FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

 Pick up a Knocker B topwater next time you are at the tackle store.

I hope everyone had a great holiday as summer comes to a close.  You might not be able to tell with our  heat index forecast to be as high as 110 degrees the next couple of days, but it is coming to a close.

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While I took the weekend off the Masked Flounder Assassin, who shall remain nameless due to the outstanding warrants for continuing to murder innocent fish, was hard at it catching reds.

Nice Red!  He is not gigging, but is still giving them a go at night.

The guest of honor at dinner tomorrow.

Thanks for the pictures dude, can’t wait until you are back in full foundering mode.

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Following my trip to Lake Travis I got his question from Joe Bass.

So when you were on Lake Travis how did the water clarity look like? Last April 2016, I was there and in coves you could see at least 10-20 feet down. Haven’t been back with all the rain we been having. Not sure how clear it is. Thanks

The visibility was good but it was not quite that clear, but you could see a good 5 feet plus where we were on the lower end.  Fishing many highland lakes it reminded me of the Ozarks, but not quite as clear.  Because of the kids there was only a little trolling to let them catch one, but I really liked the looks of things.  I know the pressure there is pretty heavy but come late winter/early pre-spawn I will be back up there for several days.  That is my favorite time of year on clear lakes like that.  I can just feel one thumping that jerk bait.  And it sure was nice to put the boat in a dock and not have to trailer, and the wife can have the car and shop Austin until she drops, or runs out of money.  Everybody wins on that trip.

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And speaking or Travis here are a few from a great trip with the grandkids even if I didn’t catch a fish.  It was a great way to end the summer.

             Summer Fun.  Baby Wren was unsure of the whole tubing thing.

                            No I will not kiss the bass Grandpa!

I did a little trolling so I was sure to catch Mia a fish and we finally caught a small Guadalupe bass.  She is a fishing nut and we did not get to fish as much as she wanted, she is going to be a fisherwoman.  I can not wait until they visit, we will wear those Coleto crappie out.  It was a great weekend and there were several highlights other than Mia catching a fish.  Baby Wren, who was quite skeptical of the tube, immediately fell asleep while being towed with dad and mom.  And then she topped off the weekend by throwing up like a volcano on the way to the restaurant.  How a little kid can throw up that much I will never know, but it was amazing.  So a great weekend was had by all, as the older we all get the more important family becomes.

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On a side note I really try to be prepared when traveling with the boat.  Of course we stopped at Cabela’s and I noticed a trailer tire was losing air.  A quick change and we were back on the road.  There is no such thing as preparation or taking to much stuff.  You never know what will, or in my case, is going to break.  Taking a moment to check the works before you hit the road can make what would be a big hassle into a small bump in the road.

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Any of you that went dove hunting hope you sacked them up.  You too Orlando!  Looking at the forecast for the next few days it is going to be super hot and more rain is on the way.  So I guess it will be off to the lake tomorrow until the weather stabilizes and then it will be back to the bay.  I know all the time I lived at the boat dock on Lake Norfork this week was one of the quietest of the year on the water.  So time to get out the waders and take advantage of the great parking at Froggie’s.  So keep those comments and pictures coming and I will do my part and try to catch a few.  Keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

 Home of the mighty Bang O Lure!

We are still at the lake enjoying our time with the grandkids.  The weather is great and we have been swimming and tubing, and they even did a little kayaking today.  The house is great but the walk to the dock down the bluff is a little much for a lazy old man like me.  As they all take a nap I thought I would take this time to share a couple of things with you.

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The Mad Trout Fisherman is at it again with another good report.

Well the surf on friday would of been great if we would of had a surfer on boad. After stopping at a couple spots, we headed for greens with a couple of prime time hours gone bye i was hoping to find some reds. Our first wade was not bad we put 3 reds and 2 trout in the box. Due to the extremely high tides we weren’t able locate rafting mullet, and at our go to spot the porpoises beat us there coming down the shoreline blowing up the water. So a bit disappointed and aggravated we headed to good ole cityslickers were we found a consistent bite of 16″-18″ trout . What a relief it was to finally be on a good bite as the four of us burned through our croaker with double and tripple hook ups. I didnt trust my guts this morning when they said go there first. So i decided to burn alot of unnecessary boat gas. We boxed our 4 man limit of trout and released many more. Again the trout were right off the drop off. After seeing the big ole green fish you been hooking , i may have to use my annual pass that i buy every year for coleteo. Looks like the wind will be switching back to the se this week. Thank god ! Thanks, chad

Your report puts emphasis on something I truly believe is important in fishing, especially if you fish a lot  –  Listen to your gut or that little voice in your head that is talking to you when fishing.  It is often the way to go, and that little voice is telling you what your mind knows.  So you still got there and got it done.  And you are still catching most of them deep on drops, which will be changing more and more every day.  As far as the lake goes, it was a tougher than usual summer but things are changing fast.  Thanks for your reports and keep them coming.

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It was really good to hear from my old buddy Voe.  In the time we fished together before he moved back to Las Vegas we became good friends, and actually caught a fish or two together.

That’s some nice fish my friend. I am still reading your reports and enjoy doing so. The short while we got to fish together I came to know a wonderful man and I feel blessed for that. As for my fishing I have been sidelined, I fell off a ladder while trimming a palm tree and shattered my funny bone (not so funny, so I keep hearing). Had surgery on the 23rd and in for a long rehab according to my doctor.
Great Fishing and Tight Lines!!!!

Wow that is a tough break, no pun intended, as that is a bad place to break.  Kinda hard to cast, which is never funny.  So as you know, do what they tell ya, take it easy, and you will be back in action soon.  We will be looking forward to seeing you holding up some of those big desert fish, if there is any water left in those lakes out there.  And if the Boss and I get out that way for a little adult fun we will holler at you.

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Just a quick note on Lake Travis.  It really is pretty and reminds me so much of the highland lakes in Arkansas where I made my fishing bones.  Of course it is a holiday weekend and there are boats every where, but we expected that and it is nothing we have not dealt with on lots of water over the years.  So we got out early with the grandkids and did some tubing and swimming today, and will get back out on the water again tomorrow.  One thing I know is I will definitely be back sometime in really early spring.   Looking at the map I think I know where to find those pre-spawners.  Can you say early season jerk bait fishing.  And I forgot how nice it was to leave the boat on the water instead of trailering every time.   So stay tuned for that one.

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And we are continuing to follow Jay’s trophy Blue Cat adventure.

Doug,
Well, I went out and drowned cut skipjack today. Wind howling 20mph up the river from the west, current flowing east… I set up drifting main channel ledges and holes in 35-60 FOW. Took me over an hour to realize that wind blowing from the west pushing the boat east does NOT present bait in a natural presentation against current. Yes bait swims up river, but catfish tend to hold on the base of ledges or scour holes to catch what flows down stream… Had a bunch of big marks on the Graph, swimming up, take a peek or a sniff and swim right back down. May have been my problem before with the threadfin shad…..
Got turned around, but controlled drifting with 4-6 rods out, 3-5ft off an inconsistent bottom contour, in a 20mph headwind is not an easy task. Folks think catfishermen drop cut bait, sit on their duff and wait. HAHA! I was running around my 18′ boat like a longtail cat in a roomful of rocking chairs. Constantly adjusting bait depth. Nothing like getting 5 baits hung up in a trotline in 55FOW. Try breaking off 85lb braid with a 50lb mono leader!
Discovered another problem. Had several really good takedowns, as in MedHVY rods bent in the water and fish coming off. Plastic rod holders do NOT provide good hooksets on 8/0 circle hooks…. Too much flex. Have some Heavy stainless ones on order.
Fun trying to selfie with a 7lb blue cat. No idea how I’m going to do a 70lber. Guess I need to charge up the gopro and remote and figure out boat mounting.

Of course, after I’m out of bait, I go graph some more water and find the attached.

Now that is a wad of fish!
Next trip.
Enjoy reading your stuff. Can’t wait to get back down to Perdido Bay by Gulf Shores, AL and try some of your salt techniques. Thanks for running a down to earth fishing blog!
Jay

Oh, BTW, watch out for these guys if you get on a river. They come around the bend quicker than you think! Talk about a scramble getting 6 rods in, trolling motor up, big motor fired up and run out of the way!!

My first comment is if a person has never tried this on a river they really do not have a clue how hard it is to fish efficiently.  And of course the wind can play havoc.  I know when I have drifted for Blues on the lake it is not easy to keep a bunch of rods at the proper depth and speed, much less when I tried it on the Arkansas River.  As you said it is not as easy as soaking bait.  Catching trophy fish be it catfish or marlin successfully is not just dragging bait around.   Presentation is everything.  There is nothing like watching as a heavy rod slowly bends over as the circle hook takes a bite.  You never know.  And while you did not score the one in the picture looks like supper to me.   At the rate you are going it will happen, and when it does it will be out of the blue like it always is when we catch a big fish.  And have a great time at Perdido Bay, we were there last year and though I did not get a chance to fish it looked great.  And there is a great lake/bay right behind Gulf Shores that had a great ramp as you drive down the coastal road and the guys I talked to there were putting in to catch flounder and reds.  So have a good time and we can’t wait to see that first trophy Blue.

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Wooooooo Pig Sooieeeeeeeee!

Even though this is a fishing blog we will be talking some football this fall.  I always tell folks that it cost me a hundred grand (Law School) to be a fan, and by God I am going to stick with them to the bitter end.   As I write this Oklahoma is having a meltdown, losing on day 1 is a killer, just ask the Hogs last year. Miss State just joined the beaten by a nobody club, it is shaping up to be  a tough day.   Here comes the Gaggies on the field, for Sumlin’s sake they better play some ball.  Oops – nice fumble dude!  And my buddy Todd from Austin is at Lambeau Field in Green Bay to watch his #5 LSU Tigers play the Badgers.

 Ripped this off my Facebook page.  Hope you guys have a great time!  Even an old Chicago Bear fan like me knows that Lamdeau is hallowed ground, in spite of the stinkin’ Packers. 

It turned out to be a tough day for several folks, especially LSU.  I know from Todd’s Facebook page even though it was a tough loss he had nothing but great things to say about Lambeau and the fans, who were very welcoming.  Over the years if the Hogs were not in a bowl we have always rooted for those coon ass Tigers.  But I do have to comment on the late hit at the end of the LSU/Wisconsin game.  That was a dirty play, not just a cheap shot, but a dirty play.  And then when Wisconsin players came to the aid of the fellow player that dirty player from LSU was taunting them.  Miles needs to set that knucklehead down for a couple of games.  The question is if he is smart enough to even understand that type of play does not get it.  That was just plain crap.

Congratulations to the Aggies, they were favored by 3 over #10 UCLA and they got the job done.  It wasn’t easy but maybe this years team will keep it rolling.  And in the case of my Hogs they squeaked it out by the skin of their teeth over La Tech.  Now that may seem like it was a bad thing but it wasn’t, last year we had a terrible run early before we figured out how not to lose.  So the season begins.  We are still at the lake and after some fancy supper tonight it will be Texas vs. Notre Dame.  I really hope Strong gets it going and survives the inevitable calls for his hide.  He came in and did something that should be done more often in college sports, get rid of the jerks and knuckleheads that do not know how to act or appreciate the chance they have been given.  More colleges should recruit on character than do.  Hey I love to win as much as anyone, but I am not a win at all costs guy.

And speaking of that general subject, when I took sports law in law school there was quite a discussion of whether college players should be paid and how little or how much.  There were several D1 athletes in the class and they talked about how much time athletics took and of course the discussion was also about how much the colleges make off their play.  I really was against them being paid.  A full ride at a major college now runs around $120,000 give or take a buck, and then a degree adds somewhere between $250,000 and a million over a lifetime, adequate compensation as far as I am concerned.  Of course part of my perspective is my wife and I paid every last cent of the cost of our educations and paid back every cent we borrowed in student loans.   Just saying, or whining.

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So there is a quick holiday report.  I hope all of you are having a big time.  There will be no fishing on this trip, time to spend it with the kids who we do not get to see as much as we like.  So be careful, be nice, and have fun no matter what your choice of activities this holiday.  Keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

This is the Yum 5″ Dinger in watermelon red plastic that has been one of the most consistent producers for me the last year.

I did want to show you the bait I have been pitching most of the summer the last couple of years.  Today I started with a 1/4 slip sinker and at 3/0 Trokar hook.  The Trokar is a little more expensive but it really helps to have a super sharp hook for this style of hand to hand combat.  One good thing about the Yum brand is it is not quite as expensive as some brands and they catch fish.  Then all you have to do is just pitch it to cover and hold on, but back to today’s fishing.

Last trip they were getting the best of me by swimming towards me, and it happened again on the first couple of bites. I finally put it together and dropped down to a 1/8 slip sinker and it was on.  The water was clearly up, and they were on the most shallow stuff up lake, several of them hitting it the minute it hit the water.  In fact, the fone below on the left blew up on it when I reeled it over a clump of stuff.  Cool bite.  And I did see 2  roll over on it and eat, another indication of how shallow they were.

                                             We are havin’ fun now!

The lighter weight made a big difference.  They were eating it and holding on.  As long as you did not play touchy-feely with them they would hold on to it until you set the hook.  Now this was not some extended time period, the instant you felt a tic or saw the line move you had to set the hook or they would drop it.  Good thing, between 7 and 9 am I had 25 bites minimum which never hurts anything.

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

READER DAY

I really love it when I hear from you all.  So here is a few comments I thought I would share with you today.

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I got the following question from Richard, and it made me think about not only Big Bayou but all the drains coming out of the back lakes on the island.  That is where I will be doing most of my fishing the coming months as we start to get those monster low winter tides and the redfish gang up.

Great info. I fish POC, mostly Barroom Bay and Big Bayou, but only get down there about 3-4 times a year.
Question: When the tide is coming in, do you set up inside the drain at Barroom Bay and fish the incoming tide from that side or do you still fish the drains from Big Bayou side?

Thanks and blessings

I want water coming out of any drain that I fish if I have the option, no matter where I set up.  Basically  I like the little passes between the small islands that drain Bill Days reef.  The best set up is usually right at the mouth of the drain leading into Big Bayou as the water falls.  The Power Pole is great for positioning so you can reach the back, middle, and out into Big Bayou.  I always try to bring my bait either with the tide or parallel to it for a more natural presentation.  Now should the water be coming in the drain as the tide floods you can still find a few there, and they are usually right in the back where the water goes onto the shallow flat.  Then you usually have enough water to get out on the flat and throw into the drain and pull it back to the boat.  Remember though once it is up need to pay ateention, when the water falls at the mouth of the Big Bayou drains on the Bill Days side it gets shallow big time fast.  Basically the fish set up in the same position on the opposite side of the drain when fishing the outgoing.  The fish like to set up on those little points and oyster bars at the mouth on the reef side, though on the upstroke tide it is never as good.   So as a rule when the tide is still coming in or up then I work all the grassy banks there.  The reds are usually up and the trout are scattered along the grass here or there.  As a rule of thumb if the tide is up I fish wherever and the minute I notice it falling I head for the drains.  I hope this helps some.  Every day is different and yesterday was a perfect example of that.  So good luck next trip and let us know how you do.

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Funny how things work.  I got this comment from Jaime about a place I actually thought about yesterday.

If you’re going back, go to Dewberry shoreline, has been awsome as of late, up close to shoreline, did very well there Friday and Saturday. Also I read a report where some follower of yours fished the surf Saturday, we drove there to find it very rough, I guess we should have tried it. Some big rollers.

Thanks for the tip.  As you can see from a couple of Chad’s reports if you can get out to the surf they will bite.  But as usual it is deciding whether you can make it based on wind and some of those big ass rollers at the jetties, which can be pretty daunting at times.  Thanks again and keep those comments coming.

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Jim had a question, which brought a lot of things to mind.

Doug
I want to fish crappie at Coleto Creek starting this fall. Where can I purchase minnows ?
I checked with the little store prior to the entrance and I thought they were really expensive. Perhaps I am living in 1957 when we usually dug for worms to fish perch on the bayous of Louisiana

Everybody I know who fishes Coleto get their minnows at the store.  When we bought some last time I was surprised that they were $3 a dozen, which I agree is way high.  Of course I will always compare bait costs to when I had my store in Arkansas in the 70’s.  I sold crappie minnows, the ones at the store here are actually a small shiner, 3 dozen for a buck.  Funny thing was people bitched all the time.  The minnows were to big, to small, their eyes are to far to the side of their head, we should get more than 36 for 3 dozen, how come you are not open earlier, how come you are not open later, and on and on.  There was just no pleasing some folks.  And growing up in Iowa we could pick up nightcrawlers anytime it rained, so worms were like free.  So sorry, but I think we both are just old guys, but $3 a dozen is still to high.  But no matter what there are good crappie, and lots of them, on Coleto.  Let us know how it goes this fall, I intend to fry a few up this fall myself.

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It does not matter where or what folk’s reports about we can all learn something.  In this case I have learned that I am jealous.  Jay is an Texas transplant in Alabama and he is on a fishing adventure in an area with some of the best bass fishing in the country much less monster stripers and world class catfish.

Doug,
So, as I had told you a few weeks ago I’ve not really been able to find any gizzard shad to use for catfish bait. Been no problem cast netting 2-4″ threadfins. But no matter how you cut em and stack em on an 8/0 circle hook, these big TN river blue cats just don’t seem to want em. Heck, even the little guys been snubbing their noses at em. Watching them on the graph, swim up, take a sniff and swim away is frustrating. Off to Google and youtube to figure out what works.
Skipjack herring; TN Tarpon, Skippies, freshwater jr jacks as some folks call them around here. One thing’s for certain they’re catfish candy! Reports of guys suspend drifting, dragging Santee Cooper rigs or bottom bumping and getting 1 1/2 lb to 104lb blue cats! Catch skips on spinning gear burning what’s called a local foley spoon (looks like a #13 pet spoon), crappie jigs or sabiki rigs. Had pet spoons and crappie jigs, picked up a couple sabiki’s but wasn’t looking forward to catching anything on a rig with 5-6 different little jigs! Found out Skipjack run 4″ to state record 6lbs. Hmmmm. And catch them in damn tailrace spring thru fall.
Off to Guntersville damn tailrace. Spend two hours 75ft off the damn (some of these crazy rednecks actually drive boats in the damn to fish while water is being released)! Not me! Catch four on a pet spoon in 2 hours. Hmm, time to re- evaluate, look around, enjoy my surroundings. Beached the boat, admire the view as a barge came out of the lock and went by (picture attached). It’s getting hot, real hot, did I mention 99* Alabama humidity hot????? I look 75-100 yds below the dam and see skippies being literally skippy on the surface. Ahhhh! Didn’t want to, but tied on the sabiki, put a glove on my non-reeling hand for fish grabbing.

Spot lock just off the edge of the current seam and cast. Start burning it back and wham! TN Tarpon on! These things fight like crazy! 3 on the first cast! 2-3 a cast lasted for about 30-40 minutes then I ground it out till mid afternoon 1 at a time.
Had an ice/salt water brine in a 50qt cooler. (Picture attached) Caught about 90. Got to the ramp, drain the water off, drove 45 minutes home and ziplocked them into the deep freeze.

Sometimes you gotta learn a new technique.  I’d prefer to be at Smith lake chasing record spots and striper but that’s an hour drive. And Smith lake is a huge impoundment of creeks and fingers with a LOT of graphing to find them.
TN River is 10 minutes, so I’m catfishing for trophy blues now…..
Report to follow as soon as I drown some cutbait catfish candy drifting some old river channel ledges on the river and Wheeler Lake or dragging some flats.
Always enjoy reading your stuff!
Keep after it and thanks for letting us all contribute a little.
Jay
Rather be fishing in Texas but here I am, I’m fishing and life is good.

Having lived in 3 completely different states I sympathize with you.  Whether it was catfish and bass in Iowa, bass, rainbow trout, and stipers in Arkansas, and now bass and bay stuff in Texas, everywhere has been different.  And one of the great things about what you are facing with the move is learning some new techniques.  And when a plan comes together nothing beats that, and the river is a place to make it happen.  I am very envious of you getting to become proficient at catching those big river blues.  I have fished them here with cut bait and done ok, but nothing like those monsters you are going to be catching.  Never thought of using a sibiki for them, see we all do learn something.  We will be looking forward to hearing how it goes.  Can’t wait to see you trying to hold up one of those 70’s.  And having Guntersville and Smith, both on my bucket list for years, within a reasonable drive plus the Tenn River close to the house  is enough keep you busy for years.  So keep those reports coming.

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And last, I was flipping through the new Field and Stream magazine and there is an article on shooting a whitetail that scores over 200.  That is a real big deal.  One of the guys, Sam Collora, mentioned was a couple of years ahead of me in school and we were on the same wrestling team.  His giant was shot in southeast Iowa where I grew up.  That area is known for big bucks.  One of my friends dad shot the number 2, if memory serves me right, non-typical all time in Iowa, a freakin’ monster.  Those corn fields feed America, and some monster bucks.

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So thanks to all today.  It makes my job so much better when you all participate.  Tomorrow I will be on the water before the big weekend starts.  And then why not move to an even busier place for the holiday weekend?  But it will be for a good cause, on the lake with the grandkids having a big time.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Weather

88/72  Partly mostly cloudy chance thunderstorms 40%  Wind ENE 10 – 15 mph  (No thunderstorms but it blew on the high side of 15 all morning.)

Tides

29     High   9:36 AM     0.9  (Never did see a drop all morning.)
29      Low  10:46 PM     0.

Solunar Times

Best Times      8:51A – 10:51A     9:18P – 11:18P  (Notice no real bite related to the times today.)

Good Time      2:38A – 4:38A

What a difference a day can make.  With the forecast, tides, and times similar to Thrusday I was pretty excited to get on the water.  When I hit the ramp at Froggie’s it was barely cracking light in the east.  There was lightning flashes as I headed down to POC and I almost turned around and went to the lake.  When I got to the ramp it was cloudy and the wind was blowing straight line almost out of the north at a good 15 mph+.  The water was almost to the top of the fingers at the ramp, and was high and slightly off color.  And the weather definitely held down the traffic as I was truck number 3 in the parking lot.

Since it was a get some filets trip I headed for my favorite drain where I had been catching them.  Only there were 2 problems, first the wind was blowing right in it, and second, it is by one of the cabins in Big Bayou and there was someone staying there.  Amazing as I have never seen anyone staying in that cabin.  They had lights set up and were fishing when I got there at daylight so I left them to it.

The wind was basically blowing right down Big Bayou and I started by alternating between topwater and plastics.  Initially I could not buy a bite on topwater so I just kept working the area with plastics.  Unfotrtunately the wind was blowing in all of the drains there and it ended working against the tide. And it was blowing hard enough that I just whipped down the banks, making it tough to fish effectively. I still managed to catch one here and there before I finally caught a keeper.

The first one in the box for the fish fry on the Knocker B.

Bascially the wind blew in from the NE and kept the tide up.  In fact, it never did start falling before I quit at 1.  I think that wind kept pushing the water back in.  One of the results of that was water did not flow out of the drain, the wind kept pushing against the tide. I did hit one point in a drain where I put at least a dozen in the boat, but they were all small.  It really was turning into a grind it out day in spite of the great forecast.

One thing that can often save the day is spinnerbaiting for reds.   So with the water a mile up in the grass, and somewhat off-color, I threw the spinnerbait and unlike the last trip I caught several reds, including one that made the box.

At this point though I was catching fish here but I just could not get it going on the good ones.  Though I did have that one run of small ones, basically it was just one here and one there.  Unlike the other day today the wind was blowing with the tide and it was tough fishing.  Some of the drains in Big Bayou are real big, but there is always a small channel on one side or the other.  I was working one when I saw bait move in the center, which is really nothing more than a shallow muddy bottom, so I tossed a topwater over and wham, a keeper trout and red back to back.

He ate it.

Kind of hard to talk with your mouth full.  He had that Knocker B wedged in sideways.

So even though the forecast should have signaled a great day, the conditions were tough.  It turned into a real grind but I kept after it until I had a fish fry.  No technique was better than any other, no place any better than any other.  If you discount the small ones, of which I boated an easy 20 shorts, no particular bait, plastics, topwater, or spinnerbait enticed any bigger fish.  Of the 4 I kept 2 came on topwater, one on plastics, and one on spinnerbait, making it a little tough to establish a real pattern.

At 1:30 I had 4 nice ones in the box, plenty for what we need for a fish fry on Lake Travis this weekend with the kids.  It was interesting how wind direction and speed delayed the falling tide, it was just blowing the water back in and it never did start falling today.  So not a bad day by any means, just not the gang busters I thought might happen.  That is what keeps fishing interesting, every day is a new day.   But in spite of todays tough conditions the fishing is still good as you can tell from a few of the latest reports, and if you can get to the surf it is lights out.

Not sure what is next, but I am fishing Thursday come hell or high water.  Hopefully I will be done with the remodel from hell in the next couple of days.  What started out as simply extending a wall to make a big closet has turned into a major remodel. Oh the joys of home ownership.  We are still in this rain pattern but it looks like it will be getting out of here as the weekend approaches.  The weather is shaping up to be a great holiday weekend.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Chad’s Surf Report

I got another great report from Chad, who has been putting the hurt on them on the bay.  Thought I would get it on right now while it is fresh information.  My report from POC Monday is coming later today when I get it done.  Plus this is a heck of a cool report.

A day in the surf , heading out the little jetties friday morning the bay was flat. So we decided to hit the surf. Inbetween the big jetties and passcavo was our first stop. The breakers where fishable but not ideal. We freelinned live croaker and started hooking trout in the 15-17″ range not what we were looking for so, we moved down towards the light house. As we were approaching the area there was a distinctive color change in the water from green to brown, with at least 200 + pelicans diving in the water. A massive school of shad . So we anchored up at the third bar and casted in to see what was eating them. 40″ bull red was caught and released, the fishing was chaotic for a while with trout reds and sharks hitting the deck. We saw some 6-8 ft sharks feeding as well as some 4-6 tarpon. Lots of excitement on the boat. We boxed our limits of fish quickly. What a morning. You just never know what can happen in the surf. After giving a friend a fishing report friday night. He and his two teenage sons made a go of it sat and the results were the same quick limits of quality trout. The kicker was they hooked and landed and released a 4ft tarpon on a croaker with a trout rod. Glad dove season is around the corner im ready to have miles of shoreline to wade without a sole insight. Thanks chad

Wow, what a day.  The only thing like that I have ever seen was offshore in Costa Rica.  It really must have been awesome to toss in and then see just what in the heck would jump on next.  And who does not get excited with tarpon smashing bait?  Congratulations, one of those great things that happen out of the blue.  Folks you could not ask for a more specific report than that.  The surf fishing is on fire and with light wind forecasts now is the time before it is over.

And I could not agree more on the hunting season.  There are days I get to Froggie’s and there might be 3 or 4 trucks and trailers.  My favorite time of the year is coming on the bay.  Bring on the schooling redfish.  And with that a couple of trips to Baffin as we really get into late fall.  Please keep your reports coming, we all appreciate them.  Plus helps me out, and I get to learn something.  Thanks again.

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As I have said here many times before, you do not have to have a degree in journalism or be Ernest Hemmingway to send us a report.  All you have to do is tell the story just like you were telling it over a cold one.  It is a thing of beauty to read a report like Chad’s.  Easy to imagine those birds diving, fishing boiling, and a bite on every cast.  So send us your report or story, we would love to have them.  As for me it will be up dang early so I can be gone by 5:30 to get to POC by daylight.  I need a fish fry for the grandkids when we meet on the holiday weekend and the pressure is on.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

 They liked that Knocker B today.

POC

I love it when a plan comes together and today was a perfect example of that.  The weather forecast was good, the tide was dropping all morning, and the wind was perfect, in both speed and direction.  I have been looking at today all week thinking it was the day to hit the bay.  So it was back to lure fishing out of the boat.  Sometime it is best to do what you are good at.  I will leave the croaker fishing for another day.

Weather

92/73   Partly cloudy with showers and thunderstorms in the PM  SE wind 10 – 15  Chance of rain 60%

Tides

High   7:31 AM     0.8
Low   6:28 PM     0.0

Solunar Times

Best Times      5:29A – 7:29A       5:57P – 7:57P

Good Time     11:19A – 1:19P

It was just cracking daylight as I zipped over to Big Bayou.  I immediately noted the water temp was down over 4 degrees from last week.  With the water projected to be moving for hours this morning it was definitely a drain kind of day.  And it was a beautiful morning, to bad it is still humid as hell.

It should have been perfect for topwater and they actually cooperated.   First it was a long stretch headed to a drain, though not a bite until I got to the drain.  I put 3 or 4 keepers right off the bat and some smaller ones on the topwater.  Of course I missed a bunch, it comes with topwater fishing for trout.  Just easing the topwater along in a walk the dog pattern fairly slow they were blowing up on it.  I lost my big Strike King topwater on a huge lady fish, the first of several today.  (And as an aside I ended up losing another topwater later when against my better judgment I tossed it into a school of big jacks, stupid.  I saw several bunches smashing bait today.  The last thing I wanted to do was spend a half hour chasing one of those things when the real fish were biting.)  But before I left that drain I threw plastics for a while, and they liked that just as good.

  The first drain.  You can tell it was early, my Cocoons were  not even on yet.

After  catching about a dozen out of the first drain it was time to move and see if the bite was on.  I hit a couple of more drains then I hit my favorite deep bank and had a real bite on the plastic.  This was the heaviest trout I have caught in a while.

A quick CPR on a nice thick one.

It was probably around 9 when I just started hunting and pecking.  It was not fast by any means but several things happened that made it an interesting day.  First, in Chad’s report the other day (Thanks Chad.) he said they found the fish near the bank, so I started fishing shallow grass and they were scattered here and there right on the edge.  I did not fish anywhere today without catching at least one or two where ever I tried.  Once they got off the topwater it was the 3″ red flake white bottom paddle tail on a 1/8 jig head.  The tide was moving a little to quick to fish the deeper banks with the 1/32, which is basically a wading jig head.

The biggest red of the day.

The other really interesting thing was the trout bit until about 10 or so, and then just one here and there the rest of the morning.  But as soon as the trout quit it was like someone threw the switch and the reds started.  In fact I got bit consistently for several hours.  The reds were not interested in topwater or spinnerbait, but they were liking that plastic.  I re-fished several banks that I caught a trout or two and then the reds were up on it and the trout were gone.  Interesting.

                                              I caught 4 or 5 this size.

                                                 I even caught a flounder.

One thing about fishing drains is you have to be there at the perfect time, and that is when water is running out of them.  The fish are usually there, it is often a figure out what bait they want thing.  Today was nice as a few ate topwater right off he bat and let me know they were there and then the rest came in the same places on plastics.

And the Power Pole was a integral part of catching them out of the drains today.  Being able to position just right was helpful, so I could throw across current and work it just like stuff riding the tide out.  When it is working like that it so reminds me of fishing rainbow trout in the White River.  Working the bait off the bank and letting it almost swing with the current, and it worked today.  But once that water stops running in the drains, the fish leave, end of story.  Today’s fishing was predictable, and watching weather and tides was the key.  And there is a lot to be said for confidence, it sure is nice when it works out.

There was bait everywhere, besides trout and reds, I caught a wad of other stuff.  Fish of all kinds were active and I boated an easy 20+ today, no counting the junk fish.  Not bad for a short day.  I gave it up around 1 and they were still biting a little when I left.  But as forecast there were rain showers all around, more towards Victoria, and it was 92 degrees when I took out.    So it was an excellent day and I am looking forward to many more this fall.

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And here is a comment from Joe Bass on the upcoming weekend.

“What you talking about Willis”. You heading up this way to fish Lake Travis? Lunch on me when you come thru San Antonio unless you go another way. Do your research because that lake might get REAL crazy around Labor Day. The idiots come out that weekend, many hours to get boat in/out of water. I don’t go those weekends.

Side note: Do you use a line threader thru your live bait to the hook is near the rear? I have a friend that bought one for $16 but started tinkering and has made some for alot cheaper using wire leader, crochet hooks etc….

I am absolutely positive there will be a crazy crowd.  Rich people behaving badly.  I am taking the boat but it is primarily a weekend with the grandkids who will spend the weekend swimming off the dock.  When it comes down to it if I actually get to fish I will be surprised.  As far as a bait needle I have never used that technique but have seen it used in offshore fishing.  Heck for me to have fished with live bait 3 times in the last month is something.  It has been 20 years since I used live bait that many times.  Not saying I may not give it a go in the future, but for the time being I will stick with lures.  And thanks for the lunch offer, just may take you up on that some time and keep those comments coming.

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So there you have it.  It was a fishcatchingtravel good time and it really got my bay fishing juices flowing.  It will not take much more falling water temps to really get them moving.  So next time you check the tide and see it falling most of the day, with light winds and cloudy skies, quit the job, sell the kids and go fishing.  They just might be biting.  And as I say so often I can not thank you all enough for supporting my blog.  We just hit our 500,000 visit since I started this, who woulda’ thunk it.   I truly appreciate your readership.  So keep stopping in and thanks.

Good Luck and Tight Lines.

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

 Makers of the best balsa baits on the market.

I am already sick of painting!

I hope to spend the day trout fishing Thursday as the weather still looks good with a lower wind forecast.  One of the things I have wanted to throw for trout on the deeper reefs is the Alabama Rig.  I have a smaller one that is listed as a crappie A Rig, so I added a pile of paddle tails and will be really interested to see if it works.  There is no reason it shouldn’t, but who knows.  Hopefully I will have a crazy report on that soon.

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How many rods can 2 guys have?  When Aaron and his dad were here we managed to mix up a couple of rods and neither of us noticed for several days.  How he ended up with my redfish rod and I ended up with one of his spinning rods is beyond me.  Heck they are not even the same thing.  So hopefully he will be coming down to fish Rockport in the near future and we can swap out.

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After Lee asked his knot question last month and you all sent several suggestions he dropped me this comment on the rest of his Galveston trip.

Hey Doug,
Thanks for all the great responses on the knots. I have been working on efficiently tying them. That’s probably my big key. On my last day of our vacation, I went on a wade on the South Shore of West Galveston Bay close to SLP and hooked into a massive shark. Gulp! I’m guessing I foul hooked it as I saw a disturbance in the water and started casting in front of it. But, the good news is the knot held but the hook straightened. It was my first ever time to do a wade as I have a perfectly good kayak. Needless to say, I will be sticking to the kayak for the near future. Sharks have a more difficult time getting in there.

On that note, any recommendations for good kayak places to put in and spots to fish from a yak in Port O’Connor? I have some work coming up down there.

Also, I fished Lake Travis last week and had some luck on clear Zara Puppies thrown right up against the bluffs. I mean I had to throw it within 6 inches or closer to the rocks and the majority of the fish hit it immediately when it hit the water. Most were dinks which is typical of Travis but caught one good LMB and one good Guad. I switched to a Chartreuse grub later and caught a few more on it. Just FYI in case you can get some fishing in during your Labor Day trip. Good luck!

Nothing like a shark to add a interesting twist to a wade.  My few encounters have been scary enough, but I was never in fear for my limbs, usually!  But sharks aside do not give up on the wade, it really is the way to go, but a kayak is obviously much better than a big boat for getting close.  And when you do jump out of the kayak and catch a dozen trout without moving your feet you will be hooked.  I will drop you an email on several places to drop your kayak in the water.  POC is a little tough unless you are a big paddler, but it can be done, and there are several other places that are in this area. And thanks for the tips on Travis.  I have never boated a Guadalupe bass so if nothing else I would like to get that crossed off the list.  But being a holiday weekend who knows, but I will get in a cast or two since I will have the boat.  So keep dropping a comment whenever the spirit moves you, thanks.

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And on the continuing subject of croaker fishing Jason dropped this informative comment.

Wanted to say hello and interested in seeing your stories on croaker fishing for trout. One thing that is interesting about croaker is that they have a minor spawn in the springtime. I use to get the smaller, better bait size ones starting in Mid-September and it started all over again until the end of October(most people are hunting or doing school football stuff). Usually was a slow down around the end of August or maybe labor day for a couple of weeks. Of course fished them with other live bait because there were fewer of them, but would get them going on croakers and finish limits on mullet, pinfish, piggies, etc. good luck

I had no idea they were still fishable that late in the year.  Sounds as if you are like me, happy to see fall and all the other things that attract folks who might otherwise be fishing.  And combining different kinds of live bait was on my mind when I built my bait tank.  I have it set up so that I can mix stuff without anybody getting eaten before he even gets out of the bucket.  So thanks for the comment and when I give them another go I will let you all know how it goes.

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I did not get to fish today (Tuesday), and won’t tomorrow either.  What should have been a minor remodel is turning into the painting job from hell, but when it gets done it should be awesome.  And the wife gets her bigger closet.  So I am going to whip that out as quick as I can and Thursday I will be back on the water.  I really appreciate it when it is slow around here and you stick with me.  Serious fishing time is right around the corner.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

(Go buy your new fishing and hunting license today before you forget!)

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

 Makers of the best balsa baits on the market.

We continue to have spotty wet weather.  Some days it rains, then none, then a shower, just no real downpour like some areas.  After checking out the weather map and radars this morning before daylight I decided to fish the lake.  Our weather will be clearing this week, and with a light wind day forecast later this week it will be off to the Gulf.

Weather

91/75   Mostly Cloudy  20% (TWC)  80% (TV) Chance of Rain   Wind SE 10 – 20 mph

Tides

Low   2:23 AM     0.4      High   7:48 AM     0.6      Low   3:31 PM     0.3

Solunar Times

• Best Time       2:36A – 4:36A
•                           3:03P – 5:03P
• Good                8:49A – 10:49A

It was a beautiful morning.

There were lightning flashes here and there with a little far off thunder when I dropped the boat in the lake.  It looked like it has stabilized and the water temp was 84, down a couple of degrees.  First up it was off to the bank where I have been catching some better fish.  I was hoping to repeat the other day, to bad it did not happen.  Bass are a funny critter and today they got the best of me.

I spent 3 hours fishing around the plant area and for my efforts I caught 2 small bass, and one gave a new meaning to small.  Neither buzzbait nor pitching that lizard was provoking any bites.  Who knows, maybe they had a hangover from what was basically the full moon that was up when I started.  I fished channel banks, flats, wood, reeds, you name, I gave it a serious go.  When you pitch as much good stuff as I did it was pretty amazing I only had 2 bites, and caught them both.  So around 10 it was time for a big move up lake.

The best I could do today.

I went way up lake and started on a brushy bank where I put a couple of more small ones in the boat.  Going farther up from there to a flat bank had fish on it, to bad I could not get a hook in them.  From the time I made the big move until I got up lake the wind started blowing, and it was blowing briskly right down the banks I was fishing.

So going with the wind was nice, but even pitching it 10 feet you would get a bow in your line.  And then to add to things when they hit that lizard they immediately swan out from the bank.  They do that at times, but today they headed out as fast I could reel.  By time I tried to get a hook in them they were at the boat swimming like they were on a mission.  It got a little irritating.

So while that is nothing more than an excuse, it was something a little different from the usual pitching bite.  No good bite on the perfect morning, then around noon with the wind blowing and sun out they start biting,  I did manage to boat 4 up lake, unfortunately on a good dozen bites, most which had it and were swimming.  For the morning it was 6 in boat and twice that many made an escape.  It really was a treading water morning, I am ready for us to get out of this weather pattern and for everybody to go hunting.

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But we are lucky enough to have a another good bay report from Chad who commented on the bass I caught the other day.

Its good to see some good bass coming out of coleto. Ive fish there alot over the years. I think being a good bass fisherman has great advantages for catching trout and reds. We made a trip to poc on friday with a livewell full of croaker we headed to the hump at 6 am. By using a spotlight we located an area with enough mullet to say lets give it a go and bailed out 3 of us with croaker and 1 with lures. The results after a 2 hr wade were disappointing we loaded up and headed to greens. 1 trout in the box. We bail out at spot with lots of rafting mullet and began to catch some quality fish on croaker. The bite was slow but the quality was good. As the day wore on locating the bait was a matter of watching the water as the pelicans would fly over. Staying with rafting bait was the key. At 12:00pm we headed back to the boat to get a game plan and fish count. As we were deciding were to go now, i noticed 3 slicks pop up within an 100 yrd area. So the saying goes dont leave fish to find fish came into play. We all jump back in a began another wade. It paid off big time with the box for the day. 19 trout 4 reds and 1 flounder. We had 5 trout over 22″ what a solid box of fish. Our lure guy that had only caught 2 fish all day decided to join us on the last wade with a yellow and white bucket in tow. A month from now till next june ill be throwing lures. Usually after the first norther. We had a great time giving him hell about that. With the recent rains that dropped the water temps the big ones were hugging the shoreline. Keep up the good work chad.

One for grinding it out, and then paying enough attention to see a few slicks pop up, and it was game on.  And there was one real important piece of information, the water temp dropped even a few degrees and the fish started moving a little to their shallow haunts.  The same thing is happening on the lake where the water temp was down 3 degree the other day.  So nice job sticking with it, nothing beats putting time in on the water and you guys put it in the other day.  So keep those reports coming, there are folks who read this stuff who just do not get out like they used to and they love reading about our fishing.  Thanks again.

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I have referred to Bugg’s Fishing, a company I saw at the Houston Fishing Show a few years ago, and that someone else also mentioned here.  They make a great line of hand tied jigs with assorted hair, both for salt and freshwater.  Then today I watched the Flats Class fishing show and he was throwing a iig with a dark living skirt without a trailer.  The head was shaped similar to a classic bonefish jig.  That jig, and the ones tied by Buggs, have a similar look.  It can imitate several saltwater things so since I have a couple I believe I will give them a try next time on the redfish.  One of the other TV dudes throws a small flippin’ jig for reds, so there must be something to it.  Definitely giving them something they do not see that often.

http://www.buggs-fishing-lures.com/lures-for-redfish.html

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A good sign, or should I say a horrible sign, that we are still in full on summer, vibro.  There have been several new cases lately.  Hard to really tell if there has been more this year, but there has been enough.  So if you are wet wading, or coming into contact with bay water, and have any open wound be really freakin’ careful.  That stuff is nasty.

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The weather looks like it is finally going to straighten up.  The mornings are a little cooler and it is getting darker a lot earlier.  It won’t be long and fall will be here.  The schooling of the redfish, topwater on Coleto, jerk bait on Fayette, Baffin Bay, all the things I look forward to every fall.  So while it is still 94 outside the end is coming.  There is a little work left to be done on the big bedroom remodel and I am going to get them done tomorrow, then it is back on the water.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

 Makers of the best balsa baits on the market.

The fishing today was a little different than the last couple of time I hit the lake.  Getting there as daylight cracked it was apparent the lake has come up just a little.  I was worried that there was some color along with it but after fishing up both arms no problem.  It has taken a while but the lake is clearing real nicely.

Weather

91/77  Generally cloudy with a 20% chance of rain   Wind 10 – 20 SSE  (Not a cloud in the sky and the wind did blow about 15)

Tide Times

19      Low  12:43 AM     0.1
19     High  10:27 AM     0.6

19      Low   1:32 PM     0.4
19     High   3:59 PM     0.6  (One of those tide days that are basically flat.)

Solunar Times

• Best     11:41A – 1:41P
•              12:08P – 2:08P
• Good     5:55A – 7:55A   (Close but none of these times made a difference today.)

First it was way up the plant arm and a little buzzbaiting.   I probably fished about 50 yards when a good one just jumped all over it in a foot of water.

Love it when one this size explodes on that buzzbait.  This was definitely a big girl.

So things were looking up.  I fished with the buzzbait for another good hour and was surprised when I only had 2 more bites and boated a small one.  At times I can be a little stubborn in not putting it down quick enough but not this morning.  What the heck, might as well re-fish the bank where the big one ate it, only this time pitching the Rage Craw into shallow cover.

This one ate a Rage Craw.

I stayed shallow and over the next hour I caught 4, 2 small ones, lost 1, and had 1 big one break me off in a tree.  I have been pitching with 2olb Big Game, which is normally plenty for Coleto, but toss it into a big tangle of wood and you are taking your chances.  I have not been using a flippin’ stick but might start carrying one for just those places.  Today the bite pitching was good, a couple smacked it and the rest were already swimming when I lifted up first time.  No matter what you have about a second to set the hook or they are gone.  I felt a couple of others that let go of it as soon as I felt them.  But it is still some serious hand to hand combat.

Pitch the right bank and there are some good ones up.

The fishing was real consistent until about 10.  I probably boated 6 or so, and had some great bites.  And then, I don’t know if it was my bank choices over the next 3 hours or they quit, but from around 10 until I quit at 1 I did not have another bite.  I mean zip, even after running up the other arm to the one place they have been all summer, I could not buy a bite.  Before quitting I threw a little spinnerbait on a real windy bank, and that went over like a lead balloon so I called it a day.

One bright spot in the lake fishing right now is that the bigger fish are starting to make an appearance.  While the numbers still reflect that this is summer, anytime you can boat a big fish is a good day.  Why they quit today I do not have a clue, but it was like someone just turned off the faucet.  There were folks out today, and they are still catching crappie.  And I saw several bass boats getting a jump on the weekend.

My weekend is going to consist of painting, not my favorite activity by any means, but it will be good to get it done on the weekend.  The weather will play a big role in where I fish next week.   The forecast still includes a 50% of rain for the first part of the week, so if there is a day with good clouds there is a trout drain calling my name.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines 

We got some good news this week when Joy, my mother-in-law, got to return home after breaking her hip.  So here is wishing your recovery stays on track.  Glad you are home.

And my brother Kelly, who has been laid up in bed for a month, may be able to get up and around on Monday, so here is hoping you are getting back to good as new.