FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Proudly Representing

Put your favorite Knockin Tail under a Four Horsemen popping cork and hold on!  A deadly combination.

After looking at the weather the next few days I decided to fish the lake on Tuesday, then either the Lavaca or Garcitas on Wednesday.  It is calling for some morning rain on Wednesday but it really does not matter on either how early you go.  So if it does rain in the morning no big deal.  If they are there they will bite most of the day.  So tomorrow the lake, it will be interesting to see how that goes.

Weather

71/88.  Sun and some clouds with a 15% chance of rain.  Wind  SE 9 – 14 mph.

Lake Level

Today  93.15 msl.    Friday  93.24 msl.  (The ramp getting sketchy, be careful.)

Solunar Time

Minor  11:43 am to 12:43 pm.

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

All your wading needs.

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Day 2

It was dead calm when I dropped it in the lake.  The water temp remains in the low 80’s and the wind was light all day.  The water has cleared a little, even up lake.  First up was my favorite point and 2 smalls (When I use that term it could be 2″ or 13″.)  jumped on the buzzbait.  So next was the bank where several good fish ate the swim jig last trip, and not a bite. I turned around and re-fished it and caught 2 smalls on the buzzbait.  From there I ran all the way up lake, the plan was to throw the swim jig

So why am I showing you this?

I went all the way up the river until it was 5 foot of water and proceeded to fish down with the swim jig, and surprise of surprises, I could not get even 1 bite.  Staying with it for a couple of hours just knowing it was going to happen, and it didn’t.  Shallow banks, deep banks, brush, they just did not want it.  Crazy after the other day.  Shows you how important weather is.

There was one bank, where it is only 4 feet deep, that had multiple birds on it and I could see the occasional shad jump.  So why not the buzzbait.  A few casts later several fish chased it and when I stopped it a white bass jumped on.  That is way earlier than normal, to be there now makes little to no sense.  But last week there was some schooling action which I ass-u- me were small bass.  So why not a pearl Knockin Tail slow rolled?

That produced 2 small bass and I missed what was probably a white bass.  It made sense if they were that shallow to troll a couple of baits that ran less than 5 feet and see if they are up there, very similar to what normally happens in January.  Well it worked, about a dozen whites like the one above, 2 catfish, and several small bass.  Most of the whites were small but there was a keeper or two.  A Rapala Rattle Rap in shad was the best.  After trolling and finding several bunches it dawned on me, cast the rattle bait.  On one pass on a long bank 5 bass, 2 whites, and another catfish jumped on.  It was 2:00 and my last bank when I stopped fishing,  As I was putting the trolling motor up a school of whites came up right around the boat and I caught 2 more smalls.  Just nuts.

But I learned, every thing was on the shad and they were liking the rattle bait.  As I was quitting I did not throw it anywhere else, but it will get a good work out next trip.  I was just using it at a moderate pace and they were jumping it.  It is a little puzzling why they are that far up but it is probably all about the bait, and trolling around there was plenty of bait.  But I did not look a gift horse in the mouth and took what the lake had to offer.  So I showed you those 2 because it was a progression today, and I can not wait to get back out and do it again.  Maybe I learned something.

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And SA Joe sent along this comment on the 20 year old boat with a burnt cylinder.

Glad to see you back up and at it !!!!

You mentioned ” It has a dead cylinder on a 200hp Merc. And they want $11,000! ” Mine is 2001 Basscat with 200 Merc EFI, the ECM went out throwing weird symptoms. Along with my mechanic we figured it out,, Ignition packs, stator, etc…..but it still ran and went thru oil.

There is no new replacements for them and have to be rebuilt by CDI for $1300. So if you can part out an old motor for some spare change. Parts are the way to go..

There are fish still in medina, got me a nice one bass today at 6.81

The joys of boat ownership.  But the cost is worth it, keeps some of sane.  And I am slowly getting back to normal.  Still tired at times and the occasional brain fog is a hassle.  When you add not being able to hear out of one ear, taking care of that next week, it has been a crazy 6 months.  But it will all be resolved when I start actually catching them again.  And nice to put a good one in the boat.  Good to hear from you.

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Though it has been a dink fest this week I am looking for things to improve.  It really shows how fishing regularly is important and I am just getting back in the game.  It looks like this is turning into one of those see how many different places you can fish in 1 week.  Next up for day 3 is Garcitas or the Lavaca.  That decision will be made in the morning.  But it is time, and after that happening today anything is possible,  I am looking forward to some serious 4Horseman popping cork and Knockin Tail fishing.    So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Proudly Representing

Put your favorite Knockin Tail under a Four Horsemen popping cork and hold on!  A deadly combination.

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After a long absence from the salt it will be back to POC Monday.  The weather looks good and I will be on the water at daylight.  Since it has been a while I have no preconceived notions as to what is happening, and that is the way I like it.  Topwater at daylight and Knockin Tail the rest of the day, so we shall see how it goes.

Weather

75/84.  Partly sunny and humid with a 50% chance of rain in spots.  Wind SE 6 – 11mph.

Tides

High  2:57 am  +1.25  Low  11:21 am  -0.35.

Solunar Times

Minor  10:36 am to 11:36 am.   Major  4:02 pm to 6:02 pm.

The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

All your wading needs.

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

I had a plan, and like all plans it is all good until you get punched in the mouth, an apt description of my morning.  It was daylight when I dropped in at Froggies and headed down to a couple of drains near South Pass.  The wind was light and the tide was definitely up.

When I went to jump in I could not find the camera, oops, in the truck.  Oh well, before the morning was over not much to see unless you wanted to see 7 trout averaging 13″, and no redfish.  1 came on topwater, of course on my third cast after jumping in, the rest on the Knockin Tail in Heavy Metal color.  So over the next 3 hours it was 3 drains, and other than losing a good one right at the Bogo, it was slow.  And the the tide was flat all morning which sure did not help much.  So time to make the big move and catch some fish.  I saved the best spot for around 11:00 hoping the water would be running by then and the bite would be on.

Pulling up to the drain there was a big thunderhead coming in off the Gulf.  I idled in way farther than normal, just to get to the sweet spot before it started to rain.  I shut off the boat, tossed the anchor over and dropped the power pole.  It seemed like the anchor did not catch.  Well it did, it actually broke the anchor chain at a spot the was rusted.  So now the anchor is gone which changes everything.  I do not wade just using the Power Pole. After several drownings on the coast the last few years when folks were chasing their boat not interested in losing the boat, especially fishing by myself..

So I just let it drift and a midget jumped on, and one took a pass at a topwater.  The storm was getting closer, and of course it was the old one more cast thing.  My next plan was to run back near the ramp to be close and hit Big Bayou and boat fish, but that did not happen,  It started looking real scary.  I took off and then it started to rain and blow.  On went the raincoat and it was a bumpy ride to the ramp raining the whole way.  When I got there a guy grabbed the rope so I could tie up.  I asked if he saw the radar and he said it was big, red, and moving real slow.  No thanks.  In fact, it ended up raining most of the way home, at least did not have to rinse off the boat and trailer.

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Ole Miss v. Arkansas  –  Arkansas is finally starting to “relearn” how to win. It has been a while.  They got flat screwed last week, this week they basically dominated the Rebels in the first half then held on to win in the second.  A pick 6 sealed it for the Hogs.  What a defensive effort.  2 wins in the SEC!

A&M v. Miss State  –  Miss State has basically forgotten how to score since they beat LSU in the season opener.  In fact 9 quarters without a offensive score, their last one against us in the 3rd quarter.  While I only caught snippets A&M did exactly what they needed to and are now 3 – 1.  But with tough games to come we shall see.

Georgia v. Alabama  –  Saban tested positive for the virus mid week, then 3 consecutive negatives so he was good to go.  Of course he was.  They are one of the 2 best teams in the country.  Can’t wait for them to play Clemson, it will be a real game.

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The MLF Bass Pro tour was at Shearon Harris Lake in Raleigh NC and if it were close I would have already loaded up and left.  The average was awesome and one over 8 hit the scales.  Now it was the spawn, but put me on a body of water with that average size bass and I just might catch one.

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Not particularly happy with how the day worked out.  I got to fish about 3 1/2 hours and never did find anything worth catching.  And then getting rained out before I had a chance to do anything else sucked.  Losing the anchor would have changed the days plan if the rain had not reared its ugly head.  Irritating when it is the first time in months I have felt like hitting it hard.  But there is always tomorrow, and while where remains to be seen I will be on the water at daylight.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Go0d Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Proudly Representing

Put your favorite Knockin Tail under a Four Horsemen popping cork and hold on!  A deadly combination.

I am preparing tonight so I will be ready to hit the road first thing in the morning.  As long as it is not lightning or raining cats and dogs it will be fishing a soon as it is feasible in the morning, hopefully at daylight.  The forecast is one of those that may help the fishing, or it could suck.   It is my favorite forecast for Coleto in the fall and winter.  Clouds, drizzle, wind.  But that is what makes fishing what it is, you never know.  I am happy, at least we get a taste of fall.

Weather

60/70.  Shower in the morning then clouds breaking to sun with a 58% chance of rain.  Wind NE 12 – 17mph.

Lake Level

Today   93.24.    Wednesday  93.26 msl.  (I sure hope we get the rain tonight as the lake continues to drop.  And with GBRA not giving a crap about the annual pass holders when we can not put in it will be screw job #2 this year.)

Solunar Times

Minor 7:08 am to 8:08 am.   Major  1:13 pm to 3:13 am.

Conditions

Blowing out of the north with white caps.  Water temps down to around 80 degrees and there was some color based on the wind.  It was blowing right in the ramp cove and it was not easy loading.

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

All your wading needs.

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Today was a real put on your big boy pants day, it was rough.  With the direction it was blowing at daylight I decided to fish some in the plant arm of the lake.  It was cloudy and the air temp was 64 when I started.  First up an all white spinnerbait buzzed right on the top.  4 smalls jumped on and a couple just missed it on the first main lake point.  I tried the buzzbait on one more place in a deeper  cover next to the channel where another small jumped on then my brain finally started working.  If there is shallow smalls time for a bait change.

That will work.

I changed to a bluegill colored swim jig with a Pumpkinseed Knockin Tail trailer.   It is a great bait on Coleto from late fall through late spring.  The first bank produced 3, and from then on it was one here and one there.  A couple just knocked slack in it, one of my favorite bites, they have eaten it.  A couple felt like it was ticking bottom, and a couple surprised me when I set the hook and they were there.  The rest just softly stopped it, none of the bites were hard, but they were biting.  And I did not break my line setting the hook, which happens at times with the swim jig.

It was a good day.

They were shallow, and of the dozen or so that ate the swim jig none of them were more than 5 foot off the bank, and of course a little wood nearby did not hurt anything.  The speed was moderate and since it was a quarter ounce it never got below 5 feet deep on the retrieve.  And the Knockin Tail rattling right along is the perfect addition to the swim jig.

Definitely a size improvement across the board this morning.

As far as color on the swim jig it was a bright bluegill 1/4 ounce, which is what I generally fish.  I have no real preference as to manufacturer, if it looks good I fish it.  With the water color like it is fishing it on 12lb seems to be the best combination.  And while I already had the Pumpkinseed Knockin Tail trailer rigged, there are enough Knocking Tail colors to match any jig.  You can swim it steady, or hop, or drop it, but they did not want any of that today, just a nice steady retrieve.

Today was the day that they almost had to bite.  Fall is late and dropping water level and increasing water temp was just not to their liking.  Today should help move it along.  The water temp dropped a couple of degrees while I was fishing.  I thought the front was already here when I put in but around 1:00 it really started drizzling hard and you could feel it cooling off.  So I called it a day.  When I backed the truck in to load the boat it was 57 degrees, 6 down from when I started.  I would have fished a little while longer but wanted to get home and see the Boss off as she headed to the airport.  I have been waiting for a month for a day like today, and with a little cooler temps, clouds, and maybe a little rain, it can only get better.

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Another reason to not fish partner tournaments.

I have repeatedly said partner tournaments are just not safe, cheats are everywhere.  This case is a perfect example.  2 anglers (using the term loosely) were originally charged with felonies after being found to have cheated in a fishing tournament in Utah by catching a big bass in another lake.  They were sentenced to 2 years probation, no hunting for 24 months, and basically $3000 in fines and restitution.  They were the first people convicted of cheating in a Utah fishing tournament.

First.  They should not have reduced the charges.  These guys are slime at best.  They were stealing from everyone else in the tournament, and why it is not viewed that way I do not know.  They were trying to steal $2500, a felony most everywhere.  Lots of folks have gone to jail for less.  This plea was a big break.  (Understand one thing, the ultimate disposition of any case via a plea bargain can only come from an offer by the prosecutor.  Why defense attorneys are criticized for any plea is a mystery.)

Second.  I have reported on cheating quite a bit, and it almost always happens in partner tournaments.  If they kept to the original felony charges these guys would have lost their gun rights, as well they should.  And why their fishing rights were not reduced/taken away makes no sense.  Maybe it will not deter others but it will keep them from the rest of us in the outdoors.   A felon is a felon, no matter the underlying reason, or who they are.

So does my opinion seems pretty rough on these guys?  What am I, some kind of meanie?  Well how about this.  In 2018 these same slime balls finished 1st, 2cnd, or 3rd at 8 other bass tournaments in the same year!  KVD or Roland would have loved those results.  All that needs to be said about that.

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In my daily perusal of boats for sale I came across one that is just amazing.  It was for a 1999 Triton bass boat, in other words 21 years old.  It has a dead cylinder on a 200hp Merc.  And they want $11,000!   So the engine is worth zip and you want that much for an old hull?  Dream on.  And if you are looking at a deal like this good luck.  If the boat was worth it he would have had it fixed.  Do not buy someone else’s problems, boat ownership is tough enough as it is.

And it is amazing what has happened to new boat prices.  Lots of folks whose eyes were bigger than their stomach bought big, then they end up for sale in a year or so.  See them all the time.  Often buying used like that can be a good deal.  If you ever think about doing that the first question is:  How many hours and can I speak to your mechanic.  If they can not document that and have a problem if you speak with their mechanic run away.  And as I have learned from my mechanic working on my 2 boats, the hour meters on most consoles are not absolute, to be accurate it has to be taken off the computer during maintenance.  Plus, if it is one of those $50k and up boats request a copy of the rpm history, that will tell you a lot.  (Think about it:  If you were going to buy a used car, say a fast one, and the guy you meet with is wearing a street racer shirt and tells you it will run like a scalded cat would you buy it?  Same with a boat engine, you need to know if it has been run wide open most of the time.)  It is your money.

And on a side note when you get your engine serviced make sure you find out the hours and the rpm history, you just might find it informative.  The majority of  my rpm’s on the 90hp is either less than 1,500, trolling or idling, or 4,000 to 5,000, cruising speed.  My guy always says, easy on the way out, “git it” on the way back in.  Has worked for me for over 900 hours and still going strong.

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Really happy with this mornings fishing.  And fortunately I am finally not feeling sick.  So the next couple of days will be weather watching before a week of fishing.  The lake looks good a day or two, POC a day or two, and I definitely want to take a run to the river/creek and see if that is starting to go, it is about time.  This weekend will be a real boat cleaning, some football, and then off we go.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Proudly Representing

Put your favorite Knockin Tail under a Four Horsemen popping cork and hold on!  A deadly combination.

Weather

92/65.  Partly sunny and very warm with a 5% chance of rain.  Wind S  7 – 13 mph.

Lake Level

Today  93.26 msl.   Monday  93.28 msl.   (As the water slowly falls the ramp is headed to be an issue.)

Solunar Time

Major     11.27 am to 1:27 pm.

Conditions basically the same with the water temp up a degree or two here and there.  Will fall ever get here?

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

All your wading needs.

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I am finally starting to feel just a little more normal.  One sign of that is I woke up right in time to hit the lake at daylight.  On getting there it was a little hard to see as it was really foggy.  Enough that I waited a bit and then idled over to a point where it seems there is always fish, and there was, one.

She flat blasted it!

It may seem old to some of you how often I start with a buzzbait, well here is the reason.  She was right on the tip of the point by a stump and I maybe turned the handle 4 or 5 times when she exploded on it like only a big fish can.  It was the kind of bite, and the kind of fish, that makes the whole day.  To bad it went downhill from there.

As the fog slowly lifted I point hopped alternating with the buzzbait and the stick worm.  I had a total of 4 more bites.  I missed a small on the buzzbait and the other 3 bites came on the stick worm.  2 made it over the side but unfortunately the third one did not.  I had tossed it right into a tangle of stuff and a real one thumped it.  She was wrapped up and though I played the game she just would not come out, until she finally pulled off.  It was definitely another real one.  So I guess since I got one out Monday it was bound to happen that the next one would come off.  But at least it was 2 big bites today, come on fall.

I also gave the Bang O Lure a go, but the water temp needs to fall some for the winter top water bite to get going.  But I will be tossing that every trip from now on.  After 3 hours and just those bites time to troll until calling it a day.

These 2 were the best of 10 or so.

By time I started to troll the wind had just about died, like Monday.  Though you could see them on the locator they were just not happening.  But trolling around for an hour still got bites and fish, but they were not bunched up, just here and there.  And after changing hooks only one came off reeling it in.  Amazing what sharp hooks will do.  So at 1:00 I called it day.

One thing that was really interesting today was 2 unusual brushes with wildlife.  First as I was fishing I saw a gator way ahead of me swimming to the bank.  When he turned sideways I could see what looked like a coon or maybe a small pig in his mouth.  I kicked  the trolling motor on high to go take a look but he was not having it and dove down and was gone.  Was cool though.  Then when pulling in to the ramp I could see fry jumping right on the bank where I pull in.  When the nose hit the sand they took off, and so did a big fat snake!  Guess he was after them.

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This is an interesting question from Lacy.

Enjoyed your Colorado road trips .

What color knockin tail would u recommend for flounder.

Check out @TracesofTexas on twitter.

I had my own choice but I wanted to ask Michael, the owner/designer of both the Controlled Descent Lure and the Knockin Tail.  He has caught a world of flounder, had a good fall last year, and his recommendation was the White Lightning.  Mine is the Pearl so we are basically on the same page color wise.  My biggest last winter, 20″, came on the prototype Pearl.  Of course you can catch them on any color, I often think flounder fishing is as much technique as it is color.  But since I rarely target them not much of an expert.

Last year his Controlled Descent tandem rigs, which he personally ties, caught a ton of flounder.  The only way to get them is on the site, and if memory serves me correct the White/Limetreuse was the ticket as far as color went.  Take a look at them, there may be a new one coming  and of course I will be shilling it as soon as it happens.  Or buy a bag of CDL to go along with the Knockin Tail and tie your own.  Jig head on the KTL and flotation to supend the CDL, deadly on flounder.

Appreciate your comments on our Colorado trips, we have really learned to love the mountains, the wildlife, and the fish.  As a result we are looking to relocate and are basically just waiting for the right circumstance.  I could spend the rest of my life crawling around the mountains, and who knows it just might happen.  Got some bears and lions to see!

And last, looked at the Traces of Texas website, don’t do twitter, and was impressed.  Any Texan who loves the state should take a look at the website, cool photos and history.  So thanks for commenting, always good to hear from a new reader.

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I have repeatedly said be careful what you post on the internet, but there is no accounting for stupid.  Some bozo in Florida posted a video of himself holding a shark that was to short to keep being placed in a swimming pool, which is against the law.  He also had pictures of himself fileting a Goliath Grouper, protected, and lobsters on the grill that were also to short to keep.  He contended he could not go to jail, wrong dude.  He was arrested by Game and Fish, his bond was set at over $18K, and he remains in custody.  No sympathy.

To bad Texas refuses to take game law violations seriously, unless you trespass on some rich guys land, then it is a felony.   Or TPWD giving a rich guy our Share A Lunker fry for his lake, where it costs over $3K a weekend to fish.  Makes clear where their priorities lie.  We need serious penalties for intentional violations.  Not talking a redfish that is an inch short, but have a dozen of them and there should be a serious price to pay.  As a retired criminal defense attorney I know that most laws do not really deter folks who are willing to break them.  So make it hurt in the wallet, works as well as anything.

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And this from Keith.

Doug
I would love to talk to your friend that is selling his boat. Tired of my 25 Carolina skiff and wanting to make a change. I am interested please have him contact me at XXXXXXXXX Keith. I’m in canyon lake. There was no longer link to reach him like you mentioned.
Thanks and get well. I’m heading to p o c Friday. Hope to see you out on the water.

I looked it is still up on Craigslist and it is still there.  Sorry I should have said to just click on the boat in the post below and it will come up.  So good luck with your search, and I sent you comment on to Todd.  I have had a Carolina Skiff for exactly 20 years and it is finally going to move on, but it has been a great back up.  And thanks for reading, always appreciate hearing from folks.

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And John dropped me a note.  He has been “keeping his head down” since the virus started, smart man, you do not want it, trust me.  He has been taking the kids to Fayette and working over the big brim.  Sounds like fun to me, good to hear from you.

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From the looks of the weather we have a front coming on Friday with temps to stay in the low 70’s.  It is only supposed to get into the mid 60’s Thursday night with a possibility of showers and the wind shifts to the north and blows some.  So will be definitely be fishing the lake Friday.  Then it is totally up in the air.  The Boss hits the road for a week and I spend the next few days looking at the weather in 4 different places until I make up my mind what is next.  I am starting to feel better and intend to keep it in the water.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Proudly Representing

Put your favorite Knockin Tail under a Four Horsemen popping cork and hold on!  A deadly combination.

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I finally got the boat out and headed to the lake.  I had a meeting in the morning so did not get out on the water until 2:00.  The first thing I noticed on entering the park is the new sign:  Annual Permit  $250!  Are you kidding me?  That is a rant for another day.

Weather

High 90.  Cloudy in the morning giving way to sun with a 20% chance of rain.  Wind N 15 – 25 mph.

Lake Level

Today  93.31 msl.   6 weeks ago  93.12 msl.  (It has been that long since I fished!)

The water level is about where it has been for months.  It was 84 degrees at the ramp and 80 way up lake.  The color is fairly clear with a little more color up lake.  And the wind was 15 – 20 blowing right in the ramp cove.  As long as the lake does not come down any more the ramp is “ok”, but if we do not get any rain it will be unusable at some point.  And I sure was feeling it just getting the boat in the water.  (Kind of amazing how much strength you lose staying in the chair for almost a month.)

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

Brought to you by

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This is a fish.  This is me with a fish.  This is my happy face.

With the wind blowing I headed all the way up lake.  It was blowing right down the pike so time to toss the spinnerbait.  Over about an hour and a half 3 smalls jumped on.   None were any bigger than the spinnerbait and I did miss another.  Wish I had been out earlier when it was cloudy.  But being mid day with the sun full up it was not surprising.  I was starting to get tired and with the wind there was no way to throw plastics up there so just decided to do a little trolling.  Today was not about catching fish, don’t get me wrong but just being out there was good enough.

They were definitely biting!

Fishing the edge of flats and points and staying in 10 – 15 feet with a shad color crankbait that runs around 10 feet was the ticket.  Put it 50 feet behind the boat and troll at 2.5 mph. Not only was there white bass suspended, though most were small, but crappie were mixed in.  Interesting that the crappie were nowhere near cover, but I never look a gift fish in the mouth.

About as big as white bass tend to get on Coleto.

Besides this one maybe another 5 or 6 whites jumped on, all small.  And to go along with it 4 or 5 small bass also participated.  I stayed with it for about 2 hours and finally the heat started to wear me out so I called it a big success and headed to the house.

Everything on the boat worked, I had my tackle organized before we left, and it was all good.  Just catching a few fish and being out on the water was plenty.  The old song is so true –  “You don’t know what you got till its gone.”  Can’t wait to get after them this fall.

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This weekends football notes.

Florida at A&M.  Multiple penalties hurt them, a couple 15 yarders including wiping out an interception.  One wiped out a 15 yarder on Florida, then a 37 yard TD for Florida.  OMG then another on the kick off.  Undisciplined.  But Spiller is an absolute beast and Mond actually looked like an SEC quarterback.  A&M averaged around 7 yards a play, you have to win with that, which they did.  A fabulous winning drive with great use of the clock.  A big win that could be season changing for the Aggies.

Oklahoma at Texas.  While I only caught some as I watched the A&M game it is a perfect example of how crazy college football is this year.  Oklahoma 1 – 2, who is having a terrible year, beats Texas leaving them both 2 – 2.  After the A&M game got over I was lucky enough to get to catch the overtime finish.  What a freakin’ game!

Arkansas at Auburn.  Arkansas reverted to more of the same old same old in the first half.  Giving up a TD on a blocked punt sure does not help.  Second half was a flat slugfest on both sides, another good game.  Then we got screwed and ended up losing by 2.  It was a crazy play that I have never seen, and neither had the announcers or the refs, apparently. Hard to describe unless you saw it.  So no reason to hang their heads, they played all out.  Another great game.  Good games today all the way around.

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Again I want to thank all of you who sent along your good wishes and there are just to many to share.  But I wanted to share this one from fishfearlarry after my first run at it since getting “better”.

So sorry to hear that you have contacted the virus. I have family members that have battled it, and each one says the same thing….”you don’t want this!” My brother was in the hospital twice because of it. I hope you continue to heal and get your strength back soon! From what I hear, the fall bite is turning on. Not to alarm you, but the people I know that had the virus has said it takes a while to get your stamina back. So, that just means that it will have to be half say fishing trips and maybe drifting/fishing from the boat for a while. God bless you and glad you seem to be improving!

You called that one right.  At least I got on the water, and am already planning on the bay this week.  But it is hard to put in to words how rough it was.  Trust me, the last thing you want to do is give this to someone with a pre-existing condition or an old fart like me.  (Just a comment on the folks who “play'” a Doctor online giving out medical advice.  How you can ignore the guidelines if you have someone with pre-existing conditions or an elderly relative I do not know.  This is real.)  Thankfully I am in good shape or I guarantee it would have been a different outcome.  Thanks and good to hear from you again.  And this is the last word on covid, lets all try to put 2020 behind us!

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There are 2 projects coming soon.  Finishing wiring the running lights on the skiff, a little clean up, and it will be ready to go.  I really hope that someone who wants to get on the lake or bay for little money will end up getting it.  But it will make a trip to the river or creek before it hits the road.  That thing will be around long after I am gone.

Second, picked up some hull cleaner to tidy up the LTS hull.  Actually going to try it on the cowling too, a real small area first, to see if it can shine back up.  The little area I tried on the hull looks great.  When the mechanic says I have one of the best looking motors on the inside,  (Persistent maintenance.) but ugly on the outside, time to see if I can bring it back some.

But first it will be some fishing.  If I can get my lazy butt up early it will be off to POC Monday morning.  Not sure if I will do any wading yet but really looking forward to the fall fishing on the bay.  Prime redfish time and as soon as it gets a little later in the year, in other words super low winter tides, want to give the flyrod a go.  No better time to see them and our winds can be nice and low late fall.  So plenty to look forward to 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 the new Madre Sling

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Our first morning as we head out to spot wildlife.

Comparing the plains of Africa to the Great Barrier Reef to the jungles of Costa Rica is impossible.  But sitting on the porch of the cabin looking out at the Continental Divide as the sun rose is no different.  Not a 10,000 mile flight, it is in our backyard and it is to stunning for my puny vocabulary.  Suffice to say it is awe inspiring.  The more we go the more I am moved by the great outdoors.

And this is how the trip from hell started.  We did our usual morning drives for 3 days, but I was getting sick as a dog by the third one, and then it was pack up and go home.  So disappointed.  We were so thankful our friend volunteered to let us stay in his cabin.  We had no real time constraints, no where we had to be, it was to be a true get away.  And for me it was to be a time of reflection and rest, which was not to be.  But for 2 days we were hard at it.

The Raptors were on the move and we saw them everywhere.

Stellar’s Jay. 

We could not figure out what these were and could not get a good picture so I stole one off the net.  Cool bird.  And one other interesting animal we saw several of and just could not get to stay still enough for a picture, but man it is cool.

Albert’s Squirrel.  Cool ears!

********************Put your favorite Knockin Tail under the Four Horsemen popping cork and hold on!  A deadly combination.

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If this does not move you check your pulse!

Shedding a little velvet on the second guy.

The elk were few and far between.  But with bow season in full swing not surprising.

I got to fish a minute.

And there are is no shortage of turkeys.

Fall in the mountains.

The beaver was hard at work on the pond and the ducks were flying.

We see you!

There really is not much more to say other than we were so disappointed when we had to come home after  just a few days.  But we are so thankful and appreciative to our friend for letting us stay at his cabin.  It was tough trying to clean and make sure all was right with the world when we left, I was sure no help, but hope all is ok. Thank you so much.  It was shaping up to be a dandy.  So time to put this to bed and try to get back to my old life.

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The Knockin Tail continues to spread across the Gulf and can be found at better tackle stores near you.  It is now at all 3 of the Fishing Tackle Unlimited Stores in Houston!  And if you can’t get by one of the stores just check them out online at the website.  And as I have said before they are not just for the salt, if it has a fins and gills it will eat the Knockin Tail.

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And from this months TPWD Warden notes it was deja vu all over again.  Last time it was a truck transporting commercial croaker illegally, this month it is illegal shrimping.  All in our area.  A warden on Matagorda Bay saw a couple of commercial shrimp boats head out early, then turn off all their lights and start to shrimp in violation of the shrimping at night provision.  The catch was returned to the bay and citations issued.  Time to crack down on the commercial fishermen who intentionally violate the law.  This is blatant stealing of our resource and why there are not stricter penalties does not make any sense.  It is theft plain and simple and should be treated as such.  You try sacking up 50 trout or 100 crappie and see what that gets you.

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Football Weekend

Of course I spent the weekend watching football, so here goes

TCU v. Texas  –  There was an article online about how a few folks got their panties in a wad as Ehlinger is not on the Heisman Watch List.  Dream on.  Watching them was like watching the South Park Cows play.  Mistake after mistake.  And blame the refs all you want, it was equally bad for all.  Ehlinger was just 5 of 16 in the first half.  And then they fumbled away the win on the 1 yard line with 2 minutes to go.  TCU has beaten them 7 out of the last 9 times.   Just like last year, way over rated.

A&M v. Alabama   –  From what I read A&M will owe the coach 10’s of millions at the end of the year.  The big question – Getting your $75 million worth?  (Note:  You can not buy a winner, see Jerry Jones.  You build a winner.)  And sorry but I have never been impressed with Mond.  The pick 6 could not have come at a worse time.  Then down by 3 touchdowns you kick a field goal and then turn right around and give up an 87 yard touchdown pass on 2cnd and 22?  Some really bad football.  If I am Florida next week I will go deep until you show me you can stop it.  Over rated.

(Just read an article on how only 3 teams in the country have football revenue of $2o0 million:  Texas, A&M, and Ohio State.  Only Ohio State is a perenial contender. Nice job on use of resource folks.)

Arkansas v. Mississippi State  –  Lets start off with the premise we suck having lost 20 SEC games in a row.  We are in the throes of a culture of losing and are definitely not over rated, we are as bad as anyone in the FBS.  So what happened?  A great defensive scheme and good tackling, including 3 stops on 4th down when MSU was inside the 10 yard line looking to score.  Who knows, maybe MSU believed their own press clippings after leading the nation in passing and beating LSU last week.  What ever, we won our first SEC game since 2017, over 100o days.  Will wonders never cease.

Browns v. Cowboys  – OMG.  See above Jerry Jones, money can not buy a winner.  This is one of the more talented teams in the NFL and their defense is a sieve.  1 – 3 and they are not out of it in the conference, says all you need to know about that.  I will keep watching but may just put the bag on my head!

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Tomorrow I try to start living again.  I can not tell you how hard the virus was on me.  Do not let someone tell you it is no big deal because their cousin only had a headache.  My best hope is it does not linger but I know I will be feeling it for quite a while.  So last time I will bitch about it, but it is just another notch in the 2020 dumpster fire.  So be safe.

And thanks to all the comments, emails, and texts.  Nice to know folks care and it is humbling.  I will never forget.

Not sure if I am quite ready to fish yet but will head to the lake for a couple of hours and see how it goes.  Just being back in the boat will be good enough.  Then the bay is calling me and am also planning a trip in 2 weeks while the Boss is traveling to spend time with her family.  It is between Falcon, Amistad, or Bird Island Basin and the upper Laguna for 4 days.  Tough choice.  So good to be back.  Keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

As I lay on the bathroom floor last Thursday I was sick as a dog, being the 5th morning of having the virus, little did I know it was about to get worse.

1.  Here we are in a beautiful cabin on the Continental Divide and I am sick as a dog and we are about to cut our trip short.  We are returning to Texas in case I get sick enough to be put in the hospital.  The Boss drove the whole way and I was miserable, but there was more.
2. An hour into the drive I got a text that my best friend from high school had just died.
3. The an hour later another text.  My brother’s brother in law, his mentor in the early part of his career, had just died of the Covid.
4. An hour later there was more.  My buddy from our area was in Pagosa fishing, I had hoped to meet for supper and maybe a little fishing, was in the hospital in Durango.  His gall bladder was infected and he had emergency surgery and now gets to stay in the hospital for another 5 days.

Now here I am at home on day 8, and while I don’t think I am going to croak, it is still ugly.  This thing has had all the symptoms that you don’t want.  Think of 1, I had it, and am still having it.  The worst was the day we left, the night before the shortness of breath was really scary, I almost went to the ER but I was worried they might put me on a vent.  I do not mind telling you I was scared.  Dying on a vent is a terrible thing.  I think the approximately 9,000 elevation was not helping and once we got back to Texas it was not near as bad.  If having trouble breathing at any level is a “not near as bad.”  Suffice to say it sucks no matter the elevation.

So no matter what you think about Covid know this, it is ugly.  You may be the lucky one and have a little head ache, or you just might die.  Or maybe you will fall into the spectrum where I have, totally miserable for days and days.  Think it is fake?  Come on over and let me breath on you and see how that goes.  Think it is the flu?  I have had that plenty in my 67 years and this is ain’t it, unless you think being really ill for 8 days and counting is no big deal.  Not sure how I got it, that is irrelevant at this point, just know I got it being compliant with the rules.  It started with a cough, then fever, then shortness of breath, nausea, headache, etc.  Now, all of that and more.

And of course I could not be more pissed.  I am not a good patient, and knowing it will be a while before I am back on the water sure does not help.  At least it will be first on the list as soon as all the symptoms are gone, you can isolate from others while fishing.  So until I feel better, and it is safe to be out there, here I sit.  My only advice to you, be safe, this is not fake news.  Thanks for sticking with me, I will be back.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

“SAVE OUR WATERS”

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

The Wade Right Fishing Belt

Brought to you by

Check out the new Madre Sling

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

We are about to be out of “range’ for a while.  So I will be taking a break for a few weeks.  Hopefully there will be some trout, and some serious wildlife, and some restorative time in the high mountains.  And a little break from the “interweb” and the blog will be a good thing, a time to reflect and recharge before the serious fall fishing begins.

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FOUR HORSEMEN TACKLE

Every once in a while a product comes along that impresses me from the git go, and this is one. I have seen this popping cork in several tackle stores and I got a chance to fish the new to me cork, and it seems to be all that it is cracked up to be.  Right off the bat it comes with a serious fishing pedigree.  Designed and marketed by Four Houseman Tackle, it is the brain child of Aaron Pierce and Roger Dowdy, a couple of life long Louisiana residents and full time guides.  Ok, so what does that have to do with popping corks?

They are from the Golden Meadow area of Louisiana, which is just a few short miles from Grand Isle, one of my favorite destinations.  When I fish that area I might trout fish a day or so, but it is always back to the reds.  So if you think about it, who else would know how to make a better popping cork?  When you are a full time guide in that area you catch reds, then more reds, then even more reds.   Much less that crazy 25 daily trout limit.  And with that came the necessity of designing a serious popping cork that can take the day to day abuse only South Louisiana can bring.  And they clearly got it done.

Once I got my hands on one it was immediately apparent that it resolved one of my main complaints with popping corks, they wear out, and it does not take that long.  In fact, I have 5 or 6 old ones hanging in my tackle room  (Why I do not know!) that are trashed because they were clearly not sturdy enough.  There is no doubt that the Four Horsemen have made a major improvements on the classic popping cork.

So what I did was take a “regular” popping cork and a Four Horsemen cork and laid them side by side and here is what I learned.  First the Four Horsemen feels and looks sturdier, and it is.  The wire itself is a lot heavier, which I believe alone helps significantly, and it is also shorter.  Which basically ends the problem of the wire bending or kinking making it not work properly.  It also allows for shorter pops, allowing it to be worked longer in an area.  The noise making beads are of a material that makes a different sound from the normal.  Not sure what they are made of, but it looks like the liner in the cork that the wire runs through is of the same material, it sure makes a different “click”.   Plus it also ends the problem of the cork beginning to hollow out on both ends as the beads tear into the styrofoam.  And the last readily apparent improvement, the swivel where you tie your bait is a real upgrade from standard poppers.  Basicially the whole dam thing is just plain tougher and better designed.

They sell 4 styles which covers all the bases.  An oval, and  3″, 4″, and 5″ poppers, along with a skinny popper, and their newest product, the 3″ Armor Popper.  And here is what make the Amor Popper such a good product and is one of my favorite things about their popping cork.

And Rex, who gave it all up to head out on his own path, had this to say about the Four Horse Men corks.

Popping the four horsemen cork, with its beads is like playing an musical instrument. A few little tap on the rod makes a little rattle noise. A strong pull on the rod gives it a good pop and splash. I like to vary the sounds and you can do that with the four horsemen. I even use it when trolling a live bait or artificial, it still makes noise as the beads as go over waves and ripples. Additionally, trolling a cork makes a noise wake that can attract fish as well. When trolling live bait on a cork, I like to lip hook a Pinfish or croaker – it swims more naturally keeps the bait alive longer. The popper shape gives a good splash with ever pop. An oval, would be ideal more ideal trolling purposes, it will glide smoothly as you troll. But a classic popper is a good versatile shape that you can work in any way with a little extra splash to gain more attention from the Reds.

Rex is living the dream as the owner of https://actionhat.com/ and founding member of www.yakfish.tv, along with several other entrepreneurial endeavors.  He is a serious kayaker who spends tons of time in Louisiana fishing and filming.  Take a look at his site, he has lots of cool stuff and my couple of tee shirts are my favorite.

It is interesting he has found out it works trolling as he paddles his kayak.  One trip to the Chandeleurs ended up being windy and we would toss it way out behind the boat and drift with the wind. No casting, just the occasional pop and we caught them right along.  A great way to save a day.

So next time you need a cork check out their website or you local tackle store and give them a try.  Can’t wait for winter fishing on rivers and creeks, it will be a real killer!  It not only catches fish but will outlast any other the market.

********************Put your favorite Knockin Tail under the Four Horsemen popping cork and hold on!  A deadly combination.

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Support Your Local Fishing Club

The St Joe Bass Club after their first meeting.

You can always contact them and help out.  Good luck guys and gals!

The high school has set up an email for the club as listed below, great for asking how to provide specific help.

stjbassclub@stjflyers.com

Mrs. Ann Brogger is the high school counselor and one of the advisors . I’m the second  (Chago) by default.

The high school will provide a tax donation form.

As for the bass team, other potential options for helping the anglers are some basics on breaking down a new lake, articles about technique, discussions on fishing patterns, or similar.

I may sound like a broken record with these pleas for help but it is a worthy cause for some great kids.

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And from TPWD the holiday weekend numbers.

AUSTIN— Texas Game Wardens closed the summer boating season with water safety checks and boating safety patrols on the lakes, rivers and bays in Texas over the extended Labor Day weekend. Between Friday and Monday, water safety checks were conducted on more than 3,800 vessels statewide. Additionally, 267 citations and 412 warnings were issued for various boating safety law violations.

Four individuals were also arrested for Boating While Intoxicated, three others were arrested for Driving While Intoxicated and 21 others were arrested on other charges.

Over the holiday weekend, game wardens also responded to 26 boating accidents across the state.

One of those weekends where it could have been worse.  So be careful and organized out there no matter when or where you fish.  There may be a TPWD officer coming to a boat near you – Yours!

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So time to put down the computer and phone and enjoy the outdoors.  It is easy to forget what a joy it is to simply be outdoors, taking it all in for what it is – the Great Outdoors.  After a recharge it will be back at it, and I am really looking forward to our fall bay fishing.  And I just started looking at Grand Isle for late October and a redfish extravaganza. I appreciate all of you how have stuck with me all these years, fishcatchingtravel will be back at it before you know it.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines