FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Brought to you by

**For a super deal on your Wade Right use promo code FCT15 and get 15% off on your online order!**

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

Sitting in the motel in Louisiana as I write this.  Will be heading home tomorrow and then hopefully some fishing on Thursday and Friday.  But there was a couple of comments I wanted to share with you.  And maybe you might have a suggestion for the last one.

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

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

I got this comment from Bo who I met at the Coleto ramp the other day.

Good afternoon Doug. The tournament this weekend wasn’t very good as far as results. It was a day and a half tournament and top weight was 9lbs and some change. Biggest fish was a 4.5lber. I came it fourth with a little over 6lbs. I am still scratching my head as where all the fish went on Coleto. It was tough but fun in the same. It was a pleasure meeting you at the ramp Friday afternoon. Keep the reports coming. Hopefully the water will clean up and the fishing will improve.

So at least I am not crazy.  The fishing on the lake has been so spotty and the results above sure confirm that.  9lbs wins a day and a half tournament on Coleto in the early spring?  It often takes a 9lber just to win big bass.  And with a lot of guys fishing you know there was multiple techniques used.  So congrats, (I guess!) on getting 4th with 6 lbs.  That is nuts!  But stayed tuned, I will still give it the occasional go.  Of course!  Just hoping there is not a real problem.  And thanks for introducing yourself and following the blog.

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

I got this comment from Matt and it is spot on what I like about the MLF.

On the MLF vs BASS vs FLW, I watch them all. The competition between circuits pushes them all to provide better content for the viewer.

The live fishing they all show provides so much more info than reading a magazine or watching some guy on TV talking about the new “great lure”. These guys are fishing for a bunch of money and they aren’t messing around.

I’m most impressed by the accuracy of the pros casting at specific targets.

I am sure things will settle in, each style of tournament fishing has it’s place.  And the MLF is not requiring an entry fee, will return over $6 million at each tournament, and winners will be in the Cup.  What is not to like about that?  And your comment on their casting ability is spot on.  Reminds me of a friend who was really good at golf, and then he went to a PGA tournament and watched the pros hitting off the practice T.  There is a reason these guys are where they are.   Should be fun and some really good TV.  Thanks for the comment.

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

And this one from SA Joe, which unfortunately I do not have an answer a good answer.

Doug, Can you recommend a boat captain that wont break the bank? I want to take my 2 boys out to the coast for either redfish in the bay, or go offshore.

Saw this guy on Outdoor channel and WOW the price. Edit out to prevent advertising for him. http://www.bammbammfishing.com/

Planning on doing something for spring break, they never been out on boat like that

Thanks.

Wish I could help a little but don’t know of anyone.  I went ahead and put the link on the guides post, and I will say that seems to be the going rate, maybe a touch high, for bay fishing on the coast.  So if anyone else out there has a suggestion send it along so I can pass it to Joe.  Thanks

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

I made the Bass Pro fishing extravaganza, and loaded up on spinnerbaits, the VMC hooks I like for the Controlled Descent, a couple of rod holders for the boat, and a new reel.  I really like the screw lock VMC hooks for any application, the weight is right on the bed and actually works like a keel, really makes walking the dog with plastics easy.  Nothing like a shopping trip!

Have not had time to check the weather but I will be in the boat tomorrow.  Spring seems to be coming…at least a little.  And last a congratulations to Colby and his partner for winning the Troutmasters this past weekend, they blew it out of the water.  Nice job.  That guy can catch fish.  So keep stopping in, there is lots of fishing to come, and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Brought to you by

**For a super deal on your Wade Right use promo code FCT15 and get 15% off on your online order!**

Though I said that Coleto was off my plate for a while I did fish a couple of hours yesterday afternoon.  We had some banking and shopping to do this morning and after the Boss and I ate lunch it was 1:00, the weather was beautiful, so I decided, against my better judgement, to see if I could change my Coleto fishing luck.  Unfortunately the fishing, at least for me, remains tough.

This is just proof I went fishing.  It was tough.

You often hear the following excuse when some folks do not catch anything, especially from bass fishermen, I was just looking.  In my case since I have sucked the last little bit I really did make a just looking plan.  The water color is terrible, and I was surprised that the water temp in most places and is still in the low to mid 60’s, actually down a little from Monday.  And why some of the coves still look like mud holes I do not have a clue.  This is one time I wish I had a PH meter.  Something is wrong, I just can not put my finger on it.  And one thing, no real baitfish activity in places where we should be seeing them.

So the plan, primarily spend the few hours fishing places that normally have spring fish, places I have not fished this “spring”, using that term loosely.  Unfortunately most were totally non-productive.  I have one spot, way back in a big pocket where there is a little pond that I call “Land of the Big Ones” once the spawn is on the  way.  I rarely see any boats there, and it has produced some of my biggest fish.  But nada!  And the water color even in the back of that cove, and most others, is ugly.

From that point on it was main lake places, coves, places that should have fish, and before it was over, 3 bites.  One on buzzbait, it was 12″ at best, one on Bang O Lure, which I missed because I could not see my bait, and the little one above on a swim jig.  All the bites came near a point of some sort.  So finally at 5:00 the great experiment was over.  I give.

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

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

When I got to the ramp it was real apparent that there was going to be a tournament Saturday. more trailers than I have seen this winter combined.  As I pulled up to unload there was a bass boat changing props and a gentleman walked over and the question – “Are you the blog guy?”  Bo introduced himself and we talked fishing.  They have a day and half tourney this weekend and had fished this morning.  The total, 1 around 3 pounds pitching a creature bait, and a few smalls.

They are experienced tournament fisherman on Coleto, his partner had a 10 in the past, but they were basically as confused as I am.  But as usual great to meet folks who read the blog.  Funny how I hear from the saltwater guys so much more than bass fishermen, but have met so many more readers at the lake.  No matter, just happy to meet any of you.  And good luck to Bo and his buddy this weekend, sorry I was no help.  But with a good number of boats someone will hurt them, they always do.  And Bo if you read this drop a comment, we would all be interested to hear if any fish were caught.

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

One thing I have noticed is folks who when they receive free tackle from their sponsors love to post a picture on Facebook.  And just exactly what is the purpose of that?  To show how great you are?  It is not fair to your sponsors, and definitely not fair to the millions of us who have to buy our own tackle.  So good for you, but you do not have to rub it in folks face.

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

When we stopped in the McAllen tackle show I wanted to say hi to Joshua, the owner of Marker 54 fishing lures.  I met him on the Chandeleur mother ship trip.  We ended up fishing 3 days together and I saw his shrimp lures in action.

This is how we started our trip, and it went UPHILL from there!

They catch fish, and he caught some serious bull reds on his hard shrimp.  They flat loved it.  And his soft plastics does something no other bait can, they land upright on their legs.  Crazy how he has achieved that, but it really works

Took a beating and kept on catching.  The hard shrimp is basically indestructible. 

And the hard bait will survive most anything if you do not lose it.  He has a new weedless shrimp is innovative and can be rigged for forward glide or backward glide, always landing on their little feet.  So take a minute and check out his website.  The hard shrimp under a popping cork works, and is a great bait for folks you fish with who are not that experienced.  Pop it and hold on.  I saw it work on the water and it catches fish.  If you get to the Houston Fishing Show look him up.

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

Let the Back Biting Begin –  I call BS on MLF.

While watching the MLF this weekend I also visited the BASS website to read about Rick Clunn winning on the St. Johns at the ripe young age of 72 y/o.  Gotta love it.  You could easily argue he is the best of all time, and winning over multiple decades is a feat no one else can top.  Some of the comments on the site were interesting to say the least.  Let the back biting, and my stuff is better than your stuff whining, begin.

First a bunch of comments were directed at Mike Iaconelli, who left for MLF.  Clunn won the tournament the 4th day with 2 over 9lbs.  One is on video and he plays it the cool customer he is.  He is not only well respected but also one of the real cerebral fisherman out there.  He hooks it, in the live well and out with the smallest.  Several comments compared how he acted versus Iaconelli acting the fool, which is his shtick when he catches a big fish.  Or maybe it is not a shtick and he really is crazier than a loon.

Second, some made fun of the MLF for being a “keep them all” fishing tourney.  Several were not impressed with watching guys catch a bunch of small ones.  One comment trashed MLF for catching lots of small fish by putting that against Clunn catching 35lbs with 5 fish on day 4.  I agree, no contest as far as catching goes, but both tournaments styles are just different.  The MLF is more like what happens to us regular folks, we head out with a limited time to catch them and have to figure it out quick.

A lot has to do with some folks thinking that the guys who left BASS and FLW were traitors who somehow owed those organizations.  Sorry, if that is what they felt they had to do financially for their family who can criticize that?  Come on boys, if you make decisions about your work and future based on something other than what is good for your family and your future I would be interested in hearing another good reason.   I watch MLF and enjoy it, but today they stooped a little low.

The MLF is showing a little blurb/commercial where they tout how much better they are because they weigh and release immediately.  Then they show some fish in the bag at weigh in, then being dumped back in the lake.  The implication both stated and implied is their way is the only good way for the fish.  So what they are telling all of you regular tournament and club guys is that you suck.  Self serving and petty, I hope this is not how it is going to go as the competition heats up.  I often lament where fishing is going, and this is a perfect example.  So MLF, you don’t have to be a horse’s ass about things.  Try taking the high road.

Thought for the Day

Ever heard this from someone?  You need to forget the past.  Funny, most of the time that comes from the person who wishes you would forget their actions, or lack there of.  They are nothing more than a hypocrite.

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

We will be off for a couple of days of adult fun in Louisiana then time to give the coast the attention it deserves.  While many of the online reports have not been all the big on numbers there is some really big trout being caught.  The only question left, Upper Laguna or Port Mansfield?  And speaking of that, while searching on VRBO I found a small cabin for $70 a night.  On checking the final total for 2 nights it was $240.  Hmmmm…..the cost of a good time.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Brought to you by

**For a super deal on your Wade Right use promo code FCT15 and get 15% off on your online order!**

Weather

34/65.   Sunny with a 10% chance of rain.  Wind SE  5 – 15mph.

Tides

Low  5:44 am -0.5   High  6:09 pm  0.2.

Solunar Times 

Good   10:55 am to 12:55 pm.  (Day classed as poor.)

The Boss was off work today and while we were drinking our morning coffee she said go get me a trout.  She loves her fresh trout right out of the bay, so around 9:00 I headed for POC.  The forecast looked ok, the tide not some much unless you stayed late, but off I went.  Since this was nothing more than a meat haul I was going to fish out of the boat today.

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

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

On arriving at Froggie’s there were not that many trucks in the lot, and no more when I took out at 2:00.  The tide was way low, the water color at the ramp so/so, and the water temp was 57 degrees.  In the 4 hours I fished there was nothing above 58 degrees all day.

With the cold fronts lately producing the low water temps the plan was to fish out of the boat.  Just head for deep water and drag plastics.  First up was Big Bayou, and when I stopped at the first bank a boat came from behind me and stopped in front of me.  It was one of those you must be kidding.  Not a boat in sight and you start in front of me?  POC does have its moments.  I preach be nice and I soldiered on.  I fished my favorite stretch of it with out so much as a bite.  The water was not moving so time for a change.

Sticking with the deep water thing next up was the Oil Cut.  They like it in there when it is cold, and they were in there today.  It was not fast by any means, but they bit right along.

Part 1 of the slam.  And supper!

First keeper was a flounder, I only caught one other, so the supper order was beginning to fill.  If I were guessing I missed a couple of more flounder.  The kind you lift up on and they move a little and then come off.  Today the fish wanted the 3″ DOA Cal on 1/16 jig head worked really slow with short hops along the bottom, most were in that 2 – 4 foot drop.  The best places were the areas with a flat and oysters on the edge of a drop.  The only other bait I even had a bite on was the watermelon red/limetreuse Controlled Descent Paddle Shad on a 1/4 jig head slow rolled.  It was the big fish of the day and thumped it pretty good.

    I have caught some nice reds on the Controlled Descent Paddle Shad.

There were quite a few reds along the drop but most were like #2 above.  But at least they were biting.  The DOA Cal, in a watermelon red with a pearl bottom looking thing, kept producing so I ended up staying with it.  After 3 or 4 small trout, a keeper finally jumped on and the slam, and supper, was complete.

A keeper and a “will be 14 7/8ths” if you keep it.  

So while it was no slam dunk deal, for a 4 hour trip I will take it.  It was maybe 15 or so total, and while only 3 were good keepers, it was just what the Boss ordered.  And who does not like catching a keeper slam?  Back at the cleaning table the fish cleaning guys asked what I caught, and I told them, and that the trout were a little slow.  The dude said nobody has been bringing any trout to the table the last couple of days.  With the water temp I am not surprised.

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

And a good report from Rusty.

Some bright news!! The white bass run is on at Somerville. Recently retired Larry and I walked Yeagu creek by the Irvin bridge this morning and had some fun. We were throwing 1/8 oz white/Chartreuse paddle tail jigs and when you found them you caught them. Headed to Aggie basketball game tonight and taking Jon boat up Nails Creek tomorrow! I’m chasing them this week!
Tight lines
Rusty

Walking the bank and then getting them narrowed down is so much fun.  And as you said, once you get them figured out it is game on.  So good luck next trip, and hope the Aggie game was good.  Now is the time over much of our area, the white bass run is on!  Thanks for the report.

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

It was nice to hit the salt and there is lots more of that to come.  Unfortunately another cold front in on the way early next week, but it is February.  Last years things were a little more settled, this winter it seems we get a couple of nice days of 75 degree weather, and just about the time it will get the fishing going here comes a front.  And with that has been cool rain, which is Monday’s forecast, which makes it hard to get in the spring warming pattern.  But as I said before it is winter.  I will be looking for that 3 day low wind, don’t much care if it rains some, cloudy few days for a stretch at the Upper Laguna.  The fishing can only get better.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Brought to you by

**For a super deal on your Wade Right use promo code FCT15 and get 15% off on your online order!**

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

We just got back after spending the weekend on South Padre with family.  The wind howled,  and I don’t mean just blow, I mean shaking the house with gusts to 50mph.  And it was a balmy 42 degrees Saturday.  The bay was the color of chocolate milk and it basically rained all weekend.  This was the 3rd or 4th time this has happened when visiting there this early in the year so now I have a new policy – Not before April.

One side affect of our trip was I missed 5 of the Austin Boys at POC for the weekend.  Of course I would have much preferred to be fishing with them, obviously.  But here is their report.  Short and sweet.

Three days, 5 guys, not even a nibble!  Worst fishing any of us have ever had down there.  Cold, windy, muddy water……….

You know if these were first timers, or did not know their way around, it would not surprise me.  But they have years of experience and know their way around.  So there you have it, welcome to our winter this year.   And how about this report………

The Mud Hole that is Coleto

So this morning (Monday.) I hit the lake at 10:00.  I fished until 1:30 without a bite.  The water temp was down 3 – 6 degrees over the whole lake.  In several places, read most of the lake, when I hung a white bait down it was not visible after about 8″.  One of the best spawning coves was flat muddy.  I just do not get it.  Hey I may not be KVD but I know the lake fairly well and fishing the 5 or 6 places I did today without a bite was all I needed to know.  Hope you can do better, or know something I don’t, but time for a change.

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

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

Joe got out for a little fishing from his kayak before the front hit and it looks like it was a good bite.

I know exactly how you feel. Had this phlegm cough for 3 weeks. Lucky for me I cant pull it up and spit it out. Goes into my gut and nauseates me, upset stomach. Got to coughing so hard, actually pulled a muscle in my side hurts like hell. Musinex makes it worse. so i resorted to allergy medicine to dry it out. Finally back to normal. Just a FYI we all getting the bug. I haven’t had a mandatory flu shot since i retired in 2006 from the Air Force. Rarely get sick. You dont even have to post. Im sending pics from my 16 bass day 2 from the guadalupe river, the other 14 from a local pond. And a bluegill.

Thanks for the pictures, looks like they were biting.  I love hearing from folks who do it their way.  A kayak, a fishing pole and you are set, often with access to smaller places and then having it all to yourself .  And the big benefit, not having to deal with the “traffic” which I am sure makes for a wonderfully quiet day.  So thanks for sharing, gave me something to dream about sitting here on South Padre where the wind is absolutely howling, literally shaking the house. Interesting as the folks we are with are here from Iowa and they have made 70 degrees of progress, so it is all relevant.  Keep in touch.

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

With the bass tournament circuit in full swing lots of guys are posting their results, good or bad.  In fact a couple of young guys fishing the college circuit posted about their tournament, which went like it can anytime, tough.  But they posted no matter what.  Congrats guys you are a couple of stand up dudes, nothing like the truth.  Better days will come your way.  Fishing tournaments has its ups and downs, making it what it is.

On the other hand I really “enjoy” those other folks who post their great wins, holding the bucks, touting their awesome fishing skills, but then somehow when they fish another tournament and do not win, not a peep.  Posting only about your wins makes you nothing more than a braggart, not a champion.  Not mentioning your other tournament results, or even that you were there, really does make you nothing more than a wind bag.  Just my .02 worth.

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

I got this interesting question, one for which I do not have an answer.

Glad you feeling better. Have you heard any reports on the Lavaca River or Garcitia’s Creek. Just wondering if the water is clear enough to get it a try.

Wish I knew.  I do know that the Lavaca has fish in it a lot later than Garcitas but whether or not they are worth the trip I could not tell you.  So if anyone out there has a clue let us know, and if I get that way I will at least drive over the river and take a look.  Of course the best tell, are there any trucks at the ramp.  And your handle, “anonymous” makes me wonder – Do you wear that cool mask?  Thanks for commenting.

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

There was a post on facebook where some dude fished with Gary Klein (A great guy.) on a team trying to catch a Share A Lunker.  And Gary did, a 13.79 monster.  All well and good until you read a little further.  They were fishing a “private contract” lake.  So catching a fish that big is all well and good, but catching it on private waters in my opinion devalues it the same way as shooting a genetic breed freak whitetail behind high fence.  Both devalue the records that came before it.  Unfortunately that seems to be the way things are going.  Buy your way to a dubious “record.”  So when the world record is finally broken on waters none of us can fish with out shelling out massive $$$, or being a TWPD commissioner, it will mean nothing.  Big deal.  What next, put one in a tank and stuff it until it makes a world record?

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

There was one interesting thing this morning.  Not sure where she was going but she was in a hurry.  I have seen deer swimming many lakes and even the bay once.  I always wonder where they are going and why.  This girl was swimming one of the widest areas of the lake so she surely had a plan.

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

Unfortunately the crappy weather continues.  The wind is forecast to blow 30mph out of the north tomorrow.  Getting real freakin’ old!  At least it will return to the 10 – 20mph range the rest of the week.  So not a clue what is next around here but I am pretty sure it will not involve Coleto, at least for the near future.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Brought to you by

**For a super deal on your Wade Right use promo code FCT15 and get 15% off on your online order!**

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

It Has Sucked to Be Me!  

When I wrote about having a case of the flu/terrible cold last week I thought it was coming to an end.  Well here it is Day 11  (Tuesday) and tomorrow I will finally be back in the boat.  It just got worse and worse until finally a round of strong antibiotics have begun to work, I hope.  (Interesting side effect – possible tendon rupture!  Wtf.)  I have only been out of the house 3 times in the last 11 days, and boy does that suck.  This is the worst case I have ever had, and while I feel a lot better today, that is a relative term.  When you felt like complete crap, feeling like partial crap is an improvement.

I was planning to fish today but deferred to the Boss.  Since I am married to a medical professional, who treats this kind of stuff every day, it might be wise to take her advice to wait one more day, no matter how much I don’t like it.  But back to my thoughts of last week, so much for getting the annual flu shot.  This has happened to me 2 years in a row.  But the bottom line – It is hell getting old.

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

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

Weather

75/68.  Cloudy with a 20% chance of a stray shower.  Wind S 15 – 25 mph.

Lake Level

 Today   98.37 msl.   17 days ago  98.30 msl.

Solunar Time

Best 11:09 am to 1:09 pm.  (Day is classed as average.)

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

Fishing Was Slow…Or was It Me?

I give them credit.  When a catfish hits a swim jig they smack it.

I felt like crap when I got up, and still feel like crap as I write this.  As a result of that I finally made my way to the lake around 10:00.  The wind was already blowing with white caps over much of the lake.  The color still sucks, in some of the coves it was flat muddy.  It really makes me sad to see it like that and after 3 years now apparently it will remain that way.  The good side of things, the water temp at the ramp was 64 and for the rest of the day over most of the lake it varied between 64 and 70 degrees.  With that came carp sloshing around in the shallows and tilapia sitting here and there, where you could see that far down.  In a couple of covers you could not see a bait over a foot down.

Starting up lake the plan was to stay with the swim jig which I did for a couple of hours.  My first bite was the blue cat above, and like his bro’s, smacked it and put up a great fight.  Other than that not another bite.  Part of the problem was the wind was blowing right up the lake.  As a side note the color up lake is better than some coves, it varied widely place to place.

They have not moved.

Since I was up there I did make 2 passes on the white bass and caught one each pass.  Again the 6 – 8 foot range was the ticket.  But since I just wanted to see if they were still there I headed back down lake.  They will be done soon so if you want a few whites for the pan get them while the getting is good.  And a side note, the fisherman were hitting the crappie pretty hard today, always a sign they are biting.  And the water temp is just right so that should be in play right now.

She barely sucked it under.

The next couple of hours I hopped around from spawning cove to main lake banks, all dependent on the wind.  Most places it was way to windy to fish properly, and if it had been lighter I would have tossed the pink trick worm weightless, and will definitely be tossing it next time.  Today was one of those fish where you can, not where you want, days.  Running a spinnerbait was fruitless and not a one took a pass at the Bang O Lure.  So I finally put on a buzzbait and managed to catch 3.  They were in flat coves with little wind, of which there were not that many choices today.

Finally around 2:00 I called it a day.  I just was not feeling it, so no blame on the fish.  They should be on the beds big time right now, and the bites that did come were in the little clearer water around bushes in spawning coves.  And the 3 bass I did catch all came between 1 – 2:00 this afternoon, staying until dark might have produced a whole different result.

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

It was good to hear from Rusty, the Fayette/Bastrop guru.

Glad to hear you are better!! I had a upper respiratory bug couple weeks ago that had me down for a week. Fished Somerville yesterday to check out water conditions and if the fish were biting. Water was back down close to normal after being up 10+’. It was cold(53) and murky. I didn’t get a bite in two hours of trying. Started raining and then pouring so I left. Be back there in couple weeks to try again. You know it’s going to happen!
Fished today on Bastrop Lake, beautiful day caught 5 bass lost couple more. Water was clear and 54 on one end and 68-70 closer to the outflow. Caught everything on a smoke shad fluke. Pretty day to be on water. Bass should move up to spawn in March. Fun time then on swim jig. Well keep getting better, I’m on Fayette next week, fish should be shallow doing their thing!

The good fishing is right around the corner and I will be interested in any report from Fayette.  And it is nice to see someone taking advantage of the many places we have to fish in our area.  Some folks are happy to fish the same place in the same way, and good for them, easier that way.  But some of us like the variety that comes spreading your wings just a little.  Nothing more satisfying than fishing multiple places and figuring it out.  Glad you got better, I am hoping for the same.  Keep in touch.

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

And Ed dropped this comment, which is right on point.

Hope you get to feeling better. Love reading your stuff. And especially when you get to the salt. Get well!

First thanks for the well wishes.  Now to the salt while I have been sick, and today (Tuesday) is a perfect example, it is absolutely perfect for catching big trout.  Warming trend, clouds, medium wind, it does not get any better than that and if I was able I would have been there today.  But there is more salt to pour on my current whiny mood.  In 2 days the weather is going to crap, 30 degree temp drop with winds in the 30mph range out of the north.  Thursday nights forecast is for winds  to 35 mph+ and the weekend looks terrible.  So much for the boat to South Padre.

The Austin Boys will be here, of course, bringing cold fronts and high winds is their specialty, but I am going to miss them because we will be in South Padre.  How can a retired guy with no job miss them 3 times in a row?  Not happy about that.  And to make matters worse I was going to take the boat in hopes of fishing the Brownsville Ship Channel Saturday but the forecast is the same, 25mph+ winds with a 1/2″ inch of rain.  Hardly worth towing the boat all the way down there.  Of course there is saltwater fishing to come, but it sure will not be before next week.  Thanks for keeping in touch.

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

I am really excited to see what the new tackle store in Victoria will bring to the table.  It is on the corner of Airline and Laurent in the old Radio Shack store.  The windows are papered up so you can not see inside.  The only indication is there is a fly on their logo so I guess we will have to wait and see what their focus will be.  But if it provides more competition it will be good for this community.  So if you know anything drop me a note.

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

One of the guys I have become friends with on facebook cleans reels and the reception has been off the charts.  Kole Dixon is in the Houston area and the name of his company is Maxed Out Reel Repair, you can find him on facebook.  The folks who use him love him and his turn around time is crazy.  Often 24 hours, he will work with you and his price is right.  I will be giving him a chance when it is time for the next cleaning.

What I hope to avoid is what happened with my last cleaning.  On picking it up they said sorry we did not have the part, so it is still grinding, but we cleaned it anyway.  Huh?  So you charged me $$$ and returned it with the same problem it came with?  Nothing like cleaning a broken reel and not fixing the issue.  So now if I find another place to fix it I have to pay again.  Thanks a lot.  I just don’t get it.

******************* 

It was a little tough to take when I quit today.  Being off the water for over 2 weeks and then finally getting to fish should have been a great day.  Unfortunately I just did not feel that well.  So as I recover at least the next 3 days or so are going to suck with major wind in the forecast so no big loss.

I would like to make a comment on the lake that I am sure you have heard before, the loss of the grass has been a blow.  Coleto has gone from one of the better bass lakes around to something quite a bit less than that.  The days where a 6lber was common, to now, is a sad comment on the fishing.  I do not have an educated guess as to what happened to the grass, but it is not debatable, the fishing sure is not what it used to be just a few short years ago.

So time to switch to the salt when I get back.  Plus it is big trout time so like other types of fishing get it while you can.  I will be watching for the next 3 day calm and cloudy pattern for a return to the upper Laguna, and maybe a trip to Port Mansfield.  And anyone with a motel suggestion for Port Mansfield drop me a note.  Nothing fancy, just a place to lay my head.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Brought to you by

**For a super deal on your Wade Right use promo code FCT15 and get 15% off on your online order!**

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

The Flu Shot

“Get a flu shot.”  The older you get the more you hear that.  So to be a good patient I got mine over a month ago.  The tech at Walgreens said I even got a “special” one, which I assumed was for the “elderly.”  Then last week the Boss was sick a day or two, a cold we guessed, and then Saturday it began.  And since Saturday I have been immobile, sicker than a dog with the flu.  It was bad enough I have no particular memory of Tuesday and most of Wednesday, other than I was miserable.  And it was rough enough it hit all the systems.  Perfect.  So here it is Thursday and I am thinking about putting on some real clothes.  So I guess my point about all this is no more flu shots for me.  This is the second year in a row I have gotten pretty sick in spite of the flu shot.  So next year no shot.  Will it make a difference?  Who knows but why bother if the results are the same.  All I know is it was a wasted week.

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

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

According to a post I saw online TPWD is proposing that the speckled trout regulations be standardized by going to a 5 fish limit state wide.  All I have to say about that is it is the best idea I have heard in a while.  With more folks on the water it just makes sense.  But I could not find the proposal on their website but will keep watching regularly to see when the public comment period comes.   Remember if you feel strongly, but don’t comment, don’t whine when it comes out differently from what you prefer.

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

And speaking of TPWD the Warden Blotter had another fool arrested after posting online video and pictures of his illegal activity.  Like I keep saying look out what you post because somebody is watching.  And this idiot got exactly what he deserved.

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

Terry sent me some tips on Buchanan after I met him at Falcon.

Great report, I am one of the Weatherford guys, we caught a bunch on Friday, 4-7 pounds. I have some info on Buchanan for you, send me an email.

All I have to say after looking at what he sent me all I have to say is wow.  It warms my heart when I find folks who share information in a real sense.  Thanks Terry, when those striper filets are sizzling in the pan I will send you a big thank you.

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

And I got this very important question from Matt.

Thinking about taking the kids on Sunday afternoon to try white bass in Coleto. How far up creek have you been running? Past the Schroeder bridge?

Also, if this rain ever settles down, Texana is loaded with whites.

Email sent last week.  Hope they catch a few, always fun to watch kids catch fish.  And nothing beats time on the water with the kids, they grow up way to fast.  And folks white bass in spring are one of the best fish to keep kids interested.  So make time to take a couple fishing, they might get hooked for life.

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

And for some reason I have not had the good fortune to hook up with the Austin Boys like usual this last few months.  They are coming to POC next weekend while the Boss and I are meeting family on South Padre.  If the wind is not to stout I will be taking the boat and hope to get in a Saturday of snook fishing in the Brownsville Ship channel.  But with the way my fishing luck has run lately who knows.

I also heard from my buddy Dan, the professional writer who I fished with on what has turned out to be an ongoing quest to catch a Share A Lunker.  He just fished a day on Lake Fork with a good guide and guess what?  Not a bite.  Making it a little hard for him to narrow down the focus of his article.  Maybe not catching one is the point.

Catching a bass over 8lbs, much less a DD, is a lot tougher than one might think.   Like all “big” fish, a relative term based on species, putting yourself on the right body of water at the right time definitely increases your odds, but only in a small way.  Ultimately nothing beats time on the water, except some simple luck, end of story.  Take it from a guy who knows.  I caught my 3 personal bests in one 24 hour period on Falcon, after 35 years of hard core bass fishing.  So keep after it Dan, it can happen any minute.  Maybe what we need to do is hit Falcon for a week and fish dawn to dusk, you just never know.

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

That is all there is today, I just wanted to let you know I am still upright and taking nourishment.  After this little hiatus it will be back on the water somewhere.  You never want to go fishing any more than when you can’t.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Brought to you by

**For a super deal on your Wade Right use promo code FCT15 and get 15% off on your online order!**

The Boss got one of those killer colds so I decided to be responsible and stay home and make sure she didn’t suffer to much.  I guess working in the ER has it hazards.  So instead of fishing it was time to get the Skiff back in action.  It sat for 4 months, the longest period in its 19 years.  After doing a couple of things on the boat the plan was a short trip to Coleto and make sure all is good.  Nothing is worse than letting one sit, especially the old style 2 stroke.  I wanted to run up lake, do some trolling, run back down, use the trolling motor, and of course take a rod or two.

A good one.  This happens every once in while trolling for white bass.

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

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

I took it easy on the way up, and the boat ran fine.  Mercury has been my brand most of my 40 years of boat ownership and I have no complaints.  Do the maintenance, don’t run wide freakin’ open all the time, and they will last.

First it was to see if it would troll fine, so I tossed out a Shallow Shad Rap and the chartreuse  rattle bait.  Right off I got hung and lost the Rapala, my favorite trolling bait.  Replaced it with a yellowish shad thing that runs about 8 to 10″, and the bites started.  It took 4 passes to find the sweet spot but they were still there.  Without a temp gauge on the boat not sure if it was up or down but it was a little slower than it has been for the whites.

The Coleto average.

And a solid bonus bass jumped on it while the whites were biting.  In years past when the bass started showing up in the same area as the whites the better fishing is not far behind.  So after a quick 6 or 7 in a half hour time to go for another boat ride. But right before I quit one of the baits came to the top and rolled with something on it.  Once I reeled it in there was my Rapala.  What made that interesting, it must have come unstuck when the line broke, and then drifted down about a mile before I snagged it again.  Weird.

The goals was to make sure the motor trolled fine without bogging down or acting up, and it ran great.  So time for some bass fishing.  The plan was 3 places with 3 different baits then call it a day.

1 took a pass at the Bang O Lure in a cove and missed it.  A main lake bank with wind produced nothing on the spinnerbait.  The last bank was main lake with deeper brush when a good one ate a swim jig and headed for a big green bush, and made it.  I let it go slack hoping it would swim out, nope.  Then I pushed, pulled, jerked, slacked, and everything I could think of but could not get that fish out.  It finally broke, but it gave me some hope.  I hadn’t fished the swim jig much but it might be time.

So for short trip it was all good.  Still hate the water color, and with another cold front on the way I wouldn’t make any bets fishing will improve much in the near future.  But the boat ran great, the trolling motor was good and the locator worked.  The trailer lights worked, the tires are fine, so the results of todays plan was all good.  Time to fish the skiff a little more, if it is not ready to go on a moments notice it wouldn’t be much of a back up now would it.

Nothing much else going on right now, just sitting back and trying to decide what is next, of course weather dependent.  We are looking at another cold front coming in a couple of days so warming on area lakes will continue to stall.  Hopefully the wind will lay some this coming week and I can hit the salt.  And we are meeting some family in South Padre soon and as long as the wind is not blowing a hundred I will be taking the boat.  Head up the Brownsville Ship Channel and try to boat a snook.  But as we know the best laid plans ………..  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Brought to you by

**For a super deal on your Wade Right use promo code FCT15 and get 15% off on your online order!**

Catching Fish

Fishing is one of the most diverse sports in the world.  Bluegill, tarpon, carp, marlin, robalo, so many fish, places, and ways to catch them.  And with that come fishermen and the reasons we spend all this time and money on fish.  My favorite:  “I just love to catch fish”.  That can mean so many things.

On its face it would seem that sentiment simply means to catch a fish, any fish, but that would hardly be the case.  For some folks it is true, they just want to catch anything, anyway they can.  For others it is one particular species of fish, or only saltwater or fresh.  Every  fish or method can fit into that sentence, and the following one.

“First I just wanted to catch a fish.  Then I wanted to catch lots of fish, then I just wanted to catch big fish.  Now I just want to catch them the way I want to.”

No particular reason is better, if it make you happy then go for it.  For me it has become doing what I like, catching fish the way I want to.  And for me it is any species of fish.  Doing makes you happy on the water is the only requirement.  And if it causes you consternation or makes you unhappy you need to take a chill pill.  But I sympathize.  Back in my younger days tournament fishing and guiding, when I was “mad” at them, it used to upset me when I lost the big one, or struck out.  It has taken a lifetime to understand it is in the doing.  Taking the time to enjoy everything the outdoors can offer can turn a poor trip into a success.  But there is one thing that I see that often divides our sport when we should be constantly vigilant to potential threats.

Just because a guy likes to sit on the bank and catch carp does not make him any less a fisherman than the “pro’ in his bass boat.  Or at least not lets us think we are “better.”  Just because they do not own a Majek, Ranger, or SCB does not, and should not, be “held” against him.  To much of our sport is turning into a marketing contest with the implied diss that if you are not using this boat, wearing that hat or shirt, fishing this way or that, you are not worthy.  I have seen this all over the country, at ramps, tackle stores, and online.

I fully understand that I have participated in the marketing, at least keeping it to the things I use and like.  (I have not taken any money from the blog.)  But it does disturb me that some how it has come down to a mentality where the latest and greatest defines you as a fisherman.  Boats creeping into the $70k range, reels pushing $500, even baits that can cost over a $100.  Nice if you can afford it, but what about the guy who can’t?  I really hope that the direction of the sport does not dissuade younger folks from getting involved, or that is does not come down to a few rich kids.  All that stuff does not make you a fisherman, it makes you the guy with all that stuff.

So next time you brag on your day, or the all the cool stuff you have, remember the words of Jimmie Houston:

You know what the difference between me and God is?  God never thinks he is me!  (Think about it.)

As fishermen it is incumbent on us to spread the word and share the wealth.  To realize that the guy carp fishing is just as important a fisherman as we are, and maybe he is actually better.  Ever consider that?  His license fees provide the same support for our sport as ours.  For our protection we need to band together as one and keep in mind that an assault on one area of our sport is the beginning of encroachment on others.  My journey was a boy with a Zebco 202 on his bike riding 6 miles to catch a catfish in the river to a man catching marlin on the Great Barrier Reef.  I have never forgot my humble beginnings, and I worry that if it keeps going on this way some young kid just like me will give up.  I would hate to see that.

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

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

And It was good to hear from Terry, one of the Weatherford boys I met down at Falcon.

Great report, I am one of the Weatherford guys, we caught a bunch on Friday, 4-7 pounds. I have some info on Buchanan for you, send me an email.

Glad you got it going before the wind got there on Saturday.  Looks like the fishing is getting back to normal, now trying to figure out when I can go again.  LOL  And an email is on the way.

And speaking of Falcon one of the guys I met, the Kayak Doctor, had a good fish on Facebook from Friday, guess I should have stayed.  Good to hear from you and thanks for the comment.

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

As I strapped on the self-inflating life jacket and snapped on the kill switch yesterday a random thought crossed my mind and it brought up a couple of related thoughts.  Bass fishing has been the leader in the wearing of life jackets.  It is common now to see bass guys with their PFDs on, not so common in the salt.  Even when I was tournament fishing in 70’s and 80’s wearing a jacket was a requirement, end of story.  There was even an incident in the Bass Cat owners tournament where the winners lost the boat as they forgot to put on their jackers while running.   It got me to wondering how long before a life is lost in a saltwater tournament while running and not wearing a life jacket.  I am sure there are legal reasons why bass tournaments starting requiring life jackets and kill switches, and if the unthinkable happens in a saltwater tournament some attorney will file a claim and we will find out what the court thinks.  Just a thought.

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

And to go along with that it was a couple of years ago that my buddy Clyde and 2 friends were rounding a corner behind an island on Lake of the Woods when the steering came apart on an almost new Lund.  The boat made a hard left and nearly them out of the boat at 30mph.  (Slow on many of todays boats.)  Luckily Clyde was able to throttle back laying on the floor.  No life jackets, no kill switch, they were lucky the were not killed.  Then this story from last week.

The Boss works with a guy who while fishing the bay cut the corner into a cut when he bottomed out and both he and his girlfriend were literally thrown out.  Of course it scared the crap out of them.  Of course no life jacket or kill switch.  The boat then basically ran in a circle for over a 1/2 hour until if finally bored into the bottom and bogged out.  Someone could easily have been seriously hurt or killed.  Think about it, your boat running in circles trying to make you into deer sausage.  If that does not frighten you it should.  Folks it can, and does, happen in a second.  I had a p0ntoon on my head in a tornado and 2 life jackets saved my life.  Ray and John thrown out on Bull Shoals when it was below freezing and the water temp was 32.  Tthe guy I found next to his sunken boat on Norfork, the 2 I rescued as a medic 20 feet up a bank on Bull Shoals, and many others I can not remember.  It can, and will, happen anywhere or anytime.  So if you do not give a rats ass about yourself think about those that love you.  Snap it on, the life you save may be your own.

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

I almost slipped out Tuesday morning to beat the cold front that is on the way.  Boy am I glad I didn’t.  According to the weather dude the wind gusted an easy 45 and basically tried to blow everything down.  Some times discretion is the better part of valor, though it sure wasn’t in my younger years.  Must be how I broke the hull on my Champion coming out of Float creek jumping 5 footers when I should have been at the house.   At least today I got a new trailer plate and went over the whole boat tightening every screw on it.  Then it was the tackle room which really needed a cleaning.  And since fishing was on the tv in the tackle room what better way to spend the day if not on the water.

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

No real plan right now, will be a day of weather watching.  It looks like there might even be another front on the way, though weather Dude says it will be rain but warmer.  Also starting to think about where I might fish in February.  The goal is to fish somewhere outside local each month.  January was Falcon, April is Montana and May is the Chandeleur Island houseboat trip.  Just have to fill February and March.  And it has been a while since I did the 5 different places in 5 day thing.  Sounds like fun just waiting for real spring.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Brought to you by

**For a super deal on your Wade Right use promo code FCT15 and get 15% off on your online order!**

Weather

37/66.  Sunshine and clouds mixed with a 10% chance of rain.  Wind SE 10 -20 mph.

Lake Level

Today  98.30 msl.   10 days ago  98.28 msl.

Solunar Time

Best  10:28 am to 12:28 p.  (Day is classed as excellent.  Except on Coleto.)

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

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

Major Suckage – My text response to the Boss when she asked.

I had one of those days that all fishermen have sooner or later.  It started off messed up first thing and finished messed up.  And the problem, the rest of the day did not rise above the first thing or the last thing.

I headed to the gas station and on the way I noticed no trailer lights.  Dang it!  So I get gas and see for some reason the ground wire decided to break.  Unfortunately it needed a short piece of wire so I turned around and headed to the house.  A quick fix and to the lake I went, finally getting there about 10:00.

Immediately it was apparent that the water color had gone to crap.  With a small rise and no major rain I am just not getting it.  Why is it doing that?  It was much clearer 10 days ago, today it was ugly over most of the lake.  One thing is sure:  When Coleto lost its grass the color never recovered.  3 years ago I wondered if this was going to happen and it seems to be the case.  Clearly above my pay grade to figure it out.

The water temp was 59 at the ramp, 63 near the outflow, 57 up lake.  So with the color messed up, and the wind blowing a good 20 mph, I headed up the lake.  First up was spinnerbait on 2 different places without so much as a touch.  Going that way allowed a little white bass fishing while I was there.  It was 57 degrees, 60 last report, and off color so I tossed out the Shallow Shad Rap and a chartreuse rattle bait.  It did not take long, they were there.

Most were smaller than this though these are eaters.

The wind was blowing right down the pike which made keeping a constant 2.8mph a hassle.  After trolling a while, catching one here and there, a pass in 7′ turned out to be the depth and a bunch jumped on with several doubles.  With the water color they definitely preferred the chartreuse bait.  After a dozen or so pretty quickly then it was time to get back to the bass.

To make a long story short one ate the Bang O Lure and one missed a spinnerbait, other than that not a bite.  Main lake, spawning coves, points, it all was fishless, at least for me. The wind was helping by doing that blow around the topography thing, so it did not matter where you were, it was either windy or real windy.  Definitely tough to fish plastics.  Even an hour with the swim jig, over the last few years one of the best baits this time of year, did no provoke a bite.  With the plan being quitting early to wash the boat, it was trashed after Falcon, I finally called “no mas” at 3:00.

Straight to the car wash and while spraying there is no license plate.  Looks like I must have hit something, who knows what, but the plate was bent off with pieces at the bolts.  What makes that perfect is just last week I renewed my plates and got the new sticker.  So back to the court house and another $$ whatever.  That says it all about my fishing day.

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

And I got this first time comment from Alex.

Redfishlaw

First time commenting but I just wanted to save that I love reading your reports and hope to put some of your tactics to good use. Did you happen to notice if any crappie
were biting while you were there.

Thanks

Alex

Not for sure on the crappie, though I saw a boat both days in the Velano on the bridge, so I would guess that is what he was doing.  And if I was betting the last hit I had on a spinnerbait was crappie on the outside of the brush line.  So not for sure but the water temp is right and they should be shallow and having at it.  Thanks for the comments, always good to hear from a first timer.

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

Tomorrow the wind is going to blow 20 – 30mph, then Tuesday 15 – 25mph, perfect.  But then a nice calm day so time to catch a few trout.  Trying to decided whether to fish out of the boat, or do some wading.  And a little review of the online reports occasionally tells you something, though details are solely lacking.  One of the joys of doing the blog, you either tell it like it is or lose whatever small amount of credibility you may have.  Today was a perfect example, it was poor, end of story.  So 2 days to get everything squared up and back to fishing.  Keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Brought to you by

**For a super deal on your Wade Right use promo code FCT15 and get 15% off on your online order!**

Day 1

I can not help but get excited when heading to Falcon.  I drove down the evening before so I could be on the water at daylight Tuesday morning.  I stayed at Beacon’s because I like the location and good rampage no matter the water level.  It puts you a little north of the Velano and an easy run up lake.

Lets just get the general conditions out of the way before we go to the fishing.  First the weather.  It was supposed to be raining on Tuesday, which it did, and basically it drizzled and misted for the next 3 days, and never did get as warm as forecast.  I was definitely ok with that but 2 problems reared their ugly head that made  a big difference.  First the water temp had dropped 5 – 7 degrees in the last week, which combined with a 3 foot drop knocked them back a bunch from full on spawning.  More on that later.

The 2 guys next to my cabin were coming back from the Houston Boat Show and decided to fish the week before heading back to Oklahoma City.  As usual I am terrible with names (Sorry.) but one was the Kayak Doctor, for obvious reasons, and he happened to know my friend Dez, one of the Austin Boys.  They had talked to a guide at the show and he suggested they fish down lake, I was starting in the Velano.  Once on the water the color was awesome over the whole lake.  The temp was as low as 57 in some places but no higher than 60, after being 65 the week before.  This level was great with good brush in the water, but not to much, and I was excited seeing it.  Unfortunately I did not know it had dropped that much the week before.

It was drizzling/raining right along and around 44 degrees at daylight, it would not warm up all day.  A word on clothing.  I keep all kinds of stuff in the truck this time of year, and boy was I glad I had it all.  It was snow suit, hoodie, and full rain gear with boots.  I stayed dressed like that all 3 days, warm and toasty.  I love slow rolling a spinnerbait there and planned to keep after it.  First up was a spawning cove near the bridge and I started off by committing a rookie mistake number 1.

The point at the mouth was perfect, 6 foot deep with great cover and a nice drop.  As it thumped along it got heavy, no bite, and as the cover was so thick I just kept reeling thinking it was a bush when all of a sudden a huge boil, it was a Falcon giant.  And as my buddy Tad would say, so with my superior skill I f&%# it up.  I did not set the hook, and it was gone.  Little did I know that would be the last big bite of the trip.   But like many of those I did manage to catch it was a very weak bite.  So I moved to a nice flat covered with brush near a channel bend and there were a few there.

No Falcon giant but a good start.

On that one stretch I put 4 bass in the boat, and of course my mastery of the mighty catfish on lures continued.  They have come off and on for decades, but the last year they sure have been consistent.  The fish were in a couple of feet of water around sticks.  As a side note, of all the guys I spoke with none were finding fish on the hardwood.

They sure do have a tendency to smack the shit out of it when they commit!

So now I am feeling pretty good.  Lose a big one first place, catch 5 the next, looking good.  And from that point on the rest of the day not a freakin’ bite.  From the back of the creek to some familiar main lake pockets and points not a touch.  They were just no where to be found but I soldiered on until dark.  But hey, I am fishing on Falcon so no problem, a better day is coming.

Of course there was the usual Falcon tom foolery going on across the lake, with a period of rapid gun fire, silly boys, and netters everywhere.  And as I idled through a huge flock of Cormorants one was floating on his side so I stopped.  And guess what?  The shad eater had choked to death on a big gizzard shad.  I am sure that warmed the heart of the guy at Falcon Lake Tackle.

When I got back another boat was parked in the other cabin next to me and they were on the porch.  They had come down from Weatherford and were going to fish with one of the hottest guides on the lake who had been murdering them the week before, with lots of fish a day, some in the 9lb range.  They were told bring only 2 rods, one with a spinnerbait and one for plastics.  Suffice to say that would be telling the next day.  Then the guys from Oklahoma got back, and buddy boy they were cold.  And to top it off they caught one fish all day.  Can you say tough?  But hopes spring eternal, and we were all up and atom the next morning.

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

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

Day 2 – More of the Same.

The Texas boys were going to meet their guide and head to the State Park ramp at the lower end as were the Oklahoma boys.  I was going to hit the bank in the Velano first thing then head up lake to a creek where I caught my 3 personal bests my first trip there.  It was still drizzling and cold, and while the rain let up some it spit all day.  The water temp had dropped again the night before but at least the color was still good.

On the first pass on the bank from day 1 four jumped on, though nothing to get to excited about.  It was one more spot in the Velano without a bite and then a 6 mile run up river.  It looked perfect, and it was, for a short period.

Run of the mill.  Fish number 1, spawned out tail ground, number 2 not spawned yet.

They were in small shallow pockets on the edge of the channel.  One thing was becoming quite clear, they were just “getting on.”  No smack, no big bite, just swimming with it and you had to be on your toes.  So now I am feeling ok, it is not even noon yet and I have caught 8.  But hold on bass dude, they were about to take their revenge.  Not another bite the rest of the day. I tried pockets, creek channels, as I worked my way back and just could not buy another bite.  Like day 1 nothing after noon.  So at 5:00 I called it a day after catching 8.

I got back first then the Weatherford guys, and they caught around 25 with the guide.  Then the Ok guys, and they caught 2 all day.  The guide’s fish were off, the couple of foot drop in the water level and temp drop knocked them stupid.  They caught their fish on plastics deep and only one on a spinnerbait.  Though they did have a couple of 6’s it was not what it had been.  So I felt ok with 8 considering.  And there was not a breath of wind most of the day, in fact all 3 days.  Wind can be your enemy on Falcon, but no wind does not help things.  The old “Watch out what you wish for.”  So we talked about things, and the guide was coming to fish up lake the next day and the Ok guys were going to do the same.

Day 3 

I had initially planned on staying and fishing Friday if the fishing improved, which it did not.  So the plan was to fish until noon and if I did ok stay the rest of the day, and maybe another day, but that was not to be.  Starting on the “good” bank in the Velano one jumped on the spinnerbait and not another bite.  (Interestingly the guide and the Weatherford boys started across from me.)   I knew the fish were there so with no wind and clear water out came the Bang O Lure, and second cast a nice on jumped on.  It was one of those cool Bang O Lure bite.  There was a big swirl behind it, I twitched it a couple of times on top, then pulled it under and she smoked it.  Love it when they do that.

And I am thinking why did you not throw this earlier?

It is still early and now I am excited.  Hey the truck may be packed but I can unload in a second.  So I throw it, and throw it, and throw it some more.  And from then until I quit at 1:00 to call it a trip, only one more bite on spinnerbait, and it felt like a crappie bite.

While this trip did not live up to Falcon’s reputation it did not dampen my love of that place.  So big, so much water, it is one great place to spend a few days.  The possibility of catching a real one on any cast keeps the hope alive. Since it has lost some of it’s luster over the years the traffic is not near what it used to be and there is plenty of water for everyone.  In fact, I will be heading back soon, the results this trip does not deter me.  And it was great to have some good fishermen to talk fishing with, which really helped to keep things in perspective.  The original forecast was for one day of drizzle and rain, then clearing and warming the week, which obviously did not happen, or I would still be there instead of in my chair typing this.  I give the trip a B, one of those on the edge of greatness.

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

I did want to give you an update on the AGM batteries I put in the boat last month.  Using them all day with the trolling motor on constantly the gauged showed only a 1/4 down, not bad for the miles I fished.  So money well spent.

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

We have a little cold front with high winds coming this weekend there is no real plan for the coming week until we see the weather.  The boat is a complete mess, though only making a couple of lure changes over 3 days the tackle is in good shape..  I will get all that straightened out this weekend.  The only other real plan is to get the skiff out and take it fishing.  It has not been started in over a couple of months so it definitely needs some running.  I hate to see it sitting, and have considered selling it lately, but having a back up is a good thing, but it needs to be fished.  Nothing worse on a boat than sitting.  Parting with it would be like losing an old friend.  I have had it 19 years, and if I can’t kill it nobody can.

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

One really great side affect of staying at Beacon Lodge, no wi-fi.  And since I have not succumbed to the I Phone I was basically out of contact most of the week.  No facebook, no email, no nothing, and it was awesome.  The Boss has been after me about the I Phone thing by I have successfully resisted like the old man I am.  And I was reminded on the way down how much of a slave to social media we have all become.  There was a really slow truck in the right lane and everyone was going around him.  There was an old man driving, heck, older than me, and he was texting.  What has the world come to?

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

So there you have it.  Traveling and fishing is always an adventure of some sort, and you just have to make the best of it.  You never know until you go.  Up next will be more fishing.  I still want to get down to the Nueces before it is to late for the big whites, and as soon as we get a stretch of weather that duplicates this week, no wind and drizzle, and it will be time for a few days of the Upper Laguna.  And to the guys still there, hope you put the hurt on them Friday and it was good to meet you all.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines