FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Brought to you by

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

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

We had a great time in Big Bend this weekend.  I have some pictures and a story or two and will get to that in the next couple of days.  But now that I am home it is back on the water.  After catching a bunch of smalls last trip I am really looking forward to a good day.  And the weather sure looks “bassy”.  Will be out early and staying late as long as the fish keep cooperating.  The only way to know is to go.

Weather

82./56.  Cloudy with a 20%  chance of a stray shower.  Wind W 5 – 10mph.

Lake Level

Today  98.11 msl.   6 days ago 98.17 msl.

Solunar Times

Good 9:12 am to 11:12 am.  Best  3:25 pm to 5:25 pm.

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

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

OMG.  I often wonder if even doing a report on a day like this is worth it, but it comes with the territory.  Another day of smalls, in fact I refuse to put up a couple of pictures, you have seen that this spring and I will not subject you (Or me.)  to that again.  As I have said over and over, I just don’t get it.  At least the rest of the critters were moving around some.

Several were out hunting today.

Getting there at daylight it looked great.  Down just a little, water definitely clearing, and the water temp was 76 at the ramp.  In fact, the lowest I found was 72 and it was 78 in a couple of places.  First up was a cove about half way up lake and 3 jumped on the buzzbait, all small.  3 or 4 in the next cove on the buzzbait, all shorts.  From there to make a long story short it was one here or there, coves being the best, and other than losing one that would have made a picture, it was all smalls.

I am sure he caught some fish today!

I fished way up both arms, and as the day warmed and cleared the wind quit, the rest of the bites all came on the pearl Controlled Descent Paddle Shad.  And as it slicked off they even started just rolling on it and tail biting.  Finally I switched up and started pitching/flipping to cover up the river.  There are plenty of targets up lake, and not a touch.  I even hit my favorite brush pile, not a touch.  That probably puzzles me more than anything, even slowing down and putting it right in their face, if they are even there which I am beginning to doubt, did not get it done.  Finally at 4:00 I just could not take it anymore.

They are always so busy when moving around in the daytime.

When I got back to the ramp the “Ramp Watcher” was there as usual and I went to speak to him as I figured he was there this weekend, which he was.  As we saw several bass boats headed back to the San Antonio area on our way home Sunday night I figured there was a tournament on Coleto, and there was.  The Watcher reported just as he has seen the last month they struggled and reported lots of smalls but no big fish.  Now don’t think that you can not catch a big fish at any moment, but where they are I can not tell you because I sure do not know.

And the best comment on my day.  These guys were circling my worthless carcass. 

So the unusual spring on Coleto continues.  Normally putting multiple smalls in the boat means you will get a shot at a big, but it has not been that way.  It would be off to the bay today but the 4Runner is going in for a recall on the airbag so I am shore bound.  Sorry to subject you to this less than stellar report but it was what it was.  Stumped, flummoxed, puzzled, dumbfounded, confused, pissed, worried, and any other descriptive word you can think of.  Especially since I really expected it to be better.  Over the last 40 years I have seen some changes on the various bodies of water I have fished, but this might be the most unusual.

In spite of Coleto fishing, the next month holds plenty of promise in the fishing department.  Montana for trout or pike depending on how their spring is going, then as soon as I return it is turn around the next day and head to the Chandeleurs Islands with the Wade Right guys.  And next week the Boss is out of town and I have the week to do, or go, somewhere.  My initial thoughts on that are Falcon, Amistad, the upper laguna, or Grand Isle La.  Not a bad quandary to have.  Tomorrow I will post the pictures and report on our trip to the Big Bend area.  We had an adventure or two and saw some crazy things.  And today I will resolve the ongoing trailer light thing one way of the other and do a general walk around on the boat and trailer making sure it is ready for a trip.  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!

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

Weather

72/52.  Mix of clouds and sun with 0% chance of rain.  Wind  E 10 – 20mph.

Lake Level

Today  98.17 msl.   Yesterday  98.16 msl

Solunar Times

Best   9:54 am to 11:54 am.  Only relevant period day is classed as Good.

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

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

When I got to the lake this morning it was blowing pretty good out of the NE, but the water temp was the same and it is clearing quite a bit in some areas.  So why is this happy hour?  Because the boys are all there but the girls have not yet arrived.  And that is exactly what is going on at the lake right now.  Here is the run of the morning, which included an easy 20+, they are biting.

This is what they looked like all day.

4 jumped on in the first cove, and from there at least one, and as many as 6 or 7 in one cove, came every where I fished.  Most came on the pearl Controlled Descent Jerk Shad, and 3 or 4 on the Bang O lure.  I threw the BOL a little in the first 2 places after missing several on the Jerk Shad, you can fish the Bang O Lure slower if they are missing the Jerk Shad, but once it warmed up the Jerk Shad was the ticket.  A white swim jig, and I did toss a spinnerbait on a windy bank before I quit, both produced zip.  The fish initially were not in quite the same place, probably due to the air temps cooling off the shallows.  But from then on when you caught one there was usually some others with them.  I did have a pretty good fish to the boat, but she managed to pull off.

In fact, in 2 coves I caught them almost all the way in the back ends.  Yesterday they tended to be a little further out, but the boys are bellied up to the bar, and the girls should be right behind them.   The best places were still grassy, out of the direct wind.  And a quick comment on today’s weather.  No mix of and sun clouds, it was cloudy and drizzled and the wind blew at the top of the projection.  It never did get as warm on the water as yesterday, but I definitely got a lot more bites.  A function of me keeping with the plan, and more fish moving up.

And here is my theory and I am sticking to it.  We are a couple of days from the full moon and the next week could be some fabulous fishing.  If I were not headed out of town it would be everyday for a little bit.  Since the better fish have been absent when they come it might be something.  I saw a couple of beds today, but none of the fish had any physical evidence that they were bedding.  And the ramp watcher told me a club was in town this weekend and it took 10lbs to win, so still no big girls at the dance, but that has to change.  Their genetics mandate spawning, and it is about to happen, and like I wondered earlier this winter, they have to come sooner or later and now is the time.  Add that to a combination super moon and worm moon on Wednesday and the state is set.  As the day wore on they bit better and the best is yet to come.

We on the other hand will be headed to Big Bend tomorrow.  It is one of my favorite close trips.  The mountains, desert, critters, the park has it all.  We also plan on visiting a state park close that has the biggest population of Big Horn and seeing one would be something.  Looks like we will have to hike in to the area so all that time on the tread mill is good for something.  But as soon as I get back it will be back on the water somewhere.  Then 2 weeks later I have a completely open week as the Boss will be out of town.  Maybe Arkansas?  Maybe Louisiana?  So many places so little time.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff, and have a great weekend!

