FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My Coast Outdoors

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

It has been raining for a couple of days now and it looks like we have a couple additional inches (or more) on the way.  It is possible the Gaudalupe will hit major flood stage, and with some areas north of here already getting 8″+ and still raining it should do just that.  We can whine all we want about the rain but we need it.  The Boss and I took a little ride to Coleto (Wednesday) and on the way crossed the Guadalupe.  The river was higher and muddy, but not excessively, and the water has come up at the lake.  There are a couple of reasons I bring this up.  Of course the water level and the ramp.

Yesterday  Much better.  We were getting closer to having to watch out for the end of the ramp when backing in.

I decided to hold off posting this report yesterday to for a comparison.  Today.  It came up a ton overnight.

Notice the small point right past the sign on the right, and that the sign was out of the water. 

When I put in the other day if you drew a line from that point across to the campground that is where the water ended and land began.  So the whole backend is now covered with water though it is only a few inches it is a sign of things to come.  It will be a lot higher when I put in tomorrow.

What will make tomorrow interesting is just what will happen with all the new water.  It will not help the sonar/gps are not in yet so I will have no idea what the temp will be other than the rain has been in the 60′ so it should be similar to what it was before the rain.  Nor will I have mapping but at this point but not needed on Coleto.

Over the decades I have seen a huge reservoir come up 29 feet in 24 hours, to absolute mud baths dropping the water temp 25 degrees and everything else between.  So tomorrow will be paying big attention to watercolor first and foremost.  Then 2 stops at newly flooded back ends of defined creeks to be sure they did not move with the rise.  That is something you do not want to miss, especially if the new water is significantly warmer than the lake, because if they come it is in mass and results in epic catching.  Pretty sure that will no be the case, it not quite “late” enough in the pre-spawn.  It is often best when right before the spawn but no matter that is easily checked.  The next check is newly flooded grass near deep water, again easily ruled out but in my dreams that is where they will be because we are about to have lots of it.  And of course, it lends itself to how I like to fish.  If neither of them works out will just seek out the usual wintering spots and go from there.  Over the years there are times when it seems like they disappear, and is often a good bit until things settle down.   When all is said and done you just do not know until you go.

***********

Today

I actually caught a few.

I decided to head to the lake specifically for the purpose of adding a few more hours to the engine and get it closer to broke in.  After our visit to the lake yesterday just to check it was amazing crossing the Guadalupe as it was full on flooding with more to come.  When I crossed Coleto Creek itself it was flooding so I knew water was going over the spillway and boy was it.  So, once I got to the ramp I was not surprised.  But as you can see from the picture above it came up a good 2 1/2 feet overnight.

I was not really expecting to catch fish so I just headed up lake to see where the mud line was.  Actually the whole lake is off color and there is literally trash everywhere.  As you head above the bridge and round the corner it was completely trashed out.  So to check the plant arm headed back down and just stopped here and there.  The discharge was running full steam and it was cold with a few dead tilapia.  I did stop and ask the only other guy out what the water temp was and he said 57, so not a big drop.

Swim jig was the ticket today, and I caught 4.  Re-fishing the area with other stuff produced not a bite.

Once you head up the plant arm when you get to the houses and the big turn it was muddied out with tons of trash.  In fact almost all the coves had trash floating, and the only place the water color was worth a hoot was the lower end, but I expect that to change as more water comes.  I have not seen the lake this high in years.

The ones I did catch I never felt, it just got mushy.

The plan today was to drive a half hour, stop and check a place real quick and move on.  I was hoping to get several hours in and before it was over I probably checked 6 places, and other than one spot not a bite.  But I stuck to the plan and the place that had a few was what I suspected, flooded buck brush on a point near deep water.  Without a sonar, they will be here tomorrow, I can only guess the water temp there and how deep they were, but it was in the 3′ range.

So after catching 4 I went for my half hour ride and came back and decided to try and feed them something else.  As the afternoon heated up there were small baitfish flicking here and there so I wallowed a spinnerbait through the brush without a bite.  Went for another ride and came back and slow rolled a swimbait through, with success.  So to finish out the afternoon went for another ride and came back, and re-fishing it with a swim jig did not produce a bite.  So I called it a big boat ride and hit the ramp.

This rise had the tilapia not knowing what was up.  Plenty of dead ones floating and others swimming around aimlessly.  If you like to bow fish now is the time.  Not sure what part of the rise and temp change affected them but it was sure evident something did.  Your guess is as good as mine what will happen next but I am thinking if it warms up it could be good soon.  Even though I just found 1 place with fish as soon as it stabilizes just a hair and the sun gets on some of expect to find some fish shallow.  I am heading to Colorado next week so will miss this next bite but they are coming to the bushes soon and it could get ugly.

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

90 years and counting!

I got this comment from my number one reader, who has been with me the longest.

Your Amazing Journey continues apace. Give my love to The Boss as you say a year-long Farewell to Texas, her hospital, and your bi-continental lifestyle. Drop in when you’ve time, thanks for being here for my stupendous 90th, take care of two of my most favorite people. I love you both so much. WFC.

Here is the family.  The crowd was much bigger as many folks came to pay their respects.

It was a great time as many of her friends joined the family for my mother’s 90th birthday New Years Eve.  We were also joined by my uncle Norm (front left) who is having his birthday today.  It had been a while since we were all in the same place, it is a new world unlike when folks were often born and stayed in the same area a lifetime.  But it was good to see everyone until next time.  Congrats to my mom, she has lived a long and eventful life and most of us could be that lucky.

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

I got a comment with a new addition to this nice site the other day, which I thank them.  Some good reads so stop in and turn a page or two.

The Best Fishing Spots Near Me: Local Hotspots for Reeling in Trophy Fish – Sporting Goods Pros

**************The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

Rigging

I am having sonar/gps fatigue.  As I continue to rig the boat just the way I want it there are a couple of small things to do and then the 2 majors.  I need to upgrade the trailer tires to a radial one size larger.  Weight is not an issue, so it comes down to the need for high-speed highway towing, and strength for the gravel roads to get into many of the high mountain lakes.

But searching the sonar/gps selection is driving me nuts.  Several riggings ago I made the decision to mount the same manufacturers locators so that they were switchable in case of failure.  And that happened with my last Garmins.  The bigger one on the console went out so was able to take the one off the front and still fish and have GPS.  Of course, the bigger issue is to be sure no matter where I was that should one go out, I would have a GPS available.  Using the Everglades or Lake of the Woods as an example, it would be a real problem if you were way the hell and gone and you lose the GPS with no clue how to get back.

So there lies my current dilemma, should I buy one fancy high dollar unit or continue with the plan that has served me well?  Both options would basically cost the same.  While the majority of the lakes I will fish in Colorado all you have to do is turn around and there is the ramp, almost impossible to get lost, but if the high dollar one fails I am out of luck until it gets repaired.  (My life is littered with broken and out of date locators.  It happens more time than not.) And as I still plan on returning to Canada and other far-off destinations at some point having a backup is just good practice.

After writing the paragraph above my dilemma is over, I am going to buy two with built in basemaps and call it a day.  Done, order made and ship to the house in a couple of days.  And that is it, no more stuff.  But here is what will be done at the end of the week:  Trailer guide on posts, rod holders, step, trolling motor, battery, locators, motor lock, trolling motor supports, and the transom plate for mounting transducers, glad the spending is done!  It has been fun but will sure be glad when I am finished rigging.  At least some entertainment while it rains for the next few days.  First time I have ever got a boat exactly the way I want it out of the gate.  It is going to be a fishing machine.

As a side note just found a lake in the middle of Colorado that pays $20 for every northern pike brought to the dock.  I accept that challenge.

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

THE NRA

It appears the group has lost its way and is now nothing more than a flat rip off, full of lies and theft.  If you have been sending them money you have been taken to the cleaners.

In the plaintiffs’ opening arguments on Monday, January 8, attorney Monica Connell said LaPierre embezzled millions. All of which he spent on “lavish perks” for himself. These include personal use of private jets, expensive meals, private security, and trips to the Bahamas.

Of course, LaPierre had notes from doctors that said he is so sick he can not sit for questioning for long periods.  How did that go over with the Judge – He wants certified documents on the “excuse”.  Anyone want to bet that the real certified doctors note do not arrive?  What, next come to court with a walker?

Then Oliver North who was president of the NRA for only year before being pushed out for trying to address the rip offs, testified today and it is becoming clearer that LePierre is nothing more than a scum bag.  But you may be ok with a charity, which the NRA is, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on clothes, millions on travel, extravagant meals at expensive restaurants, gigantic legal fees, much less inflated salaries.  Looks like before it is over the taking may total 10’s of millions of dollars “misappropriated.  (Or as regular folks would say – ripped off.)  From gun safety and education to nothing more than a money printing machine.  You have been hoodwinked, and the reputation of the NRA is in ruins.  Sad because the NRA has a place protecting our 2cnd amendment rights.

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

I was going to wait and post this tomorrow after I fished but wanted to post the pictures of the ramp and water level to compare it with tomorrow.  While I hope to catch fish, who doesn’t when you have a rod in your hand, there is another purpose tomorrow.  (Written yesterday.) I need to put 5 1/2 more hours to the break in procedure and want to get most of it done tomorrow so I am good to go.  But today is the last of it as I head back to Colorado for 6 weeks.  And if you are heading to the lake soon, please be careful, it is a “new” lake with tons of floating stuff.  It has been quite a few years since it has been this high and my anticipation for March thru May is high.  When the water is in the bushes Coleto is one great lake.  So, keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines