FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My Coast Outdoors

I am totally packed and ready to leave for the Chandeliers on Tuesday.  It really does take some thought in what to take as you never know what conditions will be or what they will eat.  Every year is different depending on wind, whether we get to fish the surf, drift or wade.  There reaches a certain point where it is time to put it to rest.  I got organized so that I can fish Monday without thinking about what I have to do to get ready, it will simply be throwing it all in the truck and hitting the road.  The weather tomorrow looks fine, and I don’t mind a little rain and clouds as long as no lightning.  It will be up and gone in the morning, great way to spend the day instead of sitting around waiting to go.

The only reason this was the big for the day was operator error.

Weather

72/87.  Showers in the morning, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.

Lake Level

Wednesday 97.68.   Today 97.61.   (On the 11th 98.32.)

Bite Times

Minor 10:19 a. to 11:19 am.

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

For all your wading needs.

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The water was real dingy this morning, probably the result of the last 3 days of high winds.  The water temp was 77 give or take and you can really see how far it has dropped.

First up was the shad spawn bank and it was an easy 10+ but they weren’t much.  As the water recedes it was necessary to throw it all the way in the trash and slow roll it out.  The brown swim jig with a Rage Menace was the bait of choice, at least until the first disaster struck.

A long cast into real shallow cover produced a great bite really close to the boat.  She smoked it and went right under a tree.  It was one of those she was stuck and jumped and would have easily made the day.  I tried everything from letting it go slack to sticking my rod in the trash and finally got it unhung, only to learn she went under a completely different tree.  Finally the only option was to break her off.  It was not really operator error, it just was where she bit.

They bit from the first bank to the last.

There is one place no matter where on the lake you are that is a sure thing:  Any flat point with stuff on it and deeper water nearby.  Just throw the swim jig across it and reel it pretty quick and if there is a good one they will usually jump it.  And that is where number 2 jumped off.  The minute she bit it was easy to know it was a good one.  She kept trying to jump and I managed to keep her down a couple of times before she made the big jump.  It was not a giant, but would have been big for the day until she spit the swim jig back at me.  Oh well it happens, just usually not twice in 1 day.

The swim jig did the damage and a couple on pitching a creature bait.

Again today the numbers were good, but the real big ones have eluded me.  I keep thinking there is a better bait but when you are catching lots all day it is hard to imagine what.  So I have been stuck in a rut with the swim jig but it is hard to put it down.

What puzzles me is today there was only 2 other boats out and only 3 trucks at the ramp.  It is a little depressing as it was not that long ago there was a crowd most days and big fish were not uncommon.  (Funny to hear me complaining there is not enough traffic, definitely a symptom.) Unfortunately, the fishing is not all that great, at least for big fish.  The loss of our grass has made a long-term big impact, on not only the fish but the fishermen.  No more wondering if there was good parking left, or if someone else fished the bank before you did.  It is still a mystery how this happened.  From a natural brown out following a big spring flood 5 or 6 years ago, to GBRA actually sprayed and killed the grass.  That question will never be answered, it is what it is.  But Coleto has gone from one of the great big bass lakes to what it is today.  Too bad, it sure was fun while it lasted.

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And this question from a reader.

– “I noticed you recommend a 10 lb test line for trout fishing. Have you ever tried using a lighter line, and if so, how did it affect your success rate?”

Great question and the answer on salt is yes, I have fished 8lb quite a bit and even 6lb on occasion.  To go along with that I paired it with a 1/32-ounce jig head and it worked like a charm.  (Big Hint:  There is some really big trout being caught right now on dart style plastics with the 1/32 jig heads.  Keep it moving.)  If you think about it the majority of the time once you hook a trout there is not that much to get hung up on and it is just a matter of taking it easy.  And big trout help you out by coming up and showing that yellow mouth.  That is why they put drags on reels.  And the lighter line is perfect when you are finding them in sand holes on the grass flats.  You can work it quick over the potholes and it is so cool to see them materialize and eat it.  In my younger days I put many stripers up to 20lbs in the boat on 4 or 6lb test while crappie fishing, the rule is no big hurry.  The combination is perfect for clear shallow water but not really needed most of the time.  It is just a fun way to fish.

Now if you are talking freshwater rainbows, browns, or cutties I rarely, as in never, go heavier than 4lb test.  More than saltwater it is almost mandatory on small streams and lakes.  Nothing like hooking a good brown in big current, it will test your skill as a fisherman.   Fishing should be fun and the lighter the line the more fun it is.  Lose the occasional fish, then you have a good story to tell.  Thanks for your question.

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CWD

2 more deer in a captive breeding facility have tested positive for CWD according to TPWD.  As the fiddler fiddles the state had decided to ignore the potential of full-blown spread of CWD.  As you watch what happens remember this, taken directly from their website:  “CWD has an incubation period that can span years.”  If that is the case then can they say definitely that every animal in those facilities are not already infected?  So seems like they are playing with fire.

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For years I have been telling you NOT to buy any boat without a title for the motor, trailer, and hull.  Period, full stop.  In spite of what the sellers try to say there is NO WAY for you to fix almost any of it.  And if anyone tells you just go to TPWD and they will help you fix it they are full of shit.  (At least what they told me the last 2 times I asked while doing some business at my local office.)  Either the seller fixes it or walk.  For fun if it is an engine ask the seller if you can call the cops and have them run the serial number.  That could be interesting.  And here is proof of the trouble that can ensue.

In that vein props to the wardens of TPWD who just conducted a check at the ramp during a big bass tournament in Texas.  They confiscated over $100,00o worth of stuff just in one day.  Good, hope they throw the book at some of them.  We will have to wait and see what the final specific totals are on what and the amount of stuff confiscated.  Save yourself a ton of trouble and look at any boat without all 3 titles with skepticism.  Almost impossible to fix at best, stolen at worst.

(And do not ever think that my criticism of some of TPWD decisions have one thing to do with our wardens.  They do not make policy they just do their job.  Every interaction I have had with a Texas game warden has been positive and I appreciate what they do for us.  Wish I could say that was the case with the Coast Guard at POC.  I hate when folks lie to me and they lied like a dog.)

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I am no football guru though it has been a part of my life since early childhood.  Suffice to say the draft is similar to going to a casino, boom or bust.  But I have to say the Cowboy’s decisions were a little hard to understand and watching the first day and most of the second their ineptitude was on full display.  According to Jerry the Texas running back was their top choice so why not trade up and come out with the one player you want instead of broadcasting to the whole world what you think, and then losing him?  Hey, I like Zeke and he will have a role but that will not get them there.  Folks dog on Jerry all the time and unfortunately, he deserves most of it.

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BYE

That will do it for a week.  Tomorrow is head to the Chandeliers.  It will be 3 days of hard core fishing with the Wade Right boys.  It is a fun group and it will be year 2 of the battle for the belt.

Billy with the belt.  9 others in a Battle Royal are coming for you!

The trash talking has already begun for such a prestigious belt.  These guys are trash talking great fishermen and it will be the usual barrel of fun.  The weather looks like it is going to cooperate and the Captain reports good trout fishing.  And if the stars align we will be able to fish the beach on the ocean side.  When it works out the trout are big and the reds are bigger.  It will be a week before I get a chance to report but I will be back.  Nice to spend a little time without phone or internet, just good company, a cold one, and good fishing.  It does not get any better than that.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

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