FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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

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

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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.

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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.)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!**

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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!**

I started my year off last year with a big bass, and managed it again this year.  You would think that would be enough, but oh no.  As I type this I am making arrangements (Done) to spend a good part of the week on Falcon.  Looking at the weather there is not much more you could ask for, basically no wind, a good thing on a big lake.  While no wind is not always a good thing, Falcon has enough cover to keep them shallow during the pre-spawn.  Tuesday looks like rain and if it works out I will be slow rolling a spinnerbait from dawn till dusk.  My personal best came there, along with several other big fish, all slow rolling a Colorado blade spinnerbait bouncing it off cover.  Last trip I had 2 bites doing that, neither of which stayed on, where they closed the spinnerbait flat which means they had the whole thing in their mouth.  Those are big fish.  So will lightning strike again?  We shall see.

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

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

It was nice to hear from Johnny and Ana.

Our condolences to y’all on your recent loss. From Victoria, TX, Johnny & Ana Wagner

We appreciate it.  It was a tough time but we are back to normal and I am back to fishing.  And Johnny anytime you need a partner for the evening Coleto tourneys this summer drop me a note.  Thanks for thinking of us.

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

And this from TPWD on the ShareLumker program.

Anglers entered largemouth bass 8 pounds or larger into four categories in the Toyota ShareLunker program, including six “Legacy Class” bass 13 pounds or heavier that were entered during the spawning window Jan.1 through March 31 and loaned to TPWD for the selective breeding and stocking program. The total number of entries in other categories who provided citizen science data included: 5 “Lunker Legend” bass 13 pounds or heavier caught outside the Jan.1 through March 31 spawning window or not loaned for spawning, 107 “Lunker Elite” bass weighing 10 to 12.99 pounds, and 368 “Lunker” bass at least 24 inches or weighing between 8 and 9.99 pounds.

If you think about it if that is how many were entered in the 24″ category, how many were actually caught in Texas last year?  A ton.  I plan on doing my best to catch a few of them myself this year.  (Read this week.)  Texas grows them big and 11 over 13lbs is definitely big!

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

I really enjoy Major League Fishing for a reason you might find interesting.  The best bass fishermen on the planet in the first period on Lake Murry in Oklahoma and only 3 of the 8 even caught a fish.  So next time you are not doing all that well remember how lucky you are to be outside and fishing.  Problems disappear for a while, and there is no better place to be.  We all want to catch fish but it never hurts to appreciate all that comes with it.

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

The quality of our waters in some areas are not the best and we decided to do something at our house.  I realized I have complained about water issues but have not really done anything other than bitch.  So we are now only using biodegradable cleaning and washing products.  It may not be much, but it is something.  The future of our sport is at stake, and with it the future for our grandkids.  So you can take from that I am not in favor of rolling back any of the clean water provisions.  We used to think the oceans and rivers were to big to harm, but that has began to change.  There has been slight progress (Heck in some places you can even eat the fish more than once a month.  Sad.)  and there is no good reason to take a step back.

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

Not much else to say but if memory serves me correct they have no wireless, and if they did it was worthless.  So you may not hear from me until the end of the week.  This trip is all about catching a big pre-spawn Falcon fatty.  This is the earliest I have ever been there so there will be a learning curve, which is what makes trips like this fun.  It is all about being on the right body of water at the right time, and this looks like it.  And who knows, the white bass have exploded on Falcon and I just might take a minute to catch a few.  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

70/59.  Cloudy with a 20% chance of rain.  Wind ESE 10 – 20 mph.

Lake Level

Today  98.28msl   20 days ago  98.35msl.

Solunar Times

Best 3:20 pm to 5:20 pm.  Good  8:23 am to 10:23 am.  (The day is classed as poor.)

We got back from Iowa last night and it seems like forever since I was on the water.  Other than surgery a couple of years ago, I can not remember the last time I did not fish for 20 days in a row.  Some things are just more important than fishing and one of them is my wife.  So after laying her Dad to rest it is back to real life and today was spent catching up.  And while there are a few more things I should do I am going fishing.

First up will be Coleto in the morning.  Looks like the water level has remained fairly stable, and since we are headed out for a walk it might as well be at the lake so I can check the color while we are there.  I will not even make an educated guess as to how the fishing will be, as we were gone almost 2 weeks and all I know about the weather while we were gone was it was nice, which will definitely improve the fishing.  As usual no way to know unless you go, and I sure am ready.

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

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

First up it was checking on the white bass.  So I actually took my own advice and headed way up river to do some trolling.  On the way there is a small flat point covered in grass with deep water nearby.  It has always been a good buzzbait bank and it did not disappoint.

There was no softly pulling it under with this girl.

The main reason I stopped there was the water temp was great over the whole lake today. It was 61 at the ramp, 63 over much of the main lake, even some 65, and the upper end was up almost 3 degrees.  And while the color is not great is a lot better.  But back to the fishing.

There were shad flipping here and there and I had that buzzbait kinda feeling.  It was probably my third cast when the one above literally killed it.  A real bite, she was hooked solid and not coming off.  She was one of those solid fish, definitely pre-spawn.  A quick cpr and off she went.  Funny how length to weight is so different with each big fish.  This girl was heavy.  Best start to the day for a while, more on the bass later.  But the plan was the white bass so I went way up, tossed out the Shallow Running Shad Rap and the chartreuse rattle bait and started trolling at 2.5mph.

A few like this and lots smaller.

I started in 10′ of water and headed up lake.  I just followed the channel with the locator and got a bite right off.  It was 5 or 6 small ones all on the Shad Rap, but no keepers until I found the right depth.  When I wrote about catching white bass the other day one of the spots I mentioned was on the edge of a hump, and this one had a nice drop beside to it.  They were holding on the edge and after a couple of passes I had them down.

I settled on keeping it in 7′ and the bite was on.  Since they were that shallow I took off the rattle bait and put on the Bagley Bang O Lure, which probably runs around 3′ on the troll.  When they would hit that they were slamming it, getting hooked on all 3 trebles.  I  just wanted to take a quick look to see if they were there, but when it started being double after double I could not help myself.  (I laughed when I started asking them not to double.  That is really looking a gift horse in the mouth.)  Not sure how many came over the side but it was a bunch.  As usual on Coleto most were small, but if you are needing a fish fry now is the time.  It is really fun when you get it dialed in.  Pass after pass gave up a couple but when I looked at my watch it was like oh crap, it is already after noon.  So it was back to bass fishing.

The only problem with the big girl was I got fooled.  Though 4 more got on the buzzbait in a couple of places none were worth a hoot.  So I switched to the swim jig as the wind was blowing right along.  It produced 2 and one other miss.  Again all small.  2 made a pass at a spinnerbait but just did not catch it.  Another switch to a Bang O Lure and it was more of the same, 3 on it with one miss.  It was very similar to how it has been.  One here, 2 there, and at least today one big bass bite.  I almost stayed with the buzzbait all day, it just had that kind of feeling, but I just could not get another big bite.  Around 4:00 I called it a day when it started raining.

The lake is right on the edge of good.  There was water that was as warm as 65, and with a full moon coming, if the weather holds and the water warms some, the first bass will be heading for a bed.  And we need the level to stay stable and definitely do not need any more color.  It was a good day, and in a few days the white bass fishing will really be on, plus the big pre-spawn bass will be on the move.  And it looks like it is time for a trip to the Nueces River, get some of the big whites they have there.

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

And it was good to hear from the Fayette guru.

Welcome back !!
After taking a holiday break from fishing, I finally got to fish Fayette. Beautiful Tuesday afternoon. No wind, 75 air temp, cloudy. Perfect conditions. Started and stayed with the white swim jig in very shallow water. Wanted to see if any were spawning. Caught two nice ones that I’m sure were but not many were in 1-3’. Lots of boats on the water 30-40 which is a lot for a Tuesday. Several fish being boated in deeper waters . Water temps were 72-75 on one side of the lake and 68 on the other. Fun day on the water! I will be chasing white bass on Lake Somerville very soon, I want to fly fish for them this year.
Got everything done on the LTS that I wanted to do over the holidays.  Glad it’s done!!
Tight lines
Rusty

After doing my own LTS makeover congrats on getting it done.  As far as lots of boats, here we go, spring fishing is on the way, though I am headed there soon myself.  And have a good time on Sommerville, another serious white bass lake, and it is always possible to add a nice hybrid to the mix.  That would be a good bite on a fly rod.  It is going to be a good year on the water and thanks for dropping a comment.

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

There you have it today.  A bunch of whites and a big bass, great way to start the year.  So here we go, there is lots of fishing coming, the only problem is where.  So many places so little time.  And anytime you want to comment drop us a line.  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!**

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

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

Over the years while guiding and living in the Ozarks white bass fishing was an important part of my life.  And over the 25 years I learned a few things about catching them early, often beating the crowd by using this simple methods.  It would be hard to guess how many I have boated but it was hundreds and hundreds every spring for 20+ years, and the same deep water jigging each winter.  Thinking about it I may have caught more numbers of them than anything else over my lifetime.  They can easily be the most productive  fish for time spent.

When the cooler is full time to hit the cleaning table.

And with that I learned a pattern that can turn anyone into a early spring white bass Jedi Master.  Whether it is Texas, Arkansas, or Timbuktu, white bass follow a simple pattern every year no matter where you are.  Genetics drives them, the desire to spawn and repopulate the species takes over, and knowing when and where can put you on fish in nothing flat.  The period is short and it is coming to a lake near you.

Water temperature plays a role, and that temp varies with the part of the country.  And while it is important, it is not the driving force.  A perfect example, Coleto Creek usually stays in the high 50’s to low 60’s like most power plant lakes.  Many northern lakes freeze, and they move more predictably with the warming temps.  So the important part of water temperature, is it rising, and is it your spring?  Then they are coming no matter what.  If the timing is right and you take these tips and put them in practice, I promise fish in the boat.  (Brave thing to say huh?)

From a river near you.

When they make their move they have only one place to go in most lakes and rivers, up the creek until even they might need a paddle.  How far?  All the freakin’ way, and thanks to that bit of information where should you start?  How about all the way up the river or a bigger tributary/creek on the lake.  Far enough you can’t go any farther up, as in bang the skeg on the bottom and you are there.  In real terms we are talking when it finally gets to 5′ or less.  As the great Buck Perry said, “The fish are deep, shallow, or somewhere in between.”  In the case of white bass they will either be at the end of the line, a little down lake, or hanging in the deeper holes in the creek waiting to move.  It is not rocket science, simply a matter of timing.

They grow them big on the Nueces.

So the first decision, go to the closest ramp to the end of navigable water.  Saves a ride on a cold spring day.  Next, drive up the creek or river and keep driving until you are scared to go further, then go the last little bit and start fishing.   Then simply keep fishing as you ease down lake/river.  And don’t just drive willy nilly, pay attention to what and where the first fish bites.  There are several ways to fish successfully, depending on your preference, so lets talk about simple ways to load the boat.

First a word or two on the topography up most creeks or rivers.  On lakes there is always the old river channel, which usually means a flatter side, and the deeper side wherever the channel runs.  And of course the usual holes on channel bends, where they often hold.  Simply hanging in the channel/holes waiting for the right time, on the channel lips when getting active, and super shallow in the afternoon as the sun warms.

The one place that you find them when they are really getting busy is a shoal.  Often in the straighter areas of the old creek or river bed where there were 2 channels with an island or high spot between them.  That shoal or high spot is easy to find after you have made a couple of passes watching the locator.  The best of them tend to be in 5′ foot of water.  Pay attention to the edges, if you get a bite on a pass or two stop and toss something.  It can be that easy.  That is why having even a basic fish finder is the key to success.

Rapala and Bagley both get the job done.  And take note of the  Bagley rattle bait.

Trolling, is probably the most efficient and easy way to find them which is the most important thing in the early spring.  Once you find them it is game on, end of story.  And there are a couple of baits that will get the job done, it does not take a tackle box full of lures.  The first by far is the Rapala Shad Rap.  It has been a staple in my box for as long as I can remember.  And the great thing, they are all specifically designed to fish a particular depth.  Plus they are easy to cast and crank if that is your thing, but either way they smack it.

First I never leave the ramp without are a Shallow Shad Rap in a number 7, in any shad look I can find at the store, hopefully silver/black foil.  They are a little hard to come by but it is a winner in this system.  Why?  It runs around 6′ foot or less on the troll depending on line size and speed, I generally troll with 10 or 12lb test.  It is the perfect bait when you turn the boat around after hitting bottom and starting to fish your way down river.

Coleto has a few, this is a big one for the lake.

Cast it out, and let it get about 50′ behind the boat, check the drag (Keep it light.), and start trolling slowly.   Usually for me at idle, or around 2.5 mph.  It is nice to have another in a silver/black back that also runs the same.  Just putt along and watch the locator.  Usually when you find them you see them unless it is really shallow.  As the water gets deeper then it is time to switch to a Rapala Shad Rap in the same size 7 and the Bagley, both will run to about 10′, maybe a little more.  One thing I have learned about the spring run, when it is on those fish are almost always from 2′ out to 20″ downriver and the deep diving model 7 will cover everywhere you should be looking.

So the plan is simple, start shallow and go until you catch one.  Gets a little deeper, switch from the shallow running to the regular Shad Rap.  By doing it that way you cover lots of water, if they are not there yet it does not take long to figure that out.  And the opposite, when they are there you will find that out quickly.

The second style bait, which I usually fish off another rod along with the Rapala is a Rattle Trap style bait.  For this kind of fishing the particular company brand is irrelevant, nice 2 have a couple of different models, but it just has to be either a shad color or chartreuse.  Most run around 6′ at the most on a slow troll, an area of water depth you need to cover if the day is really warming.  Generally starting with the chartreuse Rattle Trap style bait is a good idea.  You get not only a depth clue, but also a color clue.  The fish will often settle a little more on one color or bait over the other, but it is usually a small difference in the early season run.  They are on the chew.

You can also troll spoons, jigs, or plastics at slower speeds.  And there is a world of shad imitation crankbaits, just pick a shad color, the important thing is to know the depths it runs.  Basically no matter what you troll you are seining the water at specific depths to find them as quickly as possible.  Then you can put the real hurt on them, by either keeping trolling, or switching to casting.

I did not troll much the first 2o years I chased them.  But I caught literally thousands casting.  That is the area I have the most experience.  As soon as there was a hint of spring I was up (Where?  See above.)  one of the bigger creeks on Norfork and Bull Shoals looking for white bass.  I often used crappies jigs, feather jigs, or small plastics on 6lb test.  And there is “That  Perfect Place” early spring when they begin to move up.  A flat slowly slopping bank, softer bottom, in about 10′ of water, out of the wind, with the sun beating on it.  Jackpot!That is when water temperature really matters so pay attention.  A 5 degree difference n cool spring water can make all the difference.  Simple enough, but as we all know the fish have not read the same book we have.

Just slowly hop the jigs along working from the bank out to the boat, hopping it along and letting it hit bottom occasionally.  Anything from 1/16th to 1/4 ounce white will usually work.  And they way they thump it is a good thing, a cool solid bite.  And it is basically the same thing you can do if trolling and catch a few and then decide to cast the area.

From that point on, until the run is over, if you follow this plan you will find them, or they are gone.  Most places I have caught them this is the case, one day they are there and the next they are gone.  That is why this is about an early spring method.  Once the run is done they become a completely different animal requiring different tactics.  The time to go is now in south Texas.

I hope this helps if you want to try your hand at white bass fishing.  It is such a good thing for kids or folks who can not cast.  All they have to do is hold on.  So get out there this year and sack a bunch.  And remember this tip, cut out the red meat, soak them in 7Up the night before, they will melt in your mouth.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

(Thanks for sticking with me while I have been out of action.  And I will be taking my own advice tomorrow on Coleto.  Let the fishing begin!)