FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Weather

Tides

Low 11:47 am.

Bite Times

Minor 7:07 am.  Major 4:52 pm.

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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Look so cool in the water.

The water looked great when we got to the river.  The temp was in the 60’s and the water level was low, so thought the tide was out but that turned out to not be the case.  It slowly fell all day.  Our first stop was down river and we started catching small trout, and it continued all day.  No matter the color or the size of Knockin Tail we used we kept catching them but there was only one problem, they were small.  Even the few rat reds and flounder that came over the side did not cut the mustard.

This is what they looked like all freakin’ day.

I did manage to break off an easy 20+ trout trying to hand land him at the boat.  It was nice one but it was not meant to be.  All days it was 3 or 4 here, 3 or 4 there.  We did not fish anywhere we did not catch at least one or two but just could not get on the good ones.  I put a few in the boat on a gold flake Soft Dine, saving my custom Coastal Marsh for the bay and a shot at a real one.

But the worst thing about the day, skeeters.  With it basically calm they were brutal until way late in the morning.  A friend of mine sent me a message asking how our day went, he was at the creek and they also ate them up.  One crazy thing about Texas winters, freezing and ugly one week, then the next it is in the 80’s with mosquitos driving you nuts.  Why my backseat in the truck has everything from weather gear to light rain gear, you never know for sure.

So the day was ok, if you like catching trout all day, we just did not find the “spot”.  But there is a bunch of trout in the river.  I even lost one when a I made a cast at the ramp before loading up.  It was one of those days that at times we would appreciate, catching fish all day.  But this time of year if can be so much better.  And it left a bad taste in my mouth when I lost the only good fish I had, and then a good flounder.  Shows you how the difference between a bad day, an ok day, a good day, and a great day is a fine line.

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Got this comment from Richard who is going to give the Knockin Tail a go.

I ordered my first Knockin Tail in white. Looking forward to trying it out in Rockport in mid December. Don’t fish there, so it will be hit or miss.

Good Luck.  Let me tell you a couple of things that will help some.  If you are using a jig head get the screw locks.  The Knockin Tail lasts a lot longer than many plastics and the screw lock keeps it from sliding down all the time or tearing as much, I often fish the same one all day unless I get broken off.  Use an 1/8th if it is shallow, 1/4 if deeper.

Now if there is grass go with a swim bait hook that has the screw lock to attach before you put the hook through.  When you get you baits look at the top and the bottom and you will see a line on both sides, allows you to get it on straight.  No matter what the straighter on the hook the better.  Usually, a 3/0 is about right with the 4″.  Don’t give up on them, once you get the hang of it it will be a permanent part of your arsenal.

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Aransas Wildlife Refuge

The Boss and I made out annal trek to the Aransas Wildlife Refuge to look for the Whoopers and got lucky to see 3 pairs.  They were way the hell out there and we could see them just fine with the good binoculars.  So here is a couple of pics, thanks to the 600 lens at least we could reach out and get a couple.

The Whoopers…..a long way off but we saw 3 pairs this trip.

A Roseate Spoonbill one of the really beautiful birds in this world.

As usual the rest of the cast of characters were out and about.  For serious birders there is a world of feathered friends to see and since we go there a couple times a year should probably buy a book.  At least we would know what some of the ones we are looking at are.  But we always like going and every trip you see something different.

Why serious birders from all over the world come to Aransas.

Plenty of gators.  The first one is all I could get of him but this was a monster.

There are lots of gators though the water is down in the ponds so we did not see as many.  But as long as it is not really cold you can always see some, and occasionally a real monster.

He got what he was after.

A cormorant, also known as a creepy shad eater. 

Mom and daughter.

There are plenty of deer, pigs, snakes and assorted other wildlife to see and like all real wildlife viewing timing is everything.  The Refuge is a great way to spend the day and with my “Old Man” pass it is free, though I think the $3 entrance fee is cheap for a chance to see one of the rarest birds alive.

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My fun fall continues.  3 days of fishing this week with a trip to the Refuge thrown in.  There is a great big world out there if you get outside.  We cannot all run rampant but spend some time outdoors no matter what it is when you can.  I will be fishing up a storm for the rest of the month before heading to Colorado.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines