FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My Coast Outdoors

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Why couldn’t the beekeeper afford a GPS device?… Because honey can’t buy mappiness.

Thanks for that madame, our laugh for today

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Weather

58/70.  Cloudy early with partial sunshine expected late. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph.

Lake Level

Today 98.28 (Full Pool.)     Thursday 98.32.

Bite Times

Major    7:45 am to 8:45 am.    Minor  1:09 pm to 2:09 pm.

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

For all your wading needs.

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Monday

They got the weather right.  It was blowing out of the SE at a pretty good clip and it was cool.  The water temp was still right around 70 degrees over most of the lake.  I was happy for the chance to drive the boat in some rough water and wind, and it did just fine.

First thing headed up lake and immediately caught 3 on my good bank on spinnerbait but missed at least that many as they were just not that active, not surprising due to the cold front.  From first thing until 1:00 it was 5 total, 3 on spinnerbait and 2 on swim jig.  At this point I seemed fairly clueless.  I decided to head back down lake and stopped at the first cove, and they were there.

A sample.  Nothing big but the bite was on – for 5 minutes!

Working back in the cove and when turning to head back out on the other side one just smoked a buzzed spinnerbait.  Then another, and another, and before one broke me off it was 8 as fast as I could cast.  They were on the flat part of the cove in somewhat clear water with no wind.  Most I have been catching the last 4 days have been right in the brush, but these were in full chase mode and smoked it halfway back to the boat.  It was one good bite.  And as quick as it was on it was over.

From there it was 2 more coves with a total of one more, and it looked just like the ones above.  Funny how last Monday one big fish came over the side and I ended up losing 2 more.  Today I am not so sure if I had one or not as 2 broke my line.  As we are all want to do it reminded me, I had not changed line at least since last fall, and maybe longer on a couple of the rods.  Tonight, they all got new 15lb test as the watercolor is still marginal and line weight should not be an issue for the fish.  I spend so much time fishing 10lb due to our clear water, but it just is not necessary right now and going heavier should alleviate random breakage.  (It did)  Hate it when they break off.

Nor sure quite what is going on with the fish, but it should start to improve rapidly after this front.  And as long as we do not get any significant rain the lake should continue to clear.  The color is still marginal at best, but the temp is up and there is plenty of cover.  Frog is going to get a workout and then with the amount of cover maybe some flipping and pitching.  Time to keep an open mind, there is a way to catch them.

Tomorrow it is off to Toyota in Corpus for maintenance on the truck, a stop at Roy’s, and then oysters is on the menu.  Then Wednesday it will be back at it at daylight and will post that day with this report.

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Wednesday

Weather

53/68. Cloudy skies with a few showers later in the day.  Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%

Lake Level

Monday 98.28 (Full Pool.)     Today 98.24.  (Keep in mind it is a slow fall.)

Bite Times

Major    9:29 am to 11:29 am.  (Like that.)   Minor 3:19 pm to 4:19 pm.

The real issue tomorrow is when the rain and storms get here.  Looks like I might get almost a full day but looking at tomorrow night and Thursday not so hot.  Any forecast that is for severe thunderstorms with possible hail qualifies as a no-go day.  But I sure like tomorrow’s forecast so we shall see.

A BEAT DOWN – What a difference a day makes!

Some days are worth getting up for, and today was one of those.  As this is my last hurrah springtime on Coleto I was hoping for a couple of good days and to make a long story short I quit at 2:00.  Why?  Cranking that big bladed spinnerbait at rip roaring speed making a wake is work.   Add I do not know how many and it was something.  But it was not all spinnnerbait.  I figured out which to throw when and where and this is the results.

The water is definitely clearing all over the lake but the water temp had dropped from around 70 everywhere to 66 – 67 first thing in the morning.  The wind was just right, and a ripple in the right place was the spinnerbait ticket.  Dea calm, the swim jig.

I do not know what she would have weighed.  Spawned out and beat all to crap.

And it went on from there.  I quit counting at 25 around 11:00, the bite was on.

Short but a real hoss on the swim jig.

If you ran it just right they smoked it.  Glad I changed line as they broke 2 spinnerbaits.

Another spawned out female.

As I worked my way back to the ramp though it was clear the best numbers were on the swim jig that is not how I finished the day.  Most of the day I was sitting in barely 3′ of water and throwing both as far as I could.  That gives you a clue the type of area that was the best.  In one cove I made a long pass with the spinnerbait and caught 2 but it looked so good I re-fished it with the swim jig and ended up catching 10 more on the same bank.   They want the swim jig at a moderate pace, just keeping it moving down a couple of feet at most.  The last few places I cranked that spinnerbait until my arm almost fell off.  It was not fast by any means but the average made it worth it.  I can not over emphasis has hard they stopped it, fun stuff.  And today I did not break any off which was a bonus.

Here is the punch line.  I wrote a while ago I figured they were on the beds and it looks like they are coming off.  Cover is the key and if there is bait flipping hold on.  I am sure there are several ways to catch them right now.  Topwater will be on as the water has really cleared, and the whole day I was wishing I had some pink floating trick worm.  Trust me they would eat that with a vengeance.  There is a time every spring to fish as much as you can and that time is now.  Looks like tomorrow is a no go but Friday it will be back at it,

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This from one of my long-time readers.

As always, I enjoy reading your blog and seeing your pictures. Your wildlife photos from Colorado make me very envious, but all that snow makes me glad I live in Texas! Your new boat sounds great and I sure wish you would share some pictures of it so we all can see how it’s rigged. Keep it all coming please!

Ok, here you go.

Before:  No guide on’s, 12 inch bias ply’s and no sidestep.

After:  Guide on’s, 13″ high speed steel belted radials which turned out to be a hassle.  The fender was actually attached to the leaf springs so had to take the whole thing apart to move the fenders to fit, but all good.  And a angled front spare to keep it out of the way.

Before:  No additions.  Love the cup holders.  Folks who have fished with me know it was not right until I spill my coffee.

After:  Hand control tm with bracket for stability, front mounted gps/locator with trolling motor transducer.  Right side adjustable rod holder and there is a sliding small box for stuff.

Before:  Left side view.

After:  gps/locator transducer mounted on transom, rod holder, all in position for easy reach from the seat.  I can sit in the seat run the motor and keep an eye on the locator and rod holders.  (Excuse the fishing stuff headed out in the morning.)

A 25hp rear steer 4stroke.  Hull is 14’9″ deep V able to handle fairly big water.  It is definitely bigger than it looks.  It has storage areas, plumbed aeriated live well, a bilge pump and 2 rod boxes that can handle 7′ plus rods.   This boat is rigged for trolling and regular fishing.  Some of the local lakes have landlocked Kokane salmon and others have lake trout which I consider my new adventure.  As most of the area lakes I will be fishing are not that big, speed is definitely not an issue.  Many of the lakes are on gravel roads, so the need was for a serious tire that will handle both mountain roads and 70mph on the interstate was a priority.  That is the “technical” info but there are other very important reasons I bought this particular boat.

I have towed from Canada to the Everglades and hundreds of places in between.  I wanted a boat that was lighter for towing, in fact you barely know it is there saving big gas $$$ and wear and tear on the truck.   There was never another brand in the mix, Lund is top of line in aluminum.  Along with that is the incredible gas milage of a smaller motor.  (Plus bigger hp is not the best for trolling.)  No more of that $50 stop at the gas station.  It is much easier to man handle, a consideration when you fish constantly by yourself as a 70 y/o.  I am not getting any younger or prettier.  With the kind of ramps I have put in over the years that will be a plus.  And speed:  From my Black Max that did 72mph on my second Champ in the mid 70’s to the others along the way, been there done that.  In the grander scheme of things who gives a crap.  The fact it takes me 22 minutes to get back from up lake to the ramp versus 14 minutes is a so what.  I wanted a fishing machine, and this is it.

As far as the weather thing it is crazy out there, a foot of snow one day and 50 degrees the next.  But unlike Texas come summer all the windows are open, we do not even have an air conditioner.  And of course, the animals, our real love.  As we were deciding on where we wanted to retire one thing that was helpful, I can fish anywhere.  But where else can I see a bear, a lion, and the rest of the crew in my back yard.  I admit to about a 10-year attention span and it is time for something new in fishing.  But do not get me wrong Texas has some of the best fishing on the planet and I have enjoyed all that has happened since we have been here.  Thanks for your comment.

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The stop at the gas station to just see how much gas the 25 burned was a pleasant surprise.  Fishing wherever I wanted on Coleto for 2 days cost a total of $9.  I am still getting the hang of a “new” way to fish and motor and it is all good.  Will take time tomorrow during the rain to re-check all the nuts on the trailer job, I have seen what happens when you don’t, not interested in that kind of hassle.  Can’t wait to get out west and start on a new fishing adventure.

If Friday goes as planned will try to get the report up before the weekend,  Then next week it will be fish till you drop.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines