FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My Coast Outdoors

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Why couldn’t the beekeeper afford a GPS device?… Because honey can’t buy mappiness.

Thanks for that madame, our laugh for today

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Weather

58/70.  Cloudy early with partial sunshine expected late. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph.

Lake Level

Today 98.28 (Full Pool.)     Thursday 98.32.

Bite Times

Major    7:45 am to 8:45 am.    Minor  1:09 pm to 2:09 pm.

*************The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

Monday

They got the weather right.  It was blowing out of the SE at a pretty good clip and it was cool.  The water temp was still right around 70 degrees over most of the lake.  I was happy for the chance to drive the boat in some rough water and wind, and it did just fine.

First thing headed up lake and immediately caught 3 on my good bank on spinnerbait but missed at least that many as they were just not that active, not surprising due to the cold front.  From first thing until 1:00 it was 5 total, 3 on spinnerbait and 2 on swim jig.  At this point I seemed fairly clueless.  I decided to head back down lake and stopped at the first cove, and they were there.

A sample.  Nothing big but the bite was on – for 5 minutes!

Working back in the cove and when turning to head back out on the other side one just smoked a buzzed spinnerbait.  Then another, and another, and before one broke me off it was 8 as fast as I could cast.  They were on the flat part of the cove in somewhat clear water with no wind.  Most I have been catching the last 4 days have been right in the brush, but these were in full chase mode and smoked it halfway back to the boat.  It was one good bite.  And as quick as it was on it was over.

From there it was 2 more coves with a total of one more, and it looked just like the ones above.  Funny how last Monday one big fish came over the side and I ended up losing 2 more.  Today I am not so sure if I had one or not as 2 broke my line.  As we are all want to do it reminded me, I had not changed line at least since last fall, and maybe longer on a couple of the rods.  Tonight, they all got new 15lb test as the watercolor is still marginal and line weight should not be an issue for the fish.  I spend so much time fishing 10lb due to our clear water, but it just is not necessary right now and going heavier should alleviate random breakage.  (It did)  Hate it when they break off.

Nor sure quite what is going on with the fish, but it should start to improve rapidly after this front.  And as long as we do not get any significant rain the lake should continue to clear.  The color is still marginal at best, but the temp is up and there is plenty of cover.  Frog is going to get a workout and then with the amount of cover maybe some flipping and pitching.  Time to keep an open mind, there is a way to catch them.

Tomorrow it is off to Toyota in Corpus for maintenance on the truck, a stop at Roy’s, and then oysters is on the menu.  Then Wednesday it will be back at it at daylight and will post that day with this report.

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Wednesday

Weather

53/68. Cloudy skies with a few showers later in the day.  Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%

Lake Level

Monday 98.28 (Full Pool.)     Today 98.24.  (Keep in mind it is a slow fall.)

Bite Times

Major    9:29 am to 11:29 am.  (Like that.)   Minor 3:19 pm to 4:19 pm.

The real issue tomorrow is when the rain and storms get here.  Looks like I might get almost a full day but looking at tomorrow night and Thursday not so hot.  Any forecast that is for severe thunderstorms with possible hail qualifies as a no-go day.  But I sure like tomorrow’s forecast so we shall see.

A BEAT DOWN – What a difference a day makes!

Some days are worth getting up for, and today was one of those.  As this is my last hurrah springtime on Coleto I was hoping for a couple of good days and to make a long story short I quit at 2:00.  Why?  Cranking that big bladed spinnerbait at rip roaring speed making a wake is work.   Add I do not know how many and it was something.  But it was not all spinnnerbait.  I figured out which to throw when and where and this is the results.

The water is definitely clearing all over the lake but the water temp had dropped from around 70 everywhere to 66 – 67 first thing in the morning.  The wind was just right, and a ripple in the right place was the spinnerbait ticket.  Dea calm, the swim jig.

I do not know what she would have weighed.  Spawned out and beat all to crap.

And it went on from there.  I quit counting at 25 around 11:00, the bite was on.

Short but a real hoss on the swim jig.

If you ran it just right they smoked it.  Glad I changed line as they broke 2 spinnerbaits.

Another spawned out female.

As I worked my way back to the ramp though it was clear the best numbers were on the swim jig that is not how I finished the day.  Most of the day I was sitting in barely 3′ of water and throwing both as far as I could.  That gives you a clue the type of area that was the best.  In one cove I made a long pass with the spinnerbait and caught 2 but it looked so good I re-fished it with the swim jig and ended up catching 10 more on the same bank.   They want the swim jig at a moderate pace, just keeping it moving down a couple of feet at most.  The last few places I cranked that spinnerbait until my arm almost fell off.  It was not fast by any means but the average made it worth it.  I can not over emphasis has hard they stopped it, fun stuff.  And today I did not break any off which was a bonus.

Here is the punch line.  I wrote a while ago I figured they were on the beds and it looks like they are coming off.  Cover is the key and if there is bait flipping hold on.  I am sure there are several ways to catch them right now.  Topwater will be on as the water has really cleared, and the whole day I was wishing I had some pink floating trick worm.  Trust me they would eat that with a vengeance.  There is a time every spring to fish as much as you can and that time is now.  Looks like tomorrow is a no go but Friday it will be back at it,

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This from one of my long-time readers.

As always, I enjoy reading your blog and seeing your pictures. Your wildlife photos from Colorado make me very envious, but all that snow makes me glad I live in Texas! Your new boat sounds great and I sure wish you would share some pictures of it so we all can see how it’s rigged. Keep it all coming please!

Ok, here you go.

Before:  No guide on’s, 12 inch bias ply’s and no sidestep.

After:  Guide on’s, 13″ high speed steel belted radials which turned out to be a hassle.  The fender was actually attached to the leaf springs so had to take the whole thing apart to move the fenders to fit, but all good.  And a angled front spare to keep it out of the way.

Before:  No additions.  Love the cup holders.  Folks who have fished with me know it was not right until I spill my coffee.

After:  Hand control tm with bracket for stability, front mounted gps/locator with trolling motor transducer.  Right side adjustable rod holder and there is a sliding small box for stuff.

Before:  Left side view.

After:  gps/locator transducer mounted on transom, rod holder, all in position for easy reach from the seat.  I can sit in the seat run the motor and keep an eye on the locator and rod holders.  (Excuse the fishing stuff headed out in the morning.)

A 25hp rear steer 4stroke.  Hull is 14’9″ deep V able to handle fairly big water.  It is definitely bigger than it looks.  It has storage areas, plumbed aeriated live well, a bilge pump and 2 rod boxes that can handle 7′ plus rods.   This boat is rigged for trolling and regular fishing.  Some of the local lakes have landlocked Kokane salmon and others have lake trout which I consider my new adventure.  As most of the area lakes I will be fishing are not that big, speed is definitely not an issue.  Many of the lakes are on gravel roads, so the need was for a serious tire that will handle both mountain roads and 70mph on the interstate was a priority.  That is the “technical” info but there are other very important reasons I bought this particular boat.

I have towed from Canada to the Everglades and hundreds of places in between.  I wanted a boat that was lighter for towing, in fact you barely know it is there saving big gas $$$ and wear and tear on the truck.   There was never another brand in the mix, Lund is top of line in aluminum.  Along with that is the incredible gas milage of a smaller motor.  (Plus bigger hp is not the best for trolling.)  No more of that $50 stop at the gas station.  It is much easier to man handle, a consideration when you fish constantly by yourself as a 70 y/o.  I am not getting any younger or prettier.  With the kind of ramps I have put in over the years that will be a plus.  And speed:  From my Black Max that did 72mph on my second Champ in the mid 70’s to the others along the way, been there done that.  In the grander scheme of things who gives a crap.  The fact it takes me 22 minutes to get back from up lake to the ramp versus 14 minutes is a so what.  I wanted a fishing machine, and this is it.

As far as the weather thing it is crazy out there, a foot of snow one day and 50 degrees the next.  But unlike Texas come summer all the windows are open, we do not even have an air conditioner.  And of course, the animals, our real love.  As we were deciding on where we wanted to retire one thing that was helpful, I can fish anywhere.  But where else can I see a bear, a lion, and the rest of the crew in my back yard.  I admit to about a 10-year attention span and it is time for something new in fishing.  But do not get me wrong Texas has some of the best fishing on the planet and I have enjoyed all that has happened since we have been here.  Thanks for your comment.

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The stop at the gas station to just see how much gas the 25 burned was a pleasant surprise.  Fishing wherever I wanted on Coleto for 2 days cost a total of $9.  I am still getting the hang of a “new” way to fish and motor and it is all good.  Will take time tomorrow during the rain to re-check all the nuts on the trailer job, I have seen what happens when you don’t, not interested in that kind of hassle.  Can’t wait to get out west and start on a new fishing adventure.

If Friday goes as planned will try to get the report up before the weekend,  Then next week it will be fish till you drop.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My Coast Outdoors

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Spinner Bait – Day 3 this week.

I had been fishing up the plant arm as the water is definitely clearer but as it has started to clear just a little, I made an executive decision and headed up the main arm to one of my can’t miss spring spots.  Now that very same “can’t miss” spot was devoid of fish on Monday.  At daylight it was up to the spot and it made my whole day.

The day before 2 came over the side on spinnerbait so I was hopeful there might be some spinnerbait fish.  Starting with the swim jig on the first pass one jumped on but there were a few shad flipping and it looked like a shad spawn.  This time of year it can be the holy grail of spring bass fishing so always keep an eye out.  If it is happening they are there somewhere.   So turning around to re-fish and it was game on.

Love it when this size stops it!

On the return pass at least 10 jumped on, it was great.  As usual I was running it right below the surface making a big wake with the white willow leaf tandem.  It is and always will be my favorite way to catch bass.  I was lucky enough to be taught almost 50 years ago by some of the best spinnerbait fisherman on the planet.  It is a specialized technique that is really effective from pre-spawn to post spawn.  Nothing like a bass stopping a high speed spinnerbait.  And in the next couple of weeks the potential to catch a really big fish is high so I will throw that dang thing until my arm falls off.

The bite was on first thing.

That bite lasted all of a half hour and was over on that bank.  For the rest of day until I quit at 3:00, it was one or two here or there, split between the spinnerbait and the swim jig.  I learned a lot and am looking forward to tomorrow (Friday) when I get back on the water trying to hit the pre-front bite.  (Ended up spending Friday mounting the new tires and raising the fenders, more on that later.)  I do have some trepidation about the rain to come.  We may need rain but as far as the lake we do not need any more color.  And if I have learned anything the last 3 days fishing here it is.

It was an easy 10 in the first place.

First, not all stuff (Cover) is created equal. So much of it looks good but looks can be deceiving.  For some reason the green grass looks amazing, but it only seems to hold small fish, that will change but it obviously has something to do with the color and the spawn.  The ticket by far, stick ups and buck brush on flat banks.  The old dead stuff is fine.  I think the grass is on the soft bottom and that is not what they are interested in yet.  But look out later it has an awfully “froggie” look to it.  As things settle down the frog fishing may be as good as it has been on the lake in years.

Next, not all color is created equal.  It does not take much but here and there are sections where the color is not as bad, and that is where the fish are.  They made it clear to me they are not interested in the muddy water.  So take that with a grain of salt.  But it you can find the combination, a little clearer with buck brush on a flatter bank there are fish there.  So really looking forward to tomorrow, it had potential to be epic.

*************The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

And this from a reader.

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I can finally say I have the Lund completely rigged the way I want it.  Dual locators, rod holders, storage basket, and the trolling motor and support bracket.  One of the things I appreciate about the boat, among others, is the rail mount that allows you to mount all the accessories you want on the rail and not having to drill any holes to accomplish it.  Over the years I would strive not to drill anymore holes in the fiberglass boats but in the end it was a losing proposition.   Now I can add, move and whatever at my discretion.  The final touch, being able to mount the trolling motor transducer on the transom block without drilling any holes.  The whole rigging process was somewhat of a pain in the butt but it was worth it.

And last was mounting the high speed 13″ radial tires on galvanized rims.  Why galvanized?  Because they use a salt like substance on the roads in Colorado and it should reduce potential rusting.  The mounting was a hassle as I went up in size which required moving the fenders up.  In one respect I got lucky.  It is recommended that they be approximately 4″ above the tire which just happened to line up on top of the frame with the brackets I made so it looks right.  But the way they were mounted it used the bolts that attached the leaf springs to the frame so basically I had the pleasure of taking the trailer apart on both sides.  More hassle than anything, it was the last thing that needed done and it is exactly the way I want it.  Rigging yourself reminds you why it cost to have it done, but I did not do it to save money, in my case it was just actually doing it myself on a new boat.  Mission accomplished.

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Tomorrow I am looking forward to the north wind 15 – 25mph.  So far I have been pleased with the way the boat runs and handles so the hope is it will blow 25.  (Not something you normally hear out of a fisherman’s mouth.) Part of the decision-making process on this size and model was the known ability to handle rough water while keeping with the simplicity goal.  So bring it on as it will be the final “test” and then hardcore fishing will begin.

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It will back on the water tomorrow, then Corpus to get the truck serviced and eat some oysters.  Then Wednesday it will be back on the water.  With less than a couple of months until returning to the mountains I intend to take fall advantage of my last spring fishing in Texas.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff,

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My Coast Outdoors

After a trip to Academy to pick up a fire extinguisher and spare plug I am finally done minus mounting the radials when they get here.  So time to actually fish instead of thinking about it.  I decided to wait until Monday as the traffic will definitely be down, and with the week to fish I will get plenty of it.  And hopefully the motor will end up with the 10 hours to break it in, it has 6 so a couple of days should do it.  It will be a little Deja vu as my first real boat was a 14′ with a 20hp and this is a 15′ with a 25 4stroke.  There has been a lot of boats in that time but this looks like it might be my favorite.  Can you say simple?

Weather

52/75.  Partly cloudy. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph.

Lake Level

Current 98.32   Full Pool 98.28.   (Now that I am back will track it until leaving.)

Bite Times

Major 1:51 to 3:51 pm.  Minor 8:01 to 9:01 am.

Day 1 – Monday

It might have been tough today but at least this girl stayed buttoned.

The water is as high as I have seen it all the time I have been fishing Coleto.  It is really off color over most of the lake.  They got the forecast spot on and the east wind did not help much.  I was fishing at daylight and to make a long story short I did not even have a bite until until 12:15.  From then on I put 6 in the boat, lost one like the big one above, and had another break my line.

Throwing the book at them did not help and when I finaly stetted down and stuck with the 1/4 swim jig with Rage Craw and got a bite here and there.  The first couple of bites were weak, just grabbing the craw and of course tearing a leg off.  The one that broke my like was on the bluegill color and so with the water color so bad went with more of a sexy shad color.  Both colors worked the same, it just took me while to get on it and tomorrow should be a better day.

The other 6 were  this size and smaller.

Most of the day I was in about 4 foot of water throwing as far as I could on those more slopping banks with scattered brush.  Tomorrow will ad a pegged sinko style worm for pitching to any real outside bushes.  Not sure if they have all spawned or if it is about to happen this moon.  It will be very interesting to see how tomorrow goes sticking with the swim jig all day.  With the color like it should be able to get by with a little heavier line and avoid both breaking them off and losing them because I cannot control them when they jump.  Not a bad start to the last spring on Coleto and there should be a few more big fish in my future.

*************The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

Day 2

Weather

57/79.  More clouds than sun. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph.

Lake Level

Current 98.30   Full Pool 98.28.   (Now that I am back will track it until leaving.)

Bite Times

Major 2:42 to 4:42 pm.  Minor 8:33 to 9:33 am.

Better on numbers but this is the biggest I managed today.

The Boss was off and ordered a fish fry so time to man up.  Way more stressful than tournament fishing.  And I managed to pull it out.  The one above and a 15″ was plenty.  As far as the fishing the numbers were way up, I lost count at 13 but no size.

The weather and my wanting to quit at 1:00 combined to keep me back at the house when I probably should have been fishing.  The shad color swing jib with some chartreuse combined with a Rage Craw upside down so the color was facing down was the bait of choice.  Am reeling it at a medium speed, maybe 2 – 3ft deep on a steady retrieve.  Most are coming very close to the bank and give me a flat shallow point with stick ups and it is game on.  I fished a variety of places today, big flats, creek, coves and a little main lake with the cove being the better place.  There were a few swings and misses so who knows, I might have missed a big one.

On the bright side I managed to catch 2 on spinnerbait.  As the water clears and the shad spawn happens it is about to get good.  At least that is my story and I am sticking to it.  Only a half hour to go on the break-in and the motor will be cleared to run.  I have been religious about varying throttle and running up and down, both in speed and on the water, which was getting old.  Looks like it will run over 20mph which is fine.  Many of the lakes I will be fishing it would take about 2 minutes to get to the other end.

Tomorrow it will be up early and gone all day.  It seems the afternoon bite is just a little better for the bigger fish, and the water should warm quite a bit tomorrow before the ftont and rains come.  The big bite is out there, and it is going to happen if I spend enough time.  Maybe a chartreuse square bill?  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

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FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My Coast Outdoors

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Our last day before returning to Texas we took one last run at the wildlife.  After our impromptu trip where we did not have the camera and binocs and saw tons of great stuff the next day we made sure we were ready to go and it was a jackpot.

Baby, and below, momma.  After seeing tons of sheep we kept going further up the mountains to an area that has classic moose habitat and there they were.  Low areas with bushes seem to be their favorite place.  You can cruise lots of places before seeing one as they are not exactly tons of them in Colorado, but today we got a close up treat.

Momma was not all that happy to see us and she and the calf headed back in the timber.

Then we see calf number 2, and mom was just a little further on.

Unlike the first 2 these were not the least bit concerned we were there and we got to watch them feed.

We consider seeing a moose close to seeing a bear or a lion.  We have been fortunate to see both on our drives and cannot wait to see what the future holds.  One thing we are searching for is a lynx, another holy grail animal for us.

Then as we worked back we found 3 groups of elk on the ridge.

We had been watching a large herd of elk the last couple of weeks who were on their low land wintering grounds.  As the weather has moderated (Minus the 5 or 6 inches of snow yesterday.) the elk have deserted the lowland and seem to have broken up into their normal groups and headed up.  The time to really see them is on their migration either down in the fall or back up in the spring so nothing beats time looking.  It is just like fishing, you never know unless you go.

A fox one of several we say today.  This one was a couple of hundreds yard out and this is as good as we can get with our camera.

One thing that surprised us is the number of coyotes in Colorado.  We have seen a ton once the snow comes by cruising in areas with big fields and using the binocs.  They love those areas as it has all kinds of little edible creatures.  While they are often to far away for a picture we love watching them through the binocs.  If there is one piece of advice I can give anyone who wants to see wildlife do not scrimp on the binocs.  Good optics make all the difference and the Vortex High Definition get the job done.  We are lucky in the area having a plethora of cool wildlife and our retirement will be spent viewing them.

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************The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

As you know I love it when folks comment, especially from new folks so here is a couple that have a Colorado or western flair to them.

Love fly-fishing, but let’s remember to practice catch and release and always take care of our streams! It’s our responsibility to keep these places healthy.”

Absolutely!  We need to treat our streams just like we do our boat.  Whether the boat or our equipment, boots and waders:  Clean, drain, and dry.  While the spread of exotics is probably unstoppable in the really long run we can all do our part to preserve and protect for the folks that are coming after us.  And as far as catch and release there are plenty of places the state of Colorado stocks plenty of trout so if I want to eat some I just head to the lake and catch me a limit for the pan.  I so appreciate you both commenting.  Thanks.

“Just had the most epic morning on the river! Landed a gorgeous brown trout. The hatch was insane, and my snubnose was the ticket. Feeling grateful!”

From my fist brown trout 50 years ago to my last on the Rio close to the house I have never gotten tired of catching them.  I so look forward to my next adventure.  And when you say hatch I was on the water when it happened for me the first time I was hooked.  So thanks for the comment and cannot wait for ice out at home.

And to any of you who read this out west, keep in touch, the western adventure begins in earnest.  I can not wait.

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Live Scope

This week the Bassmaster’s are in the Santee Cooper lakes and it is intersting how not a single person in the top 10 last week using the Live Scope are in the top 10 this week where you are required to actually figure it out.  The thing about a Live Scope is you can become proficient in the technology without really learning to “fish.”  It seems to be a short cut in a big way and as the season plays out we shall see who comes to the front.  A video game can be played by a 6 y/o, at least that is the way I see it.  So you can catch them when you see them, big deal, how about when you can’t?

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The Lund

It has been a pleasure to rig the new boat.  While some was of it was a pain in the ass I have this one exactly the way I want it.  The only thing left is the new bigger radial tires that will be shipped to the house sometime this week.  All I have to say is no wonder rigging is so expansive.  But I am proud the way it came out.

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Tomorrow morning it will be off to the lake the first trip of many over the next 2 months until heading back to Colorado for the summer fishing.  There are so many lakes with tons of options for multiple fish and I am so excited to start the new boating/fishing adventure.  I can feel a big one coming on in the morning.  Until then I intend to flog these Texas fish until then.  So keep stopping in and the reports will becoming regularly.  And to all of you that still read this stuff, thanks.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

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FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My Coast Outdoors

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Our view out of the window on our visit to Cripple Creek.

We took a drive up toe Cripple Creek and spent the night.  It has changed so much since our visit there over 10 years ago.  We stayed at the new casino and had a great time walking the old town.  The highlight of the drive was seeing several lakes on my list, some with trophy trout and pike.  In fact when we signed in the guy at the desk showed us a picture of a cutbow that went an easy 10lbs caught from the bank at an area lake.  It was good to talk to a fisherman and it just fueled my desire to lay the smack down on the fish in this high mountain lakes.

It has been a fun week with the Boss here and today we are starting to prepare to head back to Texas.  The weather has been stunning and as you can see from the mule deer below they have not dropped and are beginning to leave the neighborhood.  But on our walks there are still plenty around and I never get tired of seeing them.

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This morning while we were eating breakfast and watching the news the sounds of gobblers war ringing in the mountains.  It might seem a little early but they have started to turn colors for the spring and these pictures are 30 feet behind the house.

That is one awesome gobbler!

Fighting and preening they were in full strut this morning.

*************The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

We had a little snow last night, and the wind was topping out at somewhere between 50 – 70mph.  So we waited to take our walk until noon and then headed to the store to pick up a few things.  Then we made both a great choice and a bad choice.  We forgot the “bag” which carries all our survival gear and camera and binocs.  All I have to say is dang it.

Elk headed over the ridge.

We did not intend to head up to the good area, it was just a drive to check out the river, which is still frozen solid.  But we just kept on going and then it happened, the reason we love it here.  To make a long story short, over 50 bighorns, dozens of elk, and coyotes.

What made the lack of a camera and binocs such a screw up, I never leave home without them, was we came across 4 coyotes hunting as a pack in a big field.  It was so awesome to get to watch them hunt, finished as one took the big jump and took a nose dive in the snow for his dinner.

It is impossible to tell how many sheep were there but if you look in the background they were all over the ridge.

We did not see any big rams, but without the binocs we could not see higher up but there were sheep literally for a mile or so from the road to way up the mountain.  I have seen lots over the last year but words do not do the numbers we saw today.  Unfortunately it was IPhones for the pics, but one advantage, we spent time watching without our face in a viewfinder.  Everyday it is my privilege and honor to get to witness what is stunning wildlife.  It is our own Yellowstone.

So awesome, not sure what he caught but then he heads for a drink.  And the black spot above him, one was bedded down taking a snooze.  The other 2 were way out in the field.

There were 4 hunting a big pasture.  I know this is blurry but when you take it with an IPhone from over 100 yards it is tough.  But the point is getting to watch a hunt is a joy and this guy cooperated.  So what a drive.  While it is hard to do it justice it was one great outdoor experience.

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It is mixed emotions as we prepare to head back Thursday.  But for me the anticipation of finishing the rigging on the Lund and fishing for the next 2 months in Texas has me giddy as it will be the last spring.  Then finishing the time there with the Chandelier trip will be a perfect finish.  The plan is to be back here in the middle of May and the new fishing adventure will begin.  The goal, learn to put Kokane salmon in the boat.  As they are basically a land locked Sockeye it will be great to have a steady stream of fresh salmon.  So the adventure continues.  The next time you hear from me will be back on Coleto.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My Coast Outdoors

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Happy Birthday to the Boss

My girlfriend putting them in the net on the Thompson outside of Estes.

It has been my good fortune to marry this woman 34 years ago.  She taught me the world is out there to explore and we have done it.  Australia, Peru, Turkey, Greece, Costa Rica, Belize, Italy, Africa and the list goes on.  And the whole time she has put up with my fishing without a complaint.  So the trip continues, and I count my blessings she is in my life.  Definitely the blind hog and acorn thing.  Love you buster.  (Can’t wait until you get here in a couple of days.  We can do Colorado $hit before we head back to Texas.)

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1700 Joyous Days – Memories to last a lifetime.

This is but a tiny sample of the long great trip it has been.  It has been my pleasure and honor to keep after it, and that will not change.  The fishing, the travel, the adventures are all different and will continue as long as we are able.   It is a big world out there and again my thanks to the Boss for sharing it with me as we embark on another chapter.  And my thanks to you all, it would not have happened without you.  Not sure what I did to deserve all this, but I am one lucky guy.

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From the mountain above the house overlooking town and the San Luis valley.

This is the last week I will be here until heading back to Texas for a couple of months.  Every day I walk and once the snow was down just a little headed up the mountain to see what is up.  This is my view when I hike up the mountain behind the house.  After making the hike the other day, we still have a foot or 2 above the house but the game trails were amazing.  And while it was work to make it I just stood there and took it all in.  The Boss and I have explored many places and taken lots of chances in our life to get here.  There is something about the beauty and majesty of the mountains that has a calming effect.  We could have gone anywhere and we chose here.  So as we get ready to finally retire for good, we have found our happy place.  Counting the days until we are permanently here.

*************The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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Bassmaster Toledo Bend

Watching the tournament every morning the last 3 days left me with ambivalent feelings.  Basically everybody was fishing with down imaging forward looking sonar.  And even on a lake as big as Toledo bend 7 of the final 10 were on top of each other in the same area.  I have watched for years and always liked seeing who could figure it out, deep or shallow, jigs, spinnerbait you never knew.  But in this case, there is no figuring it out.  Sorry but watching a bunch of guys on TV, watching TV as they all do the same thing is boring.

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This comment from a long time reader makes several great points about my comments on foreign baits and in the long run on the cost of fishing.

I went to temu and got 4 glide baits or $25. Still have to test but give the Chinese brands at academy and bass pro a run for the money. Would like to buy more American but I find the soft plastic guys. A hand painted bait costs $50. To expensive for me. How about hinkle glide baits…

First let me comment on something I just ranted about, the ridiculous cost of fishing.  I honestly had never heard of Hinkle glide baits, so I looked them up, are your freaking kidding me?  $750 to $1000 for a bait is beyond stupid.  And you are so correct as Academy and Bass Pro have tons of foreign made baits on the wall.  So once you are back at it let us know how the baits work.  Guess I have been spoiled working with Michael and Knockin Tails.  Made in America by a great family it has been my pleasure to deal with them over the years. (Can’t wait to be back with the boat and use them on the trout and other stuff here.) But you made a great point, it is almost impossible to get away from foreign baits, a fact of life.

The whole sport is having issues right now, including a state record crappie with a couple of ball bearings and the “winner” of a tournament disqualified for falling a polygraph, both apparently rooted in money.  Cheating has always been in the sport, maybe folks are just getting caught more but the way I see it is if these are a small part how prevalent is it?  Sad to see things like this happening.  (Why I quit fishing partner bass tournament.)  So good to hear from you and thanks for the insightful comment and let us know how they work out.

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And this is one interesting comment from a reader.

Hi,
Just wanted to tell you that I’ve been following you for years. I can’t believe how much we are alike.
I’ve lived in Fayette co. all my life. Fayette Lake took most of my grandfathers farm. Just sold park store this year. Know the lake better than the guides.
Have a house in Magnolia Beach. Fished Powderhorn a lot.
Hunted and fished Colorado since 1971. Have a cabin on the Conejos River south of Platoro Reservior.(Good fishing) just south of SouthFork.
And last I drive a 4Runner.
Enjoy reading your post.
I’m 71 y.o. (retired). And would enjoy talking with you.

Small world.  It is so rewarding to hear from folks who have not commented but have been reading the blog for a long period.  There are more of you out there and it is so gratifying to hear from you.   And I kept your contact info and will hollar at some point.  Thanks for letting me know you are out there and I have already looked up Platoro thanks to you.  Can’t wait to get the Lund out here and get to work.

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The Boss gets here Wednesday and will stay a week before we head back.  I am really excited to get to my other home and finish rigging the Lund.  It will be my last spring on Coleto and then finish up with the annual trip to the Chandelier Islands the first of May.  Of course there will be housework to do as we prepare to put it on the market this fall.  Then my plan is to return to Colorado the middle of May and spend most of the summer here.  There are tons of places to fish, and besides trout there are plenty of other stuff to catch, including pike, lake trout, much less the usual suspects.  So the next 6 months will be all about the fishing and just have to see how much and where I squeeze in.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My Coast Outdoors

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1,699 P0sts

When I started this 13 years ago, give or take a year, I never envisioned it would be what it turned into or last as long as it has.  Over the years it has gone from for the fun of it, to hard core fishing and writing, to what it is today, simply a labor of love.  I admit to periods of burn out and flat-out apathy.  But along the way there has been some awesome adventures, some big fish, and great friends.  As I sit here on a beautiful Colorado morning dreaming of what is next I can only marvel the blog has lasted this long.  So a real big thanks to all of you, what comes next who knows, but it will always involve my love of the sport.

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On my third trip north the sheep finally appeared, or I got a little better at figuring it out.  It was puzzling they were not down where they often are in the winter but there is a difference.  There is a ton of snow at the bottom of this area but if you look at the pic below, it is a lot sparser farther up, funny after all the snow we have had.  This is around 9,000 feet give or take a couple of hundred.

This is parked beside the road.  Do you see them?  Just wanted to give you a sense of how far away they are.

On getting to the general area, which is a 5 mile stretch, I saw 4 way up so went on to the end of the ridges and turned around.  One thing I had learned in the past is it is possible to not see them going one way but then then turn around and they stick out like a sore thumb.  And that is what happened.  They were on the second bench at the base of that rock face.

And there they are.  This shot was with the lens full out from the same spot as the one above.

And today I learned the most important indicator, areas on the ridges with little snow with something growing there they like to eat.  So instead of close to the road they are about midway up the rocks  (Funny when you consider a mountain a “rock”.) where you could see little open patches.

This girl was way up there, love it when they outline themselves like that.

It is so hard to get that great focus shooting that far away with a long lens out a truck window.  It would be so easy to remedy that by getting out the tripod.  But the problem, it is on a curvy 2 lane highway with no place to pull off.  It is nice when they cooperate and are in a good place for that but dang animals, they are not concerned with my issues.

Not a mature ram in sight.

This girl was in a different place.  Actually saw them in 3 places today.

She was on the same terrain as the others.  Initially did not see her but her yearling, who it seemed she was watching over, had a big white butt and stuck out like a sore thumb.  Not sure what they are feeding on, but the places had a “color” just a little different than the rest of the mountains.  And like always it was just good to see them, not sure if the rams are ganging up but if I was guessing and I am they have and headed up.  The weather is going to be fairly nice so they may just all disappear soon.

And on a seperate random note took a drive yesterday to a different area hoping to see some elk and stuck out. (Nice to have a cool drive on the way to pick up milk.) The potential is there but it may have simply been timing.  Then when I dropped in on happy hour 2 of my friends saw a couple of bunches right down the road.  You just never know.

**************The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

The big bucks are showing the wear and tear of the rut.  What were some nice racks have really declined and the bucks are feeling it.

You can tell they are recovering.  This guy had a rough rut.  Not only missing stuff on his left look at the split in his ear.

This guy was right next to the other one.  He busted his rack all up this fall.  And now they are hanging with each other so no hard feelings.

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While my focus on fishing has drastically evolved, I still peruse the boats for sale in Texas and Colorado on almost a daily basis.  I often make fun of the ads and folks’ description of their boat for sale.  But today I saw an ad that says it all about where fishing is going.

I have long ranted on the rising cost of fishing in all areas, and the trend that implies that somehow spending big money means success could not be further from the truth.  The result is fishing on a march to becoming a rich man’s game.  The marketing nonsense that it takes a $4oo reel and $3oo rod to catch 15″ trout and that it somehow makes you all that is ridiculous.  And I worry the affect it has on young kids who are not from rich entitled families and know that what is now depicted as “real” fishing by the industry is not in their future.  So, with that said here is what set me off this morning as I looked at boats for sale:

2022 SCB R24 450R – $145,000.

Are you kidding me!  A used 2-year-old boat for $145,000 is insane.  Now it is a top of the line boat for sure and I can sort of understand (Barely) maybe a tournament fisherman or guide wanting the best ride, but this is just over the top.  Kind of reminds me of the online memes making fun of the guy with a $100k bass boat trying to win $100 bucks in his local club tournament.

It makes me sad thinking about kids who love to fish and this is the picture portrayed to them as normal.  It is not normal.  Some of the best fishermen I have known over the last 50 years neither boat size nor equipment brands motivated them.  I hate the implication that the jon boat guy fishing a Zebco is any less of a fisherman than the “fishing shirt” crowd.  The monitorization of the fishing business, which has intensified tenfold the last 20 years with the internet, has been both good and bad for the sport.

Nor do I get off the hook.  My 16.8 Champ with a Black Max would do 72 miles an hour 40 years ago.  And man oh man when the new stuff came out I jumped right on the band wagon.  Money was not an issue; I did not have any but still found a way to buy in.  And of course I have the shirt, in fact dozens of them.   So to all the kids out their keep dreaming, but it has nothing to do with the stuff, it is all about love of the sport.  Sorry it has gotten so expensive.

(Sorry if this is somewhat disjointed but hope you get the general point.)

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The Other End of the Spectrum

I guess I had heard of Temu but after seeing their ads on the Super Bowl I decided to take a look and see if they have fishing stuff.  And boy do they.  Stuff was dirt cheap compared to stores.  So what is the problem?

From Time Magazine: But the company—the U.S. offshoot of Chinese e-commerce giant Pinduoduo—is also starting to develop a reputation for undelivered packages, mysterious charges, incorrect orders, and unresponsive customer service. Temu has already been subject to more than 30 complaints to the Better Business Bureau, and has a BBB customer rating of less than 1.5 stars.  (Note: according to online sources there are now more than 100.)

What I saw on the site was stuff so cheap it was worrisome.  Additional complaints are things did not look like they did on the site or were inferior.  So what to make of it?  Check it out for yourself.  For me I have decided to not shop there for the problems above plus 3 other reasons.  First it is a Chinese company and I try to buy American as much as I can.  And second, I try to support our small fishing businesses.  Last, some of the products looked like there might be some patent infringement issues, a common Chinese rip off.  So buyer beware.

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The weather has really settled down and looks like no “real” snow in the forecast.  It has been getting to 40 most days and it looks like that pattern will continue, maybe until the Boss gets here in 11 days.  As I will miss her birthday we will be celebrating it somewhere cool the week she is here.  Then back to Texas and I am really looking forward to finishing the rigging on the Lund and getting back on the lake.  With the high water the fishing should be off the chain and I can get the rest of the engine hours broke in.  Hope you all have a great week.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My Coast Outdoors

It never ceases to amaze me how stunning it is here.

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It has been a little cold and snowy around here, as in almost 20″ in a couple of days.  Since then it has been a flurry or 2 but the forecast for the next 10 days is sunny and the low 40’s.  The critters in the neighborhood are having to work a little harder but thanks to a couple of folks they are well fed.  In the morning the turkey and deer have a route, and it goes through my back yard.  At times I see all of them hassling first thing in the morning in the neighbor’s yard.

A big tom right outside the window.

The snow is deep but I was hoping it would bring out the wildlife a little better but other than getting closer to the elk, the sheep were just not out, at least where I could see them.

Still got his hat but it won’t be long.

There is still a ton of mule deer around, but the bucks are a lot more skittish now that the rut is over.  So every day I am on my walk I carry the camera, you never know.  There was a smaller buck short half his antlers yesterday, so the shedding is in full swing.  Will be interested in to see if I find one on my walks.

**************The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

The morning of the Super Bowl I got up early and headed north to see what was out.  After a day with no additional snow, at least down low it seemed like a good time to see what was out.  But being at the right place at the right time is a learning experience, and I learned something.

Wintering Elk.

Everybody keep in line.

It was 12 degrees at the house heading out, and that turned out to be the warmest it would be for quite a while.  The roads were so so, but almost clear and once I got going the temp varied from -7 to zero for quite a while.  The sun was out and the expectations to see some sheep was high, but it did not happen.  Not sure whether they were waiting for a warmer sun, or they have just moved.  There was little roadside evidence they had been down.  But next time will wait until mid afternoon and see if that improves my chances.

There was an elk or two in the valley.

After passing the sheep area the valley where the elk winter was loaded with elk.  Last time they were way off but this time closer to the road and in 2 bunches.  If you notice on the pic above it is easy to see where they are feeding.  And while I was not real close I did manage to get a couple of better pictures.

Hanging with my posse.

I spent some time watching in the binocs and you could tell they were getting ready to head back to the tree line.  Winter is the time to see big herds and it last until it really warms and they head way up to the real woods.  While we see a few here or there on our explorations it is rare to see a herd not related to the migration, either coming or going.  But I enjoy seeing them whenever or wherever they happen to be.   And we will get better at finding them, so many roads to explore and you never know what might cross your path.

And that happened this morning as I headed back to the house.  I rounded a corner and a big coyote crossed the road at a full run.  I sped up to try to catch him for a picture and he jumped in the ditch and literally disappeared.  Must have been a good 3 feet of snow.  I am trying to get the camera, slow down and open the window.  Meanwhile he is having to jump to get through the snow.  He crossed the fence and hit some trees right when I got there.  While no picture he was beautiful standing in the tree line watching me.  The kind of thing that led us here and keeps us exploring.

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Congrats to the Chiefs, what a finish.  All I have to say about that is the decision by the 49ers to take the football first in overtime might be one of the worst decisions in the history of the Super Bowl.  Never ever give Patrick the chance to win any game by giving him last chance to score and win.  Reminds me of Elway, Farve, Manning and a few others.  Once he got the ball it was over.  Headed to being one of the best, maybe the best, of all time.

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Too bad it did not work out this year to attend the Houston Fishing Show and work the booth with Michael.  And it is always great to see Jason and Tim at the Wade Right booth.  (And get pump up on the Chandelier trip that they were kind enough to include me 5 years ago.)  I have been a loyal supporter of both their products and cannot recommend them any higher.  There will be some new stuff and Michael always has a deal.  So stop and get a new wading belt, load up with Knockin Tails and head to the bay.  They are both proven winners.

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It has been fun but looking forward to the Boss getting here in 2 weeks.  She will be here for a little over a week before we head back.  At this point I am starting to get boat excited and as soon as I get back I will finish the rigging and the fishing will begin.  The plan is staying in Texas until after the Chandelier trip in early May, taking advantage of spring fishing, then back here which is perfect timing for ice out.  I really am looking forward to the new fishing adventure.  The prospects for catching Kokane, Lake Trout and pike has my fishing juice flowing.  So hang in there the fishing will return in less than a month with a vengence.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

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FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My Coast Outdoors

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Everywhere you look.  The Lake City area has plenty of peaks in the 13,000 foot range.  (Can’t imagine how much snow is there now!)

The weather looked good today, and there was no big deal on the roads so time for a drive.  Today I headed north and ended up crossing the divide in search of moose.  I have only seen 3 since we have been here and conditions seemed right for wildlife chasing, but things were not as they might have seen.

The highway goes north to Lake City and Lake San Cristobal.  The highway crosses the Continental Divide and is winding and a cool drive.  With the roads so clear it was a great day to head that way as that area is known for their moose, we saw one up there last year.  A side benefit is the highway goes by a couple of areas with bighorns, and a big wintering range at the base of the high mountains for the elk.

This was one big gang of elk crossing one of their wintering areas.  They are way out there.

As I neared their winter range it seemed like there was a line of ants way off in the distance crossing a field in a big valley.  Too bad there is no place to park or drive to get a better view, but you take what you can get.

Reaching out with the long lens.

As there was a beat down place in the field you could see where they were feeding and they seemed to be heading back to the mountain.  And since on my way back 2 hours later there was not an elk in sight obviously they headed back in the woods.

Let me take a minute to comment on the weather.  It has been warm with little snow, and it has affected the wildlife.  Without the heavy snow the big bunch of Bighorns were nowhere in sight, though I did see the smaller bunch below on the way up.  Everything I saw was early and once morning changed to afternoon things just disappeared,

As close as the 600mm will let me get.  Unfortunately, this particular wintering place has no way to get closer.  But I love seeing them and spent time watching on the binoculars.

Without the heavy snow pack in the higher places it has kept the big bunch of sheep high up in the mountains as I assume it is easier to get something to ear.  Same with the elk.  But seeing dozens of elk and a group of sheep is nothing to sneeze at and I still enjoy seeing them.  (And that will change with today’s snow.)

**************The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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

Lake San Cristobal is definitely on the fishing agenda as soon as ice is out, plus Lake City and it are both known for moose.  With a huge bottom running along the lake and then further in the mountains it is moose territory.  There is extensive creek bottoms in the area and it looks like moose country.  Since you can put all I know about moose in a thimble it is still the chase.  After seeing lots in Tetons and a few in Yellowstone and Alaska they are one cool creature and sure are big.  But it was not to be today but hard to complain when you see serious wildlife and cross the divide at 13,000.  Nothing but stunning.

With little snow, comparatively not many sheep out today, or if they were they were back up on the mountain.

This bunch was on the turn to one of my favorite roads to drive in the woods.  I wish the pictures were better but it was early and the light was not quite there.  The small rams were butting heads, jumping around and just plain acting crazy and it was fun to watch.  The couple of pics I did get were blurry so these are the size of it.

This was the only ram in the bunch, at least a mature one.

These guys were butting heads until he ran the small ones off.  The few I did see this morning were rambunctious.

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Today on the other hand is a new day.  The snow forecasts are all over the place but looks like the 24″+ is on the way to be the winner.  It started right after dark and is still coming down.  The work is about to begin but it is absolutely stunning.

Not thinking the shovel will get the job done today.

Here in South Fork and in the valley, this is so welcome.  Not only will it bring the skiers to the mountain but the snowmobilers will be running wild.  This areas winter economy is based on one thing – snow.  And as part of the bigger picture the valley has been in a drought and the rivers and lakes rely on the snow.  This will go a long way to helping with that.

The long beards in the backyard.  This gives you an idea of how hard it is snowing.

It is a good foot with the forecast that it will continue the next 24 hours.  So before I get the beast of a snowblower out will just wait and see what the rest of the day brings.  A warm fire and a good book will be the order of the day, at least until I cannot stand it anymore and out comes the beast.  Living here is an adventure and I love every minute of it.

Downtown South Fork.  Home sweet home!

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Thanks to my buddy Jesse for picking up a package when we were gone before the porch pirates got it.  It is “almost” the last of the boat rigging stuff.  Can not wait to get back next month and put the finishing touches on it.  One area of fishing that is new to me is kokanee fishing.  Basically, a genetic cousin to the sockeye they are filter feeders but are catchable in some of the area lakes.  I have caught a few randomly from the bank but trolling is the way to go and the new boat is specifically for the area lakes and fishing.  The one I cruised to the other day actually has lake trout so I am really looking forward to this new fishing challenge.  So, while there is no fishing on the blog that is about to change.  Please keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My Coast Outdoors

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Racing the sun in the New Mexico high plains on the way to our Rocky Mountain home.  So happy to be heading back.

The Boss is with me this trip.  While she will only be here 3 days before she flies back there is a method to her madness.  She actually planned it this way to help me with the drive which I really appreciate.  Then she will fly back at the end of the month for a longer stay before driving home with me.  And thanks for that but she has been jonesing for some Colorado time and getting to enjoy the house and labor of her hard work.  As I have said so many times in the past, I really got lucky and married way above my pay grade.

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Happy to be Back

The weather here has been amazing the last month or so and we were so happy to see our critters.  As you can see from the pic below the tine dropping has begun.  The rule in Colorado is you can not shed hunt on public land until mid April but private land is ok.  I am sure walking the neighborhood we will find a few.

The guy across the street.  Let the shedding begin.

Of course the turkeys are up to their usual nonsense and our backyard gets a daily visit.  It seems the toms have ganged up and they were starting to do a little tail flashing and bickering with each other so can’t wait for spring and the gobbling to begin.  It is such a sight when we have 10 or 15 gobblers in the backyard in full strut.

Our resident turkeys right out the back window.  When the sun is out you get a true measure of their colors.

The snow started sometime last night and we have a good 5″ with more in the forecast.  Some areas, including Wolf Creek Pass right above us could get up to 24″ which will send the skiers into a frenzy.  But it sure is beautiful and comes with the territory.

Good morning South Fork.

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Navajo Lake

One of the lakes that is on my list big time is Navajo Lake.  Sitting on the border of Colorado and New Mexico, the majority is in New Mexico.  With up to 30,000+ surface acres it reminds me of Lake Norfork in Arkansas, long and winding with coves and creeks.  It has everything from monster pike, crappie, lots of smallmouth, trout, among others.  The reports I have seen in the past the smallmouth fishing can be off the chain.  And it has plenty of big pike, some reaching the magical 50″ mark.

Colorado Parks & Wildlife – Navajo (state.co.us)

We decided to take a drive for a little scouting of amenities as I plan on fishing it consistently.  We stopped at the office and met the local parks and wildlife lady and the marina operator.  As usual I forgot to get names (I will correct that next trip.) but they were great and I learned much of what I need to know.  I was especially interested in learning about the boating rules as the lake is in Colorado there are specific regulations to stop the spread of aquatic pests.  Unlike Texas which pays lip service to the spread Colorado actually has inspection stations at many lakes where they physically clear your boat before you hit the water.  I still have plenty of questions on the process but the folks there gave me a good overview and I really look forward to fishing the lake.  Nothing like big pike to make your day.

Unfortunately, I am having some kind of issue either with the big camera, the card, or the computer and downloading is turning into some kind of hassle.  On the way to the lake we saw a big bunch of elk and there are some great pictures on the camera that for some reason I can not get off but will get it figured out one way or the other.  We also saw a cool coyote, some turkeys, and enough mule deer to last a lifetime.  So, excuse the lack of pictures I will figure it out soon.

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Houston Fishing Show

After working the booth with Michael at the Houston Fishing Show in the past I will miss it again this year.  But to all of you attending please stop by the Knockin Tail booth, say hello and buy some baits.  Michael always has a deal and it is a good time to save money.  On the Colorado note I cannot wait wear the smallmouth on Navajo out on them and to toss the 5″ on those big pike.

**************The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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I personally love the new speckled trout rules.  For me catching bigger fish is always the hope and rarely eat enough to make a miniscule dent in the population.  And there is one side effect that will entertain me.  When we went to 5 it made it easier to catch a limit and the Facebook warriors that only post when they smack em without disclosing squat will be in heaven.  Now the one trick ponies can brag about a 3 fish limit.  But more than anything I really hope it reduces the dead trout on the front of the boat pictures.  Those seem to be seriously lacking respect to the fish.  But to each his own.

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As soon as I get back in a month will put the finishing touches on the rigging of the new boat.  After much research and reading I finally decided to go with a non-screwed on transducer mounting plate. I used major adhesive and will have let it set a month.  After watching several videos, it should be fine, remember it is on a aluminum with a 25hp, not like speed will be an issue.  So, when I get back will post the before and after pictures.  And looking forward to fishing March – May as it will be my last spring fishing in Texas so intend to make the most of it.

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A reader comment.

Hey Buddy,
Now i know where all the trash goes downstream in the Guadalupe. Its bad up here in san antonio. They look for volunteers all the time cleaning up the river, creeks from all the crap going down. And Never Get it all. Would think they would invest in a catch system for the trash.

On GPS, you have a phone with maps to get ya back to ramp. Remember the old Garmin handhelds. I think they still make used for hiking and a backup. I had a Lowrance go out on Toledo Bend. That was fun…

My shoulder had fixed up nicely with surgery 30aug, just need to work on strength. Ready to start fishing for the spring….

I have commented several times on just how dirty and trash filled Texas is.  For a state so self proud litter apparently is not an issue.  And as usual when the lake comes up the litter floats and boy was it floating.  One of the things I liked about Oregon.  The signs said fines up to $6000 for littering and the roadsides were fairly clean.  They should have fines for the dirtbags that continue to throw dirty diapers in the Wal Mart parking lot.  Would hate to see the inside of their house.

And of all things I actually have the old Garmin handheld.  But for me the bigger reason besides getting home is one in the back for trolling and mapping and one in the front for vertical jigging.  When I finally get the rigging done it is going to be nice.  And glad you are recovering; the fishing is about to begin.  Crank up that Bass Cat.

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Things will settle down around here after I drop the Boss off at the airport.   I will get back to chasing wildlife and specifically the sheep.  And hopefully will be able to get north with the better chance of seeing the moose, but as it is around here it is road/snow dependent.  Then when I get back it will be fishing until I drop.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

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