FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

I got up this morning (Thursday.) before daylight and turned on the radar.  There was rain and high winds coming our way.  We got the wind as the front blew through but only a sprinkle.  In fact, on only one side of the truck had drops on it.  So called it a no fish day but will be heading out tomorrow to give it a go.  I hate getting up but with the way the fishing has been it sure makes it easier.  Good practice for when the bay takes the forefront.

Weather

74/96.  Partly sunny with the temperature near the record of 98 with a 1% chance of rain.  Wind SSE  8 – 27 mph.

Lake Level

 Wednesday   96.36 msl.    Today   96.36 msl.

Bite Times

Major  5:47 am to 7:47 am.    Minor 10:56 am to 11:56 am.   (Catch some of both today.)

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

It was absolutely perfect when I dropped the boat in at 6:30.  Heavy cloud cover, light wind, it just looked to good.  The lake seemed to stabilize some and the water temp has remained 80 – 83 degrees and the color varies.  With it supposed to clear off at some point and get really hot it was straight to the good spots.  Turned out to be a good plan.

Words can never do the bite justice when one this size smashes it!   Great start to the morning.

From daylight until around 10:00 I stuck with the buzzbait.  Everywhere I went, which were all sweet spots I have been catching them and they bit.  From little tiny to the one above the bite was on.  And as it has been and will until this size heads deep, she smoked it halfway back.  But others barely pulled it under, some jumped it as soon as it hit the water.  Do not take your eyes off it or you will regret it.

Another nice one on the buzzbait.  One of 4 on spinnerbait, she smoked it.

It is hard to throw other stuff when this size is cooperating.  But when the sun came out things changed.  So I switched to the 5″ Smoke Shad Knockin Tail and headed to the shallow cove I caught them in yesterday.  With plenty of cover I tossed it all the way to the bank and ended up catching 3 and missing at least that many, all about the size below.  I did have a big one roll on it but she did not like the boat.

All the Knockin Tail fish looked like this.  Here is the buzzbait, they sure like it.

With the clouds gone they slowed way down.  As it approached noon they would bump the Knockin Tail but just did not have their heart in it.  I am sure if you fished it first thing that would not be the case.  But as long as a big fish jumps the buzzbait every day I will keep feeding it to them.  I have been using the one above this whole stretch.  They finally ate the skirt off so I put it on the tying table and gave it a new look, which they seemed to like fairly well.

The real point is the fish are shallow and biting.  They can be caught on about anything right now, it is simply a matter of getting up early and choosing the right place.  Rare I actually “pattern” fish but that is exactly what is going on.  Not sure how many I caught today but it was enough.  The weather has cooperated the last month, and but this wind pattern will end.  But until then I plan on wearing these bass out.  Best it has been in a while.

When I got to the ramp I ran into Johnny who tournament fishes and he had a good morning.  He is fishing plastics and had a picture of the 6lb.6 ounce fish he caught. The plastic he is using is the same thing SA Joe used on his trip 2 weeks ago.  There are plenty of ways to skin the cat right now, so fish what you like, and what you are good ate, you will catch some.

And last the wildlife was on the move.  Saw the eagle, an osprey, a strutting turkey, deer, and a couple of hogs.  The gators were out and saw a big snake last trip.  The fish were biting and the wildlife was moving, it all works together.  Made for a great day to be alive.

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It looks like Avian Flu has been detected in a Texas wild owl.  The first case detected was in a commercial pheasant flock in Texas.  Sorry TPWD but you are falling down in your responsibility to wildlife – NOT commercial wildlife.  Both the Avian Flu and Chronic Wasting Disease apparently came to the state though commercial wildlife interests.  If that is the case I do not understand how these operators are not being shut down immediately until given an all clean.  For some reason, or should I say usually, TPWD bows to commercial interests.  (Remember the “Here is our ShareLunker fish for free” to a guy who charges over $3k to fish in his ponds.)  Why in the world would they allow ANY commercial interest to threaten the animals they are tasked with protecting?  It makes no sense.

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And speaking of outdoor projects Coleto has a few, and they are in disrepair.  Wood duck houses were put on the shoreline several years ago and now they are falling down.  They have not been repaired or taken care of since they were put in and now are nothing more than a trashy eyesore.  Another problem I recognized immediately, some of the pens for re-introducing the vegetation were put way to close to the shoreline, and some are now high and dry as the lake level goes down.  Guess no one is monitoring that.  Both projects were a good thing, but when they are not being monitored this is the result.

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And congratulations to the State of Texas for averting a veritable holocaust.   The state might have been overrun with oil wrestling, pot smoking, female Zombies from California who were making their way to a local bar to start murdering and dismembering the patrons.  They were carrying the evil weed  (Legal in California.) with them but their plans were stopped in their tracks making the state safe for all.  We are so fortunate that we were able to stop these Zombies from doing their dirty deeds in a bucket of oil for a bunch of drunk Texas guys.  I feel safer

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The Boss has some time off so not sure what will happen next.  Actually trying to get myself motivated to make a quick trip to Colorado.  There is a house we like and when you find something like that it goes fast.  So while not ready to move yet the search goes on.  Hope you all have a great weekend.  Keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines 

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

The wind was already blowing when I dropped the boat in.  The lake did not drop much yesterday but our cover is slowly disappearing.  The water temp was in the low 80’s over the whole lake and color is totally wind dependent.  In other words, if it faces the SE the wind has been pounding on it for days, but the color did not seem to make any difference.  But the point, it was blowing like crazy as the morning wore on until it ran me off at noon.

Weather

78/90.  Breezy and warm with times of clouds and sun and a 3% chance of rain.  Wind SSE  16 – 41 mph.  (You must be kidding me!)

Lake Level

 Yesterday   96.36 msl.    Today   96.39 msl.

Bite Times

Minor 9;15 am to 10:15 am.   (It was spot on today.)

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

The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

This girl came out of the water and smashed it!  Man I love buzzbait.

The Boss wanted some fish for supper tonight so instead of working my way up lake I headed right for the “good” spot.  2 bass, 14″ is plenty for us, and it should have been no problem and it turned out to be no big deal.  But early it was all small bass and I was getting worried until the one above smoked it and from then on it was game on.  The last month these are the bites I live for.  When a big bass really decides to commit it is a thing of beauty.

They were plowing it this morning.

The wind limited the places you could fish so I concentrated on moderately sloping banks with cover.  About half the bites came right on the bank but the 2 biggest fish came halfway back, which is always a stunning bite.  It can be tough at times fishing it all the way out, but I even had one come out of a bush right next to the boat, and the 2 biggest fish were way off the bank. And it was funny how this morning early it was all small and then around the prime time the good fish showed up.

Can you see my happy face?  The bite is on.

I fished a small flat cove which might have 4 foot of water in it, maybe.  It should not have been that great a place since the lake dropped but they were there, they were shallow, and super aggressive.  4 or 5 jumped on and all of them smoked it.  The wind was blowing in lightly and there were a couple of white birds in there, never a bad thing.   But the wind was not helpful today, where it was really blowing they would not hit the buzzbait.  I gave a couple of the windy places a go with the spinnerbait, and while I managed to catch 2 smalls, it was so rough it was not worth the effort.

Around noon I finally called it a day.  The bite definitely slowed down when the sun came out, and the wind blowing 30mph+ did not help, but it was another great morning.  Not sure how long this bite will last but I am going to take advantage of it until they are done.  And it is definitely time to start pitching to wood, if the wind will quit some.  But as long as it is cloudy they will bite, probably all day.  It has been a while since the lake fished this good and it has been great since the big girls showed back up after a slow year.

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I got a great crappie report and all you have to do is look in the trash can at the cleaning table to confirm that.  The guys who just left when I went to clean my 2 fish had a pretty good mess.  And then when I cleaned mine one of them had a small crappie in its belly.  Coleto has lots of nice crappie so get a few minnows and you are in business.

There was only one truck left at the ramp when I took out.  I might have seen on more boat but the wind clearly kept the crowd down.  I can imagine the effect this wind is having on bay fishermen.  It was tough today and I want no part of that on the bay.  As a side note sure wish it would calm down just a little more, it could get real “froggie”.

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Not sure about tomorrow.  The weather looks a little sketchy but if there is any way to go without being killed I will give it another go.  The forecast is for thunderstorms in the afternoon so it will be up early and see from there.  But whether I go or not I am thankful that the fishing has been so good and until they decided to take a break I will keep after them.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

The only reason I am going fishing in the morning (Monday.) is because that is what I do.  But it is hard to deal with the forecast, come on you can’t mean 46 mph?  This is starting to get ridiculous, and the forecast for the rest of the week is in this range.  Not too many years I have been in Texas have I wished for summer, but if that will make the wind quit bring it on.   Of course you can catch fish, but it so often turns into a grind.  So after that bit of whining cannot wait to hit the lake in the morning.

So I get up early and it is raining and blowing with thunder and lightning.  Looking at the radar it will be out of here a little later.  It means it will clear off and might just mess up the bite, it is an early bite for the good fish.  So I called it off for Monday and will give it a go on Tuesday morning.

Weather

76/89.  Warm with times of clouds and sun and a 25% chance of rain.  Wind SSE  14 – 32 mph.  (That 30mph just won’t go away!)

Lake Level

 Today   96.36 msl.    5 Days Ago,  96.38 msl.  (The decline continues.)

Bite Times

Minor 8:30 am to 9:30 am.   (The major is late afternoon.)

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

The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

Just in Time.

It was just cracking daylight when I made my first cast on one of my favorite big bass spots.  And I got a bite, and missed.  It happened several more times and I finally managed to hook up.  No wonder I was having trouble getting the hook in them.  So I moved on.

I could not figure out what was missing me.

The wind was blowing but not insane, and from that point on the bite was on.  It only took about an hour to figure out they definitely wanted the buzzbait.  I am throwing a smaller 1/4 ounce with a ‘white/chartreuse skirt.  They wanted it at a moderate speed and several hit it off the bank.  And today they wanted just a touch of wind, but it was not mandatory.  It was one of those days when they were on the chew and waiting until today paid off big time.

The kind of bite I live for.  She creamed it!

Can you say points?  Add some cover and a little wind and they were there.  This one absolutely killed it by flushing it in a huge boil.  That was a theme today, half of them just pulled it under, but the better ones blasted it.  Right after I caught the one above the Boss called and so I had the phone between my cheek and ear and of course got another big bite.  Unfortunately that one made an escape.  I lost several today, which comes with the territory at times.

One on the 5″ Smoke Shad Knockin Tail.  And one on the spinnerbait.

With the wind the way it was and the fish cooperating on the buzzbait it was about the only thing I fished.  No reason to look a gift fish in the mouth.  But I did get the one on the left next to a big stick up off the bank on the Knockin Tail.  That has been a pattern since the bite started in January and is worth a throw with the KTL whenever you come to one.  The other one came on a spinnerbait on a real windy bank.  And like many of the buzzbait bites it came way off the bank which was cool as I saw it coming.

A nice average size today.  They just kept eating the buzzbait.

But as you can see there was no reason to throw anything else.  Coleto has always been a good buzzbait lake.  When you get the kind of weather we have had lately it is a no brainer with a spinnerbait and buzzbait.  If we could only get this cloudy weather with a dead calm day it would be a Bang O Lure beatdown.  And on that note I did throw a Zara Spook on one bank and missed a couple, but I just kept coming back to the buzzbait.  It is catching them and I will keep feeding it to them until they change their mind.

One thing I have noticed on the lake this year is there is a big increase in folks fishing with bay boats.  The lake has been a savior when the wind is blowing and the bay would be nothing but a hassle.  This is the best bite the lake has had in several years and bodes well for the future.  This day was definitely an A.  It was a constant bite with the occasional flurry.  They are still on the flatter stuff with points being the prime location.  I basically put the trolling motor down and cover the sweet spot on most places.  Can’t wait to go again.

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Monday turned into getting the truck serviced in anticipation of the Florida and Everglades trip.  And on that front really good news, as far as the wallet is concerned, a comped place to stay for the week!  The Boss has a connection who has lived there for years and has a cabin I can use for the week.  What a score.  And with a discount on hotels in Orlando for ICAST this is shaping up as a cheaper than normal trip.  Of course that might just offset the cost of gas for the tow.  One thing definitely on the list is fishing the canals a day on the east coast.  It is not all that far from the glades and I hope to knock off two bucket list fish, the peacock and the clownfish.  Add that to several days in glades on my own and a guide trip with Michael this is looking like one good trip.

And speaking of trips the countdown is on for Alaska.  It is hard to not to get too excited this early because it is definitely a bucket list trip and now barely a month away.  We will be weighing stuff to be sure we are good to get on the seaplane for the bear chasing part of the trip.  Good thing camera weight is not considered because definitely taking a quality backup.  Salmon, trout, halibut, and anything else that decides to get on, a real chance to add multiple species to the caught list.  Fishing has always been in the doing for me, and while maybe the quality of travel has gone up, the desire to catch different fish in different places has always been the goal.  From the first time I put the canoe on top of the Gremlin in the early 70’s and drove all night to the Boundry Waters, to the next trip, it is always the same.  Put on your big boy pants and make it happen.

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Deja Vu all over again

Funny how that works.  Last week the dude acted a fool cutting a couple of us off and got busted and dang if it did not happen again.  I was following 2 Mustangs for miles coming back from Wimberly when a white SUV cut me off at the end of a passing lane.  Guess in a big hurry but a perfect example of aggressive highway behavior.  Then as we came into the next town a trooper was pulling them over.  Karma can be a biotch and that was the second time in a week that has happened.  Weird.

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So that will do it  for today.  I will definitely be back on the water, it is just down to a wind decision.  Take tomorrow as an example it is forecast to blow up to 41mph.  That is just a little out of my comfort zone as far as the bay goes.  But it won’t be long, it can’t blow forever, can it?  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Hit it early!

Weather

87/79.  Partial sunshine; breezy this afternoon with a 5% chance of rain.  Wind   SE 14 – 30 mph.

Lake Level

Today   96.38 msl.   Last Wednesday   96.55 msl.   (It is dropping fast.  We need rain.)

Bite Times

Major   11:52 am to 1:52 pm.   (And there was a little flurry then.)

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

The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

it was dead calm at daylight, the water temp was 79 over most of the lake, and there are spots where the color is not to hot.  But it is buzzbait time, and boy were they on it.  The fish are starting to move out from the back of the coves and off the beds.  The small ones are hungry and beat up, but they sure were willing.

There are tons of this size and they were aggressive. 

It was funny bite early with them softly pulling it under, but before the sun came over the horizon they started smashing it.  And I had my chance.  I went to turn the boat around and go the other way after a little point and of course I made a cast and the big one smoked it and I was so out of position that I lost her.  A couple of things on the buzzbait bite:  Never look away and do not give up on it until it is close to the boat.  You just never know.

The just kept smoking it until the sun got full out.  

Plenty of this size but after losing the big one I did not have another big bite.

I am using a 1/4 ounce chartreuse and white skirt buzzzbait reeling it with a moderate retrieve.  We are slowly losing our cover but if there is some on a point and going in to a cove you would get bit.  Not sure there was even one bite back in a cove.  The majority are done spawning and feeding up.  This should continue for a while, and as long as you get out early there is a chance to smack a big girl.

Of course, as the morning went on the wind came up.  I switched tactics and went with the spinnerbait and only managed one small so time for the 5″ Knockin Tail in the Smoke Shad.  It took me a little to find the pattern.  For some reason they were not on the windy banks, which makes little sense, but as we all know fish do what they want when they want, end of story.  But I stuck with it and ended up boating 8 on the KTL in the last hour I fished.

One on the 5″ Dinero Knockin Tail.

 After having no success in the wind I switched tactics and headed to a main lake bank that had little wind but stumps, and they were there.  Over the next hour see a stump, catch a fish.  While nothing to big, there is a pattern there, and it might be better for the bigger fish early.

A couple on the 5″ Smoke Shad.

They wanted it just out of sight, the closer to the stump the more likely the bite.  I am using a 3/16th swim bait screw lock hook, and if you mount it right the hook is just out of the body.  Since the fish were on banks with no real trash the hook can stay out, but if there is still some stuff I skin hook it.  It was funny today in that when they started hitting the 5″ KTL they were just bumping it, and of all things when it got to the prime period they were eating it.  When I finally lost the Smoke Shad there was another rod already rigged with the Dinero color which they seemed to like it just fine.  Location. location, location.  I have never been a swim bait guy but I am learning.  And all I have to say if you have not added the 5″ Knockin Tail to your arsenal you are missing out.  It flat catches fish.

The days grade is a B, and if I had boated the big girl it would have been an A.  For the next month they will be feeding up to recover from the spawn.  Lots of them are beat up, amazing how they get injured like they do during the spawn.  The only complicating factor is the water is dropping fast and much of the good cover is out of the water, and much of it I fished today was not the ticket.  But no complaints today, anytime you can boat 25 in a morning it is a good day.  And when combined with yesterday on the bay it has been a good couple of days.

Not sure what is next.  Looking at the forecast into next week it is kind of disheartening to see the wind is forecast to blow over 30 mph every day.  Can you say sick of it?  But all is not lost as the next real trip is only 6 weeks away.  We are headed to Alaska for 20 days on a bucket list trip.  King salmon, rainbows, float plane, halibut, chasing brown bears with biologists, and more.  This trip has it all and I am starting to get excited.  And then if it works out I will be working ICAST with Michael in Orlando, then off to the Everglades.  This will be the last big tow to south Florida.  I have made that trip many times and it invokes visions of jumping snook and tarpon.  Trust me they will eat the 5″ up!  Looks like it will be a great summer all the way around.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines 

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Ouch!  In anticipation of heading to POC in the morning I decided to gas the boat and pick up a gallon of oil.  First up, $80 to fill the boat, then $42 for a gallon of oil.  Add the cost of driving down there and it is not a cheap trip.  It will be interesting/sad/instructive to see how the cost of boating affects things.  When you combine that with the reduced trout limit who knows how that will all work together.  In the end the wind will quit and folks will fish, it is what people on the coast do.  I am a perfect example of someone who just does not like fighting the wind.  But I finally cannot take not going to the bay because of the wind, it looks like tomorrow will be something I can live with.  Plus I have several things I want to try tomorrow so can’t wait to see how it comes out.

Weather

71/79.  Delightful with intervals of clouds and sunshine with a 13% chance of rain.  Wind  ESE 14 – 24 mph.

Tides

Low 8:14 am.  0.45 ft.   High  2:16 pm.  0.85 ft.

Bite Times

Major  11:09 am to 1:09 pm   (Only relevant time.)

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

The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

Heading our from Froggies the first thing I noticed was the water color sucked.  And most of the places I fished it was not all that hot.  But the real issue, the wind.  The plan was to boat fish today so first up was my favorite topwater bank and a keeper red jumped on the 2cnd or 3rd cast.  But the problem turned out to be the wind, which unfortunately was blowing on all my old favorites so it was put on the big boy pants and fish.

Could not get the whole fish in there.  She smoked it!

It was real apparent in about a half hour that topwater was not happening.  So next up was trout fishing with the 4″ Purple Demon Limetreuse Knockin Tail on a 1/8th ounce jig head.  With the wind it was tough to keep in contact.  It did produce a small flounder, and 5 trout with only the trout below any account.  I will admit it took me a little to start getting the hook in them.  It is just a thing when you have a high cross wind.  There were basically just there without a “real” bite.

A bonus flounder slow rolling the 5″ Pearl Knockin Tail.

Then I made a good decision, head to the Oil Cut, one of the few places you can kind of get a break from the wind.  One of the things I wanted to work on today was getting the hang of slow rolling the 5″ Pearl Knockin Tail in the salt.  No doubt it would catch fish and it did.  I put it on a 3/16th ounce 4/0 swim bait hook and fished it on a steady retrieve.  The bites I did get smoked it, and it was cool to see the biggest red eat.  One of those “Did I just see that?” bites.  And in the same area a really nice trout rolled on it next to the boat but did not eat.  Keep fishing the 5″ and it will happen.

I watched this one eat it.

The best bites were when the water was out and just starting to come up and the reds were cruising the bank.  I can only guess the hurt I would have put them today without the wind, it was way tough to see them.  I missed several of course, including one that knocked a foot of slack in it.  Without the bow in my line that one is in the boat.  But at least I was getting bit and they were good fish.  It has been several months since I fished the bay so I am happy with the results,  but I won’t be returning until the wind starts quieting down.  If it is not fun I will pass.  The days I have to work my ass off to catch them is over.

The first red came on the Spook Jr.  The best of the 5 trout that fell to the 4″ Purple Demon Limetreuse Knockin Tail.

It was definitely a struggle today and I would not exactly call it fun, it was definitely a grind.  And the one thing I really wanted to try, more on that later, just was not happening.  But the more I fish the 5″ Knockin Tails the more fun it is.  It definitely catches a little bigger fish no matter the species or the water.  The 5″ Knockin Tail is going to catch some big trout on the wade, as soon as we get out of this big wind weather pattern it is going to get a serious work out.

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KARMA

One thing about heading to POC before daylight is you get to travel with the plant traffic.  You see all kinds of nonsense, the best I can tell some folks must be late.  Courtesy is not happening and it is more like a NASCAR race.  But this morning karma reared its ugly head and it was a thing of beauty.  I was following a guy with a trailer and as we got ready to exit on to the highway Mr. hot car blew by me and squeezed between us.  As the truck in front of me got on the highway Mr. hot car stomped it and pulled in front of an oncoming SUV.  Bad move as the officer lit up Mr. hot car.  Could not have happened to a more deserving dude.

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I don’t mean to whine, it was a good day.  A couple of the reds were good fish and fought like only reds can.  And the trout were just one the “wrong windy” bank or it would have gotten re-fished.   Add a couple of flounder and you have a slam.  Next up will be the lake, the wind is forecast to blow 15 – 30mph and there is no way I am fighting that on the bay.  As soon as the top number gets to 20 or less I intend to get after the bay before everyone and their brother gets here for the summer fishing.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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Since Michael started a Knockin Tail Lures Group group on Facebook it has grown leaps and bounds.  What I like about it is seeing folks with their catch as the Knockin Tails spread around the country.  We have seen everything from muskie to snook to reds.  It is a real testament to the bait and the fish that are being caught. I always rag on one trick pony fishermen, well one thing we can say about the Knockin Tail, it is not a one trick pony.  So if you are on Facebook look it up and see what folks are catching.

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This has been the craziest no rain weather we have had in a while and it sucks.  We so need rain and as I have watched the radar for the last 2 days it seems whenever it gets close to town it just misses us.  Last night it finally poured, for a little bit, and then it was gone.  Meanwhile everywhere close seems to have gotten some rain.  Then this morning, and right now as I watch, the radar has rain all to the north and west of us, but it just dies out when it gets to Victoria.  And to make things even better there is a small craft warning on the coast.  Crazy spring so far.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of spending most of the day at the cardiologists.  No clue I was getting the full 100,000 mile check up.  The whole thing was prompted by an occasional missed beat.  So over the last week I have been prodded and probed and low and behold there is nothing wrong with me.  Maybe to much caffeine, sorry that is not under discussion.  At 68 no meds, no problems, I can live with that.  When the cardiologist called the Boss she accused me of putting him up to it.  Enough of that, suffice to say I will be on the water in the morning.

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

TPWD raided a San Antonio restaurant and found 381 whole shark fins and another 29.2 pounds frozen.  This is particularly egregious as they know good and dang well it is illegal.  Time for the judicial system to keep up their end of the bargain.  The restaurant knows it is illegal and know who they got them from.  All methods to hold everyone accountable should be used.  Close the restaurant and pursue the suppliers and then prosecute the whole lot of them.  Time to end simple fines for this behavior.  This is intentional conduct and should be prosecuted as such.  I am so sick of TPWD giving tickets to folks who have a short fish, or maybe forgot to renew their fishing license and then serial commercial interests continue to get off with a slap on the hand.  (This has nothing to do with our wardens, they are doing their best to protect the resource and I applaud them.  They did their part now the system needs to do theirs.)  But it is indicative of the leadership at TPWD.  We have got this all wrong, commercial interests should be held to a higher standard, from fishing guides to deer breeders to oystermen. The resource belongs to all of us, and as a society we have been kind enough to let them use it to make money, with that should come a higher standard of behavior.  Break the law, face losing your profession.  Simple.

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Ed sent me this comment.

Congratulations on the posting. And doing something that you love and have the ability to share with others is phenomenal. I find myself checking my email to see if you have posted and where and what the fish are biting. Keep up the great work and I’ll continue to keep checking my email.

I am constantly humbled by this type of comment.  It really has sustained me over the years when I get tired of writing, or that it seems readers get tired of it.  So, I soldier on.  I am, and always will be a fisherman through thick and thin until the day I die.

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Then a similar comment from Windfred.

Keep posting and we will keep reading. Enjoy the insight and real reports you print

What I particularly appreciate about your kind comment is “real reports”.  That is, was, and will always be the plan.  Plenty of online bragging reports but in the end do they share any information?  Tell you how and where they did it?  You just do not see too much of that.  I try to include enough information that a person can actually catch a few, about all I can do without taking you there and telling you where to cast.  And the other part of “real report” is  how often do you see reports where the guy admits he did not catch squat?  Comes with the territory when you have a blog.  I try to keep it real.  Good to hear from you.

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And I got a thing or two from SA Joe.

I talked to a guy in a nice shiny new looking skeeter as he was leaving the lot, must be staying in the campground. He caught a 7lb bass on Tue…

That is the way it has been and why I say it could take 2olbs to win on Coleto Saturday and if big bass was 9lbs I would not be shocked.

He sent along a picture of one of the good ones he was catching.  If you look real close the answer is right there.

After he left the lake he dropped me a note saying he had a great day and caught a bunch of fish on a speed craw with dipped tail.  He finally called it a day after he got tired of fighting the wind.  So congrats on a good day.  Thanks for the report.

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With the trip to Oklahoma over the weekend, then the last thing on the medical list, it has been a week since I fished.  You would think that the retirement thing would be some kind of endless fishing heaven.  The real world does not work that way, why everyone does not bow to my fishing schedule puzzles me.  Guess they don’t fish.  For at least the time being I am back in control so back to the fishing.  Keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

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Off Topic Legal

(Before you get your political panties in a wad this is not about the ruling, this is about the Judge.)

The judge who just struck down the mask mandate has an interesting history.  She was appointed to the Federal bench for a LIFETIME (Which needs to stop.) when she had only been out of law school 8 years and had never even tried a case.  The national BAR makes recommendations on every appointment, and in her case she was not recommended as qualified for being entirely to inexperienced.  In my opinion the process failed.  I do not give a rats ass which party you belong to but there are literally thousands of highly qualified attorneys and this unqualified attorney who has never tried a case got nominated for purely political reasons, obviously not due to her legal experience.  Is this what you want from either side – unqualified judges?  Sure you do, until you are in front of one.  It is not supposed to work that way.   In other words it was complete bullshit.  You get what you pay for.  (And guess what?  We are personally glad the mandate is off!)

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FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Getting this together so it is ready to go after I fish tomorrow (Tuesday) has me reflecting on the fishing the last couple of weeks.  Every once in a while, you get on them and I am on them.  Of course, it really helps when they are up and on the chew.  Unfortunately, the water is dropping during the spawn, enough that it is visible everyday.  But they are persistent, and the bite has stayed consistent, make the right move at the right time and the big one can happen.  I hope it is cloudy tomorrow and there is a big cove or two that is out of the big blow just enough to fish the Knockin Tail 5″ Smoke Shad swimbait.  It just might produce a real one.

Weather

72/79.  Periods of clouds and sunshine; breezy in the afternoon with a 7% chance of rain.   Wind   ESE 15 – 38 mph.   (For God’s sake quit blowing!)

Lake Level

Today   96.55 msl.    Monday   96.58 msl.   (The water level drop is becoming serious. We need rain badly!)

Bite Time

Major   4:14 pm to   6:14 pm.     Minor   9:01 am to 10:01 am.

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

The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

They did not like the air temp drop and add in the full moon and it really slowed down the bite first thing.  It had them slightly off their feed but I stayed with it and got my reward.  So while it was a little tougher, when you are catching fish like this hard to really call it tough. Where most had been just pulling the buzzbait under today they were blowing up on it, and lots were missing it.  The small ones, and they were most prevalent, ended up being hooked in the head, under the jaw, among other places.  Always thought the one in eye must hurt!

When one this size smokes a buzzbait it is a thing of beauty.  She has definitely not spawned yet.

The wind was blowing pretty good when I put in at daylight and it picked up from there.  It was blowing out of the north and as the morning wore on it slowly turned to the ESE and really started blowing.  When I quit it was white capping anywhere it could get up a head of steam

The only other good one on a buzzbait but it was not the fish’s fault.

Today there was no particular place any better than any other.  I was getting bit from smalls but the style of bank that produced the big bites was all over the place.  Some in coves but most today on outside stuff.  And the whacky bite had me missing some really nice ones, and I lost several.

And the spinnerbait did it’s part.

I threw the 5″ Smoke Shad Knockin Tail and ended up losing the biggest fish of the day.  It was right on the bank and I never felt the bite and did not catch up with her.  This might be one bait best thrown on braid.  The 2 big fish I have had on it neither smoked it, they just ate and swam and the braid might help feel it a little better.  Several others nipped at the tail or would swirl on it.  It seemed like that was the state of the bite all morning.  I have a feeling they are on the bed bigtime, and as I do not fish bedding bass I rarely even looks for beds so do not know for sure.  The moon was full last night and on the way to the lake as it started to barely crack daylight you could see it slowly clouding up, which probably had as much to do with the flakey bite and anything else.   I definitely lost more good ones than I landed today, and while plenty of smalls jumped on it was just a little tougher for me today.  But the fishing remains good and I have no complaints.

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There was a couple of things happening in the outdoors besides the fishing.  The turkeys up lake were having a gobble fest, which surprised me.  And I saw a covey of quail, the first I have seen in Texas.  Reminds me of my old hunting days, not the best shot but when a cover flushes at your feet it is always exciting.  Speaking of flushing at your feet there was an analogous situation this morning.  I was on a calmer bank throwing the buzzbait when all of a sudden a big ass, and I mean big, gator boiled right behind the boat.  Scared the crap out of me.  Plenty of small gators chase the buzzbaits but that is the first time I called a big boy in.  Just a little close for comfort.

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

When I got to the ramp there was a note on my windshield from SA Joe to give him a call.  He is one of my long term readers and decided  to make the trip from San Antonio to fish.  And as it always is there is more than one way to skin a cat.  He caught 15 on the first  bank doing something exactly opposite of what I am doing,  He is fishing a speed craw on light line and catching them right and left.  Once it left the grass they were jumping it.  The only real difference is no big fish.  As it so often does this time of year it comes down to what do you like to fish?  Fish your strength, it will serve you well all year round.

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The Coleto Bassmaster tournament is on Coleto this Saturday and all I can say is put on your big boy pants.  It is going to take some serious weight, and 20lbs+ would not surprise me.  As we all know timing is often everything in fishing and with the way it is right now someone will smash them, it would not surprise me if it took one in the 9lb range to win big bass.  Almost makes me wish I still fished tournaments.  But on that note hope someone revives the Wednesday pot tourney, I will definitely be up for some of that.

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It has been a good run but like all good things it has to come to an end.   But that is all on me.  Some medical stuff the next couple of days, then the weekend with the grandkids so it will be next week before I am back on the water.  After looking at the forecast, which is for high winds the next 4 days it is a good time to take a break.  In the perfect world the wind will finally start laying next week and I can head to the Gulf.  The new 3 1/2″ and 5″ Knockin Tails are burning a hole in my tackle box.  The small one should be a numbers getter, and I expect to catch a sea monster on the 5″.

I want to take this time to thank all of you who have remained with me over the last 12 years.  This is my 1,531st post, that is a lot of posting.  I never in my wildest dreams did I think it would last this long.  The people I have met and the new friends I have added to my life makes it all worth it.  Everytime I begin to think this has a real shelf life I get renewed and on we go.  And when the fishing is like this it is easy to keep going.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Not sure why I put today’s conditions on yesterday’s ramblings, just goes to show I was looking forward to fishing today.  And I was not disappointed.   And today added another pattern, or at least a method, to catch them.  Today they bit from first thing until I quit at 1:00.  3 baits put fish in the boat today and each had a place and time.

Weather

60/88.  Mostly sunny and very warm with a 25% chance of rain.   Wind   ENE 12 – 27 mph.

Lake Level

Friday   96.62 msl.    Today   96.58 msl.   (The water level drop is becoming serious. We need rain badly!)

Bite Time

Major   3:17 pm   to 5:17  pm.     Minor   8:16 am to 9:16 am.

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

The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

The water temp was 78 degrees at the ramp and over most of the lake with the wind pounding right on the ramp.  The forecast was for wind and while it did blow it was not quite the hassle it was Friday.  And while it was windy in most places there were some areas with less wind, and some places out of the wind.  The 3 baits that produced were the spinnerbait in the windy areas, buzzbait in the ripple, and the 5″ Smoke Shad Knockin Tail in the calm water.  First up was buzzbait and they were biting.

When this size smashes the buzzbait on top you know you had a bite!

More buzzbait fish.  It was good first thing.

A bunch jumped on the buzzbait and they bit until the wind really got up and the sun came out.  The wind started picking up and the main lake had whitecaps.  The best areas for spinnerbait was a good ripple but not on the banks the wind was pounding on.  Like the buzzbait the spinnerbait produced a consistent bite.  Coves were best as long as the wind was not blowing directly in.  And like it has been the points to about halfway back in the coves seems to be the best location.

The best of the spinnerbait fish.

I just kept covering the miles with the spinnerbait until I decided to give the Knockin Tail swimbait a try.  After ignoring anything but the spinnerbait for a couple of weeks today the plan was to fish the buzzbait and then the swim bait.  I rigged the 5″  Smoke Shad Knockin Tail on a weighted 3/16th swimbait hook and did not bury the hook leaving it exposed.  The plan was to throw it to the bank but fish it slow and steady way off, and it worked.

Got to see this girl eat the 5″ Smoke Shad Knockin Tail.  Cool Bite.

The best place for the swimbait was areas with little wind, in fact the first 4 I caught came from a bank that was totally calm.  It took me a while to get the speed down, which was a moderate and I was running it out of sight.  I did see several hit it or roll on it, and before I quit it was an easy dozen bites.  It was 6 on the Smoke Shad and I definitely lost a couple and missed a couple more that I would caught later.  Real potential right now to boat a big one on the 5′” Knockin Tail.

The another one on the Smoke Shad.

After fishing moving baits like the spinnerbait and buzzbait it took me just a minute to get the hang of the bite.  It was similar to a swim jig but less feel when reeling it in.  Moving out even farther off the bank I started getting bit by a little better fish.  I might try a little heavier swim bait hook to be able to reel it a little faster and retain a little more feel.  But no matter it is a third way to catch them on the lake.  The plan would be to fish spawning coves and hope to whack the big post-spawn female who can not resist the rattling Knockin Tail.

This morning was another good day.  It has been a while since the lake fishing as been this good and I intend to take advantage of it while it lasts.  Anytime I can boat an easy 20+ in a morning with a healthy limit if I was tournament fishing is a good day.  Looking at the forecast it is going to really blow on Wednesday so I will drag this old ass out of bed early again and get one more day in before I have to be responsible.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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Okay, I know you are sick of hearing about the wind.  Well, here I sit on Sunday afternoon looking at the weather planning for the week.  And for the next 4 days we are talking over 30mph every day!  It will not stop me from going to the lake but it does nix the bay where it will be up to 30 mph and more.  I am just not interested in the pounding coming back.  And no complaints anyway as I plan on trying to feed a big bass the 5″ Knockin Tail.  Plus this period on the lake will be over soon and it is time to take advantage of the bite.  Once the spring bite is over, it is over.  The trout aren’t going anywhere.

Weather

60/88.  Mostly sunny and very warm with a 25% chance of rain.   Wind   ENE 12 – 27 mph.

Lake Level

Friday   96.62 msl.    Today   96.58 msl.   (Amazing how often lakes get a drop during the spawn which does not help a lick.  We need rain badly!)

Bite Time

Major   3:17 pm   to 5:17  pm.     Minor   8:16 am to 9:16 am.

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

The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

And speaking of trout a couple of the best trout fishermen I know had a little something to say about trout fishing since the freeze. One said it just isn’t what it used to be, and this guy catches big trout most of us just dream about. The other intends to start freshwater fishing more.  Both agree the numbers are down significantly.  So let the big experiment begin.  Hopefully the 3 fish limit will replenish stocks by time it ends in August 2023.  And my compliments to the guides who are going with the flow and giving the trout a rest.  I do think an interesting study for TPWD would be requiring guides to keep a log of their catches/kept and comparing it to the rest of the fishing public.  The numbers would sure be instructive.  And think that is to much “work”?  We the citizens provide you your office and your product to sell, not many industries or professions like that so it doesn’t seem to much to ask your to let us know what you took.

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Waking a Spinnerbait

I had a couple of interesting question and I realized while I have been talking about spinnerbait fishing, I left a few things out so here is the basics.  These are based on 50 years of fishing spinnerbaits and I am set in my ways, it is not just tossing and reeling.  And my experience in the “old days” on the clear highland lakes serve me well to this day.  But remember most of this pertains to waking a spinnerbait, a very precise technique in application and time of year.

First let me say you can catch them fishing it slow, buzzing it fast, or anything in between, day or night.  As an example I have caught bass over 9lbs slow rolling it on Falcon, and in that range buzzing it on Coleto.  And as long as you have fish less than say 20 feet it is possible to catch them year round.  For me it is the spring time buzzing that gets my blood running.

When it comes to baits there are plenty of options.  I keep it simple.  As the bite this time of year is a true reaction bite, you are tying to entice a big bass to explode on it without thinking.  This is generally a clear water pattern, you want them to come for it so it is also  a shallow water pattern.  As far as blades my preference is a tandem spin with a #2 Colorado or round blade on the front and a #5 or 4 willow blade on the back.  Whether a 3/8th or a 1/2 ounce the most important factor is does the bait run straight up and down?  When the fish looks up it should be one streaking “shad” under the wake made by the blade right below the surface.  I can not stress how important it is to keep it running straight.  If you think about it this is the small version of smoke trolling for marlin.  Same principal.

As far as the wire I am a big fan of a lighter wire on the bait.  Part of what makes it so enticing to good fish is not only the flash of the blade but the vibration, so the finer the wire the better the vibration.  I want to feel it “pulling back” as I crank, which is what ends up making it work.  And at times a trailer or trailer hook might be appropriate, just depends on the conditions.

In Arkansas those lakes historically have little cover so a couple of things come in to play.  First, a trailer hook will catch a few more and there is little to get hooked on compared to say Coleto or Falcon, on Amistad I use one all the time.  But when we talk about trailers, plastics, that is another story.  Going back to rule one the bait has to run straight and most plastics want to tilt it to one side or the other, plus it is not the kind of “drag” you are looking for.  Again using Arkansas as an example, due to the clear water the addition of a trailer increases the profile and action.  When trying to call the from deeper water it helps.  A thin twister style trailer is the biggest I use when I do, but when you are slow rolling and bottom bumping a craw style plastic is fine.

When we are talking about buzzing speed can kill.  So let me tell you how I do it.  First, from the time I cast until it hits the water I switch the rod to my other hand so that I am reeling the minute it hits the water.  As soon as it gets to the top I slow it down, not slow but steady quick.  Why?  The problem with a high speed reel, as in 7 plus, reel it to fast and it will pop out of the water.  Occasionally you will catch one that way  (Generally fall.) but it is not the plan.  You want to get it on top making a wake and then keep a steady pace.  This is no hop and drop or shake thing, this is a fleeing shad.  While most come close to the bank what makes this style of fishing so fun was reinforced this week when several big fish blasted it closer to the boat  (See above.) than the bank, I got to see them eat.  To make a really big bass expend that much energy to eat is what it is all about.

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I continue to feel ambivalently about the forward-looking sonar and other variations.  I fully understand it for guides and hard core tournament fishermen but for the average fishermen it seems to take some away from the outdoor experience.  While watching fishing Sunday morning one of the guys was talking about using it and said the following:  “We will just stare at this all day.”  That about says it all.  What about the alligator eating the duck?  Or the big bucks fighting?  Or a killer sunset?  The older I get the more I realize it is just not all about the catching.  Do I want to catch a bucket full?  Of course, but there is a lot more going on in the outdoors than staring at a video screen all day.

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Congratulations to Colton Knipling, Chase Blackwell, and Colton Blackwell, Team Everlast, the Team of the Year in the Saltwater Legends series tournaments.  Basically 4 months of working their tail off this is an epic performance and is a credit to their hard work.  When you consistently put trout over 8lbs on the scale in all weather and under stressful conditions you have earned it.  They should be proud.

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Of all things I have a couple of friends contacted me as they are looking for a boat.  Of course you regular readers know I look at them constantly, often daily.  And it is still tough out there.  The price of used, especially 15 year old and up is high.  Now in some cases no big deal, others no way.  When looking at older boats the company reputation and construction techniques, as in NO wood, combined with the ability to have it refurbished and repowered can justify a higher price.  Both guys need something for fresh and salt, which always involves compromise.  If it is going to be used in the salt then that takes precedent even if used mostly in freshwater when deciding what to buy.  Right now the best plan seems to buy a quality manufacturer and go from there.  I will keep watching.

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I will fish a couple of days this week but do have some things to do.  Medical issues a day  (I have avoided the medical community as long as I can.)  and then off to Oklahoma City to spend some time with the Grandkids.  They are getting bigger and we are getting older.  Funny how it works that way, so we want to start spending a little more time with them.  Not even a guess how tomorrow will go on the lake but at least I will have a rod in my hand.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

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FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

I still am amazed at what happened yesterday.  To have a big bass, several of them in fact, literally smash a high speed spinnerbait before your very eyes is what keeps me casting.  When it happens all I can think is did I just see that?  Did that really happen?  All the while having to get the hook in them or it is over.  And as active as they were it was no easy feat to get them to the boat without messing it up, or just having them come off for no reason.  So with those visions dancing in my brain it will be on the water before the sun.  Can’t wait.

Weather

73/84.  A shower in spots in the morning; otherwise, more humid with clouds breaking for some sun with a 59% chance of rain.   Wind   SE 12 – 27 mph.

Lake Level

Today   96.62 msl.    Wednesday   96.67 msl.   (Amazing how often lakes get a drop during the spawn which does not help a lick.  We need rain badly!)

Bite Time

Major   12:42 pm  to 2:42 pm.

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

The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

The Right Place, Right Time, Right Technique

No big ones today but I have absolutely no complaint as there was plenty of good ones.  The bite is on and I have the technique down pat.  There is no way to guess how many come over the side today but as an example, hit one bank and catch 5, next one 2, then 8, it went on until I quit.  There is a stone cold pattern and they were smoking it.

It went like this all day!

There was lots of folks out today and it had absolutely no effect on what I am doing.  Most of the time I am the only one fishing those shallow banks, it is not every shallow bank, though it seemed like that today.  And that is when the spinnerbait bite is on, when they are on the flatter shallow places where they will react to it way off the bank.  Today the wind was light, it remained cloudy and the water temp was in the high 70’s.  The fish are in all stages of the spawn, from done to just getting there.

They were chasing it down and eating.

I bought a few new spinnerbaits and before the morning was over one finally broke.  I kept it right below the surface, quick but not fast if that makes sense.  Today most smoked it, others barely pulled it under.  And it seemed like if you caught one another was coming next.  Of course, a couple of nice ones made their escape, but no big deal when you are getting bite after bite.  It felt like the “Old Coleto”.

They actually tore up a brand new spinnerbait.

A couple of the better ones came off wood of some sort.  One even came off my magic tree which I normally flip.  Up lake you can just leave the trolling motor in the water and keep on rolling on the shallow side.  Add a stick up or two and you are in business.  I fished up both arms today, definitely trying new stuff, with most of it having at least a fish or two.  In the final analysis it is a combination of the bass spawn happening with the shad spawn combining to create a great bite.  And don’t forget the white birds, they are there for a reason.

You get the point.  I quit because my hands were about to give out.

One thing about what I am doing it is not only hard work but also timing.  Some years it is not this good.  Also, right now there are plenty of options when they get like this.  Probably my 2 next favorite is the pink trick worm or a frog.  Both allow you to get your cast close to cover and the bites are easy to detect in their own way.  I have been so hung up on buzzing the spinnerbait there are several things I want to try, and next week I am going to give my arm and hands a rest.  Though it is work when they are on it there is no cooler way to catch bass.

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The last couple of weeks has given me hope for the lake.  It has had its moments both good and bad after we lost the grass.  Now there are plenty of small fish to go along with some real good ones.  Seems it is a healthy balance, now if the new vegetation takes hold it bodes well for the future.  Monday I hope to head to POC for the day.  It looks like the wind will be ok and folks should head home after the weekend.  Hope you have a good weekend, the lake was busy and the wardens are out.  So now is a great time to be sure your boating stuff and trailer is up to snuff.  Just do a simple walk around it just might save you a buck or two.  Keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines