FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My Coast Outdoors

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Racing the sun in the New Mexico high plains on the way to our Rocky Mountain home.  So happy to be heading back.

The Boss is with me this trip.  While she will only be here 3 days before she flies back there is a method to her madness.  She actually planned it this way to help me with the drive which I really appreciate.  Then she will fly back at the end of the month for a longer stay before driving home with me.  And thanks for that but she has been jonesing for some Colorado time and getting to enjoy the house and labor of her hard work.  As I have said so many times in the past, I really got lucky and married way above my pay grade.

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Happy to be Back

The weather here has been amazing the last month or so and we were so happy to see our critters.  As you can see from the pic below the tine dropping has begun.  The rule in Colorado is you can not shed hunt on public land until mid April but private land is ok.  I am sure walking the neighborhood we will find a few.

The guy across the street.  Let the shedding begin.

Of course the turkeys are up to their usual nonsense and our backyard gets a daily visit.  It seems the toms have ganged up and they were starting to do a little tail flashing and bickering with each other so can’t wait for spring and the gobbling to begin.  It is such a sight when we have 10 or 15 gobblers in the backyard in full strut.

Our resident turkeys right out the back window.  When the sun is out you get a true measure of their colors.

The snow started sometime last night and we have a good 5″ with more in the forecast.  Some areas, including Wolf Creek Pass right above us could get up to 24″ which will send the skiers into a frenzy.  But it sure is beautiful and comes with the territory.

Good morning South Fork.

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Navajo Lake

One of the lakes that is on my list big time is Navajo Lake.  Sitting on the border of Colorado and New Mexico, the majority is in New Mexico.  With up to 30,000+ surface acres it reminds me of Lake Norfork in Arkansas, long and winding with coves and creeks.  It has everything from monster pike, crappie, lots of smallmouth, trout, among others.  The reports I have seen in the past the smallmouth fishing can be off the chain.  And it has plenty of big pike, some reaching the magical 50″ mark.

Colorado Parks & Wildlife – Navajo (state.co.us)

We decided to take a drive for a little scouting of amenities as I plan on fishing it consistently.  We stopped at the office and met the local parks and wildlife lady and the marina operator.  As usual I forgot to get names (I will correct that next trip.) but they were great and I learned much of what I need to know.  I was especially interested in learning about the boating rules as the lake is in Colorado there are specific regulations to stop the spread of aquatic pests.  Unlike Texas which pays lip service to the spread Colorado actually has inspection stations at many lakes where they physically clear your boat before you hit the water.  I still have plenty of questions on the process but the folks there gave me a good overview and I really look forward to fishing the lake.  Nothing like big pike to make your day.

Unfortunately, I am having some kind of issue either with the big camera, the card, or the computer and downloading is turning into some kind of hassle.  On the way to the lake we saw a big bunch of elk and there are some great pictures on the camera that for some reason I can not get off but will get it figured out one way or the other.  We also saw a cool coyote, some turkeys, and enough mule deer to last a lifetime.  So, excuse the lack of pictures I will figure it out soon.

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Houston Fishing Show

After working the booth with Michael at the Houston Fishing Show in the past I will miss it again this year.  But to all of you attending please stop by the Knockin Tail booth, say hello and buy some baits.  Michael always has a deal and it is a good time to save money.  On the Colorado note I cannot wait wear the smallmouth on Navajo out on them and to toss the 5″ on those big pike.

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

For all your wading needs.

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I personally love the new speckled trout rules.  For me catching bigger fish is always the hope and rarely eat enough to make a miniscule dent in the population.  And there is one side effect that will entertain me.  When we went to 5 it made it easier to catch a limit and the Facebook warriors that only post when they smack em without disclosing squat will be in heaven.  Now the one trick ponies can brag about a 3 fish limit.  But more than anything I really hope it reduces the dead trout on the front of the boat pictures.  Those seem to be seriously lacking respect to the fish.  But to each his own.

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As soon as I get back in a month will put the finishing touches on the rigging of the new boat.  After much research and reading I finally decided to go with a non-screwed on transducer mounting plate. I used major adhesive and will have let it set a month.  After watching several videos, it should be fine, remember it is on a aluminum with a 25hp, not like speed will be an issue.  So, when I get back will post the before and after pictures.  And looking forward to fishing March – May as it will be my last spring fishing in Texas so intend to make the most of it.

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A reader comment.

Hey Buddy,
Now i know where all the trash goes downstream in the Guadalupe. Its bad up here in san antonio. They look for volunteers all the time cleaning up the river, creeks from all the crap going down. And Never Get it all. Would think they would invest in a catch system for the trash.

On GPS, you have a phone with maps to get ya back to ramp. Remember the old Garmin handhelds. I think they still make used for hiking and a backup. I had a Lowrance go out on Toledo Bend. That was fun…

My shoulder had fixed up nicely with surgery 30aug, just need to work on strength. Ready to start fishing for the spring….

I have commented several times on just how dirty and trash filled Texas is.  For a state so self proud litter apparently is not an issue.  And as usual when the lake comes up the litter floats and boy was it floating.  One of the things I liked about Oregon.  The signs said fines up to $6000 for littering and the roadsides were fairly clean.  They should have fines for the dirtbags that continue to throw dirty diapers in the Wal Mart parking lot.  Would hate to see the inside of their house.

And of all things I actually have the old Garmin handheld.  But for me the bigger reason besides getting home is one in the back for trolling and mapping and one in the front for vertical jigging.  When I finally get the rigging done it is going to be nice.  And glad you are recovering; the fishing is about to begin.  Crank up that Bass Cat.

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Things will settle down around here after I drop the Boss off at the airport.   I will get back to chasing wildlife and specifically the sheep.  And hopefully will be able to get north with the better chance of seeing the moose, but as it is around here it is road/snow dependent.  Then when I get back it will be fishing until I drop.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

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