Fish Catching Travel

Fish Catching Travel

The plan was to hit the Gulf for a few hours today, but the Hogs have Alabama at 5 so it would have been a short trip.  So first thing this morning I went for a walk with the lovely Nancy and there were some big cloud heads in the distance and you could feel the moisture in the air.  By time we had some breakfast there was thunder off in the distance and a short while later a couple of great showers.  So I called off the fishing for the day, we will be on the lower Laguna Madre for a few days starting Tuesday so I guess I can make it a couple of more days.  And with us still 10 inches down we need every drop.

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If you read the Shoedog’s last adventure at the ramp on Fayette County you will love this comment I got from Rusty who is a regular there.

“You had me laughing!!   Tell Shoedog the exact same thing happened to me about three weeks ago on the SAME ramp!!     We were the only boat there at daylight and had to wait about 20 minutes til another boat showed up.  The guy that pulled us out,  unhooked his boat and trailer, so he could tow us.  Funny now, but it wasn’t at the time.
I have now added a good tow rope ( I only had a lariat rope) to my stuff in the truck.  Fishing has been very tough on Fayette last couple weeks. Tight lines and tow ropes!”

Actually this comment from Rusty made the Shoedog feel a lot better.  You just never know.  And congrats to the guys who pulled you out, what goes around comes around and they banked some good karma as the Shoedog says.  So if you fish Fayette be warned.  The other ramp is a lot better.  So thanks for the warning Rusty, it may save a couple of other folks from the same fate.

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Speaking of the Shoedog, he went the next day after the Fayette fiasco, so here it is.

What a Difference a Day Makes!

I didn’t get out until about 8:45- a little lazy. Not too bad a wind and a nice cloud cover. I started on the smaller of two creek arms and as soon as I got of the main lake and back into the mouth of the creek started getting bit. I caught a couple nice ones and a couple small ones and then went back in the creek arm. It was calmer back there and I got no bites at all so I went back out on the main lake.

As soon as I got back out there and fished the shallow areas with weeds I started to catch more. Almost all the bites came in 1 to 2 feet of water. I fished out to the main point between the 2 creek arms and went around a couple old timers crappie fishing-  looked like me and redfishlaw in a couple years! 

After I got past the point and was throwing back into the shallows I got the big bite. All the fish came today on white Strike King Bleeding Bait 3/8 and 1/4 ounce spinner baits and this big girl inhaled one of them.

That is a good one on a spinnerbait anywhere.

I still love the way a bass can smack a spinner bait- nothing better! I kept catching a few nice ones and then noticed a lot of action starting further back in the shallow area back toward the larger creek arm. There is a big flat there that has a lot of good weed cover and the bass were chasing bait everywhere.

I am also a fan of the Strike King Bleeding spinnerbait.  Sturdy and it catches fish.

It is always cool to see this and even though they were all small fish it was neat. They were coming out of the water and herding the bait up into the weeds and going at it.  I caught about 20 little bass from this years spawn- a great thing to see for the coming years and when I got tired of that I so I started back down the opposite bank back towards the damn. About half way down- again in a bout 2 feet of water I had another good bite for my second good fish of the day.  

Fish Catching Travel

(Please forgive the couple of formatting errors.  I am just to tired to correct them.)

While I am unable to fish right now, I will get that fixed this weekend, the Shoedog got a chance to fish Fayette County today.  We really like that lake, and very rarely do we have a poor day.  So I was really looking forward to his report when I got home late.

“I planned on an early start at Fayette County lake Thursday as the wind was supposed to be light and cloudy most of the day- sounds good- right?   Well- the weather- for the first time in a long time- did what it was supposed to- a great day for fishing!    But- Karma had other plans.

It started out at the ramp at Park Prairie. I was the only boat! Amazing.  And I was a little late- it was past sun up- barely. It is a sorta steep ramp and it is VERY SLICK at the bottom. We have never had a problem getting out- but it can be tricky. So I backed the boat in and the boat didn’t want to run real smooth- it had been a few weeks- and the water wasn’t coming out of the pee hole. So- I got a toothpick and luckily that was all it  needed and after after the boat ran a sec that was good too! So- I left it running and went to pull the truck and trailer out- I had  left them on the ramp as no one else was around. I started the truck, released the park brake and started to pull out. 

Fish Number One.

Both came on my go to gold Rapala Husky Jerk but I threw the  whole tackle box at them- something I don’t usually do. I stick with a core selection of baits- tried and true- that work  99% of the time. Today was a 1% day!   Oh well- better than going to work- right! 

I noticed that all the grass seemed to stop at 5 1/2 feet of depth- we usually catch a lot of fish in 6-10 feet there over hydrilla and other grasses but today the grass was not there- weird. Only one place on a point down close to the damn  did I see deep grass on the locator. I guess it was not a good day to be a shallow water fisherman!

One of them was a nice fish and the 2nd was a good Fayette Fattie as we call them.

A nice one.  Probably thought things were really looking up.

Now I can’t decide where to fish tomorrow- any suggestions? Remember to stop and help someone when they need it- cause- as I learned again today-   you never know when it is going to be your turn! Tight lines everybody!”

Thanks for the report, nothing like one of those nice fall days when the bass fishing is tough.  Good thing you got some help, that sounds like it sucked.  Luckily we have slipped the tires on that ramp a couple of times, but never got stuck.  But thanks to the guys who helped you out.  So your Karma may have sucked, but they have a good thing coming to them.  We should help everyone out on the water that needs it, you never know when it is your turn, today was your turn.  Thanks again for the report Shoedog.

I can not wait to get back on the water, a week is way to long.  But with Port Mansfield coming up there are 3 full days there and that should cure my ills.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff. 

Good Luck and Tight Lines.

Fish Catching Travel

As those of you who read my stuff know I have been helping out a friend in need this week.  I am not sure when it will be done, but I did want to share a comment I got from Jeramie.  His comment, and picture, is the reason I fish Coleto so much.  It can happen any time, any cast, and when it does it is a thing of beauty.

“I enjoy your site, I fished coleto for the second time yesterday and did quite well including a fish that was 7.5-8 pounds . I’ll keep checking your post to keep updated on the lake. Keep up the good wrk. If there is any way to send u a pic of fish I’d sure like to.
Thanks”

That is one awesome bass. 

Thanks for following through and sending me the picture.  I so appreciate all of you who comment and send me stuff.  Keep up the good work yourself Jeramie, that is a good fish anywhere.

I have been hearing varying reports on the Gulf.  Some folks are doing pretty well, others are struggling.  According to a couple of guys I spoke with the tides are still high and there are lots of areas that are really flooded.  When we have so much water it can really make it tough.  And to go along with that it seems when we have those high tides neither the rise or fall are that strong.  That is when I throw that Redfish Magic and cover lots of water.   But come to think of it I really don’t need an excuse to throw a spinnerbait.

Hopefully I will have a Gulf report from a friend who wanted to know if I was busy tomorrow.  So if you hit the Gulf tomorrow Chris we want all the sordid details.  And Faye, how did your quick POC trip go?  So come one folks, help me out here.  I can’t make the water for several days yet and it is killing me so I need to here if any of you are catching anything.

Sorry for the short report but it is late and it will be another long day tomorrow.   Bear with me, I will be on some water Saturday somewhere.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

Fish Catching Travel

Sorry about the lack of  content this week, but it has not been the best of weeks for me.  Initially I was going to fish the Gulf Friday but a friend wanted to catch some redfish on Saturday, so it was off to Coleto on Friday.  And then my week continued as it has when my buddy cancelled on the Saturday redfishing trip.  So I spent the day Saturday watching college football.

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Friday morning was our first cool morning of the fall.  A front blew through about 3 or 4 am and there was still lightning off towards the coast when I headed out from the house at daylight.  Arriving at Coleto it was apparent the lake is trying its best to keep coming up slowly but surely.  The wind was out of the north at about 15 mph and a high dry sky from the high pressure had moved in.  One thing I will say about that is, finally!  It is not the most ideal bass fishing weather, but who cared, it was nice to fish without sweating a gallon an hour.  The water temp was in the mid 80’s all over the lake, it will probably stay that way until we get some really cool nights.

It only took about an hour to see that the fish were just not having it.  I had 6 or 7 blow up on a buzzbait, completely missing it.  I tried slowing it down, but that didn’t help.  So the logical choice was the Strike King Swim Jig and the watermelon red plastic.  To my utter amazement not even 1 bass took a pass at the Swim Jig, very unusual.  Next it was the plastic and with my superior skill I managed to miss the only bite I got on that.  At this point I was getting a little frustrated. I then tossed 2 different crankbaits, a Red Eye Shad rattle bait and the 2.5 Square Bill without a bite.  As the few bites that morning came on points, it was point hopping from there on.

Finally a couple ate the buzzbait, and as usual they were those nice healthy Coleto bass.

One thing about the buzzbait it catches a nice average size.

Then for the next hour it was nothing.  So out came the spinnerbait and on the first windy point I caught a small one.  Things were looking up, or so I thought.  After starting up lake it was point after point all they way to the dam and up the other arm.  It truly was a lesson in how a high pressure cold front (even though it was not “cold”) can have a serious effect on bass.

No matter where I tried, or what I threw, they were just not having it.  But the weather was just awesome so I soldiered on.  Finally at 2:30 without a bite for over a couple of hours I threw in the towel.  I have not had that slow a day on Coleto in a coon’s age.  But there were a couple of other things that happened that signaled fall is on the way.

Oh the horror!  Overnight the coots returned.  I am sorry but I just hate those things.  They tear up grass off the bottom, eat the good part, whatever that is, and then the rest is left to float  and cause havoc when you are trying to fish some types of lures in that mess.  And of course they always gather up and do it on some of my favorite fall banks at the lower end.  They probably rode that front down south from wherever coots hang out, so they are here to stay.

Then I saw a Whooping Crane. and it was awesome.  They are huge birds and it was only the second time I have seen one.  He was just flying along up the lake and it would have been cool if he had landed as I had the long lens with me.  But I couldn’t get that lucky.

And one real sign of fall on Coleto is the return of the really big alligators.  Of course they haven’t “returned” from somewhere, they just feed at night.  One of the coves up lake has a couple of the biggest ones in the lake, and it is the only place I have seen really big gators hanging out together, and today was no different.  There were 2 on a little point at the mouth of the cove.  As I came around the point the one exploded in a huge boil and the other one stayed there with his nose sticking out before he sunk out of sight as I got real close.  I have always been intrigued by alligators.  No feelings, no mercy, they are killing machines.  What a cool creature.

So in spite of only catching 3 it was a wonderful day to be outdoors.  We are so close to breaking this summer pattern.  We just need some cool nights to get the lake going.  The reports I have read or heard from the Gulf had the jetties on fire with fish.  Good catches of reds and trout have come from back lakes, it is on.

Sorry but I do not have a clue what is in store this week.  I have a friend in need, and it may take a couple of days, or maybe the week, to get his problem resolved.  As he is my friend I will be with him this week doing what I can.  So there is no way I can make a fishing plan, but I will get out somewhere.  Nothing much else to report other than I am studying the map in preparation for Port Mansfield next week.  Hard not to get excited about that.  And Faye and Steve are down at POC for a couple of days of fishing so we will get a report in the next couple of days from them.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

Fish Catching Travel

First I want to express my deepest thanks to each of you who dropped me a note following the loss of our best friend Gabby.  And as so many of you said, all dogs go to heaven, and she is surely there chasing cats and possums.  So thanks, it meant a lot to us.

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The only time I have hit the water this week was a short trip to Coleto on Tuesday.  It was easy to see my heart was just not in it.  I forgot my camera (so no pictures),  I fished poorly, and then I quit early.  Probably should have waited a day.

The plan was not to get in a hurry, we were supposed to get serious clouds with a possibility of rain later in the day, and I wanted to be there when the clouds moved in, hopefully a little drizzle with it.  That did not materialize.

To make a long story short I put 7 or 8 in the boat, 3 on buzzbait, 2 or 3 on swim jig, and a couple on the watermelon red senko type bait.  The only real particular thing I have been experiencing the last few trips is invariably when you get a bite, you get a couple of more.  One thing I have been remiss in trying is when that happens to seriously re-fish the area with a completely different bait, especially if the bites are on the buzzbait.  So from that it is easy to conclude they are still bunched up from the summer pattern.  But with some cool nights on the way the fishing should really improve.

The great thing is the lake is definitely on the rise.  Maybe we can get lucky and the rain projected today and tomorrow will come and keep the water rising.  Tuesday it did not show, and I finally called it a day at 4 when the temperature hit 90 degrees plus and the wind quit.  So with my head just not in the game I called it a day.  So I have taken the last couple of days off and will get back to it serious in the morning.  Hopefully it will be the Gulf, depending on when, or if, the rain gets out of here in the morning.  One thing I still want to fish some is the Flounder Pounder plastics specifically made for catching them, and now is the time.  S0 we will just have to wait and see.

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I did hear from my buddy Bobby who has been fishing Coleto and having some success.

“Doug you are right the black and blue swim jig is great right now on coleto!!! Caught about 8 on Friday.”

I don’t remember if I mentioned a color of the swim jig that I have been catching them on, but that is the reason I try to take the pictures with the bait in their mouth.  Lately I have been throwing the black and blue, but the bluegill colors should also be effective right now.  Thanks for the report Bobby, catching them on the Strike King Swim Jig can get addictive, that thing catches fish year round on Coleto.

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Speaking of catching fish I posted a picture that my friend Jeffish sent me  of a nice redfish taken from the Indianola Fishing Marina deck the other day .  Well here is a couple of more, and they are nice fish.  Any pass or jetty should hold them now as the fall migration begins, but there is no doubt they are in the pass at the marina.

A real bruiser!

And this one is no slouch!

So if you are a shore bound angler, or just want to have a real shot at catching a big one, now is the time.  And remember if you catch one over the 28″ mark be sure to attach the redfish tag the minute you keep one.  I have no clue how long they will stay in the pass, but it is a get it while the getting is good thing.  So if you do give it a try let me know.  These are some big fish and they are accessible to anyone from the dock.  And if you need some tackle or advice stop at the tackle store as you drive down Magnolia Beach.  They are good folks and will help you all they can to catch one of these bruisers.

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As far as my duck hunting luck, or lack of at times, I really think it is me.  In what little duck hunting experiences I have had we always shoot a few, but only once have I been fortunate enough to shoot my limit.  But my buddy Chris on the other hand had a great early season Teal.  He sent me this picture of their final mornings hunt, and it looks like it was a duck whacking good time.

That is a wad of ducks.  Nice job.

So a great way to wrap up the early season.  Now he has to wait for the big duck season.  I am not sure who it will be harder on, Chris or Link.  This is Link’s first season and he got the hang of it right off the bat, thanks to the work Chris and his wife put in training him over the last year.  Thanks for the pictures Chris, several folks love to see those ducks.

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There are a couple of great trips on the horizon.  Chris, Shoedog, and I are headed down to Port Mansfield in about a week and a half and I am really looking forward to fishing there.  My main goal is to try to put a one of those big Lower Laguna trout in the boat.  And as we are taking the airboat we will have access to anywhere we think we can catch one.  And only a little over 6 weeks away is Costa Rica.  I will be fishing 2 days offshore and one day inshore.  With any luck I can knock of a Roosterfish, a Sailfish, and a Tuna off the old bucket list.  One of the things I love about planning trips is the excitement that builds as it gets closer to launch date.

Sorry for the late report, but I have my head back in the game.  And with the boss of Team Nancy beginning a 9 day stretch curing the sick in the ER (that girl is one hard worker) I will be heading to the water on a regular basis until we take off for Port Mansfield.  If the weather cooperates I hope to squeeze in a day at Fayette County with the Shoedog.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

Today we are so sad.  Our sweet girl died in her sleep last night.  A month shy of her 14th birthday, she was our best friend.  Not a mean bone in her body, she loved everyone, especially children, and was the best friend you could ever want.

A Razorback fan from a puppy.

Nancy and her best friend.  In the prime of her life.

  South Padre Island.  She was a good traveler and went with us many places.

So while we are sad, she had a good life, and we are so lucky she was in ours.   Gabby and Nancy went for a walk almost every morning for 14 years, they were the best of friends.  She loved us unconditionally and we will miss her.

RIP Sweet Gabby.

 Fish Catching Travel

What a difference a day makes.   There were 2 reasons it was different.  First, instead of the light show at daylight the day before that never made it, today it moved into the POC area and lingered off and on all day.  Add that to high winds for about 3 hours it made for a tough morning.  We will get to the second reason here in a minute.

We got to Froggie’s at daylight and headed down the inter-coastal to fish Army Cut first.  With these massively high tides, buoyed by the east wind blowing tons of water in the bay, Army Cut was a good choice.  When the water is way up the fish tend to flood the shallow flat on the west bank near the opening into the Lagoon.  And when it is like that it is topwater time.  Over the years we have caught a lot of nice fish there under those conditions and our hopes were high when we started.

I did forget to take into account that it was Friday and there would be lots of traffic, which affects the fish and makes topwater a little tougher.  We put a couple of trout in the boat as soon as we got there, and then the boat parade began as folks headed out into the bay and into the Lagoon.  Not even a half hour after we started here it came, a big storm with lightning.  It was just to the south of us but most of the folks who went out in the bay turned around and everyone headed through the cut for the house.  Of course 2 hours later here they all came back out again.  Not fishing weekends down there you forget how busy it can be.

We stuck it out as the wind howled and the rain came down.  The tough part of the storm with the lightning went west of us, it was just a matter of fishing in the rain.  We continued to get lots of bites, but it was tough fishing as the water was running like a freight train against the wind .  It was probably 11 before it settled down and we finally left the Cut.  While we were there we caught 15 – 20 on topwater, but none measured.  We had a couple of hits from what looked like keeper trout, but they just didn’t hook up.  I did put a 20″ red in the boat but since we sacked them the day before it was his lucky day.

Next is was off to Big Bayou and some  continued topwater fishing.  We had a few hits but it was slower.  Of course the wind wasn’t helping matters.  I finally went to plastics and caught a couple more small trout and then the Shoedog put another 20″ red in the boat on topwater.  That was also the red’s lucky day as we tossed him back.  We were still looking for some trout, but just never got in to them there.  The wind was playing some havoc along with the tide.  It was one of those days with funny tides.  In Army cut it was ripping in to the barge canal one minute, then it switched directions like turning on a light and it turned around and ripped out.  We found competing wind and tide all day.

We then headed to the Oil Cut as it is somewhat protected from and east wind.  The fish were definitely there, and lots of them.  The only problem was I broke off a really nice trout, and the Shoedog lost a good one and missed a big red.  Other than that, it was a catch and toss experience.  There were tons of sand trout, small trout, and small reds in there.  We caught most of them on plastics.  They were positioned on the west bank right along the drop.  Just letting the plastics fall on the 3 foot drop got you a strike.  We were in there about 2 hours and caught fish the whole time.

So what was the second reason day 2 was different from the first?  Day 1 almost every fish we caught was a keeper.  And we had a nice sack in a few hours.  Day 2 we ended up catching at least 40, and other than the couple of border line reds, none were keepers.  Shoedog said it was his record for the most small fish caught without any keeper trout.  At least we caught fish all day.  And that is also the reason for no pictures.  We just knew a couple of good fish were coming, like all fisherman, hopes spring eternal.  Next cast, next place, next day, we are sure there is a big string coming.

So I am beat today, we gave it the old college try and had some interesting trips.  Caught a few bass, some nice reds, lots of small trout and even a couple of Teal thrown in for good measure.  It was good to be back with the Shoedog for a couple of days.  He did provide a moment of comic relief when he yelled turn the boat around.  He had money flying out of his shirt pocket and when we turned the boat we ended up finding most of it, around 8 bills.  I didn’t give him to much grief about that, not.  Out next big expedition is to Port Mansfield in a couple of weeks.  Chris is bringing the airboat and it will be nice to explore some really new water for me.

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While we were fishing yesterday I got the following picture from Chris of a nice bunch of ducks he killed the day after we hunted with him.  I really am beginning to think my marginal duck hunting luck might be me.

His lovely wife and Link.

He said we should have hunted with his guide.  She sure is better looking than our guide the other day that’s for sure.  So the Teal hunting remains good on the coast for you duck hunters.  Hope this is a harbinger of things to come with big duck season.  Thanks for the picture Chris.

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Evan drops me the occasional note so I thought I would share this with you.  And I know he enjoys the duck pictures.

“I frequently buy the Texas Outdoors Journal.  I’ll make sure to check out that article.  As much as I love the TPWD – it is still a govt agency run by….  Govt people….  Which means $$$.  That’s about all I have to say about that. I do like the idea of growing bigger bass, but in a natural environment.  Not thru non-natural subsidies.  (Kind of like the hydrilla/carp debate here on Lake Austin.  Which is not a debate to me.  Kill the carp.)  I like big deer too, but not from a breeding ranch with non-native (northern) deer genes.  At some point we have to step back and ask if this is really what’s best for the land.  Is what we’re doing now going to be good for our grandchildren’s grandchildren?”

He makes some really good points that I would like to add to on a personal note.  To me shooting a genetically engineered 200+ deer on a high fence property, or catching a 12lb. bass in a private pay lake, just does not cut it.  There is a huge difference between shooting that deer or catching that bass in public waters, you know, the kind of once in a lifetime bruiser that has made it through thick and thin.  That is an accomplishment.

And as far as the future for our kids and grandkids, access to the outdoors is shrinking.  Private property is almost impossible to access unless you know someone, are related, or are willing to pay.  I used to get on my bike and ride to fish ponds where I grew up in Iowa.  We hunted rabbits and quail, caught bass and catfish, all on private property.  Most places if you stopped and asked, promised to close gates, and not hurt fences or litter, you were in.  Those days are gone, and with it the chance for many kids to hunt and fish.  That is why it is so important for those of us who love the outdoors to take a kid hunting or fishing any chance we get, it is the future of the sport.

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The Indianola Fishing Marina sits on the channel that feeds the Powderhorn.  It has a nice fishing deck and fall is a good time to fish there.  The Powderhorn has lots of flounder, reds, and black drum.  All of them use that channel at some time in the fall.  In fact, it is one of the better places to catch a really  big black drum in the fall.  So I was not surprised when I got this from my buddy Jeffish.

That is a serious chunk of a redfish.

Pablo Silveira caught this 38″ today off the deck.  It was an epic struggle from one end of the deck to the other, and  everyone had to bring in their lines so he could get this fish landed.  Nice one Pablo.  And while Jeffish was down there he saw 3 more like this caught.  If you want to do a little shore fishing Indianola Fishing Marina is the place to be right now, there are definitely some big reds in the cut.

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Joe sends the occasional comment and I know there is someone out there who could solve what for me has been a riddle.

“Have you ever fished Lake Texana? Noticed on the map its right next to you. How is the fishing? If coleto creek gets boring !!!! Noticed they closed the state park there also. Did anyone take it over?  

Texana is plenty close, and I have fished it twice, once for 2 hours, once for 4.  I caught exactly one catfish, it was a big one, on a swim jig, and that is the size of it.  The floating hyacinth is terrible and I guess that is what caused me the most trouble.  I know it has had extensive stocking of Florida strain largemouth, and has good crappie fishing.  Over the years it has been many strange lakes and bays, and I can usually get a handle on the fishing, But Texana has me stumped.

So Joe and I would love to hear from any of you who fish Texana.  If you fish it please drop me a line.  I would love to have someone give me a heads up so I could catch a few.  If that happened it would sure get some real attention from me.  Thanks for your comments Joe and I appreciate a loyal reader.

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But all that nonsense aside, today is the day.  It is HOGS vs. AGGIES!  It brings back great memories of fall and watching the Razorbacks, singing the fight song, and then heading to Dickson Street for some adult beverages and some serious Hog calling.  Florida, Bam, Georgia, Auburn, we were lucky enough to see them all.

Some games are important, and this one is really big for both teams. Arkansas is 8th in the nation in the run, is that for real?  Is Hill really as good as he looks? Have the Hogs really gotten better and can A&M stop the run?  Can our defense, somewhat suspect, or A&M’s, totally suspect, step up and make the plays today that will propel them into real contention in the West.

Being an Arkansas grad and living about a mile from the stadium I saw them all.  It can be hard for fans outside the SEC to really understand what it takes to win the conference, much less the Western Division.  Think about how hard it is to have to beat LSU and Bama every year.  Heck one of them doesn’t get it done every year.  That is a daunting task.  If you look back some years you will see that if you win the west you are probably in the National Championship title game.

My prediction, which the Shoedog, a College Station resident, also made, is that if the game is close the Razorbacks will win, if it gets a little out of hand the Aggies will seriously spank the Hogs.  I just want one of those yelling, clapping, and acting like an idiot games.  Last second, punt returns for touchdowns, long runs, interceptions, I want it all.  Good luck to all and may the best team win  GO HOGS!

Keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

Fish Catching Travel

I am tired, my belly is full of a Cowboy burger from the Bag, but I am determined to get his posted now before I forget something or fall asleep.  Of course at my age it sure is possible.  The Shoedog and I had one of those 24 hour periods where we packed as much as possible into one day.  Coleto, Teal hunting, and POC were on the agenda, and from 4 pm to 4pm we had at it.  Nothing like fall.

The Shoedog made it to the house around 2 Wednesday, we off loaded his stuff, and off to Coleto we went.  The wind was fairly calm as we headed up lake.  It took several places before we got a bite and we threw a variety of baits before I lost a good one on a buzzbait.  Shoedog had been throwing a swim jig and caught a couple of small ones, and when he went to tossing the buzzbait I switched to the Strike King Swim Jig with a Rage Craw.  I caught a little one then I got a good bite swimming it next to a stump.

Love that Swimming Jig.

As we worked up lake we had a hit here or there, and finally got a little bit of a pattern.  The water has stabilized a little and the floating grass is really on the decline.  Consequently a lot of the mats that had fish close are not nearly as productive.  Finally my little pea brain started working and we started catching a few.

The pattern is real simple – Anywhere the deeper channel swings away from the bank and the water is 6 – 8 foot deep, with grass coming off the bottom.  That grass is green, and the fish are there.  Watching the locator has really proven to be invaluable.  The grass is really declining, so find the green grass on those swings and find the nicer fish.

This was one great bite.  Absolutely smoked it.

It wasn’t fast and furious by any means, but part of it was luck.  We both caught a good fish, we both lost a good fish, but the real issue was some of those nicer fish blew up on that buzzbait and just did not hook up.  We probably only boated 7 or 8, but not a bad evening trip.  The fishing is really improving and it will only get better.  Both the swim jig and the buzzbait will catch them, along with plastics, so if you get a chance in the next few weeks give Coleto a go.

A great day to be alive.

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The Great Teal Hunt

We are up at 4 and left at 5 to meet my buddy Chris to head to his lease.  Chris was kind enough to ask and we were raring to go.  He has all the cool duck hunting stuff so we set up in the cattail and waited for daylight.  It was overcast with lightning on the horizon as it cracked daylight.  The shooting started around the area we were hunting, but it was an hour before the first Teal showed in our spread.  Now not having hunted Teal it was just like Chris said, in your face hunting.

The decoys were closer than the spread we use on the bay, and when the first bunch of Teal came bombing in they were not stopping.  We hopped up and the lead flew.  And to my amazement I actually killed one.  Kind of tough when you are a right eye guy and you have a big old cataract.  (I need to get that fixed, what next, a walker?)  But by the same token when they come in at eye level about 20 foot from the blind someone is going to die.  Jeff and Chris both shot twice and missed and off they flew.  I guess it was just my turn.

A little while later 5 or 6 came in from God knows where and somehow we did not get a shot.  And to finish off the morning a single dropped in and Chris promptly smoked him.  We finally called it quits at 10 with only 2 in the bag.  One thing about fishing and hunting, you never know.  Chris has hunted quite a bit since the season opened and limits have been the rule.  But today they just didn’t show.  It was one of those morning with lots of real early shooting in the distance, then it just stopped.

But who cares.  It was a cool morning, the anticipation, the dog retrieving, it was the whole hunting package.  Of course that will not be the last of the duck hunting this year.  Real duck season is coming this fall and we will surely go again. In a fit of good planning we had towed the boat to the hunt so it was a matter of a little clothing change and off to POC.

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POC

 The wind was supposed to be 10 – 15 out of the east, and they were half right.  As we left the dock it was blowing straight out of the east but a steady 15 – 20, which gives it a pretty good head of steam as it blows down the bay.  It was about 11 when we dropped the trolling motor down and went to slinging the Strike King Redfish Magic.  Now I know I might rant about the Redfish Magic, but it not only works, it is the perfect bait for those windy days, especially when the tide is high and in the grass.  The tides are high during this moon phase, and the east wind helps it along pushing more water in the bay.  And while the wind is a hassle, it actually helps the redfishing.  We just look for longer grass banks where the tide has flooded the grass.

27″+.  Where is this one when tournament fishing?

We started fishing the grass banks in Big Bayou and it was not 5 minutes before the Shoedog caught this one.  It fought like the devil and was a harbinger of things to come.  Between 11 and 2 we put 5 nice keeper reds in the boat.  The wind was a hassle, and running the trolling motor was tough, but as long was you kept rolling that Redfish Magic right off the bottom sooner or later one would smack it.  Before I got my first one I spotted a small mud ball, tossed the spinnerbait past it, and slowed rolled it right over the mud , and in the boat came a 18″ keeper flounder.  If you see a mud poof as I call them, toss at it and drag your bait right threw it, it is like taking candy from a baby.

I finally got in the act with a good keeper.

So we just kept tossing the spinnerbait as we flew down the banks.  It was not easy fishing, but the reds were nice.  The fall bite is on at the Gulf and the reds are fat and sassy.  We also managed to catch a Spanish, several small trout and one rat red.  Our final keeper total for the day was 5 nice reds, 1 flounder, and 2 Teal.

These are headed back to College Station.  Probably feed some poor hungry homeless Aggie living in a trailer.

When we were cleaning fish a couple of guys came in with a limit of trout.  And of course I forgot it was 5 each, so it did not look like a limit to me.   But I love the new limit, sure will make it easier to tell everyone you limited out.  They were out early wading and throwing topwater and they told us they caught them all day.  We didn’t trout fish but they are obviously biting.  The last 2 trips we have caught a flounder or 2 on spinnerbait and I really wanted to try out the Flounder Pounder baits on them but it was just to windy.  But the redfish are definitely on the fall prowl.  And on a really windy day the Redfish Magic saved the day for us.  I love that bait, it flat catches reds.

So there you have it, A Good 24 Hours.  To live somewhere you can catch some bass, shoot some ducks, and whack some reds, is a blessing.  I am thankful for everyday I get to spend on the water and today was a good one.  And a good thing about fishing with the Shoedog he ain’t no quitter and as long as I am throwing he is right there with me.

Surely I have forgotten a thing or two, but when you are as tired as I am right now it is tough to remember your name.  So what to do about that?  Get up at 5 and head back to POC and do it all over again.  We hope to do some wading and topwater, and then when the wind gets to blowing it will be redfish.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff,

Good Luck and Tight Lines

Fish Catching Travel

Finally home after our Padre trip.  Of course the last morning the wind kicked up to 25 mph blowing right on the beach, so my hoped for last beach go was not to be.  It was to bad, considering I caught a snook and lost a couple more the morning before.

So we headed out with her sister and brother-in-law up the coast to show them Port A on the way home, and as I should have known, the girls wanted to spend the night.  So we showed them the sights, and of course ate another fancy meal out.  At this point I was ready to get home so I could return to my regular diet of bologna sandwiches.  Funny how you can get tired of eating out.

So I am finally home and let the fishing begin.  The Shoedog is making an appearance after not making it down here since May and we are about to embark on some hard core fishing.  He will be here this afternoon and it will be Coleto until dark.  Following that will be at least 2 straight days on the Gulf.  I hope we can make one day a cast and blast, but no matter what it will be good to get back to the way the Shoedog and I roll, fishing from dawn to dusk.  And with our weather finally shaping up, it looks great.  So thought I would share a couple of things while I wait to head out fishing later.

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Those of you who read my stuff know I had my concerns with the TPWD using fry from the Share-A-Lunker program to stock a private lake.  The salient point is this place has another trophy lake and they charge in the $2000 range to fish for 2 days.  According to what I have read the landowner agreed that there would be no fishing on the stocked lake by anyone for a period of 15 years.  The state was giving us the rationale that it would potentially result in really big bass in private waters.

Now I know how it works, and I am even less happy with what I have learned.  I picked up a copy of the Texas Outdoors Journal , September, 2012, a magazine I like very much.  There was an article, Jurassic Bass by Matt Williams and it makes me mad.  Basically a TPWD employee says that huge bass in private waters will take some pressure off public waters.  That is ludicrous for the average Texan.  Private waters are becoming increasingly harder to access unless you know someone.  (Read – You have money and they have money.)  I find that rationale means that TPWD is out of touch with the majority of folks who buy fishing licenses, which is basically all of us who fish and would never shell out $2000 to bass fish a couple of days.

But the thing that really makes me crazy is the contract that TPWD signed with the landowner.  Yep, no one can fish the lake for 15 years and TPWD can study the fish, which almost makes this deal palatable.   But guess what, there is a clause written into the contract that lets either party basically opt out for what I would argue is any or no reason.  Then TPWD has 180 days to remove the fish.

As an attorney my opinion of that clause means the following no matter how you sugar coat this deal:  This contract is worth approximately the cost of the paper.  Are you kidding me!  And that TPWD can then go get the fish – who are you kidding?  And I do not fault the landowner, as my friend Denny says:  I am not mad at em, I just want to get me some.  You can put a wig on a pig, but you still have a pig.  This whole thing stinks, but as with many Game and Fish Departments in this country, and no one can say they don’t care about the wildlife, those with influence and money get stuff we don’t.  So go buy a copy of the September issue, Matt William’s article is well worth the reading

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 I got a note from Rick, and I just wanted to say well said brother.  Thanks for reading my stuff.

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My waders had a really slow leak in the right boot.  So using Aaron’s suggestion we filled it up with water and then he squeezed the snot out of them.  We could not see any water coming out until I noticed a drop coming out of the bottom of the boot.  These are the heavy duty boot footed waders for duck hunting.  How in the world the sole got holes I will never know.  Some of that shell must be sharper than heck.  So the next couple of days will determine whether my patch holds up.  Better than another couple of hundred for new waders.

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And one last rant to finish this Random Ramblings.  I can not understand why tackle stores are closed in fishing destinations on Sunday, unless it is for religious reasons.  Having owned a tackle store I appreciate how tough it is.  But folks fish on the weekend, and when you are located on the water I just don’t get it.  Now I know this is off-season on South Padre but it sure looked like folks were fishing to me.  So instead of a plug for their store you get my rant.

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I have about talked myself out here, at least you know we are still alive and fishing.  So off to get all the tackle in order, coolers rinsed, gear organized, all those little things that add up to a lot to take care of just to fish a couple of days.  So keep stopping in, the Shoedog and I are about to do something spectacular, we will just have to see what that is.  Thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

PS:  I did want to say a little something to Evan one of my regular readers.  I think you have gone insane.  The only “Gigging” gonna be done on Saturday is when a Razorback tusk gigs the rear end of a bunch of Aggies.  So obviously a little of that kind of trash talking is allowed.  But all BS aside, it has the potential to be one heck of a game.  Talk about a difference in philosophy.  GO HOGS!

Fish Catching Travel

Love that fun in the sun.  We are down here with my wife’s sister, her husband, and their son.  They are from Iowa, and Sean the son, who is a physical therapist, has just taken a job in Harlingen Tx.  So we all met for 3 days on South Padre.  Of course I managed to weasel in a couple of fishing things while we are here.

An ad on Graigslist concerning a fly fishing lesson on the island for $50 for an hour peaked my interest, so I decided to give it a go.  I have had the rod for a year, and while I have thrown it in the backyard, I have not gotten to the point were I felt proficient enough to really give it a serious fishing go, so it was time to change that.

Matt McLeod picked me up at the condo and off we went to an access point on the island with plenty of room to flail away.  Matt relocated from the South Florida area to South Texas in the last year.  He has an extensive history of fly fishing and guiding in the Keys and has fished Belize, Bahamas, Abaco, just to mention a few.  Of course that includes lots of tarpon, bonefish, trout, reds, snook, and a host of others.  So of course we hit it off immediately.  And to add to that he has extensive experience fishing bass tournaments so it was old home week.

As I am beginner he started at the beginning, attaching fly line to the leader, and we went from there.  One thing I have learned over the years is if you hire a guide, listen to him.  In other words, shut your mouth, listen and learn.  You are there to soak up as much information as you can, good use of your time is listening and doing what you are told.  I always wondered why the occasional guide customer would tell me how to go about my business.  If you are that guy just do it yourself and save the money.

Over the next hour he coached me on my casting technique and form, and it really started to help.  He also included different techniques like attaching the fly to the line depending on whether you wanted the fly to float down or drop, an example of those little things you would never know without someone telling you.  There was other stuff to numerous to mention, but it was a ton of information.  Before I knew it the hour was over.

Matt is not what you might expect of a fly fishing instructor. (You know the funny hat, the vest, and the high dollar Sage rod.)  He is self-taught with years of experience in all conditions, and like me, a hard-core fisherman.  What made his instruction so good is he specifically dealt with fishing in our wind, a condition that we experience here on a regular basis.  This was no little rod, small stream small trout instruction, it was balls to the wall South Texas flats fishing.  Additionally he does guided walk in fly fishing along the island.  I did not have the time to go a day with him, but it is on the list.

For me the whole experience was worth the $50.  He immediately identified my faults, which were many, and my form and distance improved right away.  Now I can not wait to get back, practice, and then do some serious fishing with the buggy whip.  I was surprised to learn how many nice big trout he boats.  In fact, he was fishing the morning before he picked me up and they had spent the morning catching black drum from a giant school.  Sounds like fun to me.

So if you are a beginner like me, he is the guy for you.  And fishing with him on a walk in trip on the island would provide you a primer on fishing the island without a boat, perfect for those family trips.  So if it sounds good to you give him a call.

Matt McLeod  –  $50 for an hour of instructions, $120 for a 4 hour trip, $200 for an 8 hour trip.  (A good deal considering the current costs of some guided trips.)  He can also provide spinning equipment if you are so inclined for a small additional cost.  And if you have a kid with you who is 12 or under he can fish with you for free.  956/330-8837.

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I got up first thing this morning and headed to the beach, taking some plastics to see what I could catch.  The tide was coming in, and while it was rough, it was manageable.  Tossing a dark paddle tail on a 1/4 ounce jig head got me 4 hook ups, and with my superior skill I managed to land one.  Normally one fish does not a morning make, but in this case it did – I caught a snook about 3 pounds.  I have caught lots in Florida, but this was the first Texas snook I have landed, so it was a welcome surprise.  It also answered the question of what those couple of fish were that jumped and tossed the bait, I thought they looked kinda funny for a trout.

Then I hooked something big, I suspect a large redfish, and after a protracted fight he managed to pull off.  A while later a very large fin came cruising by, and since my shark identification leaves something to be desired I don’t know the species, but it was a pretty big shark.  And then the bane of all beach fisherman, the grass, started coming in waves, and my short morning trip was over.  So in the morning it will be out a little earlier, and if my luck holds I can toss the topwater some.  Nothing like the way a snook blasts a topwater.

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Speaking of shore based fishing I read a note in Lone Star Outdoor News, (thanks to them) my favorite rag/mag, about a book for shore bound anglers.  Pier, Bank, and Wade Fishing, Sportfisher Map & Guide covers the upper coast and it looks like it would be invaluable to folks without a boat.    So I went to their website and it is currently sold out, not surprising considering the subject.   So here is link to their site, sounds like a great book to own.  http://sportsfisherguide.com/

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My friend Chris and his lovely wife are continuing to make mince meat out of those ducks.  Looks like I missed out on a great hunt.  So here it is for all you duck nuts.  (That would be you Evan).

Nothing like a hot chick with a gun.

Link’s first season, I think he has it figured out.

So proud.

Chris has a duck lease with rice fields next door, so he reports they have a bunch teal and are seeing tons of whistlers, though not many other types of ducks yet.  But over the next month that will really change with the weather.  Thanks for the report Chris, if that does not get a duck hunters heart to pumping I don’t know what would.

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Last, most of my family back in Fayetteville AR went to the Arkansas – University of Northern Illinois football game.  My wife and I are both UA alumni, my brother works there, and my mom is a UNI alumni, so it was family affair at the game.  One of the things we really miss is the games, we love our Razorbacks and spent many a beautiful fall afternoon screaming our brains out.  So here is hoping you all had a great time watching the Hogs spank UNI, wish we were there with you.

Love me some Hogs football!

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So that is it for today.  The big question left unanswered is where in the heck are we going to eat next?  The Iowans are getting there fill of seafood, so maybe tonight it will be some Tex-Mex.  Who knows, might even hit the beach later this evening, and definitely in the morning.  And thanks to the other folks who have commented lately, I like it when folks are paying attention.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines