FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

On the last part of our trip we had an interesting time.  When you travel extensively things happen, some in your control, some not.  In this case much was out of our control and it sure could have gone better.

From Anchorage we flew back to Vancouver BC to catch a plane to Port Hardy on Vancouver Island.  That was where we would catch our seaplane to Great Bear Lodge on the mainland.  Kind of a convoluted way to have to get there but it was the way it was so off we went.  We met at the seaplane dock mid afternoon.  It was cloudy and rainy, the norm for that part of the country, it is a rain forest.  After some negotiation between pilot and base 4 of us loaded up and took off.  The pilot stayed along the coast and at times we dropped as low as 80 feet to get under the fog but were able to make it.  It was our first seaplane ride but we could not see much, that would change on our trip back.

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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The Boss was co-pilot both in and out.  A highlight of our trip.

Our accommodations, stunning.

First up let me comment on the accomodations.  There were first class all the way.  The food was great, the view stunning, the folks were nice, it was as good as advertized.  But here is where it gets a little tough for me to hold my tongue.  It is not Great Food Lodge, Great Beds Lodge, Great Folks Lodge, it is Great Bear Lodge and they did not really deliver.  It does not help we have been with some of the best and worst guides in our animal chasing, and this trip did not meet our expectations.  We came for the bears, end of story.

A common day in the northern rain forest.

They provided plenty of good clothes for the weather, and with it varying from above to clear and warm, we needed it.  Basically we went out 2 or 3 times a day for 3 days and when it was all said and done we saw one grizzly and her cub, it got a little boring.

A Sitka Blacktail buck.  This is actually a good one.

We saw a few good deer, some harbor seals, ducks, eagles and a few other, but here is the grizzly and her baby.

We spent way to much time watching this mom and cub.  In fact the folks we were with the last day and a half said something to the guide about spending more time looking for other bears.  We learned from her they had not seen another bear in weeks.

Momma was packing on the pounds after a long winter hibernation.

And Junior spent time admiring his foot.

We cruised the estuary in aluminum boats looking for bears with no luck.  But as long as you are striking out it could not happen in a more beautiful place.

I do need to comment on the guides and the situation.  They had been closed for 2 years due to the covid and the guides were new.  Now I admit the comparison might be somewhat unfair, but they were not bear guides by any means.  It seemed the one mailed it in everyday by looking a little then back to mom and her cub.  Later I found out that this was a bear that was born in that area and was “used” to the boats.  In our travels that would be referred to as habituated, and this bear was.  I did not come this far to watch a pet bear, end of story.

We spent at least 3 hours morning and evening in a 17′ aluminum boat cruising he estuary.  One of the guides told me she had been running a boat just 2 months, the other when I questioned her on why she was not using the kill switch said if she fell out she could catch the boat.  Of course, that is complete nonsense.   At times she stood on the bench seat and drove it with a handle extension, it was an accident waiting to happen.  Nothing like falling in 40 degree water and watching your boat circle with your customers in it who may not have a clue.  Really dangerous.

She was the same one that told me there was only garter snakes in BC, which was so wrong and just plain made up.  They actually have a cool rattlesnake and several other snakes including a boa.  If you do not know the answer do not make it up, which she clearly did.  I cannot tell you how unimpressed I was with that particular guide.  While our guides had degrees, they were far from bear experts and definitely not experienced guides, which was a disappointment.  But again, we are spoiled and have traveled the outdoors with some of the best, so our baseline is high.  Give them a few years of experience and then they should be bear guides.  I know there are no guarantees, a life outdoors will teach you that, but it was not what we expected.

Our chariot arrives!

But I will say this, the plane ride back to Port Hardy was the highlight of my trip.  What an absolutely stunning way to travel and we got to see real wilderness.  As the world “shrinks” it is good to know that the “woods” still exist.  It was also good to see how responsible logging is being done.  Commercial interests and wildlife can co-exist.  Selective harvest and clearing can be a real benefit to the wildlife, but their needs have to come first to sustain true wilderness.  As I have continually ragged on our government’s short sighted, corporate bowing, attempt to sell off some of the US’s public lands, freakin stop it!

This is it from the plane.  I really tried this tip to put down the camera and just “see” it for what it is.  One of the coolest places yet.

This has been tough to write.  It is so hard to grade a place when the purpose of going there is not achieved.  But the staff/folks were flat wonderful and in that department no complaints.  Great place, nice folks, good food, all of that was fine, but could have been achieved in plenty of places.  Hell, I saw twice as many bears in the first hour on the Kenai as I did at Great Bear Lodge.  Chasing wildlife has become our favorite pastime and when it comes down to it Great Bear Lodge did not meet expectations by a good bit.  So for a grade I give it a C and would not recommend it for bears unless you go late in the salmon run and view from their stands.  But if you want a cool trip to a great place it meets the bill.

We flew back to Port Hardy on Vancouver Island for a couple of days before heading home.  Getting to some isolated places requires some changes to accommodate airline schedules.  To get this trip done we ended up getting on 10 planes!  With the current state of affairs with the airlines that we made all those planes with only a couple of delays.  That we did not miss or get cancelled is in and of itself an accomplishment.  LAX was an insane freak show, about all of California I need, and when we got to Austin it was a complete mess with weather.  But overall, it was amazing we made it without disruption.

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I have left out a ton, but time to put it to bed.  As I type this the Boss is already doing her research on the next big trip, New Zealand.  She will spend months reading and researching.  We are just waiting to see how New Zealand entry plays out as they were as tough as any country on the covid.  But I know one thing when she said maybe some heli fishing on the trip she is setting the bar high!

Not sure when I will be back on the water but it should be Tuesday.  Let folks get back to work after the long holiday weekend.  I am starting to think about the Florida trip, which starts in less than 3 weeks.  Picked up the boat at the shop and it is all good to go.  The motor is now in its 12 year and still going strong.  Maintenance is the key to glory and this motor would have long been on the scrap heap without it.  Things break and shit happens, but reducing the chances is worth every penny.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Alaska – A bucket list trip.

Kenai Riverside Lodge.  Home sweet home.  Waders, boots, and cooler with munchies ready to go on arrival.  A real full-service resort.

First off props to the staff at Kenai Riverside Lodge.  (Other than one screw up, to be detailed later it was top notch.)  The food was fantastic, thanks Lloyd, great breakfasts, you could cook anywhere.  I called Dylan the camp counselor, he kept the place organized and people moving, and was helpful with anything.  And Leah (sp?) was bartender extraordinary and like most folks who worked there, educated and a pleasure to deal with.  Dave and Rob were great guides who put us on plenty of fish along with being good guys to spend the day with.  As I fished 4 days that week it was my pleasure to watch them handle folks who might not have been the most experienced with a friendly patience.  The fishing was a pleasure.

The menu.  Every day was primo!

One of the things we love in our travels, and admittedly are jealous of, are these dang “kids”.  Educated, degreed, and just plain smart they are living life on their terms.  Willing to drive to Alaska, work in Antartica or Timbuktu, they are living the dream.  From driver to bartender  many were degreed in the outdoors and it sure showed.  We run into these “kinds” of kids in the best places, and love how they are not only smart, but willing to take chances.  Trust me their life experiences will keep them warm 40 years from now.  As I always say it is in the doing and they are doing it big time.

Kenai River Lodge is part of a 3 lodge adventure, which some folks do over a week.  It is not all about the fishing and they offer hikes and other trips at all 3 lodges.  We stayed a week due to the fishing but if you want a full Alaska experience they can provide it but book early and direct.  And do not use a travel agency because it caused our snafu which neither the agency or resort made right.

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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Flossing

So we meet our first day guide Rob the evening before at supper and he said we would be flossing.  What the sam hell is flossing?  Maybe a special fly?  Well sort of.  The sockeye run was just beginning, we were there 3 days after the opener where the folks struggled, but not us, it got better every day.  So what is flossing?  And the other bit of information, waders and boots on for breakfast at 4:00 and out the door by 4:15.  What?  But then the brain kicks in, that is 7:00 our time so no big deal.  Of course it was to beat the traffic and it did exactly that.

The sockeye are filter feeders who feed by opening and closing their mouth.  So, you have a fly rod, 10 foot of line out with a white fly attracter and a sinker to get the fly down.  The fly really might attract the occasional sockeye but the punch line, the fly literally slides along the bottom as your line slides in their mouth.  When you hook them, it is in the mouth or near it, otherwise they must be released.  It is nothing more than a roll cast, pull it easy, then set the hook when it gets below you.  The fish are literally right in front of you and when you hook up, they tear it up.  It really is a great fight and hand to hand combat.

It seemed so weird, but that is basically the only way they harvest them and there were tons of folks all doing the same thing.  It took me a little to get the hang of it but I must say it was an interesting way to fish, and the only way to get them.  Would I do that again?  No to many other ways to fish.  Would I go back and fish for trout and Dolly later in year after the salmon are done spawning?  You bet.  The boys said that is the time for big trout.  So I am on the list for next September when the hard core trout fisherman come.  We shall see.

Day 1 limits.

The first morning the Boss was not feeling all that well so she stayed in.  And another word on the resort, they were so concerned they checked on her, brought her food and snacks and just basically cared for her until we got back from fishing.  Whatever it was passed and she was good to go the rest of the trip.  But of course, the following happened:  As we headed out to a lower ramp there was the first cow moose of the trip along the road.  When we got to the ramp an insane beaver was running all over the parking lot for some crazy reason.  We put the boat in and as soon as we head down river there is a wolf on the opposite shore just watching us.  So cool start, but there is more.

We set up on the Greman Hole and are smacking the salmon when Dan says bear, like it is no big deal.  Here comes a momma black bear and then I see her 3 cubs climb a tree.  We just talk her off and away she goes.  Then of all things she tries a sneak attack from the side and got to within 10 feeet from our boat and the stringer.  I mean she is close.  We shoo her away, but what a start to the trip.  Of course no camera out and the Boss is not with us but the first hour has Alaska written all over it.  What you pay the money for.

Dan and his dad and our limit.

First stop!  What momma black bear was coming for.

As soon as you catch them they clip the gills and bleed them in the river which is ice cold.  So no real surprise a momma bear with 3 hungry cubs might come around.

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The boys could flat clean and pack fish.

When you get back to camp everyone pitches in with fish cleaning and packing.  They have a system and are pros at it, but with that kind of practice who wouldn’t be.  I would not venture to guess how many salmon they filet in a season.  As a side note, we were just shopping this morning and fresh Alaska sockeye is $19.95 a pound.  So the 40+ pounds on the way are worth over $800 so the cost of shipping was not that bad.  And I had them save me some bellies which are headed to the smoker Sunday!

The Kenai River.

An average Sockeye Salmon.  Dave, fishing guide extraordinary and the guide boss.

You can see the guy in the background, that is all the deeper you had to get.  Simms waders and boots were hanging on the wall when you got there.  The flossing fly rods were made for the job, and the rest of the rods were quality with all tackle provided.

The Boss with her nice rainbow.

Having caught tons of rainbows in my life it was readily apparent, these are studs.  They feed on salmon eggs and dead salmon, which accounts for the flesh fly they use later in the season.  By time September comes the rainbows have been gorging and are solid from head to tail.  They practice catch and release and after have a cool run on the lower river in a small side channel the river could be hurt in a season.  We kept our share of sockeyes, but they are harvest fish and are counted at the weir, which allows them to set the limit.  Dave was telling us it might go down, or even to as many as 9 salmon, totally dependent on the count.  It is a highly regulated and managed fishery and with good reason.  While we did not go to Alaska to keep fish, there is nothing wrong with taking salmon and protecting the trout and dolly keeps it real.  What a place.

A bucket list Dolly Varden.  Which is actually a member of the Char family.

The Boss on the floss.

Nancy hiked a day with one of the staff who has been there almost 40 years and enjoyed her day as he took her to cool places.  He was a wealth of info and made allowances for her knee.  It gave her a little trouble during the week, probably due to standing in the river which had a pretty good current.  But she soldiered on without complaint.

A bigger Sockeye.

We had not seen another bear all week when on the last day we floated around a corner and there was momma, her big cub, and they were fishing.  We pulled across the river and watched what may be one of the most majestic animals in the world, and we have seen our share of cool animals.  So big and powerful it is hard to describe how cool they are.  Both were fishing and we watched as Junior splashed around and finally nose dove in and low and behold he snatched a cleaned carcass.  He has a way to go but how cool was that?  We watched as he ran back in the woods with his prize.

Momma Grizzly.  Out of focus due to the moving boat but who cares, a real animal!

Her cub, probably a second year about to receive the boot.

The salmon run got better all week and the grizzly were fishing.

Mergansers everywhere.  Weird ducks.

We saw lots of these ducks in both Alaska and B.C.  What makes them unusual is they will adopt other babies, or just baby sit.  Occasionally on the river the babies get washed down and when they come to the next momma, she adopts them.  One of the boys was telling us he had seen one with over 40 babies.  Fun to see them riding on momma’s back.

They were not easy to net, lots of power and cool runs with jumps.

The Boss with Dave and the first of her morning limit.

Plenty of Eagles.

A juvenile eagle.  Funny but they are bigger than the adults due to all the feathers.

There were eagles near the cleaning station.  Of course first comes the gulls, which happens anywhere you fish the salt.  The eagles would come and try to steal the gulls carcasses or whatever they were able to get.  The boys would save the eggs and then feed the trout, which caused a frenzy.  Just cool stuff after cool stuff.

The river on our float and Skilak Lake.  Words can not convey how stunning it is.

In the middle of the week we floated the river down to Skilak Lake in a raft.  There are 2 canyons with at most class 2 rapids but it was a great float and I am glad I did it.  As usual great lunch and informed info on the river and area.  The 3rd day we fished the same route and when we got to the lake another boat had motor trouble so we towed them to the ramp.  The river is highly controlled as to when motors may be used and even who can fish certain areas.  The lodge has permits for areas not all guides can fish.  And speaking of guides they are Coast Guard 6 packs and up and have taken mandatory guide school and a course on fishing the permit areas.  I am sure there is more but you get the picture, real guides with real experience.  The boats are first class customs and safe for 4 with auto inflate jackets on at all times.  A real professional operation.

My best rainbow.  Rob was a great guide.

And my best Dolly.

Slow trolling with downstream plugs caught these fish along with a few random sockeye.  It was a cool way to fish and when they hit they smoked it.  We also caught a few fly fishing with nymphs.  If at all possible I will be back next September for a week of classic fly fishing for big rainbows.  (But looking at maybe a steelhead trip during the same time, so many places so little money!)

A great last day.  These folks were from Austin and she was a fish catching fool.

As you all know I give everything from my day on the lake to these trips a grade.  Honestly this trip deserved an A but I cannot give it that, it will be a B+.  So why the downgrade?  This was booked through a travel agency, Audley, which we have used in the past.  This was our Africa trip money so we used the agency for the lodge.

According to the lodges website you can do all of these great things, including a halibut trip.  Nowhere on the website does it say to book that particular trip in advance so we did not think a thing about it.  We were going to be there a week, in fact we were the only folks there paying for a full week.  Then we find out the halibut fishing is booked for the week and we do not get to go.  Huh?  At this price we do not get the full everything that is on the site?

Then it got a little worse, we find out that the lodge sent out an email a week or more to us from Dylan and we did not get it.  Apparently it went to the travel agency.  Ok.  Then folks there on the 3 day fishing all got to halibut fish but we the only week guest did not, which does not seem fair or right.  And while later they said one of us could go, we are a team and that was not going to happen, it was never made right.  The problem, whoever booked us at Audley did not really have a clue about one of “their” resorts.  Obviously that person has no business booking fishing trips or they would have known and let us know if we did not book that part it was not going to happen.  The agent clearly did not have a clue what a bucket list trip to Alaska entails.  Plus, the resort should not send any informative email intended for us to the agency, they are not the ones going.

The resort should have fixed it somehow (2 of their staff took the trip during the week.) but the dude we talked to in the office was not to “concerned” about it.  The only time staff was not beyond helpful.  Oh well.  So the punch line – book it yourself.  It really was bad news a week before we left.  I can honestly say if it had been a month and I could have gotten my money back I would have rebooked somewhere else.  If they really care about “real” fishermen they need to rethink the whole process.  No excuses for either party.

But all that aside it was a first class operation, good food, cool cabins and great folks.  It was a good first stop on any Alaska trip.  And I can not emphasis how much fun I had fishing with Dave and Rob even though it started at 4:00 am!  So my thanks to all involved, when I pull the salmon off the grill this weekend I will fondly remember this trip.

Off we go to Victoria Island BC.

Heather, another of the “nut cases” who was a freakin hoot, took us from the lodge to Seward to catch the train.  As part of the service she stayed with us until we were good to go.  And while in Seward she took us to where they loaded folks for the halibut trip (Again the halibut.) and there at the dock in town is a moose.  Alaska is one wild place.  There we boarded the train for a 4 hour supper tide to Anchorage to catch a plane the next day.  It was a good way to see some great scenery along with a moose or two.

The train from Seward to Anchorage.  Great ride.  Be sure to book the fancy ticket so you get this view and supper.

Icebergs.  The glaciers are shrinking fast and we heard that everywhere.  But hey climate change is not real right?  Must be your extensive scientific knowledge you have that leads to that crazy conclusion.  Kind of like the Jewish Space Lazer starting fires in California.

Anchorage was cool with plenty of good eats.  We spent a full day there and made the market days, the museum, and stuffed ourselves at Humpy’s resteraunt.  Of course I got the shirt.  We picked up a few things for the grandkids and generally enjoyed our time there until it was off to Vancouver and part 2 of the trip. More on 7 or 8 planes on the next post.

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Of course I have forgotten plenty but you can get a feel for how it was.  One thing that is so important on trips like this, put the camera down and appreciate where you are.  Stick your cell phone….you get the point.  Alaska is all that and more and could take a lifetime to explore.  It is one of the last great places in this country and when the last administration proposed selling a bunch of it off and drilling more of it, they were dead wrong.  It should be preserved and protected for all time, and if folks are lucky enough they can see what we did.  It is truly the last frontier.

I will try to get part 2 up in the next day or so.  And then pick up the boat from the shop and do some serious bay fishing before heading to ICAST and the Everglades.  It is going to be a busy month.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

The Bucket List 

The pile of stuff to be packed is almost done, the tickets and itinerary are set, and I am simply frozen with anticipation.  Going on trips like this always involve long term planning, and careful packing.  The first rule when heading “north”:  “You can take it off but if you do not have it you can not put it on.”  And Alaska would be the perfect example of why.  So heavy duty rain gear, clothing that can be layered  depending on the weather, and plenty of socks.  With no access to a laundry until the end of the first week a week’s worth is exactly how many clothes we are taking.  When we fly to  Port Hardy BC for the bear expedition we are limited to 30lbs each on the float plane.  Before we head out it will be laundry and we can leave any overweight at the plane company until we get back 4 days later.

The rest of the packing is different.  New SD cards for the cameras, 2 cameras with long lenses, binoculars, which about covers it.  The place we are fishing for the week provides literally everything from waders to rods and reels and even lures.  While weight is an issue on this trip there is a bag of Knockin Tails and jig heads in the pile.  The plan, catch a salmon on the KTL, adding it to the list.  And one fish I have not had the pleasure of catching is a Dolly Varden.  It is actually a trout in the  salmonoid family so it will potentially be a new species for me, much less one on the KTL. But it will not be all about the fishing.  With a full week we will raft and do some wilderness hiking and burn the candle at both ends.

Then it is off to Great Bear Lodge for some serious bear viewing with biologists.  We love  grizzlies and are really looking forward to seeing them more “in the wild” without a few thousands of “our closest friends” like Yellowstone and Teton.  And who knows, there is plenty of other critters and a wolf or even lion is possible.  With at least 8 excursions, from river viewing stations, boat, or hiking, they put you when and where you need to be based on the bears.  And something cool will happen, we have to wait and see just what that might be.  We love seeing stuff in the wild and will continue to do that kind of travel until they put me in the Old Fisherman’s Home.  As the world shrinks, and the outdoors gets increasingly crowded, we plan to keep trying to be in the right place at the right time, and this place fills the bill.

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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Canada 

My buddy Clyde is in Canada on his annual fishing trip.  It has been at least 30 years since he started fishing there and he has an amazing book of knowledge on Lake of the Woods, one of the best fishing holes in the world.  And this trip is going just like it usually does.  From tough fishing to knocking them stupid Canada never fails to produce.

Those are some serious pike.

The beat down continues. Caught the pike buzzing spinnerbaits in 4 foot of weed choked water.  They absolutely crushed it.  Caught probably 17 “big ones” in two places.  The walleye was 28″ and added about 70 smallmouth.

Glad it is going so well.  Your years of experience pays off again.  Nothing better than big pike smashing a buzzed spinnerbait!

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I said it before but it is sad to see some of the pens made to re-introduce the grass to Coleto starting to be on dry land, and it has only gotten worse.  Will try to remember to get a picture next time out.  Guess no one is in charge of making sure that is not happening and I sure hate to see some of the hard work go to waste.  In my wildest dreams the grass catches on and matures at the same time the 41,000 bass they just dumped in do.  It could be the perfect storm on Coleto in 3 – 5 years.

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One of the issues traveling by plane now that has really changed is the number of flights being cancelled.  We have not even left and already our schedule has been changed since a flight was cancelled.  We do pay government employees to regulate the airlines don’t we?  Whoever those overpaid pinheads are they are sure not doing anything about airlines booking literally thousands of flights that will never go.  The airlines keep the money for months and then inform folks, sometimes hours before takeoff that they have been cancelled.  That is nonsense and needs to stop.  Either you have the staff and planes or you don’t, it is not that hard.  So our regulators sit on their ass drawing a check, pension, and medical most folks will never get yet the consumer is left holding the bag.  But hey the FAA only has 48,ooo employees “who regulate all aspects of civil travel” and they sure must be soooo busy.   You know like the old Bachman Turner Overdrive song.  And when you add the change in passenger demographics no wonder it is such a mess.

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Some better numbers from the holiday weekend.  I will just quote a few from TPWD but enclose the link to check out the press release.

Between Friday and Monday, 352 game wardens conducted 10,218 safety checks on vessels, issuing 62 fewer citations than they did the year before.

Game wardens did, however, respond to 15 boating accidents and six drownings that occurred on waterbodies including the Rio Grande, Lake Sommerville, Grapevine, Blanco River, Cedar Creek Lake and Lake Buchanan.

Over the weekend, game wardens rescued capsized boaters, including at Lake Nasworthy, where they pulled 13 people from the water, and Lake Lewis, where some of the 16 rescued from choppy waters were not wearing life jackets, and instead were clinging to their overturned boat while waiting for help.

So glad the numbers were down, a tribute to boater education and folks just doing a better job.  But the deaths are still to high.  Put the life jacket on with your kill switch, your loved ones will thank you for it.

News Release: June 3, 2022: Texas Game Wardens See Reduction in Citations During Memorial Day Weekend – TPWD

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No wonder they fight so hard!

Florida’s bonefish are testing positive for over-the-counter and prescription drugs.

Summary:

• Researchers sampled 93 bonefish in South Florida since 2018.
• An average of seven prescription drugs were found per bonefish.
• A total of 17 pharmaceutical drugs were found in a single fish.
• Researchers also found pharmaceuticals in bonefish prey, including crabs, shrimp and finfish.

Recently announced results of a three-year study

This research is being done by the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust.  We all think we flush it and it magically disappears into the air but not so.  The only thing that can be done to slowly fix this is educate folks, do not flush medications, end of story.  But think about this while you are at it, whatever else do we “flush” that is in the fish?  An ugly thought.

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Thus begins a busy couple of months for me.  A couple of weeks after we get back at the end of June I head to Florida with the boat.  First up is a couple of days at ICAST in Orlando, the industry tackle show where I will be hanging with Michael at the Knockin Tail booth.  ICAST is Christmas for a boy like me and I can not wait to see many of the folks I have followed for years.  Plus there will be plenty of cool new stuff to see which is headed to the market in the next year.

Then from there it is off to the Everglades for a week, which I am just starting to research though my lodging is taken care of.  Never hurts to know someone.  While I have made 3 trips there in the past who knows how things have changed.  Tomorrow mow grass, get the last of the stuff organized, boat to the shop for annual service, then the wait begins.  Next time you hear from me will be from Alaska.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

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Off Topic Rants – Not for the faint of heart.

Louie Gohmert – US Representative from Texas, and I quote.

“if you’re a Republican, you can’t even lie to Congress or lie to an FBI agent or they’re coming after you.”

WTF?  This is one of the things wrong with this country, phony respect for law enforcement.  This God knows what he is, is saying that if you are a Republican you should be able to lie to the FBI.  For the love of God, not only is lying morally wrong, it can be/is a crime, but hey he is ok with it.  Here is the bottom line:  It is a felony to lie to the FBI whether you are a Republican or a Buddist Monk from Muskogee, the law does not discriminate.  Either you support law enforcement coming after all felons, or not, end of story.  And don’t give me the usual political nonsense that your idiotic comment was taken out of context, it is what folks say when speaking their truth without engaging the brain.  One thing you learn real quick representing indicted criminals, the same old refrain;  “But what about the other guy?”  As if that justifies their behavior. What a shining hypocritical example for our children.

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A want to thank Steve for his long comment on one of my off-topic rants.  It was eloquent and well expressed and I appreciate his views.  I admit the blog is at a crossroads and where it is headed is an open question.  With my 69th birthday right around the corner it might be time for a change.  But at my age I have earned the right to state my opinion.  I agree that this may not always be the proper forum, but it is my forum, bought and paid for.  Anytime anyone wants to buy it let me know.  Thanks for your comment.  And as far as the fishing it is about to get real!

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

(No partner ads this post.  This is my opinion and mine only.  It will be back to the fishing next post but I have a few things to say about the system.  So please for the love of God if your little sensibilities can not tolerate anything other than you own opinion please skip this one.)

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As Alaska looms in a week I have been having a hard time getting going.  Visions of big rainbows, salmon, brown bears and more occupy my thoughts and even now my dreams.  I can honestly say this is the most excited about a trip I  have ever been, I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas.  But if you think about it, a big time fishing trip in Alaska is Christmas for big kids.

This morning I musing over heading to Keller Bay for a couple of hours but ended up not going.  When the Boss was on her way to work she sent me a text – “Big Texan up a dime to $4.49 a gallon.”  It just took the fight out of me.  The truck and boat both need filling and it would probably run over $150, are you kidding me?  Hard to justify a quick trip for that kind of money.  As I slowly wind down the blog the cost of fishing, along with maintaining the blog itself is starting to get “real.”   But that is a discussion for later, or sooner but there is a thing or two to do until then.

I said in my last post that of course I am going to comment on the shooting in Uvalde so here it is.  If you only come here for the fishing then go ahead and leave, I understand.  But I can not in good conscious not say something, this is f’d up.

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First to the brave Border Patrol officers, thank you for sending that piece of shit straight to hell, you did us proud.  Your bravery and honor in ending the massacre is a testament to each of you as a law enforcement officer and as people.  Too bad you were not in charge when it started, they were innocent children.  We can discuss the social and personal issues until we are blue in the face but there is only one immediate response – kill shooters without mercy.

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First up is the almost too stupid to even believe comment on the shooting that came out of anyone’s mouth.

God Help Us

“what about getting a department that can look at young men that’s looking at women, that’s looking at their social media? What about doing that, looking into things like that, and we can stop that that way?”

“What I like to do is see it and everything and stuff.”

Herschel Walker

The only thing that would have made it better was if he ended with “Know what I’m sayin?” This is the inane response to school shootings by a candidate for the United States Senate.  I do not know the answer to any of this but I do know this, he is freaking incompetent.  The thought that this is his “level” of critical thinking and could end up in the US Senate is frightening.  We may not all agree on anything anymore, but that statement is incomprehensible.  Oh how far we have fallen.

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Misled?

When Governor Abbot used the term “misled”  he was talking about why he ended up telling flat out lies in the first press conference after the Uvalde mass murder.  (His words.) Think about it –  the Governor of the State of Texas was “misled’ “to his face” by law enforcement.  (Again his words not mine.)  Misled is not the correct term – it is lied to!  (There are 12 specific documented out right lies told to all of us in the first couple of days and the list is growing.)   If a law enforcement officer will lie to the governor’s face he will lie to anyone. How have we gotten to the place where a law enforcement officer lies as easily as ordering a big Mac?

There needs to be a full accounting of what happened from beginning to end by an independent agency, and to figure out who lied to whom.  The whole thing stinks to high heaven.  (The independent agency should conduct all interviews under oath and we will find out who the liars are.)  Now they have even quit talking, now wonder folks think there is a cover up.  And one last word, if you lie about anything to do with the murder and deaths of innocent babies you are the lowest life form on the face of this planet.

Sorry I get worked up but if you have seen murdered children, folks head shot off, skull scattered all over, your shoes filled with blood as you try to save a life or got to tell the family their loved one is gone, you might have some strong feelings.  I am a gun owner and believe in the 2cnd amendment but support of the 2cnd does not give anyone an excuse to lie.  It only breeds mistrust.

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There are tons of reasons why this is happening but there is one thing that is fairly obvious to me in many cases, no father in the home.  I have a relative who when I mentioned that lack of father in the home in the past poo Poo’d me.  This spoiled #*%^ is a convicted felon who permanently maimed a woman in a DWI, has a child out of wedlock who lives in another state, and did not go to the big house because his family had the big bucks to keep him out, where they would have chewed him up and spit him out.  Guess his time in county jail, and continued drinking, qualifies him as an expert.  Trust me folks, if you take out all the cases I did with no father in the picture, either out of wedlock or divorced, it would have significantly reduced my case load.  Kids need a “father” in their life, end of story.

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This is one of those comments that might get some folks panties in a wad, well tough shit.  Ted Cruz is bought and paid for by the NRA, unless you do not think that taking $700,000 from anyone does not make you beholden.  Sure…….  OK start whining, but wait before you implode.  From Cruz to Pelosi, from McConnel to AOC, they all need to start disclosing every time they directly comment on a political issue who has bought and paid for them.  (The all take special interest money.)  I could give a shit which party.  I have heard a great suggestion – Time for all of them to wear fishing jerseys like the bass guys do.  On it should be the patches of who they are beholden to.  So now that you know that I am not just picking on lying Ted (Trumps words not mine.) you can calm down.  We are not getting exactly what we pay for, but what a bunch of lobbyists paid for.  It is a dirty business and we continue to let all of them off the hook.  It is time for term limits.

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And my last comment is on the issue of mental health being thrown around.  I did dozens of court appointed involuntary mental commitment hearings, to go along with that I represented tons of criminal defendants who were crazy as a loon, or worse.  Let me tell you the punch line.  If the system decided you need to be committed involuntarily you are headed in for a few days.  But if you are a criminal defendant no matter how crazy you are you are found responsible and off to the pen you go.  Then you stay a while and out on the street you go.  My favorite example:  One of the attorneys in our office who had a client who fled an out of state lockdown where he was on an involuntary commitment.  So basically he escaped from the looney bin, fled the state and then cured himself in time to commit another felony.  At least according to the judge he was competent.  Same with the guy I represented who kept calling me because the air conditioner was talking to him who was ruled competent.  So as soon as their sentences are over they will be out on the street doing God knows what.  So when any state tells me they are serious about mental health I can only shake my head.

Now I know some of you do not let facts get in the way but here are a couple.  Fact:  Trump cut $400 million from the mental health budget.  Fact: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott cut close to $2o million from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, which oversees mental health services. So do not give me the old it is a mental health issue.  If that is true then why in the hell do you keep cutting the budget?  Simple question which for some reason no one will answer.  All you have to do is check out about half the street corners on Austin and then come and tell me you give a shit about mental health.

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As far as the rest of this discussion I have my own personal opinion on what should be done, but that is my business.  But when authorities start moving their lips the lies start flowing.  So here is my guess, nothing will happen and people will continue to get their faces blown off, and kids will keep on dying.  There is NOT one answer. The Left – gun bans, The Right – more guns.  That is not going to work no matter what side of the discussion you are on when folks take a no concession approach.  It has to be a multi-system approach.  It reminds  me of the immigration discussion in this country;  The Left – let them all stay.  The Right – deport them all.  Like either one of these things are going to happen.  This approach on both these issues is stupid and accomplishes nothing.  What these kinds of issues ignore – those of us in the middle who want anything/something done.  This country has divided itself on every issue and we are now getting what we deserve.

But to the family of those beautiful children – I am so sorry for your loss.  I am sorry the system has failed you.  You have been lied to and your questions have been pushed to the side so that both sides can spout their talking points while you and your family suffer beyond anything most folks will ever know.  It is a sad comment on where we are and I can only say that I am glad I am old, things are going to get a whole lot worse before they get better.

God Bless America and the families.

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

I wasn’t sure if I was going this morning, the weather forecast called for some showers which we sorely need.  When I got up and looked outside it was wet, but just lightly misting.  So off I went, and I am glad I did.

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Time to fish!

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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It was one of those mornings, it lightly drizzled, then the sun came out, then back under.  The wind was down until 9:00 and then it started to blow, which was fine by me.  After yesterday the plan was spinnerbait, and other than one here and there pitching or on swim jig it was buzzing a spinnerbait in the wind.  They were fairly agressive today and it was cool to watch them materialize out of nowhere and smoke it.

Just a good average this morning.

I switched to a little smaller 1/4-ounce white spinnerbait with #2 and 3 silver Colorado blades to more match the size of the bait I was seeing flipping.  Today most were off the edge of some cover, much more on the flatter banks with grass or trash.  Running it about 2/3 speed right on the surface and today when they wanted it they ate.  I keep the trolling motor down and on and just covered the miles.

Love watching the wolf it!

It did not seem to make a real difference today, up lake or down.  It was more a matter of cover, on a little flatter places with deeper water close by.  The weather would change, but there was one constant, a nice steady breeze.  While it was blowing an easy 20mph+ they were in the wind.  And the bite was about 50/50 with some barely pulling it under, and other just annihilating it.  But no matter how they ate it was plenty of fish.

When the bite was on it was on! 

I think it was only 2 smalls on the swim jig and a couple including the second one above pitching a 4″ Power Bait Pit Boss in the California color.  Though I only threw it a minute or two they were happy to eat it.  And a little credit to Berkley on their claim that fish hold on to it longer.  Now I am not sure “how much longer” but they often eat and swim with it, which the couple did today.  Seem to give you just another second to get the hooks set.  But in spite of quick results fishing it spinnerbait is my favorite way to bass fish.

They seemed to like it making a small wake but not horribly fast.  And today it might be on the first turn of the crank or half way back so you had to keep your eyes on it.  If I were guessing the way they are posistioned right now a square bill might be a great choice it that is your thing.  But one thing is really clear right now, they are biting and with these perfect conditions might just keep after it for a little while longer.  So do whatever floats your boat, deep or shallow, the fishing has been as good this spring as it has been in a couple of years.

What is next?  Looking at the weather I just might try to slip out to the bay Friday.  But here is an interesting observation.  I have not used as much gas on 2 trips to the lake, and could go one more easy, as I did on one trip to POC.  This gas thing sucks but it is what it is and since the only option is staying home that won’t work.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Hope everyone had a good holiday weekend.  I kept to the house while the Boss worked most of it.  Unfortunately, the wind is back at it and has been blowing today.  It may just be a little sketchy in the morning, but since it has missed us repeatedly, I do not hold much hope for rain.  So it will be off to the lake in the morning, kind of a last call depending on the fishing.  It is hard to get really motivated when Alaska is right around the corner.

Weather

77/95.  A stray shower in the morning; otherwise, partly sunny and breezy with a 48% chance of rain.  Wind   SE 15 – 36 with possible gusts to 40mph.

Lake Level

Today   95.85 msl.    8 days ago   96.00 msl.

Bite Times

Minor   7:11 am to 8:11 am.

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

On the way to the lake the flags were straight out, which was no big surprise.  It was basically straight out of the south and would stay that way until I quit at 11:00.  This morning was a fill the request from the Boss for a fish fry and I got that done.  Of course since it only takes 2 for us you would think after 50 years of it I could catch 2.  The water temp was 82 at the ramp and 84 over the rest of the lake.  The water color is clear down lake and real off color up lake. I started with a buzzbait close to the ramp while it was still dark and managed to put the best one of the morning in the boat.

A classic explosion on the buzzbait.

What made this bite interesting was as soon as it came over a stump she rolled on it and totally missed.  Normally this size does not cooperate by having another go at it, but not this one.  I almost grabbed the pitch bait but instead tossed the buzzbait back over the stump and she absolutely exploded on it.  What a great bite.  Unfortunately that was the last good one on the buzzbait so around  8:00 I put it down after I head up lake.  I pitched a log or 2 and caught a couple of smalls, then tossed the swim jig and Honeydew Knockin Tail some and caught 4 or 5 smalls out of the same place they were in last week.  They were in some of the last of the green grass left, and since I missed a couple who knows, maybe it was the better ones.

They really got on the spinnerbait when it would cloud up.

One thing that has remained constant with the shallow fish since the water came down is they are on stumps.  If you know a stretch that has a bunch chances are there are fish on them.  Of course then there is no excuse when you miss one, since you can see the whole thing.  And they are probably catchable on whatever you want to throw on them.

The weird.  I am always amazed when a bream smokes a buzzed spinnerbait.  This one ate the blades off.

As the morning wore on the wind kept up and it would cloud up for a little.  I had caught on spinnerbait, swim jig and Knockin Tail, buzzbait, and pitching a creature looking thing.  Spinnerbait finally won out and I stuck with it the last hour.  It was definitely best in the clear water.  You had to be on your toes as they all bit close to the bank/stump and really did not load up on it.  It would just disappear, which is cool, as long as you are paying attention. It seems moving baits down lake in the clear and slow up lake in the murk.  But there are still enough shallow to keep it fun.

Bass fishermen (me) have a tendency to be looking for the next cast before they are done with the current cast, looking in front of the boat, and of course that is when one eats.  Easy enough if they are blowing up on it, but the rest of the time if fishing shallow you can not turn your head.  It just works that way.

I was not sure what to expect this morning and was pleasantly surprised.  Of course anytime the fish bite the way I want them to is a good day, and a couple made the cooler for supper.  Catching a dozen plus before 11:00 qualifies as pretty good fishing, considering it was 90 degrees when I got in the truck to take out.

Coleto has plenty of short fish and everyone should eat a couple occasionally.  Oklahoma’s research has shown that eating the smalls ones is good for lakes and they are changing their limits.  Ok, we saved the bass with catch and release decades ago, but we have done to good a job.  This don’t eat bass thing is not good for who?  The bass!  It is ok to eat a couple, and as my buddy Ro says, tasty basses!  As long as we keep throwing all the big ones back our fishing will always be good.  Now we get to see if the ShareLunker fry are going to change the face of bass fishing in Texas.

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Those of you who read this know that there is comments coming on the mass murder in Uvalde.  But in this case I am going to wait just a little as they are stone walling much of the information.  It looks like a major SNAFU but there is a couple of things I want to know before I comment.

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I sure hope you have seen the moose chasing the grizzly.  If not google it and watch one cool crash.  And people are surprised in the parks when they get trampled.  A moose can move.  In fact a lady got gored by a bison just the other day in Yellowstone.  Speaking of moose Alaska and British Columbia is less than 2 weeks away and it is getting harder to wait.  Funny how that happens with cool trips, it takes forever to get there and then it is over in a minute.

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The plan is to go again in the morning.  At least it is only going to blow 15 – 30.  As far as rain goes I have absolutely no hope no matter what they say.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

The weather was going to be nice, and it was.  I was really wanting to fish POC today before the hordes descend for the holiday weekend, so I  was up and gone early.  When I got to the ramp it was still dark, and there was 4 or 5 guides putting in plus the usual crowd.  It is going to be a busy weekend and going today was the right choice.

Weather

72/91.  Increasing cloudiness; breezy this afternoon with a 25% chance of rain.  Wind E  12 – 22mph.

Tides

Low 7:58 am   0.83 ft.      High   12:07 pm   1.06 ft.       Low    8:06 pm    0.05 ft.

Bite Times

Major     10:34 am to 12:34 pm.  

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

It was a smooth ride all the way to a couple of drains by South Pass.  The sun was just coming up so on went the Wade Right and in the water I went.  The plan was to fish the bone Spook Jr. and the 5″ pearl Knockin Tail.  It was simply an attempt to catch a big trout.  Well I did catch a couple of nice ones, but could not for the life of me get a bite on either the 5″ or the Spook.  The only “action” was a big redfish pushing water behind the 5″ but he did not commit.  The first place was a bust so back to the boat and a short idle to the next drain, and they were there.

A solid 20″+ on the Honeydew Knockin Tail.  CPR and back in she went.  Not sure what it is about the Honeydew but they sure like that color.

So on wade number 2 downsized to the 3.25 Purple lime on 10lb test and 4″ Purple Demon Limetreuse on 12lb test, both rigged on 1/8 ounce KTL heads.  It finally soaked in, the bait was small, barely much over an inch so time to give them the right size bait.  That is what makes the Knockin Tail so effective, 3.25″, 4″, and 5″ covers most of the bases and got it done today.  And a quick word on the KTL jig head.  It is a screw lock and a real swim bait style head and once screwed on the Knockin Tails last an amazingly amount of fish.  The only one I lost today was on a ladyfish.

The water was not really moving but drain #2 had fish in it.  So not sure if it was the drain or just changing baits, but whatever 8 or so jumped on and I kept 2 for supper.  When the bite was on they were thumping it.  They were right in the middle of the drain with scattered shell in about 2″ of water and most smacked it.

A couple of 18″s who made the grade and in the cooler they went.

Nice thing about trout this size is the Boss and I only need 2 but I do have a comment on the new limit.  When I cleaned them one had eggs, the other was spawned out.  Not sure why they set that size limit but I would be a lot more comfortable if I could have kept a couple of smaller ones and let these 2 go, like I did the 20″.  But we can only assume, and hope, TPWD made the size decision based on science.

I hung around there until about 10:00 and the bite went away.  Now that was fine as the plan was to be in Big Bayou at 10:30 to end the day fishing the prime period on my favorite place.  The water color in there sucked, and for the next couple of hours before I quit only 2 trout jumped on, the 20″ and a small.  I gave my favorite redfish bank a go but struck out.  It was so off color in there that as I fished down that bank all of a sudden 10 tails popped up less than 3 feet in front of the boat, I never saw that coming as I drifted right in them.  When I reeled a KTL past them one went to eat and almost ran into the trolling motor.  Not as good as catching them but it was cool.

When I say the better ones eat the Honeydew Knockin Tail I am not kidding.  And several were this size and hopefully the limit will let lots of these guys make it, and not to the grease, this summer.

Even though it was slow once I left South Pass, it was good to be back on the water.  The clearer water was by far better than the off color stuff, but of course that is where the better one was.  But not having to fight the wind going and coming sure was nice.  And one thing I have always liked about wading is when you find some, and get the color and cast down, it is one of the more intimate way to fish.  It is you vs. them in close combat.  So the morning was a big success and gives me hope.   There will be a lot more salt coming, it is fun.

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E15 Gasoline.

Due to the current gas rip off the government has approved E15 gas to be sold at the pump.  Besides being illegal for boating use, it will damage your engine.  So if you are filling up be sure to look at the pump so you do not buy some by mistake.  According to what I read it might be labeled as “regular 88” or “regular unleaded”.  So stick with no ethanol if you can get it or the old E10.

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The White River in northwest Arkansas has historically given up some big trout and it has done so again.  A fisherman from Colorado landed a 25lb+ brown trout on the river, a true bucket list fish.  It was caught in awful weather, snowing and cold, which is no surprise.  In spite of the pressure it is still one of the greatest trout fisheries in this country.

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Some boater in Florida hit a concrete pole and all 7 on board were ejected from the boat with one killed and the rest hurt.  The boat then continued to circle until someone jumped on it and stopped it.  Obviously the operator was an idiot and a fool.  Sorry but no slack. Since the feds mandated kill switch’s to be worn he was not in compliance.  Over the last 50 years I have seen plenty of folks who have no business boating and he is one of them.  Having the money to buy a big fast boat has squat to do with having any business owning it.

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When I took out at about 1:30 the ramp at Froggie’s was headed to holiday weekend nuts.  For the life of me I cannot understand why folks do not get ready then back in and pull out.  But folks just have the uncontrollable urge to get their stuff in order on the ramp, even when it is busy.  Then on the way home there was a parade of boats on the way.  So summer is here and for God’s sake be careful this weekend.  Before you hit the water check trailer lights, paperwork, fire extinguisher, make sure hubs are greased and list goes on and on.  Be the bigger guy and never expect that someone will do the right thing, or even have a clue what that is.  And do not drink and drive the boat or truck, we professional call holidays amateur hour, law enforcement will be out in force.  So stay safe and have a great weekend.  Keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Weather

72/91.  Increasing cloudiness; breezy this afternoon with a 25% chance of rain.  Wind E  12 – 22mph.

Lake Level

Today   96.00 msl.   11 days ago  96.22 msl.  (The lake is falling really  fast.  Nice while it lasted.)

Bite Times

Major     9:08 am to 11:08 am.   (It was slow early.)

It has been 11 days since I fished and I can’t say I missed it.  The wind has blown like crazy, there is no way to guess when it will crank up every day.  And not sure I am as mad at them as I was, it seems with 2 big trips  looming it is hard to get myself up and out.  Even this morning I slept in and it was 7:30 when I got to the lake.  But I did go and even caught a few though “times they are a changing.'”

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

The lake has really dropped and with it the cover is slowly ending up high and dry.  The wind was out of the East about 15 mph when I dropped in and the water temp is still in the 84 degree range over most of the lake.  And with those big winds coming out of an easterly direction over the last couple of months some areas have sketchy water color.  First up was up lake.

Talk about a disappointment.

Since I was an hour late I only stayed with the buzzbait for 2 places and did not have a bite which was not really surprising.  Next up was the best stretch of cover that has been holding fish, and that did not produce a bite so time for a real tactic change.  Looking back on the blog once our spring bite is over they usually set up on some wood and it is pitching plastics or the bluegill swim jig with a Honeydew Knockin Tail trailer.  And from that point until  I quit at 1:00 both of them caught fish though most were small.

I won’t bore you with any more.  This is what they all looked like this morning.

The best bite was the tilapia above.  When I pitched the 5″ watermelon stick worm next to a stick the line jumped a mile.  Once I set the hook the battle was on, but once it got next to the boat it was a little disappointing when I saw it was a tilapia.  And I did have a really nice bass jump off on the stick worm when I made the perfect cast to a big stump.  You should not miss those, but I did.

One short stretch of green grass had bass all over it and 5 or 6 jumped on and I missed that many.  The bite this morning was funny, most I never felt the bait would just start moving ever so slow.  And if you set the hook on the bite you either missed them or they came off.  Once I started letting them move it a ways they started hooking up.

On the swim jig one did the complete slack line bite and by time I set the hook it was 5 feet away from where it was.  The rest just got on and I only missed a couple on it.  So by time I quit it was an easy 12+ with pitching the stick worm being the best choice, but I did not bother to count.  There was a couple of bonus smalls swimming the 4″ Pearl Knockin Tail in the last of the cover but that is about to go away.  Not sure what the pattern is but as the water falls and the cover dissapears the shallow ones will be headed to the wood and the deep fish will be on the ledges.  It felt good to have a rod back in my hand and there will be more fishing this week as soon as this storm blows through.

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Glad to see Thursday pot tournament is back on Coleto.  It will be running from 6:00 until decided on.  With a $50 entry and 100% payback it should be a fun time.  Guess I need to rustle up a partner and give them a go when I can.

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One of the reasons I took the week off was the Boss is off 4 days before she starts a long stretch then off to Alaska.  She wanted to go to the beach so we headed to North Padre and the park.  (My underlying reason was to renew my Bird Island Basin boat ramp sticker.  Having a place to stay down there there will be a lot more visits.) When we saw the wind forecast we knew it was going to blow, but nothing like seeing the real thing.  There was a total of 3 trucks left at Bird island, and they all came back within 10 minutes of each other.  There were white caps on top of the white caps.  There were white caps in 2 inches of water.  It was flat howling and we watched the last 3 boats take their pounding as they hit the ramp.  Have I told you I  am sick of that lately?  But the day was redeemed when we stopped for supper at the Irish bar in Fulton.  Nice place.  (While I am typing this the weather dude said it was blowing 23 with gusts over 30.)

And Saturday morning I watched the Bassmaster tournament from Lake Fork, and of course they were smoking them.  The wind was howling, according to them a little less than the 2 days before.  Love that Texas wind.

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After years of work by TPWD the big Texas ShareLunker experiment is about to get the true test.  I give them tons of credit for the program and the intent, now we get to see if it will really pan out.  They have hatched literally millions and millions of great genetics pure ShareLunker strain fry and will be stocking them in lots of Texas lakes.  So here we go.  I may be dead and gone by time the real results of the program come to fruition, or not.  But they have the genes and if Texas fishermen are lucky plenty of truly big bass are in their future.  Hope it works out.

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Michael with My Coast Outdoors and the Knockin Tail was interviewed by Voyage Houston Magazine and here is the article.

http://voyagehouston.com/interview/exploring-life-business-with-michael-okruhlik-of-my-coast-outdoors/

It has been so interesting to be along for the ride, he and his family deserve everything that comes their way.  Starting a completely new business from the ground up, including the product design is no easy feat.  It takes determination and just a little bit of guts to put yourself, and your $$$, out there. It sure helps that Knockin Tail catches everything that swims and I can not wait to throw it in Alaska.  Big fun!

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Lacy sent along this comment on my reference to Clinton getting his butt kicked when he raised car tags.

You have to also give Clinton his due being the youngest ex guv .
The 3 C’s cost him the race.
Cubans, Carter, Car Tags

Funny thing about Bill, he really was a good governor.  And weird as it might seem so was Mike Huckabee.  Talk about both ends of the spectrum.  I keep saying it and will not stop, it has taken BOTH parties for this country to get in this shape and until we start voting out incumbents it will not get any better.  I could give a crap which party it is – it is the person.  Funny how folks who do not know you assume they know your politics.

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I was reading an article and for a moment I thought I was in Texas.  Montana land owners are suing the state because they say there are to many elk.  (Never heard that before!) They want the state to kill them, including the ones on their property, but refuse to allow public hunting on their property.  Reminds me of Texas and wild hogs.  The state pays to eradicate them but landowners continue to restrict hunting on their property  (Or pony up the $$$.) when there are tons of folks who would be happy to help out.  When presented with a reasonable alternative to the problem landowners refuse to cooperate but want taxpayers to foot the bill.  OK, it is your land and I get that, so let whoever you want on it or not, it is your right.  But then do not expect the rest of us to pay for your PRIVATE problem on your PRIVATE property.  I am continually confused why state game and fish departments bow to commercial interests.  Their job is supposed to be protecting native wildlife, not sucking up to private interests.  (But as I have repeatedly said look at who your state commissioners are and where their money comes from and you might get a feel for the problem.)

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It was a really fun weekend watching the girl’s college softball tournament.  The SEC started with 8 or 9 and ended up with 3 left.  And how about the lady Razorback Softball Team!  Won the regional and are set for a best 2 out of 3 Super Regional against those hated Longhorns.  We might not be their rival, but they sure are ours.  So Go Hogs!!  (And the Aggies got their hat handed to them the last game, it was 20 – 0 when I last checked.  Then their coach got fired this morning.)

And speaking of the SEC what got Sabin’s panties in such a wad?  Could it be that the Aggies had the number 1 recruiting class?  Maybe.  Then Jimbo got his panties in a wad and it was a pissing match.  (There is a bit of truth in what they both said.)  Of course they all cheat in one form or another, what is new.  With the new rules the face of college athletics is changed forever, and not for the better.

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I should just probably stop watching the weather as it just depresses me.  But tomorrow’s is a slightly different story.  Now the high winds will remain for the next few days but they are saying heavy morning rain with thunderstorms tomorrow, I sure hope they are right.  We got very little the other night and we sure need it.  After that who knows but it will involve a rod in my hands.  So keeps stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good  Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

I am going to take the week off, give or take a day.  There is a thing or two that I will be working on this week that have been ignored long enough.  Real life never stops intruding.  Looking at the long term forecast things just might be finally headed towards a more summer time pattern early next week.  It seems every day the wind comes up leaving me headed to the ramp before I normally would.  Hard to spend the money for 4 or 5 hours.

And one way to tell that fishing has slowed some was our trip to Bubba’s last week so I could pig out on the boil.  From the time we left the house around 4:00, ate, then went home the long way around at 6:00, we saw NO boats coming or going.  A rare occurrence when you can make that drive at that time and not see a boat.  Probably the wind blowing like a banshee had something to do with that.

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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It sure was ugly back at the gas pumps, which is depressing for so many folks.  I only needed a little over a half a tank and it ended up costing over $50!  As the cost of fishing continues to increase folks, me included, will just respond by going less often but try to take advantage by staying longer.  Part of the cost of the blog is the cost of the fishing, and when you fish 125 days a year it is not cheap.  With a one-man operation someone has to pay for the fishing, and that would be me.  So it will be a little break as I re-evaluate where the blog is headed.

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But it is not like there is no fishing coming, in fact there is a bunch on the way.  It is only a little over 20 days before we head out on a 2 week bucket list trip to Alaska.  The piles of “stuff” are starting to grow.  It is going to be a little tougher pack with a 30lb restriction on the float plane.  Can’t wait to see how the Boss handles that one.  We will have a chance to do laundry once so at least packing for half the time helps with that.  Additionally not having to pack any fishing gear (Of course there will be a small box of Knockin Tails, can’t wait to add some trout and salmon to that list!) as everything including waders and baits is provided will be nice.  Never fished anywhere I did not have to bring stuff.

Then July it will be off to the Everglades and I am doing the research right now on trying to add a peacock and a clown knifefish to the list.  They are one cool looking fish, and though they are basically nocturnal there is a lake a couple of hours away from where I am staying that has them.  If it works out will spend a day doing that, though it has a trade off, losing a day in the Everglades.  Tough choice that I am lucky to get to make.

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There are plenty of differences in living in Arkansas and Texas, they both have their good and bad.  But the big one, property taxes.  Victoria County has gone insane and people are bitching big time.  Some folks have gotten increases of over $10,000 and up, and unfortunately some people are even threatened with having to sell as they can not afford the tax.  When the Boss retires and we hit the road we will actually get about a 75% monthly break on the same value house based on what we are looking at.

Of course I have a couple of comments and a little story.  Arkansas had a rule that property could only be re-assessed every 10 years.  And guess what, someone actually at least did a freaking drive-by.  In Texas it is done at a desk with not a clue as to the condition of the property, and is then combined with some voodoo to arrive at a magical number.  According to the research property taxes in Texas have gone up $20 billion over a decade.

So now the story.  When Bill Clinton was governor of Arkansas he raised the driver license fee to something like $25.  It was not much, but instead of just bitching and moaning the voters got together and voted him out.  End of story.  A lesson he learned as he never lost another election which got him to the White House.  It seems in Texas this insane property tax is nobodies fault, well I call bullshit.  Trust me, if the voters would rise up and vote out all incumbents no matter their party affiliation things would change.  It is a simple as that, but obviously folks like whining and moaning better than taking action.  If we keep doing what we are doing we will keep getting what we are getting.  Thats the way it works

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Not much else on my mind today.  Just have to see how long this break lasts but it will depend on how much progress I make on my projects.  If you get a chance to go fishing hope you catch a few and have a great day.  And it won’t be long before I am back on the water.  So keeps stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

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FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

I was not really planning on going but decided to fish today and then take the weekend off.   Probably spend it hoping the wind dies, we do not have any big fires here in Texas, and gas prices fall..  It is awfully dry here and it would not take much.  And to the fat chick at the stoplight this morning who cracked her window and tossed a butt – Are you freakin nuts!  Crazy world we live in.

Weather

Windy, hot, humid, sunny and did I say windy?  And it did not dissapoint!

Lake Level

Tuesday   96.30 msl.   Today   96.22 msl.  (The lake is falling fast and we are losing our cover.  Nice while it lasted.)

Bite Times

Major   10:31 am until  12:31 am.

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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I got to the lake before the dude got there so had a 10 minute wait.  It was cracking daylight, at the ramp it was dead calm, and it stayed that way until exactly 9:30 when it started to blow.  The lake is really falling and we are about to lose all the good cover.  The spawn is probably over except for a few stragglers, and with it falling like this they are on their way out.  But there are still a few left to catch shallow, and it was fun doing it.

Throw the 4″ Pearl Knockin Tail over the right bush and hold on.

Of course started with the buzzbait and got plenty of bites.  Unfortunately they were all small and not even sure a good one ever took a pass at it this morning.  After 3 places with only small fish it was time for a change.  I had downsized to the 4″ from the 5″ to more match what they are eating.  Still using it on a 1/4 ounce swim bait hook and 15lb line.  I headed to a great patch of cover, one of the few left as the lakes falls, and had the best bite of the morning.  By using the swim bait hook and then skin hooking the hook it is possible to wallow it through cover and the bite is usually an adventure.  The one above smashed it as it came over a bunch of trash.

Should have been throwing it earlier.

From that point on until quitting at 12:00 I just alternated between swimming the 4″ Pearl Knockin Tail and the swim jig.  As the fish start pulling out the swim jig should came on, but I only caught 2 on it.  But most of the time it was the swimming the 4″ Pearl through cover, which kept it interesting most of the morning.  From blasting it to barely touching it, each bite was different but almost all came next to something.

And one on the swim jig with a 4″ Honeydew Knockin Tail trailer.

This fish came off my “swim jig” bank.  Usually post spawn they move to it, it has deep wood, and they rest up.  She was right where it was supposed to be and will be pitching it with the 5″ watermelon stick worm soon.  I did catch one small on it, but only threw it at a couple of places.  It was hard to put down the Knockin Tail, my kind of bite.

The first one of 9 smalls on buzzbait.  Another keeper on the Pearl Knockin Tail.

If you note the guts on these girls they are all post spawn.  So the fishing is rapidly changing as we head toward the summer pattern.  For you ledge guys they should be starting to gang up some.  Lots of folks were out today, plenty of crappie fishermen and they are still catching.  Funny how they all fish several of the same spots, one of those first up will catch them. But the highlight of the morning was the 2 best ones smoking the Pearl Knockin Tail.  I would have definitely boated a few more better fish if I had started with that and stuck with it.  While this will probably be the end of the real shallow bite but it sure was fun while it lasted,

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First up was this morning was the gas station.  The boat was needing a drink, but acted more like a juice freak at an open bar.  It had been 5 trips to the lake since I filled up so I was real interested in not how much I used, but how much it costs.  The punch line:  21 gallons = $83.00.  And since I just put $50 in the truck looks like it is costing about $27.00 to go to the lake a trip.  It is up about 100% and you can feel it when you put that much in the tanks.  Not sure what can be done about it but I do know this fact:  “There were record profits for the first three months of this year.  Profits for Exxon Mobil, Shell and more also rose by billions despite significant costs of exiting operations and/or investments in Russia amid war in Ukraine.”   I am pretty sure it was Shell who had the all time record profit for one quarter.  Hope this is not the new normal.  (Funny how as I typing this I have the financial channel on and they are discussing oil.  And one petroleum expert says high prices from the oil companies is “because they can.”

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The last month has really been a good run, but I am starting to get bored.  Next week it will be at least on day on the bay wind or not.  It won’t be long before POC gets real busy so want to spend a few days working on some Knockin Tail stuff.  It has really saved my spring on the bass and it is time to work over the trout and reds.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines