FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

“SAVE OUR WATERS”

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt

Brought to you by

The Best Wading System on the  Planet.

Hope you and your friends and family are all safe and well.  I want to say a little something about this virus.  The Boss has been on a long stretch in the ER and while things are at a dull roar around here, for the moment, the stress on our emergency workers, ER folks, medics, police, etc, is tough.  They are standing on the front lines while keeping us as safe as possible, and though we have few local cases even here the pressure is hard on all of them.  Every patient could be the one, and the emergency workers are afraid for themselves but even tougher, the worry they will take it home.  They are brave folks who are called to their duty, and we should all be so grateful for their sacrifice.  Thanks Nancy.

Folks my only comment I will make on this:  They are flat lying to you that anyone can get the test.  It is so not true it is laughable, and how anyone can say that with a straight face is ridiculous and they should be ashamed.  That is not what is happening.  Not only the availability of the test, but the process to actually get it done, is not what they are telling you.  In fact there are so few tests they are recommending to not test folks if the coarse of treatment will stay the same.  Sad.

The Arkansas trip is in the rear view mirror and I am so up in the air right now about fishing.  I have spent a day getting my stuff reorganized and as soon as this weather straightens out some it will be back on the water.  Looks like that may be one of the few safe places, and as long as your boat partner stays on the back deck no violation of the 6 foot rule.

I am so impressed with the Knockin’ Tail Lure.  All I have to say is I have seen a lot of new baits come along and this may be in the top 5.  And the great reports coming in from folks who bought them at the Houston Fishing Show are a tribute to how good it is.  So no matter where you fish, or what you fish for, it will catch fish.  And there is no greater recommendation than that.

They fish as good as they look!

And if they are not in your local tackle store have them contact My Coast Outdoors and get them on the wall.

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Coleto Creek is closing March 23 indefinitely.  I only have one question:  Why close it to those of us with an annual pass?  We could just drive in, load, and go fishing.  Promise not to cough in your face.  Hopefully they won’t close the bay!

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And Tommy, a hard core tournament fisherman, sent along this pic of a good one from Coleto.

The boy can catch em!

Thanks for the pic and the heads up on your boat and trailer.  Though I missed you as I was gone always appreciate your comments.  Not sure if the Open tournament is still on at Coleto next week  (Looks like not.) but the fishing remains good.  But it is currently pouring as I type this so changes will be coming to the lake.  We need the water desperately, just hope it is not a gully washing flood, which screwed up our fishing for a couple of years after the last one.  Keep in touch.

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I got this comment as spam, but am sharing it with you so we can talk about it.

One more thing. I think that there are quite a few travel insurance web sites of respectable companies that let you enter a trip details and have you the quotes. You can also purchase the actual international travel cover policy online by using your credit card. All that you should do would be to enter your own travel specifics and you can begin to see the plans side-by-side. Simply find the system that suits your capacity to pay and needs and use your credit card to buy the idea. Travel insurance on the internet is a good way to search for a respected company to get international travel cover. Thanks for giving your ideas.

Anytime we are doing any serious traveling we always buy travel insurance.  It can be a little expensive but it only takes once to pay for it for a lifetime of travel.  We were packed for Spain and leaving in 2 days when her dad had a major stroke.  By having the insurance we were able to get every last cent back.  Now I am not the travel agent in this house but I do no one thing, there are several types available.  We always buy the one that I think they refer to as CFR – Cancel for any reason.  So next time you consider major travel, especially in this new world, be sure to understand exactly what the company is selling you and ask questions before you buy.  It saved us thousands by having the right policy.

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And as long as I am talking about my favorite tackle manufacturers I sent Tim of Wade Right a note asking what was up with the new sling.

The sling is sold out but our production order shipped from Hong Kong yesterday and is scheduled to be delivered on Monday 3/23.  I have my fingers crossed that they get here then.  Attached are a few pictures of the new sling in use.  We have so much interest it is great!!  Hope you are well.  Stay safe!!

Here are a couple of pictures of the new sling in use.

Notice that it is a one piece sling that can be worn over either shoulder.  The  rod holder in the front and a tackle box in the rear.  It is light, simple, and still lets you keep your rod out of the water.  So if the big harness is a little to big for your needs this is a simple alternative.  So keep checking on their website and it will be available soon.  Suffice to say they sold out in nothing flat at the Houston Fishing Show.  Another cool idea from the Wade Right boys.

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This morning I dropped the starting battery off at the store.  They need to put a charge in it to be positive whether it is bad or not.  If it is bad that would actually be better than the motor not charging it, or the load being to heavy for the size, though I never skimp when buying batteries.  But just have to wait and see but I sure do get sick of buying batteries.

So now here I sit.  The Boss is finishing up her long stretch and we are trying to decide what to do for the next week.  My thoughts of course turn to fishing.  Falcon is always an option as other than getting gas, even then don’t need to have any contact with anyone, and other than the room for a couple of days not much need to interact with folks, for our safety and theirs.  Other than that there is always the option of doing some in house projects, (Ughhh!) though that is not the top of my list.

Please do your best to follow the current guidelines, (None of us are perfect.) keeping you, your family, and the rest of us safe.  This is a wake up call for America, we were not even close to ready.  As the world population grows this will happen again.  What a sad state of affairs.  So be nice whenever you can, do not hoard toilet paper and other items as there is enough for all, and do what you can to help.  And keep your front line responders in your thoughts and prayers, hundreds of then are getting sick every day.  We are all in this together.

God Bless America

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

“SAVE OUR WATERS”

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt

Brought to you by

The Best Wading System on the  Planet.

After 6 days of hard fishing I am back at my brother’s in Fayetteville for a quick visit to see the parents.  And I must admit I am feeling it, especially in the right arm and shoulder, maybe a couple of zillion casts will do that.  And my hands are trashed.  But it was worth every ache and pain, it was so good to be back on my home waters.

The weather was cold, and cold and raining, and cold.  Only one afternoon when it got to 80 and there were severe storms was it “nice.”  But that was the point, When you try to time the pre-spawn bite it can be tough, and it was 50/50 on that.  But I caught fish every day, and we had a 50+ fish day on crankbait so who could complain about that.  Add a couple of hoss stripers, some walleyes, this trip goes down as a success.  Norfork Lake and Bull Shoals give a fisherman the chance to boat multiple species and I sure took advantage of that.

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 I was so impressed with the Knockin’ Tail Lure.  We boated some great smallmouth, largemouth, and even a striper.  As the bite changed with the weather the fish changed but we were able to catch fish on them everyday.  All I have to say is I have seen a lot of new baits come along and this may be in the top 5.  And the great reports coming in from folks who bought them at the Houston Fishing Show are a tribute to how good it is.  So no matter where you fish, or what you fish for, it will catch fish.  And there is no greater comment than that.

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Saturday

After the mayhem of the crankbait bite we could not resist going fishing Saturday.  The only hitch in the git along – it was raining buckets and the temp was 37 degrees.  The type of day Clyde and I have fished for decades.  In other words put on the big boy pants and go.  So after a 50+ fish day, they slacked off considerably.  Sorry there is no pictures but when I say it poured all day I am not kidding, it was a mini flood.  We probably “only” caught around 25 or so on louslures jerkbait, cankbait, and the Knockin’ Tail.  Nothing big, the severe cold front and rain had them off their feed, but being the knuckleheads we are we fished all day. It really was a lesson in how the weather affects pre-spawn fish, and I was not surprised. The result, we were soaked to the bone and freezing, but happy as 2 hard core lifelong fishermen could be.

Sunday

Before I get to the fishing time for a little story.  Traveling long distances to fish there is always the chance something will happen, and at 1:00 on the last day a minor disaster struck.  The starting battery went deader than a hammer on the boat.  Oops.  No way to get ready for that ahead of time.  So we took off a trolling motor battery and we were good to go, but then no trolling motor.  Plan all you want, and I do, and usually when I am somewhere without some support system I put the jumper cables in the boat, just forgot.  There is no such thing as over prepared on fishing travel.  We did a little trolling and finally called it a day.

The day started out 37 degrees and struggled to hit 40.  Add the light mist it was not a whole lot better than the day before.  The cold water coming in combined with the temp knocked them back even more, and at best we boated a dozen or so.

A couple from the last day.  Sure love catching smallmouth and Norfork has huge crappies!

The last couple of days fishing slowed down considerably, no surprise considering conditions.  But as I review the trip it was a big success.  Walleye, got some.  Big stripers smashing minnow baits at boatside, did that.  Who would not like a 15 – 20lb striper on the end of the line?  Giving the Knockin’ Tail and  louslures jerk bait a work out, both a success.  A great crankbait day, check.  Some really nice smallmouth, yahoo.  Eagles everywhere, gin clear water, beautiful wooded shoreline, it was all good. The only downside of the whole trip, no fly fishing for trout on the White or North Fork.  Both dams were running tons of water and that was definitely out.  But it is a real pleasure to fish both lakes, both multi-species factories.  All in a already planning my return.

Tomorrow is the 12 hour drive home (Dreading that.) and back to real life.  It was nice to not have TV for the week and no internet for half of it.  And thanks to Clyde for his hospitality.  It was great to save the resort cost and overall a cheap trip for the quality of the fishing.  Bull Shoals, Norfork, the White and North Fork Rivers, Crooked Creek, the Buffalo River, much less Beaver and Table Rock close that area is one of the great fishing destinations in the United States.  And it sure brought back the memories.  But all good things come to an end.  But one thing that does not, my fishing habit, and I am already planning on hitting the bay soon.  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

The Best Wading System on the  Planet.

As I have said repeatedly, if possible on a fishing trip fish at least 3 days, and this trip is a perfect example of why.  It gives you a chance to work things out and maybe actually figure out what you should be doing and where, and we managed to do just that.

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 It has arrived!  Get the new Knockin’ Tail, it catches fish!  

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Thursday

The plan was to re-fish the areas where we had our bites yesterday in Float Creek, then meet Clyde and go from there.  Well folks, it was tough, not even a touch on any of those banks.  I kept after the louslures custom jerk bait and finally had a couple of bites and did manage to put one nice one in the boat.

The size just not the numbers.

Around noon Clyde called and asked if I wanted to go striper fishing that night so I put it back on the trailer and headed to his house to pick him up.  We planned on launching down lake near the right area.  There were storms in the area so we ended up waiting them out, even got the boat off, and then put it back on the trailer and waited.  Luckily it went around us, as some areas had hail and high winds.

We decided to fish deep with the Knockin’ Tail and we managed to put a few nice ones in the boat before it got dark.

At this point what else can I say, the Knockin’ Tail catches anything that swims.

    A nice smallmouth on one of the last Knockin’ Tail prototypes.

These came off a sloping mainlake bank.  It was in the area where the stripers hang out and I boated the one above in the same place these smallmouth came from.  The wind was up making it tough to find a place to striper fish, but in the back end of Diamond Bay there was a protected bank where we have caught them in the past.  As we approached a flat point we heard the occasional blow up and Clyde had one smoke it and miss.  Then it was my turn.  Slowly reeling a Husky Jerk right below the surface one just blasted it and wallowed like a hog.  Great bite.

My first bite on the Husky Jerk.  Nothing like that bite!

Then an hour late another one jumped on it.

I have caught hundreds of stripers but each one is as exciting as the first one.  You slow reel a minnow bait at night, either right below the surface, or on it making a wake.  It is pitch black and then WHAM, they kill it and the fight is on.  The second one had the 7″ Husky Jerk clear down in his throat and is headed to Texas as the guest of honor at a fish fry.  And when they quit, it was over, so we called it a night.  Boy I love catching these great fish.  Unfortunately the weather is not going to cooperate for another night of  chasing them.

Friday

We talked about it and I decided to head up lake to a couple of areas where we historically do ok in the spring.  With it being so slow down lake in the clear stuff time to head to Twin Coves up the river.  Every once in a while you make that right decision, and boy did I get it right.

The water temp was in the mid 50’s and much more off color up lake.  In the highland lakes of North Arkansas and Missouri that means one thing – Crankbait.  I decided to start on the main lake point going into the big cove, and 3 hours later there I was, same cove and had still not fished it all.

The Bomber Model A was the ticket.

In lakes like this we tend to parallel the bank with the crankbait, and you want it banging off the bottom.  Often erratically but this morning they wanted a nice steady moderate retrieve.  After catching one on my third cast I knew it was game on.

Largemouth, Kentucky, and smallmouth were all having at it.

Some jumped it hard, some just eased on, and a couple did my favorite bite – Just reeling along and your line would go completely slack.  So for 3 hours it was fish after fish.

When it is like this it is just a pleasure to be fishing!

So after a couple of days of somewhat slow fishing the reward came.  I did not even start the big motor until I went to pick up Clyde around 1:00.  I just kept the trolling motor down and paralleled steep banks with the chunk rock scattered along gravel and some clay being the best.  But the bite was on.  Really the only surprise is I did not catch a really nice one.  It is impossible to guess how many I caught but it was something.

They were on like Donkey Kong.

Right before I headed to pick him up a cold front blew in, though it was cold as you can see from how I have been dressed.  It was subtle but the wind shifted from the north.  So I picked up Clyde we went to another big cove farther up river and he caught 5 or 6 right off the bat, but they were small.  So we decided to head back to the place I caught them, and though it was not quite as good, we caught another 20 plus.  Clyde noticed one of the Kentucky’s he caught was puking up crawdads that were green and bright red so out came  a red Wiggle Wart and they really liked that.  As we were going to our buddy John’s for his fabulous Mexican Chicken we took out at 5:15 and left them biting.

So much more to say but the heavy rains are letting up and we are headed to the lake.  It is 41 degrees but will hit 50, if we are lucky.  At least it is just a drizzle.  But time to get after them again, we shall just have to see how the day goes.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

Note:  I poured today and did not get above 40 degrees but we put on our big  boy pants and fished most of the day until we were soaked, but the bite is on.  More on that later.

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

“SAVE OUR WATERS”

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

The Wade Right Fishing Belt

Brought to you by

The Best Wading System on the  Planet.

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Bull Shoals and Lake  Norfork

This has been an interesting 2 days.  When I drove to Mtn Home to meet Clyde on Monday it was raining and blowing like crazy so I took it easy instead of trying to get there and fish a half day.  Monday morning it was off to Bull Shoals.  I put in at Oakland and headed to Mtn Creek, one I am really familiar with.   And Clyde was going to join me when he got his work done.

The first couple of places not a bite.  But on the perfect spot, which would be a flat point with cover, deep on each side, between 2 coves, back in a creek, and I caught 5 pretty quickly.  The first 3 came on the Knockin’ Tail white ice.

A good start, and the best smallmouth I have caught in a while.

One thing that has really changed since I moved is the amount of shad on Bull Shoals, and as a consequence the bass are really chunky.  After catching 3 I turned around and threw the louslures custom jerk baits he painted me and caught a couple of small ones.

It was slow but nothing wrong with these 2.

The water temp was in the low 50’s back in the creek, and try as I might until I went to pick up Clyde at the ramp, I could not buy a white bass in the back of the creek.  A sign of things to come the next day also.  Mind you it was pretty chilly that morning, did not break 50 until after lunch, and when the clouds cleared it basically went dead slick.  We kept throwing the louslures jerk bait and the  Controlled Descent Knockin’ Tail but it was slow the rest  of the afternoon though we caught a few.  But Clyde did catch one on the white ice Knockin’ Tail, which when you look at it you might understand why I spent to much time trying to find the whites.

That my friends is a beast.  What Bull Shoals is known for.

So not to bad, but time to give Norfork a try on Wednesday..

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 It has arrived!  Get the new Knockin’ Tail, it catches fish!  

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As soon as I pulled out of the drive at 7:45 it started pouring.  Big wind, thunder and lightning, it was ugly.  (Clyde’s house has been empty for 3 months so no internet or TV, can’t say I missed them.  But with no iPhone I was flying blind until I called the Boss and got the low down.)  So I headed to some breakfast and watched it blow through around 10:30.  I had a specific plan on where I wanted to fish.  First up was Walker Branch on jerk bait, then up to the 6B area to fish the Knockin’ Tail for anything that would bite.

My first walleye and another target species, a nice Kentucky.

The custom louslures jerk bait was the bait both days.  I downsized my line to 10lb. and used the one with the little bigger lip.  It seems to go around 6 foot at a jerk pause, jerk-jerk, pause pattern, and they hit it on the pause.  Both days they were hitting it really light.  But the first place in Walker Branch was ok, caught 4 in there, so I head up creek to the white bass stomping grounds.  The water temp was in the mid 50’s but somewhat colored up.  Other than a small bass on the Knockin’ Tail it was a strike out.  Around 1:00 Clyde called and so I headed to pick him up.

From there we headed to Float Creek, one of my old stomping grounds that I know really well.  Even though the water temp was in the mid 50’s we learned that the back ends, on both lakes are not the ticket.  At this point we fished another big cove where I caught a small striper on the jerk bait, and Clyde had one boil under his, but it just was not happening.

This walleye is a special order by the Boss and it is headed to Texas.

So what could the problem be?  Easy, they now have 4 flood gates open on Norfork, and they are running 6 generators at the Bull Shoals dam, and the water is dropping like a rock.  They don’t like that to much.  It was noticable on Norfork as they attempt to get the water level down prior to what they hope will be spring rains.  When combined with a mile high sky and dead calm it just was not happening.

Clyde has always been a light line afficianodo and loves fishing grubs, swim baits, and jigs, and try as we might they simply would not touch a plastic anything.  It stayed slow all afternoon.  It seems like they do not want to chase squat and that jerk bait sitting in front of the occasional fish will get a bite.  I did manage another walleye and a nice bass, but we finally called it a day.

So with possible storms this afternoon I will stick with Norfork today just in case.  At least I have a few spots with fish plus it is cloudy right now and will stay that way the rest of today.   Hope springs eternal and who knows, it might pick up.  So while this is an abbreviated report, I am sure I have forgot plenty, it is time to load up and head to the lake.  I sure like fishing here.  Will get more up when I can 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

The Best Wading System on the  Planet.

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It was good to hear from Tommy Vinas, who has shared a thing or two in the past.  And this comment allows me to share something myself.

Hey Mr.  Doug,  I have wrote to you a few times .  Melissa and I were the ones that won first in the coleto bassmasters 2 yrs ago.  Hopefully we will be able to fish this year.  Last year Willie Nelson was on the list.  Anyway,  wanted to let you know I slammed the fish Wednesday on coleto.    This is by no means joking or kidding around,  my buddy and I had 174 bass,  my personal best total i have ever had,  i had 140 bass (not whites either)   jeff had 34.  We couldn’t figure out why he wasnt getting bit when using the exact same lure.  Maybe fluorocarbon vs mono.  7.1 gear ratio to my 5.4. To 1 ratio…idk,  we were so confused.  Out of all the bass we caught we only had maybe 30 keepers.  I missed one really good one that jumped off.  Here was my top fish.   Most others were dinks.  Hope all is well,  Tommy Vinas

Congrats on a banner day.  I have been telling folks how good the bite was and your day is exactly what I have been finding, lots of fish and hoping the good one stays on.  And here is my share.  When I have been posting as an example 25+ it really has been way more than that, but I just didn’t want to be seen as bragging to much after 40 or more day after day so I kept the numbers to a dull roar.  But I can say it now – they are off the chain and if you like catching numbers now is the time.  Thanks for letting us know and good luck at the tournament if you can make it.

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And the Oyster Fest.  The Boss and I headed to Rockport to eat a few oysters today.  We have been in the past but this time not near as much fun.  The oysters were great, the purpose is great, but man oh man do they need to fix a couple of things.  It is so busy and they basically had one line to get oysters and it literally took forever, and then, no place to eat.  It was crowded.  And it only took a little less time to get a beer.  And there was no where to sit down and eat.  As it grows I hope they speed things up, did not eat that second dozen because it was not worth the wait.

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 It has arrived!  Get the new Knockin’ Tail, it catches fish!  

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I have kept in touch with Michael as he works the last days of the Fishing Show.  The best way to describe it is a booming success.  I know I have yammered on about the Knockin’ Tail, but it is the real deal.  And apparently folks appreciated it even at first glance because they are loading up.  Every once in a while a bait comes along that is a game changer, and the Knockin’ Tail is that bait.  If  you are not fishing it on the bay you are losing out.  So congrats to Michael and his family for a successful show, you earned it.  (And please ask for them at your local tackle store, he will appreciate it.)

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I called my buddy Clyde Friday to let him know when I was coming and he was fishing Bull Shoals.  He had a good day, on the Alabama Rig and swim baits/grubs on channel swings.  That will work for me.  He was fishing with our buddy John and sent along this picture.

John with a freshwater drum.

Now freshwater drum are not exactly a prized fish by any means, but they do put up a fight.  But the real problem when you catch one on Bull Shoals, down deep they look like a big smallmouth.  Talk about a let down.  But hey, something tugging on the line is better than nothing.  See you guys this week.

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Not sure how I ended up posting today but I am so ready to leave in the morning.  If it is not packed it is not going.  And when I got the rods ready it made me laugh.  I am so sure I need 14, when in reality I will probably use 4 or 5 the whole time.  But you never know.  So wish me luck, it never hurts.  Keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck 

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

“SAVE OUR WATERS”

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

The Wade Right Fishing Belt

Brought to you by

The Best Wading System on the  Planet.

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Great to meet you today at the Houston Fishing Show and get some of the Controlled Descent Lures. I want to try that floating tail on a Carolina rig for bass at Fayette county Lake. Here is the photo I took at Zion while 3 Rams were fighting over about 30 girls and I’ve enclosed a 6 pounder one of my grand-daughters caught at Fayette. I look forward to wetting a line with you some time. Well I spoke too soon. I don’t see how to post a picture. John

What a picture!!

John sent me this.  He laid up for hours to get this shot near Zion National Park.  It does not get any better than this!  Thanks for sharing and great to meet you at the show.  And for the rest of you if you want to post a picture or report just drop me a comment and I will get back to you with my email for the pictures.  We love getting your stuff.

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Where did the week go?  As I write this I am in middle of getting ready for the trip to Arkansas.  Trips like this are a lot of work to be sure it goes well.  First is the boat, went over the whole thing front to back, tires, trailer, boat, tools, making sure it is good to go for a 12 hour tow.  Then tackle.  I am taking a dozen rods and reels, plenty, and all the tackle I need, which basically means getting it all out and leaving some and taking the rest, getting as organized as possible.  Plus with the possibility of stripers, bass, trout, (Wading the White River.) walleye, you never know.  Then clothes, and since it may not reach 60 degrees often, and there is a good chance of rain next week, so it requires taking the works.  The  best rule – You can always take it off but if you don’t have it you sure can’t put it on.  Finally food, beer, coffee, munchies, and on and on.  Not having a particular return date, pack it all.

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 It has arrived!  Get the new Knockin’ Tail, it catches fish!  

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The Show

I just had a dandy time working the Fishing Show with Michael at the Controlled Descent booth.  There is one thing I was completely confident in, the Knockin’ Tail was going to knock them out, and boy did it.  It was the hit it should be and if the first couple of days are any indication it will be a banner show.  Not only folks walking by, but as the word spread folks/exhibiters started coming by and getting some.  It was really exciting to see the success, Michael worked hard on this bait and he deserves it.  There is nothing like it in the swim bait market for you bass guys, much less it is a trout killer.  Please, if you have a local tackle store stop in and ask for them.  Of course you can get yours online, but he would appreciate if you like them spread the news, it catches fish.

Of course met some great new folks.  I will get up some of the interesting stuff I learned as soon as I have a minute.  And it was really good to see several readers, including a couple I had not met before.  One of the real pleasures of doing the blog.

The Wade Right Boys have a great new sling style wading belt and it is cool.  For those of you who are not interested in the big harness this thing is simple and cool.  So check out their website to see the Sling.  The Knockin’ Tail and the Sling are both a perfect example of simple, one of those why didn’t I think of that things.  Plus we couldn’t stop talking about the Chandeleur trip.  This year their buddy who is a videographer is coming with us so we should have some good footage, much less the usual rip roaring good time.

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louslures

I have been following “louslures” on Facebook at “gethooked” for a while and through a meshing of interests we came together.  So I ordered a couple of custom jerk baits and they look awesome.  I can feel the thump just looking at them!

He custom paints assorted hard baits, from jerk baits, to topwater, and crankbaits.  He uses high quality paint for long lasting durability.  I specifically ordered these the way I wanted them for the trip to Bull Shoals and Norfork next week.  According to the current water temps it should be jerk bait time, and nothing like testing these out on some of the many fish that area has to offer in the pre-spawn period.  So between the Knockin’ Tail and these beautiful jerk baits I have plenty to work on while I am there.  And Lou, the baits look great!

Check out his website with not only clothing and baits, but he has an interactive blog where folks share stories and information that is a good read.  He is always looking for folks to share and it is easy.  And if you need a special or an old favorite paint job contact him and he will work with you.  He even reconditions those old favorite baits.  One area I see for any company that has, or is involved in the fishing business, is to get custom baits for your clients.  Heck he can probably add a logo making them totally awesome.  Just a thought.

https://www.louslures.com/

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Speaking of North Arkansas I just watched one of the better guides report and it looks like things are going to be setting up just fine for next week.  He found water temps as high as 49 and the fish are starting to move back and out of their deep haunts.  And guess what?  He is catching on jerk baits and swim baits!  So if the creek don’t rise and the boat starts it will be all up to me.  It has been a while since I fished there, but 25 years of experience will be there to help me, and then it is on me.  And I could not be more excited.

And one last thing about this trip, I am taking the waders and fly rod.  With the White River right there, and depending on the rest of the fishing, I hope to do that at least once or twice.  One of the great trout rivers even a novice like me should be able to catch a couple!  And who knows, if the stripers are biting at night that will definitely be on the menu.

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Coleto Creek put out the map of the newly built fish habitat structures.  In fact I saw them adding to the ones at the lower end yesterday.  I have not bothered to fish any of them yet but wanted to share the link.  It is posted on the GBRA Coleto site.  While it is spring they are not something I will be hitting unless I just happen by, but as soon as the spawn is over and we enter our summer pattern they should be real fish magnates.

https://www.gbra.org/documents/maps/coletocreek-fishing-structures.pdf

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As I always say about color for bass fishing plastics, any color is fine as long as it is watermelon red.  Not to say of course that this color or that doesn’t have its moments, but it has been my go-to color for years.  That is from my years of experience in different places, it works everywhere.  And after reading an article which was basically a journal research review on bass eye sight now I know why.  Apparently bass only actually see 2 colors, and guess what they are.  Red and green.  (Most others are seen as a shade of dark.) So there you have it.  I could have saved them the effort!

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That will do it for today.  Heading out to wash the truck, pick up some stuff, and try to get organized today to leave Sunday early.  Best to do it 2 days early so you can review the last day before you leave to be sure you have what you want.  Have learned the the hard way.  Plus we are headed to Rockport tomorrow for oyster fest, we can pack them away.  If I have internet, a question right now,  I will post regularly as soon as I start fishing.  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

The Best Wading System on the  Planet.

Green heron.

Sorry for the dearth of reports last week but we had the big mid-week cold front with high winds, and then I realized that we were going out of town.  Shouldn’t have to  have a calendar when you are retired.  But it was a good trip to Louisiana where we had the pleasure of hearing Kenny Wayne Shepherd in concert.  When he was only 13 (mid 90’s) he was a guitar prodigy and is now a master and bad to the bone.  Great show.  With a week before I head to Arkansas time to start getting excited.  Along with the Houston Fishing Show this week it is going to be all about the fishing.  And looking at the weather tomorrow has potential to be epic.  Can you say Bang O Lure?

Weather

79/68.  Cloudy, warm, with a 21% chance of rain.  Wind S  10 – 20 mph.

Lake Level

Last Monday 94.34 msl.  Today  94.26 msl.   ( We need some rain!)

Bite Times

Major  6:09 am to 8:09 am.  Minor  11:37 am to 12:37 pm.  

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

 It has arrived!  Get the new Knockin’ Tail, it catches fish!  

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

The gators have been so active the last month.  Love them.

Fooled Myself!

When I was thinking Bang O Lure when I prepared part of this last night I should have listened.  But in my haste to catch some fish, and it was an easy 15 in the first 2 places, just went straight to the money shot.  But it sure could have been different.

Dead calm and really cloudy when I dropped the boat in at 7:15 it looked perfect.  The lake is clear, and though the numbers don’t seem to bear it out, on the fall again.  But I will give GBRA at least a little credit, they put posts at the end of the ramp to let you know when you are going to drop off.  It is getting that low.  The water temp varied between 62 and 65 all day, being just a little warmer up lake.

This was it in the size department today.  Guess I never threw it in front of a real one.

As it has been the bluegill color swim jig and the Pit Boss around cover are still working to beat the band.  I think it was one on my third cast and it went from there.  And of course some nice crappie jumped on.  Man is it good if you chase them.  Shallow brush and there is one there, and some are bruisers.

To bad for these guys.  It is fish fry Tuesday!

It stayed calm, when I should have been throwing the Bang O Lure, until 10:00 and then it went straight to 20 mph.  Anywhere it could get a head of steam it was blowing.  I ducked into a protected backside of a point and immediately caught 2 on Bang O Lure.  That is when I knew I messed up, should have been doing it when it was dead calm, and there was not much of that left.  But where it was you could get a bite.  Love watching them materialize out of nowhere and eat it.

Just wanted to show you the first Bang O Lure bass, the time is here for some topwater on the lake.

So where it was possible the Bang O Lure and in the wind spinnerbait.  And they  bit right along, just most were on the small side.  The best bass of the day smoked the spinnerbait and in the cooler he went.  Oh the horror!  We are going to eat a bass.  And they kept biting until I quit at 2:00.  One good thing about the 5 or 6 on spinnerbait is most were taking it off the bank, in other words, chasing it, a good sign.  I was in the skiff but wish I had the Mako as when it is that windy the skiff blows right along making it hard to fish properly.

First though, good optics are critical right now.  Any dark looking spot might have one, along with the cover you can see.  Whether pitching the Pit Boss, tossing the Bang O Lure, buzzing the spinnerbait, or the swim jig, it is important to throw it at something.  The coves still tend to be a little better but with the wind I did catch some on the main like.  But no matter what catching fish on 4 different baits is a good time.  In fact, fish whatever you like to fish and you will get bit.  Love spring!

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The New Knockin’ Tail Colors

The new Knockin’ Tail is finally available from My Coast Outdoors.  They look awesome and I know they catch fish so take a look and order some, or if you make it to the Houston Fishing Show pick up a few bags.

https://my-site-101717.square.site/

Can’t wait to get my grubby little hands on a couple of bags myself!

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

While I was in Lake Charles of course I stopped at Lake Charles Tackle.  A really well stocked tackle store it had most of what you need for fresh or saltwater.  I met the owner’s son, of course I am bad with names so my apologies, and we had a great chat about all things fishing.  He also fishes fresh and salt when the time is right, and knows his stuff.  While I was plugging the Knockin’ Tail I learned something new.  He said that swim baits like the Knockin’ Tail have been a hot bait for his bass fishermen.  So hopefully he will add them to his line, which is extensive.  Probably the best tackle store I have been in for a while.

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

Nothing like a 30lb day!

And my buddy Aaron is up to his usual tricks in NE Texas.

                             The boy can catch them!

He is back at home in Longview waiting on his next assignment as a landman.  He has fished the area waters his whole life, and has fished tournaments on most of them.  Good to hear from you and looks like a great fishing partner.

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

I did forget to mention in my last report about the snakes.  As I slid by a by an overhanging tree one slithered off into the water, and then one fell out from higher up and nearly landed in the boat.  It has been a while since I had one in the boat, it happened at least twice in Arkansas, once while guiding.  We were night fishing with a Moon Glo when the customer’s son on the rear deck said where did that snake come from.  It had crawled up and coiled around the light for what little heat it gave off.  Crazy.

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After a really slow year it has been a good run this spring.  I know I have not been to the salt lately, but catching 25 – 35 a day is hard to ignore.  And now they will eat almost anything you throw at them.  So what is not to like!  It comes down to one thing when it is all said and done, are you catching them?  And boy am I.  Wednesday I head to Houston to hook up with Michael from Controlled Descent and work the booth a little and much of Thursday.  I really like doing that as there is one common language spoken, fishing.  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

The Best Wading System on the  Planet.

The gators love a sunny bank out of the wind.

Weather

79/46.  Partly sunny and warm with a 8% chance of rain.  Wind SSW  5 – 15 mph.

Lake Level

Friday 94.34 msl.  Today 94.34 msl.  (Hanging in there.  We need some rain!)

Bite Times

Major  1:33 pm to 2:33 pm.  

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

 It has arrived!  Get the new Knockin’ Tail, it catches fish!  

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

Say Goodbye to a Friend.

A fish finally bit the tail off my Knockin’ Tail.  That thing should hang in my hall of fame.  Well over 50 fish before one finally bit the tail off.  Not sure if I will ever have, or have had, a plastic last that many fish.  So bye buddy, you were one good bait.

The last 2 fish on that one Knockin’ Tail.

And notice on the crappie, fins all messed up, and it was a lot blacker than the photo shows.  It was either on the bed or just off.  And with the water temp back in the mid 60’s it will only continue.  I keep saying it, they are on.  And here is couple of more from this morning.

One on a swim jig and one on the Pit Boss.

First cast about 9:30, last cast at 3:30.  The wind stayed down for the most part, the water color is getting a lot clearer, and it was sunny all day.  There is nothing much to say except read the last 6 or 8 reports, lots of fish, and lots of bites.  But there was one small problem, and still not sure why it happened.

Like I have been doing, I pitched the Pit Boss to the perfect stump and one thumped it and the line went slack.  Perfect bite.  I laid the wood to her and up she came.  Now I am pitching with 20lb line, using a Trokar hook, and a heavy action rod, it should not have come off.  She was only 15′ from me and should have stayed on.  It made a pretty impressive jump/wallow and out came the hook.  Stuff happens but that was a big fish.

Just like it has been, lots of these.

When you are catching lots of these there is usually a good bite or two, and today was no different, I just did not get the job done.  But the action was like it has been, very consistent.  Up lake pitching and swim jig around cover, down lake, swimming the Knockin’ Tail.  6 or 7 in the first place, same in the next, it really does not seem to matter a whole lot.  Find cover in a warmer cove and the fish are there.

I finished up down near the dam fishing channels, points, and into the coves.  Today many were really small, but that is to be expected with the mile high sky.  But by far the most consistent numbers is slow rolling the Knockin’ Tail in clear water.  Giving it the occasional hop, or just stopping it is the best, and they like it.  The bigger fish are up lake in the water with a little more color to it around wood.  And I will say it again, stumps.  (I have not been throwing the Knockin’ Tail up there because I did not want to lose any.  But they are finally here so at least they can be replaced which will happen around cover.)  I actually saw a couple of small ones come out and hit the swim jig when I reeled it over a really shallow piece of cover.  Good optics definitely put fish in the boat.

So another numbers day.  All it will take is a warm day with drizzle and the Bang O Lure bite will be on.  So no matter what is happening if those conditions make an appearance it will be the lake.  There are only a few days like this every year and I am lucky enough to hopefully be able to take advantage of it.  When it happens it is something.

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And got this first time comment from Joe.

Really enjoy reading your blog, been trying to catch a crappie in the lake but haven’t had any luck. I read your blog and then I go to the lake (I’m 62, retired also so Monday thru Thursday) one of these days I will find them, so thanks for the blog.

Hollar if you see me out there.  Either in a white Mako with Power Pole or the old Carolina Skiff.  As far as the crappie go they are shallow and looking to bed.  There are more the farther up the lake you go.  Concentrate on brush with at least some water on it.  Do not spend long, they are either there or not.  A slip bobber set at 2′ with a small jig should catch them right now.  Of course same with minnows but with so many small bass around they won’t last long.  I appreciate your comment, always good to hear from someone new.

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More serious reasons to buy their boat.

. Boat needs total rehab. The tires need air.  No title on the boat or boat trailer.

So if you can just get it home…….

Started the motors about 6 months ago by pouring gas in carbs.

And one free Bic comes with it!

I do not know if the motors run or not. The boat sits on a homemade trailer. The trailer also has a new hand crank winch but no cable or strap.

May not run but it won’t be tied down when you take it home.

i do not have any titles for the boat or motors or the trailer.

These never end.  If was easy to get a title it would have been done a long time ago.

Old boat and trailer. Found on job site.

I am sure the owner does not care if you sell his boat.

runs great, but the upholstery, floor and trailer needs to be replace/repaired.

But it sure looks like crap.

Haven’t found the title yet but I have it somewhere. Wood Floor and stringers were rotten,

Rotten and no title, perfect.

motor will need a new powerhead or the new owner could swap the motor. Hours are unknown as the computer in not functioning. The boat is in good shape otherwise

Except for the part where you can’t go fishing.

And one last word of advice – if you see the words “Project” or “Rare” anywhere in the ad run away as fast as you can.

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TPWD is currently considering the annual changes to various game laws.  One is the complete closure of flounder from November 1 to December 15th.  Like all proposed changes if they affect you and you do not comment either online, or at the many meetings held throughout the state, you have no right  to complain if it does not go your way.  TWPD is not perfect and without the input of sportsman will do as they please, which I am not sure is not a predetermined outcome in many cases.  So check out the proposals and if you have something to say let them know.  They work for you and without input from the public they often forget that simple fact.

https://tpwd.texas.gov/newsmedia/releases/

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Nancy sends her thanks for all the kind birthday wishes.  She seems to be handling 60 as well as possible.  As all us “older” folks know, it just sneaks up on you. So thanks all.

It really has been a good bite on the lake but time for a change.  We have a cold front coming with high north winds tomorrow, but Thursday looks possible for the bay.  So unless something changes time to give the Knockin’ Tail a go on some trout.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

I have been so lucky these last 32 years to share my life and love of the outdoors with the best woman on the face of the earth.  I have done nothing to deserve it and am thankful everyday for Nancy as my partner in life.  We have shared many adventures with many more to come.  Happy Birthday Nancy.

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6 floors underground in Turkey.

Her Belize Tarpon.

Peru

Hiking in Italy.

Eating our Mahi Mahi in Costa Rica.

In the jungle crossing from Panama into Costa Rica.

Fly fishing in Colorado.

Crossing the creek high in the Colorado mountains.

Salmon on the Columbia River.

Hiking in Zion.

Dog Sledding.

The Great Barrier Reef.

 New Mexico.

It does not get any better than this and I am one lucky guy!  So Happy Birthday Buster!  It is all not about the fishing but who we spend our life with!

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

“SAVE OUR WATERS”

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

The Wade Right Fishing Belt

Brought to you by

The Best Wading System on the  Planet.

Is 10:00 am Friday as I prepare this for later.  2cnd day post cold front with a mile high bluebird sky, a brisk north wind, and the temp is struggling to reach 50 degree  The 50 mark is my sign to put on the big boy pants and head to the lake.  Hardly what could be called great fishing conditions.  But after sitting around the last couple of days time to go fishing.  Our forecast will finally improve a little in the next couple of days, but it is just about March – In like a lion and out like a lamb.  No guesses on what this afternoon will produce but you don’t know unless you go.

Weather

58/37.   Intervals of clouds and sun with a 2% chance of rain.  Wind NNE 10 – 20 mph.

Lake Level

Today 94.34 msl.  Monday 94.35 msl.  (Hanging in there.  We need some rain!)

Bite Times

Major  11:17 am to 1:17 am.  

Sunning on a cold windy day.

A quick word on gators.  Right past this one was the biggest I have ever seen by a mile.  It was a flat monster.  I went for the good camera and he took off in a huge boil.  This time of year they like banks out of the wind with the sun on it.  Just like the…………..

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 Get the new Knockin’ Tail, it catches fish!  

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

The more I fish the more I realize how little we really know.

Pulling up the ramp at 11:30 it was 49 degrees and the north wind was blowing a good 20mph right in the cove.  It was white capping and basically colder than crap.  Mile high sky, I almost did not take it off the trailer.  It was not looking like a good day to fish.  But I reminded myself of the rule, about fishing and much of life, put on your big boy pants and suck it up.  Turned out I am really happy I did.

Look very closely – those are teeth marks.  But when you catch almost 50 on this one lure it should look like that.

With the wind pounding on much of the Coleto arm I headed up the plant arm where there would be a few more relatively calm places.  It took a while to get a bite on the swim jig but when I started reeling it fast to make another cast one chased it to the boat.   So I stuck with it and over the next couple of hours managed to catch one here and there.

The 2 best for the day.

It was definitely slow, and much of the lake is now 59 – 60, which is another big drop.  But I soldiered on.  There was lots of tail pullers and nippers and several also jumped off.  You can always tell when they are not that interested, they pull the claws off.  Typical post cold front fishing.  The wind finally started to slack just a little but I was still not getting the numbers.  But that was about to change.

There is a reason I am showing these 4.

Around 3:00 time to head to the coves around the lower end and try out a pattern that has worked for me on these very kind of days.  I picked a cove with the wind blowing down the main lake bank with a point that protected the inside of the point and the cove which was calm with the sun beating on it.  At this point I made another really good choice, time for the Knockin’ Tail.  And the ones above were part of 8 or 9 off the first point.  When it happened it was one of those bite after bite things, on maybe 15 casts in a row. They wanted it slow rolled across the point and were just getting on.  Then I started twitching it some and a couple hit a little more aggressively.  And a side note, points were the best today, not surprising with the water temp drop.

I am not going to tell you that your Knockin’ Tail will catch 50 fish, but that thing is still on the end of my rod and it keeps on catching them.  And it really says something about using super glue.  With some plastics that can result in the tail getting pulled off, but that has not happened to this one yet.  When they were hitting it on the first point it was just like catching those whites the other day.  Lots of bites and those 2 places accounted for 20 fish on that same bait alone.  And the bait is still together.  You can put all I know about swim bait fishing for bass in a thimble but it is definitely different from using the same bait on trout.

This is how all of them have been eating it.  And the crappie are still biting.

From there just fished the coves on the lower end and kept getting bites.  And when you would get one, it was usually 2 or 3.  If there was a little indention in the bank with the sun on it, or a flat secondary point, you got a bite, end of story.  I just adjusted the speed in those flat places to keep it off the bottom.  The 3/16th jig head is perfect when they are this shallow and a 1/8th would probably be fine right now.  Lots of the fish this afternoon were smaller, but that is not surprising.  But considering the conditions catching 25 plus in a short trip is a sign of just how good it is right now.  And now I am so looking forward to Monday.  A couple of warming days, then clouds and warm without the ugly wind – get ready, there is about to be a killing.

I had no confidence when I left the ramp.  There wasn’t even another boat and trailer at the ramp.  But the results speak to just how good the lake is right now.  Cold front be damned, we are shallow and biting.  An it was another lesson in not getting a mind set before the first cast.  I stuck with it, and ended up choosing the right bait, then the right place.  The Knockin’ Tail was the perfect for tough conditions, and I am still amazed how good it works and how long it lasts.  Can’t wait for Arkansas to add smallmouth and walleye to the mix.

So have a great weekend, it is going to be nice.  And keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines