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!)

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!**

A Life Well Lived

It is with a heavy heart we start the New Year.  My father-in-law Jack is 95 y/o and after his big stroke he is slowly slipping away.  Today he is resting more comfortably and it won’t be long.

In his shop where he was happiest.  Always a smile.

He has lived a full life, been married to Joy for 69 years,  (Wow.) and raised 4 great children.  If it was made of wood he could make it, and we all got a good laugh moving them last week.  We all have the same hat rack, lazy Susan, magazine rack, and a host of other things from his shop.  And thanks for never making me the big woman’s butt for the flower garden.  It was important that all the kids and grandkids were able to get there and see him last week when he knew and recognized everyone.

As we packed them up I found a package of watermelon/red worms, my favorite color, that he bought to hang off the other folks doors in the assisted living place.  Always a joker.  He smiled when I told him that not only was I “confiscating” them, but that they were my favorite color.  And next time out I will catch a fish on one, and forever keep the rest on the wall in the tackle room as a reminder that not only is life short, but it can be well lived.

So he may not be able to hear me but I wanted to say thanks.  Not only for being a good man but for giving me the love of my life.  You did a bang up job with your life and you are loved by all.  It is ok, you are tired from that long and productive life, your peace is right around the corner.  Plus I hear the best shop in the world is in heaven and God might just need a lazy Susan.  (He doesn’t wear a hat you know.)  You could not meet a better man.

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

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

It is hard right now to talk about the future as nothing is written in stone.  But as I said life goes on, and with that thought in mind here is the “plan” for the year around here.

What I hope to accomplish this year –

1.  Get back to fishing for the simple love of it.  Stop letting the blog make the decisions.  I get so wrapped up in getting that big fish picture, or catching a mess, simply for the blog.  Easy to forget the very thing that got me here, that little guy who always knew that the “Tug is the Drug.”  As I have said many times, it is in the doing.
2. With that, get back to more of the things I love to catch, which is anything with fins.  There is a world of fish out there and I hope to take advantage of every single one of them I can.  Guess you could say my bucket list now includes anything that swims.  To fish for them when the time and place is right.  To just go fishing.
3. To quit giving a rats ass about the numbers.  In the grander scheme of things who comes and why is irrelevant to my fishing journey, which is the reason I started this.  To those of you who have been here since the beginning, you hold a special place in my heart.  And to the new ones, welcome aboard.  Your readership means the world to me.
4. To write more.  As the blog evolved it ended up being mostly reports with little else.  I want to do more how-to stuff, more comments on the fishing world, and of course the occasional rant.  There are areas where I feel fishing is off the rails and in the spirit of Tred Barta, the King of the Fishing Rant, I intend to tell you about it.
5. To spend a little more time with a camera in my hands.  A shame to let that photography degree go to waste when I spend that much time outdoors.
6. As usual, to fish with more folks, to explore new places, and try new things.  The Boss always talks about our tendency to nestle in that Warm and Fuzzy Spot.  And if you are happy with that good for you, but I want more.
7. And last, to remember every time I start the boat, put on the waders, or sit on the bank, that life is privilege and not a right and to say my thanks for another day on the water.

And on a personal note:

1. I will be kinder.
2. I will pay it forward.
3. I will continue to thin the herd of those around me now that it dawned on me that you do not have to suffer fools.  There are some folks you are better off without in your life.
4. To tell my lovely wife how much she means to me every chance I get.  It always pays to butter up the Boss and with a wife like mine so easy to do.
5. To keep wearing my life jacket and kill switch, if not for me then for those that love me.
6. And last to quit drinking beer.  Whao….wait a minute here, lets not get carried away!  If I keep to the list I will be a better person.  And by doing all that the reward – a beer!

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

And after that bit of introspection it is back to work.  The weather today in South Texas is a high of 46 degrees with a cold north wind and rain.  No fishing today.  But after today the weather shows a really nice pattern of stable and relatively warm conditions.  With that comes the white bass run on area lakes and rivers, the crappie spawn, bass spawn, and the beginning of the trout spawn with big girls feeding.  No better time to catch a big fish of most any species as spawning puts them in reach like no other time of the year.  With the guns being put up, the holidays over, fishing will take over the outdoor world.

Last time I picked up the boat my mechanic was telling another customer that he wished he had more customers like me.  Why?  He told him I take care of the little things before they become big things.  Maintenance is the key to happiness.  With that in mind it is time to take a little bit and look over all your cool fishing stuff.  There are tons of things to do before the bite is on.  Definitely time to do a serious walk around the boat trailer.  Tires, hubs, numbers, safety chains, spare, lights, the list is endless.  Really look and if it needs fixing do it.  You don’t want to be sidelined doing some fixing that could/should have been done earlier.  A little time getting squared up will save hours of misery.  (Read $$$)  Plus, your local boat mechanic is swamped in the spring and your emergency is just his number 27 on the list of things to do.

Having towed thousands of miles I have learned my lessons the hard way.  The last thing you want is to be along side the road waiting for the $600 tow truck.  It happens sometimes no matter what, but sitting on the side of the road with something that could have been nipped in the bud is sauce on the wound.  Why I have Tow Boat USA with the trailering package.  Always someone to save me if all else fails and the peace of mind is worth every penny.

Then start on the boat.  Lights, bilge pump, life jackets, fire extinguisher, horn, throwable device, batteries, paperwork, along with a host of other things.  And of course the motor, when was the last time you had it serviced?  Like the trailer, just a little prep will make your life a whole lot better.  Plus when the warden or Coast Guard checks you they will say thanks – or pay up.  Your choice.

Buy new line, organize the tackle boxes, check guides, clean reels, and that list goes on.  Poor planning = poor performance.  Amazing what you will find by getting organized, and then know where to find it when you need it.

It is all important, any of these can make or break your day, or your wallet.  So get out there and get organized.  Some of us are happy to help you out when you are broke down, but why mess up a perfectly good fishing day?

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

This year’s fishing destinations are starting to jell.  Of course the Chandeleur trip, Grand Isle La, and a new one, Montana for pike and trout.  What makes the Montana trip so special is we will also be on a 3 day wolf tracking expedition.  And the April timing is great, along with wolves we will see everything else the mountains have to offer.  Bears out of hibernation, elk, moose, mule deer, and if it happens maybe a Bighorn sheep or a lion.  (I have always said that those signs by the highway telling you to watch out for the Bighorn sheep are just kidding.)

And as far as where I hope to fish I plan on hitting Florida for a couple of weeks, it has definitely been to long.  I might even try a couple of new places while there.  We all also considering Colorado.  I will tow the boat out there and fish a week on the many lakes then pick her up at the airport for week 2.  (Not sure what is wrong with her, she does not like to tow the boat a thousand miles.  Dang woman!)  And Falcon, maybe in the next 2 weeks depending on how it goes, and Amistad.  Both are close and there is no good reason to not tap some of the best bass fishing in the country.  When fall comes I am trying to figure out how to do a trip to Lake Vermillion in Minnesota for a muskie or two, and some walleye for the Boss who loves eating them.  Hopefully some stripers on Texoma with Terry, fish more with neighbor Jesse, even a little debauchery with the Austin Boys, and anything else someone comes up with.

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

That is all for today.  First I want to thank you all for another great year.  To those I have met, and those that I will, stop and say hello when you see me at the ramp, I would love to meet you.  And feel free to comment, send me your pictures, or never read me again if it does not work for you.  I will strive to make it interesting.

I hope to be back on the water tomorrow, depending.  But if not you will know where we are.  The spring bite is so close I can taste it and my casting arm is getting twitchy just wondering what is next.  Hug your kids, tell someone you love them, and take advantage of every day on the water.   Yell “Fish on!”, help a kid catch his first fish, take some filets to the neighbor, have a great time enjoying this sport we love so much.  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!**

This will be probably be the last fishing day of the year.  The Boss has been getting off work at midnight and I usually wait up to be sure she gets home ok.  Of course I end up sleeping in, as I will do tomorrow.  Since the bite tends to be in the afternoon no big hurry.  Just have to see how it goes.

Weather

68/47.  Sunny with a 0% chance of rain.  Wind  W 5 – 10 mph.

Lake Level

Today  98.38 msl.   3 days ago  98.35 msl.

Solunar Times

No relevant time when I was out.  Day rated as Good.

******************Fresh or salt it catches fish.

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

It was one of the nicest days I have spent on the water in a long time.  Mid 60’s, sunny and basically calm, it was perfect, for being outside.  Not so perfect for catching fish.  I lazed up in the morning and did not even get to the lake until 11:30.  The water temp was 61 at the ramp and as high as 65 near the outflow cove.  Unfortunately the water color still remains seriously off color over most of the lake.  And as I noticed before, even some coves are more off color on one side than the other.

The Bang O Lure got it done.

Today I threw the lot at them, including even giving the Chatterbait a go.  I thought it might help with the water color like it is but no takers.  In fact, I missed one that blew up on the Bang O Lure on my second or third cast, then one on the Controlled Descent pearl Jerk Shad, and that was the size of it until 4:00.  I fished a couple of new places and the results remain the same, you can get a few bites once you get the first one, but wrong place wrong time and nada.

So I kept with the Bang O Lure and as the moon just started to come up I stopped in one cove and caught 4 in nothing flat, then a couple more in the next cove before I quit.  They still want it right  on top, though since I can not see it when I jerk it under who knows how many took a look at it.  If the water will clean up a little more the fishing will definitely improve.  We just do not need anymore rain, or at least any that puts any more color in the lake.  Since losing our grass the color has declined the last 3 years, with the last 3  or 4 months being the worst after several semi-floods.

And I set a record today.  After never really being hooked before I had a crankbait hanging off my finger a couple of months ago and had to have it taken out.  Well today I got bit again.  Crazy.  While taking a little one off he managed to give a big wiggle and drive a Bang O Lure hook in my index finger.  Luckily it was in a  place I could do the hook out by myself.  One big jerk and it was back to fishing.  It re-emphasized how you have to be careful on each and every fish.  It could have been worse.

Today as I left the house the Boss said,  “Hope you catch some.”  My reply, “You know it is not all about that.”  Her astute response, “I know.”   And today was like that, so nice out, few boats around, and when they did bite it was a flurry.

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

KEEP NANCY IN YOUR THOUGHTS

Unfortunately before I could get this published we got some bad news.  My wife’s father, Jack Mellinger, has had a serious stroke.  Instead of getting ready to head to Spain we are flying to Iowa to be with the family.  He is a good man who has lived his 95 years to the fullest.  It reminds me that life is fleeting and every day is a blessing.  So keep her family in your prayers.  Will be back with you all soon.

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

68/53.  Morning fog and cloudy rest of day with 105 chance showers late.  Wind E 5 – 10 mph.

Lake Level

Today  98.35 msl.  Yesterday  98.32 msl.  (Still coming up.)

Solunar  Times

No relevant time today.  Forecast for today’s fishing – Poor.

******************The new bait is off the drawing board!  Hope to see it soon.

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

Deja Vu All Over Again – Sort Of.

After letting some of the fog clear I was on the water by 8:30.  The lake had cleared little, the water temp was down 3 or 4 degrees from yesterday, but it was cloudy with little wind.  And it stayed calm and cloudy until I quit at 4:00.  When I got to the ramp that morning no one was there, quite a difference from the day before when there were 6 or 7 at the ramp.  Tells you something if you think about it.

First off was a cove where they have been consistent, and they were there but a funny thing happened on the way to a big stringer- it did not happen.  In the first place there was at least 4 bites, and only one really small one committed.  I was cussing me for missing so many.  Little did I know that it would stay that way all day.

  They were after the Bang O Lure today, but boy was there lots of misses.

It seems every day that their lure preference varies with the conditions, and today the Bang O Lure was the ticket.  And it had to be splashed and twitched right on top to get a bite.  But there was one problem, of the 5 or 6 I boated at least three times that many boiled, flashed, or made a half ass grab at it.  The first couple of hours I was mad at myself.  Come on Dude!  Get a grip, pay more attention, use this bait, use that, none made any difference.  They even pulled at the pink trick worm weightless without eating it.  (I really thought that would work, and I still do.  We shall see next time out.  But I sure could not see it any better if that gives you a clue as to water color.)  In all the years I have been slinging lures it might have been the worst I have ever seen it.

If it was a buzzbait, they barely tried to pull it under, a Controlled Descent Jerk Shad just roll on it, and the Bang O Lure, don’t want to eat it but they sure made a nice boil.  I caught a couple on everything, and missed 4 times as many.  No matter where I fished it was the same no matter the bait.  At least the better one above blew up on it, the only “real bite” I had all day.  To top off the day, I missed, or they did, the last 7 bites.  Hey I might not be KVD, but I didn’t just fall off the fishing truck.  It alternated between weird and irritating, at both me and the fish.

There was not a lot of warming if any, and there was no noticeable difference in the bite as the day went on.  And the lake came up just a touch, which I do not think is helping the color any.  Obviously the lake being so off color makes fishing the Bang O Lure and Jerk Shad a lot tougher, and I noticed one thing in some of the coves.  One side might be real dirty and the other side at least fishable.  And the side with more color – tilapia and carp everywhere.  That little addition did not help anything.  Just a reminder of how a good idea goes bad, Coleto needs a tilapia roundup.  There are to many, end of story.

I really did not expect the fishing to be all that different from the day before, but I was surprised it was not as good.  More bites, less takes.  But it was all good.  It gives me hope that the lake will get back on track, just need some stability, but most of all, no more dirty water.  It really does not matter to me if the temp drops, but off color dirty water is a bad thing when combined with cold water.  But hope springs eternal and when I finally checked the time I went where did the day go, even though slow still a great day to be alive.  When you love to fish time on the water is the reward, whatever comes along with that is the frosting.

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

The blog is getting spammed constantly (Over 100 every day.) by every kind of company and nutcase in the world.  As we are about to take a little time off starting  Christmas day I turned the comments off.  So you all that I hear from the comments will be back on after January 1 and we will be off and running on the new year.  I am hoping that having no where to spam for a couple of weeks it might slow it some.  So don’t give up on me, I am still here.

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

Today I did some “stuff” which took all morning and half the afternoon.  Back to that how did all this crap get done when I was working.  But at least my hair is pretty, the Boss said she is not taking some Texas redneck with her, and the passports are in hand.  The rest of the list was long and only done today as I had an appointment that needed keeping or I would be on the water.  Tomorrow, Thursday, our forecast is for a Gale Warning with gusts to 50mph, which is twice in exactly a week.  Nothing ruins a good day on the water like a gale!  Probably take tomorrow to get the fishing stuff organized and cleaned up, if I can’t go at least I can mess with the toys.  And I hope to get on the water at least once or twice before we hit the road.  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

66/53.  Overcast with a 20% chance of occasional showers.  Wind ENE 5 – 10mph.

Lake Level

Today  98.32 msl.  Last week  98.05 msl.  (Still feeling affect so the last rain.  Intersting to see if it has cleared any.)

Solunar Times

Good  11:34 am to 1:34 pm.  (Only relevant time.  And the day is classed as poor.)

Headed in last night.  It does not get any better than this! Thanks for the picture John.

******************The new bait is off the drawing board!  Hope to see it soon.

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

Curses!  Foiled again.

The post office was up first before I could hit the lake.  Good thing I went at 7:45, I was 4th in line.  If I had waited anymore time I would have been 24th in line.  A shout out to the lady at the post office.  She has worked there forever and is always smiling and nice.  A testament to her as the post office is a crazy place to work this month.  So getting that done it was off to the lake and fishing by 10:00.  And this is how I got fooled.

The lake is definitely way up, and the color is awful over the whole lake and I found out why.  The guy I talk to most days when I take out, he is often there looking out at the lake in the evenings, said that last week they really let the water out and a couple of roads in the area were closed as they got ahead of the flood.  Obviously it pulled all the dirty water down lake.  Now those areas that were at least clearing some are back to ugly.  But at least the water temp was in the low 60’s to 65 degrees in some places.  And I thought yesterday was calm, today was flat slick.

First up was a cove that has been consistent, and I put 2 in the boat on a buzzbait in the first five minutes.  We’re having fun now.  But no we are not.  It was the last bites on the buzzbait, and I tried it everywhere.

And that was the end of that.  I really thought I was in business.

From that point on I fished coves, main lake flats with grass, main lake channel banks with lots of cover, all places I have caught them the last couple of weeks, in both arms.  After a while it became clear the buzzbait was not happening.  So I went with the Controlled Descent pearl Jerk Shad with a rattle, walking the dog right below the surface where I could at least see it.  Until I quit at 3:30 I had 5 or 6 bites on it, landed 3 really small ones, and broke one off in the grass.

If I were guessing, and I am, since there was not a breath of wind it had them off, or the fishing forecast was correct that it was a poor day.  But it is not a bad thing.  It was sunny and calm which had the water warming rapidly.  I quit because of how slow the bite was, but if I had stayed until dark I am sure there would have been a bite near dark.  With the weather being really stable and warm one more day, and if it will clear just a little bit, the bite should be on.

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

Unfortunately I have an appointment Wednesday that I really need to keep, otherwise I would be fishing somewhere else right now.  And Thursday looks like a mini norther will roll in with NW winds 25 – 35 mph.  Great.  The temp will not drop a ton, and the majority will be blown out by Friday.  So what to do?  I will be checking weather and tides and make a decision about tomorrow later tonight.  The only hitch in the git along is the forecast is calling for big fog lasting later in the morning tomorrow.  It is always something.  And while the lake was slow this was one great weather day.  And seeing eagles, gators, ospreys, made it one great day to be alive.  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

65/54.  Intervals of clouds and sun with no chance of rain.  Wind NE 5 – 10mph.

Tides

High  1:35 am.   Low  5:26 pm.  (Falling all day.  Will be interested in how the water moves.)

Solunar Times

Best  9:42 am until 11:42 am.  (Only relevant period.  Like I mentioned the other day I do not include the general day forecast, excellent, good, fair, and poor.  Last trip the forecast was poor.  Sunday is supposed to be excellent.  We shall see.)

******************Going to feed some bass today on the pearl Jerk Shad.

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

While I did not get a chance to fish with the boys in Rockport, I will be meeting John 1, and maybe John 2, in POC in the morning.  It has been a while since I fished a weekend day at POC and it will be interesting to see how it goes.  And the boys had a good day today in Rockport, John said other than a couple of minor moves they fished in one place all day.

All the Rockport fish were harmed in the making of this picture.  And I am sure they tasted great!

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

POC

The boys made it to Froggie’s around 9:30 and we were headed out to the island by 10:00.  The tide had already fallen, hours ahead of the low.  The water temp was 56 degrees and in most places clear as a bell.

On our first wade near a drain John and John both had a couple of bites in the drain but did not hook up.  I stayed way out and did not have a smell.  That area has grass and mostly sand bottom and it did not take a mental giant to figure out that type of area was not only not hold fishing it was not warming at all.  It was interesting how the farther out I waded the cooler the water was.  So time for a move to a softer bottom.

Best we could manage of the 8 or so today.

Next up was the flat outside the old Coast Guard station.  We headed out to the point to fish the drop area, and other than a couple of weak bites they were not out there.  So as we waded back we headed in and at least had a few bites.  I did manage to catch a keeper black drum and 3 rat reds.  At this point I was not happy with our results so time for a big change, back to my warm and fuzzy spot, Big Bayou, and fishing out of the boat.

First up was my favorite bank and the trout were there.  One thing that was surprising, the water was coming up, even though it was still a couple of hours from high tide.  I guess that was the effect of the big north winds the last couple of days blowing water out of the bay, but that is my guess.

Headed to the grease in Austin.

The tide pushed the boat just right and the fish were on a drop where it went from 1 foot to 6 foot.  It took a heavier jig head and a big paddle tail, 5″ seemed to be the preferred size, to get them to bite.  It finally settled into a hop it up after the cast and then slow roll it down the drop.  I will give them credit, they were thumping it.  Everybody got in on the act and while it was not fast by any means, it was steady.  We batted about 1 keeper for every 3 or 4, and before it was over sacked 8 keepers.  We also did some red fishing in the Bayou, and though we caught a couple, my good bank was just to shallow and the reds were small.  At 5:30 we called it a day as they had to head back to Austin.

As usual I really enjoy fishing with the 2 Johns.  They are great guys and fish hard.  I wish we had gotten out earlier, and then I had made better choices on our first couple of places.  But we soldiered on and managed to get them a few to take to the house.  When we got to the cleaning table the TPWD guy checked our trout and they were all good.  But it was a good reminder of my general policy, if you have to measure it more than once, don’t keep it.  It was interesting fishing a weekend at POC.  I got the pleasure of parking in Seadrift, just kidding but it was close, and there was lots of traffic.  But though busy it did not affect where and how we fished.  And it has been a while since I fished the bay and come back at dark thirty.

The plan was to take a 3 day trip this week, somewhere.  Unfortunately I forgot I have an appointment on Wednesday, so this week be will work around that.  In a minute I will head out to mail a couple of packages, then clean up stuff from last night, and then if I am lucky it will be the lake for the rest of the day.  Then back to the bay for another go at it.  Maybe even a little earlier start.  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!**

My favorite fishing saying :

“First you want to catch a fish.  Then you want to catch a bunch of fish.  Then to catch big fish.  And finally you want to catch fish the way you want.”

It says a lot about the evolution of many good fishermen, and was said by one of the greats.  We could never master our sport, it is to big and broad.  But some do become masters at one thing, or one species, others become mutli-species guys. Some are happy in their warm and fuzzy spot and never change.  Some quest for more, something new, anything out of the same old, same old.  As I get older that is where I find my fishing day dreams.  Seeing new water, experiencing something completely new.  So as the year runs down time to sit back and take stock of the old year, and look to the new.  Time for some changes, I just have not puzzled them out yet.

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

I got up to head to the bay on Wednesday and felt like crap.  I will spare you the ugly details.  So Wednesday was spent on the couch, and Thursday was taken up with insurance and banking stuff.  But it seemed there was light at the end of the tunnel.  Unfortunately here I sit typing this instead of fishing.

The sun sets on the Austin Boys POC trip. Thanks to Alan for this picture.

******************The new bait is off the drawing board!  Hope to see it soon.

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

Several of that same bunch are in Rockport this weekend and I was hoping to fish with them today.  Yesterday they smacked a bunch of nice reds  but ended up getting blown off the water.  And it is expected to be worse today.

A nice sack full!

Unfortunately the forecast is for 25 – 35 mph winds with 40+ gust possible.  I spoke with them and they were not going to get carried away, read if it blows like it is supposed to we are hanging out, a good alternative to crossing that bay in 35 mph winds.  So discretion was the better part of valor and I opted out.  The screen door is banging, stuff is hitting the roof, and I can hear it blowing with the TV on.  So that about says it for my week.

Several of them will be going back to Austin on Sunday and 2 Johns will be coming over to fish with me.  The original plan was to fish the Lavaca, but with the high fresh water it does not look like a good choice.  So I will watch the weather and we will make  some kind of a decision Saturday night.  Looking at the forecast the wind is not going to blow much on Sunday so we have that going.

Not much else going on around here and I am sufficiently bored.  We will be leaving for Spain in 10 days so will try to pack as much fishing in as I can until then.  And it looks like the weather will be settling down for a while, hopefully the fish settle with it.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines