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.

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

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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.)

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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!

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

The Wade Right Fishing Belt

Brought to you by

The Best Wading System on the  planet

Another great sunrise.

It has been a fishless week until today.  One mid week trip with a friend never happened when we over heated leaving the ramp at Froggie’s and had to find someone to look at it.  Some of my luck the last month or so.

I did manage to get the plate mounted on the Mako tunnel and it is curing nicely, and should be ready to go Monday.  It says a 7 day cure and I am not going to rush it as it is not a job I am interested in doing again.  Then the Boss wanted to go out of town a couple of days so this morning was the first chance I had to fish this week.

Weather

78/92.  Partly sunny and humid with a 40% chance of showers.  Wind SSE 8 – 17mph.

Lake Level

Today  95.47 msl.   10 days ago  95.79 msl.  (It is really dropping fast.)

Solunar Times

No periods when I fished today.

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

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

The morning started off perfect, it was really cloudy and raining off and on heading to the lake.  I dropped it in at daylight and unfortunately it did not live up to the forecast.  It immediately completely slicked off and every cloud in the sky evaporated.  The rest of the morning was hot and humid, in fact for a little bit early I could not wear my glasses as they fogged up it was so humid.

Deja Vu all over again.

The catching is ok right now, considering I fished 5 hours and caught 15 – 20.  But like it has been just nothing with any weight to it.  Though I did throw other stuff they were not interested in any of it.  It is real simple right now –  watermelon red stick worm, 3/16th tungeston slip sinker pegged with a 4/0 hook.

Lots of smalls but most are fat and sassy.

Can you say wood?  Whether it was on flatter banks with stickups, or a couple of deeper points with wood, they were there.  Several places 2 or 3 jumped on, and just going down the bank quickly and pitching to visible wood would get a bite.  So the wood is the pattern, but depth does not seem to be particularly important.  Some as shallow as a foot or two, and 3 or 4 in 15 foot.  Today they were hanging on pretty good and swimming with it.  The ones that were harder to stick were right in the thick stuff.  When you would pick up it was hard to tell if it was a branch or a fish, and if you did not stick them right away they were gone.  Wood don’t shake.

They bit fairly consistently up lake not so much down lake.  The water color is a little darker up lake and there is more wood, which is the key.  One thing about the dropping water the flat around the island is really shallow and I managed to run over it, so be advised things are changing fast.  And I am really concerned about the ramp.  If it keeps this up you are going to have to be really careful as there will be lots of wood, flats, and humps coming out.  So just keep that in mind.

Not a bad morning, hate to complain about catching over 15, it is just puzzling why while I have been catching that number most mornings none are big.  Usually when you work through that many on Coleto you can expect a good fish or two.  But I am reserving judgement until we start cooling down.  Hard to not be concerned about the fish.  Where have all the big fish gone?  Only time will tell but I am worried about the lake.  Killing the grass has turned one of the best bass lakes around into a dink fest.

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

Thoughts on last weekends football.

1.  Michigan gives over rated a new meaning.  They were pounded by Wisconsin.  (I had a good friend in the old days who went to college with the Wisconsin head basketball coach and we got some great tickets.  Fun place to see a game.) I don’t know how the ratings are actually done but it seems to be a case of rank them because of who they are, not what they are.  They are headed to total melt down and it will be interesting to see who Harbaugh blames now.
2.  A&M.  Definitely over rated after Saturdays performance.  A&M has become living proof you can spend all the money you want (Jimbo and the remodel.) but it still comes down to blocking and tackling.  And they had way to many killer/stupid penalties.  Mond again looked tentative early and out of his league.  To bad the offense only started playing in the 4th quarter, it could have been a different game.  And when your fans start emptying the stadium when you are only 2 scores down it does not say much for the fan base.  (I am no A&M hater, in fact I like watching their games.  And we have enjoyed going to games there, the fans have been nothing but nice and respectful to us as visiting fans wearing our Arkansas stuff.  But facts is facts.)
3.  Arkansas.  Definitely not rated and rightly so.  First half, we get beat up on the line on both sides of the ball, play no pass defense, tackle like girls,  (No offense to girls.) play no pass defense, and have 2 interceptions.  Terrible.  Not much else to say about that.  Second half more of the same.  No offense to San Jose State but we are in the SEC and there is no way we should not make a couple of 4th and ones.  Man for man they should not be pushing us around.  This 10 year pathetic downhill slide is really disheartening.
4.  Dallas.  What is there to say but keep it up.  A slow start Sunday then they beat the Redskins like a drum.  Looks like they are the real deal but only time will tell.  But the haters are out whining like puppies that they have not beaten “anybody.”  To bad, you are supposed to beat certain teams and they are.  So if your complaint is that, probably says more about what your team is doing.

And a last couple of comments on college football.  If I were a head coach and we are down by 20+ and my player makes a play that he is SUPPOSED to make, then jumps around acting a fool, he is taking a seat.  And one other thing, if a player who after making a tackle does the standing over/walking over the downed ball carrier strutting his stuff he is taking a seat.  It is not all about you.  In the final analysis your program either has class or not.  Houston Nutt may not have been the best coach ever but I loved one of his philosophies.  We knock them down, we help them back up, then we knock them down again.

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

And SA Joe dropped this comment on the last post.

OH DOUG,

I got to comment on the trespass of the hunt lease. Siding with the guys that paid for that lease. If they didn’t have the trail cam, the owners of that land could get angry because deer were being over harvested and the lease guys wouldn’t even know. Good on them.

Thats one reason why i don’t hunt, would love to, but to pay $2500 each for a lease and got to share. Rather spend that money getting some high end beef for the house.

Couple of comments.  The lease thing has gotten so expensive, squeezes out the common man and keeps me from hunting.  In my case I love to eat them, and does and culls are fine with me, they all look the same on the plate.  But at a couple of G’s for the lease it works out to about $50 a pound, a little stiff as far as I am concerned.   And on the cam, you  can not call yourself a sportsman or outdoors man if you look the other way.  It is incumbent on all of us to report bad activity that we witness.  If you don’t not only are you complicit, you open us all to criticism that we face from the anti’s.  Good to hear from you.

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

The Boss will be out of town most of next week so I will be batching it.  Monday the Mako is back in action and with it I intend to fish a bunch.  All I ask is for it not to be 90 (We hit a 100+ heat index yesterday.)  at 11:30 like it was today when I took out.  So a short trip somewhere is in the works next week, just waiting to see how the weather plays out before I make a plan, but there will be a plan.  And I appreciate you all sticking with me the last month as I took a break, but I am sick of the break and ready to put the hurt on them.  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

Sorry I have gotten nothing up since Monday but several things got in the way.  Tuesday I was headed to New Braunfels to pick up the plate for the tunnel on the Mako.  And as usual it was not quite as advertised.  I love my boat but dealing Mako sure leaves something to be desired.

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

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

So after the struggle just to get the part, it went a little crazy.  I get there and the parts guy goes there are 3.  3?  Hell I was just hoping for 1.  I actually wanted 2, but then the surprise.  In spite of the fact I had multiple contacts with the Mako parts manager at the plant the dealer said the plate was $122 each!  Wtf?  It is a fiberglass plate that is basically 15″ x 30″ and barely a 1/4″ thick.  The problem, the Mako parts manager told me they were $50.  And to make it more interesting laying all 3 plates on top of each other they were not exactly the same.  (Very typical of Mako’s quality control.)  I took the 2 best, paid the $50 each, and headed back to Victoria.

Wednesday I had to head to Austin to get the Boss’s car service so there went that day.  But the traffic, how in the world folks could fight that every day is beyond me.  The Boss and I have traveled to many of the big cities in this country, and quite a few in foreign countries, and nothing, and I mean nothing, tops Austin.  I thought Istanbul was nuts.  We lived in Fort Worth and it did not hold a candle to Austin’s traffic.  The guy who checked me in at the dealer said he lives around 15 miles from the shop and it takes him a good hour to get to work every morning.  What a hassle.  Think about it, 2 hours+ travel time everyday, ends up costing folks 400 hours a year going to work.  That works out to over 16 DAYS a year sitting in traffic.  No thanks, just hope it is worth it for those of you who live there.  But I digress.

So at least I have the part, and then Friday the marina called and the Mako was ready to go after the annual.  It now has 700 hours, which means I am averaging about 100 hours a year.  Everything checked out fine, and the compression is 125 on all cylinders, which is always a relief to hear that.  So I hitched it up and headed to the fiberglass shop to see how much it would be to get the plate mounted.

The owner came out and looked at it, and after I said I wasn’t sure what was used to put it on originally he said he did.  They used 3M 5200 and he showed me how.  And then something so unusual these days, he said you can do this,  (I can.)  and gave me a step by step process to do it, which will save me hundreds over his $120 hour labor.  Like all jobs like this prep is the answer.  So I spent yesterday getting everything I need and will do it in the morning as soon as I get a face mask.  Don’t want to lay on my back and sand fiberglass in my face.  So I will prep a couple of things, lay everything out, and hopefully knock it out early tomorrow morning as it needs to be applied at less than 90 degrees.  (Boy am I sick of that.)  According to 3M it takes a week to cure and I will not rush that.  Boat ownership is a blessing and a curse.

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

Several of the boys from Austin fished POC yesterday and here is Robert’s report.

Tough day in port O’Conner with only two tides and winds gusting to near 30mph out of SE. I caught 4 dink trout, 2 rat reds to 19.99” and a lizard fish. water temp is 88 degrees . No topwater action .Multiple bites but no hookups on drift fishing only. Ran from froggies to Pringle to Fish Pond to JHook to Sunday beach to old coast guard station and back to ramp between 8am and 1pm. Water was trout green in Pringle lake area to murky most other places we drifted. Saturday, we are starting earlier and using trolling motor to work area harder along shoreline. I used red sparkle beetles from H&H with 1/4oz jig head and white bass assassin .Others used artificials with no success. Still nice to be on the water.

Sounds like it was a tough day but the boys know how to catch them and I  am sure today will be a better day.  So keep on keeping on and it will happen.

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

I know I might rant to much about posting things on social media when you are breaking the law but there were a couple of prime examples yesterday.  A couple of guys in Florida caught a big Goliath Grouper and ended up putting it in the boat with pictures of the fish and them.  How stupid can you get?  It is illegal, and has been for years, to take one out of the water.  There were immediately comments telling them how stupid they were, and I agree.  Social media played a part in expanding this blog, and also led to meeting lots of great fishermen, but it can come with a price.  So before you hit send stop for just a minute and think about it.  I am sure by now that post has made it’s way to the Florida authorities.

And the other post just chapped my ass.  Someone wanted to know what to do with trespassers on a trail cam illegally hunting on their lease.  I could not believe some of the comments.  Things like if it is just your lease and not your land mind your own business.  Others basically calling them a rat if they shared it with law enforcement.  If that is your opinion you are not a sportsman, you are nothing but complicit.  What is wrong with folks?  It is people like this that give nut cases like PETA and other organizations ammunition to continue their assault on fishing and hunting.  We all have a duty to protect the resource and if you condone this type of behavior you are just as bad, or maybe worse.

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

A little Saturday football is on tap.  Texas v. Oklahoma State, Auburn v. A&M, and Arkansas v. San Jose State, all with the potential to be good games.  The Cowboys have Miami tomorrow and if there was a local sports book I would definitely bet on the Cowboys no matter how big the line is.  Should be a butt whipping.

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

Then Monday back on the water, and hopefully several other days.  Funny how busy one gets when retired.  How in the hell I ever got things done when working full time I do not have a clue.  So while watching football some new line on rods and some reel maintanance will be in order.  So keep stopping in, I promise there is more fishing to come, 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

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

Red Sky In The Morning…………….

The lake continues to drop and the water color is really nice.  The wind was blowing around 10 – 15 mph out of the NE as I headed up lake.  There was a tiny touch of fall in the air, and I was hoping they were going to bite a little bit, and they did.

Weather

94/76.  Clouds and sunshine with a 40% chance of thunderstorms.  Wind ENE 10 – 15mph.

Lake Level

9/12  95.79 msl.   Today  95.73 msl.  (And the downward trend continues.)

Solunar Times

Minor 8:19 am to 9:19 am.  Major  2:31 pm to 4:31 pm.

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

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

I was out before the moon went down, and the sun was not up yet.  So I decided to throw the Whopper Plopper for a little while.  First up was a bank I had not fished lately with lots of stumps and logs which are slowly becoming visible.  Finally after an hour I got 2 bites, boating one and losing the other in one spot.  That would be a theme of sorts today, it was multiple bites when I got them.  But the next 15 or so all came pitching and casting using a 5″ senko style worm in watermelon red, a 1/4oz tonguston slip sinker, and a 3/0 wide gap worm hook.  And I am pegging the slip sinker tight to the head to work it through the cover without getting hung near so much.  I did lose a couple in the brush, but if you do not toss it directly in their mouth right now it can be a little tough.

To make a long story short on numbers, 3 came off one pile, 7 came in another stretch, (That was mayhem for 5 minutes!)  and it went from there.  There were not many stops that when I caught one I did not get a couple of bites.  Deeper banks are definitely the better choice right now.

Fishing is getting better an inch at a time.

The Boss put in an order for a catfish if I caught one.  Of course promising a catfish on lures is generally not going to happen.  But since I brought some ice along I decided to keep a couple of bass for a fish fry, and boy was I glad I did for a different reason.

They have been just picking it up by the tail and I missed quite a few a couple of trips ago so I slowed down on setting the hook.  So of course I did the same today and they were swallowing it.  Again some never “hit” it, they just either started swimming with it or were just on.  So I was lifting it slowly making sure on each twitch there was not one on there, and if there was you could follow them as they swam with it.  And today they were not only swimming with it but a couple I kept for the pan ended up being  bad gut hooked.  They might have made it if released so instead it was release to the grease.

What made it interesting today was that I actually boated a limit of keepers.  Now they would not have weighed all that much, but it was a limit.  It seems like the fish are just like me, they want fall.  Most today were a little skinny with nothing in their bellies.  The bite has gotten a little better each trip and same for the size.  Still haven’t stuck a big girl but that is coming.

When I put in this morning it was just me and a kayaker, and when I took out at 1:00 there was just a guy having trouble with his motor idling.  He crappie fished this morning and caught 20 big keepers.  I saw Mr. Crappie but didn’t get a chance to speak with him but the crappie have been biting all year this year.  With so little folks fishing the lake right now I basically have it to myself.  Makes for a great morning, turkeys doing their thing, a couple of does, and the Whopper Plopper calling in 2 small gators.  Great day to be alive.

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

Excited…..For A Second

My phone let me know I had a text.  I opened it and was immediately in the throes of fishing greatness….but…….  Larry and Kyle, a couple of my Chandeleur Island buddies, are headed back to fish the Southern Belle for 4 days in October.  The minute I read the text I was already packing in my mind, but like all good plans there was a hitch.  That is when we are meeting the grandkids at Great Wolf Lodge in Dallas for a big weekend.  There was only one day of overlap but it just would not work out.  Some things are just that important.  But it sure did pop my bubble as I would have gone in a minute.  One of those trips if you are a saltwater guy you definitely need to add to your bucket list.

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

No Fixin’ Stupid

The TPWD Game Warden notes had another case this month from social media.  They had posted pictures of an alligator in their pool, and when officers arrived they found 5 baby alligators.  Keep posting stupid shit folks, saves our Game Wardens, and maybe the IRS, a lot of work when you tell on yourself.  One thing I learned practicing criminal law, if you do not have anything intelligent to say  (In other words think before you hit post!)  keep your mouth shut.  But I guess when you are stupid enough to break game laws …..………

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

Last Oregon Word

I forgot 2 things I wanted to say about Oregon.  First, it is the cleanest state we have ever visited.  It was noticeable in Bend and especially along the highway.  Guess the littering  fine up to $6200 keeps folks from trashing the place.  Texas not so much.  And last, the beer.  There is a brewery on every corner and I was pleasantly surprised I found a couple I really liked.  In the famous words of Justice Kavanaugh – I Like Beer!

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

Tomorrow looks promising on the lake.  The forecast has a 60% chance of rain tomorrow turning into possible heavy thunderstorms and possible flash flooding later in the evening.  As I am kicked out of the house for the cleaning lady if it will not get to crazy outside it will be back to the lake.  The last time we got this weather I had a pretty good day and I would like a repeat.  Otherwise it will be off to New Braunfuls to pick up the part, other wise it will be Wednesday and by then the Mako should be done and I can get the part mounted and be back in action.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines