FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Falcon lake slow rolling a spinnerbait last trip.

Even the Boss is sick of my whining.  Her response – Just go somewhere.  So after fretting over where, I finally decided on Falcon.  It has a special place in my heart, first for producing some really big fish, but just as much for how it fishes.  And while pitching and cranking have their moments it is the spinnerbait fishing there that I love.

My first trip there I learned a lesson that has served me well.  Take a 3/4 ounce spinnerbait, change the blades from a willow to a #5 Colorado, then toss it out and crawl it along feeling the heavy thump.  If you feel wood, a common occurrence, give it a pull and hold on.  It is not the fastest way to fish and it takes real patience, but the big bite ratio is high which is the reason I do it.  And it is so crazy when one thumps the crap out of it and you miss, because he had the whole thing in this mouth and smashes it flat.  And also a little swim bait fishing with the big stuff is on tap, have to see where they are set up.  But no matter what it is the search for the big bite.

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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And this gal came on the same day.

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I got several comments on my last couple of posts where I whined like a little girl, and I mean no disrespect to girls, but fishing has been tough.  The fishing on the lake has really declined this winter and now the horrible fish kill.  Of course part of it is me, but seeing all the dead fish from South Padre to Houston does not bode well.

First from Rick.

Just a heads up. The Park in Jonestown is now charging $20.00 just enter the Jones Bros. Park. Outrageous!!! You had said you might be going to Travis. Water is so low I’m not sure if you can even launch.

I actually looked at Travis but the weather was not as favorable as Zapata.  I can not believe how ramp fees are raising crazy in some places.  It is not like the only ramp on Lake of the Woods for a 100 miles, or Everglades City deep in the Everglades.  In fact the big increase on Coleto, when combined with the slow fishing, has reduced folks by a ton.  Not sure they didn’t cut off their nose in spite of their face.   Like yesterday there was only one other trailer at the ramp.  Good to hear from you.

And this from anonymous.

If I were you I would go to Ivie. 6 Sals in a week. Why not. Fishes like a highland lake.

Funny you should say that as it is on the radar.  But I am taking the safe way out by heading to Falcon.  At least it will save me a little time, though until I see the water level not sure what it will be like.  And it has a special place in my heart after catching my 3 PB’s in 24 hours there.  So Ivie is on the list.  Thanks for commenting.

Matt chimed in with his 0.02 worth.

You may try Texana. I’ve also heard Choke Canyon is good.

I am going to fish Texana as I got some real help from folks this spring.  But I am going to do the big fish thing on Falcon.  What makes it all that for me is the anticipation on every cast.  And Choke, I just learned from a guide and reader in the area, has lots of grass, which makes it a swim jig hotspot.  So many places so little time.  Good to hear from you.

And last from Ernest.

Your breaking my heart about the fishing being slow. If its Gods will ill retire after 36 years at the same company. If i’m lucky maybe I can enjoy some slow days myself! Thanks for keeping us working folks entertained. Good luck until then and save some fish for me!

Don’t worry, when you retire there will be plenty of slow days to go along with the great days.  But you know what?  Tough or not I am on the water.  To bad we are in a rough period but the bass will come to the shallows on Coleto, not all the fish in the bay died.  Often when it comes back it often comes back with a vengeance.  So hang in there, your time is coming.   Good to hear from you.

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What is not to like about Falcon?  A hair short of 9.

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There are a few changes proposed this year for both freshwater and saltwater.  The biggest is changes in catfish regulations on multiple lakes.  Nothing on the saltwater particularly interested me, but there is a clarification on the red snapper rules in state and federal waters for you offshore guys.  But no matter what we should all read these, one of the better ways to keep tabs on TPWD.

News Releases: – TPWD (texas.gov)

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Michael from Controlled Descent and Knockin Tail will be fishing in Port Isabelle later this week and I will be real interested in his results.  If it had not been for the fish kill that area was actually at the top of my list, figured a trip way up the Brownsville Ship Channel just might put a snook or two in the boat.  So good luck, it will be telling.

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That will about cover it until I get back.  No internet so the report will have to wait until I get back.  Hope you all had a good weekend, and maybe even did a little fishing.  And I love to hear what you all have to say so if the mood strikes you drop me a line.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Well I just could not stand it.  The weather is perfect, so I decided to fish the lake this afternoon, so will be headed that way a little after 10:00.  It does sound crazy with my results lately, but I have never been accused of being “normal”.  Plus want to stop by the mechanic and have him look at something he might need to order before it goes in for annual service.

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Weather

61/64.  Mostly cloudy; and cooler with a 15% chance of rain.  Wind ESE 10 – 15 mph.

Lake Level

Today  93.70 msl.  Monday  93.66 msl.

Solunar Times

Major  11:24 am to 1:24 am.

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

Always just a little uneasy getting this close, but they sure are interesting animals!

This was a really interesting day as far as conditions went.  It was 63 at the ramp, 67 in front of the discharge cove, and 65 way up lake when I put in at 10:30.  Now what makes it interesting, when you come around the corner headed back and can see the ramp cove the water temps drops from 67 to 63, and the water color is not all that good.  And the whole main area is that temp and it did not warm any today.  I wonder if they are letting just a little bit of water out maybe that is the last of the “cold front” cool water.

Starting with the jerk bait I fished a long point leading into a big cove.  It has a nice drop around 10′ and is staging area, at least it should be.  Not a bite.  Since the wind was blowing just a little thought I would spinnerbait the cove right past the bridge.  And surprises of all surprises, I caught 2 and missed 3.  Now they were all (real) small, but it was bass.  So that should be a good thing, right?  Not so fast buster, this is the lake.

They were back though I just made one downstream troll.  Wanted at least a couple of fish pictures.

At this point the wind as perfect at 10 mph, the first cove had fish in it, what could go wrong?  For the next 5 hours I missed 2 more on spinnerbait, and had a nice one follow the Pearl Knockin Tail all the way to the boat, and that was it.  I worked my way up lake, the wind was blowing out of the SE right up the river and it was promising.  2 good coves and several other places and not a good bite.  Once I worked my way all the way up I made a quick troll down and caught a couple of white bass, at least they were back where they are supposed to be.

So I headed back down and fished 3 coves, expecting them to be in at least one, but nope.  After I fished one I headed to try somewhere in the plant arm and the minute I came around the corner the temp dropped 3 – 4 degrees, so I turned around and headed back to fish one last place.  At 5:00 I admitted defeat and put it on the trailer.

The gators were on the prowl today, as long as they could find a nice warm sunny bank out of the wind.  Even saw a little guy today.

The only thing I did not throw was a crankbait, other than that the spinnerbait was the only thing that raised a bite.  They just have not been interested in the jerk bait, and the Bang O Lure has not raised a fish.  And I fished ok today, did what should be the right thing in the right places, but they are not up yet.  The last 10 years these are the kinds of days where you could catch several big fish.  The conditions, combined with whatever is going on with the fish, have things in a state of terrible.  (But there are lots of crappie being caught off timber and brush piles by the campers.)  It has been a long winter on the lake, and the fishing has steadily declined.  But spring is coming, and with it so will the fish.  Actually saw a couple of beds, maybe tilapia, but whatever there is no better indicator spring is on the way.

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My plans are in a state of flux at the moment.  Intend to go somewhere, just can not make up my mind.  But would like to fish 3 days somewhere, so weather watching will be the big factor the next couple of days.  But whether trying somewhere else, or staying here, I will be back on the water at least 3 or 4 days next week, I have the fishing fever.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

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A Better Cork built a Better Way

If you fish a popping cork and have not tried the Four Horseman popping cork, or even if you are currently using them, here is a GREAT DEAL.  They have been kind enough to give my readers a discount. It will be a 20% discount so get them while the getting is good.  What a deal.  Use the code 4H6 at check out to save some serious bucks.  No better time to stock up.  (I will leave this up for the time being, you never know when you will need some new corks.)

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FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

The only way to recover from striking out is to fish more.  And since I am currently mad at the lake there is one way to fix that, head to POC.   Since I do not have a clue it will be a simple plan, go to Big Bayou and fish the deeper places they have been and see what happens.  Seems like a good idea.  Until I know how it is not going to run all over hell for the time being.

Weather 

61/67.  Cloudy with a 25% chance of rain.  Wind S 10 – 15 mph.

Tides

Low 6:43 am  High  7:04 pm.

Solunar Times

Major  10:28 am to 12:28 pm.

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

The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

Great Morning.

Today I stuck to the plan and fish Big Bayou through the last of the falling and the beginning of the rise, and as usual the fish dictated how it would go.  The water temp was 58 at Froggie’s and never got above 60 anywhere I fished.  It was cloudy with a light wind and stayed that way.  The plan was to fish the deep stuff, and the oyster bar where I had been catching them, and then a little spinnerbait fishing for redfish.  Neither worked out all that well, and what trout I did find were not where I historically catch them.

Could not get any better than this.

Basically the places they were are not where they are now.  (Though I am not sure where they are.) One place that  surprised me was a flat point in front of a drain, it had water running over it and maybe some bait.  As a side note, I saw very little baitfish flipping stuff.  And I was very surprised that the deeper areas that normally holds them only had a few smalls.  In fact, it is not that I killed them, but normally there are some nice ones, and a good red or two when I catch that many.  But the good fish were not there, or having what I was pitching. Both the Purple Demon Limetruese and the Mansfield Magic Knockin Tail caught fish, and I did not notice any difference.

I  probably scratched out a small limit of keepers, but that was it.

I did not see any appreciable kill, at least in Big Bayou.  A few floaters came by but nothing big.  The ramp at Froggie’s was covered with mullet and a few catfish, until I took out.

A whole bunch of grey/mangrove snappers.

There were a bunch, at least 50, that washed up at Froggie’s.  Not sure where they came from but they did not look that long dead.  Interesting.  Some were big as a good tilapia on Coleto.  I have caught a few in the barge canal, but none as big as the ones I saw today.  Just a indication of what might have happened.  Only time will tell.

The water was running some during the prime period, but it was light and only made a little difference.  And with the light wind it made boat control easy.  So that had no affect on the results.  I spinner baited my favorite bank without a bite, but the tide just did not get up any to speak of.  So sticking with the Knockin Tails until quitting put 2 in the boat here, 3 there, off and on until 2:00 when I called it a day.

There were tons of dolphins early.

The dolphins were tearing it up when I got there, and when I moved they all came with me, doing the swim under the boat thing.  One group had 2 small ones and they also came along for the ride.  Always cool when they do that.  And they did not bother the fishing, but I was not having any big runs so they quickly lost interest.

Not sure what to make of today.  Maybe 20, all basically like the ones above and 3 small rat reds.  I did not lose any fish, and maybe missed a couple, so it was not me, at least mechanically.  So I can honestly say I do not have a clue.  I talked to a guy at the carwash who lives there and he says he is not all that concerned and has been catching fish all week.  Hopefully that is the case.

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After sending us the picture of fish sunning and trying to recover Steve sent along this follow up.

Just as a follow up, I visited the same flat Saturday and Sunday morning.  No fish congregation was observed, but there were a couple of fish moving.  On Sunday, the wind shifted so that it was blowing onto the flat from the Southeast.  There were a few dead mullet, all about the same size at 8-9” long and one dead catfish, about the same size observed.  Real work will keep me away until next weekend, but it was interesting to observe the same flat several days in a row.

That is great news on several fronts.  First looks like they have returned to their regular haunts.  And great to hear that you saw no new dead fish.  From what I am reading at the moment it looked like the kills are localized, but we shall see after this years netting survey.  Thanks for the update.

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I am still mulling where I might fish this weekend.  Looks like we are going to have a round of high winds early next week, welcome to March on the Texas coast.  Still debating between fresh and salt, but just might have to fish Travis, Amistad, or Falcon to get my bass fix.

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Wish I could add to the conversation on the fishing but I did not really learn anything today.  The missing better fish is a little puzzling but it was a major event.  Hope they were just hanging out mouth shut and not gone.  Just have to go more.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

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A Better Cork built a Better Way

If you fish a popping cork and have not tried the Four Horseman popping cork, or even if you are currently using them, here is a GREAT DEAL.  They have been kind enough to give my readers a discount. It will be a 20% discount so get them while the getting is good.  What a deal.  Use the code 4H6 at check out to save some serious bucks.  No better time to stock up.  (I will leave this up for the time being, you never know when you will need some new corks.)

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FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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At least he caught one.

After basically being house bound last week time to head back on the water.  The lake will be first up, and I will be real interested in seeing what affects the cold front had.  Not sure what they will be but it probably will not be good.  But that is not going to keep me home, time to wet a line.

Weather

47/69.  Mostly sunny with a slight chance of rain.  Wind NNE  10 – 15mph.

Lake Level

Today  93.66 msl.   12 days ago  93.75 msl.  (A slight drop.)

Solunar Times

Major  7:45 am to 9:45 am.   Minor  1:02 pm to 2:02 pm.

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

The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

I Should Have Known Better  –  But I knew what was coming.

The water temp a couple of weeks ago was in the mid to high 60’s, today not so much.  It was 53 at the ramp, 59 in front of the discharge cove,  and was 53 way up lake.  And the water color down lake was poor, better in the plant arm than up lake.  But the temp was basically the same.  I even stopped at the discharge, made about 10 casts and did not have a bite.  There was quite a bit of water coming out, but it was only 61 degrees and the color was terrible.  And the real sad thing, the water had been getting into some of the stuff on the bank where fresh stuff was growing, now all of that is dead.  And the water has visibly dropped.  So the point of all this, you can guess how it went.

To make a sad story shorter, I fished almost every place I have caught a bass in the last month, and not a touch.  Both ends of the lake.  Not a bite at the discharge, or the bank leading into the intake at the plant, or anywhere elase.  They were sucking water and I hoped they might be biting there, but zip.  Main lake points, deep pockets, long channel banks, fished them all.  Swim jig, deep jerkbait, crankbait, Knockin Tail swim bait, tried them all.   In fact around noon I actually ran all the way back up lake to finish the day.  The water had warmed to 54 and there were a couple of spots out of the wind with sun shining on it, places that should at least have a straggler.  No such luck.

While up lake tried to get the  Boss her fish order, and the whites are flat gone.   The area that was producing whites was barren, including no shad.  When I got ready to quit I trolled out, put lures away, checked rods and line, all the stuff that normally happens at the ramp.  And of course the only bite, a white bass about 8″ jumped on.  So that says it all about the day.

This front really put the hurt on the lake, and all the progress it was making is gone and we are really back in the winter pattern.  It really has become somewhat disheartening.  The lake just can not catch a break, but I am not ready to throw in the towel yet.

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Thursday the Boss and I took a drive to a few area ramps to see if we could see dead fish.  We hit Six Mile, Keller Bay, the back and of the Powderhorn, and the beach and barge canal in POC.  Thank God we basically saw no dead fish.  I know our sight line was limited, but at least there were not dead fish everywhere.  But there was a major kill in Pringle, and I am sure other similar areas, so we just will have to wait and see what the damages are.   And from what I am seeing and reading on Facebook this may be pretty bad on many areas of the coast.  We will just have to see what the final word is from TPWD.   And props to the Wardens for collecting all the sea turtles, tough work in that weather.

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And on that note Saturday I got this picture and comment from Steve.  I actually hesitated to use it but since it will not get out until Monday at the earliest here you go.  (And if you use the following to find fish right now you need to seriously examine your ethics.)

Wow!

This is a shallow sand bar from this morning.  I know it is hard to tell, but a mixture of reds and trout with just a couple of sheepshead mixed in.  They were extremely lethargic, but the sun beating down on the sand bar was bringing them in.  By mid afternoon, most of the trout had moved off to deeper water but the reds were still around.  The deeper water is 6-8 feet close by.  I don’t think this is scientific, but it seems that the larger fish that moved to deeper water may have fared better than the smaller/shallower cousins.

You are absolutely spot on to what is happening, and what happened all over the bay with this front.   Facebook has had a few pictures like this the last few days.  In this case they need to be left alone until they fully recover and a few days of sun will do that.  (I was really disappointed to see barge traffic on the barge canal.  They churn the warm water up off the deep areas and kill tons of fish, as I saw on a Facebook post the other day.)  That is why I decided to share this with much warmer weather coming they will have time to get back to their usual haunts.  And I just mentioned this phenomenon to the Boss on our drive.  Deep water saves trout and the problem with Pringle, they love that warm mud in the winter but once it drops they are toast, by time they cool off they are to lethargic to run.  I really appreciate you sharing this as most of us will never see it.  Good stuff.  And to the rest of us in the words of that “freak” on Brittany Spears – Leave those fish alone!

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I got this comment on putting signs on the cover in Coleto from my buddy Clyde, who was with me from the beginning of the Arkansas fishing adventure 45 years ago.

They have replenished all the piles on both lakes and not marked them due to people stealing the signs ; they are all GPS marked and allow down loading for free I believe.

Wtf is wrong with people?  First they are obviously not “fishermen”.  I just do not get it, it is theft plain and simple and makes you nothing but a criminal.  After dealing with literally hundreds of felons it so confuses me how folks do not understand this makes you no better than the worst, you are right there with them.  This is something I never considered but now that you mention it there were very few signs when I was there last spring.  And if our fishing does not get any better I am headed that way.

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But while Coleto is a dead sea other Texas lakes are having their moments.  O.H. Ivie Lake produce a 16lb + last weekend.  That is a big fish on any body of water, and Ivie has produced plenty of big fish.

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And last on the cold snap.  It is not the fault of Obama, the Yeti, AOC, The Joker, or the bogey man.  They were given a road map to fix it after the disaster 10 years ago which actually messed up Super Bowl Week in Dallas and nothing was done.  I do not know who’s fault it is, most in charge are blaming everyone but themselves.  But whoever it was needs to be fired, end of story.  Growing up in the north country this was just a blip on any day, no big deal.  And don’t bother to give me that unforeseen crap, stupid argument.  So just fix it.  What are we paying you for?

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Tomorrow I have to buy a new lawn mower.  Nothing like the occasional “tariff” of home ownership.  As Rosanna Rosaana Danna said;  “If it is not one thing it is another.”  After watching the weather Wednesday looks good for the bay, so that is the current plan.  The Boss is headed out of town next weekend for a few days and I am watching the weather in 3 or 4 places and plan on going somewhere for a few days, fresh or salt is yet to be determined.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

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A Great Deal From Four Horseman Tackle

If you fish a popping cork and have not tried the Four Horseman popping cork, or even if you are currently using them, here is a GREAT DEAL.  They have been kind enough to give my readers a discount. It will be a 20% discount so get them while the getting is good.  What a deal.  Use the code 4H6 at check out to save some serious bucks.  No better time to stock up.  (I will leave this up for the time being, you never know when you will need some new corks.)

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FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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I hope, if it is not completely pouring, to fish Coleto in the morning.  Our weather is going to deteriorate over the next few days, in fact it seems to be coming a little quicker than they even forecast yesterday.  But in better times this is the weather I loved to fish in the winter on Coleto.  I have a couple of thoughts on what to try tomorrow so we shall see how it goes.

Weather

63/74.  Mainly cloudy with a 50% chance of showers in spots.  Wind ENE 10 – 15 mph.  (Since I wrote this Tuesday morning our local guy says we will be in the upper 50’s and it did not make that today.)

Lake Level

5 days ago  93.74 msl.  Today  93.75 msl.  (Keep going up!)

Solunar Times

Major  11:51 am to 1:51 pm.

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

Amazing how many of these I catch in the spring, and then they are gone.

I was up real early and watching the radar.  The showers were coming through and kind of dying out along 59.  It was 54 degrees, and as a side note it was 52 when I took out.  So at 8:00 I finally decided to put on my big boy pants and head out.  The weather is not going to get any better for almost a week so the time is now.  Once I got to the lake it was blowing around 15 out of the northeast and it never varied all day.  The day was flat nasty, windy and drizzling or raining.  To start it was a good cove in the plant arm to give the jerk bait a go.

The water color in the plant arm is fairly murky, not near as nice over the rest of the lake.  Starting with the Lou’s Lures jerk bait over the first hour or so 4 jumped on, nothing to big, but at least they bit and they were real shallow.

Feeding them the Lou’s Lures jerk bait.

To find better color time to head up the main arm.  Stopping along the way here and there did not produce a bite, nor did the last 2 places on the way in, all near the dam.  For some reason there does not seem to be any fish shallow at the lower end.  Once I got up lake I kept after the jerk bait, catching 3 more.  Another came on the green pumpkin swim jig with a Knockin Tail, but I stayed true to the jerk bait.  The best bite all day, and he slammed it, was the tilapia above.  The few that hit lures smack it.  I thought it was the “big’ one.  (Be sure to gill em’ and kill em’.)  With the wind again blowing right down the pike I fished down, and then trolled back up.

The Pearl Knockin Tail continues to smoke them.

Like I did the other day the Pearl Knockin Tail and the Bang O Lure were the bait of choice, with the fish preferring the Knockin Tail as they have been.  One thing that was interesting was as cold and nasty as it was, they wanted the bait higher up in the water column.  So I moved the rod holders up so they were both running maybe 3 feet at most, and the bite was on.  Several doubled up and it never took to long to get a bite.  They are staged to spawn in that area, and why they have not done it yet, or moved, is beyond me.  But I do not look a gift fish in the mouth, the white bass bite will be over soon.

As far as the bass, they were right on the bank, and it was nice to have a shallow running Lou’s jerk bait.  They wanted it fairly fast but other than the tilapia who whacked it, the bass were just there.  The few that I did catch were in small guts, or flatter places, and nothing on deep banks.  And though the water temp is in the mid 60’s in the coves up lake, they are just not there yet.

For some reason, often because I catch big bass on days like today, I have never minded fishing in these conditions.  In Arkansas we called it spring, in Texas it is a norther.  Either way it was a fairly good day considering, now it will be hunkering down and waiting this weather out.

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Tomorrow, 2/11 at 10:00 central time, Mercury Marine is making some kind of big splash.

Join Mercury for the unveiling of an outboard that delivers unrivaled freedom, luxury and power to pursue your passions on the water. A video detailing this historic product launch will drop on the Mercury Marine Facebook homepage Feb. 11 at 10 a.m. CST.

As a life long Mercury guy I can not wait to see what they have to say.   Do not have a guess so will be interesting to see what comes.

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I now have a second friend who bought an East Cape Fury poling skiff.

This is a real poling skiff.  Shallow running, easy to pole, limited hull slap, the bells and whistles, can’t wait to fish out of it.  David has been wanting one and is excited to get on the water.  Since I have the redfish flyrod some kind of potential fiasco is coming to a bay near you, and I can’t wait!  I love being poled around.

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It will not get above 47 for the next week, with a day in the 30’s.  And even better, the wind will blow out of the north up to 20 mph and above the whole time.  Whatever progress the lake was making will be set back.  Next up as soon as possible will be the bay.  I definitely want to improve my wading results, so it might be an overnight and a couple of days in a row to see if I can figure them out better.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines 

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A Great Deal From Four Horseman Tackle

If you fish a popping cork and have not tried the Four Horseman popping cork, or even if you are currently using them, here is a GREAT DEAL.  They have been kind enough to give my readers a discount. It will be a 20% discount so get them while the getting is good.  What a deal.  Use the code 4H6 at check out to save some serious bucks.  No better time to stock up.  (I will leave this up for the time being, you never know when you will need some new corks.)

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FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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I am so all about the conditions for tomorrow.  Cloudy with a reasonable wind blowing from the right direction have my hopes up.  So time to head out to the boat and remove the bass stuff and replace it with Knockin Tails, looking forward to feeling the thump!  It will be up early and Froggie’s at daylight.

Weather

62/69.  Cloudy with a 10% chance of rain.  Wind  SE  (Dirty liars!)  9 – 14 mph.

Tides

Low 5:58 am.   High  6:00 pm.

Solunar Times

Major 9:56 am to 11:56 am.

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

The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

I am still not a very good trout fisherman,  and todays wading results reinforced that.  But I got to thinking about it, it has been several months since I waded.  You know the saying; The more I fish the luckier I get, and nothing beats time on the water.  Heading out at daylight from Froggie’s my hopes were high.

Taking off from the ramp the wind was blowing around 10 -12 mph more northerly, and it slowly increased during the day until it was almost 20 mph out of the east/northeast at quitting time.  I kept waiting for it to turn more out of the southeast but it did not happen.  First up was my favorite drain on the island, the old sure thing.  And after about an hour wade all I could manage was a couple of small trout so it was time for a move.

First one wading, then from the boat.  You can’t see the Knockin Tails in most of them, it was in their throat.  More on these guys later.

Next up was a little point with shell and a pretty nice drop, and again maybe 3, all small.  The water was moving and it was a little surprising that there was not a better bite.  (Which really means I was nowhere near them.)  So I moved again to a couple of shell points near South Pass, and it was not a whole lot better.  I did catch the first flounder there, and had a big red on who took off like a shot.  I was just holding on  and of course I did not set the hook and he pulled off.  It was the only big bite I had all day.  Though I did catch a couple of trout on the 4 Horseman popping cork and the Pearl Limetruese, which I usually use on a popping cork .  So time to do what I told myself I was not going to do, go where I know they are.

A better one on a 4 Horseman popping cork and Pearl Limetruese Knockin Tail.  The red is just there for the slam, if you can call it that.  And a couple of the trout from Big Bayou.

It was a bumpy ride back to Big Bayou, once there the wind was blowing right down the pike and the water was running.  It was a little difficult keeping it exactly where I wanted it, but they were there.  I switched up to a 1/4 ounce jig head to compensate for the wind and for about 2 hours until quitting the bite was on.  Today they seemed to prefer the Mansfield Magic, but I caught on 3 different colors of Knockin Tails.  The Purple Demon Limetruese caught several and it, along with the Mansfield Magic, have become my go to baits.  Today it was more a matter of putting it right in front of them.

About half the  trout in Big Bayou would make it, and obviously the flounder were biting.  I probably missed as many as I caught, the bow in the line did not help with feeling either one of them.  And like last trip they were on a shell bank with the wind blowing on it and the deep trough, which has always been a winter haunt.  So not a bad day, though I definitely need some more time on the water to get them really figured out.  But anytime I can catch 20+ it is worth the drive.

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It was good to be back on the bay, but it will be another week.  Something to do tomorrow, then it begins later in the week.  They are saying some crazy thing like a big norther blowing in, followed by another.  Temps are projected to maybe get out of the 30’s with potential for a little wintery mix.  Oh well, we have not really had winter yet so we have to expect at least some of that.  Be interesting to see how ugly it gets and when.  The Legends tournament is out of POC this weekend and it might get ugly.  I will head to the lake in a day or two before it completely goes to crap.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

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A Great Deal From Four Horseman Tackle

If you fish a popping cork and have not tried the Four Horseman popping cork, or even if you are currently using them, here is a GREAT DEAL.  They have been kind enough to give my readers a discount. It will be a 20% discount so get them while the getting is good.  What a deal.  Use the code 4H6 at check out to save some serious bucks.  No better time to stock up.  (I will leave this up for the time being, you never know when you will need some new corks.)

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FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

The Boss has put in an order for a fish fry.  Well apparently our weather is going to go from an amazing 82 degrees today to a high of 56 tomorrow.  (Friday)  Add a 55% chance of rain and a north wind from 15 – 20 mph here, even higher on the coast, no thanks.  And with a small craft advisory that takes care of that.  So in that case I changed plans and will fish the lake.  Can always call it quit if it sucks to bad.  The bay will have to wait a day or two.  So off to the lake I go in the morning and the white bass need to be scared.

Weather

54/56.  (Wow.)  Mostly cloudy and cooler with a 55% chance of a passing shower.  Wind North  15 – 20 mph.

Lake Level

Today  93.74 msl.  2 days ago  93.72 msl.

Solunar Periods

Major 7:04 am to 9:04 am.   Minor  12:33 pm to  1:33 pm.  (Like the times.)

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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Here is your dead fish picture for the day.

The Crazy Lake Fishing Continues

The plan was to catch some supper, and of course do a little bass fishing.  When I got to the ramp there was no one there, when I took out there was no one there.  That should tell you something about both the weather and the current state of the fishing on Coleto.

The wind was blowing straight out of the north at almost 20 mph.  It was 55 degrees but the water temp basically remained the same, mid 60’s plus over most of the lake.  Starting with a swim jig, and then a spinnerbait, it would be one of the weirder days I have had in a while.  The whole plan was to bass fish a couple hours and then fill the Boss’s order.

I got a bite on the swim jig and missed it, it actually hit it fairly hard and quick.  Then it happened again, and again, in fact it happened 5 or 6 times without a fish in the boat.  The way they were hitting it I think they might have been crappie.  So since they were not eating it how about the spinnerbait?  It produced 3 or 4 bites, and they all missed it.  That rarely happens when I am throwing the spinnerbait.  As I generally buzz/wake it when one gets after it we hook up.  But not today.  As to what was happening here is my usual guess.

Since it was a pretty good cold front north wind day, following a 83 degree day, they were interested but not particularly aggressive.  And if they were crappie, the water temp is plenty warm, they just might have moved up on the shallow bush.  Early spring has some of the best crappie fishing, something I often saw on the Arkansas lakes.  That is something I might give a go next time.  So time to troll up some white bass/supper.

The same Rapala shallow minnow bait that runs about 4′, and the Pearl Knockin Tail on a 1/4 ounce jig head that runs a little under 5 feet, put them in the boat.  And here comes the shameless plug.  They really do like the Knockin Tail.  It easily equals or beats a crankbait in what is fairly shallow water, they eat it and do not come off nearly as much as they do on the crankbait.

They are up the lake where the water gets to 7 or 8′ and are on under water points or humps in about 4′.  Once I got the area down it was a killing.  I did not take any pictures of them today, they looked like all the rest I have shown you the last few weeks.  I needed 6 for supper, so I boxed them and kept after it.  Plenty of doubles, it was fun.  Then I hung the Knockin Tail and being to lazy to tie another, since I had the Bang O Lure on another rod over the side it went, and they liked that.  The bite went on for a couple hours and I left them biting.  When I cleaned them they still have not spawned, so they are going to be available for a while.

The lake is really starting to look good.  There is new growth coming up on the shoreline, some of the cover is starting to get water on it, and I can only hope it continues, we still need a couple of more feet.  It bodes well for the “real” spring fishing.   Today was a good day considering the conditions, plenty of fish over the side, which is usually the desired result when we hit the water.

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I am speaking to the St. Joe Fishing Club Tuesday.  The high school fishing clubs are a  great thing and I sure wish they were around when I was a young kid.  Whether dreams of a pro career, or just happy to be fishing, it gives kids a chance to get a taste that some might never get.  And with the way professional fishing is going it is the new starting point, just like high school sports is the starting point for other sports.  It is becoming increasingly important to have a degree in marketing or communications to help market yourself.  Companies want results both on the water and off.  Every dude with a bass boat wants to be a “rep”, we all like “free”, but you have to provide much more than your shining personality.  The days of the tobacco chewing redneck with a GED making it in all areas of the world of professional fishing are coming to a close.  It is business, end of story.

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And speaking of the pros, Ranger Boats, now owned by Johnny Morris’s Bass Pro  (And you read what I think of them and what is happening.)  has cut a bunch of pros from their boat deal.  Tough business, definitely “what have you done for me lately?”

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Colton Knipling and his crew won the POC tournament last weekend.  Believe it is the Freeze Out.  He has been on some really big trout this fall and winter and he continues to put the hurt on them.  Next week the Saltwater Legends series will be in POC so expect more big fish. Congratulations Colton, keep it up.

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The weather watch of both Falcon and Amistad begins.  As soon as the right set of conditions happens on either one I am out of here.  Each has their own special place for me, and either is fine.  Falcon is the home of my 3 PB’s and Amistad is like fishing my old haunts.  Both have big fish so either will do.  And looking forward to a couple of days on the bay with the poling skiff.  Fished out of several, but always wanted to try the actually poling, plus being high enough to see lots of those fish you never see from the deck.

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Enjoy the Super Bowl.  I will be rooting for the Chiefs, they were the only team we got on TV for years in North Arkansas before the newfangled cable came to town.  Plus Patrick Mahomes is one of the great ones.  If he can stay healthy he might be the GOAT.  Looking back at what Brady has done he is the current GOAT.  Once he left the Patriots the question was – Brady or Bellicheat, who is responsible for that run?  With the Bucks in the Super Bowl looks like that question was answered.  So enjoy the day.  Keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

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I saw a great popping cork post from the bay today.  Now is the time and they do not make them any better than Four Horseman Tackle.

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Weather

60/75.  Sunny with no chance of rain.  Wind  SSE 10 – 20 mph.

Lake Level

Today  93.72 msl.   3 days ago  93.71 msl.   (The slow rise continues.)

Solunar Times

Minor  11:13 am to 12:13 pm.

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

Why am I showing you these guys?  Because the actually exist!

I chose the lake today because of the high winds forecast for today and tomorrow, and the results at least held a little promise.  The fog was just burning off when I dropped the boat in.  The water temp was down a degree or two over the whole lake, just a result of the 45 degree night.  And the color was a little clearer than it was last week.

The fog made me start in a main lake cove near the ramp which has a great point on it.  And right off the bat I missed one and caught one.  Small, but a fish.  From there it was one here and one there but before it was over 5 came on a swim jig with a Knockin Tail trailer and 2 came on spinnerbait.  While nothing was to big that is not the point.  The point is the boys are coming to the bank, and the girls will not be all that far behind.

Around 9:00 the wind came up big time blowing right up the river.  So I devised a plan, let the wind work me up lake, troll back, and then do the other side.  That ended up leading to some bonus catching.

The Pearl Knockin Tail doing some good work.

A few of the 10 or so.

Keeping with the minnow bait by Rapala and the Pearl Knockin Tail on a 1/4 ounce jig head at 2.5mph put them in the boat, and they were in 5′ of water.  The white bass really do like the Pearl Knockin tail, it has by far been the best producer.  So if you have a white bass run coming to a lake near you give it a go, they smoke it.  At this point it was tough to even keep a steady speed slow enough to catch them.  But it was a fun way to head back to start again, there was no going against it with the trolling motor.  It was an efficient to deal with the wind.

All but one of the 7 bass was on wood.  Slow rolling the swim jig right by it would get bit if there was one there.  A couple came out of wood in a pocket, a real good sign.  I probably spent to much time spinnerbait fishing, but with the wind it was the easiest way to fish.  So I called it a day at 1:30 with hope that what bite we have coming will be coming soon.  If I were guessing the next moon should be the jumping off point for the good lake fishing.  Hope springs eternal.

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TPWD just announced the dates for the annual crab trap removal.  Over the years folks have taken 38,000 traps from coastal bays.  Just imagine how much sea life was saved by not by not letting them turn in to ghost traps which keep on killing.  The dates are February 20 – 28th with drop off sites all along the coast.  Great program.

And I believe the time has come for a similar program on freshwater.  All jug, trot, and limb lines would be assumed to be abandoned and removed during the period.  Many of our lakes  are littered with them and would be easily disposed of.  Always thought that it was a good idea.

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I wrote the above yesterday and of all things the Game and Fish guy was doing a creel survey when I got to the ramp, poor guy.  Of course I ranted on the fishing, or lack thereof, and a couple of my other favorite subjects.  That nobody on any water should be allowed to kill the grass, add tilapia or grass carp, or any other modification without input and clearance from TPWD.  That is one area that needs to be explored.  And I wondered why they have not marked the fish cover in Coleto.  Most places I have fished with planted brush or cover has them marked so folks can fish them.  He was a good guy and I appreciate him having to listen, but I feel strongly about water and access.

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John dropped me an email after I commented about trying to get a shot.  His family is experiencing the same issues, as are lots of other folks.  And then today while I was fishing the Boss hung tough on the sign up for shots tomorrow, and I am scheduled for my first.  It really is a relief, and if it all goes well and I get the second, I will actually be amazed.  One would think that since I already had the covid, and then get the shot #2, I should be good to go.  So hope your family gets it figured out, it should not be this big a hassle.  (As a side note, both of us getting the vaccine hopefully gets us to Thailand next if the world will get over this crap.  Going to fish one of those famous stocked ponds with red tails and arapaima, then offshore.)

He also asked about the White River, which I fished for 25 years.  My opinion, if you are going to be that close go!  It is one of the great fishing holes in America.  Plenty of stockers for action and the table, and some of the biggest brown trout in the world.  Plus there are plenty of the old style resorts close or on the river, the kind that are slowly disappearing.  There are great places to fish from the bank, and it is not hard to catch a few if they are not running to much water.  But if you can swing it get a guide and take a float trip, by far the best way to fish.  Cool river, great fishing, and an awesome float.  Good to hear from you and be sure to let me know when you are going, I will get you pointed in the right direction.

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And on last note on a different subject.  One friend has bought a polling skiff and another is looking at a couple today.  I can see some fly fishing for redfish in my future.  Pays to know folks.

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Tomorrow shot and then Friday if all goes well it will be off to smack a few trout and reds.  This is a great time of year for any kind of fishing a person likes to do and I like it all.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Been out of town a couple of days and headed back out again for a couple of more.  But I have a little time to slip out in the morning  so will be hitting Coleto.  And for the near future it will be lake or bay, basically alternating back and forth.  Not sure what I will find at the lake but it can only be better than it has been.  Typical fisherman, hopes springs eternal!

Weather

51/71.  Plenty of sun; breezy in the afternoon with 0% chance of rain.  Wind N 14 – 22 mph.

Lake Level

Today  93.71 msl.   Last Monday  93.70 msl.  (Sure like seeing it creeping up.)

Solunar Periods

Minor 9:25 am to 10:25 am.  Major  3:20 pm t0 5:20 pm.

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

Screwed by a turkey!

I should have known better.  The forecast could not have been any more accurate, if you like mile high skies and a 20mph cold wind out of the north.  The water color has deteriorated quite a bit with the high winds the last couple of days.  The water temp was 66 at the ramp, 72 in front of the discharge cove, and 63 way up lake, the same as it has been.

Being a weekend I wanted to be at the ramp at daylight in case of a crowd.  Those days seem to be over on Coleto.  There was one truck and another guy putting in his kayak, and that was it.  And as long as we are talking about the ramp, when I quit at noon there was 4 trucks in the lot.  That is a comment on both the fishing, and Coleto’s squeeze on folks by raising the entrance fee so high.  Really sad.

First I headed up lake to a bank where I have been catching at least a few.  I started with the swim jig when turkey disaster struck.  I was literally thinking about why I have not seen the turkeys as it is getting time when one flew down off the roost and I watched it fly right over my head.  At the time it was about my third cast and when I looked back at my line it was 10 foot off to the side and almost to the boat, and I never felt a thing.  It took me by surprise and I set the hook way to hard, the fish was going away, and my line broke.  1 second later here comes a big old head thrashing trying to toss the swim jig.  Dang it!  Hate it when that happens.

So things were looking up, not.  From then on it was worse than slow.  I had one more bite, a small I caught on a spinner bait, and never had another touch for over 4 hours.  Around 9:30 the wind really came up which obviously did not help.  So a little after noon I called it day.  I just do not know what to say.  Some of it is obviously my attempt to catch them shallow, which has worked for the last 10 years, but some of it is the fish and some the lake.  So will not stop going, they are going to bite at some point, but it sure has been a struggle.  Thank God for speckled trout, an easy way to get your catch on.

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As I was pulling the boat out at Froggie’s Tuesday I was reminded of what Carmine used to say when her restaurant was still open.  “There are so many guides in POC that they have to wear badges to keep from guiding each other.”  And that was years ago.  Truer words were never spoken.

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And this comment from Lacy.

Step up on that line wt. you don’t want to lose a 30″er lol

You’re having too much fun.

On a serious note, I really do believe that light line gets more bites, end of story.  Plus I joined the 5X club when I caught a 20lb striper on 4lb line so it can be done.  But the real club is the 10x club, though I doubt there are to many 80lb speckled trout out there!  It has been a while since I caught a real big one but I sure am due, just have to fish more!  I believe you are a first time commenter and I appreciate it.  And thanks for reading.

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Off Topic Rant

I was on hold for an hour and twenty eight minutes hoping to sign up for the vaccine, to bad so sad, you waited for nothing.  It is really needed in Victoria, over 200 new cases reported yesterday alone.  The hospital is swamped and the whole process is messed up.  I got a good laugh when someone in our local Health Department said they were happy with last weeks fiasco when the whole system basically crashed.  Huh?  And we pay these folks.  So for those of you who believe it is fake, please do not get or take the vaccine, leave it for those of us that want it.  It will soon be the key to major travel and we are ready to go some dang where and do something cool not in the US.  And don’t get your patriotic panties in a wad, we love to travel the US, it is just time for a big trip.

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And this  from Clyde, who stopped by our old stomping grounds on Lake Norfork.

That is a big one for North Arkansas.

He reported the water temp was in the mid 40’s with some color up lake.  This girl came on a crankbait and then they boated a good dozen on spoon on the Corp made brush piles.  So with this lighter winter looks like the fishing is about to take off.  I hope to make it back this spring to do it all over again, and maybe boat another big striper.  Thanks for the picture.

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Hope you caught the crazy online sale Michael ran on Knockin Tails.  If you didn’t, and want to know what is happening in the future, just log in to his Facebook site, a perfect way to keep up.  Michael said the sale was a rip roaring success.  The Knockin Tail is spreading across the country like a hot rumor.

(4) Knockin Tail Lures Group | Groups | Facebook

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It was feeding time, except for the bass.

Not much else to say, especially about the lake fishing.  Will be gone a day or two, then back at it.  The way it is going looks like it might be time to head to Falcon or Amistad,  And definitely headed back to the bay.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines