FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

“SAVE OUR WATERS”

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt

Brought to you by

Check out their new CFG Madre Sling

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Crank It Up!

I had no plan today until waking up at 4:45.  It was drizzling and the forecast was for some clouds and possible rain.  Can’t resist that set of conditions.  With it looking good I hitched up and was dropping the boat in as it was just cracking daylight.  The water has clearly come down just since Monday, the temp was still in the 89 degree range, and there was no change in the color.  And it was flat beautiful out there.

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Weather

76/94.  Mostly cloudy with a 50% chance of rain in spots.  Wind  SE 7 – 15mph.

Lake Level

Today  93.81 msl.   Monday  93.87 msl.

Solunar Periods

Minor  8:34 am to 9:34 am.

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The Knockin Tail is the perfect trailer for the swim jig.  They smacked it!  

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I decided to fish a bunch of places that I have not fished in a while.  So from daylight until around 9:30 it was slow pickens.  4 or 5 midgets jumped on the buzzbait and one good one pulled off.  I threw plastics on a couple of points that should have some, and it produced exactly one small.  The sun came out big time so it was up lake to pitch to cover.

On the way it dawned on me I had not thrown the swim jig in a while. and with the water up lake off color a Knockin Tail with a chartreuse tail made sense.  After trolling the other day and not seeing big bunches of shad why not the swim jig for something a little different?  The first one that ate smacked the snot out of it.  As did the next one.  I was running it on a steady straight retrieve.  It was nice to catch a couple of little better fish after the run of smalls.  And they were shallow.

Fishing the swim jig with a Knockin Tail rattling along is a no brainer.

Several other smalls also made the boat but the 2 above were nice ones.  They both came near a piece of brush and there was no doubt it was a bite.  After fishing a few more places the rain started.  Not being sure what was coming I decided to get a little closer to the ramp.  On the way there is a great point with standing timber that holds them at times.  Glad I stopped.

That is a good one!

I was sitting in 20 and tossing into around 10 feet and dragging it off the point.  I had a couple mess with the mag finesse worm but no takers until the one above hit.  When you are working a plastic on the bottom any bite could be a big one, and then there are ones like this where you know, she thumped it hard.  Of course I was just whining about the lack of big fish, so it was nice to have a pretty good morning.

One the way in stopped at one more point with some deep cover and with my superior skill managed to break one off.  I have switched to 15lb from 20 on the pitching rod and obviously did not have the drag set right.  So on that note I called it a morning.

I did want to comment on the wildlife.  The deer were literally everywhere, and as I have noted before lots of little guys.  Saw one bunch of pigs and it is amazing how spooky they are.  Of course tons of herons and egrets fishing the bank and I even saw 3 coons on one bank and another one later.  Stuff was out and about this morning and I love seeing it.  I try to never take it for granted and  know just how lucky I am.

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I have heard of using a “thumper” on the bottom of the boat for attracting white bass, but have never had the pleasure to see it in action.  On my morning trolling of boats for sale this one was on Craigslist.

Interesting.  Fancy.

I am sure it works as several different folks have told me about it.  My only question:  Who was the first person to bang on the bottom of the boat with a mallet thinking it would help the fishing?  Most of the time when fishing is tough we want to hit ourselves in the head with a mallet!

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And from interesting reasons for you to pay what I am asking.

 This is a 24,000 dollar boat new.

So.  What does that have to do with the fact that this is a 21 y/o boat?   Over the last few months of the pandemic one side effect I would never have guessed was the rise in used boat prices and sales.  Looking at them like I do there is a shortage of good used, reasonably priced, boats.  There is still the random high dollar “man I wished I had not bought it” boat for sale, but the price on used seems to have risen.  Many prices seem to be quite high considering the boats age.  But all it takes is a trip to some ramps to see folks are fishing.  And who knows, it would also seem that the price of new,  often in the $60k range, might finally be getting to the point where a good used is more within folks price range.  Consequently the price rise on used.  Good time to sell a boat, not a great time to buy one.

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According to folks who fish Fayette frequently there has been a serious uptick in crime on the lake.  This from TPWD.

A recent game warden academy graduate was enjoying a weekend of camping and fishing at Fayette Lake before reporting to his first duty station later this month in Starr County. One Sunday morning, the new game warden came across a small aluminum boat that was abandoned at the dam. He called local dispatch and gave them the boat registration numbers, then towed it back to the Oak Thicket boat ramp and secured it. When the local game warden arrived, a park worker told him that a boat had been stolen during the night from one of the campers. After talking to the campers, it became apparent their missing boat was the same one the new game warden had found on the other side of the lake that morning. The campers were overjoyed and grateful for the recovery of their boat.

When this kind of thing happens, along with the drownings, what is becoming a netting problem, AND the other assorted nonsense, one would hope the wardens would be visiting Fayette constantly.  I know they have lots to do and big areas to cover but a constant presence will help keep that stuff to a dull roar.  Nothing worse than not feeling safe at the ramp.

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Our buddy Chago and his family were back out in Colorado at their cabin in the high Rockies and from the looks of it what a trip.  And the boys have been wearing the fish out in both the rivers and lakes.  That is the one thing that surprised me as we spend more time out there, the number of fishing opportunities.  Primarily known for the trout fishing there are tons of lakes with just about any kind of fish you would like to catch.  His pictures just make me want to go back, so looking at September.  Let the crowds thin some.  There are lots of places I have not fished yet but am really looking forward to trying.  Add in the wildlife viewing and what could be better.

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And this on the flip phone front.  I have had the same one for years.  It has been in the water, dropped, you name it, and it kept on working.  Of course I have taken a little guff for having a flip, and at times it can not translate the texts I get.  But those days are gone.  ATT sent me a notice which basically says your old phone sucks and with the new network it is finally obsolete.  Tomorrow it is the I Phone thing.  Going to miss that phone.

So there you have it.  Maybe not the numbers this morning but the size was a major improvement.  And catching a few on the swim jig leaves me thinking about all those places where I will fish it next trip.  That would be Friday.  With our weather having some real rain in the forecast it will remain up in the air where.  But no matter what I will be back on the water.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

“SAVE OUR WATERS”

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt

Brought to you by

Check out their new CFG Madre Sling

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One Beautiful Morning

When I got to the lake at daylight it was almost dead calm and it really is dropping like a rock.  The end of the piers are completely out of the water and if it continues at this rate it could be interesting loading and unloading.  So if you are headed that way be sure to take it slow at the ramp, who wants to be the first guy to back off the end and get the trailer stuck.

Weather

76/92.   Sun and some clouds with a 60% chance of rain or showers in the afternoon.  Wind E 8 – 14 mph.

Lake Level

Today  93.87 msl.  Last trip 11 days ago.  94.20 msl.  May 27  95:09 msl.

Solunar Times 

Minor  12:38 pm until 2:38 pm.

The water temp was 88 – 90 degrees, really consistent over the whole lake. The color on the lower end is so/so clear, uplake it has some good color, but it is not muddy.  What little brush left in the lake is about to be completely out of the water.  Hard to really describe how far down it is, but when you are talking a foot or more it is shrinking the lake.

First up was buzzbait and although 3 jumped on they all looked like the one below.  So it did not take long to put an end to that.  From that point on it was pitching to any cover and some rocky areas.

Best For the Morning.

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The Knockin Tail put them in the boat on the bay, see the report below.  

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They were acting real hinky this morning and I missed as many as I stuck.  Though I threw at any piece of wood up lake, only 4 or 5 had a fish on it.  A couple of places gave up 2, but other than that it was slow.

One thing you can say positive about the lake is there sure is lots of these.

They seem to like the little shorter plastic I am throwing better than the stick worm.  It is actually a 4″ big bodied stick worm in what else, watermelon red.  One small one did jump on the Knockin Tail white ice swim bait, but with it as slow as it was I decided to do a little trolling for whites, and see what I could learn watching the locator.

A nice Coleto Crappie

First was the area with the big point right outside of the ramp cove.  Historically white bass hang around in that area but today not a bite from a white.  (It has been on the decline the last couple of years, which may be more of comment on the lack of white bass numbers in the lake.)  So after a couple of passes I trolled up lake to the discharge cove and back.  It took about an hour and 5 small bass and the crappie above jumped on.  I did lose a couple of crappie by not stopping the boat and reeling slow, but that wasn’t the real point of trolling today.

It was real surprising that I saw very few shad schools, and the couple I did see on the down scan were small.  When I did see fish I got a bite.  But again very few were seen, and most of those in the 20′ range.  Of the about 10 bites they just came here and there, other than the one place with the crappies never more that one bite.  I did not learn anything earth shattering about where the bait or fish were.  So at noon I called it a day.

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It really was about what I thought it would be.  The water falling like it is does not lend itself to stellar fishing when combined with this hot summer.  Sad what has happened to the lake.  From one of the best big fish lakes around to a dink fest.  Of course there are some big fish in the lake, but this is now our fishing, really miss the grass.

Headed back at some point for some spinnerbait fishing for redfish.  As wide spread as we  found them the other day it should be good.  And might be time to get out the fly rod as they were mudding around at one spot.  And thank goodness we have rain in the forecast the next few days and we sure need it.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

“SAVE OUR WATERS”

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

The Wade Right Fishing Belt

Brought to you by

Check out their new CFG Madre Sling

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It will be back on the bay in the morning.  My buddy David will be down tonight and it will be off to POC tonight for an early start in the morning.  And while I am not predicting squat, at least the conditions are those that I like.  A good falling tide all day with a prime period before it gets to hot.  About the only question will be wading vs. boat fishing first thing.  So after a stretch without hitting the bay it will be good to be back on the water slinging the Knockin Tail.

Weather

80/90.   Some sunshine with a 60% chance of an afternoon thunderstorm in some areas.  Wind  SE 9 – 15 mph.

Tides

High 7:05 am.  + 1.31.    Low  7:24 pm  – 0.23.  (So freakin’ wrong.  Not sure what the deal was.)

Solunar Periods

Major  10:48 am to 12:48 pm.

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There is some great news on the Knockin Tail front.  Stay tuned!  

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Knockin Tail Morning

You may be tired of hearing this, but if you have not added the Knockin Tail to your arsenal you are missing out.  It catches fish, and this morning it did yeoman work.  What I have come to love about it, as you will see with the pictures, they like all the colors.  It is all about the rattle!

When we got to the ramp it was just cracking daylight and it was all things Froggie’s.  There was a tournament and it was nuts.  Parking lot full, boats everywhere, been a while since I fished when it was that busy.  But the water was clear and 86 degrees, it just had a good feel about it, and that turned out to be spot on.  So we decided to forgo the wading and get right to the fish, good choice.

David with a good one.  Red Shad Knockin Tail. 

We decided to start on my old places and topwater was up first.  Though we found a couple of schools they were intent on rolling on it, following it, popping close, but just not eating.  I did boat one but we switched to the Knockin Tail and it was game on the rest of the morning.

Bone Spook Jr.   White Ice Knockin Tail.

From that point on we stuck with the Knockin Tail and basically just reeled it.  And those that wanted it smacked it.  The only funny thing this morning was the number of reds including rats we caught, but the trout were few and far between. But there was no blaming the trout.

A solid 20″ on the Pumpkinseed Knockin Tail.

And the reason I am not blaming the trout is both of us had a really good trout, as in big, and with our superior skill we managed to lose both of them.  David had his come off right beside the boat, one of those at least we got a look at her, but it sure did hurt to lose them both.

Whether in Big Bayou or the Oil Cut, the reds were on the chew.  We also caught 5 or 6 small trout and David managed a nice black drum.  Always a bonus fish.

David with a red and a nice black drum on the Magic Grass Knockin Tail.

Most came on a slow retrieve but occasionally it was on a hop and drop.  The water fell and then started up, which was totally confusing based on the forecast.  It was not all the way up when we started fishing at 6:30, then it fell around 10:00, then started back up.  As usual I will never fully understand tides, and this forecast was totally wrong.  But there was a silver lining, the water moved all morning until we quit at noon so David could make the drive back to Austin.

The hits just kept on coming.  Pumpkinseed and Pearl Limetreuse Knocking Tail.  Pick and color and throw it!

The better banks were the steeper ones, though we caught a few on the flatter banks to boot.  It was really consistent action all morning and we left them biting.

The last red of the morning on the Controlled Descent White/Limetreuse Paddle Shad.  And the only other trout to hit the cooler and headed to a  fish fry for the Boss.

We finally called it a day at noon.  Not sure how many we caught but it was enough to call it a good morning.  Anytime you can boat as many as we did in 5 1/2 hours it is some good fishing.  In the Oil Cut there were smaller trout other than the big one David lost.  As far as the reds went, it was keep a Knockin Tail in the water and you will get bit.  Since it has been a while for me on the bay I can see why so many good strings are on Facebook and I can imagine how good it is if you are out there regularly.  And fishing with David is always fun no matter how it comes out.  I give it an A!

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This is why I stay home on the holiday and plead with you all to wear your life jackets and kill switch, to keep the booze to a dull roar, and just be the bigger guy.  From TPWD.

AUSTIN – Thousands of Texans headed out to lakes, rivers and coastal bays to celebrate July 4th weekend, and Texas Game Wardens were out in force to ensure everyone stayed safe on the water. Game wardens conducted safety checks on more than 11,000 vessels across the state between Friday and Sunday.

In addition to issuing 1,061 citations and 1,348 warnings for various boating safety law violations, wardens arrested 42 individuals for Boating While Intoxicated and filed one other charge for Driving While Intoxicated. Additionally, another 34 people were arrested for various other charges.

Texas Game Wardens conducted multiple search and rescues over the weekend according to game warden Cody Jones, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Assistant Commander for Marine Enforcement.

On San Jose Island in Aransas County, game wardens rescued three individuals whose vessel became inoperable and washed ashore. All three of the individuals were returned safely to the Port Aransas Marina.

In Austin, four wardens responded to a capsized vessel on Lake Travis. Two occupants were hanging on to a floating kneeboard in the water when wardens arrived. Four other occupants were already removed from the water and onboard another vessel. Game wardens were able to bring the two occupants safely aboard the patrol vessel.

Wardens also rescued a swamped kayaker and located a missing juvenile on Lake Alan Henry.

Additionally, game wardens investigated 21 boating accidents across the state and three boating related fatalities that occurred on Lake J.B. Thomas, Clear Fork of the Brazos River and Lake Bastrop. There were also seven open water drownings that occurred over the holiday weekend.

“The dedicated efforts of the game wardens while working these tragic events is second to none and we keep the families in our thoughts and prayers,” said Cody Jones, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Assistant Commander for Marine Enforcement.

Our thanks for your hard work dealing with the insanity that is the holiday weekend on the water.

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One of the hazards of the internet is knucklehead trolls.  Now the same rear ends have come out trolling the announcement of the new Minn Kota Raptor anchor, claiming it is like the Power Pole.  Well guess what?  It is.  That is the way it goes, if something works and folks buy it of course it will be manufactured in some variation by someone.

We also see these same pinheads commenting on lures, which is even dumber.  Of course one lure might be like another.  So lets look at a couple of examples.  Take Strike King.  They make lots of jigs, but the modern bass jig was developed by Sam Welch in Arkansas in the 60’s, so they are thieves?  And their jerk bait, it is nothing more than a variation on the original Rapala.  How about Zoom?  Since they started making plastic worms are they thieves because it was originally developed in the early 60’s?  Make a crankbait – then you are a thief because it was developed as the original Big O.  Come on folks, that shit is ridiculous.  If it is that close and there is a patent violation the company will deal with it.  Otherwise shut the hell up, we don’t care, there is only one requirement – Does it catch fish?

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This morning got my blood going for more bay fishing.  It will be lake on Monday, then the hearing test etc. on Tuesday, then hopefully it will be back out there.  Though we did not boat the trout we should have that is an easy fix, fish more.  And time to do a little spinnerbait fishing for reds with the Knockin Tail, it could be epic.  I just want to get past this stupid virus thing and really get to fishing, time to get after it.  But be safe!  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

“SAVE OUR WATERS”

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt

Brought to you by

Check out their new CFG Madre Sling

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Just wanted to touch base and let you know I have not deserted the ship.  We spent a long weekend on the Mississippi coast and got back last night.  It was good to get the Boss a little time away from it all.

Unfortunately the “fake/Democrat” virus is absolutely blowing up in Victoria with 150 – 200 new cases a day, one of the top % increases in the NATION.  Dozens of nurses in the hospital have now contracted the virus, the area hospitals are full of sick patients, and we just lost a 16 y/o female along with many others.  30 nurses have been brought in to help with the outbreak.  Not sure how many deaths will satisfy the folks who deny this is real – maybe 200,00 – 300,000?   Walk a mile in the emergency room hero’s shoes and see how it really is.

Random Fish Pic – Belize Tarpon

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Post #1310 – That is a lot of writing!

It is time for the 3 year renewal of my website, headed into year 10, in other words shell out more money.  So in spite of the occasional desire to give it up I have decided to renew for another 3 years.  This is a labor of love, at times maybe a love/hate relationship, but as long as I am upright and fishing the website will continue.

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There is some great news on the Knockin Tail front.  Stay tuned!  

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Random Fish Pic – Love me some Falcon Lake bass!

I would be at the lake this morning but real life continues to rear its ugly head as we have been living on borrowed time with the AC at our house.  As it is 25 years old that is to be expected.  We had it worked on, but no great hopes actually, and when we got home from Gulf Shores it was nice and cool.  Turned it down 2 degrees and off it went.  So Joe Cool will be here later, and even if he can get it going again time to bite the bullet and replace it.  It may live again, but like cars, boats, and other mechanical things, let me down once shame on you, twice, shame on me.  Love home ownership.

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And time for another off topic rant.  We are small time gamblers, anything over a $100 and we are done, but I am a big proponent of legalized gambling.  We notice in our travels all of the Texas folks having at it, whether in Oklahoma, Louisiana, Gulfport, and beyond.  All of that is tax money and jobs leaving the state.  Now I know that folks have differing opinions on gambling, but no matter what folks love it and do it whether legal or not.  So however it is labeled: lottery, bingo, or office pools, it is still gambling plain and simple.  (Think your odds are bad at the casino – they are great compared to the state lottery.)  But there was one side affect of the casinos in the Mississippi area that I had not considered.  Jobs!

Even in these tough times there was no shortage of available jobs in that area.  Even with things “slow” there due to the virus there was work and lots of it considering. They are crying for help.  There were signs everywhere, and even the service jobs paid $12 to $15 to start.  I agree that is not big money, but it is a job and in these times with so many folks our of work it sure was good to see.  Is gambling a cure all?  Of course not.  But the end result, jobs and money leaving our state for no good reason.  Just my .02 worth.

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And one last word on the Mississippi coastal area.  I love what they did with the Katrina money.  Ramps, parks, the coast has it all, they did not waste it.  Unlike our incompetent county here that spent a cool half a mil on rebuilding a metal building.  Who paid out big money to contactors without itemized bills.  Who wanted a true accounting of the money and where it went, and then decided never mind.  The whole thing appears to be mismanaged and looks like they are going to let it slide.  Your tax dollars at work.  Sad.

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Now back on topic!  I got this comment from Don.  And I definitely learned something.

Is the “tiny child” rig hot down there? Seems to be perfect for summer finesse slow fishing in central tx.

So the answer to your question, never heard of it but I sure learned something.  So instead of me trying to explain it here is a post from Ike’s website that explains it.  Not only a good looking summer bait when times are tough, it has real application for super clear water like the highland lakes of Arkansas, or highly pressured fish.

Top secret! The Tiny Child Rig

I am sure it catches fish and for those of you who like the Ned Rig, or light line finesse fishing, this should be the bomb.  Thanks Don for the info, love it when folks share by adding to all our collective fishing knowledge.  And I can see it catching the snot out of smallmouth.

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I interrupt this post to report I am now sitting in a motel with the Boss.  It is always good to come back from 4 days out of town and end up in a motel for a couple of days.  The new AC will be put in Friday so here we are, it is way to freakin’ hot to try to deal with that.  But there is a silver lining.  My Buddy David is coming Thursday night to fish POC with me on Friday.  So I just booked a room down there and we can be on the water at daylight without having to get up at 4:00 to make the drive.

As far as the AC goes, comes with the territory.  Just amazing how stuff like that fails at the worst time.

Sorry for all the off topic stuff today, but that will change as the fishing renews in earnest.  Saw a pretty good lake report, they are still biting, and the Facebook posts from the bay look great.  Not sure whether we will be wading or not, but definitely will be some boat fishing on my go to spots.  Really looking forward to feeding them the Knockin Tail on Friday.  So keep stopping in and thanks for  reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

“SAVE OUR WATERS”

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

The Wade Right Fishing Belt

Brought to you by

Check out their new CFG Madre Sling

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

The rest of this report was written yesterday before I decided to fish.  Since we will be out of town a couple of days thought a lake trip was in order, especially with the wind forecast, which turned out to be right on.

Weather

80/96.   Partly sunny, breezy, humid.  24% chance of rain.  Wind  S 15 – 25 mph.

Lake Level

Today  94.20 msl.   10 days ago   94.47 msl.  (The steady decline continues.)

Solunar Time

Minor  9:48 am to 10:48 am.   (Could not tell.)

Dropping the boat in as it barely cracked daylight the lake was obviously dropping.  The water temp was 88 – 91 depending on where you were, and there is some color in the coves which is probably due to the falling water.

First up was a consistent point with a buzzbait, and 5 jumped on and missed a couple, all seriously small.  So up lake and to the places they were, and except for a couple of brushy deeper banks, it was few and far between.  I ended up catching 3 more on buzzbait, but again all small.  So time to pitch to wood, which is also slowly going away as the lake drops and the water warms

Needed a couple more like this.  Beaver style bait.

Covering lots of water 2 things became apparent.  First, there has to be some deeper water really close or they are not on it.  And they seem to have deserted the more isolated simple stump type wood, so look for brush.  Second, I can tell I have not been fishing as much, I missed as many as I caught, which was 5 on plastics.

  Knockin Tail White Ice.  Stick worm.

One thing about pitching lighter weights and baits, if you feel anything you have to set the hook.  Do the “see if they are on there thing”, and they drop it.  Catching those just comes with fishing a lot.  By about 10:00 the wind came up so there were 2 places I wanted to fish with plastics, the discharge and a long point.

The discharge gave up 3 and again I missed several.  But it was not quick so made a long run to a deep point with some wood and did not get a bite.  As this point the wind was blowing so I decided to make my fishing stand cranking, so I did.  Sticking with the 5XD in a sexy shad, it was 3 long deep channel banks with the wind pounding 25 mph on them.  One would think an occasional one would jump on but it did not happen.  All 3 banks were a bust so at 11:15 I called it a morning.  If the wind had laid some I would have stuck it out a while longer but after 4 places without a bite it was not looking to good.

This morning the deer were everywhere, and if the number of fawns on the lake is any indication the deer had a good year.  And today I saw 3 little gators, and I mean small.  They love that buzzbait or a frog.  Mean little guys.

The buzzbait was as big as him.

I did notice shad still seem to be everywhere, some are really small, and some about the size of a rattle bait.  So next trip will give the White Ice Knockin Tail a good go, along with a Rapala Shad Rap crankbait.  So not a bad morning, just a little tough, but not totally unexpected considering it is 100 in the shad.  As always good to be back on the water.

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The World is Plotting Against Me

As I always do I stayed home all weekend, no reason to add to the holiday confusion.  So the plan was to be on the water first thing Monday – but noooo!  Friday afternoon the AC just craps out.  Great.  Good thing was I have a smaller AC in the tackle room which we put in the bedroom to keep it and the living room cool until Joe Cool Heating and Air could come Monday morning.  Turned out better than I thought.

Here is a blatant plug for Joe Cool.  He is the 5th AC service we have used in Victoria and is the first honest one who has not ripped us off.  How could I possibly accuse all 4 of them of ripping us off?  Every single one, every year, on the annual check said we needed expensive freon.  Interesting as they never “fixed” anything but every time, by all of them, it needed freon.  The last 3 years we have used Joe Cool guess what?  No freon needed.  Hmmmm…..  And to add to things he comes when he says he will, responds to calls, and has a smile on his  face.  He fixed us first thing for a fair price and it is all “Joe Cool” again at my house.  Nice to deal with an honest service guy and I can not recommend him any higher.

So now it is Tuesday, and I am not fishing.  Why not?  Off to the ENT guy to have the ear checked.  More on that when I get back in an hour.  So one more round of meds as I have made some progress, then a hearing test.  Looks like hearing aids are in my future.  After watching my parents struggle with theirs at times I have decided on the big over the ear one, less chance that I will lose it.  Or at my age, forget what I did with it while it is still in my ear.  Hell getting old.

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The Knockin Tail, swim bait, jig trailer, or Alabama Rig, it will put fish in the boat.  

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Random Pics

Hollowed ground I was fortunate enough to visit!

It puts you in your fishing place.  Think you are all that, not so much.  These folks were pioneers and the fish and records in the club are mind boggling.  Much of it done on gear that was primitive by today’s standards.

Lee Marvin’s Grander.  I hope some day to return and give it a go, a true bucket list adventure!

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Got this from Rusty our Fayette guru.  You know you are having a bad day when………….

What is that thing out there on the water?

Man I hate it when that happens.

This is the comment his friend sent with the pictures from the Park Prairie Ramp on Fayette.

The ramp has a lot of algae and moss on it.  The truck was in Park and slid into the lake.

Not a cheap wrecker call either.

I have had a close call at that ramp, it can be really slick, and my brother had to sit for a half hour with his foot on the brake before someone gave him a tow because he could not pull out due to algae.  Why I put in at Oak Thicket Park.  And my condolences to whoever’s truck that was.  Tough break hope you had good insurance.

Over the 8 years or so I lived at the boat dock we saw that kind of thing at the ramp often, though looks like this was not his fault, that ramp can be slick.  We did see boats fall off trailers, had a brand new Bronco slide down the ramp and into the lake, even had a guy actually get so mad trying to back the trailer in he coded and died right on the ramp.

And as a side note Rusty reported New Mexico not only instituted mandatory 14 day quarantine when visiting from out of state, the motels are supposed to call the cops if violated.  Add that due to the virus spike Americans are being banned in many foreign countries and you have a mess.

What made that relevant is we were looking to head to the mountains somewhere west this week but decided not to make the trek.  Most of the places in Colorado were booked and New Mexico has been one of the tighter states since the virus.  Last time we were in Colorado it was all folks from New Mexico because even fishing was closed.  So by time you read this we will be headed somewhere to do something.  But this whole virus thing is getting old.

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

And our TPWD wardens report 45 Boating While Intoxicated charges filed on the water this holiday weekend.  My response – If you are that freakin’ stupid to not only drive a boat while drunk, but do it on a weekend when every law enforcement officer in the state is out looking for exactly that, then you are one bad criminal.  (After respresenting hundreds of criminals I know criminals that are bad at it.) You might want to try something else in the future.  Sorry no sympathy here, and yes you are a criminal.  (Maybe the hand cuffs and ride in the back seat would tell you something.)  To our Wardens – thanks guys we appreciate what you do keeping us safe out there.

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

It has sure been interesting, and I use that term loosely, in the tackle business.  Fishing has been on the upsurge since the virus started and getting stock, whether lures, parts, rods and reels, has been tough on retailers and manufacturers.  (One I heard about is so swamped he can just not keep up.) Many shelves are bare in Academy and last time I was in Cabela’s there was only 1 bag of 3/0 worm hooks, period.  Long manufacturing times on baits, regular shipping delays, it all affect the fishing world.  Just buy American made when you can and support our local guys.  When it comes down to it Academy or Wal Mart does not know you, or care.

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

Coleto Creek Bassmaster June Tournament Results

June winners at Coleto Creek:
1st place: Boo Knezek 12.43 lbs
2nd place: Brad Wright 11.15 lbs
3rd place: Zac Reihs 9.99 lbs
Big Bass honors: Trent Thrasher 7.82 lbs

This is exactly what I have been finding.  You can catch a limit but they might not weigh a ton.  But a big one is always possible, and 7.82 qualifies, so congrats to Trent.  At least they are biting.

(Tip of the day:  Anchor at the discharge and stay there all day.  If Groundhog Day is your thing you will get bit.)

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

On the fishing front I will be back on the lake in the morning, but overall just giving it a rest right now.  But my favorite season is coming, hunting season, and with that a huge drop in traffic on the bay.  Combine that with the beginning of the mullet run, and the reds starting to really gang up, and it will be time to get back to it.  And with a new toy coming to try can’t wait for fall.

This week we are headed out of town for a few days after the Boss finishes a long stressful stretch.   She has earned a little R&R and it took a while to find something acceptable for the long weekend.  But no matter what it will be face masks and hand sanitizing.  Just making sure we live another day.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

“SAVE OUR WATERS”

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

The Wade Right Fishing Belt

Brought to you by

Check out their new CFG Madre Sling

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

Speaking of Wade Right a big thanks to Tim and Jason.  They were kind enough to hook the Boss up with her own wading bag for her wading gear, along with a sling.  It is part of my insidious plan to get her wading with me on the coast.  So now she has Sims from head to toe and Wade Right for the rest.  Remember this boys – It is not how many fish you catch but how good you look doing it.  Not sure why she likes me.

So after fishing Monday I have taken this week off.  We have been 100+ heat index with winds in the 25mph range so I will sit this stretch out until next week.  And with the holiday weekend I will be staying close and leaving it to the rest of the folks while the Boss saves some lives.  Many of the beaches on the coast are closed for the weekend, so expect any area with water that is open to be busy.  They just closed all of Austin’s parks.  And remember, if you are going to Coleto go early, it will reach capacity fast.

And no matter how you feel about the state of the virus please be careful.  Victoria is in the middle of an explosion, and for some reason nationwide many folks who are getting sick now are even sicker than before.  You may not be worried but if you give it to your Grandma, wife, uncle, your opinion might change.  It is scary right now.

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The Knockin Tail, the best new bait on the market.  

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 I got several comments after the Chandeleur trip and here is one from Jimmie B.

I hope your trip to the ENT went well. Do you have an email address for Capt. Howie? I have sent him two emails from off his website with no response. I am planning a trip for next late May or early June. Tight lines!

Though there is an email address listed on the site I know that Tim from Wade Right who coordinates our trips always calls Capt. Howie, which is the best way to get in touch.  As a perfect example he came in from a trip that morning, loaded us up late in the day, and when we off loaded the last morning he was getting ready for another trip that day.  He is busy for good reason.  So give him a call and tell him I sent you, he will get a kick out of it.  A really good guy, he will answer as soon as he can.  As far as the ENT, some oral steroids for a week as it may just be an inflamed nerve issue.  Then back in a week, either fixed or injection in the ear, can’t wait for that one.

And this from Darryl who I met at Cabela’s.

First thanks for your posts, been an avid reader and follower since we met at Cabelas in Buda 4-5 years ago, looking at the discounted fishing line…. I am an avid fisherman, and normally tourney fish for Bass here in Central Texas, and have been President to a few Bass Clubs. However, I am doing more salt water inshore stuff as I like the challenge and the pull.

My question is simple: Chandeleur is on my bucket list, but getting 10 buddies together is like herding cats… I am open in driving a Charter group, leveraging like minded souls` who read your Blog, or is there another way you would recommend.

Tim organized the trips and has found that once the first one goes it seems there is no problem getting folks to repeat.  And I agree it is like herding cats to get that many folks together.  Our bunch is full for good reason, and like me, they all start looking forward to next year as soon as we dock.  One thing about booking Howie he has a base price per person, and deposit, that has to be met, and I am sure he will take one person if they want to shell out that much $$$$.

One thing I would suggest is booking a date fairly far in advance as he is busy, which does complicate the cat herding.  I have done tons of fishing travel and have heard the count me in thing quite a bit over the years, until the rubber meets the road and then my dog is sick, the wife won’t let me, etc.  So the task could be daunting.

As far as getting folks I would start with your fishing groups or your Facebook friends if you are on it.  Maybe post his website and one of my article about the trip seeing if there is interest.  Then if there is get folks to put some money where their mouth is.  It will be a challenge.  But do give Howie a call from the number on his website and talk it over with him, and tell him for me thanks for another great trip.

To the rest of you that have expressed an interest occasionally, if you ever wanted to go let me know and I can put you in touch with other interested parties.  In this case Darryl is a really experienced fisherman who would be a great person to coordinate the trip.  As I have said before, this is the best deal in fishing on the planet.  Having hired guides from The Great Barrier Reef to Oregon I promise you will get plenty of bang for your bucks.  (I  was looking for a flats guide in Gulf Shores the other day, and the day price was the same as Howie’s 3 day all inclusive trip.  Like I keep saying, grits, steaks, and Banana pudding, but never forget the Seagull Surprise!)  This trip was a perfect example, the fishing was slow, the weather sketchy, and we had a couple of self made hiccups, and it was still a great trip.  So good luck and let me know if things are shaping up.

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

As the number of guides expands I will always remember what Carmine – those of you who have been fishing POC might remember her restaurant – had to say about guides at POC.  “There are so many guides here they have to wear badges so they don’t guide each other.”  Sure makes picking a good one harder than it was.  At some point in the future I hope the state considers some kind of training like they do with guides and outfitters out west.  Just because you bought a boat and took a test does not make you a guide.

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

If you fish the Texas coast you need to check out this site.  A wealth of information, if you are a traveling fisherman and not a “stick with” my warm and fuzzy spot guy, visit them. When you read an article about a place to fish the salt in Texas you might want to try this is the bomb. It is probably the best coastal fishing resource on the net.

https://www.coastalbendfishing.com/

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More fun with boat buying.  Many are listed as “Condition fair.”

Condition fair.  2003 Honda 200hp needs motor, engine block has corrosion.

Fair, I might classify that as disabled.

Condition fair.  Everything works besides the shifter.

A boat that will not go in gear is not in fair condition.

Condition fair.  The floor was removed due to rot and needs to be replaced.

Who needs a stinking floor.

Condition fair.  The floor will need a lot of work.  Some electrical work, and cable work for the throttle may be in store for you.  The tires will most likely need replaced as well.

The fairest boat in all the land.

Boat is in good shape but motor doesn’t run.

A boat with a motor that does not run in not in good shape.

THIS IS A PROJECT PURCHASE.  NO TITLE FOR TRAILER.  NO ENGINE.

Like I have said so many times in the past.  Project = run away as fast as you can, especially when it is in all caps!

Condition fair.  No title. Can float on the water. Motor not included.

A new kind of boat.  Thank freakin’ God this will float on water.

It will need a new floor and new seats along with a new motor.

An easy fix.

Condition good.  The outdrive on the blue boat is good but the engine is shot. The white boat has a good engine and a bad outdrive.

Twice the trouble.

trashed inside,  free, you lift, load, haul.  will float fine.  no motor,
no trailer, no papers of any sort.

Free.  At least this guy is not delusional.

One thing I am seeing quite a bit on Craigslist now is a lot of Bass Tracker and Lund boats that are priced way below market, ridiculously so.  Of course the boat is in storage or some other excuse.  One thing that runs consistent on all the fraudulent ads is the contact information is always a email address.  Here is a couple of examples.  The names have been changed to keep slime like this from suing me when I call them thieves.

XXXX057 @gmail .com    XXXXX75@gmail.com

If that is the only contact information, run.  I see the same names over and over with boats so far below market it could not be real.  So ignore these, but if you just can’t resist ask where you can see it, if the answer is fuzzy it is a scam.  And if they want the $$$ up front just ask them which county to send the check, where it can be picked up at the sheriff’s office, see how that works.

Actually one thing that has come out of the pandemic is fishing related sales are great.  Folks who have been laid off have been fishing.  Heck Michael is having trouble keeping the Knockin Tail is stock, and so many of the shelves are bare in Academy.  And from what I read boat and camper sales are great.  Of course in the near future look for some really nice used boats to be back on the market.

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Being friends with the Wardens of TPWD on Facebook I keep up with them.  There was a post yesterday where they stopped a shrimp boat and apparently he had offloaded about half of a commercial bait guys over catch of croaker and was transporting it for sale, neither had the appropriate license.  They reported they released the croaker back in the bay, a good start.  But I look at it like a theft, which it is.  I see regular folks getting guns and boats confiscated with a violation, and I have no problem with that.  But it is time to treat the commercial guys the same as the rest of us.  Suspend the license and confiscate their gear when it is an intentional violation like this.  It is only fair.

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And from TPWD.

Drownings are up 30% over last year. Please be safe on the water this weekend.

That will do it for now.  Have a great weekend celebrating living in the best country in the world.  But do it safely when out and about, especially on the water.  There is no more dangerous time than our 3 summer holiday weekends and the last thing you want is to be a statistic when they release the figures.  Wear your kills switch and life jackets, give way – be the bigger man, you have no clue what that other fool is about to do.  Make sure your boat and trailer are ready to go.  Pick up your trash.  Drinking while boating this weekend is just like drinking and driving on New Years Eve – strictly amateur hour.  Law enforcement will be out and about this weekend and breaks will be few and far between.  So tell them thanks for their service and they just might tell you thanks for having your shit together.   (They probably won’t say it but just might be thinking it!)  It has happened to me several times.  With all that said have a great time.  Keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines and God Bless America.

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

“SAVE OUR WATERS”

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

The Wade Right Fishing Belt

Brought to you by

Check out their new CFG Madre Sling

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

With the forecast of up to 30 mph and gusty  (Just hit 31 mph on the radar as I write this.) decided to make a quick trip to the lake.  The Boss wanted some fresh fish so it was the easiest place to get them.  So at daylight I dropped it in the water.

Weather

80/93.  Breezy and humid with periods of clouds and sun.  24% chance of rain.   Wind  SSE 20 – 30 mph.

Lake Level

Today   94.47 msl.   10 days ago  94.60 msl.

Solunar Times

Major  8:33 am to 10:33 am.  Minor 2:57 pm to 3:57 pm.

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The Knockin Tail, the best new bait on the market.  

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

You can see the water level is dropping, to bad.  The temp was 86 give or take over most of the lake, the color was good, and the wind was blowing 15 mph when I got there, 20+ and white capping when I quit.  It stayed partly cloudy all morning.  To make a long story short my left ear played a part this morning.  When running it sounds like a wind tunnel, very irritating.  Wish I had some ear plugs with me, it was so irritating that I quit at 11:00.  Good thing seeing the specialist tomorrow, this is a pain in the ass.  I can hear some out of it now, but not sure that is better than it was when I could not hear a thing.

First up was up lake, and as it has been they are eating plastics and buzzbait.  It was an easy 10 on each, but nothing to get excited about.  Most near deep brush and on the little deeper banks. They want the buzzbait medium speed and the plastic tossed tight to cover.  I have not really found any particular plastic that they like more than another, it seems to be simply location.  So once you catch one it usually means several more are coming. And speaking of catching them, just saw a Facebook video where they were catching the snot out of them on crankbait.  This is definitely one of those find them and catch them periods.

This one felt like a good fish.  Not sure what this one was eating but it was a fatso.  The lake is full of these.

I messed around up lake until my ear got to bothering me so I headed to the discharge to do nothing more than catch supper.  There are a ton of fish there and it is easy pickens.  Not sure how many there, but it was a lot.  Just casting to the concrete and hopping it back, with most coming very close to the discharge.  And slow rolling the Knockin Tail will get you bit by a white bass.  The fishing on the lake reminds me of trout fishing, there are literally tons of 13 – 15″ fish and they can be caught right now.  But it begs the question after a wad of them, what is the point?

The Knockin Tail catches supper.

I kept 3 for supper and called it a day.  The lake is truly a dink fest right now and for me the big fish are few and far between.  Fishing it weekly for the last 8 – 9 years I have seen it all.  From one of the best big bass lakes I have ever fished, to the loss of grass and tough fishing, till now, where catching small fish is no big deal.  Hopefully the current “dink fest” as my buddy calls it will be the precursor to some really good fishing down the road.  So I am not complaining, bites are bites, but losing out of our spawn and spring fishing was a tough pill to swallow.  But like all fishermen, there is always tomorrow.

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

And this from SA Joe on my proposal to have a week or two every year where any trotline, limbline, or jug on the water can be taken in and disposed of.

I love those abandoned trot/jug lines, especially when my crankbait snags them.

I do the right thing. I check to see if there is any names or tags on them and if they are current.

IF NOT, I CUT THEM and Collect em !!!! Simple as that.

Sounds good to me.  There is just not enough time or personal for TPWD to really monitor the many lakes and rivers in the state.  So I will be sending my suggestion to them and see if I get a response.  Who knows, maybe I will be surprised.

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

The specialist tomorrow then not sure what.  Looks like the wind will be down near the end of the week, which is the weekend of the 4th.  It will be crazy, people will be dying to get out.  Hope that does not come to pass, but the virus is on the rise and it is a ton worse in the Victoria area now than in the original outbreak.  So stay safe, wear a mask for your loved ones and friends even if you do not care about yourself.  Keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

“SAVE OUR WATERS”

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

The Wade Right Fishing Belt

Brought to you by

Check out their new CFG Madre Sling

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

Anticipation on the Southern Belle!

Having traveled to many places in this world to fish there is one lesson that is learned, no matter where you go, it is still fishing.  And if the fish do not cooperate, or the weather goes to crap, or both, it does not matter where you are it can be tough, and this trip was.  So why do I give this one an A+?  Because every time I set foot on the Southern Belle, my third with this bunch, it is a great trip.  Capt. Howie and the boys take good care of you and as usual they were fantastic.   This was one hell of a trip that had it all in a crazy sort of way.

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The Knockin Tail got a real workout in the Chandeleurs.  

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I know you have come to read about the trip but the following short story actually plays a role in my experience this trip.  When I left Saturday morning to drive to Lake Charles and spend the night I was having some trouble with my left ear.  When I got up Sunday to head to Gulfport and meet the boat I could hear absolutely nothing out of my ear, totally deaf.  Hoping it was nothing more than a plug, and not an infection that might be a problem when out on the sea for 4 nights, time to stop at a clinic on the way.  And guess what, ear clear, drum fine, no infection, looked great.  Good news, none of that, bad news, the appointment with the ENT guy is set for Tuesday.  Getting old just keeps on  coming, but off to the boat I went.

We all meet up and it is good to see the boys, most with a connection to Wade Right, along with the boat crew.  We loaded up and by 9:00 pm we were on anchor at the Chandeleur Islands.  So after trading plenty of stories, and a few adult beverages, it was off to bed with high hopes.

Understand that we are talking 12 fishermen, most highly experienced in any salt anywhere, and most having been here several times or more.  There were only 2 newbies, but both of them long time fishermen.  I had the good fortune to spend my time with Nathan.  A serious experienced fisherman, we have actually fished many of the same places here and abroad, so we hit it off immediately.  He now concentrates on fly fishing for big fish, and I was anxious to see him do his thing.

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

The best I could muster, but it sure did pull.  Smacked a Controlled Descent White/Limetreuse Paddle Shad.  It has caught fish for me on all 3 trips.

(Keep in mind that I am older than dirt and my exact memories on the order of things might leave something to be desired,  but I hope to get it all in there.  It will also explain why there is a dearth of pictures.)  

After filling up on Capt. Howie’s fabulous breakfast it was off to the surf.  Suffice to say that we made 3 or 4 trips this time to the surf, and even though conditions were good at times it just did not produce.  Of course Billy, the new guy, catches his very first red that goes over 40″.  I on the other hand catch one keeper trout and lose a Whopper Plopper on a bull red.  Violated my always retie after a lady fish rule.  Tim had a few good ones on his stringer, until the tax man came to collect, but was kind enough to leave a head or two.  That was the best surf we had this trip.  Another trip I caught a spanish but could not get the trout going, a problem the whole trip for all of us beach or bay.

And finishing up the surf results, once it was to ugly and we  caught nothing.  Another the blue fish were biting us off as fast as we could tie on a new bait.  The most interesting that happened on the beach was when 6 of us were lined up and it happened.  Not sure how many cow nose rays swam by but all 6 off us were bowed up at once, all a foul hooked ray.  So off we went back to the bay.

Nathan with the fishing highlight of the trip.

And let me say this about the wading and drifting, the fish were just not there.  And those were places we have all caught them.  Drifting, wading, it was just tough.  Until the last morning it was never more than 4 keepers on a boat the first day and a half.  It seemed the trout just disappeared. On my first 2 trips they even told us to quit bringing redfish in, it is normally that good.  But it was slow, end of story.  Nathan and I spent a lot of our time chasing reds.  He wanted to boat a good one on a fly, and he got it done with a real stud.  And I wanted to see him do it as that is on my fishing agenda.

Michael at My Coast Outdoors was kind enough to send along some Knockin’ Tails for the boys and I can report they caught fish with the ice and the pearl being the best.  As tough as it was there was just nothing they wanted any more than any other.  Topwater accounted for a few, but even then they were not jumping all over it.  It really did turn in to a throw the box and hope.  There was no color, shape, size, top or bottom that made a real difference.  One thing that normally happens with that many of us working together we find the answer, this time it did not help.

It took us the second day to kind of get an idea on the reds when he caught the good one and I added one, then we caught 3 nice ones the last morning.  The highlight for me was Nathan catching that good one on a fly.  If  I learned one thing about fly fishing for reds from Nathan it was go shallow, then go shallower.  It is all about the tide. And watching him bowed up got my blood going, so time to get the fly rod out and get to practicing.  That morning I almost had a moment of greatness.  Time to give the bone One Knocker a go so on one of my first casts it was flat flushed.  Big trout?  That was dispelled as I watched my One Knocker go sailing by stuck in the face of a 3 1/2 foot black tip.

My first one on the Pumpkinseed Knockin’Tail.

On day 2 we learned a very important lesson, listen to your gut, it often is telling you the truth.  We struggled with the wind all 3 days and it was flat tough Tuesday. 4 boats of us were fishing the surf and the wind started to really  blow.  We talked about staying and waiting it out, but due to an outside factor, which we do not need to go into, we decided to have a go at making it back to the boat.  Bad choice.  It was ugly, and I only have 2 things to say about that.  Kill switch, life jackets.  We should not have gone, but ultimately no one got hurt but it could have been a completely different story.  The Southern Belle keeps our safety first and they were there when we needed them.  So in spite of a bad choice we fished on.

The last day the other 5 boats decided to drift a deep reef, some of it over 5 feet, we went for the redfish.  Like many trips it might take a while to figure it out when it is tough, and this was no different.  They all caught lots of trout, though most were on the small side they tasted the same to me.  Nathan and I headed to try a couple of places in our search for reds.  As the tide was up we went to secondary points in deeper coves and drifted over them close to shore looking for fish for later that day.  It really helps when you shut off  the boat and right off the bat see a huge tailer.

We ended up boating 3 nice reds and I added a keeper trout.  The wind seemed to lay down for a few hours every afternoon, and with low tide later, we were actually setting up for the last evening as we finally had a real clue.  But alas, all good things must come to an end, and though we found them it was not to be.

When we went in for lunch, a fish fry, the radar was ugly, and I mean scary ugly.  Capt. Howie said it was time to hit the road a half day early before it got really bad.  When the Captain says go your only response, how quick?  But the boats still had to be put on top and as the crew started to wrap it up the wind starter to literally howl.  It was so strong that Howie put the boat in gear just to hold the anchor.  If finally dropped a little, they got the skiffs loaded, and of we went in with seas a good 5′ and totally sloppy.  After a great supper and a nights sleep on the boat it was back to real life.

Sorry this report is so disjointed, and the pictures so sparse, but this trip was something different.  But we had some real adventure with the wind, including an experience none of us will ever forget.  (There is a story on that but unless you know someone who was there it will have to remain untold.)  The fishing was flat tough.  Normally between the 12 of us it does not take long to figure it out, this trip, not sure we ever really did.  And the wind did its best to mess us up.  We just needed one more day……..  What ever had them off their feed they finally bit the last morning. Since we really kind of got off the count it was probably around 50+ keepers, way down from the last trips.  But if you go on trips like this with the end result being the big reason you are missing the point.  Of course we all want to clobber them, but real fishermen know that shit happens, and this trip it bit us.

But for me there were the good sides, meeting back up with the boys along with making a few new friends.  Capt. Howie and the crew doing it up right like usual.  The steaks, banana pudding, fish fry, grits, and all the rest were up to restaurant standards.  My favorite – Seagull Surprise.  That stuff is crack casserole!  Being somewhere with no internet or cell phone.  Tossing back a few, and I use that term lightly, and then laughing until your gut hurts.  Being first up with the crew.  Getting motivated to catch redfish a new way.  Watching my bone spook in that clear water swim on by.  The picture below.  It all just makes me want to go back.  Nice to be with folks who take it in stride, a good time was had by all.  Next year we will kill them!

I never get tired of the sunrises from the boat.

So that is the size of it.  I am still recovering, nothing a little ibuprofen will not cure, but if you see me speak to my right ear.  Everything was wet so it all got cleaned and dried, and getting things back in order will be the last thing left to do.  Then the reels definitely need a little extra care and cleaning with new line before heading back to the bay.  Now it is back to real life. I will leave this weekend to folks and then it will be back on the water.  I will be closely watching future tides looking for that dead low day when I will make the first redfish on a fly attempt.  And last thanks to the Southern Belle for putting up with us. So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

Fishing on the MS Gulf Coast with Southern Belle

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

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

“SAVE OUR WATERS”

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

The Wade Right Fishing Belt

Brought to you by

Check out their new CFG Madre Sling

Right on time.  Great to be alive on a morning like this.

One more morning before I hit the road.  I did want to let you know that when I pulled out yesterday they already had the entrance blocked with the sign that the park was full for the day.  They are limiting access to 100 total, either pass or day use, which is not a lot of folks.  When I pulled out there was only 7 or 8 trucks at the ramp and some folks swimming.  So be advised get there early, especially on the weekend.

Weather

92/75.   Partly sunny with a 25% chance or rain.  Wind  SSE 12 – 18 mph.

Lake Level

Today 94.60 msl.    Yesterday  94.62 msl.

Solunar Times

Major  12:07 pm to  2:07 pm.  

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The Knockin Tail will get a real workout in the Chandeleurs.  

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A Different Day

Unlike the last couple of days the early morning bite was slow.  When I say early morning it was a minute after 6:00 am when I made the first cast.  I decided to start on the good buzzbait bank from yesterday, and that was a big fat 1 small.  Though I kept after the buzzbait they just were not having it this morning.   So after the sun got up I switched to the old standby, pitching to cover.

Nothing a big as yesterday but a few were respectable.

Since I had that Jelly Worm on from yesterday I used it all morning.  The fish were really tight to heavy cover and I got to enjoy several real tussles.  The first one above got all hung up and we played tug of war, I reeled down in the tree, let it go slack, and just kept working when he finally worked his way out.  A small one even ended up getting flipped over the boat when he ate 5 feet from the boat. They were definitely biting the plastic better but I wanted to make another pass on the good bank with the Spook.  A stretch of it was loaded with the size of the one below.  They were smoking it, and if they missed I would stop it and they would jump all over it.  5 came in one short stretch, but never did have a good one take a run at it today.  As it was getting late I decided to do something I rarely do, fish the discharge on the way in.

The better fish came pitching today, but still got bit on the Spook.

There was lots of water running  and the fish were there.  Not sure how many I caught but if you get to the lake stop and give it a quick go.  You can catch a bunch and post on Facebook what an awesome bass wrangler you are.  There are that many fish there. Fishing discharges has never been my thing, to much like fishing in an aquarium.  But they were eating the Jelly Worm so time to toss the Pumpkinseed Knockin Tail.  And it immediately worked.

The Pumpkinseed Knockin Tail caught its share this morning.

Though I have been power fishing, my favorite when they will eat on top, the Knockin Tail swim bait will catch fish right now.  There is something about the rattle in the tail that makes them eat.   And with their diet so varied right now, crawdads, shad, and bluegill, the Pumpkinseed is a great all around color.  In a couple of days it will be the Chandeleurs where the Knockin Tail is going to sack them up.  I can feel the thump just thinking about it.

Around 11:00 a big rain came in from the West, and I ended up getting soaked.  I thought I heard it coming over the hill and before I could get out the raincoat it flat poured, a theme the last couple of days.  So time to call it a day.  While the size was not up to yesterdays standard, it is nice when they are hitting multiple ways.  As long as there is something tugging on the line it is all good.

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If you like crappie folks are crappie fishing up a storm.  I have seen several boated just passing by them.  The deep outside trees seem to be popular but some of the guys up lake are fishing in stuff less than 10 feet.  They must be biting

There were quite a bit more folks fishing, so be aware if you are thinking of hitting the lake this weekend, go early.  If they stick with the plan it will be closed early and you just might waste a trip.

Last, as I was heading back down lake a bass boat doing a hundred went by shooting a giant rooster tail.  Always wondered why you would want to use horsepower just to do that, other than showing off.  And then here came another doing the same thing.  You can tell the weekend has started,

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One thing I would like to propose to TPWD is an annual trotline/jug clean up, just as we do with crab traps annually.  There are tons of jugs and lines left on most lakes and there needs to be a couple of weeks where they are not allowed so that we can pick up any that are left unattended.  After finding a Great Blue Heron caught on an a ghost limb line I am convinced we need it.  I don’t understand why people are to lazy to pick up their stuff, it just keeps killing wildlife and fish.  So if this is you – Stop It.

As a side note, and do not get your Texas panties in a wad, but after visiting states all over this country Texas is tops with litter.  Texans are proud of their state but when they mow roadsides the amount of trash in the ditches is amazing.  Littering should have gone by the  wayside years ago, and it puzzles me who and why folks keep trashing their state.

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After catching a good one on Jack’s Jelly Worms I got this note from Joy, my mother-in-law.

Thanks for fishing Jack’s little wormies. That will be his Fathers Day present. I got them for him as he wanted to tease one of the women in here with us. She always kept a pot of flowers outside her door so he put them on the flowers to scare her. It did the job.

My pleasure.  Now I need to find out where to buy some more, they catch fish.  And have a good time with the Boss and the rest of them up there this week.

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Well I got the bass fishing out of my system for now.  It really has been a pretty good week, just a matter of figuring it out some, and just being on the water when it happens.  Add a big fish and it is all good.  After a long drought it is back to some serious fishing.   And just in time some serious salt in one of the cool fishing spots in this country.  I wait all year for this trip, it checks all the boxes.  So with no internet, I wouldn’t care if there was,   it will be Friday before I get up the report.  Suffice to say it will be awesome.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

“SAVE OUR WATERS”

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt

Brought to you by

Check out their new CFG Madre Sling

The plan was to be on the water just a little earlier, and I made it.  There was a light SSE breeze and the water temp is stable in the 85 degree range.  And the color is definitely clearing, especially up lake.  It turned out to be a great morning for lots of reasons.  But first there is a little story about today.

This One Is For Jack

When my father-in-law had a stroke we went and ended up moving them to a higher level of care.  While packing I found a package of Mann’s Jelly Worms in the perfect color, watermelon red.  From the mid 70’s and through the 80’s it was my worm of choice for night fishing and I did not know they even made them any more.  Not sure why he had them, but I told him at the time that I would catch a big one for him.  That was the last time I saw him.  I was reminded seeing a picture from the Boss, who is visiting her mom and sister.  So today I decided to get that done.

That will work!

I went to the perfect place and a couple of casts later it was done deal.  Here you go Jack, in case I see you again on the other side, just wanted to let you know I did not forget.  Now back to the rest of the day.

Weather

93/75.   Sunshine with patchy clouds with 25% chance or rain.  Wind  SSE 10 – 17 mph.

Lake Level

Yesterday 94.66 msl    Today  94.62 msl.

Solunar Times

Major  11:19 am to 1:19 pm.  

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The new Knockin Tail is available at the Waterloo Pro Shop in Victoria and a tackle store near you.  

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First up was a bank that has had them on it to toss the spook.  The only one in the boat, the rest are in the saltwater stuff, was a frog color but it had a white bottom, which would do.  And of course I caught a small one on my first cast.  And around that little point and down the bank a ways I put 5 in the boat, but they were all small.  I did miss one that was not to bad so time to point hop.

2 smalls jumped on fishing the next bank, then nothing for a while.  I finally figured out they were past the points, which is a little different from the last couple of days.  And with the little breeze there was not the visible shad activity there had been.

A nice fish but she sure needs to eat a little more!

They wanted it in a medium speed walk the dog pattern and until the sun really came out the ones that bite kept after it.  As long as you did not pull it away from them if they missed it they would come back.  And today if you got a bite you got several.  They were definitely schooled up.  So with the sun shining bright time to head up lake and toss the buzzbait.  Not sure why, but they way they were biting I figured it would be good.  Again it was a matter of fishing what and where in the order you should.

This was a real one!

I started on the last shady bank I could find up lake, and they were there.  The water has  cleared plenty for buzzbait or spook.  Before it was over there I caught 6 on buzzbait, and even re-fished it with the spook and caught a couple more.  You know I have had tarpon hit a spook at boatside, watched a blue marlin smack a top trolled bait, and caught plenty of saltwater fish on topwater, but there is something about a big bass hitting a buzzbait.  This fish absolutely smashed it in a huge boil.  One thing about a buzzbait if you can throw it in front of a good one they will smack it.  My favorite bite in fishing, which is why I throw it so much.

A couple more from the same bank.  The bite was on.

As the morning progressed he clouds moved in and rain was in the air.  So I took care of Jack’s fish and was headed back down lake to fish a little topwater with the new clouds and it started to pour.  So with a nice bunch of fish this morning I called it a day at 11:00.  They were biting on the front and it was a good morning.  And to make the day even sweeter I got to see another crazy fawn.  Momma was drinking and the fawn would get on the edge of the bank and when a wave from a passing boat would come ashore it would hop out and run around in a big circle.  It was so cool to see and definitely was the icing on the cake.  I give the day a big fat A.

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Scam

One of the things you see on Facebook occasionally is a post that says they are looking for 100 anglers to rep their company.  I have seen it with rods, lures, and tackle.  This is nothing more than a scam to increase numbers and sell stuff.  As far as really representing them, bullshit.  Think about it, every wannabe with a fishing rod wants free stuff and any reputable company does not need, nor advertise for, reps.  Companies that do have reps have them for one reason, they can sell baits.  So next time you see it on Facebook mark it as spam or misleading.

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The Boss with her sister Barb and hubby Steve.

The Boss is visiting family in Iowa this week and they did a little kayaking on a local lake.  A Hobie in her future?  You never know.

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It sure was nice to catch a few solids today.  The old saying is so true:  “The more I fish the luckier I get.”  While it is a little more complicated than that, nothing beats time on the water.  And if you just pay attention you can build on each day.  Today the numbers were down, but the size a major improvement.  With one more day before Louisiana it will be back on the water really early to hopefully finish off the week with a bang.  I have kept the days short, there is some hard fishing to come and I don’t want to burn out.  But after our terrible spring it is good to be back at it.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines