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”

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

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.

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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.)

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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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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.

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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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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.

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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

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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.

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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 bait in a long time.  You won’t be sorry.

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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

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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Strange week this one was.  First the motor issue, then a couple of days of literally howling winds.  One day a trip to Katy to pick up a couple of combos, another to Corpus to pick up the Boss’s waders.  She now has her own fly rod and waders, and with all the Sims shirts and coats she has she will  by styling like a fly fisherwoman.

So while some of the week involved fishing stuff, the plan is to have next week really involve some fishing.  Today would have been great, they got the forecast so wrong, and if the lake was open it would have been a killing.  (I just can not fathom with what we saw today that the lake is not opening.  What’s the freakin’ diff!) But we were in Corpus then Rockport and man was it busy.  Folks were shopping, eating, and we saw tons of them fishing on the road out to the island.

And a last word on today, if you ever get to Rockport as you come in to  on 35 there is that big gas station on the right, immediately look to your left and you will see a little green food truck directly across the street.  He is a Cuban, and he makes Cubans, and they are great.  We got indoctrinated into Cuban food in South Florida and his Cuban is a real Cuban.  And we love Cuban coffee so that was a bonus.  He also has a daily special which he gave me sample while I waited on the sandwich and it was delicious.  So if you get by there stop in and get you one, you won’t be disappointed.  (Not sure what that has to do with fishing.)

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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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First up is picture from Jess Rotherham owner of Texas Crappie Fishing Service LLC.  Folks he catches crappie, and I mean boat loads.  And looks like he catches the occasional bass.

A Lake Travis Hoss!  Nice job.

Just kidding about the bass, if it swims he catches it.  And watching him the last couple of years I always like seeing the bonus big catfish his customers catch along with some real slabs.  For over 16 years he has fished the Austin area lakes for a lack of a better description.  And he is definitely family friendly.  So if you want an enjoyable day, and a sack full of tasty crappie filets, keep him in mind.  And to top it off he and his customers own several lake records.

Check out Facebook for his latest reports:

https://www.facebook.com/Texas-Crappie-Fishing-Service-LLC-1687596168182257/

Or on his website:

www.texascrappiefishingservice.com/

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And as usual it is good to get a report from Rusty,

Good morning Doug!
Fishing reports: Fished Bastrop Lake 5/7/20. Started early and using the swim jig boated 15 or so by 8 am. Black/ blue was the best color. Then switched over to smokin shad fluke on a short Carolina rig to catch another 8. All the fish were 1-2 lbs with one fish maybe around 4 lbs. Wind finally ran us off the lake by 11 am
Fished Fayette Lake yesterday, first think I noticed was not as many boats. Started at daylight on a point with the black/knocking Tail trailer swim jig and caught several good fish in the next hour! My cousin was fishing the same jig with a different trailer and I was catching 3 fish to his one. He finally had to ask if I would share a Knocking Tail with him to put on his swim jig. He immediately started catching as many as me. That rattle does make a difference!! Fishing is very good at Fayette right now if the weather is good. Tight lines, Rusty
PS: As a Victoria Memorial High School alumni (1970), I’m very excited about the bass fishing club. Count me in!

Great report.  The Knockin Tail as a trailer, or by itself, is simply a no brainer.  As you have fished it more than some, as I have, you learn real quick how well it does work.  It does not have a downside no matter how you use it.  Numbers on Bastrop and better fish on Fayette, seems to be the rule right now.  I meanwhile am patiently waiting on the Coleto  opening.  Until then the salt is calling if this ongoing wind will lay down some.

Did not know you were a Victoria graduate but love your offer “to count you in” though the club will be at Saint Josephs.  As the boys work on the project I will keep everyone updated.  If  they get it going it will be a popular club, it has become one of the ways to not only pursue a pro career, but there are scholarship opportunities with college teams and it sure beats choir.  (No offense to you choir folks.  When you can not sing or dance you hate choir.)  Wish it had been around in my day.  So the rest of you, if you can lend a hand one way or other as this moves along let me know.  I will keep yammering on about it.

And as far as less folks out, looks like some folks will finally be headed back to work.  On that note I have noticed the last few trips that there were lots of kids fishing with their folks at POC, fishing was as good a social distancing thing as anything.  When we were fishing for trout at a lake in Colorado we even heard a kid tell his mom he got his homework done before they came to the lake, and they were from Utah.  There has been a lot more folks spending time outside in many different ways, that is one of the few good things that have come out of this mess.  Keep it up folks, it beats the tv by a mile.

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To go along with starting the club I have a little story.  I prefer to shop at local tackle stores though with the Bass Pro points I spend them there after they add up.  They had a fabulous deal on a Lew’s Inshore Mach Combo – $79 for a $169 combo, $90 off.  I even looked it up on Lew’s to be sure it, and the price, was right and it was, great deal.  Without boring you the sale flyer not only mislabeled the combo, they put the wrong skew number so you could not look it up.  As I knew it would sell out fast the Boss and I spent 2 hours finally getting a store pickup in Katy.  Suffice to say Bass Pro often can not find their ass with both hands and feet and today was no different.  It long ago abandoned being a tackle store in favor of being a department store.  But thanks to James in the Katy store that saved me a couple, man are they nice.  And now the real reason for that little story.

When I got them home there was an attachment on the rod and inside was what Lew’s does in support of high school bass fishing.  I had no idea.  What an interesting time to have that on the rod.  They have resources for fund raising, getting new members, and tackle help.  So I sent that along to the boys and it should be very helpful.  There will be some work putting it all together but from what I know of the folks behind this it will happen.  I would have been a member in the day and know there are boys out there who just need a little hand to get involved.  My dad did not have a boat, only rich kids had one in those days,  a Zebco was all I could afford, and all I could do was dream.  What a gift the club could be for some young man.

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And on the tackle store front sad to report that Angler’s Arsenal in Victoria will be closing.  Really unfortunate that their timing was all wrong and totally out of their control.  Having owned a tackle store it is a tough business.  In my day it was just Bass Pro and that was about the size of it other than smaller stores like mine.  Now the mom and pop store has to compete with Dick’s, Academy, Cabela’s, and on and on.  And that also makes it tough on local manufacturers who want to enter the market but the economy of scale is to overwhelming for most start ups to handle an Academy.  A perfect example is the rods I bought above, there is no way in hell a regular store could sell it for that little.  But good luck to them whatever is next, nice folks and I wish them the best.

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I can not help it but there is something about big strings of dead trout and reds on the deck, especially when it is the same folks multiple days in a row, that seems not right.  I know there is no home possession limit in Texas and keeping them day after day is legal, but it always gives me pause hoping that all of them get eaten and none are wasted.  It may have more to do with my long practiced catch and release bass fishing, not that we do not eat the occasional bass.  Over the years the big stringers of bass pictures went by the wayside with bass fishermen.  That has not happened in the saltwater world.

But hey, it is legal and as long as the law is followed, it is not right to criticize the individual.  On issues like this not only would it take a change of some sort in the law, it requires a change in angler attitudes, and that is not happening anytime soon.   Adding to my ambivalent feelings, for some reason I do not mind the stringer over the shoulder pic.  Nor do I mind the big pile of crappie pic, that is what it is supposed to be.  Guess the pile of dead fish strung out on the deck seems like simply bragging, the over the shoulder wading pic outdoor action, if any of that makes sense.  But either way, if it is legal have at it.

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On our drive to Corpus, out on the island, then over to Rockport, it was a full house in the fishing department.  Waders, shoreline, boat, kayak, there were literally folks fishing everywhere. It has not been like that since last year and it was nice to see.  It seemed like a holiday weekend there were that many folks fishing.  So I will let folks get it out of their system tomorrow then off to fish with the new rods.  And I have to admit I put braid on them.  It has not been on any rod at my house for the last several years but there was a spool of 20lb and one of 15b so guess I will give it a go.  Since the bite on the Knockin Tail is not usually subtle it will feel like they are pounding it.  Monday here I 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!

Random Fish Pic.  A big ass Costa Rican mahi!

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Attention Area Bass Fishermen

I got this comment from Chago and it actually involves something I have actually thought about in the past.  It might have changed my life.

Doug,

Now for some much-needed help from you and your readers. The Covid situation has been complex but brought forth many silver linings. My boys have fished every body of water within a fifty mile radius from Victoria. They have practiced social distancing and remain Covid free, but they have caught a severe case of bass fever. My two high schoolers have decided they want to start a bass fishing team. Of course, I’m excited and encourage their efforts, but unfortunately, we are blind to the process. They are willing to learn and, more importantly, accept the uphill challenge. Any advice would be most appreciated.

Thank you.
Chago

I sent him some links to various High School bass fishing organizations.  He reports his sons, along with some friends and fathers, are looking at starting a club at Victoria High School.  It is a wonderful project for Victoria, which is a fishing town.  This is so worth while and I will be keeping in contact with them as they move through the process.  This is a great opportunity to mentor some young guys and share our love of the sport.  So all you local bass fishermen here is a chance to give back in some ways to the sport we all love.  And maybe put your money where your mouth is.  Think about it, what can you do?  Though I don’t have a bass boat count me in.  Would love to spend the day with a couple of kids watching as they grow as fishermen.  So count me in.

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The new Knockin Tail is available in many places on the Texas coast.  So stop in at your local tackle store and ask for the new Knockin Tail.  And it will be available in Victoria this week, will let you know!

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I am sure those of you who read this stuff are getting sick of me touting the Knockin Tail.  But from the day Michael started working on it there was no doubt in my mind that it was going to be a hit.  And after a ton of work to get it “right” it is spreading up and down the coast and selling like hot cakes.  All because the fishing results are bearing out my original thoughts – that thing works!  So congratulations to Michael and his family, he earned it.  And if you have not tried them yet, your loss!

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Ed tossed in his .02 worth on the Colorado trip.

Very Cool!! Great pics and descriptions, almost being there.
Thank you, what an experience. Gonna have to get my wife convinced to try it one day.

Thanks

I appreciate you kind comments.  For the money it really is a cheap trip for a world class destination.  And with gas at this price it is even cheaper.  There are plenty of reasonable places to stay in the Pagosa Springs area and from there just the Colorado topographical map and some planning and you are good to go.  From that point whether you have a 4×4 is the main issue, but it really is not necessary to explore, but it does open up some awesomely crazy drives.  Add coming arounnd the corner and having an elk cross the road, or a herd of mule deer feeding, turkeys, it is the “zoo” we call the great outdoors.

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And the HardheadKing, the best name on the net, sent along this comment.

Congrats on a good time in Big Bayou. Hope to make it down there soon. Regarding the alarm, it probably is the float level switch inside that tank and unfortunately the only solution I’ve heard of is to replace the tank. Ouch!

My ’99 merc is holding up. I keep threatening to go back to premix so I can avoid oil pump failure, pump problems, and simple oil hose plumbing problems but so far I’ve been lucky. I can’t say enough about how much better she runs on the ethanol free gas.

My last trip still sticks in my craw.  They were on the chew and I had not even touched a small portion of the area.  It had epic written all over it.  But stuff happens, there will be other days.

As far as the engine funny yours is a 99.  Mine is a 2010 Opti with 1000 hours on it and it has done yeoman work.  Bob said that the oil tank failures start around 10 years of age, and unless it is the alarm it will be the tank.  But with the cost of a new motor the occasional repair on an older engine comes with the territory.  (Not that I am happy about it!)  As long as the compression stays equal on all cylinders I will run it till it croaks.  So I just made sure the skiff was ready to go and it will be back on the water soon.  Plus, every time I think about selling the skiff the Mako goes in for whatever and I am still fishing.   I really do have a fishing problem.  Thanks for the comments and good to hear from you.

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And last a rant from SA Joe.

OH IM VENTING. THIS COUNTRY IS screwed. I can understand closing a park because it got full of people to allow distancing. (ARKANSAS BEND) Lake Travis. But what does closing the boat ramp do when the park is open???. During the weeks there isnt anyone there. I launch my bass boat and off i go by myself….im in the water in 10 minutes and away from people. If others want to tie off to other boats and party. Then let them dumb a’s catch the virus together…problem solved. Why cant fisherpeople get together and have a voice to the stupidity above us????

Believe me I have ranted the same way, I feel your pain.  It is so stupid to close the ramps.  Coleto is a perfect example, those of us with an annual pass could just drive in, unload, fish, load and hit the road without any contact with anyone.  It seems to me you have a better chance of getting it at the grocery store, Walmart, or wherever else you might happen to be.  I get the feeling that in some cases they just don’t want to fool with it as not sure what medical justification they could have for it.  Since Coleto has cancelled all prior reservations for camping until June 1 I am concerned it might stay closed until then.   Free The Ramps!

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Tim from Wade Right spoke with Capt. Howie of the Southern Belle and it is looking good.  They just got back from his first 3 day trip with a 10 man party to the Chandeleurs.  The report – a 250 fish trout limit!  I was worried that we might not be able to go in early June but it looks like it is game on.  So with less than a month to go it is time to get excited.

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And speaking of big trips, Muskie Bay Resort in Canada just reported that the border will remain closed to nonessential travel until late June.  That is really a tough blow for them, they are good people and that is a big part of their season.  Folks are suffering everywhere.

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That is it for today.  Still waiting to hear from the redfish fly guy which should be happening soon.  Today I am trying to decide if I am going to get my lazy butt up in the morning early and head to the bay.  We have a chance for some thunderstorms and showers and the wind is going to get up in the afternoon.  (Like that is a surprise.)  I will just keep watching today and see how it looks.  Not interested in another short trip.  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!

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

Let the fishing begin.  I have been as good as I can be, and will continue to use good practices but the water is calling.  After fishing only a couple of times the last 2 months it is time to get back to work.  We are entering a period where the croaker soakers are out in force, and lures take a back seat at times.  But with the rattle calling Knockin Tail it puts it on a more level playing field with the live bait.  Only one way to prove it to you – catch some fish!  So it will be an early morning and on the water at daylight.

Weather

61/85.  Partly cloudy with a 15% chance of rain.  Wind ESE 12 – 18mph.

Tides

Low  12:00 am  – 0.37 feet.  High  12:34 pm – +1.4 feet.

Activity Times

Minor  10:23 am to 11:23 am.  (Only relevant time.)

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The new Knockin Tail is available in many places on the Texas coast.  So stop in at your local tackle store and ask for the new Knockin Tail.  And it will be available in Victoria this week, will let you know!

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The Joys of Boat Ownership

Perfect!

It was partly cloudy at daybreak when I dropped the boat in the water.  The wind was blowing right down the pike, and the water temp was 75 degrees.  The wind had obviously muddied the water up a little, but it was not totally ugly.  The plan was to do some wading but first I wanted to stop in Big Bayou and fish my 2 favorite banks in the bay.  First for topwater reds, the second Knockin Tail for trout

Just flushed the topwater.

My topwater bank had a nice chop but was a little out of the wind.  The first couple missed it, then I went 3 in a row.  Just using the walk the dog retrieve at a moderate speed and they stopped it.  They were really shallow, had to tilt the motor up and was stirring up some mud and just able to reach the bank with a big cast.

The third one was a rat, but thing were looking up.

The water was moving and the wind was blowing with the tide so time for a Knockin Tail pass so I headed to the trout place.  And on maybe my second cast slow rolling the Red Shad Knockin Tail on a 1/8th jig head as it got right by the trolling motor a big red just materialized out of no where and smoked it.  One of those shit did that just happen moments!  So I committed the cardinal sin, not setting the hook.  When it came up it was not a red but a really stout trout!  It tossed the jig and off she went.

This was a real one!

The stretch that holds these little better trout is small, but it has been consistent for me.  This one above slack lined the Red Shad Knockin Tail.  The wind was blowing right down the bank so I went back up to make another pass an another good one jumped on and broke my line.  Why you ask, I just put all new on yesterday.  How about I did not check it after catching a big lady fish who as usual went absolutely nuts.  Always, always check your line after one of those.  They have some teeth.

So I went back up and did it again, and picked up a couple of smalls.  I idled back up to re-fish it when the low oil alarm went off.  No big deal.  I always have at least a 1/2 gallon on board so I filled it up.  And it went off again.  Hummm…….  So l tried idling, running wide open, half throttle, and everywhere in between but it kept going off.  On the Mercs the low oil beeps 4 times like every 2 minutes.  It was peeing fine, and wasn’t getting hot, but the alarm just kept doing it.

Rats.  While it might have been a sensor no time to take any chances so back to the ramp, on the trailer, and off to the shop.  It never missed a beat, got hot, nothing, so it was not “broke”, which is a good thing.  Bob thinks it is probably the oil tank which generally has a 10 year life span.  So no big deal.  Having the annual service done while he is at it so should be good to go next week.  And there is always the skiff.

I really hated to quit.  I had 3 big trout on today and it was looking like it had potential to be epic.  After not fishing much it was nice to catch some good ones so no harm no foul.  It was one of those things where you can get pissed off, or just take it like comes.  But the good fish were biting.

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They flat eat the Knockin Tail.

One thing I have learned with the Knockin Tail, they definitely like to hit it on a steady slow roll, much better than any other plastic I have used on the bay.  They hit it fairly hard, no problem detecting a bite, and like the one above, they eat it.  Of course in really shallow water a light jig head keeps it up, but on the deeper banks a heavier one will get it down there.  In fact, on the really deep banks, 6 foot+ I even let it hit bottom and then start cranking.  But no matter how you do it add the Knockin Tail to your arsenal.  Feel the thump!

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With no Mako for a bit time to go over the skiff and fish out of it for a while.  I lose some range, but being able to go beats not.  And really hoping to see something out of GBRA as far as Coleto goes.  I am having serious bass withdrawal.  Will also hear from the fly fishing guide and be heading to the Rockport area any day now.  Time to fish, but like I did today, observe good practice coming and going.   So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines