FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

The Wade Right Fishing Belt

Brought to you by

The Best Wading System on the  planet

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We spent the last few days in Dallas with the Grandkids at Great Wolf Lodge so it has been a while since I have been on the water, but that is about to change.  I did want to make a couple of comments on Great Wolf.  Great for younger kids, they had a great time.  But as far as accommodations and cost, way over priced so if you go get out your wallet.  The kids had a great time, and the trip was all about them.  Looking at the forecast for the week first up will be Coleto to take advantage of the clouds and wind, then off to the bay.  I have a week to fish before heading to Florida and I intend to take full advantage of it.

Weather

82/53.  60% chance morning showers or thunderstorms, mostly cloudy and not as warm.  Wind  NW 5 – 15 mph.  (The wind was nowhere near 15 – more like a good 20!)

Lake Level

Wednesday  95.06 msl.    Today  95.07  msl.

Solunar Times

Major 6:30 am to 8:30 am.  Minor  1:38 pm to 2:38 pm.   (I include these just for a reference to compare with how the day went.  But when conditions are right they are pretty much irrelevant, especially bass fishing.)

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The new Knockin Tail Lures are coming soon.

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Not Worth Starting the Boat

I got to the ramp at 7:00 and watched the radar waiting for the front to pass.  It was an hour before I was able to hit the water.  The wind was blowing out of the north pretty good and the water temp was 77 at the ramp, which had the wind blowing right on it.  The rest of the morning the temp stayed between 80 and 83.

First it was up lake and it only took an hour to see it was going to suck, and it went downhill from there.  To make a bad story short 9 did come over the side, most about the size of the baits, or smaller.  2 on buzzbait, 5 on plastics, and 2 on spinnerbait.  Am not going to subject you to pictures of fish sticks today, they were that small.  The wind kept picking up and by time I quit at 12:00 it was howling right along at 20+.  Normally that turns on the spinnerbait bite, but not today.  The best place that has been consistent on the spinnerbait was a total bust.

In fact they really did for all intents and purposes quit around 9:00 and I finally said No Mas.  While I did catch a few it was real surprising that the wind did not help.  And in most places it kept me from fishing plastics which at least would have produced another bite or two.  So there you have it, not worth the effort.

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Michael at My Coast Outdoors has been absolutely smoking the flounder on his Tandem Rig.  Using 2 Controlled Descent Lures on the same rig, one weighted, one with flotation that suspends off the bottom, he has doubled up, and even broke one off and then caught it a half hour later.  If you have not seen this rig go to his website above and take a look, it is a killer.  I plan on hitting my favorite flounder hole the next couple of days and will be tying a few myself.  But you can save your self the trouble by ordering the pre-rig, it has spare bodies and is ready to go.  He only sells it on the site and not in stores just to keep the cost down as they are hand tied.  And if you are on Facebook check out Michael Okruhlik’s page.

https://www.facebook.com/michael.okruhlik/videos/pcb.810856685983948/810850019317948/?type=3&theater

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Thanks to the folks at Coastal Fishing Gear for the new hat, I never have enough hats.  And along with that they sent a couple of bags of Kden Blazin’ Shad in a special color that Kden specially made for them.  Not sure when but it will get a work out this week.  It sure is pretty.  Plus they set the date for next years Chandeleur Island trip!  What is not to love about that?

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There is sad news to report on the fishing front.  Capt. Aubrey Black, one of the most famous guides on Baffin Bay and owner of Baffin Bay Rod and Gun, died unexpectedly of a heart attack. He was well respected in the coastal fishing community.  One of the methods he shared with many of us was using the super light jig head on plastics, a method I adopted and it dramatically increased my catch rate.  So my condolences to his family and friends.  Life is fleeting and you just never know, but I will always remember him every time I catch one on the light jighead.

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So after this mornings debacle I have emptied the bass stuff, took out the seats, and loaded the salt stuff.  It might be a little windy but it will be some wading first and then some boat fishing.  It has been a while since I fished the salt but looking forward to it.  And to make it even better I just got the real prototype Knockin’ Tail lures from Controlled Descent.  I don’t want to get to carried away, haven’t fished them yet, but they look awesome.  On first impression the size is right, the consistency of the plastic is right on, love the tail, and with the rattle inserted in the swimming tail it looks like a sure winner.  It will be up early and Froggie’s at daylight, hopefull there will be a killin’.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

The Wade Right Fishing Belt

Brought to you by

The Best Wading System on the  planet

At 4:30 my eyes pop open and I am awake, which was definitely not the plan this morning.  So in spite of the forecast, which is a broken record this month, might as well head to the lake.  And just like it has been, the fish were biting.  In fact, for the fun of it I specifically kept track and it was exactly 20 for the morning.

A great way to start the morning!

Weather

Hot, a little windy, humid. It was 95 when I quit at 1:00.  (Man I hope it breaks tomorrow like it is supposed to.)

Lake Level

Today  95.06 msl.    Yesterday  95.12 msl.  (Dropping like a rock.)

Solunar Times

Who cares.  I caught them all morning from the first place to the last.

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The new Knockin Tail Lures are coming soon.

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Since I have been catching them on every thing else in sight I decided to give the buzzbait a try.  I have not thrown it during this last stretch but there was no reason they would not eat it, and they did.

They were unloading on it!

From the minute I started until the sun was really up they were absolutely blasting it.  No little wimpy pull under or swirling and missing, they were hitting like they meant it.  All of them were on wood, with a couple coming on wood sticking up in 8 foot or more.  It was the kind of buzzbait bite that Coleto can produce, and before they called it quits I boated 8 and missed a couple.  I will give them credit, a couple smashed it so hard I was sure they were a big girl.  So much fun!

Later in the morning the Controlled Descent pearl Jerk Shad was the ticket.

When they quit the buzzbait around 9:00 they quit, end of story.  So time to hunt and peck the rest of the morning.  I fished the Pit Boss very little but put 3 in the boat on one deep point and another pitching to cover.  Deep points is a whole other pattern I have not really explored but it has worked the couple of places I have tried, and there are several places on the lake just like it. But for consistency, the Jerk Shad was the ticket the rest of the morning as I stuck with it just because I like fishing it.  Love watching them eat it.  When the wind came up I fished spinnerbait in a couple of places and only caught 1, so I stuck with the Jerk Shad and the last one right before I quit.

The wood  continues to be the ticket.  Wind, no wind.  Clouds, no clouds.  It does not matter as long as there is something for them to hide behind.  And the style of bank does not seem to matter near as much as having wood.  Definitely isolated stumps no matter where they are will hold a fish.  In fact, it has been a little surprising how flat some of the banks are.  But the fish get smaller as the day goes on, what is new, but there are shallow fish and if you jerk the Jerk Shad over a stump get ready.  I can not stress enough how important it is to rig the Jerk Shad just right so you can walk the dog.  And when one materializes and eats it is a thing of beauty.

As far as plastics go, and I am currently using the Berkley Pit Boss in the 18X, and if it were tournament time I would probably throw it all day.  I was skeptical at first,  “sure” they will hold on to it 18X longer.  Now I am not sure about 18X longer, but when they eat they definitely hold on to it longer than other plastics, giving you plenty of time to reel up and set the hook.  And the little ridges give you a great place to protect the barb.  Combine that with pegging the tungsten weight and it makes a fairly snag free combo.

This has been a pretty good run the last 2 weeks.  They can be caught on a couple of different plastics, the Controlled Descent Jerk Shad, Bang O Lure, spinnerbait, buzzbait, and maybe anything else you would like to throw.  I love the variety of baits, especially the visual.  And anytime they are blasting buzzbait and spinnerbait I am in my warm and fuzzy place.

Tomorrow I have a few things to do before heading out to Great Wolf to spoil the crap out of the Grandkids.  Then back a few days, hopefully to the bay, and then off to Florida.  The fishing is about to pick up if we can get a little more cooling.  Come on cold fronts, lets get the river and creek going.  The next 2 months is my favorite time of year for the salt, and I intend to take full advantage of it.

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I had a friend send a comment to GBRA and he got the same canned response I did.  Probably shouldn’t expect any different but we have to try.  The few folks that are out I have talked to at the ramp, and it is not many, are not particularly impressed.  This is by far the least amount of folks I have seen this fall and it may continue that way.  I was particularly disturbed by their response to my concerns about the vets.  While the folks at GBRA were safe at home in their beds the guys and gals were protecting all of us.  Guess they just don’t care.

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So there you have it for today.  It was 8 on buzzbait, 7 on Jerk Shad, 4 on Pit Boss, and 1 on spinnerbait.  The water temp dropped another degree, and with a good cool front with rain it should only improve.  I know some of you may be a little bored with the lake but guess what, not me.  This is my kind of fishing but all things come to an end and the salt is calling.  And on a side note we have a date for next years Chandeleurs trip, yahoo.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

The Wade Right Fishing Belt

Brought to you by

The Best Wading System on the  planet

Not sure why I pay that much attention to the weather forecast.  Today they missed it by a mile.  It was cloudy, for the first couple of hours then it cleared off and got hot and humid.  When I put it on the trailer the truck said it was 94 degrees and the wind was barely blowing, not the 15 mph+ they forecast.  But in spite of it all it was a good day.

Weather

89/76.  Cloudy with 55% chance of showers early, humid.  Wind SE 5 – 20mph.

Lake Level

Today  95.12 msl.  Last Tuesday  95.22 msl.  (And the decline continues.)

Solunar Times

Minor  7:07 am to 8:07 am.   Major  1:11 pm to 3:11 pm.

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The new Knockin Tail Lures are coming soon.

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The big boys were moving about today. Broke a big one off on that stump the minute the gator swam off.

When I dropped the boat in it was barely cracking daylight and it was dead calm and cloudy.  The water temp at the ramp was 78 and the highest I saw all day was barely 80, a 6 to 8 degree drop over the whole lake, and the bite was consistent.

Nothing like watching them appear out of nowhere and smoke the Controlled Descent Jerk Shad.

With it dead calm the pearl Controlled Descent Jerk Shad was the logical choice.  Running it in a walk the dog cadence on a 1/16th swim bait hook it was just a matter of tossing it past wood and working it over and watching them flush it.  The first couple of hours it was consistent up lake and I had a bunch of hits.

The best one was a really good one, no where near brush, on the first pull right on the bank.  I set the hook, she rolled, and promptly broke off.  You would think after 45 years of this I would retie, but of course I didn’t and paid the price.  After a couple of hours I headed down lake to fish some deep points.

Of course they will still hit the Pit Boss near wood.  I have been catching them on it for over a month, and I finally got a chance to really test the new one, which they claim the fish will hold on to 18X longer.

The best of a dozen or so on the Pit Boss.

During the last month at times they would pull on the plastic, even swimming with it, and when I would set the hook no hookup, no plastic.  I can honestly say that they hold on to the new one much better.  And not only hold on to it, but swim away with it.  On the first main lake point with timber 3 jumped on.  The next, 4.  They were smacking it.  But I wanted to fish the pearl jerk shad some more, it is just to much fun to fish, so I headed back in a creek and started catching them even though it was hot, basically still, and sunny.

  The Jerk Shad getting it done!

They bit all the way until I quit at 2:00, 94 on the truck when I took out, it was just getting to hot for this old man.  But no complaints today.  Until the last place I hit before quitting I had bites from 1″ deep out to 10′ deep on the timber points.  Clear water, or water with a little bit of color, it did not matter.  There just had to be a little bit of cover, make a good cast, get a bite.  With the water temp on the decline it should only get better.  And as you all know, I love the visual bite, and the jerk shad is just that.  And fishing it a couple times now the hook up ratio is improving.  Just had to let them eat, drop the rod, catch up to them, and stick them.  Big fun!

This girl let me get right next to her.

Along with the fish the wildlife was out in force.  Saw lots of big gators.  In fact when the one above moved off the stump I stuck a big one on the Pit Boss, and broke my line.  One thing about pitching it right in the cover, you have just have to retie more often.  I saw 3 big gators in the same area with the one above and finally figured out what they were doing, and why they were right on the bank not wanting to move off.  That area has lots of pigs, and they were at the water today.  But hey, one nice big pig and they are good to go for the month.

Good day, lots of smalls and just enough better ones to keep it interesting.  If not for operator error on failing to retie would have added the 2 biggest ones of the day, all on me.  But the bite is on and with another front on the way things are looking up.

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Good to hear from Michael, owner and designer of the Controlled Descent line, and I may actually get my grubby little hands on a few of the prototype Knockin Tail soon.  I really am looking forward to it, of course for the salt, but also for the Alabama Rig when the full line comes out.  Adding rattle to that “school” of plastics should be killer.  I have been thinking about an early spring trip to my old stomping grounds of Bull Shoals and Norfork and early is prime time for the Alabama Rig.  Early spring on those lakes the Alabama Rig will put bass, whites, stripers, walleye and even the occasional big crappie on the deck.  Ok, I’m going.

And congratulations on Coastal Angler Magazine Editor’s pick of the Knockin Tail as one of their “Hottest New Fishing Gear” products at ICAST 2019.  Every company in the fishing business is at ICAST and the competition is fierce so that is a big accomplishment.  There is nothing like the Knockin Tail on the market and it is coming to a store near you.  For now hit the link above for a picture of things to come.

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Here You Go Vets – A Big Thank You for Your Service?

Here is the response from GBRA on my comment on the price increase.

Good afternoon, Mr. Coppernoll. We understand your concern about the increase in the day use fee at Coleto Creek Park. The increase was necessary to keep up with the rising cost of operating and maintaining the park’s amenities and facilities throughout the 40 acres currently developed at the 190-acre park. While the park currently does not have a senior discount, veterans will enjoy free entry to the park for the Veterans Day weekend. We appreciate your feedback.

There you go Vets.  Payback for being gone from your families, sacrificing much, and risking you life in foreign lands to protect this country.  Enjoy your weekend.  Guess that says it all about where retirees and vets stand with the GBRA.  But hey, they appreciated my feedback.

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Hope I Live That Long!

One thing about having a wife who literally could be a professional travel agent is the planning stage.  She starts way in advance, does her research, and it has served us well.  We always kick ideas and places around, come to a consensus, and then a plan starts to take shape.  So today we solidified the basics of our next big trip, and now I will have trouble sleeping for the next year!  She has been to Africa twice, me once, and we both loved it.  We have decided to go back next year late summer or early fall, which gives her plenty of time for planning.  My end is simply deciding where or what I want to fish, and that was easy.

There is just something about seeing a lion in the wild.  This little guy was as interested in us and we were in him.

First up will be Krueger National Park in South Africa for safari.  We love the wildlife, Africa is no zoo.  Then the good part, if anything could be better than lions, elephants, and the rest – Mozambique.  I have heard and read about fishing the coast for years, and the fishing can be spectacular along with fabulous beaches.  Even typing this is making me all giddy.  Looks like it will be 3 days of offshore fishing on the boat that has caught more grander Black Marlin than any boat in Africa!  One of the great places on this planet to catch a slam, or even a super slam, all the billfish are available – Blacks, Blues, Spearfish, Sails, Swords – a dream trip.  So now I have to wait a very long year.  But that is how dreams are made and I can never thank her enough.

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Weekend Football

Give Texas credit, they hung in there.  My only comment, you call that an offensive line?  They couldn’t block my mama.  But give the Sooners credit, they may be the best team in college football.

A&M on the other hand reminds me of the Dennis Green’s meltdown – “We are who you say we are!”  They did not give up, but no matter how you spin it they are a 50/50 team.  Of course it was Alabama, who will probably beat Arkansas by 50, if we are lucky.

The Hogs – First “thanks” A&M for Starkel, no wonder you let him walk.  Want him back?  We are terrible and not even close to a D1 football team.  No matter what no program has ever really been successful playing quarterback musical chairs.  Hell I would take Houston Nutt back, at least we were competitive.  Embarrassing.

How I will watch Arkansas the rest of the year!

The Cowboys played like crap last weekend against the first good team they have played this year.  They looked like the old Cowboys.  And Sunday the absolutely looked uninspired.  They lost to the worst time in the league.  So guess I will have to wear the bag on my head for both the Cowboys and Hogs.  I love football but this weekend was embarrassing.

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And I just can’t resist this guys attempt to sell his Skeeter.

boat in good condition
Everything working as it should
motor runs but needs power head

That might be the dumbest ad ever.  Works like it should?  Good condition?  It only needs a $5000 repair, if you are lucky!  And I have one last comment on attempts to sell boats with a serious problem.  If you can not afford to fix and keep, or fix and sell, you have no business buying it in the first place.  When I look back over my fishing life I have wasted $10’s of thousands on boats so I am qualified to comment.  I love boats, I can not live without one, but as I have said so often in the past, the boat does not make you a fisherman.  It just makes you someone who can make a payment.

I learned my lesson when later in life I went back to law school.  Moving from a normal house into an apartment I sold my bass boat and bought a 14′ with a 25hp which I was not afraid to leave in the parking lot.  And guess what, I still caught the same amount of fish.  Not having the ability to haul ass miles away for the next spot I fished what I had, and it made me a better fisherman.

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Not sure if I am going tomorrow, but will definitely be back on the water on Wednesday as we have another front on the way and the fishing should be off the chain.  Hopefully won’t get blown off the water like last time.  Love fishing those fronts.  And with being gone later this week and then Florida time to hit it.  Once back from Florida the bay fishing begins in earnest starting with 4 days with the Austin Boys and then a trip to the Upper Laguna.  Fall is here, let the serious fishing begin.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

The Wade Right Fishing Belt

Brought to you by

The Best Wading System on the  planet

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The calm before the storm.

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The new Knockin Tail Lures are coming soon.

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I was very excited about fishing this morning.  The weather dude had forecast the front coming around noon and I hoped to get a good bite before it came.  When I left the house the truck said 74 degrees and it was dead calm.  On arriving at the lake I started to back down and actually got the rear end of the boat in the water when a huge thunderhead full of lightning appeared, so discretion being the better part of valor I pulled back out and sat there waiting to see what was coming.

Called the Boss and she said that the radar had it going north.  Then a guy in a Ranger came up and put in.  When he walked back to the ramp we looked at his iPhone and you could see it was going to miss us.  There was lots of clouds and rain coming off to the north and west but time to go.  So I put back in and headed up lake.

They were biting.

After fishing about an hour at best all of a sudden I could hear that 747 coming down the lake, a noise I am very familiar with.  So on went the rain suit just in time and it started pouring buckets.  The front got here hours earlier than forecast and it went from really perfect conditions to freakin’ howlin’.  It was coming right out of the north at 25 mph+ and you could feel it cooling rapidly.  So I hightailed it down lake to be close to the ramp, and hopefully find a place out of the wind, a pipe dream.

It was one of those fish where you can and not where you want.  It was pouring and the wind was flat ugly.  I kept after it for about  an hour and actually caught 5 or 6 on spinnerbait, and those that did bite were knocking it stupid.  But no more pictures today, it was just to ugly to mess with and all looked like the one above.  The few places without serious wind on them produced a bite or two but the wind was swirling around every nock and cranny.  There was no way to get away from it.  Reminded me of the old days when I tournament fished and stuck with it no matter what.  Those days are long gone, and when it is no longer fun, and turns into work just to keep fishing, time to hit the road.

I finally called it a short morning and rode the big white capping rollers right back to the ramp, which the wind was pounding directly on.  The Ranger guy was already gone, but there was one truck still there.  It belonged to a small Tracker with 3 young guys who left when I did and were crappie fishing.  I saw them coming back down lake under the bridge where they had taken shelter.  They obviously were not prepared for the weather and all I have to say is I hope they made it back safely, I mean it was blowing.

It was definitely not all Unicorns and rainbows this morning!

But you know what?  I will gladly take it.  On the way home the truck said 59 degrees, a 15 degree drop.  In fact, the last place fished the back of the cove was only 80 degrees, a good 4 degree drop.  Though this weather will only last a couple of days before warming back up, love that South Texas weather, this temperature drop will only encourage the fish.  So while fall may not really be here, it is a welcome start.

So now I have the windows open, heavy socks and flannel shirt on, and making Elk stew.  I have been saving that meat all summer waiting for fall, and it will be on the plate tonight!  Today might not have been the best of conditions but I fished and did not break a sweat, that in and of itself was a bonus.  And they did bite as they have been and I am thankful for that.  Just another adventure on this fishing journey.

What is up next, not a  clue.  But do have a trip to Great Wolf Lodge next weekend in Dallas to spoil the grandkids, then a few days later Florida, and then Colorado.  This retirement thing takes some serious work.  But with all that I will be on the water every chance I get.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

The Wade Right Fishing Belt

Brought to you by

The Best Wading System on the  planet

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One thing I wanted to do is tell you how I rig the Controlled Descent Jerk Shad, along with other soft jerk baits and swim baits.  One thing I have learned it is incumbent that your soft jerk bait runs properly, straight and true on a straight retrieve, or if using a walking the dog retrieve as I usually do, that it preforms just like a Spook.  While all worm hook style hooks will work I have settled on the VMC Drop Dead swimbait hook for a couple of reasons.

It has the twist lock keeper on the front end with the streamlined weight located much further back on the hook than other swim bait hooks, which is very important in making it easier to work properly.  The advantage of the Drop Dead is the placement of the weight actually acts as a keel, which allows it to run level.  And on the stop or drop it will remain basically level instead of nosing straight down like many swimbait hooks.  And with a variety of weights you can use whatever you need for the depth and method you are fishing.  Generally when fishing it walk the dog style I use a 1/16 or 1/8th ounce weight.

   Wrong.                                                                  Right.

              Wrong – bunching.                                            Nice and straight.

No matter what soft plastic bait you use it can not be over stressed that it must be rigged straight.  So after twisting the lock on before putting the hook in the bait let it hang off the hook eye and be sure it hangs straight inline with the hook.  Then place it next to the bait and find the place where the bend would enter the bait and insert it until it comes out the top with the bait straight.  The great thing about Controlled Descent baits is there is a visible line on the midline top and bottom so you know you are in the right place.  The bait should be straight without any bunching.

Skin hooked and ready to run straight and catch fish.

Last comes what I feel is the most important point to the rigging.  Skin hook the point of the hook into the bait to keep it lined up straight on the hook.  By doing that it is as straight as you can make it, it look as natural as possible, and will run true and stay that way.  Of course it helps it from hanging up when throwing around brush and cover, but that is a side benefit.  When properly rigged it will run straight and true and fall level, which at times they just can not stand.  Take the time to rig it properly, because it is the little things that put more fish in the boat.

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Order Some Today

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Anglers Arsenal

Stopped in at Anglers Arsenal last week to pick up a bag of Pit Boss plastics and some tungsten slip sinkers and I wanted to let you know that not only have they started online sales, and also the “Guide Box”.  It will be full of select products for the bay fisherman.  A one time purchase or monthly, it will be a deal.  And their general selection is also available online, also nice to know what is available if you plan on stopping in.   So stop by their site and check it out.  And if you have not been to the store stop in, great folks.

https://www.anglersarsenaltx.com/s/shop?page=1&limit=60

And my buddy Rusty reports he just had his reels cleaned there and they did a great job.  Glad to hear it after my last cleaning.  The place cleaned it but did not fix it.  Why would you do that?  Nice to pay for a cleaning on a reel I still could not use.

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Please Send Your Comments

After my post on the increase of the day use fee to $17 a day at Coleto I heard from SA Joe.

And no Veterans fee at Coleto Creek either !!!! You might have said that but too lazy to go back and read…LOL

You made me laugh, of course I mentioned retired military.  But on a serious note I sent along the following comment to GBRA.

To Whom It May Concern.

I am writing to inform you of my objection to the increase in the day use fee on Coleto to $17 a day.  Over the last 40 years I have fished from Canada to Key West, as I currently do, and this is one of the highest day use fee anywhere in the country.  Fishing the lake as I do, up to 3 times a week, I have the annual pass so it does not affect me directly.  (Though it has gotten to high and if you look at the annual fee it takes over a 100 trips to the lake to make it viable.)  But I am not writing about me.  My concern is during the week many, if at times most, of the folks fishing are seniors as I am.  And with that many are retired military who have served this country well.  While I am fortunate that the increase does not lock me out I am very concerned for folks who just can not afford that for a day of fishing, much less next year when families and their children come to enjoy the beach.  So I hope that you will review that decision and compare it to other fees in the area.  As an example Lake Fayette Country has a $2 day use for seniors.  I appreciate the chance to comment.

Cordially

Doug Coppernoll

Attorney (Retired/Inactive)

Victoria Texas

When things like this happen it is incumbent on folks to comment.  If people do not participate then I can guarantee nothing will change.  While I am not hopeful that GBRA will reduce the fee you never know.  So if you fish or swim at the lake comment respectfully and state your case, it can not hurt.   Their email for comments is below, so either comment or don’t complain, your choice.

comments@gbra.org

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And I have one more comment on buying a used boat.  “This boat runs 65 mph!”  Think about that for a second when reading the ad.  That means it has been run wide open, maybe a lot.  So compare that to a car.  If you read an ad selling a car and it said it ran 120 mph would that assure you it was in good shape and had not been abused?  But if you are buying a new late model used boat the dealer can tell you how it was run.  Mine is about 50/50 on hours, 1,500 rpm at idle and the rest generally 4000 – 4500 rpm range.  Just a thought when you are about to spend $50k.

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I haven’t fished the last couple of days.  The Boss is off and we will spend a little time together before she starts a 7 day stretch, at which point I will be foot loose and fancy free.  First up is tomorrow morning.  If the timing is right we have a real cold front that will come crashing down with high north winds around noon, so I will be at the lake hoping to ride the front for what I hope is a big bite.  You never know for sure how they will react but it might be spinnerbait heaven on the wind change.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

The Wade Right Fishing Belt

Brought to you by

The Best Wading System on the  planet

The fishing on the lake is as good right now as it has been for months.  It seems to be getting a little bit better every day.  So when I saw it was cloudy I knew exactly what and where and it worked out.  When I can get my favorite bite in all of fishing I am one happy camper.

Weather

I never even looked before I left.  The pertinent weather – when I got up and looked out no stars, it was cloudy and I was off to the lake.  Good choice.

Lake Level

Today   95.22 msl.       Yesterday  95.29 msl.    (The water is down to the sign on the pier saying the ramp falls off in 25 feet.)

Solunar Periods

Major  9:38 am to 11:38 am.  

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The Knockin Tail Lure with a built in tail rattle!   Look for it this winter.

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The water temp was 83 at the ramp, and down to 85 in lots of places, only a degree or two but a great start.  And  I actually put on my hoody as the air had that nice chill signaling fall is in the air.  Anticipation was high and as long as the clouds stayed the better fish cooperated.

There was only one plan to start, throw that spinnerbait until my arm falls off.  The wind was out of the north at the perfect clip and was blowing right down a bank with lots of wood on it.  And when I put the trolling motor down and startled a big Bald Eagle off his perch I knew it was going to be a great day.  And boy was it!

This girl has not been pushing back from the supper table.

This one absolutely blasted it.

I was running a 3/8th tandem white skirted spinnerbait with a #5 willow as fast as my little hands could crank it making a wake.  There are lots of great bites in fishing but when a fish this size stops it is nothing short of heart stopping.  I kept after it for a couple of hours as the clouds stayed and the wind kept blowing.  There is no better set of conditions for spinnerbait fishing and I took full advantage of it this morning catching around 10 right off the bat.

One side of the lake was windy, and the other was pretty calm, so using my brain it was time for other stuff.  To make a long story short, spinnerbait, Controlled Descent Pearl Jerk Shad, Bang O Lure, and beaver style plastics like the Pit Boss all caught fish like they have the last few trips.

No wind?  Pitch to the roughest cover you can find.

Like I have been finding no matter what the bait they will not chase.  So even with the spinnerbait you have to run it as close to cover as you can.  It was easy today, wind – fish the spinnerbait.  No wind – fish other stuff.  Today I wanted to fish the Controlled Descent Pearl Jerk Shad some and they were happy to cooperate.  Though I had a little trouble getting the hook in some, they hit that even after it cleared off.  You just had to make a good cast close to cover.  And using a weighted swim bait hook with the weight near the back acts as a keel, making it work just like walking the dog with a Spook.

Love watching them appear out of nowhere and eat it!

It was pretty clear that when the sun came out the size got smaller, which is no great surprise.  I did catch a couple on Bang O Lure but they were small, and I did not throw it all that much.  But anytime you can catch on whatever you like to throw the fishing is good.  And as far was the bait that will catch them all day, the watermelon red Pit Boss is the ticket.  Even when the wind died and it got clear and still, they kept hitting it.  Deeper points with cover are finally starting to come in to play  After a long hot summer the fish are just as ready for fall as I am.  And today was as good as it has been in a while.  In fact, the spinnerbait fishing is as good as I have seen on Coleto in a while, hard for me to resist.

So at 2:30 I called it a successful day in spite of the fact I caught a couple on the last place I fished.  Not sure how many today but it was plenty.  After a slow summer they are on, and just maybe the lake will produce like it has in the past.  I am already getting all jerky thinking about Friday.  The forecast is for a “real” cold front, and while they are unsure the timing, Friday has the potential to be big fish something!

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I often have folks ask where I am catching them.  That really is a marginal question that tells you very little.  The real question is how.  Where is actually irrelevant, I could care less where you are catching, the how is the ticket.  Using your brain the “how” tells you where, it is just a matter of time of year, conditions, and the bait.  Figuring it out is the fun, and taking a little info and whacking them makes for a great day.  Being told exactly where does nothing more than make it a meat haul and you add no more fishing knowledge to your arsenal.  There is something to be learned whether you wreck them, or strike out.  But getting it done with hard work and effort leads to a satisfying day.

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The last 4 trips have been such an improvement.  The numbers are way up and there is just enough big fish sprinkled in to keep it more than interesting.  Bass fishing is my first love, 40 hard core years of it will do that.  And it is so visual right now with the some of the baits, which trips my trigger no matter the technique.  And now that it has cooled off I will be hard at it.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines 

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

The Wade Right Fishing Belt

Brought to you by

The Best Wading System on the  planet

It would seem counter intuitive it was a struggle when I caught around 20 today, but catching them was not the struggle, but putting the better fish in the boat was the struggle.  Several factors played into that, but using a net would have resolved some of that.

Weather

87/66.  Partly sunny and humid with a 40% chance of a shower.    Wind  N 10 – 20 mph.  (You never can tell how they will react to the first “cool” front with north winds this time of year, but I am really hopeful.)

Lake Level

Thursday    95.37 msl.       Today  95.29 msl.    (At this rate really starting to worry there may be a ramp issue.)

Solunar Periods

Major  8:03 am to 10:03 am.  Minor  3:09 pm to 4:09 pm.

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

The Knockin Tail Lure with a built in tail rattle!   Look for it this winter.

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

The wind was blowing out of the north when I put in at the lake and it felt so good!  There were no other trailers at the ramp and I basically had the lake to myself.  (More on that later.)  The water temp was 84 at the ramp, 88 in front of the discharge cove, and basically 86 over most of the rest of the lake.  The water color has deteriorated some and is somewhat off color in some places.  First up was a main lake bank with wind and stumps.

Second cast and one later on spinnerbait.

The fish were there but were all small.  But I will give them credit, the 3 that I hooked up on that pass were jumping it.  So after that pass I headed up lake.  The wind was blowing right along out of the north at a pretty good clip so I stayed with the spinner bait for a while but the only other ones were small, so time to change things up.

A swim jig fish and another on the watermelon red Pit Boss.

With fish shallow I wanted to try the Controlled Descent Pearl Jerk Shad over brush.  And that is where the trouble started, but it wasn’t a lack of bites or any fault of the bait.  The wind was blowing hard enough that it was tough to keep the bow out of my line, so when they ate I had trouble getting a good hook set.  That led to losing several that either pulled off or came off when I tried to hand land them.

For the rest of the day until I quit at 2:30 I alternated between a spinnerbait, Bang O Lure, Pit Boss, Pearl Jerk Shad, and the swim jig, and they all caught fish.  And boy did I do a good job of messing up on the better fish.  A poor hook set, shaking off when I tried to hand land the ones that were to big to boat flip, and a good one even broke me off on a spinnerbait.  Basically all operator error for one reason or another.

One thing that is consistent, wood, end of story.  Work the bait of your choice by a good piece of cover and there is usually one there.  Whether way up either arm, or the main lake, cover is the ticket.  And every bank had one or more on it all morning, and I decided I would stop when I fished 2 banks without a bite, and that did not happen until 2:00.

So a funny day, but a good day.  No matter which bait they all accounted for at least 3 or 4, and the clear winner is still the plastics.  At least for the bigger fish.  But if I had managed to land all the better ones it would have been an ok limit.  And I really think the Controlled Descent Jerk Shad fishing will be pretty good with less wind, but of course the wind helps the fishing so there is a fine line.  But when it is all said and done the numbers are there and this cold front can only help, and with a bigger one coming Friday it should be game on for the bigger fish.  They are talking low in the 50’s and high in the 70’s – Bring it on!

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Those of you who read this regularly know I look at boats for sale almost daily.  From brand new to wrecks, there is a world of them for sale, and if I had any advice for those of you looking for a used boat it would be the following.

With so many high dollar fairly new boats available there are 2 questions that must be asked, and if the owner does not know the answers, Be Afraid.  First – How many hours?  There is no way to guess no matter what they say.  Motors can run hundreds of hours trouble free, but only if the proper maintenance is done on a regular basis.  Second – What is the compression on each and every cylinder?  They need to be within just a couple of pounds of each other.

So why are these 2 questions so important?  If the owner has maintained the engine as he should those are easy answers.  No real marine mechanic service would do the work and not include that in the report of work done, and if yours does not have them include it.  So if the owner can not provide you with that information, or be willing to let you contact the service for the information, run away.  It means the maintenance has not been done no matter what they tell you.

As an example if I was selling my boat my mechanic would be happy to talk to you and confirm the work was done as it should be.  And I can provide a pile of copies.  With the price of used boats actually on the rise due to the cost of a new one, the answer to these questions is critical.  Think about it – Would you rather have a used boat with a little higher hours that is confirmed with regular service, or one that looks great and has not seen a mechanic in a couple of years no matter how little the owners says he used it?  Buyer beware.

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And as long was we are talking boats I am not impressed with the increasing size of engines on flats/bass boats.  The real horsepower race started in the 80’s (I think.) when BASS lifted it’s 150 horsepower limit in response to the manufactures whining and the race was on.  Now I see the clip of the boat doing over 110 mph, and that is just plain nuts.  It is an area in fishing that is not “fishing.”  The old joke “I never caught a fish doing 70mph” is so true.  The boat does not make the angler, that is pure nonsense,  and if you are in that big of a hurry you need to evaluate your fishing priorities.  We all love our boats and if that is what turns you on good for you.  But anytime you want to haul ass and then match you fishing prowess vs. a Larry Dahlberg and his jon boat have a go at it.  A boat is a fishing platform, not a fashion statement.

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When I reported GBRA raising the ramp/day use fee on Coleto to $17 a day my buddy Rusty made the following pertinent comment.  At Fayette the senior ramp fee is $2.  Now I admit that is extremely low but it brings up the following points.  Fishing during the week as I usually do many of the folks fishing Coleto are retired and on a fixed income.  Additionally many of those folks are retired vets who proudly served this country.  In fact, whether working or not, $17 a day is a lot, and for the retired can be prohibitive.  That is just not right on lots of levels.  I also heard rumblings that some clubs may be thinking of writing Coleto off their list.  I always rant on the increasing cost of fishing keeping younger fishermen from entering our sport, and this is a perfect example.

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When I got to the ramp today a couple of interesting things happened.  As I idled to the dock the game warden was sitting there in his truck watching me.  I had my life jacket and kill switch on, like always, and when he saw me take it off he headed on his way.  So you are warned, they are looking for compliance with the new kill switch law, apparently that was all he was interested in checking.  And by me being in compliance it saved that get out the license and registration thing.

Then one of the GBRA workers pulled up and we shot the shit.  I commented on the ramp fee and how there should be a break for seniors.  I told him I was not saying it for me, though I would take it, but for all those folks who can not afford that much for a day trip.  And today other than a few campers there was only one trailer at the ramp.  If the plan is to run folks off it appears to be working.  He told me that when the raise took effect GBRA actually told the office to get out the complaint forms, so they obviously know it is coming.  I am going to send along my two cents worth and if it affects you, do the same.  Maybe it will help, but if no one does anything it will not change.

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That is it for today.  It will be back on the water soon, not sure where.  Spoke with Todd and have set a date for a long POC weekend with the Austin Boys in less than a month.  Always a good time.  (Really I was just checking when they are coming so I can be hundreds of miles from the horrible front that seems to follow those guys every fall.)  And I am trying to get the gumption to take off real early one morning for the Upper Laguna after the coming cold front.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

The Wade Right Fishing Belt

Brought to you by

The Best Wading System on the  planet

New Coleto Day Use Fee.

Since it seemed the fish did not bite all that great early on the 2 prior trips this week I decided to take my time.  When I pulled up to the gate on Coleto I almost fell out of the truck.  As of October 1 it now costs $17 a day!  Are you kidding me!  That is as high a anywhere I have ever put in, and those happen to be some really fabulous places in this country.  Of course I pay the annual, which is now $180, and even that is high.  Not sure what they are trying to accomplish, other than reducing day use, but just wanted any of you who go to know that before you go so there is no big surprise.  But all that aside, a really good day!

Weather

94/72.  (Projected heat index 103)  Partly sunny, very warm and humid with a 20% chance of a shower.    Wind  E 10 – 25 mph.

Lake Level

Today    95.37 msl.       Tuesday  95.42 msl.    (It is still dropping.)

Solunar Periods

Minor 12:28 pm to 1:28 pm.  (Only time when out but that is when I had a good run.)

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

The Knockin Tail Lure with a built in tail rattle!   Look for it this winter.

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That was a bite!  This girl was thick nose to tail.  2cnd big girl this week.

Starting about 8:00 I decided to switch it up a little today so it was up lake to the area with wood where I have been catching them.  But instead of tossing plastics it was the Bang O Lure over the same brush.  And while the water color is still a little murky up lake they did cooperate.

Love it when they have a face full of Bang O Lure!

It was definitely partly cloudy today and the wind was out of the NE with just a tiny little hint of fall.  The main lake had a good chop and up lake it was a little more protected.  It was probably my second or third cast when one rolled on the Bang O Lure and I missed it.  From then on it was a pretty good bite considering how tough it has been.  The same wood produced the same fish.

And like they did Monday they wanted it twitched right on top, small jerks, with pauses.  The closer to the cover the better of course, but the one kind of wood producing the most bites by far was the thicker stuff with branches.   So it was a matter of making a cast and working it right to the cover and stopping it.  I easily missed as many as I boated but the bite was on.  Probably a case of using my favorite Bang O Lure which needs to be retired, or at least new hooks as it has taken a beating.  But I did boat around 10, mostly smalls like I have been catching in that area, but it was good fun.  Then around 11:00 the wind really started to blow some.

Smaller on spinnerbait but they were smoking a buzzed spinnerbait.

Next up was main lake stretch near the dam with heavy wind.  I ran the spinnerbait pretty fast right below the surface making a wake and they were stopping it.  4 hooked up and several more swirled on it without hooking up.  None were all that big but since it is my favorite technique 4 in an hour is not to bad.  But I wanted to fish one more area before I quit.  Good choice.

The next area was a channel bank with a couple of small points where I caught them on Monday.  First up I tried the Bang O Lure but without any shad activity that went by the wayside pretty quickly and so time to throw some plastics.  I ended up missing a couple, they were tearing the stick worm off the hook so time to give them a different look.

Sticking with the watermelon red color I switched to the Pit Boss, a creature style bait, still with a 3/16 tungsten pegged right  above the bait.  Being shorter and more compact, I was hoping they would go ahead and eat it, which they did.  The second bite on it was the big girl above.  Having caught a few big ones in my life, it was one of those that the minute you set the hook it did not move.  I looked like a rookie trying to get her in the boat, don’t generally use a net, but finally got a thumb in her and it was the second one this week.  She was thick and heavy.  From then on until quiting about 1:30 I boated another 4 or 5 on the Pit Boss.  They were hanging on to it much better so the hook up ratio to bites went way up.  Points with a little deep water was the ticket, and most came withing a couple of hops from the bank.  And on that note I called it a day.

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This week it really has seemed like the fish know fall is coming next week.  It may not be all out cool, but I could feel it in the air this morning as the wind was out of the north first thing, and it seems like the fish do too.  After a long period with no real big fish showing up that has obviously changed.  While I do not weigh them the 2 big ones boated this week are the size that made Coleto one of my favorite bass lakes.  So who knows, maybe the bite is on.  And if it is it could get real good real fast.  The front is coming Monday and that will be telling.  The wind is slated to blow out of the north for a few days so we shall see.

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Michael H, a freind on facebook, reported he did ok on the crappies Wednesday.  He caught 10 keepers and put one over 2lbs back to spread those good genetics.  So good day, 10 will make a pretty good fish fry.  And I spoke with Larry at the ramp who is camping and also crappie fishing.  They sure have been consistent this year, or at least more folks are chasing them.  But nice to have them available year round should the fish fry move you.

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I give this week, and the lake, an A.  It really has stoked my passion and I intend to keep it up.  Will be some weather watching the next couple of weeks, looking for a 2 or 3 day window for the Upper Laguna.  Time for a little Controlled Descent over deep grass on the King Ranch shoreline.  The place I stay gets as high as $300 a night during the summer season, and of course I am not having that.  But it goes down to $88 which I can live with so a 2 night stay is in the works when the weather is right.  And of course both Fayette and Falcon are on the watch list.   And I promise to fish POC next week after the front.  Cool that water down some and the mullet run should be on, much less the fall gathering of the redfish.   One thing about fall, so many places with lots of great patterns.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

The Wade Right Fishing Belt

Brought to you by

The Best Wading System on the  planet

Like all plans you have to be flexible, and today my plan crashed and burned.  But a little persistence managed to pull the morning out.

I never get tired of this view.  If this is not worth getting up for I am not sure what is!

Weather

93/75.  (Projected heat index 109)  Sun and clouds, very humid with a 20% chance of a thunderstorm.  Wind  SE 10 – 20 mph.

Lake Level

Yesterday   95.41 msl.       Today  95.42 msl.

Solunar Periods

Minor 9:16 am to 10:16 am.   Major  3:11 pm to 5:11 pm.

*****************The Knockin Tail Lure with a built in tail rattle!   Look for it this winter.

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

I was on the water at first light and headed right back to the area where I caught  them yesterday.  Starting in the sweet spot with the Bang O Lure produced zip.  It was calm and looked great except for one thing, no shad.  So I worked several other places close, catching 1 on plastics, before returning near the same time to give it another go, but not a bite.

This brings me to what I intended to say yesterday, it is hell getting old, there is a chance, I think a great one, that the bass are traveling with the bait.  And today was a perfect example of that.  There were lots of fish on that point yesterday, but they disappeared.  So with that I worked my way up lake mostly fishing the Bang O Lure and only managed one more.  With that clearly not working it was up lake to the wood, and they were there, same old, same old.  For as many as I have caught up there this summer for none to be big is puzzling.

The first one on plastics, just to show you I really went.  Number 2 made it because it was the 3rd one on a spinnerbait.

So pitching to wood up lake was productive as it has been and I caught 7.  I stayed maybe an hour but it wasn’t proving anything so time for a change.  As this point the wind had kicked up so I headed to near the dam where the wind was pounding on the bank to try a spinnerbait.  It might be counter intuitive as the last couple of months it seemed like they just would not chase anything but the wind was blowing.

The first bank was long with isolated stumps and the wind hitting directly on the bank.  It took about 10 minutes and finally one blasted a white/nickel blades spinnerbait run fairly fast right below the surface making a waking.  It is my favorite way to catch bass but is definitely not an “all the time” technique.  You definitely need the wind.  But I love buzzing  a spinnerbait, one of the great bites in freshwater fishing..

On that place it was 6 hits and 3 landed, all looking like the ones above.  So now it is after noon and the wind is blowing just right.  Next up was what I thought was the perfect bank.  Going from real shallow to real deep in a long stretch, it has plenty of cover, a couple of pockets, and the wind was just right.  And guess what?  Not a touch.  So at that point I called it a day.  When I put in there was another boat putting in, and when I took out they were taking out.  Except for a couple of crappie fishing campers I never say another boat all day.

What made this guy noteworthy is he swam right by the boat.  Normally when this close they go down, but he went by the boat and headed to the bank.  Guess I was in the way.

So to the You Never Know.  I fully expected to catch them good on the Bang O Lure but they just were not having it.  I suspect if I stopped in the right place it would have been better, but generally they did not seem a little bit interested.  Or probably they were just not there.  But then the spinnerbait, the last thing I thought would work.  I let the conditions/wind dictate the change to a spinnerbait and it worked, in spite of the fact they have not had the least bit of interest in a fast moving bait.  And then to change to a bank that I thought was even better than the first produced zip.  So there you go – You Just Never Know!

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Joe G sent along a couple of pics from Falcon Lake.  He must be reading my mind as I am headed back there soon.

Had to share 2 pics from falcon.

6.5 and a 6.25 lb bass. Slow going day.

Started the day with 2 small white bass, then 2-3 hours later got the bigger 6, then 2 more later got the other 6.

Nice job!  One thing that can be said about Falcon, even a slow day can work out and it looks like it did for you.  And another thing about those Falcon bass, they fight.  And if a person wanted to catch white bass they are sure there, last time I was there they were pecking the heck out of a slow rolled spinnerbait.   Thanks for the pictures, wets my whistle for a trip.  Falcon Lake may have had it’s heyday, but it is still one of the best lakes in the country.

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While the day did not turn out like I figured, I still boated 11.  The good news – It is only going to get better.  The weather dude made my day last evening, hope he is right.  Apparently there is our first norther of the year on the way Monday,  Along with that he was forecasting some real rain.  Fall will definitely be here, a little late, but it always comes.  With that dropping water temps, not to mention air temps and humidity, comes better fishing.  And I will come out of the fishing doldrums and it will be game on.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

The Wade Right Fishing Belt

Brought to you by

The Best Wading System on the  planet

Another awesome sunrise.

Of course I wanted to catch some fish but the prime reason for the morning was to make sure the plate I re-mounted in the tunnel was going to stay on.  But I followed the fiberglass guy’s directions to a T and it is still on, so hopefully that takes care of that.  So after a month without the Mako, and the electronics, it was on the water at daylight and it turned out to be an fun morning that holds some promise for things to come.

Weather

93/76.   Sun and clouds, very humid with a 40% rain.  Wind  SE 10 – 20 mph.

Lake Level

Today   95.41 msl.       4 days ago  95.47 msl.

Solunar Periods

Minor 8:10 am to 9:10 am.   Major  2:17 pm to 4:17 pm.

*****************The Knockin Tail Lure with a built in tail rattle!   Look for it this winter.

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

They Want to Bite

It was dead calm as I headed up lake.  The water temp was 86 everywhere I fished, with good water color from way up both arms to the main lake near the dam.  I started with buzzbait and other than a swirl or two no takers.  So it was back to the stick worm.  And just as it has been they bit right along, but nothing to get excited about.

The run of the mill on plastics and the one that did eat a buzzbait.

After catching 6 or 8 on plastics I put it down around 9:00 and intentionally did not pick it back up.  That pattern is good for numbers right now, pitch it to wood and you will get bit, but for some reason none have been big.   I worked my way down lake giving the buzzbait a go and other than a bite or two, and the one above,  just could not get it going.  So time for a change.  I noticed on a couple of points that there were shad flipping, and that they are really small.  So the next change was a winner.

That is a real one on the Bang O Lure!

First up was a deep point, out of the wind, with shad flipping here and there.  I have been catching a few here and there on the topwater minnow bait but today I learned something, and my results improved dramatically.  Since they have shown no interest in chasing anything it was time to slow down.  Tossing the Bang O Lure right on the bank and letting it just sit there produced a couple of good bites.

A couple more of the 8 or so on the Bang O Lure.

Normally I can “trick” them by fishing it erratically, often catching them when it is pulled under, but that was not the case today.  They wanted it slow, and then slower.  Little twitches, then pausing as long as you could stand it, and they would hit it just sitting there.  A couple even hit the line when it made a “V’ as I pulled it.  The shad are really small.

5 came on one point, 2 or 3 on another.  Though I was fishing the 3 hook the smaller 2 hook on light line just might be even better.  Smaller profile and smaller twitches making that “shad flip” sound could produce more bites.  Can’t wait to do it again.

But no matter what there had to be shad flipping, no shad, no bites.  This is the beginning of the classic fall pattern, find the bait, find the fish.  As fall progresses the shad often move to the creeks as the water temp falls.  If we will just cool off a freakin’ little the fish will get after it.  They are just as anxious for fall as I am.

And as a side note I did re-fish the good place and caught one on a swim jig.  For the morning it was 15, give or take a couple, on 4 different baits, a great sign.  Of course as soon as I figured it out the rain came, and with it a pretty good wind.  I tried a couple of more places but only boated a couple of small ones on the Bang O Lure.  The places I needed to be calm to effectively fish the Bang O Lure all had wind on it, which basically ended the bite, and my morning.  It was good to have the boat back, and boating a big girl was the icing on the  cake.  It has been a long time coming this summer but better days are ahead.

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I was the first boat at the ramp, and the last one out.  The few other folks on the water all called it a day as it rained pretty hard a couple of times and the wind started blowing like the forecast said it would.  Most folks are still crappie fishing and they are catching them, I see them fishing all over the lake, most on deeper hardwoods.  And heading up lake there was a flotilla of jugs with several dancing around, so overall the fishing is good on the lake for whatever is your species of choice.  It often seems that summer will never end, and it was still 91 degrees and humid as a mofo today, but it can’t last forever.

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The forecast for tomorrow will be a repeat of today, so I will be out early.  I want to see if before the wind comes up I can reproduce today’s results.  The Bang O Lure has been good to me over the last almost 40 years, it catches big fish, and I will be throwing it quite a bit as fall finally moves in.  There is just something about a big fish smashing a topwater, I just can not resist.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines