FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

The Wade Right Fishing Belt

Brought to you by

Don’t Leave For the Chandeleurs Without It.  I won’t!  I’m Off!!!

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Sorry you have not heard from me in a while, but while on the 4 day Wolf Tracking Tour this took a big back seat.  I can not even begin to remotely do it justice in one report.  So here is a quick highlights that I will get to as soon as I get back.  Wolf/grizzly confrontation, Wolf pack attacking another wolf in the pack,  (The most incredible thing I have ever seen in the outdoors, even the pros were amazed.), packs of wolves, grizzlies, Big Horn sheep, mountain goasts, bison, eagles, coyotes, elk, and a host of others.  And the characters and players we met only added to the trip.  Suffice to say it is a big story and one I want to not only put in words but to remember for a lifetime.  So here is quick taste.

We left Boseman Mt and flew to Denver on Friday after the park.  We got there around noon for our flight at 3:00, boarded on time, all good, home Friday.  Which gives me a day to get ready before heading to the Chandeleurs.  But like all plans there was a hitch.

We take off for Austin not having a clue about Austin’s weather yesterday, but apparently our pilot knew it was an issue as he took on a little more fuel because we might have to divert some or circle when we get there.  Around an hour in flight we did something that has never happened to us flying anywhere in the world – We turn around and head back to Denver.  Huh?  The weather was to high and rough over Austin, so then we have to circle for an hour to burn off the excess fuel as we are to heavy.  So after over 10 hours in the airport we are not going anywhere.  So as it was an act of God tough luck, they did give us a voucher for 1/2 off at a motel and took us there, so it was what it was.  And we did not crash, a good thing.

*****************The Paddle Shad is about to do some DAMAGE!!

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Of  course the real consequence, it is 8:30 Saturday night and we just got home as I type this.  I am finishing the packing and will turn and burn at 5:30 in the morning for Biloxi.  It would be nice to have had that extra day, but trust me, when I take off in the morning the weariness will disappear, with visions of big trout and reds pushing the 4 Runner all the way to Biloxi to meet the boys.

Of course that means no internet so there will not be a report until probably Friday, but then there will be several in a row to adequately tell the story that is running through my mind as I write this.  Words will not adequately detail the wolf tracking but I will try, truly a fantastic experience.  And doing it with literally some of the best biologist and wolf experts in the world was so far beyond my expectations.  We met and learned from emmy winning videographers and photographers who work with National Geographic tv and magazine, BBC, and on and on.  As you can tell it pains me to stop, but I have to get my stuff together.  So don’t desert me, I am on a great adventure and I want to do it all justice.  And I will get to your comments and questions, i have not forgot.  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

Don’t Leave For the Chandeleurs Without It.  I won’t!  Won’t be long now!

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All I have to say about Montana at this point is what a place.  I knew it would be cool after spending time in New Mexico and Colorado, but this definitely takes the cake.  Talk about places to fish, puts Colorado to shame.  More on that later.  We are headed to Yellowstone today on our wolf tracking trip, but first we wanted to head to Whitefish, cruise Glacier, and she got me a one day guided trip for pike on Whitefish lake.  As the rivers are “blown out” with spring run off and rain lake fishing was the ticket.

*****************Fresh or salt it has a place in your arsenal.

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It is in the Doing!

We stayed at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake.  A quick word on them, one of my favorite places we have ever stayed on our travels.  Location, reasonably priced, nice folks, I can not say enough about how great a place it is.  Right on the lake, it fit the bill and when, not if, we get back that way would stay there again.

My guide for the day was Jesse Shively.  Jesse is an Orvis guide who not only does river and lake fishing but also guides bear, deer, and elk.  The weather forecast was for snow, sleet, rain, sun, big wind, you name it, the day had it.  And the forecast was right on.   The plan was to fish big pike, which they have, must be feeding up on all those trout.

Snow/sleet/hail – Call it what you will it was ugly.

So we dropped the drift boat in a small creek way up lake leading into a big shallow bay, classic early spring ice out location for pike.  By time we got in the water at 11:00 the weather was going down hill fast.  But the conditions were no problem, proper dress and it is nothing more than an irritant.  And I have always wanted to fish out of a drift boat, a cool rig.  So he oared us down creek and into the bay.  Conditions were deteriorating fast.

Jesse, though he has a trolling motor, prefers to row to keep good position.  During the afternoon it was real apparent the pike were off.  I had a big one, probably, follow a spinnerbait to the boat, all I saw was a huge boil as I lifted it out of the water.  A while later another nice one followed it to the boat but it was clear they were not to happy with the deteriorating conditions, which obviously were dropping the shallow water temps.  Heck, I even tried to cast a fly to them, but as I suck at that, tossing a big fly was definitely not working for me.

Jesse was a beast on the oar as we had periods of big wind

So with a couple of refusals he suggested we try a little dead baiting for Lake Trout.  And again as the pike did, a weak bite but no cigar.  So as the afternoon wore on we went back to chasing pike.  I started back with the spinnerbait and on a cast it got tangled and as I pulled it out of the water to try to fix it one boiled on it.  So I cranked it in, buzzed it right over the same spot and one got right on it’s ass but did not connect.  So a switch to a chartreuse/white Gulp jerk shad style bait seemed like a good follow up bait, and it was.

Laker number 1.

So after 2 refusals on consecutive casts time for a slower presentation.  As the water was only a few feet deep I was using it fairly fast and the one above rolled on it and did not eat.  So I tossed it right back in there and as soon as it rolled on it again and missed I dropped it and fish on.  That made the day under these conditions.  So we kept after it a while and then it happened again exactly the same way.  One rolled on it, so stop it and let it fall, and in the boat it came.

I just love me some fishing in these conditions.

A word on Jesse.  I have fished with guides in many places, but I had a big time fishing with him.  He worked his ass off to get me fish, in fact he went above and beyond.  I gave him a couple of subtle hints we could quit if he wanted but he was not having it.  He rowed against big wind, along with everything else the weather could throw at us, without complaint.  He has fished with some famous folks, he is guiding a hall of fame football player to bear this month, and has some great experiences and stories to share.  (Plus he politely listened to my nonsense stories all day.)  As far as guides go I give him a 10+ and would recommend anyone who ever wants to fish or hunt in Montana to consider him, you will not be sorry.  His “normal” fishing grounds is fly fishing the Flathead River near Glacier, but he fishes many different rivers and not only for trout.  There is some outstanding smallmouth fishing lakes and rivers and one of his clients broke 6lbs last season, a good smallie anywhere.  And if you want to bow hunt for bear, rifle for elk, he does it all.

The nicest part of the day as we headed to the ramp.

I always say it is in the doing, and today was exactly that.  Catching a few fish at the end of the afternoon was just icing on the cake.  It is all about the experience, and this was a new one for me.  They always say in Texas if you don’t like the weather wait 5 minutes, well today Montana had it all, which made the day what it was.  So a big thanks to Jesse, you earned your money and I will be back.

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I want to say something about Colorado, which we love to visit.  Colorado fishing is nothing more than a suck up to the rich.  Buy some river bank and no one can even wade fish, hell you can not even anchor in the river when floating if there is private land.  So what has happened, as I have seen it done in so many different places the last 30 years, folks with money come in, buy it up, and then the rules make it hard for the common man to fish.  So the rich have much of it to themselves and the rest of us, especially shore bound anglers, are left out.  Why I have only fished there a couple of times.

Montana is a completely different story, they want one and all to come and fish.  Some of the greatest trout rivers in the world, not to mention lakes everywhere, and all have tons of public access.  What would have been a 5 hour drive back to Bozeman turned into 8 because I kept stopping at so many access points to lakes and rivers.  The Game and Fish specifically have a working relationship with landowners to make sure we can all fish.  There are literally hundreds and hundreds of public access to all waters, and anything below the high water mark is open to all.  So you can stop at an access point and go to wading, something you really can not do in many areas of Colorado.  I was really amazed at the difference in attitudes, Montana wants you to come and fish, Colorado not so much.  And if you are a do it yourself guy like I generally am, Montana is the place.  So I will be back.

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Here are a couple of pictures of the trip so far.  Sorry have to hurry up and finish as they will be here to get us soon.

All have to day – What is not to like about this!

So we are off to chase wolves and I will try to get something posted later, but we are excited.  I have never been to Yellowstone, and have never seen a wolf in the wild so it promises to be an epic trip.  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

Don’t Leave For the Chandeleurs Without It.  I won’t!  Won’t be long now!

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

It was lightly drizzling as I headed to the lake at 7:00, my favorite weather for fishing.  The wind was down, and did not really start to blow until after noon.  And the lake is clearing rapidly, just hope when we get this big bunch of rain the next couple of days it does not cloud back up.

*****************Fresh or salt it has a place in your arsenal.

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Weather

81/68.  Cloudy with 20% chance of rain.  Wind SE 15 – 25 mph.  (Basically the same.)

Lake Level

Today  98.05 msl.   Yesterday  98.07 msl.

Solunar Periods

Good  8:30 am to 10:30 am.   Best 2:43 pm to 4:43 pm.

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Today I took my own advice and spent a lot more time pitching.  I used a 5″ watermelon red stick worm with a 4/0 vmc with a 1/4 ounce pegged tungsten weight on 20lb. mono.  There is definitely fish on wood, the best seemed to be in a couple of feet of water near spawning coves.  I did not feel one bite, they just started swimming with it.  If you felt anything, basically mushy, you had to set the hook or they let go of it.  I ended up catching a good 10 pitching, and missed several.  And today I have no complaints, I had her on.  Pitching to a tangle of hard wood when I lifted up she was swimming, I set the hook and could feel the wood as she rolled around.  After trying several things, including slacking up, hoping she would swim out to get her she finally pulled off.  It was a good one.

The best I could manage today.

Of course I fished spinnerbait and caught 2, buzzbait 1, Controlled Descent Jerk Shad 2, and Bang O Lure 5 jumped on.  So not a bad day as far as numbers are concerned.  But I am still not on the better fish though I have a feeling as the spawn winds down the pitching will really come in to play as it has the last couple of years.

The Bang O Lure is still catching them.  And the second one felt like a good one.  But coming in backwards will fool you.

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And Anonymous had the following comment after I mused about fishing with croakers.

Croaker…….most definitely a horrific thought process.

I really have avoided them on purpose, but the guys I know who fish them catch the snot out of them in the summer.  So who knows, best laid plans sometimes just don’t happen, but you never know.  Thanks for reading.

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I met a couple of guys at the ramp today, one of them turns out I met at a tournament a few years ago.  He might be fishfearlarry’s brother, I am so bad with names.  The guy he was fishing with is camping and doing fairly well fishing a spinnerbait from the bank.  In fact he caught 6 waiting for his buddy to get there.  And the other gentleman caught one in  the 4+ range yesterday so the bites is definitely better than it has been.   So thanks for hollering at me, I always enjoy talking fishing with folks who read this blog.

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One thing that is a little “tough” right now is figuring out the best bait to use.  They are hitting anything, so you can pick your poison right now on the lake and it will catch fish.  Yesterday was like getting into a bunch of shorts on the bay, but they bit from the minute I started until I quit.  Other than a big fish not sure what more you could want.

Tomorrow it is off to Montana.  The next time you hear from me it will hopefully include lots of wildlife photos  and a good fishing report.  The guide said he lost the biggest pike he has ever had on at boatside, and if it turns out we do that it is all good.  But as I told him I am flexible and will do whatever he suggests we need to be doing.  One thing I learned guiding, and fishing with guides, do what they tell you otherwise you have no bitch if it goes south.  And the Boss is crazy excited to then be heading to the wolf tracking in Yellowstone.  This trip has real potential.  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

Don’t Leave Home Without It.  I don’t!

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Taking a Break

Just wanted to check in and let you know I am still out there.  Things have been quiet around here this week as far as the fishing goes.  And no, no problem, I am still alive and taking nourishment.  I simply have been taking a break from all of this after suffering a slight case of fishing and blog fatigue.  So I decided to not fish this week, not a hard choice with the wind, and recharge my old batteries.  These times come occasionally, wondering if I should keep it up.  It is a labor of love, but don’t get me wrong it is work.  But with Montana, and then Louisiana, it is about to crank back up around here.

But the hiatus has let me accomplish a few things on the boats and in the tackle room.  Since we leave for Montana in a week, and then I turn and burn the next day to Louisiana, it was good to go over every bit of the saltwater stuff to be sure I have it all and put new line on the reels.  You never know what you will need, the only downside, a 50lb tackle box.  And with POC in next weeks plans it is good to be organized.  But we sure do not need any more wind!

Tuesday the wind was howling.  Wednesday was up to 25, gusts well over 30mph.  The temperature is fine and there was a hint of clouds today, but this wind thing is getting depressing.  Thursday forecast set to blow 35 plus, and it did every bit of that.  In fact, Thursday when we were watching the weather Bill said the wind was 12mph, as it was shaking the house!  Try sticking your head outside weather dude.  It is now Friday and it is starting to crank up again, man it is getting old!

******************Fresh or salt it has a place in your arsenal.

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SA Joe sent along this comment after his trip to Travis.

Your last trip(s) to Lake Travis. Did you catch alot of small fish? I spent last friday all day there and I got 33 bass. Nothing over 2lbs. But they acted like they was over 5lb. Hit and run. Dang near lost my pole a couple times not paying attention. Nice to hear you caught em at Falcon !!!

A Travis bass from 2017.

Thanks for the Falcon comment.  The trip was the old “make chicken salad out of chicken shat”.  Conditions weren’t the best but I soldiered on and day 4 it all came together.  Last time I fished Travis I caught quite a few good fish shallow, but from what I hear this year it has been a lot tougher.  My buddy Aaron and his friend fished it 2 weeks ago and did fairly well but they caught fish deep using the side imaging to find them on deep ledges.  This has been a different year in South Texas on many bodies of water and Travis is no different.  Have never used the side imaging but they have to be somewhere!  Who knows, it might help my Coleto production right now.

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And congratulations to Clayton Heldt of Victoria  (Don’t know him.) and his partner Chad Kallina for their 13th place finish out of 156 teams on a tough Lake Belton Skeeter Bass Champs tournament.  36 teams blanked to give you an idea how tough it was.  Always good to cash a check.

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The Old Interweb

A Texas store was advertising freshwater stingray for sale on Facebook.  Wardens went to the store which was unaware that it was on the Texas Prohibitive list and they should not sell it.  And I just read an article out of Louisiana where wardens regularly check social media for violations.  I told you it was a dangerous place, so before you hit “Post”, engage  brain.  Some folks never learn.

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If you are a dove hunter TPWD has set the seasons, along with some other hunting regulations, so check it out on their website.  I love it when they set the hunting seasons, let the bay fishing begin.  It really knocks back the traffic and is my favorite time of year on the coast.  The only downside, no fresh doves for me.

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I am having the same trouble with the handle on my minnkota trolling motor I had with the last one.  So today instead of taking it somewhere I took it apart, surprise!  I found a broken part that controls the tension on the handle, keeping it from turning on when running down the lake.  So no problem, I have the old trolling motor.  I had it fixed once at one dealer, but no Bueno.  Then I took that one to the place in Edna where they supposedly fixed it after having it a month, charged me $100, and it started acting up again almost right away so I just bought a new one.  But hey, great, the part I need is in there.  Surprise!  No wonder it did not work properly, they just did not bother to put that part in!  Now I am no mechanic but what a rip off.  I have heard some really bad things about that place, and this just confirms it.  Shoddy plain and simple.  It is a .55 part and it is on the way from minnkota.  Took me 2 minutes to find the problem, 1 minute to order the part, and it should be good to go after about a 5 minute effort.  Guess I should pay myself $100.

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At this moment both boats are about 98% ready to roll, at the same time amazingly enough.  As I type this it reminds me of what else I need to fix on the Carolina Skiff to have it 100%, so as soon as I hit post out I go.  I really use it more in the summer due to less wind, and though it can “handle” the stuff, a bath is coming when it is to rough.  But it is about to be 20 years old, I have abused it over the years and it has been a work horse.  If they made the same boat in a v hull I would have bought a new one long ago.  The thing is a tank.

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You can tell it has been really windy as the number of Facebook posts from the bay is way down.  With the holiday weekend that should pick back up and the wind looks like it might slow a little.  I am ready to hit the water and plan on doing it several times in the coming week.  So keep stopping in, there will be some fishing, and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

The Wade Right Fishing Belt

Brought to you by

Don’t Leave Home Without It.  I don’t!

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When she was good, she was very very good, but…………You know the rest.

This was definitely a trip that had it all, crazy weather, bad fishing, good fishing, some big bites, great folks, and an all around good time was had by all.  And only a few beers died in the making of this blog post.  The lake itself was fairly clear with more color up north and the water temp varied between 76 and 83 over most of the trip.  Saw lots of snakes and the lake is covered up with ducks.

There are no words to adequately describe how freakin’ hard this girl smacked that spinnerbait.  She must have been going the other way.  One of those strikes where they really do try to take the rod out of your hands!

******************Fresh or salt it has a place in your arsenal.

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I stayed at Beacon Lodge as I have 3 or 4 times before.  No matter the water level, an issue on Falcon at times, there is a usable ramp.  And when it is busy it is not a hassle like the County ramp can be.  I am not interested in the Hilton.  A good ramp, electric, and simple meets my needs and Beacon is perfect.  This trip I met the owner, his wife, and some of their family, great folks, and more on that later.

Day 1

The simplest way to tell this story is day by day.  When I got to Zapata around 11:00 the cabin was open with keys on the table  (Not many places do that.)  so after a quick off load out I went.  I knew it was going to be hot, but holy mackerel, it set a record for the day, 103 degrees.  There was no wind and the humidity was 14%, so much for it was a “dry heat”.  It was smoking hot.

First I ran up lake to a couple of creeks I have fished every trip and started slow rolling the spinnerbait, but the no wind thing did not help.

A good start for a smoking hot day.

The water is low so I was able to fish them both and only caught one small on a crankbait.  I saw a fish bust shad right on the bank so I tossed it on his head and caught him.  That very thing would play out later.  So after that it was around 3:00 when I headed to the Velano to an area I caught them last trip, and caught the 2 above.  (A note on the area, it is a nice big bend in the channel 10 foot deep with flats on both sides and lots of buck brush.)  Just swimming it near the bottom in 1 – 8 foot of water and they whacked it pretty good.  After fishing that area I headed to a big point and started to feel woozy.  Then I had the pleasure of throwing up.  For the first time in my life I had a little heat incident even though I was on my 3rd water.  At least as a former medic I knew what was up and I wasn’t interested in falling out so I called it a day.  A little nap, AC, and it was all good.  But at least I had a clue, after seeing shad flip and a few getting busted, most near brush.  As a side note I did not catch one bass off rock.

Day 2

Unlike day 1, day 2 brought wind, right up the pike out of the south, and I mean gusting over 30 mph and it was unfishable, no wonder I only saw 1 other boat.  Like day 1 it actually got to 104, South Texas hot!  I did have a bunch of hits first thing that just whacked it and did not hook up, so I was thinking small white bass.  By 11:00 it was just to much of a hassle, no where to hide, and no way to make a big trip on the main lake so with discretion being the better part of valor I called it day.  Believe me the short run back to Beacon on the main lake was no fun.  When I got back there was no one at the ramp so time for another nap.  Beacon has a small bar and as I was sitting on the porch later the owner’s wife and son-in-law stopped by in the old golf cart and said come on to the bar a little later and have a cold one with them.  I did, and learned they are great folks and we just had a dandy time.  The day was not a complete loss.

Day 3

Bite 1.

As they say about Texas weather just wait a minute and it will change, and change it did.  This was one of the more interesting days I have had on the water.  Remember yesterday it was 104, today only 90, but the wind was predicted to switch to out of the north at 25 – 30 during the morning.  In fact, first thing I wished I had a jacket.  What?  One of the few days in my fishing life I can remember the wind blowing like crazy out of one direction one day and completely switching around and blowing that hard the other way.  Nuts.  So with that wind forecast I put in at the county ramp so I would not have to negotiate the main lake.

Today was different as far as the fishing goes.  My second cast the fish above absolutely smashed my spinnerbait.  She is the very reason I go and slow roll the spinnerbait.  They say Falcon bass are the toughest and I tend to agree, they are stout.  Working that bank over completely with the spinner bait I had a couple of those little whacks so I turned around and tossed a crankbait.  The only reason I show you this is that was how big they were, no wonder they did not hook up on the spinnerbait.  I caught 4 or 5 in nothing flat and then another good bite.

They all looked just like this.  Wait until next year, the white bass fishing could be unbelievable.  But it was not all whites…..

Another Falcon good one.  This girl just came off the bed and showed it.

I never felt her hit, it just got soft and muscle memory took over.  Funny how after all these years I sometimes set the hook before I think about it.  She was like so many Falcon fish, big all the way to her tail and it was a tussle to keep her out of the stuff.  By now the wind was starting to just howl again.  So I tried a couple of protected, if you could call them that, banks and it was just to rough.  I headed to the ramp around 12:00 and the same guy who put in when I did was taking out.  There was just no place to get out of it.  Not many days on Falcon is there no one at the county ramp.

So I did another nap thing, a rarity for me.  Around 4:00 the wind dropped to a dull roar, and with the ramp right there I decided to head back out for a couple of hours and try a big cove or two close.  At this point I am still committed to slow rolling the spinnerbait and it did not disappoint.

If you are only going to boat 3 these 3 will do!

So while I lost most of this day it was a success.  Spinnerbait fishing is my first love and while I am sure there were plenty of different ways to catch fish it suits my style.  And though I had lost half my fishing time so far I was learning a thing or two.  The shad were definitely spawning, why I downsized my blades on the spinnerbait, and the fish were on that bank feeding on them.  And the good thing about tomorrow, clouds, and light wind.

Day 4

I launched at Beacon’s and headed to the back of the Velano as it cracked dawn.  With the morning’s forecast it was Bang O Lure time.  The water was clear enough and I knew it would work, and it did, in some interesting ways.  The plan was to throw the Bang O Lure until the wind came up in the afternoon, and I stuck with it and had some interesting results.  I catch catfish on lures occasionally but have never caught 3 in one day, much less on topwater.

The Bang O Lure catches fish!

Falcon is a catfish hatchery.  Talked to a guy who has caught 2 over 50 off the bank.  

One thing became immediately apparent, there were plenty of fish there.  Some were boiling the Bang O Lure and some were eating it.  I caught several that I missed by throwing right back at them.  Funny though none blew up on it, they all grabbed it after twitching it and pulling it under.  A couple grabbed it right next to the boat.  Big fun!

]

The bite was on, or maybe I finally removed head from butt.

They cooperated for a couple of hours and most looked like those above with some even smaller, which Falcon does not have a lot of right now.  It became apparent the big ones wanted a bigger bait slow rolled right in front of their face, where some of these guys I could see streaking out of a bush after it.  And what is there to say about catching that many catfish on lures in the same area other than I found the buffet line.  So after a couple of passes I explored a few other places without success waiting for the wind.  Finally about 4:00 it started blowing right on the good place so back I went.  Time to buzz a spinnerbait really shallow.  Good choice.

These were absolute chunks!

I started back on “the good spot” running my spinnerbait right below the surface in spit for depth making a big wake and they were just smashing that thing.  No boils, no misses, just smoking it.  I think I caught 5 or 6 like that and was in spinnerbait heaven.  This was really proof of why I always say 3 days minimum on a trip.  It took that long to finally get it going.  And like the Falcon Lake Tackle guy has been saying if you catch one work that area there may be more, and that was spot on.  This area had fish.

This trip was a trade off in some respects.  Slow roll the spinnerbait and hold on, or catch as many fish as possible, and both happened.  I did regret not taking the 2 silver foil Shallow Shad Raps sitting in the tackle room, the shad looked just like it and with the shad spawn on it would have been a killer.  I take a hundred pounds of tackle but just did not think about those.  Light balsa crankbaits on Falcon is almost an oxymoron.  And due to losing fishing time and travel I did not get to any of the places south I wanted to fish.  But if you do any amount of serious fishing travel things change and you just make the best of it.

My last night is their Karaoke night  (I would sooner eat my own kidneys than sing for any reason, but it was fun to watch.) and they bring food.  The crowd was local and food it was, some real TexMex on the border.  Everyone had a great time and I finally met Speedy, the owner and bass fisherman extraordinaire.  Born and raised in Zapata he knows Falcon as well as any human can.  He was personable and I learned more about the lake in that hour than I could have in a year.  Additionally he is my age so we had plenty in common.  So I would like to thank him and his family.  They were excellent hosts and I count them as new friends.  Perfect, another excuse to head back.  I really do like fishing there no matter how it goes.  I was lucky to fish there during the hey day, then when it was really down, and now with the fishing better than it has been.  The big fish can come any cast there and as long as I can sling a lure I will be back.

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Gage sent along this question, and it is easy to answer.

what is your personal best bass . what lure was it caught on?

Easy answer, all 3 on that first Falcon trip were caught slow rolling a spinnerbait, wh/ch with nickel Colorado blades, just thumping along trying to tic isolated cover.  The biggest was 9.3 and is still my PB that was weighed since there was scale on board that trip.  Now I have caught several easily in that range over the last 8 years on Coleto, but since I do not weigh them it would only be a guess.  Most of those on Bang O Lure or swim jig.  For me a bass is either big or it is not.

As my fishing interests change over the years I subscribe to the following:  First I just wanted to catch a fish, then I wanted to catch a bunch of fish, next I wanted to catch a big fish, now I want to catch them how I like to, and am willing to keep after it trying to catch a big fish.  What Falcon can be all about.   So this trip I will be doing a lot of spinnerbait fishing, but have 6 rods rigged with different stuff and will listen to the fish, they will tell me.  And as all fisherman know, what they usually tell you is what you are doing is not working.  So I will remain flexible.

And one last word on this trip, it will not be all about the bass.  The lake has exploded with white bass and I have not messed with them yet but plan to.  And the crappie rod is in the boat so may give that a little go.  Nice way to break up the day after first thing bass fishing and last thing bass fishing, keeping after it in prime time.  Then chasing some of the others while eating lunch or taking a break.  But no matter what I will be having fun no matter how it shakes out.  Thanks for reading.

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

Colby Peyton, one of the best fisherman on the coast, nailed a solid 8lb trout out of POC the other day.  He can catch them and that was a pig.  But the important point, I firmly believe the 5 fish limit is slowly having a positive effect, especially in the POC area where no matter how you phrase it, they get pounded.  The trout are now bigger across the board.  With the increased pressure on our bays the change to 5 is the best thing that could have happened to that fishery.  Plus what has become standard practice on big trout among most trout fisherman –  Catch – Phot0-Release.   And as a side note Colby and his dad are hard to beat on Coleto bass tournaments.  So hey Colby, isn’t it about time to have another Colby Peyton Go Fund Me Coleto tournament?

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

And speaking of working the trout over my neighbor Jesse has had a couple of good trips lately.  His last was a late night trip and they put the serious hurt on them.  So congrats to you and your Home Boys, a nice mess.  The fish are definitely biting on the coast, my next weeks plan.

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And this comment from SA Joe on the pending Chandeleur trip.

What are the odds. I just watched a fishing show this weekend about Chandeleurs Islands. And then you post your going. Some of the Bull Reds they were pulling in were HUGE !!!!!! Have a blast, looks like a great place to fish…

Saw the same show, The Obsession of Carter Andrews, and boy did they knock the snot out of them.  Though happily we did not catch that many jacks, thanks have had enough of those to last a lifetime.  On our last trip the first thing in the morning on day 1 I wanted to try the Whopper Plopper and right off the bat had a nice one just explode on it.

What a freakin’ first bite!

I was sitting on the live well lid and when I set the hook it opened and I almost went head over heels in the ocean.  As I posted before I had a reader ask about the trip and he wondered about doing it when we have all of them here, which is true.  But this trip is about far more than that.  Good eats, a few cold ones, great company, and being pampered.  And not a Majek in sight doing a hundred busting the shoreline, no offense to Majek.  What is not to like about that.

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It was another successful trip.  It could have gone a whole lot worse and it finished up with a bang.  There were so few fishermen out and it never made one iota of difference.  I learned some more about the lake and intend to pump Speedy at the next opportunity.  Falcon is a different animal and there is lots I need to learn.  And no internet was nice, along with a few naps, a little reading, and new friends.  The Boss is keeps asking if I kept any fish so time to get her fed.  And speaking of her, as I write this it is blowing out there, but she is in Iowa and it has been blowing 60 mph knocking over semis and pushing her rental car all over the place.  And San Antonio had big hail, what a spring.

Next up depends on the weather but I hope to make the bay early this week.  And I just got the skiff serviced so it needs to be run.  And it is so much easier to mess with after saltwater.  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

Don’t Leave Home Without It.  I don’t!

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

Heading to Falcon

A 9lb. Falcon post spawn fattie!

While I did not fish the last few days there was plenty of “fishing” stuff going on around here.  First I finally made a decision of where I would fish this week, I am headed to Falcon in the morning for the rest of the week.  The only downside I  could see, it is going to be nice.  The fishing report is still consistent as it has been for a month, fish shallow on spinnerbaits (Count me in!) and soft plastics with some starting to show up on deeper rocks and points, a typical pattern there this time of year.  The first trip I took there years ago was around this time and the fish were post spawn, once we figured it out it was game on.  So with what I learned from the trip last 2 months ago I am good to go.  Will be looking for that one, or more if I am lucky, bite!

A few from January.

Falcon Lake will always hold a special place in my fishing destinations.  So many places, my first marlin, sailfish, tarpon, permit, all bucket list fish in cool places, and Falcon earned it’s place on that list.  I started bass fishing in the 5th grade, 1963,  (Yikes!  55 years ago.  Where does the time go?) and over the years guided and tournament fished in Arkansas, plus fished other destinations later.  And then my first trip to Falcon, and what happens?  I catch my 3 personal best bass in 24 hours.   One of those destinations where you still literally have a chance to catch a monster every cast.  I never need any more motivation to make one more cast, or stay a little longer, than that.

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Because  I am headed to Falcon, and even when I am not, I keep up with the Falcon Lake Tackle website for current information.  Fishing lots of different places, especially when fishing a place the first time, I find it tough to find good useable information about the practical aspect of fishing a new place.  Simple stuff, ramps, hazards, the kinds of things if tackle stores and marinas would include on their website would definitely drive traffic to their site.  Here is the information I want to know before I leave.

April 2, 2019: Man.. I hadn’t updated this page in months.. That’s a good thing.. That means that there are no real hazards to speak of and the ramps are still working fine..

The county ramp is still five wide.. And all three ramps at the state park are operational. No bridges or concrete on the main lake to worry about..

Lake level is 275.58. – 25.62 feet low..

Still a shitload of water out there..

First thanks to the store for letting me steal this, rarely do I find a site that includes this kind of useable information.  When added to his fishing reports I am good to go.  So check out their website.  Not only informative but read a little, he is not shy by any means.

http://www.tackleandrods.com/lake/flash.htm

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And part of trips like this is preparation.  Yesterday it was rod/reels/line/ tackle, as Falcon requires a couple of changes, especially in rods.  Until proven otherwise I will be fishing the “stuff”, looking for post spawn females resting and recharging.  That “stuff” is cover, of which there is tons, and occasionally it is hand to hand combat with a big bass.  Last year Aaron and I were pitching hardwoods, I know where I will be starting.  You had to land it on the trunk and let it fall straight down to get bit, and then pull them out before they pulled you in.   I always carry a good selection of line weights just in case, and way to much tackle and lures, but you never know what you might need.  Or what might break.

A few from last year.

One thing I do enjoy is the food prep, if that makes sense, and for me it does.  The Boss  always says just go get something to eat but it does not fit in to the Master Plan.  My cabin is right on the lake at the ramp, and it has a micro wave and small fridge.  So today I am making plates for every nights  supper, and organizing easy breakfast and lunches.  So why go through all that?  I will not unhitch the boat all week or go anywhere.  In the water as it cracks daylight and out at dark.  Having meals pre-prepped means I can fish until dark, come in and grab a cold one and be eating in 3 minutes.  Nice not to be messing around going to town and eating late after being on the water all day, especially when it stays light as long as it does now.

******************Fresh or salt it has a place in your arsenal.

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And I also confirmed the guide trip the Boss gave me for Christmas on April 27 somewhere in Montana.  Guess I should look up where huh?  According to the fly shop the rivers are blown out, they had tons of snow, and the ice is still on the lakes but spring is coming.  So the option might be big pike at ice out, and he said something else that intrigued me, grayling are available somewhere close, a fish I have not caught.  So our actual quarry is yet to be determined but it should be fun.  Plus the Boss is actually going to fish with us.  She is a fair weather fisherman, or maybe the smart one.  Rarely fishing she will catch a marlin, fight a tarpon, or participate in the bucket list places.  And her success level for amount of time with a rod in her hands is off the chain, hopefully I can cash in on her good luck. (The first time she fished a baitcaster she picked it up faster than anyone I ever taught.  She is a natural.)  And then our 3 day wolf tracking expedition in Yellowstone, and the timing looks perfect for seeing tons of wildlife.  But just like fishing, nothing is guaranteed in the great outdoors but the week looks like it could be epic.

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It Is Going To Be a Busy Month

Then following all the tomfoolery above, the day we get back from Montana I turn and burn the next morning for the mothership trip with the Wade Right boys to the Chandeleurs Islands.  I really like the way they organize the trip, paying a little extra to head out the night before, sleeping on the way, then 3 full days of hardcore fishing, sleeping on the way back.  It really is a bucket list destination that checks all the cool boxes.  And the results will be interesting.  They went in the fall 3 years ago, and while they caught their limit of 250 trout,  (That’s a lot of trout.) last spring we only kept around 130, but the average was much larger.  So we shall see if that holds up this year.  And I love a trip where they tell you that you have all the redfish you need by the middle of day 2.  Having paid for lots of different fishing in many places this is hands down one of the best bangs for the bucks on the planet.

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Tony, one of the Austin Boys, with a nice 27″ Army Hole trout.

Tony has a friend stopping at POC a couple of days on his way to the Keys with his skiff wanting to maybe catch a redfish on the fly.  So I pointed the way best I can from the couch, and hopefully they will cooperate.  And I am jealous, it is tarpon time in the Keys!  So good luck and let us know how it goes.

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So today I finish packing and load the boat so I can head out first thing in the morning.  With a 4 hour drive I will be able to get in a good day of fishing tomorrow.  Then it is 3 full days of dawn to dusk, and maybe Saturday depending on how the fishing goes.  It is hard not to get excited, the best I can hope for is to fish clean and when “the bite” or bites come put them on the deck. There is no internet so I will be dark this week. (It is not a bad thing to unplug occasionally.)  So wish me luck.  Keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Brought to you by

Don’t Leave Home Without It.  I don’t!

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They are still eating the pearl Controlled Descent Jerk Shad.

It was about 10:00, cloudy, misty, and fairly calm, so instead of doing something responsible I went to the lake.  Did not even check the weather or levels, just went.  When I got there it was done misting but cloudy and the water temp was back in the low to high 70’s depending on where you were.  And with the wind down I was able to fish a couple of places that have been just pounded by the wind and I could not fish them effectively the last few trips.  I started with the pearl Jerk Shad in cover and the bite was on.  And from that point it was bites everywhere I fished, and they hit a variety of things.

******************Fresh or salt it has a place in your arsenal.

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The one on the right was the first one that was beat up and obviously spawning.

But the big news – They are on the beds all over the lake.  The really slow drop in the lake level combined with a little more clearing has them visible.  As in sticking out like a sore thumb.  Now I don’t bed fish, and as off color as it still is not sure how well you could see them, but it looks like they are having at it

4 baits caught fish today, I specifically tried to figure it out a little more.  2 came on a whacky hooked bubble gum trick worm, which wasn’t bad for how little I fished it.  Same with buzzbait, caught 2 and missed a couple.  The Bang O Lure caught 4 or 5, just working it along the top fairly quick, constantly jerking and twitching it under.  But the pearl Jerk Shad is the hands down preferred bait, at least for me.

Bait was flipping here and there today, and where it was shallow with cover and bait there were fish.  The best fish came on a little deeper main lake bank with tons of cover.  It was not fast by any means, but walking the dog with the Jerk Shad by far got the most bites.  It was important to twitch it by a bush, stump, or stick, and get ready.  I even intentionally re-fished a bank and was able to catch one more.  The coves continue to be the best and some of them are just loaded with beds.

I definitely missed the good bite earlier in the morning.  The weather was perfect, and not sure what the difference was from yesterday but today was much better.  No big ones today but it was good fishing, with plenty of bites.  And I love actually watching them rolling up and eating the Jerk Shad, or the Bang O Lure when it is pulled under.   Though that bite has been tougher with it so hard to see to far down.  The just materialize and eat.  So good day for a 5 hour trip.  But the lake sure has been bi-polar and you don’t know which one it will be.  But things are looking up, with the forecast including maybe over 3″ of rain through Monday morning things can, and will change.

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And the wildlife was having a party today.  I saw a big racoon working the shoreline looking for a treat.  The turkeys were in full gooble today, and a couple on opposite sides of the lake were having a gobbling contest.  But the coolest thing was way in the back of a big cove there were 4 deer on the shore as I eased around the corner and caught them by surprise.  They took off and then a big gator, one I have seen there for years, came trolling out of some brush on the bank.  It looked like he was up there just hanging waiting for one of the deer to make a mistake.  Not sure, but the wildlife was just as active as the fish.  Always a good sign.  And one bad sign, if on the way to the lake the cows are laying down.

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It looks like after a long drought the fishing is finally on the upswing.  Though the big fish are a little tough right now the fish are on the beds and it should finally stabilize.  I was hoping to fish the bay today but need to pick up the skiff at the dealer after it’s annual service and run a few more errands.  I always dread the call when it is done, hoping for no additional problems but not this time.  Compression 152 across all 3 cylinders, great news.  Today I will finally make the “where to” decision for next week.  Funny how when you can go anywhere it turns into a tough decision.   So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Brought to you by

Don’t Leave Home Without It.  I don’t!

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I just want to say Happy Anniversary to the Boss.  30 years and counting, the best years of my life.  I always say I married above my station and I could not have been luckier if I tried.  So Happy Anniversary Nancy.  You are the bomb.

Weather

54/75.  Cloudy followed by a 60% chance of rain and thundershowers in the afternoon.  Wind ESE 15 – 25mph.

Lake Level

Today  98.05 msl.   Friday  98.09 msl.

Solunar Times

Best  9:55 am to 11:55 am.  (The day is classed as Great.  We shall see.) 

******************Fresh or salt it has a place in your arsenal.

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

These are the days I live for on Coleto, and most anywhere else I bass fish.  Warm, clouds, drizzle, and wind.  What could be more perfect for a day of bass fishing.  I often have trouble falling asleep just thinking about catching some real ones.  But Alas!

It was perfect when I dropped the boat in the water.  And to make a long story short, it has been Ground Hog day all over again on the lake since December, it was shorts, shorts, and some more shorts.  3 in the first cove, 4 in the third place, it went like that all day.  The Bang O Lure and pearl Controlled Descent Jerk Shad produced the bites, small bites.  I finally went to buzzbait for the last hour just trying to entice a big bite, but no cigar, though the one I did catch on it was about the size of a cigar.  And I could not buy a bite pitching to wood.  Like it has been, an easy dozen plus, but all small.  I did not even have a smell from a real fish today.

Where are their girlfriends?

To say I am puzzled would be putting it mildly.  Like the random tournament fisherman said when he stopped his boat as I was fishing a couple of months ago:  “Where the &^%* are the big fish?”  Are they coming to the bank?  There are tons of small males up shallow and one I caught today did have evidence he was fanning a bed, the rest, no indication of spawning.  This time of year  they should be beat up no matter where we are in the spawn.  What has me concerned is the numbers I am catching.  It has been consistent and after a while sheer luck should play a part.  Catch enough and the big fish odds come in your favor, whether you are on the correct pattern or not.

So what to do?  To tell the truth I am not sure  as far as the lake goes.  Of course the bay is an option tomorrow, as is a little travel.  And both of them are in my immediate future.  Next week looks like it is off to Falcon for 3 or 4 days.  Then the next week a day of fishing and then a wolf trek in Montana, then the day I get home a turn and burn to the Chandeleurs Islands with the Wade Right guys in the first week in May  But since it is raining as I type this I can not help myself, I am headed back to the lake for the afternoon. I have always said it is in the doing and I can either hang out and waste the day or put on the rainsuit and go fishing for a while.  What an easy choice.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Brought to you by

Don’t Leave Home Without It.  I don’t!

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After a basketball weekend time to at least fish for a little bit.  And boy were the games good.  It was 42 degrees when I got up this morning so it is just a matter of waiting for it to get around the 50 degree mark before heading out.  Plus I would suspect that if they do bite the afternoon would seem to be better, but as usual, you only know when you go.

******************Fresh or salt it has a place in your arsenal.

Weather

61/40.  Sunshine and clouds mixed with 0% chance of rain.  Wind NNE 10 – 15mph.

Lake Level

Today  98.09 msl.  Friday  98.07 msl.

Solunar Times 

No relevant period today.  Day classed as poor.

The Fishing Met My Expectation

I figured it would be tough with the big cold front, and if there was a bite it would be in the afternoon, and both were correct.  I waited until after 10:00 when it finally reached 50 degrees.  When I got to the lake the wind was out of the North at 15 mph and it was not exactly pleasant.  The first indication of things to come, the water temp at the ramp was 65 degrees, down 5 since Friday.  And the rest of the lake, 66 or so.  One back end of a cove was 63, a 14 degree drop from Friday.  In fact, there was a couple of times I made a move and wondered if the gauge was stuck.  So in some places the water temp dropped a good 10 degrees.  And the first place was a good indication of the affects of the front.

In the first cove 8 took a run at the Bang O Lure, and only 3 hooked up, all small.   Their heart was not in it.  But the one pattern that continues to hold fish is coves with grass.  It won’t be long even at this slow drop where those places will be done.  So after at least seeing some fish up in the first cove I headed up lake to fish my “old reliable” banks, where the temp had dropped 8 degrees and it had some color.  And like it has been the fishing up lake is not as good as down lake.  I intentionally fished a long stretch with a swim jig, and only caught a small with no other bites.  So I headed back in a big cove up lake and caught 3, again all smalls.  A couple on the pearl Controlled Descent Jerk Shad and one on spinnerbait.

After that a couple of main lake banks that usually are good spinnerbait banks this time of year and nothing.  It was getting late so time for the most consistent cove the last month.  And 6 or 7 jumped on, again all small males.  It was the same place where I flipped the wood on Friday without success.  Today twitch the Jerk Shad by a stump or lay down on the same bank and out they came.  You never know.  One more cover produces another 4 or 5, again all on the Jerk Shad.  So they were definitely biting.  And there are beds, not sure if I can see them better as the water clears, or they are new.  I slid over to look at a big bed and one eased off when I got close.  I don’t bed fish, but if you do it looks like it is available right now.  So at 6:30 I called it a day.  No pictures, trust me they were dinks and I sure don’t want to look at them again.  But the day went exactly like I expected.

It looks like there is going to be a later spawn.  There were several beds here and there, it seems the cold front just ran the better ones off.  So while today was less than stellar, it was to be expected.  I still believe the good fishing is yet to come, maybe in the next few days.  But with it being 36 degrees this morning it might be a day or two.  But the sun is shining and hope springs eternal.  I am a glass half full fisherman, and expect to fill that glass every time I get on the water.

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And Rusty our Fayette guru sent along this comment.

Good morning Doug! After a long fight with the flu, I am back on the water. Fayette lake has been giving up lots a fish if you can dodge the craziness of the spring break crowd. I was throwing a watermelon lizard most of the time. From 2′-12′ . Couple of us fly tyers are tying at the annual Sowbug show in Mountain home this weekend. Of course, we are also trout fishing and have been catching some nice rainbows and browns. Weather is about to change so outcomes the big boy gear .
Tight lines my friend,
Rusty

Looked up the Sowbug Roundup and it looks like all things fly tying.  And best of all you get to wet a line in the White.  When I moved there a fly fisherman was a rare sight.  We called them “Beaners”.  Now before anybody gets their panties in a wad it was not a racial slur, it was a shopping slur, as in LL Bean.  One thing that makes the White what it is is pretty good access, and there are fish in every inch of it.  So have a good time and maybe that 15lb brown will cooperate.  I just might slip up to Fayette this week on one of the poorer weather days, keeps folks to a dull roar.  And it is going to be cool here too so bundle up.  Good to hear from you.

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A Dilemma 

I have a problem that lots of folks would love to have, I can go somewhere next week, as in anywhere within reason.  Australia would be my first choice but lets not get totally carried away.  So for this week I will be looking at Norfork Lake, Grand Isle, Falcon, Amistad, the Laguna, and anywhere else I can think of.  Now one might think that would be a simple proposition, but hardly so.  With the fishing in full spring mode in all those places, and the weather beginning to settle some, all are in play.  It would be nice to stay at one of the old resorts I used to guide for on Norfork.  There is a lot to be said for having the boat in a stall and just walking down and fishing, plus the time is right in North Arkansas and it would be a short learning curve.  Louisiana would be several days of redfish on spinnerbait, love the Fourchon marsh.  And big bass on Falcon, what is not to like about that?  So I will fret, and look, and fret, and watch the weather, and fret.  But if that is my biggest problem right now no worries!

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Tommy, a reader who is a good tournament fisherman and holder of a lake bass record dropped me comment after my big fish the other day.  He catches a lot of big fish and wondered if the one I caught on Friday was 7 or 8, and I believe he was exactly right.  Since I don’t weigh them anymore I never put a guess on the big girls, it keeps the trolls down.  But that one Friday was a big bodied, egg swollen pig.  When I lifted her out of the water the weight was immediately apparent.  One thing about pictures, they either do them justice or not.  In this case she was all that.

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And I got this comment from Donny and all I can say is better late than never.

Ok saw your post 3/25/19 Coleto Creek.
Also saw your list for 2012, kind of late I know, but I can help you with two items.
#3. Take at least 5 new people fishing with me.
I volunteer.
#8. Figure out the crappies on Coletto Creek.
Been meaning to try this, maybe white bass too.

Went to high school in victoria (before they made the lake), live down in rockport now, not too far to drive up and chase crappie or whites.

I always wonder how much of this thing folks read.  But from 2012!  So tell you what, we can at least deal with number 3 at some point.  The whites are done here until they set up on their summer haunts down lake a couple of months from now, but the crappie never stop biting on Coleto.  So I will keep your email address and when the urge strikes to catch a few for the pan I will drop you a note.  Thanks for reading.

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This spring has been nothing short of a weather adventure.  We have had extremes day to day, and often in the same day, and this weekend was a perfect example.  It blew so hard last night it shook the house.  And our high basically went from 75 to 50 degrees, and it was 45 degrees when I got up this morning and will not see the 60’s for 2 days.  What is interesting is we are down over 3″ in rainfall even with front after front.  And though it drizzled some this morning it looks like it won’t amount to much.  The weather has played a bigger role in my fishing decisions this year than any I can remember.  And it will be the most important factor in where I head in a week.

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Looking at the weather for the rest of the week it looks like Friday will be bay day.  I haven’t spent a day boat fishing for reds in while, but it is hard not to get in the water with them.  And after today’s sun and warming temps the lake should get the bass going and with clouds and rain in the forecast the next couple of days it should be big fish time.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines