So I cranked it up and ran down lake to the windiest, brushiest place I could find.  Picked up the spinnerbait and proceeded to catch 3 including the one above.  They were right on the bank in the stuff, and of the 5 I ended up catching only 1 came more than about 3 cranks of the reel handle.  And only 2 bites counting one that I missed came away from the stuff, they were not interested in chasing.  Thinking back on it now should have got the Controlled Descent Jerk Shad out, put it on a heavy rod and tossed it all the way in.  Might have lost a couple but if that is where they are that is the price you often have to pay.

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

We are getting close to closing on the house so next week will be contacting utilities and all those things needed with a new house.  We are simply going to continue whatever local services they have so it will be seamless as they will be in the home until closing.  Since it is furnished (And I actually like the decor.) it really helps so will just have to get out there and see what else it needs.  But not having to mess with furniture is a big ass bonus.  I threatened the move to Victoria was my last and to not have to move stuff will be a blessing when the Boss retires.

One thing I thought of was snow chains.  Growing up in the north country tons of snow is no big deal.  I remember giant drifts on the way to the cheese factory down the road with grandpa on the sleigh pulled with his giant draft horses.  Really aging myself with that.  So that part of it is nothing new for us.  But in Colorado some of the passes in the area the house is require snow chains to even drive on them when it is coming down.  They came and tomorrow the Boss and I will practice taking them off and on.  Pulled over in the chain lane during a snowstorm is probably not the time to learn how to do it.

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

And I got this comment from Larry.

Doug:
Just wanted to let you know that I had the Carolina Skiff out in the creek yesterday and
it handled like a champ!
Do you happen to have the manual to the “Lowance 5 HDI” ?

Glad to hear it.  That boat will be chugging along for someone way after we are gone.  And creeks and rivers is where it really shined.  Unfortunately, I bought that unit as a display at Academy and if memory serves right it did not have one, big surprise.  But there are plenty available online, which is not as good as one in the hand but they are out there. Thanks for reading.

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

The weather sure looks good for next week though the wind will be in play.  Guess I will keep alternating between fresh and salt and I am still waiting for the 2 better days in a row for a trip to the laguna out of Bird Island.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines