FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My Coast Outdoors

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Until I checked lake levels I did not have a clue it had been 3 weeks or so since I fished.  Time flies when you are not having fun, but finally getting a handle on the house stuff and the new glasses.  Next up is deciding on a relator and it will be interesting to see what commission they will be asking after the lawsuit loss.  There are a couple of other options but time is ticking down and I want to get it all organized by early October so I can make a run out to Colorado, and we are both getting real excited about the move.  Plus, I want to do a little fly fishing before the snow flies.  As far as tomorrow is concerned just have to be there at daylight and see how it goes.

Weather

70/88.  Sunshine and clouds mixed. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. 1% chance of rain.

Lake Level

Today 96.87msl.    Three weeks ago 97.65 msl.

Bite Times

Major  11:29 am to 12:29 pm.  (Only relevant time period.)

************The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

Starting at daylight it was blowing about 15mph out of the north, the watercolor was great, and interestingly enough the water temp was in the mid 80’s, which was a significant drop.  Glad I had the light raincoat in the truck as it was actually just a hair cool, and boy am I glad we are headed that way.

First up was buzzbait as it has been a go to bait for me in September.  But only a couple jumped on, and several missed it, one I caught barely pulled it under.  They just would not commit.

Here they are, better than nothing.

I hunted and pecked around and just seemed like I could get anything going with a crankbait and even plastic, though the wind was a little tough and never did settle down.  It finally cleared, as did this old brain of mine.  Over the years as it clears like this and the wind blows just right time for the spinnerbait.  I may be slipping just a little, happens to us old guys but I haven’t forgot the good stuff!

I have said it many times before but when a good one crushes a burned spinnerbait it is a sight to behold.

The first cast a small one jumped it and I knew it was going to happen.  The hot bank was a mid slopping bank behind a tree line (Where I assumed they summered.) with the wind blowing across it.  The bait of choice was a white 3/8th tandem spin with a silver #5 willow run right below the surface making a big wake.  And they flat blasted it, not a miss.

They were just crushing it.

This was a fatty.  Big or small they are sure well fed this year.

The smallest of the run, which happened over about a half hour.

It was one of those runs where I am glad I had the net out.  They were full of piss and vinegar and wet my whistle for tomorrow morning.  Then disaster struck.  They were really on and I had the next bank all planned out in my mind when the Boss called about 10:30, and sort of ruined my day.

She had jury duty and had scheduled the week off just in case.  She was set or Monday and it got cancelled and then they set her for a trial on Tuesday when she got a text it was cancelled.  She was free and clear and said lets go have a little adult entertainment.  Since we had a couple of days comped I headed to the ramp, put it on the trailer and off we went.  But we are back and I am really looking forward to the morning.

There is no telling if the pattern will hold, but the weather looks good with clouds first thing then clearing.  When that happened is when they started, and it happened to be just a little before start of the minor.  But with the fish concentrating on shad there is a good chance that bite will continue.  Waking a spinnerbait is both a good spring and fall pattern.  The real difference between spring and fall is spring is more of a reaction bite because they are up, fall they come up in bunches on certain banks and it is a matter of finding the right one.  So we shall see how my choice goes in the morning but it won’t be any trouble waking up.

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While I have a few things that need doing tomorrow it will be fishing and more fishing.  All fishermen are optimists, and I can hardly wait.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

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Football

Last week the Hogs beat the snot our of a nobody, then after a great first half went stupid and ended up losing to Oklahoma State in double overtime.  Really a tough loss.  A&M did this week what the Hogs did last by beating the snot out of a nobody.  Hard to make a judgment on them until next week.  On the other hand, Texas just beat the crap out of Michigan, something rarely done.  Just shows what can happen once the cheater is gone.  And Colorado played, or not, against Nebraska and their real colors came shining through.  They are past overrated.  And finally, Norte Dame is just a pretender.   So it was a good weekend of college football and cannot wait to see how the pros do.

How about those Cowboys.  They played an almost perfect game and the defensive plan was spot on.  And the Houston Texans play a fairly good game and both teams will be in contention.  I did see a comment on Dak signing his new contract that now the Boys are guaranteed to not be in the Super Bowl for the nest 4 years.  But no matter what it was a good weekend on the gridiron.

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FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My Coast Outdoors

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I finally was able to get back on the water.  The trolling motor has given up the ghost which meant it would be some trolling but at this point I just want to get back on the water.  This being dizzy is not all it is cracked up to be.  Plus the Boss ordered a fish fry and it turned out to be a catching kind of day.

That is a big white bass for Coleto Creek

The wind stayed steady at 15+ all morning.  The water temp was 88 – 90 everywhere I fished and the color is great.  It drove me a little nuts as it stayed fairly cloudy all morning and it looked like a bass kind of morning.  But oh well, will solve the trolling motor thing tomorrow.

It took me a while to find them but once I did it was game on.  They were on a flat, near a drop where the wind was blowing across it.  It ended up that the fish, and of course the shad, were bunched up in 12 – 14′ of water.  They were pretty tightly bunched and it was several doubles during the bite, the only problem most were bass.  There were plenty there mixed in was a few white bass, which is what I was trying to catch,

See this size?  I could not get away from them.

The bite was full on from around 9 until 11:00.  I was able to catch 4 white bass for supper wading through the bass.  But the bass were actually a pain in the butt.  I showed you the bass above because the future for Coleto looks good.  The 13″ers were fat and sassy and there were lot of them.  I was using shad color baits, one ran 10′ the other 8′, about 60′ behind the boat.  The fish did not seem to have a preference as to which one.  And as usual the best speed was 2.3mph.

Today was a make due with what i had, which was trolling.  It is all about not being a one trick pony.  There is a world of fish out there and just as many ways to catch them.  And anytime I can knock off 30+ in a couple of hours is a good day.

************The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

I tend to rant every time I hear some blow hard politician start talking about selling our public lands.  If you will remember I said we have to watch them because it usually involves rich folks making bank while “stealing” our lands.  Now DeSatan the governor of Florida, has proposed adding golf, pickle ball, tennis, swimming pools, etc to some state parks.  From what I read he was “working” with Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.  Told you so.  We should never let them get their hands on public lands; they cannot be trusted to do it for our benefit.  And now the employee of the state parks who broke the story has been fired.  If they were not up to something tricky, why would they fire him?  Looks like the project is dead but you can never take your eyes off any of them.  Plus there is all the gold courses we need in this country.

Park passes while getting more expensive every year are still a good deal.  Where folks who enjoy the outdoors, maybe the family just out for a hike with the kids, can still do it relatively cheaply.  And remember we are the ones who paid for them in the first place.  If a state wants to start a park with golf, pickleball, or any other sport have at it.  But do not use our outdoor lands for the rich to make more money.  In most cases it is the only outdoor area often available to folks and it needs to stay “the woods.”  And speaking of outdoor conflict in this vein pick up a copy of Texas Monthly and read the story concerning the Devils River.  It is enlightening and a well written piece on the issues with competing stake holders.

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Looks like life just might be back in business.  After being dizzy for a month or more, then patching one eye so I could at least not be so sick, I finally picked up my new glasses.  They are taking just a little getting used to, but I can read and type, so things are looking up.  I have not driven yet but the lake is calling me and if all is good tomorrow I should be at the lake daylight Thursday.  Trust me, double vision is tough, and I am glad to wave it goodbye.  And on that note just had a physical and all good surprising enough.  (Not sure they don’t have me confused with someone else.)  Getting old is not for the weak.

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Got the trolling motor issue fixed and now a couple of days around the house then finally some fishing next week.  About done painting what needs to be done for the sale and actually got some stuff packed and organized in the house.  One advantage of already having the other house is a slow move which will be done way before we hit the road.  But for me it will be some fishing next week as the weather looks good and the fish are biting.  And I will get back to weather, level, bite time to go along with the report.  So sorry for the absence but keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

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Hell Getting Old – No ads this is personal.

I wish I could say that there was some big reason I have not posted/fished in a while, but it ends up being exactly that.  My vision has been acting up the last few weeks leading to me feeling sick and somewhat dizzy, reading making it even worse.  I hoped things would settle down, but it just slowly kept getting worse.  I just could not figure out why I was sick.  Being dizzy 24/7 is flat ugly.  First, we did a covid test which was negative, next up was make an appointment with the eye doc and a follow up with the regular doc if need be.

Well at least we know it is my eyes.  (Fourth cranial nerve to be exact.) Turns out I have double vision, and it is permanent.  Looks like it will be corrected with some coke bottle glasses which I am going to order as soon as I finish this.  I know it could have been worse but it ain’t all that much better.  But he seemed to be fairly confident that it would fix the problem. (If it doesn’t will just patch one and wear a contact in the good eye.  I have spent enough time on the water to be a pirate.) Until I get the new glasses it will just be a matter of living with it.  Trust me, double vision is the pits.  As an example, it has taken me twice as long to write this.  But life goes on, you either roll with the punches or put on your big boy pants and keep on living.  A least patching one eye will let me live my life until the glasses get here and I can get back to living.

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Unfortunately, the punch line of all is I should probably not be driving or wobbling around in a boat so until the new glass come it will be doing a few things around the house to continue to prepare for the move.  But the fish are calling me and since the temp has finally started to fall I will be itching to get back out there.  And it is only a month until I trek back to Colorado for some fishing and photography.  The rut should be full on by then and I love watching them spar not to mention some fly fishing on the river.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

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Scam

Every election year the issue of what to do about public lands (There is no real issue, they are just fine.) comes up and it is Republicans who are again suggesting that federal public lands should be turned over to the states, or more insidiously sold to private citizens, meaning their rich friends.  I would vote against Mother Teresa if she made this proposal.  It is nothing more than a land grab by and for the rich.  And even if returned to the states they do not have the money or resources to manage them so again what will happen?  Sale to the rich.  Every citizen in the country owns a share and it is not the property of money-grubbing politicians.  Time to rein in the folks who currently lease public lands, it is not their land.  To the whole bunch – Who the f’ do you think you are?  It is our land not theirs.

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Looks like there will be a debate in September.  Trump is waffling and the Democrats want to tweek the rules, all common posturing in an election year.  That will all be resolved one way or the other as it looks like it will happen.  Trump continually calls Harris stupid, so says mister “I know lots of big words”.  You better be prepared to use them.  But when it comes down to brass tacks an experienced trial lawyer who has prosecuted plenty of scum bags and argued before appellate courts will obviously have a leg up.  So, it remains to be seen if Harris is stupid, but time for Trump to put everyone else’s money where his mouth is.

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Hamas

They just found 6 Israail’s hostages shot to death in Gaza.  And I am willing to make the following prediction, the women held hostage will never be release alive.  How did i come to this conclusion?  One of the Palestinians’ who was captured said the following about his taking a young woman hostage:  I raped her and then my father raped her and then he murdered her.  Keep in mind he and his father are not members of Hamas.  It is pure nonsense that everyone who is not Hamas is an innocent combatant. If you think the animals who took the women hostages have not already raped and will kill them to cover it up you have another thing coming.  Hamas and supporters need to be wiped off the face of the earth.

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And last but not least is what in the world is folks’ interests in other folks’ personal life?  Somehow when other folk’s choices do not align with yours it does not make your opinion right.  In fact, if you are that interested in others sex life you might be the weirdo.  America is about freedom of choice, how we have come to the point where others choices are your business is nuts.

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FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My Coast Outdoors

The Boat

I was going to let this slide but it has been sticking in my craw.  It is rare folks admit something that makes you pause the minute it comes out of their mouth, but in this case both ends of it admitted something that just does not pass the smell test.

I bought the new Lund from a dealer and as far as the basic transaction it was fairly good considering all the other boats I have bought.  (Though one interesting note when I mentioned using a fuel additive, he said don’t it might void your warranty.  Dude Mercury sells that product and if you read the book you might know the answer. Amazing how often folks make stuff up.)  So while it was not seamless by any means that is not the point of this post.

A week after I buy the boat Mercury has an ad on Facebook saying get a longer warranty with a new motor.  Don’t remember exactly how much but it was a couple of years anyway and I qualified.  So immediately call the dealer and say what is the deal?  Can you check on it for me?  He says he does not know anything about it but will check.  Well guess what?  Not according to the Mercury website that says they are part of the program.  He promises to check on it and of course no immediate response.

I call back a little over a week or two later to check and he has no idea.  So the salesman puts me on hold and goes to the owner and comes back with the following;

“We normally jack up the price of the boat to cover the additional warranty.” 

Think about that for a second.  Is he telling me he screws Mercury or just me?  He then tells me we will give you the deal anyway.  Good, that seems fair.  Afte a while when I had not heard from him about what they did I figured the best way was to just check with Mercury.

When I speak with them, I don’t say anything about the issue, just ask what do I have on the motor?  She tells me and I am good with it, the dealer did what they said they would.  At that point I tell the story to see if Mercury gives the dealer something and they were trying to screw Mercury or me.  But unbelievably I get the following response from the Mercury representative:

“He should not have told you that.” 

WTF?  Does that mean you know they do that and it is not a real promotion?  Is it really no skin off Mercury and your ad is just “saying.”  If memory serves me, I even asked if they give the dealers anything and she said no.  So what does this all mean?

Looking back on it I can’t get past both answers from the dealer or Mercury.  While nothing is illegal in anyway about what I learned it does not speak well of the character of either party.  The way the ad reads it is a promotion.  Buy a motor and get an extended warranty.  So Mercury is good with that practice by dealers?  And the dealer either just blew it off or is clueless about a Mercury program in which they are listed on the Mercury website as a participant.  But the dealer basically telling me we would have jacked up the price of your boat seems kind of squishy.  So you decide what you make of all this.  I call foul on both.  Let the buyer beware, but I am not sure who to watch, apparently it is both.

************The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

Sorry there is not fishing to report but I wanted to put this out there.  Boils down to you can not trust anyone and I find both parties to be slimy.  But with that said it will be back on the water Monday.  Unfortunately, I have cabinets to paint and a few other things to do the next few days.  The Boss is going to be gone which would normally mean I would be heading somewhere to fish.  But duty calls and I will be responsible no matter how much it hurts.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

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FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My Coast Outdoors

The best laid plans often do not work out, it is what makes fishing what it is.  While I did get the Boss her fish fry, the topwater fishing left something to be desired.  Though I caught 5 in the area with the shad it just was not quite what the better ones are looking for.

5 of this size first thing on the Bang O Lure.

Weather

76/96.  Sunshine and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible.  Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.  (Basically dead calm all morning.)

Lake Level

Today 97.65 msl.  Monday 97.64 msl.

Bite Times

Major 6:49 am to 8:49 am.

************The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

It was just cracking daylight as I pulled into the cove that had all the shad yesterday.  I was not sure it was quite the right place and it turned out it wasn’t.  There were plenty of small bass in there but as I have found the “good” places where the better ones eat the topwater are more isolated points with grass and deep water nearby.  But since the plan was to fill out the fish fry order and quit before I roasted alive I stayed in there and caught 5 on top and missed a couple.  Which was less than stellar but it put me where I needed to be for trolling up supper.

She loves fresh catfish so here you go.

A couple of weeks ago the fish were just not on their usual summer haunts but it seems they have moved in.  Still running shad looking crankbaits that run about 10′ deep with 75 feet of line out.  The best speed seems to be around 2 mph or so and today most of the fish and shad I was seeing were in the 13′ to 18′ on break lines and underwater points.

The only white bass this morning.

I quit counting after boating 15 which were mostly smalls.  For some reason the white bass are still eluding me, and it was only 1 today.  Same with the blue cats, but  like yesterday one did jump on and will be the guest of honor at supper tomorrow.  Coleto has produced lots of blue cats for me both trolling and then in the spring on swim jig. I will give them one thing, when they bite they usually jump it pretty hard and thanks to their rubber lips they stay hooked up.

And the bass made the fish fry trifecta. 

Around 10:30 the white and cat were in the cooler and I needed one more.  I was hoping it would be another white or blue but when I caught the bass above it was time to call it a day.  Maybe the wind does blow 10 – 15mph sometime during the day but it sure has not been doing that before noon.  It was almost dead flat calm today and combined with the humidity and lack of clouds it was flat hot.  And if I have learned anything about the Coleto parking lot is by pulling straight in instead of backing in to park the truck is in the shade, which makes it so much better when you call it a day.

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The next day or two will be doing a few constructive things around here.  The weekend forecast is crazy hot, and I am so ready to be in Colorado.  But with that time to finish the kitchen cabinets.  After installing latches and repairing the drawers a coat of paint will do them good, and keep me out of the heat.  The Boss will be visiting family in Iowa this weekend and with the moon full I just might do a little night fishing.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

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FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My Coast Outdoors

If that is not worth getting up for what is?

Though I had a few things to do last week about half the reason I did not fish was it was so hot.  Today was no improvement but it turned out ok.  It was not fast by any means but once the trolling started it was consistent for 2 hours and the only reason I quit was it got freakin’ hot.  The water temp was 91 – 93, fairly clear, and it was flat as a pancake with very little breeze.

Weather

77/95.  Partly cloudy skies. High near 95F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph.

Lake Level

One week ago 97.65 msl.  Today 97.64 msl.

Bite Times

Major  6:00 am to 8:00 am.

************The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

Biggest of the morning.  Hand to hand combat getting her out of a tree.

I started off fishing the Bang O Lure and it produced 4 bites and 2 came over the side.  Though it has slowed significantly if you find the right point with grass and some deep water close it can produce a big one, and it almost did today.  I went to twitch it and it was hooked on itself and so made a big ruckus on the way to the boat and one rolled on it but did not get hooked.  Tossed it right back in there and she ate it under the surface and took off.  While I thought she was hooked I never actually set the hook and she pulled off.  To bad it was a good one.  The last few trips the Bang O Lure has gotten bit by a good one each time and tomorrow or the next day looking forward to fishing what I found later.

The Bang O Lure doing some work.

From about 8 – 9:00 tossed the watermelon red trick worm with a pegged 3/16 slip sinker to deep wood.  The first one came on a tree in about 10′ of water, the next was the one above that came off a really deep tree on a wooded point.  A classic place to get bit.  It was the only good one today and it took a little rasslin’ around to get her out but it made the morning.  Until…….

Finally, a white bass trolling.

The plan was to troll down lake, but on the way I stopped on a deep bank and tossed the worm some when I saw shad breaking with some chasing in the mouth of a big cove.  Easing over there bass were breaking in small groups and the locator was lit up with shad.  One that jumped right next to the boat while being chased was a threadfin a little over an inch long.  I tried to make the perfect cast with the Bang O Lure but it was just a hair to big so out came the small crankbaits and the bite was on.

And a ton of these on the troll.

The bass bit until I quit at 11:30 and it was nice to boat a good white bass and finally a good size blue cat.  Unfortunately, I forgot the camera this morning and some of the phone pics did not come out but suffice to say while it is hard to estimate how many bass jumped on, but it was at least 15 easy.  And they were hammering it.  Some would have measured but most were in the 12 – 14″ range.  But they sure are fat and sassy.  I found some in another place that is one of my go to trolling places but the interesting thing was the cove that was full of them.  Can’t wait to give them a go at daylight.

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I am very happy that by closing the comments it has completely ended the spam.  Of course, not hearing from folks is not great but I will give it a couple of weeks and turn it back on.  That crap is computer generated and once it starts it has been impossible to stop but at least I do not have to mess with it every day.  Thanks for sticking with me.

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Looney Gilmore

Not sure how old these are but Looney used to come by my store in the early 70’s.  A real character he was a traveling lure guy.  In those days you actually had suppliers calling on you and bringing lures and supplies.  He made tons of different lures including the first wooden Devil’s Horse, (At least the first I ever saw.) including a wooden one for peacock bass fishing which was a brand new thing then.  My buddy Tom has these and there are not many in existence, especially in the package.  Not exactly sure as it was 50 years ago but I believe he invented the Devil’s Horse and sold it to a Louisiana company.  It has been a staple in bass fishing for decades and still is.

One thing about living in North Arkansas in the early 70’s it was a time of innovation including the first real bass jig, the Sam Welch jig.  One year we had real high water and my friend Buddy Meador wanted his Rebel minnow to slow sink to keep it next to the brush longer, so he experimented with solder on the trebles and actually invented the first suspending jerk bait.  During that period we took the old red Ambassador and put bigger handles and changed the gears to get a 5 .0 retrieve, we were the shit.  And when we got the first Fenwick graphite blanks it was a game changer from fiberglass.  Then the first Lew’s Speed Spool appeared, and it was on.  From the Ranger cigar style boat to the Champ and big V’s boating was changing constantly.  Heck my first graph was an X15 which was a paper graph like a lie detector.  Who would have guessed it would lead to all this.  It was a time of innovation and I am glad I was there.

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Going to take a look at tomorrow’s weather because I want to be on that cove at daylight the next day or two.  It just might be a good Bang O Lure bite first thing.  It seems it lasts about an hour of a little more but when it is over it is done.  Then I will troll up a fish fry for the Boss when she is done with a 4-day rotation.  I might drive her nuts at times, but she will tell you, I am a fish frying fool and she loves eating them from the water straight to the pan.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

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FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My Coast Outdoors

This Only a Test

I am really sorry to have to turn off the comments on the blog but the scum who continue to spam me are getting worse.  It is so irritating and of course the blog host wants to charge me $$$ to try to block them.  I do this for the love of the sport and will miss interacting with you but will leave them off for a while and then turn it back on and see if they are gone.  And the government can easily fix the issue no matter what they say.  When they can find a black hooker who my client says did the murder just from her cell phone useage 5 states away do not tell me they cannot fix much of this.  So while I will be fishing next  on Monday I wanted to post this and see what happens.

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Since I was gone until July, I had no idea that the crane had been stuck on the Coleto damn since Memorial Day.  Thanks to Steven for letting me know.  Can’t wait to see what they are finally going to do about it.  Maybe they are just going to leave it but no matter when they decide to do something it will be spectacular if I was guessing.

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Funny how I just wrote about folks in their “mom’s drive it to the shopping mall SUV” who drive like idiots in the mountains.  They are not made for that and if you drive it like you stole it good luck.  Now the Park Service has issued a warning letter to a Subaru driver after driving his on a marked 4wheel drive road.  Folks, AWD is NOT 4wheeel and your momma’s SUV has no business on roads like that.  Many of the roads like that have rocks bigger than your little Subi.  Assorted penalties including a fine up to $5,000 can be levied and no one will be impressed if you have to be rescued.  And trust me your wallet will not be impressed either.  If you want to drive roads like that buy a vehicle that will handle it.  Tourons come in all shape and sizes and driving your yuppie SUV on 4wheel drive roads qualifies you as a touron.

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The bears are really active in the South Fork area.  There have been multiple sightings both in South Fork and upper and lower Alpine.  According to the last poster the one in Alpine is a moose.  And I really enjoyed the picture of the guy drinking out of the hummingbird feeder.  We carry our bear spray on hikes and are careful at the house.

Thanks Sarah, I stole this from your Facebook page.

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So thanks for hanging in there with me.  Just have to see what comes as usually as soon as I post a new one it begins.  Hope it ends it and I can get back to reading your comments.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

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Don’t Let the Door …………

Lately I commented on the divisiveness of both extremes of the political spectrum.  From the Squad to the Freedom Caucus types I believe neither represent most of the folks in America and I got a little validation of that perspective.  Cori Bush, a vocal member of the Squad, just lost her primary to return to the House.  A pollical action group that supports Israel spent a ton to get rid of her and it worked. (I am no fan of political action committes and corporate donors to elections but it is the reality today.)  She then showed her true colors by threatening them, a poor loser taking a page out of the Trump playbook.  She appears to believe she owns the job.  Instead of taking her loss graciously she revealed herself to be a vindictive “biotch”.   Good riddance you waste of taxpayer money.

So how did my opinion on her and others on both sides of the aisle get vindicated?  By reading the comments on the article and there were many.  Almost every one of the hundreds were from Democrats saying the same thing I have been, time for folks who are flexible and will work across the aisle to get things done.  This country is made up of regular folks who care about food, shelter, work and their family.  The infighting has to stop and hopefully this election the fringe element on both sides will be reduced and things just might get done.  Who does she think she is?

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FOX NEWS – You cannot make this stuff up.

“If you know Minnesota well, and I know it well — especially Milwaukee — it’s changed,” she said during her program on Wednesday. “It has never recovered from 2020 and it is not the same place.”

Laura Ingraham

No shit Ms. constantly spouting off Pompous ass.  It is either one of two things; She is making shit up, not uncommon for FOX, or her knowledge of geography means she is as stupid as she looks.  We all make mistakes but when you are paid millions of dollars to troll (Fox admitted when they coughed up $750 million they are entertainment and not journalists.) you should get something this simple right.  And my sister was stunned to find out she lives in Minnesota.

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FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My Coast Outdoors

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I have seen a thing or two on the water, but this is right up there!

Look closely.  That is just nuts!

I saw it the other day and it looked weird but did not stop, it sure looked funny.  This morning I went over to the damn on Coleto to take a look and even then it took a moment to really sink in.  It is a giant crane that was doing something and it came within a hair of going completely over down into the creek.  When you look closely it looks like the boom is keeping it from falling completely over.

Belly Up!

Sorry these are back lit but you get the point.  That thing is on it’s side with wheels up.  I  cannot even begin to fathom how they will get that fixed but I sure would like to be there when they try.  And I pity the driver, that is a nightmare but could have gone a lot worse.  There were some folks on top looking at it so maybe there is some kind of plan to get it on it’s tires.  So how long it will be there is an open question, but man what a screw up.

************The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

Weather

Way to freakin’ hot and dead calm, quit at 11:00.  It was miserable.

Lake Level

Today 97.65 msl.  6 days ago 97.80 msl.  (Visibly down.)

Bite Times

Minor 7:11 am to 8:11 am.

It was hot and so humid I needed the windshield wipers on the way to the lake.  When I got there it was dead calm and stayed that way all morning.  The thing that struck me was the water temp has gone from 89 to 94, which is flat hot.  And with the lake noticeably falling no wonder the fishing was tough.

There were a few left on the “good spot” but it was not the way it has been.

The water had fallen further out of the grass and there was no shad activity first thing.  These 2 are the ones who made the boat out of 3 topwater bites.  Unfortunately, a really big fish rolled all over it and did not get hooked.  I threw a plastic at it but guess she got a taste of the bait.  Too bad, this time of year missing a big one is probably it for the day, and today it was.  And it reinforces something I have seen for years, the big ones often come out of nowhere at a time you would never expect it.

They are definitely fat and sassy right now.

I actually spent the time re-fishing the whole bank with a frog and juat had one little one take a pass at it.  But it was clear that place and pattern is over.  From there I fished several deeper banks and isolated wood and points and caught 2 smalls on the watermelon stick worm.  I did miss a couple, but they were not thumping it.  If when you lifted up and felt something it was already too late.  It was getting hot so time to troll on the way in.

One of 9 in the time I trolled.

‘Unlike the other day for some reason they were really active around shad schools.  Last trip most were in the 20’ plus range, today much of the bait was suspended over 12-15 feet, and you could see the fish below them.

Not too bad considering how tough it was.

I was trolling silver and white crankbaits that run about 10 foot deep around 70′ behind the boat at 2mph.  2 doubles jumped on, when you saw them you generally got a bite.  For some reason not a white bass yet, which is interesting as this is the time I usually get them in the summer.  The blue cats seem to be few and far between so not sure what it up with them either.  After messing around with that I called it a day at 11:00.  The weather is supposed to stay this way, but I will keep fishing.  At some point I will get off my old butt and give night fishing a try.  And to go along with that maybe run a trot line and get the Boss a catfish or two.

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The biggest reason I am here sweating my booty off is working on the house.  We meet with the real estate agent on Wednesday to get some advice on what we should be doing.  Of course we are working on the basis curb appeal and there are plenty of stuff inside to tidy up.  It all needs to be done so I can head back for a little in October which will be about the time we list the house.  And if all is good we will get it sold in December and hit the road.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

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Another Dead Hamas POS

Congratulations to Israel for dropping a bomb on the head of a Hamas piece of shit.  I have always had great respect for Israel in how they handle threats and actions against its enemies.  They have a long memory.  According to reports he was allegedly “instrumental” in ceasefire talks.  Nonsense, it could have happened at any time so too bad so sad.  So keep it up, the world is better for it.  The US should practice a little of this at times.

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Say it to my Face!

I laughed when Harris told Trump that since you are talking shit about me how about saying it to my face?   He is now backing out of the debate making up all kinds of stupid and irrelevant reasons.  Step up to the plate big boy, you are talking the talk how about walking the walk.  He is scared to debate her, end of story or otherwise it would be on.  Man, I wanted to watch that and as citizens of this country we should all want to see it.  You say she is stupid, then it should be no problem to prove it with a debate.

And I have one more suggestion how about both releasing their college transcripts.  He says she is stupid, any bets on what they would show.  And that nonsense of her not passing the BAR, the truth is she did not make it the first time like many attorneys.  The California BAR is one of the toughest in the country.  When I took it Arkansas had less than a 50% pass rate (I passed thank God.) and plenty of smart lawyers fail the first time.  It comes with the territory and trust me; he could not pass if he tried.  I will never forget the stress it causes everyone who takes it.  As I was walking down the hall scared out of my mind some woman in the restroom was puking her guts out.  Everybody the last few years is either a “Doctor or Lawyer”, just ask them.  Talk is cheap, going to medical or law school is hard.  So, Donny man up.  I mean she is “just a girl.”

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FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My Coast Outdoors

I am really looking forward to fishing the lake the next couple of days.  Some time off after 17 years of fishing it constantly is a good thing.  Now do not think I am going in without a clue, that is what looking back at this month on the blog can do.  And a special thanks to a friend who gave me some good ideas and places to start.  He is one of the best fishermen in the area both fresh and salt and is no one trick pony.  He is a credit to our sport.  Thanks.

************The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

MONDAY

Weather

78/92.  Sunshine along with some cloudy intervals. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph.

Lake Level

On 5/13/24.  97.38 msl.  Today 97.80 msl.

Bite Times

Major 6:30 am to 8:30 am.   Minor 2:04 pm to 3:04 pm.

It was almost dead calm when dropping the boat in this morning.  The water has a little tinge to it and the temp was 86 – 87 everywhere I fished. The plant arm is a little clearer than up lake but both areas are fine.  There was hardly anyone out, and the majority of those were crappie fishing.  When I quit at noon there were 3 other trailers at the ramp.

Would not want to start my day without throwing the buzzbait.

It was a little melancholy as I headed up lake at daylight.  Coleto has been a big part of my life the last few years and it really is coming to an end.  But the wind was down and it was a nice morning so I headed to the last place I caught a bunch and they were still there.  To bad I did not get the job done.  But it wasn’t all me but I did not help matters.

On that one bank only one made it to the boat but 5 took a run at the buzzbait, I lost a good one on a swim jig when I re-fished it, and I missed one on the squarebill.  They were tight to the grass on a deeper bank and while the catching was tough they better look out in the morning.  The Bang O Lure will be tied on along with a white swim jig and the results have a chance to improve.

But the real story is other than one who hit a spinnerbait on a windy bank, and he hit when I let if fall, I missed one other pitching.  But the plan was to hit a bunch of my “good places” which I did by fishing fast.  Whether a deep main lake timber point or a long channel bank I kept the variety up hoping to get a real clue.  I wanted to cover as much water and get some idea of what might work and other than that one bank, I am still clueless.

And this one came trying to troll up supper for the Boss.

The Boss is wanting a fish fry so I hit 4 places where I can usually boat a few whites along with a blue cat or two.  Today no such luck but 4 bass jumped on.  They were on a small flat sandy point in about 10 foot of water.  Other than those guys most stuff was in the 15 – 20 foot range but no bites though plenty of shad schools but the fish were sure not on them.  But it is the doldrums of summer, and I am not surprised by the results but will definitely improve on those numbers tomorrow.  Funny but when the Boss requests fish I feel pressure, which is silly but hey, time to get it done.

When returning to the mountains you can feel the altitude and it takes just a little to get used to it.  But the weather is so fine you just end up not noticing it.  Now the Texas weathr is another story.  When I quit today it was 92 in the truck and the humidity was God knows what.  This heat is a whole other animal.

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TUESDAY

Weather

78/92.  A few passing clouds, otherwise generally sunny. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph.  (Repeat of yesterday.)

Lake Level

Today 97.70 msl   Monday 97.80 msl.

Bite Times

Major 8:19 am to 10:19 am.

The plan was simple, be at that particular bank at daylight and feed them the Bang O Lure and it worked like a charm.  The hook up ratio was considerably higher, and the size was a definite improvement.  The bank was out of the wind and shaded until the sun came up.

A good start to the morning.  This was a 15″ toad.

They were on the edge of the grass and wanted it just jerked under easy and then just erratic back to the boat.  6 or 7 came over the side and about that many took a run at it.  They were eating it under the water and I missed a couple by setting the hook on the boil before I felt them.  I did make a second quick pass with a the buzzbait and did not have a bite.

This one smoked it!

I also tried throwing the swim jig up in the grass and reeling it over and out but not a bite.  Basically what is going on is a shad spawn and it is over once the sun hits the water.  A few were flipping here and there and the 2 I kept for the Boss both had a threadfin in them.  Both were pretty good size and a shallow running Rapala in the #7 should be just right.  The only thing I have not done on that bank, which I am saving for later is pitch plastics in the grass after the sun comes out.  As it is a little deeper bank who knows that just might be the re-fish bait.

The last keeper of the morning.  If you are wondering about the quality of the pictures just add the 90%+ humidity with dead calm and you get this wet stuff.

As the sun came out wanted to hit a couple of banks before it was too bright, and one jumped on at the first place and 2 at the second.  All 3 came near wood so that should tell you something.  It was probably 9:00 when it was time to do a little trolling, maybe boat a catfish and finally one did come over the side.  For 2 hours of trolling, it was only 4 bass and one small cat.  Things are really different this summer but since I have been gone it is starting to make a little sense.  So a word to the wise, you only have one chance to make a good choice for the topwater bite unless it stays really cloudy all day.

The water temp was up another degree with most of the lake 88 – 89 degrees.  The color varies depending on where you are.  I find it interesting that I have not caught a white bass.  Where I troll on the lower end it looks like the thermocline is at 20 feet.  There were some stretches where it is apparent, given the fish are all stacked up right at 20 and below.  So for the guys who fish deep 20′ looks like the magic number.

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Why in the world do some trailer companies still use trailer lights that are crap.  The ones on the Lund have burned out 3 times so I finally changed them out to waterproof LEDs which should solve that problem.  Even though the new ones are waterproof what would prompt them to include electrical twist connectors?  Really stupid.  So of course, I used heat shrink connectors with plenty of silicon diode grease to keep water from getting in.  As a plumber told me one time the only place water will not go is up a frog’s ass.  And if you have owned any number of boats, you know never truer words were spoken.

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It has been interesting keeping track of this area’s fishing while in Colorado.  A number of posts ask for recommendations for a guide in a certain area.  One thing that makes me laugh, in a sad way, is the number of guides.  On the coast it often means they have a big boat and a bucket of shrimp.   Carmine who had a restaurant in POC many years ago uttered what may be one of the great observations of all time; “There are so many guides now they have to wear badges to keep from guiding each other.”  (Remember this was over 20 years ago.)

When I did most of my guiding in the late 70′ into the 80’s it was just a small license fee and you were good to go.  Looking back on it they should have charged me a lot more.  Very few professions get provided an office stocked by the taxpayers for free.  I have always felt license fees were way to low across the board.  When I think about what I get for the cost of a fishing license it is the best deal in entertainment.  If it went up I would bitch and be happy to pay it if that makes any sense at all.

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SA JOE

Wanted to fish a day or two to at least have a clue.  Sunday I will have the Boss’s schedule and should be good to go for several days next week so whatever works for you should be fine by me.  Hollar at you Sunday.

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The boat goes in for a check and maintenance tomorrow and should be good to go until next summer.  If nothing out of the ordinary happens engines are good to go for hundreds if not thousands of hours.  Bob has a couple of crabbers who have over 300o hours and still running strong.  Taking care of your motor pays off.  They may get old and ugly but if taken care can last a lifetime.  Not sure yet where the closest Mercury dealer is but one of the small prices you have to pay for living in the mountains is not much else is close.  Once I got back to Victoria and saw the traffic it put it in perspective.

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Facebook Today – Why we live where we do!

Attention Poderosa (Our house.) neighborhood.  Be bear aware as we have one hanging around town.  The Police Department is aware and working with wildlife to determine a course of action.

This is our neighborhood and of course he shows up when we are not there.  Can’t wait to get back.  And for God sakes do not do anything, we live in the freakin’ mountains and his folks were here first.  Try not feeding him and just leave him alone unless he does something worthy of intervention.  Easy.

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That will do it for today.  The Boss has a few days off coming up so not sure what my fishing schedule will be the next few days.  But the boat will only take a couple of hours so it will be back tomorrow so not stopping that way.  But part of the reason for coming back was to do assorted house selling fixes and I need to get started on those projects.  I just renewed my domain name and the blog is good to go for another year.  Where or when this will end I do not have a clue.  But keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

GOOD LUCK AND TIGHT LINES

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VANCE

First sorry for the rant the other day and the profanity but what is wrong with that jerk? It struck me so wrong as I thought about the lives she saved and those she didn’t.  The days on the unit with very little sleep, coding a baby under the Christmas tree and on and on.  She has earned respect, and this POS not only disrespected all women but speaks for the Republican party.  Nice job alienating a zillion or two women.  And by the way, alleging my wife does not have “skin in the game” is nonsense, at least as far as the hundreds of thousands she has paid in income taxes.  Plus, the school taxes she has paid over her career.  Oh yeah, and the ridiculous local property taxes assessed by the money grubbers of Victoria County.  So go back to your couch but thanks for letting your real colors shine.  He is just creepy.  Now they have just released some emails he wrote which included “I hate cops.” and something about Trump being Hitler.  And this is guy who could end up president.

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FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My Coast Outdoors

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Our Favorite Drive

On basically the last free day of our time here we took an afternoon drive to one of our spots we see moose.  Of course, being a Sunday afternoon there were folks everywhere in the woods as vacation time is full on in the Rockies.  But it was a beautiful day, and we are just so lucky to be able to drive out of the driveway and be in some awesome country and we never take it for granted.  We did see a mule deer or two and one big ass marmot but with the traffic you cannot expect to see much.  But it won’t be long, folks will be gone and it will be on.  Can’t wait for sheep time, my favorite.

Nothing Special.

Normally this buck is nothing special, but we like seeing them all no matter the size.  As we came around a curve on one of our favorite roads he was bedded down in the mouth of a cave.  The sun was shining right on his face and his antlers were amazing looking and his background was black at the cave mouth.  When I saw him, I did not see about 5 people on the side of the road watching him.  By time we are able to turn around he got up and walked down the ridge.  And then he did something really cool; guess he got tired of us looking at him, he walked in a patch of heavy cover and bedded down.  We could not see him at all but as deer are want to do at times, he just disappeared.

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VORTEX

As we spent more and more time in the woods we realized we needed some quality optics and we got them a few years ago.  We bought high dollar Vortex binoculars and the only way to describe how awesome they are is what a friend of mine said when he used them:  I thought I had some good binoculars.  They are clear as a bell and have really improved our ability to see way too far away.  So much better than the nice pair of Nikons we still have and the quality is noticeable.

But the real punch line, we have had a little trouble with the rubber eye pieces coming off, seems the covers are a little too tight and pull the eyepiece off without us knowing it.  The first time it happened they put 2 in the mail in nothing flat.  As we have now lost both I emailed them yesterday and here is their response; Here is your work order and prepaid postage and we should get them back to you in a week.  As most of you know warranty issues can be a real hassle, but Vortex puts their money where their mouth is, no muss, no fuss and no questions.  So, if you ever consider some quality optics I cannot recommend them any higher.

No BS – They mean it.

• UNLIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY  (Damaged or defective it does not matter.  Tell me another company that does that.)
• FULLY TRANSFERABLE
• NO RECEIPT NEEDED

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WEIRD (Now not so weird!)

From the Boss on her walk this morning.  They are back.

Last week we had nice bucks cruising the backyard and plenty in the neighborhood along with the return of the turkeys, then a big change.  A few days ago the deer, which there are dozens, just up and left, and the turkey seem to have left to.  Not sure what the reason is but who knows, maybe it is time for the “gathering of the clans” up on the mountain.  One thing is obvious as it rains daily there is tons of stuff to eat up there so who knows.  But whatever the reason can’t wait to return and see them back.  Watching out the windows is often the highlight of my day as you just never know what you will see.

We love watching them grow.  Keep walking and don’t stop and they just might not spook.

And today they are back.  Not sure where everyone went but the Boss saw a bunch on her walk this morning.  Though we have to head back I will be back in time for the head banging rut, which is entertaining.  Not sure where the does are but that won’t be long either.

This one helped me get the trash can this morning.  Can’t wait for the rut and some serious head banging.

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Comments

Sorry but the spamming continues.  It has not gone away so my advice is hold any comments until I let you know it has ceased.  What a hassle it has turned into.

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Of course, I am not all that happy about having to return to Texas, but this house selling thing needs to get organized.  The thing I will really miss this time of year is the river is way down and it is wading time.  It has been so interesting to watch the river and I would be knee deep in it if I was not in Texas.  Of course, the boat will be following me home.  It just will not stop doing that for some reason.  The plan will be to make a return trip around October first with a small U Haul.  That will be the size of it, whatever is left will be sold.  I am not moving squat.  I have joked with the real estate guy the acceptance price on my end goes up $1,000 if they don’t take the stuff.  But while I am back there will be some fishing so keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

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A Few Random Thoughts

As a Honda passed us on a really rough mountain road I wondered if they really give a crap about their vehicle.  We see it every day.  No matter your make or model DO NOT drive it like the stupid commercials.  They are not made for that kind of abuse, and they love it when you drive it like you stole it.  And the new KIA commercial is a perfect example, act like that and it will be headed to the junk yard in nothing flat.  Plus what are you going to do when you are out of cell service and another car never shows?

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I could not help but shake my head when the CEO of CrowdStrike said we fixed it and it is now all good.  Ok clueless rich dude, please go to your nearest airport and face all the folks sleeping on the floor and tell them that you fixed it, and they should be thankful.  If this is not a wakeup call for what is to come, I do not know what is.  The older I get the more I realize that we need to rein in corporations, or at least make our elected reps wear patches like fishermen and NASCAR drivers letting us know who they are beholden to. Repubtard or Dumbocrat, they are bought and paid for.  Time for term limits on ALL elected officials from Pres to your local politician at the clerks office or a county commissioner.  The abuse is wide spread and the service is terrible.

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