FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My Coast Outdoors

WEDNESDAY

Weather

63/79.  Some clouds early. Mostly sunny along with windy conditions during the afternoon. Winds WNW at 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.  (It blew every bit of that and more at times.)

Lake Level

Today  97.99.      Monday 98.01.   (On a slow steady decline.)

Bite Times

Major 2:14 pm t0 4:14 pm.    Minor 7:37 am to 8:37 am.

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

For all your wading needs.

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They definitely got the wind right.  I should have stayed home but it actually was a good thing in some ways.  I have been wondering how the Lund, which is 15′ would handle high winds and Coleto obliged.  It was white capping in several directions and just basically being a pain in the rear, but the little boat did just fine.  Normally I would not have gone so it will be dandy in Colorado.  As far as fishing it was an early morning thing again only even slower.

The wind was howling, and it only got worse, it really riled up the color on the lake and to help matters it is dropping noticeably.  Right after daylight all the clouds blew off and it turned into a bluebird sky.  Add in a major cold front with the water temp down a degree and you had a recipe for a bad day, and it did not disappoint.

I caught 4 total from daylight to 2:00 all on spinnerbait.  The first 3 right off the bat, the last one right before I quit.  They were definitely not interested in the swim jig so things are a changing.  The Boss was wanting a fish fry and we had 4 small catfish filets, so I kept one 15″ bass.  With the water temp in the low 70’s it seems lots of fish have not spawned including the one I cleaned.  Do not ask me why other than the water cooler sucks.  But every year is a new year and things changed why fishing keeps our interest.  My last fishing call on Coleto has been slow, and the biggest bass I have caught was the first one since I came back.  Normally this time of year there are plenty of bigs.  With a couple of weeks left before I leave it just might improve.  Of course, that will not stop me, and it will be gone before daylight and back at it.

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FRIDAY

Weather

54/82.  Partly cloudy. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph.

Lake Level

Wednesday 97.99.      Today 98.02.   (On the slow steady decline.)

Bite Times

Major 4:10 pm t0 6:10 pm.    Minor 9:06 am to 10:06 am.

One thing is clear  – either I suck, or the fishing does.  And blaming it on the fish is what the fishless do.

Worth getting up for.

It was a beautiful morning as I headed to the first spot.  I admit to feeling somewhat melancholy about my last spring fishing and it brought back so many memories.  It has been a real good run on Coleto, and on the bay for that matter.  I will miss it but times change and so do all of us.  It really has been tough, and I admit that I am really clueless right now.  It is time for a change but just not sure what that might be.

The only real condition was the water was as clear as it has been in while.  The temp still hovers in the low 70’s and today the wind did not appear until quitting at 2:00.

Finally caught a few on buzzbait.

There are still fish that have not spawned and some that are done.  A look at this girl, she had done her duty and time for a little rest.  Hate to see the water falling right now, it would be nice if it was stable until they are done.

Even managed a white bass on the buzzbait.

These is still a shad spawn going on at daylight and this morning they were having at it in an inch of water way the hell back in the flat stuff.  I wanted to fish buzzbait and I managed 3 or 4 but it just is not as good as it has been in years past.  My guess is that with the watercolor like it has been it is not the best choice and neither is the spinnerbait.  One thing about both those baits the really big fish are usually way off the bank and smoke it over halfway back.  The color just might affect that as both are reaction baits and the big ones just don’t see it clearly in time to just react like normal.

I should probably be catfishing.  Coleto has tons of blue cats.

I did try just a little pitching with a beaver style bait and caught 2 smalls pretty quickly.  Probably should have stuck with that the rest of the day but the swim jig kept calling me.  Unfortunately, that bite has really quieted down, which with the amount of cover makes no sense.  And it is even a little more puzzling that it seems you cannot catch them consistently in the same spot the next day.  Some of the best spring coves in the lake just do not have the fish, which may have more to do with my fishing methods.

There are a couple of interesting things going on right now, one example is the number of snakes I am seeing.  There have been years that you would see very few but not this spring.  Think about it, if the big fish were shallow like usual you would not see so many.  The small ones would have a hard time making it very far before being unloaded on.  Another example is when trolling up lake like I do every spring I am catching NO small bass.  Usually it is a problem keeping them off when searching for white bass.  But the blue cats are cooperating on trolled crankbait and I am seeing some really nice results in the can at the cleaning table.  The catfish are on the chew.

So, I am going to reset and be back at it Monday.  Good or bad it is still fishing and maybe if I make some better choices things will improve.  No matter what I will enjoy the last couple of weeks before my spring on Coleto is over.

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It has been a while but here is a little taste of boats for sale in Texas.

Time for another episode of fun with boat buying.  Or are you out of your ever lovin’ mind?

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Needs stringer work finished and some interior.

The hull is not usable, and I could not figure out how to do it.  The interior is trashed, in other words the perfect boat.

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DOES RUN BUT NEEDS WORK

Me to.  Run away.

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 PROJECT BOAT and needs work.  Please do not ask me any technical questions or what is wrong with the boat because I do not know.

I am selling something I know absolutely nothing about so don’t ask, just fork over the dough.

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 Boat does not run. Needs a good amount of work.

So come on down and get it out of my yard and put it in yours.

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Yamaha was stolen and therefor requires a buyer with some know-how

You know, like know how to spend money.

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 If you can move it, you can have it. No tires on trailer and boat is pretty much just a hollow hull.

At least it is priced right.

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 JUST NEEDS A NEW STARTER. NEEDS UPHOLSTERY WORK INSIDE, ETC.. AND CLEANED UP.

And once you can start it and then sit in it boy will that be fun.

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Sold as its

Huh?

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last time motor would not start to load up on trailer, so I used the trolling motor. May be the choke or carb. This is a project

It has a trailer and loading a boat with a trolling motor is easy peasy.  Plus if you ever see “carb” in the ad or “project” or “rare” run away.

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TIRES WILL NOT HOLD AIR 14″ BUT DO HAVE ALL THREE RIMS

In other words you don’t need that rubber part.  Just tow it home.

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boat is useable on the water, however needs work to make it safer and legal to operate.

Or not.   Just have at it and don’t worry about safety and that “legal” stuff.  Much more fun that way.

• As a side note have you ever noticed that the same yards with these boats usually have a camper or two that “needs work”?

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And I appreciate this comment from a reader.

Thanks for the years of Coleto reports! I live in Corpus, but have been doing a little freshwater fishing the past year or so just to do something different. I’m die-hard saltwater all my life, but grew up fishing in a creek and catching crappie and bass. Maybe just re-living my childhood? Lake Corpus is always LOW, Coleto seems to “stabilize” quicker and is fairly quiet. My kids and I have had the most success trolling the main channel with crankbaits for crappie and have caught a lot of catfish (surprise) while doing it. We can’t ever seem to find the crappie shallow spawning and usually resort to finding some along the main channel. Even got into a mess of bass last December along the rocks at the outlet, outflow, not sure what it’s called. Anyways, always wanted to drop in and say thanks for the reports. They’ve been a big help learning a lake I’ve never fished. Best of luck in Colorado, it’s a beautiful place.

The thing I most appreciate is your thanks for helping learn the lake.  There is way to much secrecy, lying, and just plain being a rear end about fishing.  In the grand scheme of things it is just fishing, helping others with it is a good thing.  When we meet our maker if you think he is going to ask if you were all that with a rod and reel, or what kind of wrap was on your boat you are delusional.  I have tons of stickers from all over on my rod box, and it continually hooks me up with other fishermen asking about them.  From that point on we talk fishing.  From cane pole to 65′ offshore big game fishing boat it is all the same.  It would be a better place if everyone fished for love of the sport and shared it with others.  A perfect example is your enjoyment trolling with your kids.  It is not the result but in the doing and sharing.  So, thanks for the comment and keep reading, it will just be a new fishing adventure in a new place when we move for good.

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Watching the Texas Game Wardens on TV today just pissed me off.  They were on Falcon Lake and of course found an illegal net that the criminals from Mexico use to rape the lake.  This one had some really nice crappie along with lots of other fish.  Interesting as the guy on his Falcon Lake blog just commented on what has happed to the crappie.  There is plenty of talk and opinion about the border, but it is porous enough that Falcon can be flat dangerous along with them raping the fish.  The lenient attitude to the border for years has gotten us here.  Time to do something real about the border instead of both sides acting the fool and getting nothing done for decades.  If criminals can go across our border and string a long gill net and then harvest without real fear we have a problem.

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And speaking of Colorado fishing I just got the last (At least that is what I always tell the Boss!) piece of the trolling stuff.  After doing plenty of research and reading I decided instead of downriggers, also been there done that for stripers, to go with lead core line which will definitely be a first for me.  With the Kokane and Lake Trout depth will be an issue in the summer and you need a way to get your lures deep.  As the line is color coded every 10 yards it lets you know when you are close to where you need to be.  For me the trolling thing will be a way I can continue to fish until I can’t back the trailer.  (I will be hitting 71 y/o soon and it reminds me I have continually owned boats for over 50 years now.)  Plus, can’t wait to catch either one of those without hiring a guide or having someone show me.  (With a little help from the internet.) For me it has always been in the doing.

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Unfortunately got the pleasure of buying a new laptop so I can continue with the blog.  As the blog is paid for until summer 26′ I took the plunge.  If that was not the case it would have been different.  But on we go.  I will continue to fish until heading to the Chandeliers then pack it all up and hit the road.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

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Beware;  This might get your panties in a wad so don’t read it or live with it.

The Crumbleys

I got a little PTSD (Trust me you never know what a defendant will do at sentencing.) watching the sentencing of Jennifer Crumbley the mother of the school shooter who murdered 4 beautiful high school kids, and her husband.  What a stupid horse’s ass.  She blamed the school.  WTF!  Then the husband got up there and said the truth was not presented and requested probation.  It may be the worst sentencing plea in the history of stupid defendants.  They are clueless and very lucky I am not the judge, because they would get every day and any sentences would be stacked.  She acted like she was a victim and really played no part in the whole thing.  Ignoring the fact you all bought a 15 y/o kid a gun and ignored all the warning signs.  Good luck in the pen, you earned it.  It is POS like you who make it hard on all responsible gun owners.  We need more of these types of prosecutions.

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