Fish Catching Travel

Fish Catching Travel

After the commotion of a week with company it was nice to get on the water and do some serious fishing.  The forecast was for high winds from the north and a 40 degree temp drop, and they were right on.  With the wind blowing 30 out of the north on a huge cold front not many people were out, to bad.  This is a set of conditions to store in your memory.  I have found over the years that in the spring when this happens the fish seem to be off in the morning, but then midday they turn on, and it turned out to be exactly that.

I started off about  11:00 on the main lake flat behind the small island, and of course I threw the Strike King Swim Jig.  It is an excellent choice when you need to slow down.  They are still near the grass, and that includes the main lake and the coves.  Over the next couple of hours I caught one here and there, but the best places were still in the coves and pockets.  There are fish still on the beds and some are done spawning, which makes for multiple patterns right now.

My first bite.

Lots of this size can be caught right now on Coleto.

Another nice swim jig fish.

I started off with a slow retrieve and picked up the speed as they started biting better and better.  It is really important to throw it right on the bank right now as close to cover as you can get.  Most are coming in the first couple of feet.  It was interesting how during the day how they got more and more aggressive.  It still surprised me how fast you can reel that jig.

As they became more and more aggressive it reminded me of a friend who is gone now, Jim Wakenight who I guided with back in the 70’s and 80’s in Arkansas.  He always said to look at the cows on the way to the lake, if they are laying down the fishing will be slow.  That goes along with Rickie Clunn’s views on watching the wildlife activity level, the birds, and other signs, to help you make decisions on where and how to fish.  Today that view was spot on.

As the fish started smacking the swim jig hard, I noticed the birds were getting more active, the deer were feeding, and I saw 2 bunches of hogs on the lake shore.  At that point I was thinking about Jimmy and his theory, so I decided maybe the buzzbait would work, and boy did it.  When I caught the one below who tried to take my rod, it was the last swim jig I threw.

At this point the fish were trying to jerk the rod out of my hands.

Since I was finding the fish in the back of the coves with no wind and lots of grass, I headed back to the coves behind the big island and it was awesome.  I caught 5 in the first one, 4 or 5 in the second, and then headed to the long bank out of the wind in the Coleto arm.  For the next couple of hours they just ate it.  It was not one of those gee I wonder if I had a bite deal, it was all out blowing up on that thing!

I quit taking pictures after I caught this girl on a buzzbait.  When they started they were smashing it so it was camera down and game on.

I ended up quiting at 5, and lost track of how many I caught, but it was plenty.  It was one of those days a buzzbait fisherman lives for.  The few that did miss it you could toss back at them and almost every time I got another hit.  They really moved into the back ends and I was tossing it as far as I could over the matted grass.  The one above was the biggest I caught, but for me it is a matter of the bite.  They were explosive, and I just started covering as much ground as possible reeling it fairly fast.

So it was nice to have a day where the fish did exactly what I thought they would do.  The old saying the more I fish the luckier I get is so true.  What it really means is that nothing replaces time on the water.  And that experience can be translated to more fish by thinking about what you have done in the past, where you did it, and how the conditions work with those experiences.  Mechanically I am pretty good, I can cast, tie on baits, run the trolling motor, and everything else that comes with fishing.  But that is not what makes me a good fisherman.  It is not all the cool equipment, great boats, and all the lures anyone could ever want.  It is a matter of putting it all together.

Of course they will fool you.  Like when you change baits and catch one on the first cast and then don’t get another bite on it.  Or trying to make the fish do what you want.  Those traps can stymie any fisherman.  As I have said before, listen to the fish and they will tell you what you need to know.  So keep and open mind when you head to the lake.  Be flexible, everything works together, and like today, when you put it all together the fish gods will smile on you.

I still have not made it to the Gulf.  The fishing reports are really picking up and the redfish are hot right now.  From the local reports the trout fishing is still somewhat spotty and seems to be a matter of wading through lots of smaller fish to get a limit.  I have some trailer work to do so I will be heading to Coleto tomorrow so I can put the boat in and then do the work I need to do on the trailer.  But after tomorrow I will be headed to the Gulf as a steady diet.  I need my saltwater fix, and with Belize coming in 3 weeks I want to take the fly rod and try to put a redfish in the boat.  That should be something, but what that something is remains to be seen.

Thanks for reading my stuff.  By writing about my experience I have a chance to review the day and put it firmly in my memory.  And some day next spring when the wind blows and the front comes, who knows, maybe I can put it together and repeat today’s success.  Like all fisherman hope springs eternal.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

Fish Catching Travel

Sorry I have not posted in a few days, but with the family here there was no spare time.  Between Sea World, the Shiner Brewery, fish fry, and whatever else we were busy bunch.  There has been no real time for fishing, at least hard core fishing.  But I did get to take Alfie and Leigh for an afternoon, and they really had a good time fishing.

We got lucky when after a really late start we caught the end of the buzzbait bite.  The fish were shallow and biting when we got to my first place, which of course was up the river on a flat, grassy, bank.

Alfie’s best of the day.  Nothing better than to get someone who doesn’t fish a nice one who blows up on it.

Even Leigh got in on the act.  I do not think he has fished since he was 8 years old, and he stuck with it all afternoon.  And this fish, just like Alfie’s, smashed it.

A nice one on the buzzbait, and as you can see a big OKC fan.  Guess that comes with living in Oklahoma City. Thunder Up!

I even caught a keeper.  To bad it was the last bite we had for 3 hours.  Luckily I had a place for midday, and we managed to pull it out on the last bank.

Nothing to write home about buy I will take this size all day long.

When the slacked off they really quit.  We fished a lot of places from up the big arm, to the other arm by the power plant, and just did not get the bites.  By now with a high sky and no wind we were throwing a swim jig, but until after 5 they were not having it.

I will give Leigh a lot of credit for keeping fishing, he just could not get the hang of the setting the hook on the jig, and lost several right at the boat.  Alfie meanwhile got a taste of it the other day and managed to put several in the boat on the last bank we fished.

We finished the afternoon on the flat super shallow grass bank down by the dam and they were on it.  We probably put 8 or so in the boat, and it would have been more if Leigh could have got the hook in them.  While the swim jig is real easy to fish, it takes some practice.  We had the boat in 4 foot of water throwing at the grass and just cranking it along.  O course I had to catch another catfish.  I have lost count on how many that is this spring on lures, but it is the record for me by far.

They really like that Strike King Swim Jig.

I think the real difference is the Rage Craw.  If you look at the pincher’s you can see they have molded in edges which makes it move a bunch of water and vibrate better than most plastics.  The jig is balanced perfect, but for me it is the craw.  It has been such a consistent producer this spring that it has been hard to put it down.

We quit early so we could have a fish fry and headed to camp.  Everyone stuffed themselves and had a good time.  Another Texas experience for Alfie.  He had a great time catching a few fish, stabbing a hog, and hanging with the rednecks.  And it was nice to have the kids here for the week.  Lots of hustle and bustle, and I love them all, but a little alone time will be nice.

But I never forget the real reason for the season.  We went for boat rides, saw some gators, deer, and all the other great things out there.  And little Mia, who didn’t want to go that fast the first ride, was all about it on her second.  Hopefully there will be lots of rides to come, and who knows, maybe Leigh will do a little more fishing.  So thanks for reading my stuff.  I am posting this late after getting back from Coleto.  I really whacked them today, and will get that posted tomorrow.

From all of us to you –

Good Luck and Tight Lines

Fish Catching Travel

Hog hunt number 2 did not go as well as the first one.  But no matter what it was an adventure.  We met a friend of Jeromy at his ranch, Justin, and along with 2 Arnolds, we loaded up the dogs and took off.  This hunt was a little different than the first in that we drove old roads as the dogs worked.

The first victim of the night was a poor skunk who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Even though the dogs are trained to stay off of “trash”, it was just to much of a temptation.  Suffice to say the fight did not last long.

We kept driving roads, loaded and unloaded the dogs several times, but just did not get on any hogs.  We headed to new place and got out and walked a creek bottom at the last place.  While the dogs occasionally took off on a track, they just never got one cornered.

We loaded most of the dogs, but there were a couple out as we headed back along a pasture towards the house when all of a sudden a really big hog was in the headlights and the chase was on.  Now let me tell you that hog was hauling a$$, and he actually outran the dogs.  That really surprised me.  How that hog managed to get away I will never know, but the guys said it happens occasionally.  And the hunt was over.  We hunted for 5 hours in the rain, and it was a great time.  I would like to thank Justin for letting us experience this with him on his place.  Maybe next time.

But the real happening that night was Alfie’s experience.  Alfie being from South Africa had no clue about rednecks.  Of course the more he asked what they were saying, the more crap they gave him.  It was hilarious.  Alfie just thought he spoke English.  He heard things like “hungry enough to eat the rear end out of a skunk” among others.  He was so amazed at the sayings of the good old boys that he actually used his whole battery on his I phone recording them.

He was also suitably impressed with the fact that Pee Wee and Jeromy were bull riders.  When Jeromy told him all the broken bones and concussions he had Alfie could hardly understand why they would put themselves through that.   And when Pee Wee took off his hat and showed him the scar where they peeled back his face to put all the plates and pins in his skull when the bull stepped on him, he did not know what to think. When he asked them if they regretted any of it or would do it again, of course they said yes.

So Aflie’s education in the redneck world was a beautiful thing.  He loves new experiences, as evidenced by his love of extreme hang gliding and doing things like driving his motorcycle across much of Africa, and spending some time with a bunch of good old South Texas boys far exceeded anything he thought he would experience here.

And he loved the hog hunting and fishing.  While he has done some hunting in Africa, sticking a hog with dogs and hair flying everywhere is an experience he will never forget.  I think he was a little apprehensive with the sticking part, but once he saw how the hunt unfolds, how the dog works, and really got an understanding of what the sport is all about, he would go again in a minute.

Now my daughter, her husband (Alfie’s boy) , and our wonderful grand-baby Mia are here, so there has been no outdoor stuff.  But there will be some fishing coming.  They just left the house to tour Indianola, Port O’Connor, ending their drive with a big plate of shrimp at Bubba’s.  We are headed to the Victoria Community Center for the local CCA banquet.  It is a fun time and I am looking forward to the 2 rods that came with our table.  Not that I would take the sponser of Team Nancy just to get the extra rod.

Also the Star Tournament entry comes with our membership, and dreams of a tagged redfish on a spinnerbait are dancing in my head.  So if you do Gulf fish, get your entry and support CCA.  I just met a guy, who shall remain nameless, the other day who went fishing at Indianola a couple of years ago with some guys who had their entry, and you know what happened.  He caught one, so no boat, no truck.  Now that would hurt.

Thanks for reading my stuff.  As I have said before it is not all about the fishing.  Spending time with our families, sharing the outdoors, and exposing folks to new things in our world is what it is all about.  So take the time to share your passion with others, who know, they just might be hooked.  Stop in soon, there will be some fresh fishing stuff, who knows, with the way Alfie’s trip has gone he will probably whack a monster.  Hope I get it on tape.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

Fish Catching Travel

Here is a quick report as I get ready to head to the woods.  We got a late start this morning with taking the hog to the plant and dealing with a couple of other issues with Alfie’s camper.  He is camping at Coleto Creek and says he is in love with the lake and the park.  If he could stay another week he would but other duties will send him home next week.

So we actually got on the water at 11:00 and headed up lake.  As Alfie is not an experienced fisherman I rigged him a spinning rod and that Strike King Swim Jig.  We started catching them right off the bat.  They were small, but we probably put a dozen in the boat in the first hour.

Alfie’s first Texas Largemouth.

The bite was consistent but they continued to run small.  He did manage to catch one a little better, still slow rolling that Swim Jig.

                   This one was a little better, he ended up catching 5 or 6.

At this point I was wanting to try a buzzbait.  I haven’t caught more than a couple this spring but with a nice breeze and cloud cover it seemed like the thing to do.  I immediately put 3 in the boat.  So I put the buzzbait on his rod and he caught one.  I switched to the white spinnerbait and caught a couple of more when the phone rang.  Even though the weather is a little sketchy Jeromy was up for another hog hunt, which was fine by us.

               This was the third one I caught, and the biggest for a short trip.

Folks they smashed that buzzbait.  One of those good news, bad news things.  So as it was 1:45 we decided to call it a short  trip and get a couple of things done before the evening hog hunt.  But when you look at it we probably put 15 or so in the boat in under 3 hours.  I can only imagine what would have happened once I figured out they would eat that buzzbait.  So leaving was tough, but the anticipation of another great hunt made the decision easy.

So the fishing remains good.  Just remember when you get conditions like today, clouds with wind, this time of year it is time to go bass fishing.  Tomorrow we will see, it may be the gulf, or it may be the lake, the wind will dictate that.  But no matter what it is fun to show Alfie all that south Texas has to offer.  So take someone with you, you will get more out of it than they will.  Thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

Fish Catching Travel

While fishing is the normal fare here, every once in a while I get to do something a little different.  I have wanted to hog hunt with dogs for quite a while and thanks to Jeromy and Pee Wee I got the chance.  And as you know my daughter’s father-in-law, Alfie Jacobs, is here from South Africa and I was hoping to take him on a couple of adventures.  And thanks to Jeromy and Pee Wee we got it done.

Alfie, his pig, Jeromy, and Ike.

We headed north to Cuero for our hunt.  Jeromy has killed several hogs on this place and thought it was a good place to start.  He schooled us on how things would go down if the dogs were able to catch a hog.  His emphasis was on safety for both us and the dogs.  He brought his pack, with 4 chase dogs and 2 catch dogs.  Once we were to the ranch he let the 4 go, keeping the 2 catch dogs on the leash until the hog was bayed.

We walked along a creek bottom with the dogs ranging out and coming back as they worked the area.  There was good sign, including a fairly fresh wallow, and the deer and turkeys were also active.  Jeromy has a GPS tracking collar on each dog allowing him to keep track.  As we walked he shared his experience and knowledge of not only killing hogs, but the part I really like, the handling and training of the dogs.  He and Pee Wee have a wealth of knowledge from over 20 years of chasing hogs with dogs.

As we worked along a creek bottom Jeromy said that we might work the whole area, but due to the swirling winds, we could just as easily hit a track on the way out as on the way in.  And that is exactly what happened.  We had walked for a couple of hours as the dogs worked, with Jeromy keeping an eye on his tracker and the dogs.

One thing that surprised me was the fact that his dogs do not bark until they actually see the hog, and then not only could he tell they were getting close, but when the dogs actually catch the hog.  As we were headed back we heard a bark and it was game on, and with the GPS we knew they were only 125 yards out.  At the perfect time they released the catch dogs, with Ike the American Bulldog being the big star, and within just a minute the hog was caught.  Pee Wee bolted ahead, caught the hog by his  back legs, and Alfie moved in for the kill.  And just that fast it was over.  While no great monster boar, it did not matter to us, it was the thrill of the hunt, and trophies are where you find them.

So what a trip.  You could easily see that they were pros.  Their handling of the dogs, and then the hog, was awesome.  I learned a ton, in fact to much to relate it all here.  There is no way I could adequately cover everything we learned.  Suffice to say Alfie was happy.  As a world traveler and adventurer, killing a hog with a knife was a thrill for him.  We also saw turkey, deer, and even killed a pretty good copperhead when we were leaving, a great adventure for the South African.  For me as usual, it was in the doing.  I coon hunted with dogs some as a kid, and always loved watching the dogs work.  Jeromy’s dogs were real pros, well trained and efficient.

So I would like to thank Jeromy and Pee Wee for taking time to take out a couple of amateurs and letting us experience the thrill of the hunt.  The weather is a little sketchy today but Jeromy called and it is off to another hunt tonight.  So stay tuned, it could get interesting.

                                                     Good Luck and Tight Lines

Fish Catching Travel

Sorry I have not posted for a few days but I was out of town.  But with my first dog hunt for hogs tonight, and then a couple of days fishing on both Coleto and the coast, there will be lots of posts coming in the next few days so keep stopping in.

I am really excited about the hog hunt.  I have always wanted to do a dog hunt and Jeromy was kind enough to take my daughter’s father-in-law and I on a hunt.  When he responded to my post he said he loves to take new folks on hunts.  That is the very thing I have said about taking new folks fishing.  When you love something like I do my fishing, there is no greater thing than introducing folks to your sport.

My daughter’s father-in-law is here with his wife on business from South Africa and I hope to give him a real adventure with all South Texas has to offer.  Alfie loves adventure, and has done lots of really awesome stuff, including hang gliding, and has actually ridden his motorcycle across much of Africa.  So he loves adventure and hopefully our hunt tonight will live up to that expectation.

Last, I am so sorry and angry about what has happened in Boston.  There is no place in this country for this type of random violence that endangers all of us.  But I will withhold judgement on who has done this, but like most of you, I have my suspicions.  So I will definitely comment more on this as more is learned.  I do not give a rats a$$ who has done this, but whoever you are, your turn is coming.  There should be no mercy, no hesitation, swift, final, and deadly retribution should come from this.  There should be no question that if you bring this stuff to us, you die, end of story.  Usually I do not inteject politics into my blog, but in this case I can not help it.

God Bless America

Fish Catching Travel

After whacking them the other day on Coleto I was excited about my next trip.  According to the weatherman the wind was to be out of the northeast at 15-25 with cloudy conditions and a slight chance of rain.  So with that forecast I decided it was back to Coleto and not the Gulf.  It worked out ok, but if I had known that the wind was going to flat out die and it would be almost 80 by 1:00 I would have headed to the Gulf.

After last trip I went right to the swim jig.  So let me take some time here to tell you what I have learned the last year, and especially the last month about using it.  While I have thrown a couple of different ones, the Strike King Pro Model Swim Jig has clearly been the best.  With the fish being so shallow, and with the amount of grass on some of the banks, I have stuck with the 1/4oz in any of the brown/natural colors.  On the back I am using the Rage Craw, and for me color has been irrelevant as far as the Craw goes.

The jig has a metal keeper that holds the craw in place, and it works great.  It does allow you if the craw starts to rip to turn it over and you can often get some more use out of it.  And there is a small trick, trim the skirt just past the bend in the hook.  It allows the swimming action of the craw to really work.  And when you get a Rage Craw out of the pack be sure to separate the claws if they are still attached to each other.  Slide it on the hook and pin it down with the keeper.

I have thrown it on everything from 10lb. line to 20lb, but I have finally settled on 14.  Now it would seem counter intuitive to use a high speed reel, but it is not the speed of the retrieve, but the hook set that is influenced by a high speed reel.  Today they were actually eating it and swimming towards me, so fast in fact that some were almost at the boat before I felt them.  You need the high speed reel to get the slack taken out and the hook set.

This size is really biting on Coleto.

The speed of the retrieve is definitely determined by what the fish want combined with the depth.  When you cast be sure to hit the bank.  It is surprising how often they are in super shallow water, more right now with the spawn in full swing.  Often if there is a clear space between the grass and the bank they are in it.  Once it hits the water keep it moving, and when you hit some grass, get ready.  And occasionally when you get it half way back give it a twitch, they often track it.  As far as the bite, it can be anything from a thump, a tick that feels like a bream, or they just swim towards you with it.  If you do miss a few try reeling it just a second after you feel them, and then set the hook.

One of the better ones I caught today.  As the fishing has gotten better the fish are consistently bigger on Coleto right now.

And so putting all of the above together they bit for me all day.  It started off drizzling and cold, and ended up dead calm and hot.  I just stuck with the Swim Jig all day, and they hit it all day.  I caught fish from the first bank to the last bank for over 8 hours.

There are beds everywhere, and though I am not a bed fisherman, if you are, Coleto is the place to be.  I have basically been sticking with spawning areas, and almost all are holding fish.  And of course right now when you catch one you almost always catch another.  Today I did not throw anything but a Swim Jig because that is what they wanted.  Of course you can catch fish on lots of other things, so while you need to give the Swim Jig a try, you can catch them right now on whatever you are good at.

This girl, my biggest of the day, came off an isolated stump in a little deeper water.  Be sure right now to swim it by any piece of cover you can find.

So what a good day.  From terrible conditions to absolutely beautiful, the fishing was fine.  I have no idea how many I put in the boat, but it was a bunch.  They came from coves, long spawning banks, and main lake flats.  Always make sure you can reach the bank and from that point on listen to the fish.  They will tell you the speed to retrieve it, and the last few trips I have actually seen several of them eat it at the boat, which gives you an idea how fast I was using it.

Next week is going to be a great week.  It starts Tuesday with a night hog hunting trip with dogs.  I have wanted to do that for a while, and with my daughter’s father-in-law here, it should be a great adventure.  Then a day at the Gulf and one at Coleto to give that South African a real taste of south Texas.  He has had many adventures around the world, and I hope to give him a couple to add to his list.

So thanks for reading my stuff.  Remember to take someone fishing when you go, be nice on the water, and remember what is truly important, your family.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

Fish Catching Travel

A fun day on the water.

The weather report called for wind up to 30 mph and they were dead on.  Have you ever noticed how here on the coast when they call for little wind they are always wrong, but when they call for lots they are dead on.  But that is another story.  So with high winds an absolute certainty it was definitely a bass kinda day.

I headed up lake to try to find somewhere the wind was not blowing to bad, and even though I never found that, I did find some places to fish.  With the spawn in full swing on Coleto, there are bass and tilapia on the beds all over the lake, it was time for some serious shallow water fishing.  So my first stop was a really shallow bank with isolated grass.

With the wind a spinnerbait was the first choice.  Today I had one of those moments of insight as I remembered that in the “old” days when I was guiding in Arkansas an all white spinnerbait was a killer on windy spring days.  So I got one out and went to buzzing.  They liked it just fine.

Sorry it is blurry, but this was the first fish I caught.

The fish were shallow, and I mean shallow.  Over the next couple of hours I caught them consistently.  They wanted it fairly fast, and several hit it when it popped out of the water right on the bank.  For some reason this time of year they like that all white, and that means blades too.  I was not really burning it, but moving it right along, and I caught fish in 6 inches of water, half way back, and right beside the boat.  It wasn’t a matter of searching out a windy  bank, it found you.  It is so awesome to see them hit it right in front of you.  It was one of those days when you better not give up on it.

This was my biggest on a spinnerbait.  Notice the tandem blades with a big willow in the all white.  She blasted it!

The fish were clearly up and biting.  I just kept riding the wind and running the spinnerbait catching little ones and nice ones.  After a couple of hours of that it was time to dip into a couple of coves and throw the swim jig.  At this point in the day I was already happy with the results, but with some better fish moving I thought I might be able to make that swim jig work.  And boy did it!

My biggest of the year so far.  I am still throwing a 1/4 ounce brown swim jig with a Rage Craw trailer.

When I started with the swim jig I went to a bank where it was only 3 foot deep a long cast from the bank.  The first one I caught on it was a good one.  Next came the girl above.  With the fish that active I was reeling that swim jig almost as fast as the spinnerbait.  She came out of a clump of grass right next to the boat and ate it right in front of me.  It was one of those hits we dream of.  She immediately went nuts, got wrapped up on something, and did her best to get off.  When a fish like this gets wrapped, and you can not get her off, it helps sometimes to hold the line just tight and see if she will swim out, and she did.  Now I do not have a clue what she weighed, and as I have said many times before when I catch a big one, who cares.  Big is big!

It was about noon so out came the Go Pro camera.  I was hoping to get another good one of film but it was not to be.  With only 45 minutes or so of time I just did not get the job done as far as getting a big fish on tape.  But they kept biting.  I probably ended up catching about 10 on the swim jig.  So here is short video on how it is done.

The only real mistake I made was not taking the bigger boat today.  The wind was so hard that it blew that Carolina Skiff wherever it wanted to.  The heavier boat would have slowed my drift some, and would have helped me add some more fish.  But who is complaining.  When you can catch fish like these my rule is never look a gift horse in the mouth.  I started at about 8:30 and quit a 1:30 when the bigger fish seemed to slow down.  If I had used the other boat I would have stayed a while longer but the wind at this point was howling so I called it a day.

After struggling on Lake Fork it was nice to be back in the fish.  I am always amazed at how different the fishing can be on different bodies of water.  Bass are bass, but where and how they bite is so specific to each body of water.  The fish on Coleto are in full spawn.  Did you notice on the one fish in the video that there are white spots under the water.  Those are beds.  Now I am not generally a sight/bedding fish fisherman, but if that is your thing, Coleto is the place to be.  The forecast for tomorrow is even more wind with the possibility of some storms so as much as it kills me I will take the day to catch up on my life.  But I can promise you that I will be back there Thursday.  Now is the time.

So thanks for reading my stuff.  I enjoy every day on the water, and days like this just keep me coming back for more.  It is my pleasure to share it with you and I hope in some small way you might find something here that will help you catch a few more fish.  So keep those comments coming, tell your friends, and take the time to take someone with you next  time you go.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

Fish Catching Travel

The Big Day

Today was the big day.  After a couple of days of practice, with marginal weather conditions and falling water, it was time to try to win one of those trucks.  The Ram Big Bass tournament is one of the larger ones in the country open to anyone, and with $250,000, 7 trucks and a boat, it attracts bass fishermen from all over the country.  This tournament was about catching the best fish to weigh in at the hourly weigh in.  With Fork being a slot lake you could weigh anything under 16″ or over 24″.  Last year there was not a big fish in the first hour and a bass about 2 and half pounds won a truck, but the rest of the 6 hourly trucks required one I think over 9 pounds, with several in that class not even winning a truck.

I used to fish lots of tournaments in the 70′ and 80’s, but other than a couple of club or jackpot tournaments I have not fished for money in many years.  And this format was completely new to me.  There was a start time but you could launch anywhere.  The local radio station covered it live so you were able to keep up with the hourly weigh in.  With a truck on the line each hour, not to mention money to 15 places, it draws a crowd.  While I am not sure how many fished, it was somewhere in the 1500 fisherman range.

Since you could be on the water anytime that morning, just not actually fishing until 6:30, when I got up at 4 there were already boats on the lake headed to their secret (and I use the term quite loosely) honey holes.  Our plan was to hit the piles at the lower end then trailer up to the upper end to finish our day.  We had some nice fish located on the upper end shallow and we thought we could make a good day of it.  Since we were at his fishing camp which is full of good bass fishermen we knew the reports were terrible, but hope springs eternal.

As we were going to start on a brush pile that Aaron built this winter we were tied up to a tree close to it at 5:30.  When the radio station said lines in, we started to cast.  I caught one that was 1’15” and another a little smaller on the first pile, but that was the extent of that one.

Aaron said lets move to another one, what he called his “big fish” hole.  That made me laugh, I thought that was what we were doing!  I had to give him a hard time about that.  Before we moved the first hour was won with one over 9 pounds, a good fish.  Over the next couple of hours we fished 3 piles and the adjacent areas and I put 2 more small ones in the boat and I think Aaron boated 2, both to small.  As we fished the hourly reports kept coming in, and for hour 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 a truck was won with a bass a little over 2 1/2 pounds.  As I told you in the last post it was tough, folks it was really tough.

The lake had been falling to add to the fishing pressure and bad conditions and we made a mistake.  Our fish were in a really shallow bay and when we got there they were either gone or probably just not having it.  Aaron put another couple of small ones in the boat, and I never had another bite the rest of the day.  I do not think I missed a bass bite all day.  It sucks when you are mechanically fishing well, but just not getting the bites.

We moved around up lake and just did not get it going.  Aaron has fished the lake since he was a kid, and is one of the best jig fishermen you will ever meet, and Fork is made for that style.  He was stymied by the fishing, but that did not slow us down and we fished hard.  We left there and hopped around to other places where he has been catching them, and has caught them for years, but they had lockjaw, period.  Finally the time was up and as I knew what weight it was taking I let my 2 small ones go, and we were done.

When we got back to the ramp there was a guy pleading with people to let him cut in line as he had one to weigh and there was only about 15 minutes for him to trailer to the weigh in site.  So everyone let him do it, and it looks like it turned out good for him.  We talked to lots of guys who fish Fork religiously later in the day, and all reported the same luck.

With the big fish over 9 holding from the first hour all day, that poor guy had to wait it out.  I am sure by then he was sure he had won a truck and the boat for the biggest bass of the tourney,  but it was not to be.  It looks like the guy we all let cut in line to make the weigh in made it by 10 minutes, and had one over 10lbs, a really good fish in any lake.  So even though the guy from the first hour still won a truck for his first hour fish, he lost the boat at the last minute.  I am sure the truck was some consolation, but that is some tough luck.  Also a young kid not old enough to drive won a truck, good for him!

So what a tournament.  This was not my first rodeo, I have been bucked off before, and will be again.  But I had a great time.  It has been a coon’s age since I fished a big bucks tourney, ran like a bat out of hell in 3 foot rollers, and did some night fishing.  When Aaron cooked a ton of ribs guys stopped in and chatted at his camp.  We traded stories, and gave each other a hard time.  So ramp boy, and breaker boy, it was nice to meet you.   Ramp boy had his new to him boat fall off the trailer and land on the ramp no where near the water the first time he ever took it out.  And Breaker Boy got that name when he was practicing on Saturday and his boat quit.  I mean everything went out, no power.  He got lucky that someone pulled him in, and ended up over knee deep getting it on the trailer.  Of course the guy who pulled him in asked if he checked the breaker on his system, which of course he did.  To bad he did not see the little reset switch which Aaron pushed and everything was fine.  Of course you can imagine the grief he got while we all ate ribs and BS’b.

And to the guy stealing the rack of ribs, it was great to meet you Paul and your brother.  And as Aaron’s boat was still in the shop Paul was kind enough to lend us his Skeeter, what a guy.  And to the other folks I met, thanks for your hospitality.  Everyone was so nice to me, and it was great to spend time with some hard core fishermen, who happened to be great guys.

So am I disappointed?  No way!  I had a blast.  It reminded me what I liked about tourney fishing – the expectation, the planning, and the extreme concentration.  Will I be there next year?  Of course!  Where else for $150 do you have a shot at 7 trucks and a boat.  Was there pressure? Of course.  But it was not as crowded as I might have thought and that was part of it.  And a special thanks to Aaron Fite.  We did it up right, you call and I will do it again anytime.

Some stuff from the weekend.

Here are the few pictures I took that I could not post while I was gone.  All I have to say is where were these guys on Sunday.

                                                         My second bite on Fork.

Nothing like a little night fishing.  Notice the jig in the first one’s mouth, and in my hand with this one?  I caught most of the fish I caught practicing on the same jig and Rage Craw.  Did I get a bite on it the big day?  Of course not!

This is Aaron with one of the fish from the good bunch we thought we had cornered for the big day.  To bad they were gone.  To bad this bunch did not hang around as we caught several of this kind there.

Now Aaron is not only a great fisherman, but he is a world class cook.  He seasons them and then makes his own glaze.  I have paid good money for ribs that were not even on same planet as his.

Who is this strange man stealing those ribs?  Oh yea, it was Paul, and though we knew he was stealing them, it did not make him any less strange!  In fact he was a lot like me, he had plenty to say.

So thanks for reading my stuff.  It is back to my mundane life.  If you read my stuff you know how awful it is.  I will just have to tough it out until next year.  So it is off to Coleto tomorrow.  The winds will be 20 – 30, what’s new.  But it is simply a matter of putting on my big boy pants and figuring out a way to catch some fish.  And hopefully a couple of days at the Gulf soon.  So keep stopping in.  Thanks.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

Fish Catching Travel

It is really nice sitting on the deck at Aaron’s camp looking out over Lake Fork, to bad we are not fishing.  It is Saturday and the Big Bass Tournament starts tomorrow, and hopefully the wind will not be blowing 30mph like it is right now.  When we started this morning it was beautiful.  When we headed back to the ramp at 11:30 there were 3 – 4 rollers and we took a pounding.

Aaron’s camp is on a cove near the dam and it is somewhat protected.  There are probably 20 boats in there right now pounding them, one goes out and 2 come in.  Those fish are sitting there going there goes a Strike King, there is a Rapala, and wow, that one is using a 1 oz jig head, he must be really serious.  It could be a long day for everyone tomorrow, especially for those fish in the protected coves.  Just take a number.  With probably 600 – 700 boats here tomorrow it should be interesting, and although interesting is not the word I would use, I try to keep the profanity here to a minimum.

We got to fish a couple of hours late Thursday, and it was tough.  I think I caught one, and of course it was a perfect under the slot fish that would probably get some bucks on Sunday.  Friday we only put 5 in the boat during the day, but did a little better when we did some night fishing.  The bite is tough.  Thursday it was rough and cold, yesterday was dead calm, and you could tell the fish were feeling it.  Our night fishing trip did produce a few good fish.  Aaron lost a big fish right at dark, and then put one in the boat later, and they were definitely starting to bite.

This morning when we started it was perfect, and Aaron put another good one in the boat, and we caught several more shallow.  Jigs have been the best for us.  I did throw a spinnerbait and had a big bite, which of course was a nice catfish.  The last month I have had quite a few catfish come over the side on lures, but that was the first one on a spinnerbait.  We have some nice fish located, but the wind will be the final judge of our plan for tomorrow.  Luckily we have several options, which gives us a fighting chance. He has lots of friends here fishing the tournament and most are finding it tough.  Looks like one of those you should have been here last week things.

I do have some pictures to show you, but since I forgot the download cord they will have to wait until I get back to you on Monday.  But no matter what I have really enjoyed my first trip here.  It does take a little getting used to the amount of fishing traffic, and I thought Falcon was busy, but this place is crazy.  Obviously there are some little things that can be done to catch fish here, and lucky for me , he knows them.

Almost forgot to tell you the highlight of the day.  I managed to throw my favorite rod and reel in the lake.  Nice job Doug.  Luckily it was in 4 foot of water and I was able to get it back with a crankbait in about 2 minutes.  It has been several years since I managed to do that, hopefully that will be the last of that for a another 10 years.  Other than that small episode, the fish we located are catchable no matter what the conditions, so if it does not go well it will be our fault.

So that is the long and the short of it.  Having not really fished tournaments in 15 years I forgot this part of it.  Weather sucks, to bad, high winds, tough luck.  But no matter what I will have a hard time sleeping tonite.  It just takes one cast and one bite.  Whether it is a big bucks deal like this, or just a quick trip to the creek, it is that anticipation that keeps all of us fishing.

There is one real consolation in today’s weather, and that would be the 12 racks of ribs on his big smoker, along with the cold brew, waiting for his old Air Force buddies who will be here at 7:00 tonite.  It will definitely be a case of believe half of what you hear about the fishing, and I mean the small half.  Good friends, good eats, and tall tails, does it get any better than that!  So thanks for reading my stuff and I should have the pics and the real scoop up by Monday night. If I disclosed the real secret to our fantastic success I would have to kill you!

Good Luck and Tight Lines