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

As I  prepare this I am really looking forward to giving the bass a go tomorrow.

This will be one long week until Saturday when I take off for the Chandeleur Island trip.  It has become my favorite trip for several reasons.  The location, the fishing, the food, and the folks I get the pleasure to fish with.  Of course I am almost ready to go and looking forward to doing some serious fish sacking.  It is one of the few times during the year when I participate in a down right meat haul and seeing that giant onboard cooler with a couple of hundred trout is an awesome sight.  And it usually only takes a morning or the first day before they tell you to quit keeping reds.  The fishing is that good. Hope the weather is calm so we can fish the surf, it is full of big fish.  And the encounters with the man in the grey suit a couple of years ago were entertaining to say the least.  Especially when one decided that Jason’s manhood looked like a place to hit with his nose.

And speaking of Louisiana just got this from Aaron.  Those of you who read this know he is one great all around fisherman, and he is up to his usual tricks.

Aaron with a big flattie from Lake Calcasuieu.

Weather

93/70.   Mostly sunny with 0% chance or rain.  Wind  E 9 – 15 mph.

Lake Level

Today  94.89 msl.   17 days ago  95.05 msl.

Solunar Times

Major  9:10 am to 11:10 am.  Minor  3:30 pm to 4:30 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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If it wasn’t for the show that Mother Nature put on a couple of times this morning the day would not have been the best on the water I have had in a while.  At daylight the water temp was 85 and the lake had a little color to it, more the farther up the river you go.  The wind was basically calm and it drizzled a time or two, going from cloudy to clear and back to cloudy several times.  It kept that up until heading back to the ramp at 1:30 when it poured and blew and I got soaked.  Left 5 minutes to late.  Which stills puzzles me when looking at the forecast.  (Of course when I got back from Colorado I cleaned the truck and put the rain suit in the Louisiana pile.  Normally it spends most of its life in the truck for days like this.)

A bunch like this, and not an inch bigger.

Funny how catching 20 plus is a bad thing, it wasn’t really a bad thing, but it sure did leave something to be desired.  As a perfect example, on one bank with either a beaver style bait or a stick worm, I  caught 9 and missed several.  Every single one looked exactly like the one above.  Before the morning was over 3 or 4 really small came on a buzzbait, the rest on the plastics.  I did throw a small square bill some and the swim jig with only one halfhearted bite on the swim jig.  Nothing over a couple of feet deep.

Almost all of them came on or near wood of some sort.  Deeper banks with wood were best, but even with the consistent bites I am not sure if I even missed or lost a good fish.  I fished up lake and down, and even hit a couple of really deep points with wood and could not get a bite on those type places.  It really was hard to figure out why there was not a bigger fish or two this morning, but it is what it is.  Most probably has more to do with me not fishing much the last 3 months on the lake.  As the old saying goes:  “The more I fish the luckier I get.”  And I probably am going to have to change my ways some if I want to get on the better fish.  So will just have to fish more.  And now to the highlights of the morning.

There is a place with a big bush/tree out over the water and as I fished by it a big bull gator roared.  It was freakin’ awesome.  He would get loud, then just kind of growl, and then roar.  Having only heard that once before it was one of those cool things that come with being on the water.  Rounding the tree there was about a 6 footer, who knows, maybe the girlfriend.  As that was the best catching area I re-fished it a couple of hours later and as I went by the tree he literally exploded in a huge boil.  It was just plain something.  And then it got better.

Going down the bank I could see a doe and a really small fawn.  They came to the water to drink and then momma went up in the brush.  The fawn on the other hand went nuts playing in the water.  Jumping in and splashing, then out on the bank and jumping back in.  Tossing water with his nose.  Laying down and then jumping, just like a puppy might do.  It was having the best time and since I was coming with the trolling motor I got real close before momma spied me, and off they went.  So the day was a success, there is always plenty of fish to be caught but seeing those 2 things back to back made the day.

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Bagley Baits has been sold to a large corporation.  It was so nice when the brought back the Bang O Lure and I appreciated the help they gave me.  Only time will tell how that works out, but often does not turn out to be a good thing.  No matter what the Bang O Lure is still the best minnow bait ever made.

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I was happy when we got back and the boat was finished at the shop, and it was all good when I picked it up Tuesday.  The next morning there was a little rewire job in the bilge, and it went downhill from there.  I was splitting a wire with a filet knife (Proper tool for the proper job?) when the end of the wire popped off and like a rocket hit me right in the eye.  That freakin’ hurt.  And to make matters worse it was covered in everything a dirty bilge has to offer, gas/oil/fish guts/bleach/beer, and God knows what else.  The good thing – no pucture.  The bad thing, a bruise and a chemical burn.  So the next 3 days were miserable and my fishing plans for the week were cancelled.  Nothing like feeling like something is in your eye for 3 days.

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With the boat hitched up I decided to gas it and truck in anticipation of a good week of fishing.  (The Boss will be gone most of it.)  And since I was out thought I would stop by and renew my Coleto annual pass.  Since the lake was closed for 3 months I had a delusional hope that they would credit us with some of that time considering it was 1/4 of the annual use.  No credit, to bad so sad.  I did not take it out on the nice lady, she has heard plenty since they went to $17 a day and now this.  But I did email most of the Board of Directors expressing my displeasure, one has responded.  After the canned and ridiculous response to my complaint about the daily raise for folks who might have a tough time paying that much I skipped sending this directly to GBRA.  My real complaint with the raise, and now this, is some folks can barely afford it, especially the retirees and retired military, the folks I see out there during the week.

One person commented that since they were ordered to close I should not expect a refund of any of it because their costs continued during the shutdown.  I look at it this way –  If I eat at my favorite place every Friday and they close down for 3 months under that theory I should continue to pay so they can keep operating.  My real problem with that opinion – We have been told for years to have 6 months of expenses in reserve to protect against things like this.  So why are corporations not held to the same standard?  No matter what they took my money and did not provide the service.

There was a couple of comments on the internet this weekend when folks loaded up and headed to the lake Saturday.  They have set some limits on the number of folks allowed in, and apparently a couple of boats loaded up and went to the lake, only to find it closed to more visitors.  Folks are definitely fishing.

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And here is quick report from our Fayette guru.

Glad your back but I know how hard it must have been to leave! Been fishing Fayette a lot and things have changed in the last couple weeks. Day break you can catch some nice fish on swim jigs for about an hour then it’s over. Move out to 18-25’ by the dam with Carolina rigs using Senkos in watermelon/ red glitter and you can catch some more until the sun cooks you to medium rare. Deep water is holding lots of fish if you can stand the heat.
Tight lines
Rusty

Thanks for the report, it mirrors what Joey, one of the Austin Boys, found fishing there last week.  Deep near the dam seems to be the ticket as the day heats up.  At least you are putting some good ones in the boat.  Welcome to Texas summer, out early to beat the heat.  Thanks for the report.

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Saturday morning the Boss and I went for a drive to POC to put some promotional Knockin Tail Lures out, love the doing that.  It turned out to be just as I told her about POC this time of year, only it was more spectacular than that.

The whole town was in a fishing frenzy, the Speedy Stop pumps were packed with tons of boats and the parking at Froggie’s was something.  Trucks and trailers went around the lot and all the way out to Main Street.  They had even started parking in the new steak house parking lot.  And with the tournament season coming to POC it will only get worse on the weekends.  Folks are just dying (Pun intended.) to get out.  So as far as the weekends down there, my plan, wait for hunting season.

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I needed a new stringer for the Louisiana trip, it is a meat haul, and I thought about a new net as my handle is held together with black tape, so we stopped at Academy by the house.  It was crazy busy and I have never seen one more depleted.  Much of the fishing stuff was gone, rods and reels way down, and the place was in total dissaray.  I did pick up a $2 stringer which I will be happy to donate to any shark that wants it when we fish the surf on the islands.  There was not a net to be had but my old one will work.  Last trip I lost a couple of big trout trying to use the Boga, and since we have a little pool going time to put them in the net.  Not sure what is going on with all that at Academy.

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Have now done over 1300 posts.  That is crazy.

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The Boss is leaving town so it will be back on the water Wednesday and hopefully 2 more days before heading to Louisiana.  The next few days will be long waiting to hit the road.  In my mind I can see a big red smoking a topwater, feeling the thump of a big trout on plastic, catching big trout after big trout in the surf, it really is a great trip.  So there is lots of fishing to come 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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It is always good to be home.  We really do take full advantage of the Colorado wilderness and burn the candle at both ends.  It really is a magical place.  While my fly fishing skills are still in the beginners phase, I am learning.  One thing that tickles me is how fly fishermen use a “strike indicator”.   Not growing up all fancy we called them bobbers.  But for me I like those little foam pinch on indicators, less resistance to the fish on the bite.  Other than that I have tons to learn and will keep it up.

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You have seen Tommy in the past who is a real multi-species fisherman.  No one trick pony here.

That is a string!

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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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And this from Fishing Florida Radio.

The Knockin Tail Lure is spreading across the US for one reason – It is a BETTER plastic that catches fish.  Enough said!

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And from a Coastal Angler Magazine Editor to Michael at My Coast Outdoors,  home of the Knockin Tail Lure.

I didn’t get a measurement on her, but it’s the biggest trout I’ve ever caught.

Every few years we take a weeklong family vacation to St. George Island. My two brothers and I always fish the bay pretty hard from kayaks. Although we occasionally hit those magic moments, it’s usually a numbers game. Make a thousand casts a day to cover a ton of water and catch 5 or 6 reds and maybe a trout or two. Over two decades, we’ve landed on a gold spoon as our confidence bait. It comes through the weeds, casts a long way and catches reds. This year, everyone was chunking Knockin Tails by the third day. They flat-out work, and they catch trout as well as reds, unlike the spoon.

I will be ordering more in Chicken on a Chain.

Glad sales are going well. – Nick

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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One of 45  lakes we hit today.

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The new Knockin Tail is available in Victoria and a tackle store near you.  

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We have really been lucky on our morning drives.  As an example Wednesday we saw tons of mule deer, some elk, turkeys, and one of the coolest coyotes I have ever seen.  It was almost black and really big, at first we thought it might be a wolf.  But he stopped long enough to let us get a good look, and it was clearly a coyote.  I know I keep saying it, but to really “hunt’ the wildlife good optics are a must.

Thursday we decided to hit a couple of roads we have wanted to see, which included somewhere around 6 lakes.  One thing I have been surprised about is the number of lakes, there are lots and all have trout.  The first couple not a bite on spinning gear which surprised me, though it was just a few casts and then on we went.  Before the day was over we visited a couple of lakes and saw tons of stuff.

I did meet Jake who was at the first one with his family.  He is a hard core fly fisherman and we had a good chat.  He fished the Peidra the day before and caught a really good rainbow but not big on the numbers, so my results the last 2 days ended up being just fine.

Seeing plenty of mule deer and the occasional elk.

There is no shortage of lakes in the Pagosa Springs area, and they all have trout.

We stopped at a lake called New Meadows and I stuck supper on a Rooster Tail.  They were willing and it did not take me long.  What we did not know was going a few more miles up that same road would have been worth it.  At happy hour at our favorite motel that night we met Deano.  He works with the government on water projects and spends tons of time high up in the mountains.  We found out if we had gone farther up the road to another lake we had a good chance to see a moose, which would be cool.

The Boss.

On our drive  we hit the fly shop in South Fork and I replaced the ones I lost the day before.  I lost them on fish, bushes, rocks, you name it I hooked it.  But it comes with the territory and is all part of the learning process.  Funny how with fishing, whether it is a $20 lure, or 10 $2 lures it still seems to come out the same when it is all said and done.  And some powerful readers is in my future next trip.  All this fly fishing stuff is small, really small.

It just never gets old at the top of the country.

It is so nice to hit a lake and sack up supper.  All the rest of fish caught in streams and rivers I release, whether it is a catch and release area or not.  So here is a picture of the trout out of the lake.  Looks pretty good huh?

From the lake to our table.

It took me a day and a half of hard work at it to finally get a clue.  The water has been dropping and the primary creek we fished was the Peidra River coming out of Williams Lake.  Wednesday we worked hard wading where we could and only managed 1 small one apiece.  The Boss had 4 or 5 bites on a dry fly, I stayed with the midge.  But day 1 was a wash.  But I was starting to have a clue what not to do.

Brown trout are just plain beautiful.

Friday we headed down below the lake which is quite a hike down to the river.  I lost one and missed one, the Boss did not have a bite.  I really have a lot to learn on fast water.  So we hiked back out and headed down river to a good area to wade.

A rainbow.

Once we started again after lunch Nancy had a little twinge in her back so she read a book and I kept after it.  Finally it started to happen.  I think it was 4 or 5, all browns, all related to runs with big rocks, as long as it was not to fast.  Another part of the learning curve, the strike zone is small, real small, and precision casting is important.  And I would like to thank a nice brown for tipping me off to the area that had the fish.  As the dry fly drifted past a rock he rolled on it, not an attempt to eat, just enough flash to clue me in they were there.

Fly fishing really is an interesting sport.  There is lots to learn, and I actually learned some.  One thing is NOT setting the hook, but just lifting the rod.  I actually tossed one over my head!  A fish, not the rod.  But we never did solve the top bite. It was 0 for around a dozen rises.  After finally taking a picture of a small brown Friday evening I forgot the camera on the river bank.  But as it was Friday, and Saturday would be our last day, my plan was to go and get it in the morning, and hopefully fish some depending on the weather.  Turned out it is a good thing the camera is water proof.

The best rainbow I  could manage on the fly rod.

It was pouring when I got up at 6:00 and headed to the river.  On the way the roads were cat shit slick.  They had been rock hard as they have had little rain, so once it got wet the top turned to a slick muddy mess, which made going down some of the big hills interesting.  But 4 wheel and taking it slow I made it without piling up.

The first Brown trout that I landed.

When I got to the river it was pouring so I walked back to the camera and there it was.  It was real apparent that the water was on the rise, sound alone told me that.  I did not even put on the waders, it was thundering and lightning all around and it was clearly not going to be long.  So back to the truck to get both rods, a #16 midge on one and a floating bug of some sort on the other.

First cast with the midge a brown jumped on so I tossed the dry over them and missed another.  I only fished a couple of hours but ended up with 6 bites on top and not a take.  Not sure about all that, but it was interesting to see them come for it.  Maybe the general small size had something to do with it.  So I stuck with the midge and caught another 3 or 4.  Slowly but surely the river was coming up, and then here came the debris and the color.  Really glad I got an early start because once it started it was over.

It is Saturday afternoon and we might make one more wildlife drive, and scope out some property that looks interesting.  The more we come here the more we like it.  Folks are nice, the weather is great, and there is all the fishing you could want.  Heck, there is even a large lake only 3/4 of an hour from here with lots of bass and some really big pike.  And as we have learned on our drives there are other areas with roadside access to assorted small streams.

The water is about to get right, but it really is so dependent on snow melt and rain.  And there is still now on the divide.  So we got lucky this week as the levels got better every day, but the rain today had them coming back up rapidly.  We never did fish the San Juan, it was getting close, and the guy at the fly shop said the drift boat fishing was getting good.  And over on the Rio Grand it was still high, and where I caught lots of browns in October was still to high and running hard.  But the drift fishing was getting good and the fish were eating drys.  So if we make it back out here in July like we had planned it should be just right.

Our guide near Estes always told us when you catch a fish stop and look where you are.  This week we have really lived that, thus only 2 reports.  Instead of being tied to the computer and camera we have just been enjoying the beauty.  Everywhere we looked it was something and we appreciate just being out here and spending all day outdoors.  Access is what makes Pagosa Springs the place it is.  The more time we spend outdoors the more we know we have lots to learn.  This has been another great week, but like all trips it comes to an end.  We will be home in a couple of days and it is back to “real” life.  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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Our Happy Place

We have driven hundreds of miles over the years on mountain roads looking for wildlife.  We have been so lucky to see the things we have, and everyday is an adventure.  We have worked at being in the right place a the right time and finally all that effort paid off,  it happened.  There are no pictures, only the one permanently burned in my brain.

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The new Knockin Tail is available in Victoria and a tackle store near you.  

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A Bucket List Trip Day 1 – How will I ever top this?

We were headed to the Salida area to check it out by going the back way through the mountains before going to Pagosa to check in.  Much of the trip was through a really long valley surrounded by mountain ridges.  First up we saw 3 elk with a really small calf in a field, then just a minute later the Boss says there goes something “loping” along.  Before I even looked I just knew, it was a lion.  And I mean a big lion, and what looked like a yearling with it, running across an open field to the tree line along the ridge.

That lion must have known how much I have wanted to see one in the wild that it stopped and looked at me while I looked at it with the binoculars for almost a minute.  (Good optics pay off.)  She never moved except for her twitching tail.   I guess she finally decided we were not a threat.  So she just slowly walked along the tree line and we got to watch her, even moving the car twice, for almost 5 minutes.  We never saw the other one again, but words can not adequately describe just how freakin’ cool it was.  We have seen lions and cheetahs in Africa but this was a once in a lifetime moment and I want to thank the lion.  Words can not adequately convey how awesome that moment in time was.

And here is a few pictures from the first full day here in Pagosa.

Amazing how many mule deer there are here.

We were up and gone early, the key to seeing stuff.  And as usual they cooperated.

Early morning elk.

The same elk with the 600mm zoomed all the way out.

And what would the Wild West be without a herd of buffalo.  

Still some snow on the high Rockies.  This lake is on Wednesday’s schedule.

And speaking of water, this on our hike today.  

First up was our usual drive just checking things out.  After a long drive where we saw tons of deer and elk we stopped at Williams Lake for our lunch and a hike.  The water in the San Juan is still high, as was the Rio Grande,  but the Piedra River below Williams looks much more fishable.  We stopped at the fly shop and got some good advice.  I asked what to buy, buy more flies, and was surprised when he had a box on the counter and it had lots of sow bugs.  He said if you are fishing there it is dry fly time.  That has never happened at other times since we started fly fishing, but I am sure excited to see one take it off the top.  We are real beginners but we sure are willing.

The roads going on forever – and this one is headed to the Divide.

The Boss has a Zoom meeting this morning, then we are off to test our meager fly fishing abilities against the wily trout.  I will be sure to take a picture of the Boss later, she looks like a walking ad for Simms.  She loves the good stuff.  How I met that bar still is still a mystery. This will be the only morning we are at the house, otherwise we are gone at daylight.

As a side note it was elk burgers on the grill, then tonight venison steaks, always part of our trips out here.  And we stopped by SoCol, our favorite little motel and watering hole for happy hour and it was covered up with Austin folks.  The owners are from Austin, the food truck dude is from Austin, a lady we met is from Austin, and the house we are renting is owned by a lady who also has rentals in New Braunfels.  Small world.

The more we come to the mountains the more it calls to us.  We are not ready to make the move but as we watch the sun come up over the mountains it is apparent that this just might be the place.  We love wildlife, the solitude of the high mountains, and the folks here who inhabit this small slice of heaven.  There is more to come 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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Go Fishing – Even better take a kid!

Free Fishing Day in Texas is just around the corner! On June 6th you can fish in any public waterbody inside the state without a fishing license, all size and bag limits still apply.   TPWD.

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Friday morning started off great.  Getting stuff done, more packing, and was just headed to the tackle room to finish the fishing stuff when we got an email from the house we had rented and paid for in Salida CO.  To bad, so sad, was the best they could do.  Apparently they were told that short term rentals had been approved starting June 1, then the county changed its mind.  And to top it off they just informed the landlord of that fact 1 hour ago.  So the punch line, we have no house in the area we were really looking forward to visiting.  Looks like it will be back to Pagosa, (We hope at this point we can find a place on short notice.) which is not a bad thing, and Salida just lost us as potential visitors in the future.  Glad we did all the river recon last trip to Pagosa, should be able to find fishable water somewhere.  And a quick stop at the lake anytime and supper is taken care of.

(Fortunately we found a house in a great location and a couple of days from now I will be slinging a fly rod around like a maniac.  I may not be good at it but I am willing.)

As we were working through that the Boss decided to mow the lawn, and here it comes.  The gas tank started leaking and gas was all over the rider.  So dealt with that.  At this point in the day I may start drinking!  But we are going somewhere Sunday, end of story.

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The new Knockin Tail is now available in Victoria and all along the Texas coast.  

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Here is the reason I stay home on the holidays!  Thanks TPWD for keeping us safe.

In addition to issuing 1,196 citations and 1,212 warnings for various boating safety law violations, wardens arrested 38 individuals for Boating While Intoxicated and filed another five charges for Driving While Intoxicated. Additionally, another 31 people were arrested for various other crimes.

Additionally, game wardens investigated 16 boating accidents across the state, one boating related fatality that occurred on Stillhouse Hollow Lake and 10 open water drownings.

People will never learn.  And the 43 folks arrested for BWI/DWI could care less about you and your family.  Might as well drive drunk on New Years Eve, the same kind of stupid.  As usual the numbers are amazing.

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Chago reports the efforts by family and friends to start a high school bass fishing club are moving right along.  He dropped me a note and said my last few reports had his 3 boys in a fishing frenzy and they were headed to the lake today.  I remember that feeling.  Wanting to fish, to know why and how, all the great new baits, rods and reels, as many of us know it is a disease.  It may not be fatal, but once you are infected it last forever.  (Wonder if it produces antibodies?)  So good luck boys, can’t wait to see your development.

Julian with a good one.  But as with all brothers there is a “dispute” as to who may have caught the most.  

Looks like this morning went just fine for the boys.  They caught some fish, using senko style baits wacky style.  Their primary color was a variation of watermelon/red and they tossed it right into the stuff.  (Remember fish see 2 colors – red and green.) One thing about the senko style baits, they catch fish anywhere on the planet.  So congrats on a successful morning and will be looking forward to the reports to come.

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For Entertainment Purposes Only Officer!

A Game of Skill – Blind Luck Will Count!

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Evinrude Obituary 

BRP, a Canadian company, announced that it would no longer manufacture Evinrude boat engines.  (In the spirit of openness let me say the only one I ever owned, besides the other which was a Evinrude 70hp which came apart, was the biggest piece of 4 stroke junk in over 45 years of boat ownership.  It caught on fire and let me down repeatedly.)  They say they will honor warranties and keep up on parts and repair networks, but we will see how that all works out as time goes on.  But like all things, once that starts you can kiss your long term value good bye.  I am a Mercury man and always will be, but I hate it for all the employees who have lost their jobs.

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All is right with the world and it will be high mountains and beautiful trout streams.  The Boss has her new waders and is rearing to go.  So time to knock out the long drive and then the fun begins.  Hope you all have a good week and catch a few fish.  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 today was to be responsible and get a few things done in preparation for Colorado.  So I slept in and when I got up it was cloudy and looked promising.  When I commented on it to the Boss she said:  What’s stopping you?  The best wife in the world, so off to the lake I went at 8:00.  No checking the weather, lake levels, just loaded up and went.  But after 2 days of poking around I had a plan.  And the simple way to tell you is to show you.  This is a few of the many I boated today.

A part of the mornings results.  Any questions?

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The new Knockin Tail is now available in Victoria and all along the Texas coast!  So join the rest of the cool kids and toss the hottest new bait in a long time.  You won’t be sorry.

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It was just like it was supposed to be.

As I said yesterday I thought about heading up lake but was not sure I had enough gas to make it there and back.  So on the way of course I filled up and finally made a cast somewhere around 8:45.  By time I got there it cleared off, the wind laid down, and it got hot.  But actually clearing off was a good thing – To the cover they went.  After the last couple of days when it seemed that pitching to wood was the answer I started that way, and finished that way at 1:30.

20lb test mono, heavy rod, 4/0 Trokar, an assortment of beaver style plastics, craws, and stick worms, they bit them all.  I am pegging a 3/16 tungsten sinker tight to the plastic.  Comes through stuff much better and you don’t end up with your bait on one side of a piece of cover and your sinker on the other.  And any color was fine, as long as it was greenish with some red flake.  (Not really sure that made a bit of difference, it was all about placement.) 

The tighter to cover I pitched the bait, the more bites I got.  The first place a couple jumped on and I missed a few.  The next spot same, but from that point on the hook ups far outweighed the misses.  Some were smacking it, you could see your line jump, others started swimming either into the cover or away from it, some were just mushy.  A few even hit it right after it hit the water.  Definitely a day where if you thought you had a bite you did, but if you thought about it for even an instant they would drop it.

It really is hand to hand combat at times, especially if you make the perfect pitch into a little hole.  Very few came over a couple of feet, if that, from the cover.  And I think most of those already had it and were swimming out.  It really was a cat and mouse game when they were biting like that, and it sure was fun.

The only thing that surprised me was no big fish.  Usually when you catch that many (Well over 20+.) one shows up at some point.  But no complaints from me.  And I did see at least 3 episodes of schooling fish, one quite large, but again I did not get to them in time.  So it seems there is a couple of things going on.  There are fish chasing shad schools, others are around cover.  Of course there are probably many other ways to catch them, and with the light winds those of you who like fishing deep that just may be where the big fish are.

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

And I got this comment from Earnest on my post on the Powderhorn.

That for the info. we are just being introduced to powder horn. staying at tv park. going to take it easy but looks promising! Ernest

Slow and easy does it until you get aquainted with the area.  It is a little different but there are lots of redfish, and occasionally a bunch of trout.  There is no hurry and as you learn it you will find it is untapped as far as the bay goes.  So good luck and thanks for reading.

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So what a morning.  Love it when a plan comes together.  Today was a response to my old adage – Listen to the fish.  I wanted it to be late spring and them to be hitting that stuff, but not be able to get on the water during spring those days are gone and it is now summer.  Now if we get a great day of light rain and clouds all day it will happen, otherwise the fish are in their summer pattern.

Not sure if I will get out again before taking off.  Then comes a busy fishing period around here.  Trout out west, then back to the bay for a few days before taking off for the Chandeleurs.  It really will be some fish catching travel.  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

Weather

71/89.  Clouds and sun with a 70% chance of rain.  Wind  ESE 5 – 15 mph.  (There was not a cloud in the sky all morning.)

Lake Level

Today  95.09 msl   Yesterday 95.07 msl.  (Most of the lake was up to 88 degrees and clearing fast.)

Solunar Times

Major 5:24 am  to 7:24 am.  Minor  10:45 am to  11:45 am.  (Not so much early but the Minor was on while I was trolling.)

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

The new Knockin Tail is now available in Victoria and all along the Texas coast!  So join the rest of the cool kids and toss the hottest new bait in a long time.  You won’t be sorry.

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

This morning was just like yesterday except for one important thing, no clouds.  It was sunny with not a breath of wind as I headed up lake.  It was definitely a different morning.  Of course it was the buzzbait first, and while I caught 5, they were not all that aggressive with lots of short weak strikes.  I probably kept after it to long, but I kept expecting a big one.  Finally I switched over to pitching and ended up catching 6 including the good one below.

A nice one on the beaver pitching to heavy cover.

Most of the ones pitching were small so I decided to take another tac. While I was pitching to cover I turned around to see bass blowing up on shad.  I tried to get over there but they were moving fast and then they were gone.  It was a big bunch.  So I figured why not give the spook a go, makes sense.  And then one of the rules of bass fishing reared it’s ugly head.

First cast a keeper jumped it, but flopped off the deck and back in.  Next cast another bite.  And you know what is next, not another bite.  Whether it was deep main lake banks or points going in to coves I could not raise another fish in over an hour.  I have a feeling I was a little late with that and will give it a go next time I am out at daylight.

The best one on a buzzbait and a good one trolling.

At this point it is about 11:00 and the shallow bite was over so time for a little trolling.  Coleto is a good trolling lake and it was time to see if the white bass were around.  So out came a couple of crankbaits that run about 10 – 12′ deep and I trolled from the discharge to near the ramp.  And they were biting, but it was bass.

A good 10 trolling, mostly bass and these 2 midgets.

Staying in the 10 – 20 foot range the bass came consistently .  The one white came in the mouth of the discharge cove and the crappie along the damn.  Most of the shad were in the 5 – 10′ range with fish showing consistently at around 15′.  But the bass just kept jumping on and a couple had the misfortune to be invited  by the Boss to out house for a fish dinner.  Funny how when the Boss wants some fish the pressure is on.  You would think after guiding and tournament fishing in the old days I would not feel pressure, but in the end supper came over the side.

This was a “normal” summer day on Coleto.  Get them shallow early, then in my case a little trolling.  Of course since the Mako is still in the shop it was the skiff, which is a trolling machine.  You really can learn a lot about bait and fish trolling long distances, plus you get to catch a few.  I will admit that I was thinking about heading back up the river to do some more pitching as the sun was out and they generally move tight to cover, but wasn’t sure if I had enough gas to make the trip and back, so at 12:30 I called it a day.

After not fishing the lake for  almost 3 months it seems like I am finally getting it down a little.  To bad we missed all the spawn and most of the spring bite.  So while I spent most of my time really shallow it is apparent that is not where the most of them are.  Of course some are wood related and plastics would seem to be the preferred method.  Not having the good electronics on the Mako hampers the deeper thing some but it should be done soon.  (Famous last words.)  Time to get out the worms and start farming the deeper banks.

Hope to get back out Friday before heading to the trout streams.  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

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

I feel like a kid at Christmas.  After almost 3 months I will be on the lake first thing in the morning.  It has come up just a little, and the fish  have basically been unmolested.  Topped off with a cloudy forecast, as long is there is no dangerous thunderstorm, it should be good.  This will be a day where the end result will be a side benefit, in my case just getting to chase some bass will be enough.

Weather

83/65.  Mostly cloudy, humid with a 65% chance of rain or possibly a thunderstorm.  Wind  NNE 7 – 10 mph.

Lake Level

Today  95.07 msl.   March 2 (Almost 3 months ago.)  94.26 msl.

Solunar Times

Minor  8:50 am to 9:50 am.   Major  3:59 pm to 5:59 pm.

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

The new Knockin Tail is now available in Victoria and all along the Texas coast!  So join the rest of the cool kids and toss the hottest new bait in a long time.  You won’t be sorry.

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

Tale of 2 Times

When I got up it was still storming so I watched the radar seeing if I could head to the lake.  Finally it stopped raining and there was a clearing, and it looked like it was going to just miss us.  So off I went, and even though there as some lightning off to the South, it looked like it was going to miss and it did.

There was one truck at the ramp when I got there.  Though the lake is up a hair, it looked just like it did.  There was a little color at the ramp, and it slowly gets a little more off color as you go up either arm.  The water temp was 82 – 84 over most of the lake, and I actually covered a bunch of it before calling it a day at 1:00.  It was still really overcast when I got there, with the lightning in the distance I decided to fish a couple of main lake coves close making sure it was going to pass.  There was basically no wind of any sort, which ended up hurting as the morning went on.

The buzzbait bite was on.

The first 3 places I fished before heading up lake had plenty of fish like the ones above.  6 in the first cove, 3 or 4 in the next, and it went like that, probably 20 before they quit.  The first half of the coves and the points were the hot spot, nothing in the backs.  It seemed like when you caught one it would be a couple of more in the same spot. I easily missed as many as I caught and it was fun.  After making sure it was not going to kill me I headed up lake.  It was really off color, but I did get a few bites.  One thing I intentionally did was alternate between the swim jig, buzzbait, pitching the beaver style bait, and the Bang O Lure.  Why none of those produced was a little puzzling.

The last fish.  Notice the sky, it cleared up and got completely calm.

By about 9:00 it was starting to really clear.  I specifically hit a couple of sure thing pitching spots without a bite, up both arms, which also surprised me.  One did finally jump on the swim jig and unfortunately I broke my line setting the hook, definitely my fault.

From that point on I went from up the main arm all the way to the plant and did not have one single bite in over 3 hours fishing my favorite places.  It did not help that it was almost dead calm.  The plan was to get an idea where they were and what they wanted, but when the bite quit it quit.  So I did not figure out a another pattern other than the buzzbait after the sun came out.  Finally around 1:00 I called it a day.

There was a few folks out, most crappie fishing on the bridge, and I saw a couple of folks catch one as I passed.  There were maybe 6 at the ramp when I quit, and the morning folks were calling it a day and there were others coming.  Not sure exactly what happened to the fish, but I will be back at it in the morning.  There has to be some better patterns and since I am wanting to take a couple of different folks when I get the Mako back, finding options to catch them is next.

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

Sunday the Boss and I headed to Rockport to catch the fishing show at the Fulton Convention Center.  It far from met my expectations, it was small.  And having not fished like a madman this spring I had no particular tackle needs, so with it being free and not spending any money it was an unusual trip to a fishing show.  But I still like being around fishermen no matter the setting.  But there was a problem, I mean no masks and no social distancing.

After that we stopped at Tackle Town, and it was a freakin’ madhouse.  Good for them and the rest of the town, it was nice to see everyone open and making some money.  But no matter where we went it was us and about 2 other people wearing a mask or even attempting to observe any kind of social distancing.  That behavior will have 2 possible outcomes – 1 good and 1 bad.

From folk’s behavior at Rockport, and around much of the country, we are about to find out whether opening like this we have crossed the line and are on the downside of the virus.  Or, and this is the big or, we are about to see spikes around the country.  Only time will tell.

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A Couple of Travel Notes

First off we are headed back to Colorado in a week for a week of trout fishing.  We are headed to a completely new area for us, but there are many different opportunities depending on the snow melt.  (I just got a great email back from a local fly fishing shop and we are good to go.)  And it is a great area for seeing tons of wildlife so it will be our usual stay outdoors all day until we drop.  And with gas prices within reason, and we do all our own cooking, it will be a cheap trip to a world class fishing destination.  And as a bonus we get to stop in and see the grandkids on the way home.

Then later in June it will be off to the Chandeleurs for the annual trip.  Tim spoke with Capt. Howie who just got back from his latest trip and it was good.  They limited, and not on school trout, but on big trout.  So with the lake open, more fly fishing, then the big boat trip it is going to be a great month.

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Well it happened the first day of the CCA tournament.  A guide who comes up on my Facebook page had a customer, who was not registered, catch a 10lb trout.  That thing was a hoss.  Registering is not a good “bet”, but the payoff is high.  Plus the money goes to a good cause.  So if you plan on hitting the salt this summer register, it just might happen.

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TPWD

into effect on Sept. 1, 2020:  Increasing the minimum size limit for flounder to 15”.

close all flounder fishing from Nov. 1 – Dec. 15 will take effect Sept. 1, 2021.  (Delayed from closing this year.)

For full length on these and other issues: https://tpwd.texas.gov/business/feedback/meetings/2020/0521/agenda/item.phtml?item=3

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

It was good to be back on the lake.  Clearly I did not have a real clue but give it a couple of trips and that should clear up.  Time to look back on May/June and see what was hot in the past, one of the great things about doing the blog.  So hope springs eternal and I can not wait to get back out there a time or two before trout fishing in Colorado.  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

I have kicked that little cold that put a hitch in my git along.  It was not killer, just one of those that was irritating.  As you all know I always leave the holiday weekends to everyone else and their families and prefer not to add to the confusion.  Last year was one of the worst with multiple deaths and lots of arrests.  So with that in mind here is my usual take on any holiday weekend.

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

The new Knockin Tail is now available in Victoria and all along the Texas coast!  So join the rest of the cool kids and toss the hottest bait in a long time.  You won’t be sorry.

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

Holiday Rules

1.  Be nice.  That simple.  It only takes one incident to ruin the weekend, so be the bigger man and let it roll off.
2.  Time to check the boat stuff.  Registration, plates, fire extinguisher, flares, jackets, throw cushion, running lights, and anything else you can think of.  Why get a ticket and pay fine.  Holiday weekends are like New Years Eve, amateur hour and law enforcement will be out in force.
3.  Walk around the trailer, everything in order?  Spare?  Wheel bearings ok?  Better to deal with it in the driveway than beside a busy highway.
4.  Before you start to back down the ramp be sure you have everything out and in it’s place.  As soon as you hit the ramp back down and pull out, keep it moving.  And same when you take out, load and then pull all the way out of the way so others can take out.  The only thing the ramp is for is putting in and taking out.
5.  Easy on the booze, DWI = BWI.  Getting arrested is bad enough, it is even worse if it is in front of family, friends, and a hundred other folks on the water.
6.  Do not crowd folks fishing.  There is room for all, so see rule 1 – be nice.  And give way when underway, assume the other boat does not know the rules.  As my old buddy Albert always said, you might win but you don’t get nothing.
7.  Wear your kill switch!
8.  Last –   While the country is opening up more everyday it should not be a license to run wild.  The virus is still around so just observe good practices, it would suck to get the virus this weekend.

So no matter what you do this weekend be safe and have a good time.  We all need some fun time and this weekend means a lot as far as the country is concerned.  The Boss will be working so try to avoid seeing her, there will be enough folks doing stupid stuff to go around.  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!

I decided to just go to POC whenever I got around to it, which turned out to be 8:45 when I got to Froggie’s.  And there was a couple of people out, and I mean I ended up parking in the field almost 1/2 way to the new Steak House.  I figured it would be busy but this was a Saturday kinda busy.  The plan was to boat fish out of the skiff and make sure it was ready to go as it has been sitting for a couple of months.  Of course I wanted to fish with the new rods.  Last, the Boss wanted supper so the pressure was on.

Weather 

71/86.   Partly sunny and pleasant with 3% chance or rain.  Wind  SE 7 – 13 mph.

Tides.   (All I can say is huh!)

Activity Times

Major 10:33 am to 12:33 pm.  Minor  4:56 pm to 5:56 pm.

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The new Knockin Tail is now available in Victoria!  Stop in the Waterloo Pro Shop at 703 N. Main and pick up a couple of bags and a new rod all in one stop.

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On the way to Big Bayou the water definitely had some color after the big rain.  The tide was up, not particularly high and it was dead calm but the water was moving some.  In fact, there was not a hint of a breeze until 1:00, and it was hot.  Not fishing this spring much looks like we are going straight into summer.

The Knockin Tail White Ice put food on the table tonight.

I cut right to the chase and went to my favorite bank and they were there.  Not tons of them, but at least there was some kind of bite.  And I learned/remembered one very important thing –  I just do not like braid.  I have been fishing mono for 45 years and baits act completely different, fall rate, depth at particular speeds, and I have that down.  Other than that fact, after catching 10 or so, nothing to write home about, time to head to the Oil Cut.  A couple did jump on in a drain, but nothing else in a couple of drains in BB.  And today they definitely preferred the KTL White Ice on a 1/8th jig head.  I think the color had more to do with the fact that there were finger mullet everywhere.

A few trout like this and 1 flounder.

It was just a tiny bit better in the Oil Cut, but they were small.  They were basically in a 20 yard stretch and wanting it hopped as opposed to slow rolled.  That is where the braid and I finished our parting of the ways.  Of course it was me, but I just could not get the fall right.  So back to mono from now on.

I did catch one flounder, and had another pull off, but never did have a bite from a red, at least one I caught, but I did not fish for them specifically.  Of course there were several misses in both places.  As the water stopped moving the water color went down the tubes.  It was murky and still and the fish definitely slowed down in the Oil Cut so time to hit a couple of other places in Big Bayou I did not get to.  That move turned out to be a total bust.  When they quit biting they flat quit, and I quit with them.

The only way to eat them, right out of the water and in the pan.

I give the morning  a B.  Rarely do I complain when the wind isn’t blowing, but it was the first flat day I have seen in a long time.  The boat ran good and the new rods were fine, as soon as I strip the braid off.  Like so much in fishing, do what you like, how you like, and just be happy you have a rod in your hand.  And now that we are “open” it will be back to fishing.  Just wish they would open the lake.

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TPWD Game Warden Field notes for May.  And there are several nominations for pinhead of the month.

  First – Examples of the old never ever post your violations of the law online.  A couple was                so proud of the doe she shot that they posted the picture online.  Then she bought                  a  license.  And of course denied even though they were on tape.  There is no fixin’                   stupid.

  Another – wardens searching the internet (I told you they are doing this regularly                                    as part of their enforcement efforts.)  found a restaraunt with shark fin                                    soup, which is illegal.  They said it was for their own consumption, until                                    the warden picked up the menu.  Folks they are smarter than you no                                          matter what you think.

The two different outcomes below just chap my ass.

A night hunter was caught and his rifle with the high dollar night scope were confiscated.  No problem with that as it shines a bad light on all of us who hunt.  Yet in another case wardens checking a commercial oyster boat that was out of compliance with the measurement of harvested oysters had a totally different  outcome.  The Captain admitted they were not measuring them, and  the boat had been cited previously.  So we take a illegal night hunters  gun but we let a serial commercial fisherman violator keep his boat?  An admission of intentionally violating the law on a second offense of the same regulation should at least result in a minimum suspension of his license.  There is something wrong with these disparate outcomes.

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Got the CCA flyer in the mail today so time to renew.  It really does not matter how much you fish, it can, and does happen.  I actually know a guy who was fishing with friends who all had theirs, and of course he didn’t and ended up catching a tagged redfish.  So if you fish the bay now is the time to renew and let the dreaming begin.

Not sure what is next, but the Boss started a long stretch in a few days and I will be footloose and fancy free.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines