FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

My buddy Chago sent me this and you could have knocked me over with a feather.  Since Coleto lost its “grass” it has not been the same lake.  It was sad to see the decline but maybe there is hope after all.

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I have been surprised a time or two but this is one of the better ones in a while.  It can turn the lake around in a short time.  I have been critical of TPWD at times, but nothing but props for addressing what was is a real problem. So a big thanks to TPWD for addressing this in a big way.  And to the participants, Coleto Bassmaster and Bass Nation , your work is appreciated and will change the future of the lake.  For you younger guys who want a career in fishing or the outdoors here is your chance.  And to the rest of you, leave the stuff alone, the future of the fishing is at stake.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

So follow my thinking.  Tomorrow looks good with clouds, Wednesday it will be literally unfishable. Thursday off to Cedar Park for car service, then by Friday the weather will be settled down and it is going to hit the 40’s at night soon.  The day looks good for salt or fresh, but the river and creek can only get better as soon as we get cold nights.  It is the lake tomorrow and then salt on Friday.  We shall see if that is the right choice.

Weather

75/87.  Mostly cloudy and humid with a 11% chance of rain.   Wind SE  9 – 15 mph.

Lake Level

Sunday  98.35 msl.   Today  98.34 msl.

Activity Times

Minor  12:50 pm to 1:50 pm.    Major  6:00 pm to  8:00 pm.

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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After catching them right along the last few weeks I was due to have a tough day, and today was it.  What makes that “interesting” is I could not have asked for better weather for bass fishing.  It was pretty foggy dropping the boat in before daylight.  But it worked out ok, as I idled up lake and got to a grassy point just right.  There was no real change in conditions other than the front that is bearing down and my hopes were high.

Today other than jumping one really nice bass that came unbottoned, and 2 or 3 smalls, they were not having the spoon and Knockin Tail.  Several rolled on it early and just did not eat, they were definitely not aggressive like they have been.  So picked up the buzzbait and had a great bite on a point.  But it became clear, the type of places I have been fishing just did not have them today.  The only thing I did notice is the bait was not in the grass for whatever reason.  I stayed with the buzzbait for a while an caught 2 more, and then it just seemed to quit.

This one crushed a buzzbait!

From that point on it was alternating between the buzzbait and the Knockin Tail and spoon, with neither doing to much.  The clouds began to clear just a little and the wind started blowing out of the south at a good 15.  At this point it is slow, just a bite every once in a while.  So time for a move.

And it went downhill after this one.

I headed back down and then up the plant arm, stopping and fishing what I thought was good places.  Swim jig, Bang O Lure, and spinnerbait all got a good go.  Fished deep banks and shallow, grass and wind, they just were not up.  Even pitched a deep bank with heavy cover, but either I choose wrong or they were just not there either.  So at 2:00 after fishing hard I called it a day.  At this point I have fished 7 out of the last 9 days and I am feeling it and though this was the toughest day, no complaints.

Trying to make sense of today is tough.  Perfect conditions, catching them right along in several places, it should have been a butt whipping.  The last couple of weeks I was having trouble even getting bit on buzzbait.  Guess looking back at the pictures it would have been a little better this morning if I had just threw the buzzbait, but no matter what I was just convinced it was going to happen somewhere on something.  That is what makes fishing what it is, you just never know.  Will be off a couple of days then back at it.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Weather

74/91.  Partly sunny, very warm and humid with a 3% chance of rain.  Wind  S 7 – 12 mph.

Tides

High  12:46 am  1.34 ft.   Low  12:09 pm  -0.12 ft.

Activity Periods

Minor   11:03 am to 12:03 pm.   Major  4:18 pm to 6:16 pm.

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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I was not surprised that the creek was off color and the water temp was 75 degrees, way to hot for good winter fishing.  The tide was up and other than barely moving out, it never played a role today.  First up was my favorite bank and while it was slow, it was not a bust.   Being dead calm and foggy did not hurt anything.

This was a great bite!

On the way down I stopped at one spot and caught one and missed another on the Mansfield Magic Knockin Tail.  It was the hot bait last winter and will be so again.  Not sure why they like it in creeks and rivers in the winter, but I do not look a gift horse in the mouth.  The fishing was slow and it was clear they are not in there in mass yet.  I saw a red or two moving shallow so I basically fished topwater the first hour or so.

A spinnerbait red on a Clearwater Knockin Tail trailer.  And on one on the Mansifield Magic.

I stuck with the topwater early as it was dead calm.  It was not fast but occasionally one would take a run at it, including the best I could manage today.  Several reds came after the topwater, but if they did not get it within a foot or so of the bank they would not eat, so time to switch to a spinnerbait.  I love the Strike King Redfish Magic, but I change the body to a Clearwater Knockin Tail.  By gluing it on it stays on much better than the original and that particular Knockin Tail has additional flash to go with the rattle.  They just plain like it and it is still one of my favorite bites.

 This good trout smoked a topwater.  And what the rest looked like.

The topwater bite was over as soon as the sun came out.  So from that point on until quitting at 1:00 I just alternated between the spinnerbait and the Knockin Tail on a 1/8th jig head.  It was just one here and one there, mostly small.  But at least they were biting a little but it did not help that the water did not move.  Checking on a couple of other go-to spots would produce a bite or two, but I never did find the big bunch.  They were scattered on no particular type of bank.

It is not time yet, until we get a really cold night or a series of nights it will not be as good as it will get.  It is one of those things that when the time is right, go, it will be over soon. Just like all fishing patterns, fresh or salt, they do not last.  But I caught fish so no complaints.

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And this comment from SA Joe on the Louisiana trip.

Keep me in mind if there is ever an opening with you guys let me know….Not sure about those sharks in the water. Will have to bring a knife with me, pistol????

Might be cheaper to get on the charter, than my dream trip of going to get some Peacock Bass in the Amazon…

I can guarantee it is a whole lot cheaper than the Amazon, the Boss actually looked at a houseboat trip there and it was not cheap.  All the boats that go to the islands are about the same price and it has ended up about a grand for 3 or 4 days of fishing with all meals and boats included.  I have said it before and will say it again, it is the best deal in fishing.  And what are a few pesky sharks?  Actually it is cool to see them cruising the flats.  While I am not sure they will all give up the way mine did, but as long as you can see them coming you should be able to keep your legs!  Thanks for commenting.

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And he also dropped this comment on the river being so high.

You mentioned the Guadalupe Flooding… Well most of it came from Lake Placid up here draining. This is the 3rd lake to drain on the Guadalupe river. They let the gates down and couldnt get them back up when the rains came 2 weeks ago….

Well that must explain it, when I crossed it yesterday it was still high and muddy.  But in the bigger picture we needed the rain and the lake is at pool, so it is not all bad.  I am really looking forward to the lake this year if it stays up.  The bigger fish are much harder to come by but the numbers should be off the chain this spring.

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Tomorrow will be the 7th day of fishing out of 9 days.  The weather looks really promising,  We will see temps in the 50’s Thursday night and the 40’s Friday night.  Give it a few days and there should be some real improvement in the fishing.  But Wednesday looks really sketchy, staight from the forecast: “storms can bring damaging winds and a tornado.”   Ok, guess I will not be fishing Wednesday.  So before I go to bed I will decide where I am fishing tomorrow.  The forecast is for clouds, so the lake is calling.  Keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Thanks for the picture Nate!

I am rested up and chomping at the bit to get back on the water.  Tomorrow morning the cleaning lady is coming so I will actually be on the lake at daylight.  While fishing on the weekend is not my preferred fishing time I am so interested in the current water level and conditions so off I go.  This is my favorite time of the year and I intend to take advantage of it.

Weather

72/88.  Partly sunny, warm and humid with a 25% chance of rain.   Wind S  8 – 13 mph.

Lake Level

15 days ago 97.53 msl.   Today  98.35 msl.

Activity Times

Minor  11:03 am to 12:03 pm.    Major  4:18 pm to 6:18 pm.

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

The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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Who Knew?

It was still dark when I got to the ramp.  You could easily tell the lake was up almost a foot.  The water color turned out to be less than optimal from the ramp to up lake.  The temp started out at 79 degrees and was 84 when I took out at 1:00′

Spoon and a Pearl Knockin Tail put the hurt on them this morning.

Since they have been eating that Knockin Tail and spoon in the grass seemed like the right thing to do, and it was.  I ended up boating 8 on the first bank, and it went from there.  It was dark when I started so time to throw buzzbait until it got light and 2 smalls jumped on.  I specifically fished that bank so I could turn around and re-fish it with the spoon and Knocking Tail.  And it worked like a charm.

Lots were smalls but the average was fine by me.

They are shallow, and I mean most that jumped on today were in a foot or so.  The advantage of that bait is you can throw it all the way to the bank no matter how shallow and get it back out without hanging up.  The most important thing I have found is the Knockin Tail needs to be trailing straight or slightly up.  If it is down it ruins the action of the spoon, which you want to wobble like it is supposed to.  Speed is just below the surface and hoping it over the occasional isolated bush so be ready.  Every once in a while it will simply disappear.  Once straight it is perfect with the Knockin Tail ratttling along, today they were eating it and the first couple of hours missed very few.

Several this size, the rest smaller.

I wish I could tell you exactly where they are but right now when you get bit it is either several, or not another.   Of course one will jump on near a point, but they want a little water close with big grass areas.  You can almost toss it on dirt and get bit.  They bit right along until around 10:00 when the sun came out and it slicked off.  Not sure how many I  caught (15 or 20.) but it was plenty good.  It was good fishing and bodes well for the rest of the week.

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And here is the report from my readers trip with Capt. Howie which was the same time as ours.

Doug, I would give you a more detailed report but it would sound just like yours! Topwaters dominated for us with the Knocking Tail a close second. We swam the jigs as well. Like you, we found them in knee to thigh deep water and caught several trout over 20″ with the biggest going a touch over 26″. Reds up to 45″ as well! Just an awesome trip and already looking to book again next year.

We didn’t have any shark problems, but saw plenty of them! First trip and it was everything I had hoped it would be! Boxed our 150 trout and 30 reds in 2 days and spent the 3rd day just having fun.

By the way, Capt Howie and DT said to tell you and your crew “hello!”. Those were some top notch folks.

Anyone thinking about going, just go! It is one of my favorite trips I have taken and I have fished all over! Fished for a week in Alaska in August and believe this trip topped Alaska!

Thanks to your previous reports, Doug, I had a little bit of a clue of what, when, where, and how.

Glad y’all had a great trip as well! We could see y’alls boat anchored up to the south of us a ways. Not sure how far North y’all ever went, but we may have crossed paths a little while out on the water.

That was definitely us anchored South of you.  My partner and I fished near the boat in the Redfish Point area for 2 days, and when I  fished with David we were up past the Southern Belle.  From a couple of pockets south of the Red Can to the houseboat cove was the main group’s stomping grounds.  I am real glad you all had a great trip.  We actually already scheduled next Octobers before we left.  It is truly a remarkable place anyway, and when the fishing is like that it goes into the bucket list.  Of course over the years I have been around a shark or two, but at least the water was clear and I won those fights.  And last, so happy you had a good time with Howie and DT, great guys and definitely Chandeleur OG’s.  And if DT likes you, you are in.  So thanks for the report, hard to describe how good it can be.

Turn out the lights the party is over, but what a trip!

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And my buddy Rusty said it best in his comment on the trip – Awesome!  He was so right.

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I can not believe how the Guadalupe has flooded, it sure was not all that due to our rainfall.  The last thing the bay needs is another ton of fresh flood waters.  At least the lake should be as clear as normal since it should not have received that much influx.  (Though once I checked it is actually up 3/4 of a foot.)  I will be on all of them this week so will just have to see.

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I spoke to a couple of guys from San Antonio who had only been here a couple of times.   They were working wood and basically struck out, catching 3.  So I showed them the pics and the bait and filled them in.  Remember, the spoon and Knockin Tail will work  anywhere, especially if the bass are on the shad like they are on Coleto right now, and of course if there is grass.

And when I was putting stuff away a boat was right across from me getting ready to put in and I had one of those encounters that says a lot about fishing.  He asked how I did, I told him, and then he said they must be deep by now.  I gave him the low down and it was clear he did not believe me, which says: I don’t believe other fisherman.  So I ended it by saying they must be deep, and he will head out and do exactly what he planned on.  Sad fishing and lying  (Or just not being totally truthful.) seem to go hand in hand.  For me it is more fun to help a brother out, just like folks did for me 45 years ago in Arkansas.

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So here is the punch line, I am not unhooking the boat this week.  The weather looks great, the fish are biting fresh and salt, and the Boss is on a long stretch.  The next couple of months is the best fishing in both fresh and salt, with creeks and rivers looking up, reds schooling up, and the bass getting that early pre-spawn urge.  Combine that with some clouds and drizzle and hold on.  It feels like I am about to get on a roll so those fish better look out.  Keep stopping in, there is going to be lots of fishing, and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

I have been in Illinois the last few days putting dad to rest at his old stomping grounds.  He was laid to rest at the old church where he spent his youth until he went off to college.  That small farming community was where we ran the hills and farm fields with my cousins, many who were there.   I had not seen my cousin Brad, who is the winningest coach in the history of Illinois high school basketball, or Jimmy, for decades.  It was one of those places you either knew everyone, or were related.

As dad was a Korean War vet, the honor guard was there and it was moving when my cousin’s son, who is still active military, requested to present mom with the flag.  (Thanks, it meant a lot.)  Then the 21 gun salute followed.  When we got to the cemetery we were surprised how many folks were there.  It was so good to see so many family and his friends from the small farming community where he grew up, all who came to pay their respects to one great man.  Friend of many, enemy of none, he was a gentleman.

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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Happy Birthday Joy

I want to wish my great mother-in-law Joy a Happy Birthday.  Hope you have a great day!

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I thought I might fish a minute or two before leaving Sunday but after being gone a month, then a few days, think I will rest up before the trip.  And since a week or two later the Austin Boys will be here and I will be gone for a few more days after I get back, then MOAB all in the next month.  Time to stay home and keep the Boss happy.  (Though I suspect she is happy to see me return, then happy to see me off!)  I am so fortunate to be able to fish and travel like a maniac, and I thank her every day for that.  But time to sit on my ass in my living room a day or two, and then start all over again.  Plus time to start thinking about packing and I am sure there must be something else I need to buy before we leave.  Tough life.

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Ahhh, TSA, keeping us safe.  So here is the deal, after the 21 gun salute we were handed the fired shell casings.  I kept 2 for my grand kids for their treasure chest I have been building over the years.  (Hey who would not like to score a treasure chest when Granpa kicks the bucket.)  After thinking it over I was unsure what TSA might do about them, so I had the motel where I stayed mail them to me in case they would be confiscated.  When I was headed in to the O’Hare airport there was a woman in the uniform outside so I thought I would ask her about it.  And as I have found on occasion, they can be rear ends but she took the cake.  The explanation was nonresponsive, bordering on stupid, and she acted like it was an imposition to even speak to me.  Not sure who peed in her Wheaties that morning, or if she is always a b*%@h, I just said thanks and went inside.  But either way I object to paying her salary.

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Our group will be meeting the DMJ Charter’s boat at Pass Christian Mississippi on Sunday afternoon to start our 3 1/2 days of fishing in the Chandeleur Islands.  The boat heads out at 1:00 am while we are sleeping and we will be fishing at daylight Monday.  As usual the BS is flying back and forth, the $1,000 pot has folks worked up.  (I told them to save the effort and just give me the bucks but for some reason that was voted down!)  With the good company, good food, and hopefully stellar fishing, a good time will be had by all no matter what.

In my case it is a little bittersweet that we will not be on board with Capt. Howie.  He is now doing 2 day 6 pack charters only, but I will always be thankful for the fishing trips on the  Southern Belle.  Howie was one of the original OG’s taking folks fishing to the Chandeleurs and I could see retirement around the corner for him.  Plus his offshore boat is awesome and I know he wants to spend more time doing that.  So check out the new boat, it is sweet.

http://dmjcharters.com/

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It looked like Louisiana and Texas have reciprocity for all waters for old farts like me.  So should be simple enough, call Louisiana and confirm.  Suffice to say it took 4 hours and I still could not get through to the site.  They had a feature just hang up and we will return your call, which they did, 17 hours later after I resolved the question.  So I called a local office and they confirmed, which was great as I was going to buy an annual for $90.  And now I can run wild in La all I want for zip.  As soon as Buggy gets Bridgeside Marina back in shape it will be off to Grand Isle.  And I want to try a couple of other places before summer comes.

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Joe Rogan the comedian, fight commentator, and pod cast dude is a total antivaxxer.  Here is my only comment:  If you are taking medical advice from Joe you might deserve whatever happens to you.  Think about it, his old show they ate sheep “rear ends”  (For lack of a “better” word.) and stuck ugly stuff up their noses.  How have we gotten to the place that the advice of a tatted up, dope smoking comedian beats your doctor?  He might be fun to go to dinner with but I will stick with my doctor for my medical advice.

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The packing is done.  Tackle and equipment gone through, wading stuff too.  Actually trips do accomplish a couple of things, preparing stuff gives you a chance to look things over and find out what you have, or don’t have.  Plus on a trip like this if you do not have it you will be SOL.  And since I have a jig head obsession there is no such thing as to many.  So let the Knockin Tail killin’ begin!

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This is the last from me until I return at the end of the week.  It seems weird to not have fished for over a week, but that is about to change.  Off to Louisiana first thing in the morning, then Monday the games begin.  The boys are wound up, as evidenced by my phone blowing up with assorted questionable texts, it is a tough crowd.  (How tough?  The Iowa Boys just sent a text asking if they were to bring the goat?) So a little Arkansas football to pass the time, like usual I am all kinds of ready to go.  So keep stopping in there will be a story of some sort to follow, and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

It is hard to stomach the forecast.  90 degrees and sunny, sure am looking forward to fall.  But of course that will not stop me from fishing though not sure I can last through the major period.  And as usual, out early to catch the daylight bite, hope to end up on the right bank for starters.  No guess on the water color but if it would clear just a little way up lake things would improve.  No way to know except to go.

Weather

64/9o.  Very warm with sunshine and 0% chance of rain.   Wind ESE  6 – 12 mph.

Lake Level

Today 97.53 msl.   Monday  97.62 msl.

Activity Times

Minor  9:08 am to 10:08 am.    Major  2:12 pm to 4:12 pm.

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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A TRUE BEATDOWN!

It was barely daylight as I headed up lake.  First up my better bank for the spoon and Knockin Tail, and from that point until I quit at1:30 it was a real beatdown.  But there is a twist to how that happened.

This girl will be a real giant when she grows up.

From daylight until around 10:30 it was keep the spoon and Pearl Knockin Tail in the grass and be ready.  It was not quite as fast as the other day but I got bites everywhere I tried.  It was an easy 10 on the spoon and Knockin Tail and a couple on stick worm near wood.  In fact only threw it at 2 pieces of wood and caught fish on both.

A couple of good ones.

There was one small hitch in the git along this morning.  The fish are still not on long stretches just because grass is there.  I have fished a couple the last 2 trips when out of nowhere and real one smoked the spoon and Knockin Tail.  I thought I had a good hooks set, got her to the boat and was already taking the picture in my mind when disaster struck.  She just came off, no reason, just swam away.  But it really has me excited about what might be  to come this fall on the lake.

After fishing all up lake I decided to make a run and head up the plant arm and try a couple of places when on the way I decided to stop and troll, eat some honey buns and drink some coffee.  3 hours later my hands were tore up and I left them biting.

What was there?  Bass, white bass, and those nice catfish.  They were all related to big schools of shad, and once I  found the big bunch it was double after double, it was some great fishing.  So here is literally a few to give you an idea how it went.

Add

They were smacking the snot out of it.

Basically I stayed in 10 – 20 feet of water, with 14′ being the best, trolling balsa shad looking baits that run about 8 – 10′ deep back about 50′  at 2.5 mph.  It turned into one of those guess I will head out after this pass, and wham, 3 or 4 would jump on.

And the bass were there with them.

Once I really got the shad schools nailed down you could see them on the locator, start counting and wham, fish on.  And the just kept biting.

A couple of the better ones, along with a whole bunch of smaller ones.

The bass were right under the shad, and were just slamming it.  I kept fishing because the white bass  were also in the mix.

And there was a whole lot smaller than this. 

They were all mixed together, and since our grass disappeared it is definitely a shad based forage.  If you look at the catfish they are silver.  The white bass were what is good/normal size for Coleto.  Why the lake does not have a better population of big ones I have never been able to figure out.  But they were cooperating and I just could not leave and head to where I intended to earlier.

So how many?  Not a freakin clue, but I had 57 pictures and did not take one of over half of them.  This is the kind of day that makes all the time and effort worth it.  Catching some nice ones early shallow, having a shot at a big one, then smoking a bunch of all flavors trolling.  Really glad I did not bring the cooler today or I would still be cleaning fish.

So around 1:30 I was out of honey buns and coffee, my hands were flat trashed, so I left them biting as strong as when I found them at 110.  Today was about as fun as a day on the water can be.  Unfortunately I will be out of town for a few days until late next week so they will get a rest.

But if you are a bass fisherman when it clouds up and maybe rains a little it could get ugly.  And tossing a crankbait like a 6xd could really sack them up if you can get it below 10′ and keep it there.  Fall is going to break out and so will the fishing.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

After looking at the tides and the weather for the week no day looked any better than any other so time to hit the bay.  The lake is not going anywhere and it will be good to catch a few fish and make sure all the tackle and wading stuff is up to snuff for the Chandeleur trip.  First up will be my favorite redfish bank, they may not be the smartest fish on the planet but they are right up there with their fighting prowess.  Might actually keep one, they make a great smoked fish dip.  So with no other plan than that I will be on the water at daylight.  (As a side note sure do love this time of year when it does not get daylight until 7:00.)

Weather

63/91.  Plenty of sunshine with a 1% chance of rain.   Wind NE 5 – 8 mph.

Tides

High 2:57 am  0.85 ft.

Low  10:07 am   0.49 ft.

High  3:23 pm   1.04 ft.

Activity Times

Minor  7:26 am to 8:26 am.   Major  1:33 pm to 3:33 pm.

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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Dead calm.  A early morning run does not get any better than this!

Kind of a Different Day

Words can not adequately describe how cool looking it was right before the sun came up.  First up was my favorite redfish bank, and that is when it got unusual.  Normally one, or more, nice ones will blow up on the topwater on that bank.  But after I had fished half of it with one half hearted hit, I went right through a school of fish, which looked like nice reds.  Dropped the power pole and picked up the Mansfield Magic Knockin Tail and tossed it out there, catching a smaller trout on my first cast.  And that would define the day.  It is a really unusual day at POC when I  do not catch a keeper red but it was a good trout morning.  As a side note did have a really nice trout blow up on the topwater mid morning which I probably should have caught.

First cast trout.  Ended up keeping 3 for a fry and tossed the rest back.

As I whipped on them pretty good it finally dawned on me, the mullet run, along with other stuff, is on and that was the pattern.  I have had that happen in the late fall when you just stay there as the bait comes by, and so do the fish.  And as the bait came by tossing the Knockin Tail across them will get you bit.  Basically the way it went on the first place.

After them finally tearing up the Mansfield Magic time to go to what has become my staple, the Purple Demon Limetreuse.  I can count the number of days in the past when I fished anything resembling this color, but it has produced regularly, which is all I care about.  They were not exactly slamming it today, most there when you lifted it up after hopping it as opposed to having a thump type bite.  The 3/16 jig head was the preferred weight today.

After the initial run of a dozen or so it was more a couple here and a couple there.

The water color was crap in Big Bayou and even crappier in the Oil Cut.  In the bigger drains as the tide slowly fell out this morning it was a wash out of dirty water, and those areas produced zip.  Unfortunately when the tide ran out it was a slow unimpressive drop.  It did not stimulate a good bite.  They came off soft bottom, oyster bars, and deeper channels, so it was no real pattern other than rafts of bait.   I was happy with trout numbers today and I lost a couple of nicer ones boat flipping.  But once 3 for the fry were in the box it was no big deal and a lot easier on them.  And there was a couple of other happenings that kept the morning interesting.

A nice flounder, it is time.  Best of the day was this little grouper.  

The flounder was on the Mansfield Magic, which has produced some of my best flounder, which was no big surprise as they will start showing up now that it is time.  Plus the Mansfield Magic put the serious hurt on them last winter on the river and the bay, I can not wait for that to start.  But the grouper was the catch of the day.  It seems like every year or two I catch a little one, kind of surprising as this area is not a big nursery like you have in the Everglades.  But it is always cool to add a new fish to the Knockin Tail total.

I give the morning an A.  It has been a while since I fished POC, and will be there a whole lot more now.  I was a little surprised at the amount of traffic but all outdoors is busier so welcome to a new day.

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Living with the Boss is a never ending travel adventure.  She just confirmed the Alaska trip of a lifetime in June, which I am really looking forward to.  As a part of that one, besides fishing for salmon, rainbows, and halibut, we are spending 3 days at a bear camp with biologists and photographers, which should be crazy.

Leave her alone for a minute and then there is more.  We had an airline credit for a cancelation due to the covid that we had to use by the end of January so guess what?  It is off to Panama.  So much of what we have heard Panama is a cool place.  As far as I am concerned the fact they drive on the “right” side and use US dollars is right down my travel alley.  So the adventure continues.

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Tomorrow I have to act like a big boy and do some responsible stuff.  But Friday it will be back to the lake at daylight to see if I can improve on that pattern.  That spoon and Knockin Tail fishing is fun, and a little different.  A pattern I remembered from fishing an oxbow off the Arkansas river.  What made that a cool trip was jumping the levy to get back to the tied off jon boat on that remote lake.  But that is another story.  The fishing is definitely on the upstroke so time to get after it.  And after talking to Tim of Wade Right today about the Chandeleur trip I am feeling it.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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Nice when the weather, and the fish, cooperate.  It was blowing lightly out of the north, the color was a little better than the other day, and the water temp is still in the mid 80’s.  The sun was not out as I headed up lake to the area I have been catching them, and they were there.  I started with a buzzbait and did not have a bite so after half hour switched to the spoon and Pearl Knockin Tail trailer, the bite was on.

They were shallow and biting the spoon and Knockin Tail.

I learned 2 very important things today about where they were.  First, the ones above and below were super shallow.  The first area the grass sticks out 20 – 40 feet and they were right on the bank in a foot of water, if that.  The spoon and Knockin Tail is about all you could throw in that heavy cover.  You had to make sure it was moving the minute it hit the water.

The camera setting was not quite right but the fishing was fast and furious and I did not reset until I made a big move.

Early when you got a bite there were more there.  The best places seem to be on the deep side from the point going in a big cove.  Long main lake banks do not seem to be the place.  But one thing happened as the morning wore on, better bites.

This girl absolutely smoked it.

The good bites came on points with wind and not quite as heavy cover. but you still needed something.  I was reeling it fairly fast, keeping it about 6 inches deep.  Only a couple came more than a foot off the edge of the cover, most close to the bank no matter how far it was from the edge.  For the morning it was a good 15 and I easily missed or lost that many.  A couple of good ones flopped off when I tried to boat flip them, just to lazy to get the net out, but when you are catching them no big deal.

A bunch were like this.

As far as using the spoon and Knockin Tail 2 things have definitely improved my bites and hook ups.  First I added a quality SS swivel, as small as I could go to keep down the line twist. Second, when you put the Knockin Tail on the spoon it will run right as long as the Knockin Tail is straight or a little up toward the barb.  If it is past the bend in the hook and pointing more down it hampers the spoon’s action.  When you get it right it looks mean in the water.

I could not have asked for better conditions.  It stayed just cloudy enough until I quit at 1:30, and the wind blew just right.  As I said before main lake banks just did not have any fish on them to speak of.  Other areas they were bunched up.  If it would just cool off a little more and the lake remain stable looks like the fall bite is on.  A good morning.

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Thanks to those of you who responded on the pics.  Guess it was just a weird happening that only affected a couple of out of state readers.  I could not do this without the input of those of you who read this, thanks for the help.

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Watching Rudy Giuliani destroy not only his legal career but his reputation has been tough to watch.  And now Rudy has admitted under oath that all the allegations and lawsuits over the election were nothing more than nonsense.  Why?  He admitted he got his information from Facebook and did not interview a single soul.   So if you respect an attorney who does that kind of leg work on your case, or if you believe what you read on Facebook, you deserve each other.  Sorry but attorneys take enough guff anyway without a buffoon like this helping drag down the reputation of the profession.

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And the last off topic,  I would like to congratulate the women who engaged in the big fight at Victoria’s  IHOP.  It cast a great light on the state of Texas  (Like Texas needs any more bad press.) and women in general.  Not sure what was up but it sure was ugly and nasty for lots of reasons.  What in the world is happening with folks?  Is violence becoming the answer to all things, or are folks reverting back to nothing more than animals?  Or just maybe someone was bogarting the syrup for that mountain of pancakes.

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Not sure what is next but things are looking up.  I have a few more days before I head to the north country so will definitely be on the water.  Even though I have tons of saltwater coming soon think I will slip out to POC one day and there is no way I am not going to take advantage of the bite on the lake again.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

Here you go Rick.  I am using a regular Johnson Silver minnow and a pearl Knockin Tail

Tip of the Day:  Should be a redfish killer and tough on the bigger trout too!

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Not sure what is going on, reports no pictures though looks fine on my end.

So this is a test, will try to find out what is going on so bear with me.