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Brought to you by

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

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

Tomorrow is Monday, (Preparing some of this Sunday.) and if it is Monday it must be Coleto.  I refuse to give up, it seems impossible that they are not going to bite.  There will be another bait added as I continue to try to figure out what is going on this spring.  The weather looks good so it will be off around 7:30 for a day on the lake.

Weather

70/50.  Early clouds then partly cloudy late with 0% chance of rain.  Wind  ENE 10 – 15mph.

Lake Level

Today  98.17 msl.  9 days ago  98.29 msl.

Solunar Times

Best  9:02 am to 11:02 am.  Only relevant period.  Day is classed as average.

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

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

It was cloudy with the wind out of the north around 10 – 15mph when I got there, and that remained the same all day. And other than a little sun during the afternoon it was cloudy.  The water temp was basically 65 – 68 over most of the lake, down just a little.  And the color, while still ugly in some places, is finally starting to clear some.

I wanted to start in a big spawning cove up lake that was somewhat protected from the wind.  The color was not the best but the temp was 64.  Swim jig was up first, and before I left that cove I boated 4 and missed one.  That one slack lined me, which was probably a good one.  They were all within a few feet of the bank.  Next up was another cove, and I only caught one in there, but at least they were biting.  So down lake to another flatter cove and another one jumped on.  They were hitting it pretty good, but the next place was really clear considering how it has been.  So with a them hitting it near the cover and good water color it was time for today’s plan, the pearl Controlled Descent Jerk Shad.  Good choice.

Nothing big today but a real consistent bite.

Starting on the point of the cove I got one, then another.  To make a long story short from around 11:00 until I quit at 4:00 they bit consistently, only one cove did not produce a fish.  Once I figured out the pattern it was nice to catch some fish.  They tended to be near grass more than anything else, especially if it was a little protected.  I rigged the Jerk Shad with a VMC 1/16th ounce swim bait hook on 15lb test.  The way the hook is made the weight sits near the bend of the hook, and it actually acts somewhat like a keel.  The reason that was important was it makes it a lot easier to work it like a spook.  If it was not to thick I left the tip of the barb exposed which helped with the hook ups.  Walking the dog right below the surface they would just roll up and hit it.  No nice rhythmic walk the dog, no bites.

They were flat smokin’ the Controlled Descent Jerk Shad.

From barely getting a bite most of the month to a nice numbers day is puzzling, but welcome.  It was an easy 15 today, and I managed to miss a big one, but she better not be on that same piece of cover tomorrow or she is in the boat.  My best guess right now, they are finally coming.  It is supposed to stay warm and the fishing just might be something.  The big girls have been absent for the most part but that is about to change.   Feels good to have a descent report on Coleto.

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

And I got this comment on cheating in tournaments from SA Joe.

https://outdoors360.com/angler-indicted-for-trimming-bass-tail-to-win-tournament/

Disgusting !!!!! One reason i stopped fishing tournaments. We even had a military bass tourney for retired, active, civilians working for the military. Heard one time they were snagging fish on beds, had hook marks in side and such. I quit after that. If military type people are cheating for 5k, imagine what they do for 10k plus !!!!!

All I have to say about that is one word -SAD.

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

So I am definitely wound up, and it will be off in the morning for a long day of it before heading to Big Bend.  And tomorrow it will be walking the dog with the pearl Jerk Shad, and I mean just that.  If I had started with it earlier it would have even been a better day.  I fished from way up the Coleto arm to past the plant.  The best coves tended to be mid lake and that will be the primary focus.  Tomorrow has the potential to be a big fish day, and if fate decides to shine, along with some good technique, and  it just might happen.  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!

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

The weather is finally straightening up a little here in Victoria.  No fishing this weekend but it will be back on the water in the morning.  Of course I watched a little fishing, but the real issue is I have no right taillight on the boat trailer.  What makes it interesting, and hard to find, is while there is no tail light, the turn signal, brake light, and emergency flasher all work on that side.  I took a little run at it yesterday, and as soon as I hit post it will be back at it.  The usual pain in the ass as far as trailer lights go.  Hey they made it 15 months before messing up, guess it comes with tons of use.

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

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

The Fort Worth Star Telegram has reported another stain on bass fishing tournaments.  An angler has been indicted on felony charges for trimming the tail of a bass during a tournament on Lake Fork.  This piece of scum makes me sick.  As a retired defense attorney I have a pretty good idea how things work, so here is my .02 worth.  This is the kind of case if the prosecutor assigned to it has any stones there will be no plea offer made without significant jail time, at least a little pen time, no county jail for this fool.  And if he does not take it then go ahead a take it to trial and see what a jury thinks of this behavior.  This tournament involved up to a $10,000 prize, clearly taking it into the felony range.  Look at this way, if some scum like this tried to straight up steal your $10,000 would you want him in prison?  That is what he did.  It has taken years to finally really address cheating in tournaments, and more needs to be done.  Time to draw the line and make a statement.

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

More fun with boating, or why would you buy this boat?  I love reading the sale ads, they speak for themselves, but I just can not help myself.  And for God’s sake it is not a “V Haul”!!!!!  (It isn’t the thing you rent to move.)

Has not run in years, cheap enough to so some work on, bill of sale only.

Sure it is…….

Do not have title.

Run away!

No motor, no title, you have to haul it away.

That says it all.

The boat is ready to fish if you do not go to far from the ramp.  Only $11,000.

Maybe there is a bunch of fish on a ramp near you.

Running last year, needs tires and batteries, jack plate needs fluid.

Other than that it is ready to roll.

Fiberglass damage and hull takes on water.

Hope the bilge pumps works.

Boat needs some seats and a motor.

You do not need anywhere to sit if it does not run.

The boat is total junk, rotted out.  Motor ran a long time ago.  No titles.

So what is really wrong with it?

Restorable.

Which means break out your wallet.

Motor runs great, needs lower prop assembly replaced or repaired.

At least the top half.

Motor not running and transom needs repaired.

Who needs a transom when the motor does not run.

Of course many of these are junk, and often the owner had grand plans to restore it, and like all good intentions fail.  And if it such a good deal and the fix so easy why not do it, make it a lot easier to sell.  Restoring a boat is a project, often the bottomless pit as you get into it.  So buyer beware, buy something that floats, runs, has been maintained, with a title.  You might not regret it.  (Any more than normal!)

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

And I got this question from Elaine.

The Big Bend trio sounds interesting. May I ask, where do you usually stay when traveling there?

We have stayed several places in that area.  We have stayed at Terlingua Ranch.  The motel is rustic, no tv but it is 30 mile from the park.  It has a restaurant and pool, and plenty of roads to hike and great access to a road up the mountain, which is big time 4 wheel, but so worth the drive.  You can register for that road at the lodge and get the key.  Stunning at the top.  So it is out there, but quiet.  On any hike on the back roads you can see javelina, quail, and mule deer.  We did stay in Terlingua proper at a house made from phone books,  (Cool) but with no real ac or heat it is tough in hot weather.  She is a retired archeologist and was a wealth of information.

Marathon is a good alternative though about an hour from the park.  The Gage Hotel is way cool but pricey, we have stayed there several times.  The 12 Gage restaurant is definitely pricey but the food is always excellent.  In fact, though we are not staying there we will definitely be eating there one night.  It is quite historical and when the weather is cool there is wood and a fireplace.  Another place we have stayed is in Alpine, at the Holland Hotel.  An old hotel, it is nice with restaurant and bar.  Again a ways from the park.

Places we have not stayed, the park itself which has cabins and a motel.  We have also not stayed at the El Dorado Hotel which is in Terlingua.  We have eaten there, it was good, and they have music in the evening and it seems ok, but is nothing fancy.  Home of the beer drinking goat, who sadly has passed.  But I am sure he was happy!

This time we are staying at some motel in Alpine that has a kitchenette so we will do our own breakfast.  As we are heading to a park close to there to hike and look for Big Horns we will spend one day there, then drive down to Big Bend the other days.  We just fix lunch, pack lots and lots of water, and head out for the day with no particular plan.  And the drive to the park from there is beautiful so we don’t mind.  Then we do the big eat out at night.  This trip we made our reservations late, and most places we would have stayed were booked, so will let you know how this new place works out.  It is definitely nothing fancy, but about all that was available.  The park is a popular place in the spring.  So stay tuned for the pictures, always a cool trip.

And a last word about driving in the park.  There are 3 kinds of roads, good blacktop, fair gravel, and 4 wheel gravel.  Our last trip the only person we saw driving a couple of the 4 wheel roads were Mexican Apaches on horseback rounding up their cattle who came across the river.  Not sure who was more surprised, us or them.  These were not Iphone carrying, King Ranch Ford driving, urban cowboys, they were the real thing!  (That was the phone book house trip on a road called the river road.  It has a sign which basically says you are on your own.  She was the retired archeologist who filled us in on who they were.  All I know it was cool. Of course they are not supposed to be there, but since if the park finds the cattle they take them and sell them.)  But as long as you have a good 4 wheel vehicle, and are prepared with supplies, water, 2 spares, etc. they might find you before you dry up and blow away.  But the main roads and some of the gravel are fine for cars.  And stop at the ranger station, they are great folks and will give you the scoop.  So have fun if you go, it is one cool place to visit.

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

This weekend I have been following the Bassmaster Classic online, and it is going to be close.  But the interesting thing, watching the leader board as it constantly updates.  Of course there was an early bite, but as the day wore on it seemed like when someone would catch one, others would.  (It just happened again with 3 caught by 3 guys in a 2 minute stretch.)  Then there would be periods of nobody boating a keeper.  Really shows how often when they are on the chew, they are biting.  And as all fishermen know, there are times you just can not buy a bite.  Happens to the best of them.

And it was funny as I watched the MLF, with some of the very same guys fishing the Classic.  What makes that funny, it will be the last Classic with KVD, Defoe, Iocanelli, Wheeler, and others.  The world of professional bass fishing is changing, and with many of the pros leaving BASS and FLW, there will be a chance for others to take their place and have a chance to make a living, a good thing.

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

Where tomorrow is up in the air, especially if I can not get the trail light fixed.  At least I can go during the day, but there will be no up early and off, not interested in chatting with law enforcement in the morning.  With the wind forecast to be up to 25 on the coast and only 10 – 15 inland it will probably be freshwater somewhere.  But as generally happens, nothing will be finally decided until I get up.  So keep stopping in, there will be some fishing the next 2 days, 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!

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

Wednesday morning the wind was howling and it was cloudy, but after looking at the hourly forecast I decided that there might be a window so around 11:00 I headed to the lake.  The following pictures are not there to toot my horn, (Duh!) in fact they are an example of what is becoming my increasing frustration/puzzlement at how the fishing on the lake has been the last 6 weeks.

Unfortunately other than these 2, 1 other small bass like this was the size of it.

What makes it difficult for me to decipher what is going on with the fishing is the current lake conditions.  It was 60 degrees at the ramp, obviously the affect of the north wind blowing right in the ramp cove, the interesting part, it warms considerably as you head up lake.  Much of it is in the low 70′ and was 73 degrees way up lake.

I specifically had a plan today.  It was to pick a big cove, a good spawning cove and one that we all fish year round.  Now logically that would be a good choice this time of year, maybe some pre-spawn to spawners as it was 72 degrees and slightly off color.  It was blowing pretty hard so spinnerbait in all the way to the back, which is quite a ways.  Then a slow and methodical pitching and flipping all the way back out.  Every bush, tree, grass, and anything else that looked good.  Not a single freakin’ bite, nada, zip.  In the words of Forest Gump, that is all I have to say about that.

From there I headed way up, the color was so-so but it was 71 degress.  Right off the bat a little jumped on the swim jig.  Keeping at it for while got exactly one more bite in an hour, and I missed that one.  So crankbait was next, and while one more bass and the nice crappie above jumped on, that was the size of it before I quit late afternoon.  Unfortunately the high winds kept me from fishing more finesse style stuff deep, which is the only thing I have not tried yet.

When I got back to the ramp, only 3 trailers left, the guy who watches the ramp was there and I got the weekend tournament report.  He reported one club was in town and they had some small fish but nothing worth talking about, similar to other clubs he has seen weigh in this month.  I even went to the cleaning table and peaked in to see what had been cleaned that day, and other than a couple of small catfish and a few crappie, not much there.  I must admit I am stumped, plain and simple.  Where are the fish?  And more important to me, where are the big fish?  How gone are they?  Just click on the picture tab above and then click on bass, that is what I normally catch on Coleto from January into May!  All I have left to say is I do not have a clue, and I hope this is the perfect storm that has made the fishing like it is, and not a view of things to come.  I kept saying this winter the bite is coming, but no.  But I will keep pounding the lake, they can not beat me this easily.  Probably.

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

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

So with Wednesday’s results less than stellar time for a change, so headed to the Nueces River for the white bass run.  After viewing online reports I learned the following, the river is higher than normally, milky white, and most reports said the fish were running small.  Last time I fished it in the spring there were some real bruisers.

Sharkey Magee towing his daughter upstream as they fish.  I might even try a kayak if I had a human trolling motor!

I launched at Hwy 59 outside George West and started trolling shad style crankbaits, which in the past have been killer, today not so much.  Working  up river, everyone was heading up, not a bite trolling which is unusual for that river.  But with the color so poor I wondered if that was the problem so it was time to cast.

No Nueces giants, this was the run of the mill for the dozen or so caught today.

The first few came on crankbait, the rest on a Roadrunner crappie jig.  For some reason most were hugging the bank, and occasionally shad would jump and a quick cast produced a fish.  Way up river it settled into the 6 – 9 foot range, and the classic spot, the  downstream side of shallow shoals, held fish.  Hopping the jig off the bottom produced most of the whites.  I did have one big ass drum break my line trying to flip it in the boat, bad idea on 6lb line, but no great loss!

During the day I spoke with lots of folks, who reported various success.  Some nothing, one boat a limit, some with a few, but no one reported really big whites.  That was very consistent with the online reports.  Now I did not go to an area way up called the rapids, not interested in fishing with the crowd, especially on the river.  So after going fairly far up I just floated with the current tossing the jig and catching one here and there.  It was not fast by any means but I did catch about a dozen before calling it a day.

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

So this week the bay fishing produces again, but my freshwater endeavors have been less than satisfying.  Looking at the next 10 day forecast produced the same results, less than satisfying.  But with fishing you take the good with the bad, and all the slow trips are cured with one bang up day, it keeps us all fishing.

Not sure what the plan is but I might try to slip out Sunday for a wade and redfish trip to Keller Bay.  After that where to fish it still up in the air, but Thursday the fun begins.  We are off to 4 wheel in Big Bend for 3 days.  We love it out there and this trip are specifically going to a couple of areas hoping to see a Big Horn Sheep as there are a couple of places with the largest population in Texas.  And just driving the desert, and doing some hiking,  seeing all that the park is makes for a great day.  After that I will be heading somewhere to fish for 3 or 4 days, will just have to wait and see what the weather brings.  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!

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

This Weather is Making Me Crazy!

It is 6:00 am Wednesday as I type this.  The wind is freakin’ howling outside with gusts to 30 mph.  We are watching the weather channel and last night, and continuing this morning, Dallas had winds to 78 mph at the airport and there are thousands without power.  And the footage from Denton looks like a hurricane. The radar shows a line of heavy storms, it stretches all the way to Chicago, outside of San Antonio coming this way.  While we may not get much rain out of it as we are on the southern edge, it is fast moving so the actual front will be here sometime this morning.  Of course there are small craft warnings on the bay.  Since it is howling right now it will probably only get worse, but there is a slight hope.  Suffice to say my plans to try to weasel at least a few hours on the lake are definitely up in the air.  All dressed up and nowhere to go!

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

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

Glen, who I had the pleasure of fishing with last year about this time, sent along the following pic and question.  And it looks like there is simple explanation.

Nice Mess

He has been fishing with the crappie bobber above his plastic, (It works!) in the South Pass area the last couple of days.  He was wondering what was up with the dead gafftops, just like I was.

You never know which post will generate a comment or two, and the dead gafftops earned several.  Surprised you did not see them Glen, they were all over the POC area.  The comments below make a lot of sense.

First from Ed.

Was down this past weekend also. And saw the same thing. Gafftop scattered all over.
Turns out TPW said that it as due to an early migration in to the bay and a sudden fall in water temperatures that caused the killing. Also because gafftop have no scales they were unable to protect themselves.

Maybe the have no scales but they sure have enough slime!  And Topwater Billy chimed in.

On your gafftop story.
Saw the exact same thing on a floundering trip last year. The water temps had been on a rising trend. Then, we got a two day blast of really cold air. Gafftops, and only gafftops, floating everywhere.
Correlate it however. But it sounds to me like they are.way less cold water temperature tolerant than trout.
Just an observation

Good observation.  And my buddy Faye chimed in.

Weather be damned, the Corrado’s are heading to the coast to fish next Thursday & Friday! We have tried for months to get down.  Between weather and work it never worked out.

I read on a women’s facebook page about the gafftop kill. A lady posted that the TWP had told her that they migrated in too early and the cold killed them.

As always, thanks for the blog.

Soon to be fishing Corrado’s

And basically the same set of conditions happened a few days ago (Last week?) when we had those couple of nights around freezing.  Figured that was it but still found it interesting they were the only fish and most were the bigger ones.  Guess that year class was the first migrators, tough luck for them.  But I guess since Ed saw them this weekend, who knows, the birds may have eaten the smaller ones.  I saw a Blue Heron doing his best to get a big one down, without much luck.  So mystery solved.  Thanks for the input all.  And Fay, good luck.  It looks like the long term forecast is not to bad, the water is warming pretty quickly, and the fish are biting.  Can’t wait for your report.

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

And I wanted to share Ed’s technique with you.  He uses a crappie style slip bobber, a small one, above his plastic like a popping cork.  Like all techniques I have a theory  (Of course I do, we fishermen all have them.) why it works.  When he pops it the pop is small, and the sounds resemble a baitfish making that flipping sound.  Not really a “calling” technique like a big popping cork, it is almost a finesse technique.  If you think about what bait sounds like when it is “flipping” on the surface it makes all the sense in the world.  We can all learn something fishing with others, if we will listen.

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

One thing I was waiting to tell you about is a jighead I found at the Houston Fishing Show.  I took one look at it and was instantly on board.  It seems to be a simple solution to keeping plastics on the head, one of those things I wish I would have thought of.  In all fairness I have only used them once, but it did exactly what they said it would do, hold the plastic without it slipping down.  The comments on their Facebook page all say the same thing, keeps plastics on until you take it off.  No more having your plastic tear up and sliding down on the hook, sometimes even after one or two fish. They are a little high at $5 for 5, but if you think about it the savings in plastics will more than cover that.  So while I intended to use it a few more times before I reported on them, I am sold.  (Comes with being stuck in the house!)  So check them out, I will be ordering more soon.  If you do tell them I sent you.  No free jig heads were involved in this recommendation.

https://www.facebook.com/pg/deathgripjighead/reviews/?ref=page_internal

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

That will do it for the morning’s ramblings and whining.  The rest of the day will be spent watching fishing, thinking about fishing, organizing fishing stuff, and waiting to see what the weather holds.  It has calmed down a little out there, so time will tell.  But hey, if I get a chance to sneak out I will.  A few hours of fishing can make a day.  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!

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

The weather looked good for the bay, so at 6:30 it was off to POC.  It was foggy, real foggy.  Fortunately by time I made the dock, unloaded, and put on the waders it was starting to clear.  The wind was right out of the East, and was blowing pretty good right down the pike.  So off to the island and in the water.  But first …………….Gaff – ocide!

Weather

64/72.  Cloudy with a 30% chance of showers early.  Wind ESE 10 – 15mph.

Tides

Low 2:54 am -0.1     High  1:26 pm  0.3.

Solunar Times

Best 3:05 pm to 5:05 pm.   Good  8:54 am to 10:54 am.  Day classed as poor.

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

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

There were thousands of them everywhere!

The water temp was 66 degrees, it was fairly clear at the dock, and from that point on there were dead gafftops everywhere.  I have seen some fish kills over the years but this was different.  They were all the same size, I saw no little ones, and they stretched from Froggie’s to the island and everywhere in between.  No great loss as far as I am concerned but it is puzzling and not a good thing.  There is nothing to say about that other than what the hell happened?  Not a clue on my part.

That second one was a good one. 

The first drain had the wind blowing in the wrong direction, making it hard to fish.  They did not want a topwater, not a touch, and the way the wind was blowing it made fishing the Controlled Descent a hassle.  Nothing like making a cast and getting it blow back as fast as you can take it up.  So in a moment of insight I went back to the DOA Cal but used a 1/4 ounce jig head, heavy for me, but at least I could cast in to the wind and get it on the bottom.  From then on the trout kept biting.

The first one, run of the mill for the wade.  The second, boat fishing for reds.

As they were last trip they were positioned in a drain on a drop of about 3′.  The tide was moving so they were facing into it, which of course was right into the wind.  But as usual, listen to the fish, which I did.  They were right off the edge, so it was important to land the bait next to the bank, then a big hop, letting it fall down the edge with the current.  It was tough to feel, but most of them were smacking it on the first or second drop.  After catching a nice bunch, it turned into catching them just cause, I moved out of the drain to where I saw lots of bait.  Only one more jumped on, other than that no other bites there.  Definitely not a “find the bait, find the fish”.

Since I have not caught any reds lately I thought about spinnerbait and the Oil Cut so off I went.  Usually spinnerbait is the ticket in there, but not a bite.  But I found 2 more places with trout in a couple of the fingers, catching 5 or 6 in one place and the same in another.  (See the best one above.)  I kept alternating between spinnerbait and plastic, and the trout cooperated but not the reds.  So time for one more place.

Next my favorite redfish bank in Big Bayou did not produce a bite.  Another place the same.  It really did surprise me that nowhere gave up a bite on the spinnerbait, pretty unusual.  It is not to often I can’t catch a red and keep catching trout, usually the opposite.  So around 2:30 I called it a good day.

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

Just a Random Thought

One thing that seems to be consistent is looking at various fishing forecast/tide sites are the projections.  I look at 3 or 4 when I prepare the days conditions for a report, and one thing is clear, when the day is forecast as poor, they all agree.  And whether fresh or saltwater there is a direct correlation between tidal movement, moon phase, and the days projection.  Of course all of that is irrelevant to a fisherman, especially most who have a job, they are going whenever they can, dam the conditions.  I have never not gone due to a bad outlook, but do admit to specifically going when the stars align.  Does a bad projection mean bad fishing?  Of course not, just as a good one does not mean you are going to load the boat.

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

Welcome to Crazy Town

The following is a statute proposed in the New York legislature:

It shall be unlawful for any person to organize, sponsor, conduct, promote, or participate in any contest, competition, tournament, or derby with the objective of taking or hunting wildlife for prizes or other inducement, or for entertainment.

The proposed punishment would be up to 1 year in jail and/or a fine between $500 to $2,000. The bill was read on the floor, then sent to the Committee on Environmental Conservation for further review.

Yikes!  Now I will agree that on some bodies of water, like Amistad does, there is a need to have a tournament registration requirement to keep it to a dull roar.  And it is nice to be able to look it up and not go when BASS is there as an example.  And a perfect example of too much was when we fished a tourney out of POC and there was 3 others the same weekend, including one at the ramp at Froggie’s.  Hardly a great outdoor experience.  In addition, this would end all the tournaments that are done for charity, which many tournaments are.  Heck, if you raised pheasants on your farm you could not just release and shoot them for the fun of it – entertainment?  And the old attorney in me is coming out:  So as long as we are participating in a contest with the specific objective of eating what we get then if someone gives us a prize for it we would not be breaking the law?  The statute is not the well worded, always wiggle room.  It is incumbent on sportsmen to keep informed, we need to watch them like a hawk no matter where you are.  This is flat nuts!

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

The last 2 weeks I have made 3 trips to the bay and the trout have cooperated each time.  It has not always been easy, but good numbers.  Whether they hit topwater seems to be weather dependent.  Trip one the weather was perfect, and they hit topwater and every thing else in sight.  Next trip it was post cold front and they were gone, but finally found them bunched up on a drop.  Today, the weather was so-so, a little windy for topwater, but they cooperated, first in the drain, then the Oil Cut.  3 different days, 3 different ways to catch them.  Which tells me one thing, they are biting!

Looking at the weather as I type this includes the following at POC this week:  Wind to 25mph with a 40% chance of rain, wind to 30 with 80% chance of rain, wind to 20 with 80% chance of rain, followed by wind to 30 with a 10% chance of rain.  So there you go.  This has been one interesting spring.  So looks like it will be the lake if possible.  Who knows, might be able to get in a few hours.  But one thing is for sure, POC will be out for a few days.  So keep stopping in, if there is any way to get on the water this week I will be going.  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!

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

Had a great time at the Houston Fishing Show.  Sold a few baits at the Controlled Descent booth Thursday afternoon, and got to hang out a little with Tim and Jason from Wade Right and Joshua of Marker 54.   All reported a good day on Wednesday, the first day of the show.  As soon as I get done with the fishing report there is a few things I want to share that I saw at the show.  Plus, the report is not going to take long!

Weather

68/78.  Cloudy with a 20% chance of a stray shower.  Wind  S 10 – 20.

Lake Level

Today   98.29  13 days ago  98.24

Solunar Times

Best  11:18 am to 1:18 pm.

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

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

The “NO  FISH” Fishing Report

I got home really late after leaving the show and ended up sleeping in.  When I got up it was warm and misty, unfortunately the wind was blow hard out of the South, and it did nothing more than blow harder the rest of the day.  But after talking fishing all day yesterday I had to wet a line somewhere.

First the conditions.  The water temp was 59 degrees at the ramp, down just a little.  The area mid-lake around the discharge cove was 67, and it was 61 way up lake.  Basically the same as it has been all month.  The color is still spotty, it seems every time the wind blows some areas color up more than others.  And it was one of those blowing around any corner, white capping anywhere it could get a head of steam, which on Coleto a South wind means most of the lake.

Long story short, 4 total, and those came up lake in the first hour.  The next 5 hours was without a bite!

Pretty Sorry.

Starting up lake the first bite was a white bass on the A Rig, then another.  Switching to crankbait a small bass jumped on and I had some hope that maybe, just maybe, it was going to be a better day than it has been lately.  But NO!  To make a long a boring story short I fished the following.  A Rig, deep diving crankbait, buzzbait (One more small jumped on later.), swim jig, spinnerbait, Bang O Lure, plus the kitchen sink.  I planned on fishing plastics but the wind ruled most of that out.  It was coves, channel banks, flats, up lake and down, here and there, semi-clear water, dirty water, and on and on.

Folks I do not have a clue, nada, zip, zero.  Bass fishing hard over the last 40 years I have seen lots of different conditions on lots of different bodies of water, but this has me really puzzled.  The lake has been like this for the last couple of months, fairly stable water levels, the color clearing a little, then muddying back up here and there.  (I did see one bed, but no one was home.)  The temp has also remained stable in the low to mid 60’s.  At this point I am just rambling, it is puzzling to say the least.

When I got to the ramp 6 hours later the only other fisherman I talked to had the following comment, “Wish we caught some.”  And my buddy, who comes to the ramp to read in the evening, said there just has not been the normal amount of fishermen out most days and no one he talked to has done worth a hoot.   As I left they were rolling in for the weekend so all I have to say it “Good Luck”.

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

I really had a big time at the show.  Nothing like a couple of thousand fishermen all in one place talking fishing.

Michael of Controlled Descent.  Enjoyed working the booth and meeting lots of new folks and couple of readers who stopped by.  Thanks for letting me help out.

Jason and Tim selling some Wade Right belts.  And we all got in a lather talking about the upcoming Chandeleur fishing trip.  It is gonna be fun!

Joshua talking about his cool Marker 54 shrimp baits.  After a good day one he wondered if he brought enough.  Now that is a good show!

Of course besides hanging out with my bro’s I did make the rounds and there were a couple of things that really peaked my interest.  My favorite was the coolest thing I have seen in boats in while, or maybe ever.

Hog Island Boats

One cool boat.

As all of you who read this stuff know I have a real problem with the escalating cost of boats, and when I saw their 16′ skiff I was all about it.  This thing is basically indestructible, floats in zip, light weight, safe, a nice V, and can be configured in many ways depending on your style of fishing.  This is the boat I would have bought 20 years ago when I bought the Carolina Skiff.  This boat can float trout rivers, take on big water like Lake of the Woods, or float in spit on the flats chasing redfish.  And the best things, it is basically indestructible and the price is right.  (The whole rig in the price range of a big motor.)  Not only a good entry level boat, this one will do it all, and would be a great forever boat especially for us multi-species guys.  Made in Steamboat Colorado they are available in Austin at Action Marine.  I hate to gush to much but this is the best multi-purpose boat I have seen in a long time, so take minute and look at their website.  And I really enjoyed talking fishing with the owner, John St John, a great guy who gets it.  This is by far the coolest thing I saw at the show.  I would buy one tomorrow but the Boss would kill me!  (Why she would have a problem with 3 boats in the yard I do not know!  What is wrong with her?)

http://hogislandboatworks.com/page.php?page=sw-16-skiff-specifications

Mang –  Buy one, plant one.

Kyle Rossin stopped by the Controlled Descent booth and when we got to talking I found out he co-owned the Manggear Company.  What makes them all that, every purchase results in the planting of a mangrove, which in Florida is becoming increasingly important.  Besides their cool stuff, these young men are making a real difference.  I love seeing young entrepreneurs and these guys are doing something I do not see near enough, giving back.  Hey being in the fishing business does not require you have a social conscience, or to give back, but I see many companies not doing enough, happy enough to take from the sport but sorely lacking in the return.  When the show was over I went by their booth but guess I missed them, I was going to buy a shirt just to have a mangrove planted, so I will order one on line.  It is incumbent on all of us to participate in some way no matter how small, the future of our sport depends on it.  So stop by their website, and check out the blog page, these guys are not only talking the talk, plenty of blowhards in fishing, these guys really do walk the walk.

https://www.manggear.com/

I did make a couple of purchases but kept that to a dull roar.  Guess I have enough stuff to last a lifetime, but there is always something.  And I met some really great folks, and invited one to come fish Coleto with me.  While there I also met a guy who fished and guided on my old stomping grounds, among others.  But we all have one thing in common, a love of fishing.  Heck if it wasn’t so far away I would go back today!

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

Now back to the lake.  I do not know what to say, or what to think.  February and March are some of the best months, and normally fish 5 – 8lbs are not that uncommon.  So what has happened?  Is this the perfect storm of conditions holding them back?  Of course the loss of our grass is a big factor, but I am getting worried something else is going on.  Where are the fish?  So I guess one of 2 things will happen – They will come to the bank in mass and it will be crazy good, or there is a problem.

Looking at the area forecast for the next 15 days, except for Sunday a week from now, there is rain in the forecast and with that some high winds.  What’s new?  But with the lake fishing so poorly it will be back to the coast for me.  I forked over for a Live Target mullet swim bait that looks cool, and with the fish on mullet as a steady diet right now I have visions of  big trout.  And if the stars and moon line up time for a 3 day trip somewhere.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Brought to you by

Stop by and see them at the Houston Fishing Show  March 6 – 10th.

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

It is 11:30 Tuesday morning here in South Texas and it is cold.  The temp just hit 41 degrees and the wind chill just hit 33, so at least it is not freezing.  It is all helped by a North wind that is gusting to a little more than 20mph.  So my plan to hit the lake for a few hours today is not happening.  Since I am heading to Houston for a couple of days, first to spend some time with the Sony Rep to make sure I have at least a minimum clue how to use the new camera.  Second to work the Controlled Descent booth Thursday evening.  Should be a good time, and with the weather still acting up I don’t think I will be missing much on the water.

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

And as usual great to hear from Mac after my Monday ramblings.

Doug, welcome to Alberta, Gnome, Iceland. etc

I have not moved more than 10 feet of a roaring fireplace and have consumed many cups of java only to look forward to some Guinness Stout this evening. In addition I now have a bad case of a sinus infection. “Bah humbug”. For over 1o days I have combated fever, chills, and coughed up green slime in relentless fashion. My wife an RN, says this type of infection does not respond to antibiotics. Her Dr. friend says this crap may take 2 to 3 weeks to rid itself. I sit around and moan daily, but as my wife says. ” Mac, You could have the death of a disease, but you would still be fishin’.”

Not so fast Janet: As I progress up in age, that rocking chair calls out more often.
Doug, all of your candid stories always make a long winter day much shorter. Your story today was just the medicine I needed. One meets the nicest folks unexpectedly.

A few years ago I worked my way through college guiding anglers around Port A. After a long hot day, I went over to Shorty’s to have a cold Lone Star (Coors was still in Colorado.) Sitting at the bar was Frank Broyles,. your pig’s coach, and a guy named Gad About Gaddis or The Flying Fisherman. I wanted to talk about football but Frank then told me they were down to fish and not talk football. I learned a lot in one hour that afternoon. Being a student at A&M, Arkansas was crushing us every year, but Coach said something I always remember when the Aggies lose to anyone. “Mac, don’t ever get upset on losing to us. All the players players on the field are only a bunch of 18 to 20 year old kids and you never know what can happen .

I guess i will, as you say, ramble one more time Last week I was getting gas at a station in La Grange, when B J Thomas pulled up next to me. We talked only for a minute and I went inside for coffee. On my windshield were 2 tickets to a concert in Austin that night

There still are a lot off good people in this country;

Its 1 pm and the temp is 31 degrees. If it were January I would be in a Duck Blind regardless of my ailment.
Oh well, come July I will be bitching about he heat!!!!!!!!
Now that the weather not to good, write us some more of your many untold stories

Yukon Mac

Many thanks for this, love the stories.  And as a side note next year we have a trip to Ireland scheduled, including a stop at the Guiness plant.  I will hoist one in your name!  Cool story about Broyles, an icon in Arkansas.  After he became athletic director there were many times when the games were close, and he would leave and walk around, often outside because he got so nervous.  He loved the University and football, his kind are slowly becoming a thing of the past.  And a side note, when they built the new basketball stadium his wife basically said she was tired of women not having the same amount of restroom facilities and demanded better so he made sure to fix it.  Attending there with the Boss she was in total agreement.  (The Boss is the woman who when the line to the women’s restroom was so long at the horse track she and a friend went in the men’s and almost got arrested by a State Trooper.  Those were the days!) Plus nice to meet Gad About Gaddis, another all time great.  You got a 2 for 1 shot that day.

And along with that, today I finished Gods and Generals about the early years of the Civil War.  I have been an avid reader my whole life and this book is in my top 5, if not number 1.  Historical novels are not my thing but this was great.  And in the index was a blurb about where some of the generals ended up.  Major General Daniel Harvey Hill became the Dean at the University of Arkansas in 1877.   Just thought it interesting you brought Broyles up today.

And that was nice of B.J. Thomas, you are so right, there are good folks out there.  So be  nice folks, a small gesture to you may mean the world to someone else.  Hope you get to feeling better, having suffered a 2 week pain in the ass last month I feel your pain.  And last, as we get older it is not the money, the big house, or the fancy boats that is a measure of our success, it is our memories.  Memories of days on the water and in the field, shared with friends, keep us warm in front of the fire, along with a toddy.  It is in the doing, not the results.  Get well and as always love your memories.  And the rest of you, we all love hearing yours.

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

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

Bass Champs had a tournament on Lake Fork this weekend and 2 teams tied, really unusual.  But that is not the half of it.  First they were offered a chance to have a 1 hour fish off and due to the weather declined and agreed to split the $$$.  Now I was not there but with high winds and cold temps this weekend it was probably not fun.  I think the bigger thing was the fact that they both had 10.28 pounds, not much for a tough grind.  But that is not the weird part.  One winning team had a 5 fish limit that weighed 10.28 and the other had 1 fish, that weighed 10.28, which was also big fish for the tourney.  What are the odds?

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

And Keith sent this along.

I live in Canyon Lake, and fish POC about 4-6 times a year. Been doing that for over 30 years. I really enjoy reading your blog especially the salt water portion.
I am turning 50 this year and want to plan a trip to the Chandeluer Islands like the one you have been on. Me and my Girl and my best friend and his girl, I want to go sometime in May when the weather is a little more predictable.
So looking forward to going somewhere and catching some fish but seems odd to go there to catch the same fish I can catch here. I guess I more looking forward to the food you raved about last year when you went.
The white bass haven’t even started here at Canyon, been several times and each time the water temps have still been in the high 50’s.
16 years up here and I never really catch them till the temp gets to 67-69 degrees in the lake.

This cold front today and tomorrow really problem threw them for a loop if they were thinking about getting started.
Would love any suggestions of things to take on the Chandeleur trip. Can’t wait.
I always look for you at Froggies when I’m down there, haven’t crossed your path yet. I stay just down the street across from the Captains Quarters motel.
Thanks for giving all of us that cant fish as much as we would like something to read and dream about.

First the Chandeleur trip.  When you plan really look over the available boats.  There are lots of options.  We went on the Southern Belle and I would, and will, go with them again.  Be advised the fishing boats are pull starts, but well maintained and each has a radio in case.  Now do not get me wrong, the sleeping arrangements are close, it is a ship.  If memory serves me correct his was the first boat built for these trips.  So when looking to add the ladies be sure to make sure they know what they are getting in to and make sure the boat can accommodate their needs.  And while nothing fancy, Capt. Howie knows how to cook.  When you are out there and come back to a warm meal and a few adult beverages the day is made.  And book early.  We choose our period last year and he was already filling up.  Another word about time of year.  The year before I went the boys went in the fall and limited out with their 25o trout.  We on the other hand caught about 2/3 of that, but they were a lot bigger.

fishsouthernbelle.com/  – check them out.

There is acres of shallow flats and with the boats they have, you can fish out of the boat all 3 days if you like.  The biggest trout of the trip came drifting in the middle of the day, and several folks did not wade at all.  We did both.  And that time of year, May, there are some big ass trout and reds on the beach.  It requires a little walk over the island depending on where you beach, but trust me, it is worth the walk.  The only real problem, carrying a full stringer back to the small boat.

The beach.  Loved the average size.

As far as baits, easy.  Topwater – I really enjoyed throwing the Whooper Plooper and of course any walking the dog style topwater will do.  Popping cork – Simple and effective.  Add anything you like on the end, but I was impressed with Marker 54’s hard 3″ shrimp, the fish loved it.  Plastics – Your preference.  I had great luck slow rolling the Controlled Descent Paddle Shad on the beach, the nice trout just stopped it.  Other than that anything you are confident throwing works just like here.

And to your comment about catching the same stuff as we do here, I get it.  I really understand that, when I go to Florida I will catch reds and trout if it happens, but I am there for snook and maybe a tarpon or two.  This trip is different in it is all about the doing.  A real poor man’s mothership, then not having to do anything, no cooking, no boat cleaning, heck the crew on the Southern Belle would not let you even load your own stuff and they filled your cooler!   I got used to that real quick.

And the reds averaged nice and fat.  We saw reds like this everyday.  In fact the first bite I had was a big red who smashed a ripped Whooper Plopper and I almost fell out of the boat setting the hook!

One last piece of advice, we paid extra to leave the first night so that we were on the water first thing day 1, and we got 3 full days of fishing, worth the extra.  The trip per person cost is beyond reasonable for 3 days.  Having fished lots of places here and abroad it is the best deal in adventure fishing.  So good luck with your planning, and stay tuned for a report as soon as I get back early May.  Just writing this got my heart to pumping!

And the poor white bass, I am sure they just do not know what to do.  My guess, the minute it warms up it will be on, and probably shorter than usual.  Ours are still hanging out up lake, as they have for the last month.  All we need is that big warming trend, but with this delayed warming it might spread it out and will never be off the chart crazy like it can be.

Last, thanks for reading.  I try to share info, techniques and just maybe a little entertainment.  This winter was slow but that is about to change.  There are still lots of big trout being caught and I hope I get in on the act.  And with easy limits the last 2 trips it helps with the motivation.  Hopefully there will be some good future reports, which means I get to catch them.  Thanks again.

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

I did take a hike, glad I did not go fishing and here are a couple of picture with the new camera.

Looks like there will be a fairly large learning curve but so far so good.  Since I will spend a little time with the camera rep tomorrow that curve should be reduced quickly.  We want to be sure we have it all down before the wolf tracker trip to Montana in April.

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

Off to the Houston Fishing Show tomorrow and when I get back a couple of days from now hopefully the weather will calm down at least some.  It is spring and time for the real spring fishing.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Brought to you by

Stop by and see them at the Houston Fishing Show  March 6 – 10th.

Fishdar?

What happens when a lesbian, an oncologist, and fisherman meet in a bar?

I have always maintained that I have “fishdar”.  What is that?  A variation from the gay comedians who claim they can spot another gay person do to their “gaydar”.  The same happens to us fishermen, we can often spot each a mile away.  Which leads me to the following.  What happens when a lesbian, an oncologist, and fisherman meet in a bar?  Of course the conversation gets around to fishing!

We spent the weekend in San Antonio, staying at the Havana, a really cool 1914 remodeled hotel.  The bar is awesome.  Down in the basement, it is lit only with red candles all around, one of those places if you are ever in town and want to have an adult beverage I highly recommend it.  But to my point –

The lesbian was there with her significant other, and there were 4 other people there, who had obviously been having a good time.  So of course we are all chatting.  We found out he was a physician.  He, his wife, and another couple flew to San Antonio for a long weekend to escape the ridiculously cold weather of Green Bay.  The lesbian and girlfriend were from San Antonio.  Once Green Bay came up of course as a life long Bear fan I had to needled them.  No longer running feud than Bears/Packers.  And then what happened?  The conversation turned to fishing.

Before it was over it was a marling fishing, sturgeon stabbing, walleye catching good time.  All of us who fish speak that common language.  A love of fishing crosses all orientations, economic station,  and geographic locations.  We all had one thing in common if nothing else, a love of fishing.  And we all have a story.  You just never know.

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

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

I got this comment from Rick following my bay exploits of last week.

Great report. I really look forward to your salt water adventures and like the way you share your exact techniques with all your readers of the blog. A guy like me only gets to go 3-4 times a year, so when I do get to go I’m a lot better prepared, thanks to you. So leave them overgrown green mud minnows alone and keep busting those trout and reds. Besides, you know a 17 inch trout tastes better than any bass that ever hit the grease. Keep up the great job you’re doing.
Rick

First I will agree, fresh trout definitely taste better than a “green mud minnow”, but we eat them both.  I do admit my trout fishing skills are not my strong suit but I have my moments.  Last trip was a perfect example.  It took me 4 wades to finally sink in, (I have been known to flog a dead horse as they say, which you know if you read this stuff.) they had deserted those shallow clear banks.  So it was only logical, go small, go deep, go light.  I think the fall rate on the 1/32 jig head and little plastic is so slow, it does take patience, they just can not stand it.  And when it is like that they just suck it in, really reminds me of all the crappie fishing I did while guiding.  Watching that tiny jig sinking so slow then seeing the line jump!  Gotcha!  And to your comment about being a little better prepared, that is the whole point of this blog.  I may not know much, but when it helps anyone it keeps me writing.  Thanks for the compliment.

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

And your point about only getting here a few times a year brings up another subject.  Over the years I have met some really great folks due to the blog, and have been fortunate enough to get to fish with a few of you.  If things work out I try to fish with folks who comes this way, my apologies to those I missed.  And getting to fish with other folks has definitely made me a better fisherman.  (And I am always down with a boat ride in someone else’s boat.)  So if any of you are headed this way drop me a line.  Not saying it will always work out but I love to hitch a ride.  So give me some notice, you never know.

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

Last year when the Lew’s SLP baitcasters were on sale at Bass Pro I bought 3, and I love them.  They are back on sale again both online in the Cabela’s bargain cave and in the spring Bass Pro sales flyer.  At $79 they are worth every penny.  I have been using them extensively for over a year in freshwater without so much as a hitch in the git along.  I have not used them in the salt but will be picking up another and will use it exclusively in the salt to see how it holds up.  And speaking of reels I will give props to the Okuma I bought at Dicks over a year ago, it has been used only in the salt and has held up great.

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

I have commented on the Marker 54 hard shrimp before, it really caught the fish in the Chandeleur Islands.  Not only did it catch bull reds and trout, it held up to the abuse of several 25lb+ redfish.  The Tackle Box in Victoria is now carrying them.  They are not cheap by any stretch, but are made so solid that about the only way it will mess up is if you do and lose it.  So if you are a popping cork fan pick some up, it catches fish.  (And no free lures were involved in the making of this post.)

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

And since we are talking about fishing stuff I will be hanging out (Working if you call it that.) at the Controlled Descent booth at the Houston Fishing Show Thursday evening from around 4 or 5 until closing.  It will be fun talking fishing, as well as cruising the show looking for those bargains you just can not live without.  That is how I met the Wade Right guys, and their belt has turned into my favorite “accessory” other than the boat.  The point being there is no better place other than ICAST to find out what is new, usually getting a better deal to boot.  Plus with the weather being as crappy as it is it is a great time to hit the show.  Just bring your wallet.

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

And what report would be complete without one fish picture?  This is my buddy Aaron from early March 2012 ,when we smacked a ton of redfish, the first year of the blog.  Notice his shirt?  Wishin’ for some of that!  And illustrates using the month search for things that happened for the last 7 years can tell you something.  Time for a trip to Keller Bay.

It is 34 degrees, it might hit 38 today, which when combined with a 25mph north wind makes this a Monday no fishing day.  Dang it.  The low for tonight will be below freezing with a freeze watch in affect.  The next few days are no real improvement.  Daylight savings time is this weekend, the 10th, and this seems to be some crazy weather for this late.  So while it may suck, when it warms up a touch I might be headed to the lake for a few hours tomorrow afternoon in spite of high winds and cold temps.  A matter of taking what you can get.  As soon as it straightens up a little more it will be back to the bay.

******************* 

So that is it for today from a bored retired fisherman who is watching fishing instead of going.  Like all real fisherman I am either doing it, thinking about it, or in my case writing about it.  So hope this was not to boring, one of my occasional worries doing this.  But it is what it is –  All I know is I was wishing I was fishing!  So keep stopping in, there will be a real report soon, and thanks for reading and commenting.  Keeps an old guy busy.

Good Luck and Tight Lines