Fish Catching Travel

Baits for all your fishing needs.

The boss and I have been cruising around East Texas and Louisiana the last 5 days, spending some time together before I head out to Canada.  We had a great time but now it is time to really start getting my stuff together for the big trip.

Shoedog has spent the last few days getting his lake boat ready for the long haul to Canada.  Replacing a trolling motor, new battery, new spare, the usual required for an extended trip.  But he is ready, and I will be after Monday.  From there it will be off on Thursday for the 2 day drive.

Lots of folks find it hard to  believe we make that long haul, but for us it just part of the whole thing.  By doing that we have our own boat, plenty of good eats, and enough tackle to open a tackle store.  With so many fishing situations it takes lots of stuff.  We fish light line walleye, crappie, assorted techniques for smallmouth, pike fishing, and of course our main quarry this trip, muskie.  We will be trolling, casting, both day and night.  It would be so much easier to fly, but there is no way we could get everything we need on a plane.  Heck we fill a truck and boat with stuff.  So the countdown really begins.

******************

Here is a couple of pics from our offshore trip.  Chris sent these to me the other day..

Terry said our bad luck stemmed from my “banana” colored yellow shirt.  That may have been somewhat true, I did eat a banana on the way to POC.

Zipping along pushed by a couple of 225 Honda 4 strokes.  That World Cat was an awesome ride.

Not sure if this was going or coming but we saw it both ways.

*********************

The other day I posted that the bass were schooling good on Bastrop and I got another first person report.  I met a tackle rep at Cabela’s the other day and he said it had been awesome.  So if you get a chance to head that way do it, the average size is pretty good and there is not many times of the year we get that type of bass fishing.  As it is an early bite be on the water at daylight.

I also got a really good report on Fayette from Randy, one of my readers.  As usual this time of year when you find them there can be a pretty good school of them.  In fact they caught a mess, then went to the truck to cool off and headed back out and worked the area again, and once they found them it was game back on.  So our area fishing is heating up and looks like we may get a small break from the heat.

*********************

That clears up a few odds and ends.  Tomorrow morning it will be a quick trip to Coleto to put a few bass in the boat.  The secondary reason is to drain a spare 6 gallon tank on the Skiff to add to our never ending pile headed to Canada.  We always take a spare tank with us to Canada as Lake of the Woods is a monster.  65,000 mile of shoreline and 15,000 islands, you can get way out there and we never want gas to be an issue.  Plus after I fish in the morning it will be time to go through all the tackle and rods in the boat and finalize what will head to Canada.  And of course every reel will get new line, all part of the prep.  So stop in tomorrow for my last report before we take off.  Once we start fishing next Saturday there will be reports and pictures everyday.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

Fish Catching Travel

Baits for all your fishing needs.

No one can say we did not give it the old college try.  My buddy Chris called on Sunday and he was going offshore with a friend and I was invited along.  So we headed out to POC at 4:45 to grab some ice and meet Terry at his place for an early start.

First we netted some live bait to put a few red snappers in the boat, but the plan was some serious offshore trolling.  Our destination was 50 miles out and it was forecast to have moderate seas offshore, and it was as nice as you could hope for offshore at this time of year.

On the way we hit a couple of shrimp boats without success and one rip that had a few, very few weeds.  Terry told us that last year the weeds were terrible and trolling was often almost impossible.  The first couple of stops did not even result in a bite of any sort.  So it was then off to an area with some rocks hoping to tempt a mahi mahi or a wahoo, unfortunately we only had a couple of  half-hearted bites so we moved on.

They did let me catch a couple of red snappers on Texas waters for my trip to Canada.  Those boys will be more than happy to eat some broiled Texas snapper smothered in a mushroom sauce.

As we headed to another spot we stopped at a couple of more shrimp boats.  Right away we started catching bonita, in fact we could not keep them off our trolling lures.  We were just getting ready to move when Chris was reeling in a trolling bait and a mahi smacked it but unfortunately missing it.

As we were catching fish there was a big offshore boat at another one and the captain was using binoculars and watched us catching the bonita.  As we set back up and started trolling around the boat this knucklehead pulled right up to the boat we were circling and basically cut us off.  There were only 5 other shrimp boats in the area but this horses ass came right over and got between us and the boat.  Clearly a case of I have a bad offshore boat and I am all that.  This was one of the worst I have ever experienced in Texas.  The whole Gulf, no other boats around, lots of other shrimp boats, and this jerk blocks us.  I just don’t get it.

We did have a couple of exciting moments that unfortunately did not work out.  We had a real nice mahi all around us and he flat out refused live bait.  Normally put it in front of mahi and you are hooked up, but this one was just taunting us.  Then all of a sudden a ling materializes around the boat.  After us tossing the book at him he finally ate Chris’s bait but we failed to hook up.  And that was the last of our day.

I think we could have caught a few of the things we were after but just could not keep those stinking bonita off our lures.  Even though it turned out to be a tough day on the Gulf it was a good time.  I really enjoyed offshore and would like to shout out a thanks to Terry for letting me latch on to their trip.  God it was hot, in fact it hit 103 degrees in Victoria, and unfortunately that pattern will continue.  But other than a little rough on the way out and back in, it was seriously fishable.  Some days it is not to be and this was one of those.

The federal snapper regulations are pure crap.  You can catch all the snapper you want in Texas waters, with tons more in federal waters.  Many folks who fish offshore regularly are finding with the glut of snappers they are occupying space that many other species use.  There is a proposal to let the Gulf states manage the snapper seasons, and it is sorely needed.  From what I have read offshore regulations have been dominated by commercial interests.  Hopefully that will be resolved in the future.

******************

I got another text from the Masked Flounder Assassin and as you have seen from his other pictures he and his crew have been sticking flounder all summer long.

 Perfect Floundering Night

They are running really good size this year.

The average is running good and they seem to be plentiful for giggers.  These guyve been wading and getting their limits every time out.  So if you like fresh flounder filets this next moon in a couple of weeks would be a good time to get them.  Thanks for the pictures Flounder Boy, keep them coming.

******************

Things I Do Not Understand

I know this is not a political blog but I can not fail to comment on the “deal” cut by the Obama administration and Iran, and here are my complaints.  First, the country is controlled by Islamic terrorists, and they finance many terrorists groups and operations worldwide.  Second, they took over our embassy and held our folks hostage for over a year and are currently holding 4 US citizens.  Third, they can not be trusted, in the name of Islam they are murderers, plain and simple.  And last, 24 day notice for inspections?  Are you kidding me!  Give me 24 days notice and I can cover up anything.  I am sick and tired of us giving an inch to these animals.

 Sorry for the rant.  I try to hold me tongue but this is wrong.  So from now on it will be back to the task at hand.  Not sure what or where is next on the fishing agenda but the Canada countdown has really begun.  Next Wednesday it will be off to College Station for the final packing of the junk and on our way.  Keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

Fish Catching Travel

Fish fear them!

My buddy Voe is in the throes of a complete home remodel inside and out.  His significant other got transferred back to Las Vegas where they are from and he had just begun this big project.  So with tons to do he has not been able to fish for a couple of weeks and he was finally able to sneak out for a morning of bass fishing.

On Tuesday I had no trouble catching them on buzzbait, and as the fish will do they decided that they were not going to cooperate this morning.  We started on a main lake point where I have caught them consistently and other than a few half-hearted boils they were not wanting it.  So Voe picked up a Skitterwalk and put a couple of keeper size in the boat in the boat on his topwater.

They smoked that thing.

Unfortunately the next 4 or 5 places we fished we did not get a bite.  So I decided to head way up lake.  Like I have said lately I just have not found a good place up lake, but they are there so we switched to pitching and finally caught a few.  The size up lake is definitely not matching down lake, possibly because the water is not near as clear, or maybe I just have not figured them out.

The first bank only produced a couple of small ones so it was over to the channel side and I did manage to boat a few.  Like a fool I tried to lift the best one of the day in the boat and he broke the 20lb.   That was not a testament to how big he was, more to my failure to check my line after flipping lots of brush.  As I always tell folks, it is the little things that often make the difference between a so so day and a great day.

My best for the morning.

We spent the morning pitching catching one here or there, but really never did find that big one or the big concentration.  It was probably 8 – 10 for the morning, which goes with our summer weather.   The water temperature was in the 90’s in most places and the water level is still falling.  And watching the front locator on the trolling motor there is just no new grass growing deep.  Maybe we will not have any this year, but I will keep watching.  I am sure the big fish are generally deep and as soon as the wind calms down just a little it will be time to explore deeper structure with big crankbaits and Carolina rigs.  Neither are my specialty by a long shot, but something I would like to get better at.

 It was the usual nice trip, Voe is good to fish with and when he finally finishes the job from hell he will be off to Las Vegas.  For me I hope it is the Gulf on Monday.  The fishing the other day sure got my blood running and after last trips mess ups on my part I would like to redeem myself.

********************

Now I know this is a fishing website but I wanted to share some picture I got from my buddy Todd.  We met through website soon after I started it and have had some great trips fishing the coast together.  He is in Italy right now and sent me these to wet my whistle.

Looks like an awesome country.

Looks like he and his wife are having a great time.  The boss and I will actually be there in a couple of months and will appreciate hearing more about his trip and how to get around.  And Todd is a great cook and here is a couple of pictures he sent me.  They are probably eating themselves blue, but isn’t that what Italy is all about?

 Tonight we went to this steak house here where they have two seatings and its all communal tables. We sat with a lovely group of Brits and Polish. They serve Florentine steak which is t-bone grilled on local wood for 7 minutes per side. They use a local breed of cow that is naturally lean so will only cook it rare. Pretty cool experience. Seasoned only with sea salt.

This is gnocchi with duck ragu.

That all looks fabulous.  Sure is better than the mac and cheese I will be having tonight.  So have a great trip and hope to see you when you get back.  And one of the great things about travel is all the folks you meet on the road.  It is a big world out there and my wife has dragged me kicking and screaming to many places that I would have never seen if she wasn’t such a dedicated traveler.  And there has been some side benefits like sailfish, tarpon. mahi, permit, to name a few.  Good thing beaches, beautiful places, and fish go hand in hand.

******************

The oppressive heat continues with the forecast staying just like it is.  High humidity and the wind coming up everyday.  Even the folks up Arkansas report they are in the 100’s.  Sooner or later this will break, but at least I will be in Canada the last couple of weeks of August and we should have some cool temperatures.  One thing about Canada, you have to pack for any condition, you never know.

That is it for the day.  I appreciate you staying with me.  Keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

Fish Catching Travel

Fish fear them!

Almost – Sort Of – Close – Kinda

My buddy Chris and I decided to hit POC and see if we could catch a few fish.  So it was off to the bay at 5:15 so we could be on the water close to daylight.  We took off taking Mitchell’s Cut and then cut across to the Pringle shoreline.  It was a little before 7 when we power poled down and jumped over the side.  We both started with topwater, which was a good choice, except……

I caught a 18 incher right off the bat, and then had 4 or 5 just blow up on it, some of them knocking it a foot in the air.  Chris had the same experience, except he did not boat a keeper.  We both discovered they did not want a steady retrieve, they wanted it paused occasionally.  I on the other hand had one of the biggest trout I have had this year just massacre it.  I got a hook in it and it did the head out of the water thrash thing.  Then about half way back it was gone.  When I reeled my bone colored KVD topwater back one of the rear hooks on the treble broke off.  It was a sign of things to come.

Headed to the grease.  A couple of those trout were pretty stout.

They hit topwater until about 9, but we only boated that one keeper, but did catch several more small ones.  Chris said it was the most blow ups with no hookups he has ever had.  He even tried 3 different topwaters but the results were the same.

I then switched to an electric chicken paddle tail on a 1/32 ounce jig head on 8lb line.  But disaster was about to strike again.  I have really gotten into that light combination.   You can fish it real aggressively, and it sinks so slow and is easy to fish in shallow water, where they were early.  Anyway I had one just thump the snot out of it.  It also did the head out of the water shaking thing, and it was an easy 5lbs.  I played it perfectly and then when net time came with my superior skill I messed it up.  It got tangled in the stringer as I tried to slip the net under it, and the line broke.  Rats.  So now I have lost the 2 of the biggest trout I have had on this year.  But there was more.

Now I do not want you to think this was the only thing going on.  Before we quit at 2:30 I landed 10 reds, and not a one kept.  Chris did manage to catch one keeper red, and managed to not boat one or two he should have.  Initially the fish were in 2 foot of water as the tide was rising until 9:30, and then started to fall.  We worked out deeper and found more trout,  but only 1 kept for me and one for him.  We met at the boat and started on round 2.  And of course disaster struck me X3.  Though I was catching trout and reds, I managed to lose 2 keepers at the net.  And then here we go again.  I set the hook and up another good one comes, shaking her head, and off she comes.  Dang it.

When we finally quit I had 3 nice trout and Chris had 2 trout and a red.  It should have been limits all the way around.  I forgot to ask him how many he caught but I caught a dozen trout, 10 rats, a lady, 2 croaker and personal best hard head.  We never moved the boat all days and just worked the area over a couple of times.  The fish bit from the time we started until we quit.  The tide was perfect, coming up and not staying slack to long, then dropping out so we got the best of both worlds.

 He got the trout carcass down pretty easy but then wrapped the skin around his bill and could not figure out what to do next.

So how do you define today?  Plenty of action but I just did not finish.  I think all that pitching with heavy stuff at the lake had me a little heavy handed, and it hurt me.  A big limit should have happened, but there is nothing like catching them the whole time.  It was a surprise as far as reds went, pretty unusual to catch 10 and not one kept.  I know I sure enjoyed it.  Chris and I had our usual good time, and hot or not, the fishing on the bay is pretty good right now.  And as much as I bitch and moan about people showing no curtsey on the bay, I want to give props to folks.  Today everyone who went by or near us gave us a wide berth.  Thanks.

It  will be interesting to see who wants to tough it out next .  It is easier to stay out there with someone else along.  Unfortunately the weather is looking really bad.  98 to 100 with the heat index topping 110 for at least the next week.  It is tough out there so if you are going out be sure to cover up and drink lots of water.  And last, we got there at sunrise and they were really biting, so go early, makes it easier to quit early.

So there you have it bay rats.  If I could do anything over I would have tossed the plastics at the first bunch of fish, it might have been a little different outcome as far as fish on the stringer.  I really appreciate you all sticking with me.  You keep reading and I will keep fishing.  I am surely getting the best part of that deal.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

Fish Catching Travel

Fish fear them!

With our heat still smoking along I decided to start even earlier than I have at the lake.  It was barely cracking dawn, in fact it was dark when I started in the first cove near the big island.  Cranking the buzzbait fairly slow proved to be the ticket.

My first 2 bites.

Over the next hour before the sun even peeked out I put 6 in the boat.  Funny though, they were not smashing it by any means, it was just a soft plop as they sucked it under.  And though it was a soft bite I did not miss any.  The fish were right on the inside of the cove, on both sides and on the points.

So with that I kept after it, and they cooperated fairly well.  From there it was up lake fishing small coves and pockets, and when you caught one you would catch at least another.  One thing I did do today was parallel the deeper banks trying to run the buzzbait right on the edge of the grass.

The best one for the day.

This time of year they are schooled up, so when you find them you can re-fish them.  I just kept moving and trying new places and would go a while and not catch one, then it would be a couple in a row.

No giants but a good solid limit for the morning.

They quit hitting the buzzbait about 9:30 so I switched to pitching the lizard and senko.  Unfortunately the wind came up and it was blowing on my best spots.  I ended up catching about 4, but nothing to fantastic.  Again today another big ass bream came over the side, and I messed with some when I would feel that pecking I would just start reeling and they would hold on to it all the way to the boat.  I am not really seeing any beds so not sure if they are spawning, but if you want some good eating they are out there and they are big.  I am also still seeing plenty of tilapia.

The water is still falling, and it looked like it fell quite a bit the last 24 hours.  Much of the grass that was holding fish is slowly getting to shallow, so if you are going to fish that shallow grass pattern make sure deep water is real close, it makes a difference.  The water temperature was 90.2 when I started.  When you have that high a temp combined with falling water pulling out of the grass it is a wonder the fishing is as good as it is.

I quit at 11:30 and probably put around 13 or so in the boat.  10 came on buzzbait and 3 or 4 on plastics.   I will take that any hot summer day.  I do wonder how good the fishing might be at night.  Maybe next week I will give it a go.  I did talk to a guy at the ramp who said he caught and released one over 10 a couple of days ago.  He is fishing a deeper hump with a tree or brush pile on it.  Coleto has lots of ways to catch fish right now, deep and shallow.  No matter what get out early

***********************

Now I am really cranked up!  Rusty, our resident Fayette and Bastrop expert, dropped me this report from his recent trip to Canada and folks, this is what I am talking about.

Hi Doug!
Just returned from Nungesser Lake near Red Lake, Ontario. As you can expect, we had a wonderful exciting fishing adventure.  First few days were unseasonably warm (85-90), but the rest were in the 65-70 range with one morning being 45.  As you know ,when you go to Canada you have to pack for all weather conditions as it can change so fast.   There were eight good friends on this trip and we boated over 900 walleyes and Northern pike.  We have been going to this lake for many years and know it very well.  This year the fish were hungry and big.  So get ready for Crow!!!   My hands are cut up and sore but they will heal fast.
Side note:  you mentioned in one of your reports about the Frabil 3 rain suit.  I bought one before I left and it performed extremely well!  I stayed dry and warm in some torrential  storms and 25-35mph driving cold wind.  I am excited to use it this winter bass fishing
Bass are schooling heavy at Bastrop!
Tight lines,  Rusty

Wow!  What a great trip.  Part of what makes our trip what it is is sharing it with some of our best buddies and it sounds like yours was the same.  The fish fries, the tale tails, hands torn up, what more could a fisherman want.  Readers if you have never made a trip like this you are missing out.  Welcome back and congratulations on a really successful trip.  And thanks for the report on Bastrop, nothing like schooling fish.  Keep in touch.

*********************

One of the things I hope this website does is educate all of us.  There is always something to learn.

Good Morning Doug
I had the same problem on my hummingbird; it was mounted on my console. Found a GPS puck on ebay for cheap mounted it on top of the grab bar. Problem fixed, locks-in in a heartbeat now.
Steve

Thanks for the suggestion Steve.  I will check on that and see if it will solve my problem.  There is a reason BOAT stands for Break Out Another Thousand.  It is always something.

*********************

Johnny dropped me this comment on Coleto.

Went fishing at Coleto Creek yesterday.  Caught nothing on the moving bait. It was a different story with the watermelon red weightless fluke…caught 5 bass and lost a couple. Sure was fun!

Though it was more of a buzzbait day today, slow moving plastics are still the ticket.  And if you look in my tackle box almost all my plastics are watermelon red.  So keep those reports coming, we appreciate it.

*********************

I really appreciate all the comments I get from you all.  So keep them coming.  You input makes this a better site so drop me a line.  Good, bad, or indifferent, they are all welcome.  Tomorrow it is up early and off to POC.  It will be interesting to see how long I can take this stinking heat.  At least we will be waist deep in the water.   I haven’t even thought about where to start, but that is part of the fun.  I will try to get that report up as soon as I can.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

Fish Catching Travel

Click on the logo and visit their website.

I have been a little under the weather the last few days so did not manage to get out, but that will change this week.  I did get a couple of pictures from the Shoedog the other day who has his grandson for 2 weeks.

Nice ones Nolan.  Those are some serious bream.

What is better than taking the grandson fishing.  The world would be a better place if more people did just that.

 ********************

And my buddy Jeffish just sent me this picture.

A nice 12lb blue cat from lake Dunlap.

Jeffish and Korbin spend the weekend at Lake Dunlap and Korbin was the chief perch jerker for limb line bait.  Korbin is a fishin’ fool and it is good to see a kid not on the computer but outdoors.  Taking your kids and grandkids outdoors is a good thing for everyone.  So congrats to both of you on the nice cat!

********************

I also heard from Austin Aaron on his last trip to the coast.

Hey Doug,

It’s been awhile since I checked in.  I’m looking forward to the musky reports.  I’ll be sharing them with some friends in the hopes of convincing them that we should make the trip someday.

I’ve only been able to make one trip to the bay lately (POC).  The heat was pretty brutal.  I lasted until about noon but was able to land 9 reds before quitting.  I never seem to have anything but cooler pics so nothing worth passing along.  Most were over 25” in 8” of water so it was a fun morning despite the heat.  I think I’ll wait a few more weeks to let the heat break before trying again.

I hope you pound them up there.

Aaron

Man I hear you on the heat thing.  There is a fine line between hot and tough, and the heat has been tough for weeks now.  I know some of you are wanting more saltwater reports but I am not a half day saltwater guy, so the last few weeks the reports have been few and far between.  But that will change this week with one trip already scheduled for Wednesday.  Thanks for checking in and believe me, if you and your buddies make that trip you will not be disappointed.  The folks at Muskie Bay are great and you can launch or leave it in the water on Crow Lake, or drive less than 20 miles (some as close as 5) and launch on multiple places on Lake of the Woods.

**********************

My buddy Aaron was down in Rockport this weekend but I was not able to fish with them. As I was laying on the couch Sunday feeling a little poorly I got a text that said go outside and look up.

Victoria from the air.  Nothing like traveling in style.

They were right over the house.  Not sure how they did but it must be nice to make a trip to the coast without the drive.  Catch you next time.

********************

Sometimes I am amazed at the responses I get from assorted providers of fishing supplies, and the one we got from Hummingbird still astounds me.  We put a Hummingbird 688 sonar/GPs on the Mako and for some reason it has trouble finding a satellite.  So thinking it might be a problem with the unit I called them for some tech support.  The lady I spoke with had the following comment when I asked her why it seemed to take longer than any unit I have ever had: “It can take up to 20 minutes to find a satellite.”  Are you kidding me?  A GPS for a boat that can take up to 20 minutes to do what it is supposed to do.  Thanks for no help.  That actually is not only stupid, it sure could make it worthless at a new fishing destination.  So be advised if you are thinking of buying one.  Ridiculous!

*********************

The plan this week will be a little bass fishing in the morning, then Wednesday off to the Gulf with my buddy Chris.  From the reports I am reading and hearing we might actually catch a few.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

Fish Catching Travel

The best baits money can buy.  Just ask Greg Hackney, Angler of the Year.

Today it begins, the laying out of stuff.  Be it rain suits, spare tackle, rods, reels, lines, supplies, etc.  All on the floor in the spare bedroom so it can be seen and organized before all the stuff I regularly use is sorted and made ready in a couple of weeks.  It is a big job getting ready for 2 weeks of hardcore fishing 1,800 miles from here.  If you forget it you get to buy it later, and stuff up there is not cheap.

Of course I am watching the reports out of Muskie Bay and they are looking good.  I stole this new one from the Muskie Bay Facebook Page, and if this does not get your fishing juices flowing you aren’t a fisherman.

From Gregg Bruss  Mid week report here coming in from Muskie Bay Resort, as I am sitting here in lodge with a cocktail in hand, sun burnt and wind burnt with a wet shirt on from the rain today, we have experienced 90 degree sun shine to now 60’s cloud cover with rain, I can report that the muskies are biting as of today my dad and I have caught 19 muskies with are 2 largest at 4 footers and are smallest being 38” and also a beautiful tiger Muskie . Hope all is well at home time to get back out for the night bite!

“Midweek” report, wow!  19 with several 48″, which are big fish.  If you want to see some great fish just click on the pics below his report.  It gives me hope for boating a really big one.

https://www.facebook.com/muskiebayresort1

********************

I got this comment from Johnny and it is the kind that keeps me writing.

Just wanted to thank you for your guidance. I really enjoy reading your reports and have put your info to good use.  Never fished a swim jig until I read your blog. It helped me catch more fish.  I usually fish at Coleto Creek…perhaps we’ll runa into each other.  Watermelon Red is a good color for Coleto.

Happy fishing

The Strike King Swimming Jig is probably one of the real consistent bass catching techniques there is.  Be it spring, summer, winter, or fall, there is a way to fish it and catch fish.  So I am glad you have added it to your arsenal.  As I always say, Kevin Van Dam needs the money.  And I fish watermelon red on almost all my plastics everywhere, it catches fish.  Thanks for the kind words.  And if you see me on the lake in either the Carolina Skiff with a 50 merc or the Mako 18LTS with a 90 Opti stop and say hi.

*******************

A while ago a website started called Texas Inshore Fishing and as soon as I found it I started posting fishing reports.  After the second one, I think, I got an email from the guy who was accusing me of trying to steal his readers because I posted the link to Fish Catching Travel on each post.  That was never my intention, I just liked posting reports that I thought people on that site would like.  But whatever, it was his site.  So that was my last post.  One of those if your site is so f’n weak that my ramblings are taking away your readers you need to re-think the plan.

Well here we are 2 years later and after one change to the site they are now gone.  For me it has never been all that much about making money, obviously, but sharing information and learning from others.  As we enter our 5th year folks are still coming so I guess we are doing something right.  Having a website is like making beer, everybody thinks they want to give it a go, and everyone is an expert.  Either put in the time and do the work, or join the scrap heap of the internet.

*********************

The Masked Flounder Assassin is at his stabbing best again.  He dropped me this picture and it looks like supper to me.

A nice limit.

I have been getting lots of reports on flounder and it is good right now.  Limits have been the rule and like we have experienced with rod and reel the size is definitely up.  Who knows but maybe reducing the limit is helping the stocks.  Ya think?  Hopefully we will begin to see the results of the reduced speckled trout limit.  Like it or not this is the way it will be and I for one was in favor of reduced limits.  On our trips to Louisiana we would clean a 12″ and get 2 fish sticks.   I would much rather have 5-20″‘s all day long.  Thanks for the pictures, we love seeing them.

*********************

After a couple of days off I just wanted to catch up on some things so that is all for today.  Our heat continues but we have had a couple of rains so it is greening back up again.  I hope to get off my rear end and make the Gulf a day or 2 this week.  Waiting for cooler weather is not going to happen, at least not for a couple of more months.  So it will be up early in time to drive to make it at daylight and get what topwater action I can before the sun is up.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

Fish Catching Travel

The best baits money can buy.  Just ask Greg Hackney, Angler of the Year.

I had no intention of fishing today.  We actually hit 103 degrees and it is hot with no relief in sight.  So of course I woke up early and decided to hit the lake before it got to hot.  It is just to much hassle and to damn hot to go to the Gulf by myself, but I am sure that will change shortly.  Hard to believe my fishing partners all have a life.

When I got to the lake I decided to stick more with the lizard and to head up the plant arm and fish some places I have not fished in a while.  That turned out to be a good choice, but not at first.  Starting on a long main lake bank I kept pitching but they would not eat it, or I was missing them.  I think I put 3 in the boat out of twice that many bites.  There was a lot of tapping and pulling going on but they were not eating.  Maybe this was part of the reason.

This guy held on to the tail of that lizard all the way in to the boat.

As a side note I also boated a huge bream today, some of those misses were surely them or small bass.  I finally boated a keeper after several small ones.

Finally a keeper.

A couple of important points, they are shallow around cover, but it seems it needs to be near a point.  As I worked long banks, a cove, and some deeper places, it became real apparent they are relating to the points with the water falling slowly and the temperature really heating up.  I actually hit a pocket of water that was 89 degrees.  It is so important to make sure you toss it as far in the cover as you can and be ready as most of the bites come as it falls or when you move it the first time.

The best one I have boated in a while.

About 11 I hit a deep point with cover on it at the mouth of a cove where I have caught them in the summer in years past.  The one above, and 4 others were on it.  They were in about 2 foot of water on the point and a hair into the cove.  Though I put 5 in the boat there I missed several others.

So it was time to refish it using something else, and I boated another.  It was getting hot and so I headed to one more point with good cover and put a couple of more over the side.

Another good fish.

The last 3 or 4 came on a 5″ senko style bait in a watermelon red.  Using it on 20lb test with a 1/8 ounce slip sinker and 5/0 light worm hook allowed it to fall really slow and the ones that hit ate it.  One thing that is so important, do not get into a feeling contest with them, you will lose lots of them.  If you feel anything, see the line move, think you are hung, set the hook.  Drop your rod quickly, reel out the slack, and smack em’.  All in a second.  It does not cost anything and it is surprising how often there is one there.   It will be interesting to see how that senko works compared to the lizard.

I think I  boated 11, not bad for a half day summer time trip.  As the lake is falling the fish are seeking cover and safety, and those places you may have caught them in the last month are getting to shallow.  So next time you are out think points near deep water with cover, it is that simple. Usually.  And when I say toss it in the stuff it does not mean a foot off, it means right in the junk.  It does help to peg the slip sinker, helps it crawl over stuff lots better.

*********************

Looks like we may finally get some more rain tomorrow or Saturday.  Funny that we are 14″ up and need some rain, but it is really getting hot and dry here.  Consequently the rivers and lakes are falling.  There is really good reports coming from the Gulf, trout on croakers.  I don’t fish them but there are lots of good fish being caught up and down the coast from the reports I have read.  Seems like the trout are shallow, in the 2 foot range,  first thing and as the sun comes out they are moving deeper, out to 4 foot of water.  Though I do not fish bait, (I probably should.)  if you want to catch some good trout croaker is the way.

*********************

Roy sent me a long involved comment concerning a girl and some fish.    It was a little long to be answered here but I hope my email helped you out.  I will be looking forward to hearing how it goes.  Thanks for checking in.

I got this nice comment from Pat on the Powderhorn .

That was a great article about powderhorn. I have never been
there but we are planning on heading there august 7,8 ,9. My brother has a seismic job in victoria for 6 weeks. I am not going to bring my flats boat but want to do some crabbing and I will try to find some shoreline to wet a line. It looks like it will be an interesting place. Summer fishing is a struggle for me, with water 90 degrees. Thanks again for a great article. Pat

Thanks for the kind words.  I have not fished it as much lately with the weather.  I am with you as far as the water temperature.  When the tide is running there are crabs at the crabbing bridge  on Magnolia Beach and of course going through the pass at the marina.  You can walk tons of the beach area, it is just long and straight, but it is possible to catch fish off the beach.  And your comments remind me I need to update that article with some old reports and photos.  Good luck when you are down, hope you catch a few.  Let us know.

******************

OMG!  It is 7:00 pm Thursday as I write this and it is actually pouring.  Not sure how long it will last but it sure is welcome.  The Boss is back to work and I am considering my options for the next few days.  I have not heard from any of my fishing buddies but something will turn up, it always does.  Keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

 Fish Catching Travel

The best baits money can buy.

With the little woman off during the week it was do a few errands Monday, then a fancy dinner of .25 wings, nothing to good for my sweety.  This morning I got up early and headed to the lake.  The forecast is the same, wind and heat index’s to 110 degrees, which makes it hard to get real motivated.  So I took the easy way out and went bass fishing.

I went way up lake almost to the bridge on Coleto arm.  Normally this time of year I find some pretty good fish up that far but have not really hooked up since the big raise.  For the first couple of hours I had 4 bites and caught 2 small ones.   I was alternating between the lizard and the buzzbait with little success.  Finally I headed back down lake and the wind started picking up, to the point it was white capping down at the dam.

Out of 8 or 9 this was the best of the bunch.

So it was main lake banks with some good depth close and wind blowing on multiple points.  Once the wind started they started hitting the buzzbait so I stayed with it the rest of the morning.  Of the next 7 I caught all came off a point of some sort with a pretty good chop.  They are not on all of them but if there is some deeper water close you can usually get a bite.  I never did really pitch plastics much today as once the wind came up it was blowing pretty steady.

I quit at 12:00 today as the temp neared 95 degrees.  The only thing that helped was the wind, but it was still getting tough by noon.  There really has been no real change in the fishing, only the water is falling and they are abandoning those really flat grassy banks and moving to deeper places.  It will be interesting to see what is next, but with the temperature rising and the lake falling it will not get much better until we start having cooler nights.

*******************

I have a couple of more pictures that I wanted to share with you of Jeffish and Korbin’s campout at Coleto.

Jeffish and Korbin with a nice blue cat.  Korbin with a buzzbait bass.  Don’t worry the last picture the boat was beached.   Always, always, always, life jackets for kids in the boat, period.

Jeffish and Korbin had a pretty good fishing campout last week.   Good to see a father and son sharing the outdoors together.  Who knows, maybe a future guide in the boat?

**********************

After I published a couple of pictures of the musky baits I got this comment from Clyde up in Arkansas.

Just ordered some of those clacken buzz baits and inline spinners;looking forward to using them Bro!

Counting the days man!  I leave for Shoedog’s in 3 weeks and 1 day, then Ontario from there.   Hopefully we will have them at least a little scoped out when you get there.  I think I am actually ready to go other than actually packing.  Tackle bought, rods and reels ready, you can only mess around with stuff so much until you reach ready, and as far as that stuff goes I am ready.  I can not wait to see one hit that big clacken buzzbait!

*********************

That is really a tough deal in Florida with the 2 teenagers lost at sea.  Though their family says they are experienced boaters and were told to stay within the jetties, never forget one very important thing about 14 y/o’s, they are knuckleheads.  I know at that age I was.  You are full of piss and vinegar and know everything you need to know about all of it, no matter what it is.  This really drives home the point, if you are offshore every boat should be equipped with an EPIRB and the small satellite locators that clip to each life jacket.  A $1000 and life jackets and those boys might have been found in an hour.  The ocean is a big unforgiving place.

**********************

It looks like today will hit another heat index of close to 110 degrees.  Though we have a slight weather change coming this weekend there is no break in the temperature.  I am sure I will finally get over this little slump I am in right now and get back to the bay, as soon as Shoedog makes it down or I get a good offer.   Today we are off for a drive, which hopefully include a better tackle store that we have in Victoria.  I need some real split rings to finish making the leaders for the Canada trip.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

Fish Catching Travel

The fish know the difference.

My brother Kelly up in Arkansas posted this to his facebook page, “Now that’s funny right there!”

All I have to say about that is it is nothing personal Nancy, but they are biting!

************************

Folks hot does not do it justice.  While the temperature only hit 98 yesterday the heat index was almost 110.  Today it is even worse.  After a fairly cool June with plenty of rain we are stuck in a high pressure system.  As a consequence the wind is blowing out of the SE/W at up to 25 in the afternoon, the humidity is out of this world, and it is now getting dry as a bone here in South Texas.

I just can not get motivated to fish the Gulf.  And this week my 3 regular fishing partners just did not hook up, and as a consequence of that and the heat, I just am not motivated to drive 60 miles, spend $30, and be smoking hot by noon.  Funny how a little company can  keep you fishing longer.  And then my buddy Jeffish and his son Korbin spent a couple of days at a cabin on Coleto so I went out Wednesday evening for some fajitas on the grill.  With a nice breeze and big trees it was livable and we made plans to meet the next morning to fish.  When I left that evening they went to check the 4 jugs they had out and I got this text.

Korbin and Paw Paw.

This picture did not do that fish justice.  It was 24 1/2″ long and was easily in the 8lb.+ class.  It was caught on a tilapia in about 10 foot of water.  As a side note, if you are wanting to do some jugging or trot lining now is the time.  The tilapia and perch had a great spawn and just a couple of throws with the net will get you all the bait you need.  Jeffish likes to chum with cat food and usually had no trouble getting bait.

The next morning they were still sleeping when I got to the lake so I went to throw the buzzbait and in the first hour put a couple in the boat.  Then it was back to their campsite and they were just heading out to check their 2 jugs and then do a little bass fishing so I followed them.  The first was empty but the second had a nice catfish around 7lbs.  From there we both went fishing.

Before I quit at 11:30 I caught 4 on  buzzbait and 4 or 5 pitching.  All of them looked just like the ones from the last report.  I did lose my last 6″ watermelon lizard and switched to pitching a Rage Craw but did not get the bites I have.  But as it was late in the morning it may have had more to do with timing, will just have to wait and see.  When we met at the ramp Jeffish managed to catch a nice 3lber on buzzbait but other than that he only had one or two more bites.  The fishing really slows down as the day wears on, and then starts picking back up in the evening.  The Wednesday tourney took over 14lbs with a 5lber as big fish.  That is about what I have been catching in the morning, so overall the fishing is pretty good considering the heat.

********************

Speaking of Coleto fishing and my impending trip to Canada I got this comment from Rusty.

Glad to hear Coleta is starting to get better, Fayette Lake has slowed down last week or so.  LCRA dropped the water level down quite a bit  (I think anticipating heavy fall rains) and the fish are trying to adjust.
Well,  I’m heading to Northern Ontario, Canada tomorrow for some cooler weather and awesome fishing.  I don’t have to tell you how much fun it is.  I probably won’t sleep much tonight knowing that my fingers, hands and shoulders are in for a tough 7 days.
Tight lines!   Rusty

Good luck on your Ontario trip.  And the wear and tear on hands, arms, shoulders, and back is hard to describe to folks who have never made that trip.  Not only do you fish hard, for us it is usually over 10 hours a day at a minimum, but you catch so many fish, some of them really big and toothy, that your hands take a beaten.  And I love it.  And folks Rusty is a Fayette regular who fishes it maybe as much as anyone.  He also gets to Coleto and Bastrop and you can take his information for gospel, he gets after it.  Let us know when you get back, it will just fuel my fever for our trip, which is only 24 days away.

*******************

I do want to address an issue which has come up with the instituting of the 5 fish trout limit.  A recent article in a major publication detailed the survival rate of released trout, and it was somewhat higher than I might have thought.  But there is no way on God’s green earth that dragging around a trout on the stringer, then releasing it for a bigger one is a good thing.  The stress on stringered trout, especially in warmer weather, is high.  If you have done any amount of wading you know how the trout are when you get back to the boat.  Is it so important to trade a 15″ for an 18″?  Are you so fish hungry that another 3 ounces of filet is worth it?  So do what you want, it is legal, but it is in the catching.  Next time you are tempted to do it think about what you may be doing to the one you let go.  Just saying.

********************

For all my bitching and moaning about the weather I will get over it.  The water is really crowded on the weekends out of POC.  There are major tourneys almost every weekend, including this one, so I will give it a couple of days then start back in.  And hunting season will be ramping up in a little over a month, and the waters will seem almost empty compared to right now.  Stick with me, there is lots of fishing to come.  And if you have any reports or anything to say let me know.  We all love hearing from you.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines