FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

“SAVE OUR WATERS”

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt

Brought to you by

The Best Wading System on the  planet

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We had a fun time in Florida, and it was worth the trip.  The place we were looking at is called The Villages.  A big retirement community of over 100,00 in central Florida it has a lot to offer retirees.  But the purpose of the visit was to see if it was for us, it isn’t.  One, we do not golf, and second, it was full of old people.  We are not ready to call it a life so the search continues.  No big hurry.

As far as fishing we visited both coasts and went by hundreds of bass lakes, many with not a boat on them.  So much water and except for the well known places there is a world of places to fish without the crazy pressure.  We did visit an area on the west coast that I will be fishing next fall.  Tarpon, reds, trout, all the southern fare.  And speaking with the guy at the dock late October is the time to be there.  It has a reasonable motel with cooking facilities, a bar, and a ramp with a place to leave the boat in the water.  What more could a guy need on a fishing trip?

With my tackle store addiction as we were driving through Crystal River we noticed a store and of course we stopped.   Sodium.  Salt, get it?  We stopped and they are great folks.  Picked up a few things including the requisite fishing shirt and let me tell you it was a big hit.  I wore it to an art fair and then the Stone Crab Festival and folks commented on it all day.  What does it say?

I like fishing and a maybe 2 people.

Love it!  Wish I had bought 2.  And if I had a dozen with me at the Stone Crab Festival I could have sold them in a minute.  It was a real hit all the way around.  And for some reason the ladies loved it.  I had 3 ask if they could be my friend.  It sure wasn’t because of my masculine persona!

The store also has C.A. Richardson as a new regular as he has moved to the area.  He is the star of Flats Class and a guide who I watch regularly.  Along with the store they also have a line of cool fishing clothes online.  Check them out.  And thanks for the tickets to the Stone Crab Festival, we loved it, I never knew how freakin’ good they are.

https://www.sodiumusa.com/

It is going to be a busy week around here.  Tomorrow Coleto, Tuesday the Lavaca, then Thursday through Sunday POC with the Austin Boys.  Let the fishing begin!

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Weather

66/82.  Mostly cloudy with slight chance of thunderstorms.  Wind ENE  5 – 15 mph.

Lake Level

Today  94.92 msl.     15 days ago  95.07 msl.  (The steady decline continues.)

Solunar Times

Major  6:45 am to 8:45 am.   Minor  1:50 pm to 2:50 pm.   (Please note these are only close, lots of minute variations out there.)

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The new Knockin Tail Lures are coming soon.  Now I am really excited.

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It was cracking daylight when I dropped the boat in at the ramp.  The lake has really dropped.  It is a period where a small drop leads to really making the lake smaller.  The water is just about to the end of the piers, and if it continues at this rate it could be tougher to put in later without dropping off the end of the ramp, so be very careful.  There is a sign on the pier telling you how far the drop off is.

The water color has declined some, especially up both arms.  The further up each arm the murkier it gets.  The water temp was 64 first thing, as the day wore on most of the lake was 68 when I quit at 1:00.  And I continue to wonder why in the hell I look at the forecast.  It was for clouds, and other than a few light ones here and there it was sunny all day.  And the wind was almost non-existent until around noon, and then it was really light at best

Best I could muster out of a dozen or so.

Those conditions combined to really make it tough though I did catch 3 in the first 10 minutes.  I may bitch about the wind at times but no wind is probably worse, in fact usually is, than to windy.  At least when it is to windy they come a lot shallower and get quite a bit more aggressive.  So today all the fish I caught were on the Pit Boss, most coming really tight around cover.  I did have a little stress today as the Boss ordered a fresh fish fry for tonight so the pressure was on.  Funny how fishing a tournament is less stress than her order!  But with a plethora of small ones a couple to eat was no problem.

Whether it was topwater, crankbait, swim jig, buzzbait, or Bang O Lure, they were not having it.  I tried them all off and on but with no wind it left pitching the Pit Boss to wood as the best option.  Berkley claims they will hold on to it 18x longer and I believe them.  Over the last couple of weeks since I started using it I have slowed down after the bite, making sure they have it, then they tend to swim away with it.  The hook up ratio is definitely an improvement from other creature style baits I have used.  I picked it up at Anglers Arsenal and using a couple of colors has not seemed to be the difference.  Get it right next to cover and sooner or later you will get bit.

So the fishing for me remains the same.  They will bite, and there are fish in lots of places up lake and down, it is just hard to find that sweet spot.  But that will change as winter sets in and the water temp continues to drop.  Today was the last lake trip till the next week at the earliest.  Tomorrow it is off to the river to lay the smack down on the trout.  Should be fun!

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Basically the plant at Coleto is accused of polluting adjacent ground water.  Their response – No sir.  Seemed their defense was so what, it doesn’t hurt you.  So I am sure you would not mind it in your well.  Read it and you decide.

https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/report-evidence-of-groundwater-contamination-at-coleto-creek-power-plant/article_c9001f84-fb4c-11e9-acf4-57486c2491d2.html

I will continue to comment on water quality issues, it is critical to the future of our sport and to the health and safety of our family and children.

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And speaking of that issue let me make the following analogy.  Should you take even one fish over your limit, or a short, you will be ticketed and fined.  But when a polluter kills hundreds of fish in a river or stream apparently TPWD does nothing.  Imagine the fine and loss of your license if you killed/caught a couple of thousand fish.   And if you can show me a case where TPWD did anything specifically to a corporate fish killer please send it along.  I would love to be educated and would be more than happy to take it back.  And don’t give me that it is not in their purview or enforcement abilities.  Nonsense.  Try dropping a grenade in the lake and see what that gets you, it is the same thing.  Again, follow the money.

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That is it for today.  Tomorrow the river, Wednesday making sure all the boat “stuff” is good to go for POC and the Austin Boys.  And after this weekend it will be more fishing and more fishing until I head to Colorado for some animal watching and fly fishing.  As I repeatedly say – Winter fishing is my favorite time of year and I will be hard at at.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

“SAVE OUR WATERS”

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt

Brought to you by

The Best Wading System on the  planet

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Talk about getting excited, I am in full mania for our trip to Colorado at the end of the November.  With the Boss very interested in fly fishing we are off on another great adventure.  We will be staying at a cool resort next to Estes Park and I can not wait.  Besides tons of animals, viewing and chasing them in the mountains has become one of our real joys, it has some of the best trout fishing in America.  Since the weather could be sketchy we have not made a specific reservation, but we will be fishing with a guide.

As part of that we bought our first freshwater fly combo, an Orvis outfit specifically for beginners, which we both are.  The trips we are looking at provide everything but I want her to have her own stuff to allow her to be consistent as she learns.  And part of introducing someone to any type of fishing is results, and our last trip with a guide sure peaked her interest.  If she continues to like it there will be many more trips to come.

We are looking at private waters known for consistent fishing, and also for big trout.  Over 25 years in Arkansas on the White and North Fork I have caught my share of rainbows and the occasional nice brown, but not fly fishing.  My few experiences make me nothing more than a rank amateur at best, so it is also nice to expand my fishing experience.  I have never wanted to be a one trick pony and this is just a natural progression.  Of course catching fish is the plan, but for me developing a hobby that we can share in our travels is the real goal.

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The new Knockin Tail Lures are coming soon.  Now I am really excited.

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I heard from SA Joe after my guide encounter the other day.

Doug,
Did that guide work for a bigger company or himself? Can you report people like that?
ALways enjoy being anchored and someone blast past, even the no-wake zones at the boat ramp. Happened to me on caleveras here in san antonio yesterday. Dude came in moving some wake at the boat ramp, make all the boats bounce…UGHHH…

Not sure if he works for any particular company or fishing service, but trust me many do not give a crap about you.  This has happened to me so many times at POC I have lost count.  Guess I will start keeping the camera really ready to take a quick pic.  There is no excuse for this behavior and calling him an asshole is no disrespect to assholes, but his behavior reflects on all guides.

Time for a real licensing procedure for guide licenses instead of just a test.  Once the Coast Guard relinquished the test to private contractors things have gone downhill.  Think about it, you pay $1000 to take a private course, how long would they be in business if folks did not “pass” the test?  I would also suggest that all licensed guides should have their  license numbers clearly posted on the boat.  Like all things, if you have nothing to hide what is the problem?  Worried about the public knowing who you are, your objection to that is what?  My guess your complaint would be folks potlicking on “your” private spots on “your” water.  That is the very attitude that drives the problem.  I acknowledge the problem is real for guides, but it just comes with the territory, it always has and always will.

This type of behavior will end up leading to increasing regulation since the profession is unwilling to police itself.  But there are a few sensible regulations needed to protect the customers. Including inspection for all boats for hire, no matter the water, and flotation devices on all customers when on plane.  And before you get your panties in a wad I guided for 20 years on 2 major lakes and on one of the most famous trout waters in the world, so been there done that.  I feel very fortunate that my past behavior did not result in trouble.  If I were guiding today I would be happy to live under these rules, it would not only help the quality of the profession but would actually help protect guides from legal liability.

Trust me, sneaky attorneys will be looking for ways to make your life miserable when something happens.  Think about this for a minute.  Someone is hurt or killed on your boat and you are on the stand and the attorney asks the following questions:  You are a professional guide correct?  And your boat can run 70mph on the water, correct?  Are you aware you can roller skate on water at 60mph?  Sounds like it makes the water pretty hard doesn’t it?  (Remember they already have your read out of the RPM when the accident happened through discovery.)  And of course you know that all respected authorities on boating recommend that everyone on board wear a life jacket while operating?  So could you tell this jury why in your infinite wisdom you decided to flaunt this most basic life saving rule by running 60 mph with your paid customers and not having them wearing the most basic piece of life saving equipment?  Hell I just thought up that line of questioning in 5 minutes.  Imagine what he will do to you with 6 months to prepare.  It would be ugly.

Think it could not happen to you, or always happens to the other guy?  Well keep deluding yourself, shit does not just happen to that other guy.  When the Boss and I were paramedics we fished guys out of trees 20 foot up the bank, folks with hypothermia out of the river, seen a friend almost lose her legs when hit by a prop, and the list goes on.  Why you would not want to protect your clients, yourself, and your assets, is beyond me.  You want to be considered a professional, time to act like it.  The good old days of the crusty guide rowing a metal boat around are long gone.

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And to illustrate what you need to request when buying a high dollar used boat this is it.  And also what the attorney will request when you have an accident.  They will be looking for a pattern of operation.

Nothing lets you know what, and how, a boat has been used than this readout, which is available on any late model engine.  Along with the maintenance records you can make an intelligent decision when buying a used boat.  If they can not provide, or are unwilling, to provide this information run away.  It is your money.

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One of the things that increasingly concerns me is the declining water quality all over the country.  If your love fishing and are not concerned time to do a little learning.  So I will be blogging some about the problem, it is real.  And what happened recently in our area is a perfect example.  One of the local plants was found liable for dumping plastics into our bay.  Once found liable they were fined millions.  The problem with that, the money is a drop in the bucket to them.  Time to not only fine those who intentionally pollute, but to demand a complete clean up of the pollution no matter the cost.  And if it was intentional and knowing to criminally prosecute.  Think that is to harsh?  Look at it this way.  A septic company dumps a tank in your yard, then the company pays a fine to the state, and is told don’t do it again but does not require a complete and thorough clean up.  You would be ok with that?  Sure you would.  It is the same thing. And after I wrote this I found this post from Flip Pallot.

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Here is the words of one of the greatest saltwater anglers alive.  In fact the guy who stirred my saltwater fishing urge.  It still gives me chills to think about the intro to Walkers Cay Chronicles.  His post does not just apply to the Everglades but to water quality all over this country.  (And if you fish the salt and do not know who he is use that iPhone for something, he is the man.)

Flip Pallot Laments The Loss of The Everglades As We Know It.

HOW SAD WHAT THE MALPRACTICE BY OUR LEADERS HAS DONE TO NATURAL FLORIDA IN OUR LIFETIME AND CONTINUES TO THIS DAY

My name is Flip Pallot and I write in response to having read your Miami Herald piece on python invasion…I was born and raised, as were my parents, in South Dade County. I grew up in the Everglades alongside many of its’ pioneers, or Gladesmen.

I knew the Glades intimately from Cape Sable to Alligator Alley…from west of Miami to the Gulf of Mexico…I ran airboats, polled canoes, Glade Skiffs, walked and waded the best part of my life through what was the most precious eco-system on the planet. The number of ducks, wading birds, deer, otters, hogs, bear, lions and other fur bearers was astounding and virtually remembered today by very few! The road from Florida City down through the Everglades National Park to the village of Flamingo, at the bottom of the State, was literally infested with deer, swamp rabbits, snakes, frogs, crawfish, gators, hawks, nesting turtles and crows…while the prairies on either side of the road were covered in vegetation which no longer exists. As far as the eye could see there were thousands of wading birds of every species…now all gone, their rookeries abandoned. Ride down that road for the next 100 mornings and you will not see a single deer or swamp rabbit and birds only where a very few puddles of water exist.

It’s mostly gone now, never to be restored, which has nothing at all to do with wild hog invasions, python invasions or the “Skunk Ape”. Someone should have the “Stones” to look the problem in the eye and call it what it is rather than blame the python and hog for the death of the Everglades! It’s like saying : “My eyesight is getting really bad because of my hemorrhoids”.

What the loss of every single thing in the Everglades has in common is WATER!….The lack of it when and where needed and the quality of it when it is present, is the only issue. The fact that so much of the Everglades is closed and/or inaccessible to the people who care about it and would blow the whistle on real problems does not help. Focus your attention for a moment on the dollar value of chemicals that the State and municipalities buy each year to kill unwanted aquatic vegetation.

EVERY SINGLE DAY, AROUND THE ENTIRE STATE, IN EVERY ROADSIDE DRAINAGE DITCH, EVERY LAKE, EVERY RIVER AND STREAM…VIRTUALLY EVERY BODY OF WATER IN THE ENTIRE STATE is being sprayed with herbicides…basically a generic “Round Up” manufactured by Monsanto. There is little or no science, other than that supplied by the manufacturer, dealing with its effects upon amphibians, larval stages of fish or crustaceans or the life of the chemical in marl, mud or the decomposed plant matter that it creates. All this to eliminate hydrilla, hyacinth, water lettuce and other aquatics deemed noxious by governments.

This chemical and others, surely find their way into the aquifer which underlies the State. It also finds its way into rivers, braids and sheet flow that ultimately make their way into the Everglades and other estuaries which are suffering from algae blooms and sea grass die offs and even the death of offshore coral reefs.

Follow the dollars back to the providers of these chemicals and you will understand the real nature of the problem. Add to all that, the damage done by agri-interests north of the Everglades, run-off from golf courses, private homes, public streets, effluent releases untreated for anti-biotics and steroids, the flushing of millions of toilets, the selfish manipulation of water levels in the Everglades…….and then, in prospective,……figure how much damage the python has really caused.

Hell, we should be nice to the python…he may be the last creature standing in the Everglades as that national treasure slips away!

My God….We’re doing this to ourselves!!!!!!!

I now this is long but this is exactly what has happened to many of our lakes.  It just seems counter intuitive that we have to clean and drain and wash our boats but these lakes are allowed to wantonly spray and kill the vegitation.  I call bullshit on TPWD.  As Flip says follow the money.  Why are they allowed to do whatever they want without a minute of oversite?  How much of our tax dollars are going to TPWD and they allow this to continue?  A perfect example of the failure of TPWD to protect OUR resource is the spill that killed tons of fish on Falcon, and the end result – Nothing!  And unless I am mistaken where were they with the tons of plastics puked into Lavaca Bay?   I agree with his premise, our leaders are committing malpractice.

Flip’s comments on Monsanto and the herbicide that is often used is spot on.  Where are the long term studies by independent researchers?  You trust Monsanto with our waters?  If you trust Monsanto for the health of our waters, much less everything that lives in or around it, and the health of your children, you are sadly mistaken.

I know I can rant at times but this is past that.  All of you who post your pictures, bragging about how great it is, or you are, are missing the point.  What have you done lately, or ever?  If we continue down this path you can take your $75k boat and sit in the driveway.  Time to get involved in some way.  It does not take much from each of us but if things continue like this we really will be talking about the Good Old Days.  We already have plenty of places where we can’t eat the fish, so why do wildlife departments all over this country sit on their hands?  Fish and wildlife departments are happy to tell you what and how you can fish but where are they when the very thing they regulate is harmed?  Follow the money, it is no more complicated than that.

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On a completely lighter note it was great to hear from my buddy Faye, who had a great birthday trip to POC!

Good afternoon,

I hope your trip has gone well.

We fished Monday & Tuesday. The weather was awesome, post cool front, falling tide, showers missed us and I only had the pants I wore down for the whole trip (haha, yep they were right where I left them hanging).

Monday we ended up fishing a drain off the big flat at the end of Big Bayou. It was a frenzy of undersized reds, a flounder and a trout.

Wednesday BB wasn’t hitting so we went up a drain off Saluria and fished where two channels meet and drain a large flat. It was filled with a lot of healthy young trout and apparently a huge red that screamed a lot of line out. I thought it got off but it was coming back at me only to lose it as I tightened the drag. Mixed in with the undersized trout there was a limit of keepers if we had wanted to keep them.

It was so fast that Steve just didn’t fish. He kept my line baited and caught fish removed. Nice birthday present indeed!!!!

Both places we were fishing popping cork with live shrimp. I really think they would have hit on most anything. We would pitch to the shallow flats and then slow pop it off the drop off. It was an easy 20-30 each day.

I’m already planning our next trip down in the next few weeks.

Best to you and The Boss Lady,

Steve & Faye Corrado

Happy Birthday!  Nothing like laying the smack down on them.  And nice to CPR, it does not take pictures of dead ones to define a trip.  So keep checking in, I will be fishing POC with the Austin Boys 3 days next weekend, plus a day or two on the river before they get here.  As usual great to hear from you and Steve.

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Sorry for the double rant this time but both issues are critical to our sport, and our fishing future.  I have been lucky enough to have had at it for almost 50 years  (Yikes!) and my time is short, but I care about this sport.  I want you, your kids, and grandkids to have clean water and good fishing.

The Boss and I will be back Sunday and there are a couple of fishing things I want to share but since I have not posted in a week I wanted to let you know I am alive.  First thing Monday morning I will be back on the water for what looks like 5 days at least next week.  Can’t wait to see how that cold front you all have had has helped the fishing.  I love fall fishing and intend to take full advantage of the great fishing to come.  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 New Bait

First let me say that under normal circumstances there is no way I would have fished the bay today.  When I say it was blowing, it was howling 20 straight out of the north when I got to Froggie’s, and the water was mud from POC to the island with big rollers.  It was flat ugly.  And there was no way I could get to the places I wanted to fish, but as usual it was just a matter of putting on your big boy pants and making chicken salad out of chicken stuff.  But I promised Michael the owner of Controlled Descent Lures that I would give his new prototype of the Knockin Tail Lures a serious go, so I did exactly that.

Weather

79/68.  Sunny, breezy, pleasant with 0% chance of rain.  Wind ENE  15 – 20mph.

Tides

High  3:54 am   Low  4:39 pm.   (My favorite falling all day.)

Solunar Times

Major  8:24 am to 10:24 am.

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The new Knockin Tail Lures are coming soon.  Now I am really excited about the new bait.

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It started off with a bang and continued until I quit at noon.  While I tried to fish from the boat down the first bank it was just moving me way to fast.  But they were biting in that area so a change of tactics was in order.

They flat loved it!

Today was not about catching big ones, but of course I broke off a big trout right off the bat.  While I would not have minded catching a wad of big fish that was not the point.  The only question was do they like the new Knockin Tail Lure, and the answer was a resounding yes.  So after trying to fish down a bank with trout on it the wind was pushing me like a freight train, so time to move to a nearby drain that had at least a “little” protection from the wind.  Today the Power Pole earned it’s keep.

The mantra is “Get Inhaled” and the new bait had them doing exactly that!

Now keep in mind that conditions were tough.  Fishing it on a 1/16th jig head on 8lb line resulted in a big bow a lot of the time, but they were eating it.  It was trout after trout without moving.  While most were small, these pics are just to let you know they liked it, and that was the important part.  What also was telling was even though fishing a small drain I caught and released a bunch, they kept biting.  Unusual as normally when you catch a bunch and release them in one small area they often quit, but not today.  It was a tribute to what looks to be one killer bait.

Ok that is enough pics, I have lots more but you get the idea.

They were positioned on a bank with the wind pounding on it, and as I have said before when it is like that, fish it like you are fishing a river.  The tide was way up, and while it should have been falling the wind was keeping it up and moving, pushing it into the drain.  The way to handle that is to cast straight across to the shoreline, then short hops letting it fall naturally down the bank with the current.  They were right on the little drop and while I felt a few, many were just there when I lifted up, others smacked it.  It was an easy 25+ and I can only imagine what it would have been if I could have fished anywhere I wanted.

I would like to tell you a little more about the new bait, but it is still being refined, and it is Michael’s place to do that.  But suffice to say he sent 3 colors and they liked them all.  As my fishing career winds down it is things like this that motivate me.  I have caught my share over the last 45 years from Australia to Canada and all places in between, but doing something new gets my fishing blood moving.  And doing something with a purpose gives it extra meaning, nothing beats participating as a new bait is developed.  So thanks Michael, I appreciate being a small part of what you are doing.

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Were you an Asshole before, or did that come with the Majek!

Online you see guides whining about potlickers, folks who cut off their drift, along with a multitude of sins against them.  But today, like has happened to me several times in the past, a guide treated me like I was nothing but in his way.  The drain I was fishing was small, just an easy cast across, and not a marked channel by any stretch.  Then here comes an idiot, no offense to idiots, in a big fancy Majek with his customers.  I had made a cast and he runs full blast between me and the bank, and I mean about 30 feet or less from me.  I guided for 20 years so I know how things works, this is not “your” private water.

This type of behavior happens fairly regularly at POC, which leads to the poor reputation some guides have.  Additionally, running that close to an anchored boat is against the law, look it up.  All he had to do was idle past me, there was plenty of depth, and it would not have been an issue.  So as usual the “I am the guide with a big boat and my shit is more important than regular folks” reared its ugly head.  As I continue to say – Be nice.  None of us own the water.  In all fairness you also see this type of behavior with bass fishermen, one of the symptoms of what is wrong in all areas of fishing.  This water belongs to all of us and the continued decline of curtesy is sad.

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What fun.  As I have been saying this is my favorite time of year to fish the salt, and this is just the beginning.  I do not know if you have looked at the weather but the next few days is going to be ugly, winds are projected to blow up to 35mph as a front moves through on Thursday.  So while I may not be out any in the next couple of days, we shall see, but the salt is on the program.  Nice to get a little motivation back.  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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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.

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

The new Knockin Tail Lures are coming soon.

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

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.

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

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