FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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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

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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

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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

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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Tomorrow will be the lake.  The day will start out cold with some good warming in the afternoon.  I am a little puzzled that the lake is dropping with all the flooding around.  Not sure if they are letting some out in anticipation of more, or if we just did not get much at the lake, which I doubt.  And with the cold front that came through who knows what the water temp will be.  As usual, you only know if you go.  And I got my Controlled Descent pearl Jerk Shad supply replenished so it will get a serious go.  Hope they bite.

Weather

37/67.  Sunny with some afternoon clouds and a 10% chance of rain.  Wind S 10 – 20.

Lake Level

Today  98.05 msl.   5 days ago  98.16 msl.   (Interesting.  Dropping with the rivers flooding, who knows what I will find.)

Solunar Times

Good  7:39 am to 9:39 am.  Best  1:51 pm to 3:51 pm.

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

So much for hope, they did not bite!

So let us get right to the punch line, it sucked.  The water color is back to ugly, really bad up lake, but definitely a real deterioration down lake.  The temp has dropped from 6 – 12 degrees depending on where you are, but the whole lake temps are down significantly.

I was on the water at 9:30 hoping to catch some daytime warming.  The forecast was just plain wrong, it was basically cloudy all day and I never did find any area that warmed up.  Of course checked way up lake and it was back to dirty and the water temp was down 12 degrees.  Mid lake is all in the high 50s to low 60’s.

I fished where I had been catching them, and probably  4 places I have not fished lately, and nothing was worth a hoot.  The ugly totals, 1 about the size of the Bang O Lure and another took a pass at it and missed.  2 made a half hearted attempt at the Controlled Descent Jerk Shad, basically a grab the tail but not eat it.  No buzzbait, swim jig, or crankbait bites, they just were not having any of it.  At 4:00 I finally called no mas.  That is the day in a nut shell.

The lake will be going through the same pattern for the 3rd time in the last month.  Cold rain dropping temps and mudding thing up.  It will be another week, without rain, for it to settle back down again.  Unfortunately there is more rain coming, followed by a cold front.  So time to put the lake to bed for a while.  It just is not worth the effort right now.

Tomorrow it will be off to POC.  The wind might get up to 20mph but an early start will have me across the bay before it gets cranking.  Then the wind should be at my back as I wade places on the island, and with clouds who knows, the day has potential but you never know.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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How in the Sam Hell does a retired guy have so much to do today that he does not go fishing?  Seriously.  And how in the world did we get all the “stuff” done while we were working?  But my AGM batteries finally came in so I had to take out the others and then head to the store, get the new ones, and put them back in.  And a shout out to the Interstate Battery store here in Victoria.  Since they did not have them in stock they let me have a pair of wet cell to get me through the couple of weeks until the AGM’s came in.  Great customer service.  The reason I finally went there is they are a battery store and this is their battery so if there is a warranty issue it is easy to address.  Now the question – Will they last longer than the 3 year full replacement warranty?  They will get a real workout and only time will tell.

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

It was nice to join my buddy Todd and his family and a few of the Austin Boys for their annual Fishmas.  Some of the Austin Boys were there and we gorged on a great fish fry, and maybe a few adult beverages.  (We had a great time in cold and windy Austin!)  And it gave me a chance to visit Cabela’s to get a re-arming kit for my self inflating life jacket.  I fish by myself often and as I get older I wear it more and more, always attached to the kill switch.  Having a pontoon boat on my head at one point in my life reminds me it can, and did, happen in the blink of an eye.  So if you do not want to wear it for you, wear it for those that love you.

 This was  on my head and when it hit me in the nose it hurt.  And there are the 2 life jackets that saved my life.

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

I thought it was interesting that when I fished Wednesday and Thursday there was one common denominator, everyone out there, which was only 3 boats at most, was old.  Mr Crappie 1 and 2 were out, (They are both in their 80’s.) and when I got to the ramp that evening the only other boat on the lake was taking out and it was a couple of old guys.  And Thursday the only guy I saw fishing, and chatted with at the ramp, was older than dirt.  Old guys rule – or more relevant, it is great to be retired.

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

Not may alligators out with this weather but I did have a pretty cool close encounter Thursday.  As my buzzbait plopped along out of a big grassy area a huge wake came charging out, apparently until it saw the boat.  Gators must think it is a duck, if I was guessing.  And they also like the frog, and I have had many smaller ones follow it to the boat.  Thank goodness I have never hooked one, but now that I have said that it will probably happen any time now.

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

If you are a snapper fisherman TPWD is taking public comments on setting seasons for 2019.  So put in your 2 cents worth if you are a snapper jerker.  All I know about it is from watching fishing shows, and one thing that has become abundantly clear, the snapper are back big time.  In fact some guides in the Gulf say some of the reefs are covered up and they do not catch other species that used to be there.  So it never hurts to check on their website to see what is in the works that affect all of us.  Plus they work for you, no matter how often they might forget, so if you do not express your opinion how would they know.

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

Big Brother is Watching

And remember when I advised folks to quit flashing the money on Facebook.  On this month’s TPWD Warder encounters report 2 folks who were caught after posting on Facebook and Snap Chat.  Trust me folks, Wardens are watching the social media sites.  The next issue that might come up is folks with huge stringers on their back.  They might just be bragging pictures, or you just might get a visit from the warden.  So think before you hit post.  As I said before, the internet is a dangerous place.

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

A Rant – Totally off topic.

Since we left Fort Worth apparently my phone number is being shared by lots of folks to secure electricity from various online companies, at least 5 different times involving multiple companies.  Then they skip out on the bill.  It has been ongoing and has taken some time to correct.  One company alone had 4 different accounts all with my number, which lead to the ugly we are going to ruin your credit type messages.  Think about it, the company has 4 different residential accounts at 4 different addresses with my number and they don’t find that funny?  But after complaints to the BBB and the Attorney General’s Office they have seen the light.  Most of it has been cleared up, I don’t give up on shit like that.  Then today I get an email saying the “Grace” should reply and her electric would be turned on today.  So I got to the company right away and they canceled them, and will be sending me a fraud report and a police report that I will fill out and send back.   One thing I learned representing criminals – Once a thief always a thief.  Maybe they will catch this piece of crap.

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

After getting it all done, actually was pretty efficient today, it will be back on the water tomorrow.  The plan is the lake tomorrow and POC Wednesday.  With Wednesday forecast to be cloudy and warm, along with a falling tide all morning, it has real potential.  And with some new Controlled Descent pearl Jerk Shads they will get a work out both days.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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Weather

71/64.  Considerable cloudiness with 50% of occasional showers.  Wind SSE  10 – 15mph.

Lake Level

Today  98.16 msl.  Yesterday  98.16 msl.

Solunar Times

Best 9:11 am to 11:11 am.

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

Listen to the Fish!

This was one of those days I wait for all year.  Cloudy, off and on drizzle, light wind, water clearing fast, what more could a guy want.  It was 7:30 when I made my first cast.  The Bang O Lure was already on, and in the first little cove, 4, the next 6.  And the day went on from there.  Nothing big but they sure were willing.

They were eating the Bang O Lure.

Stayinig with the Bang O Lure, they kept biting so I kept throwing.  Most were small and came twitching it on top, or right below the surface.  As I exited a cove I made a cast right on the point, twitched it some, and then reeled it back to make another cast.  A really big fish followed it and blew up all over it at the boat and missed by a mile.  So hey, I didn’t just fall off the pumpkin truck, so I started twitching it about 1/3rd of the way back, and then just started reeling it.  And when they stopped it there was no doubt.  So I messed around with that a while and kept catching them but not the one I was looking for.  I finally headed way up lake.

There is a really flat point with grass on it and I worked one side of it with the Bang O Lure without a bite, and I knew they were there.  So I put down the power pole and grabbed another rod and picked up a buzzbait.  And caught one right off the bat.  Then another, and before I left to go back down lake caught another 5 or 6.  Then it was back down to fish the clear water.

They were barely pulling it under, you had to be quick.

So now I am in heaven.  Want to catch them on towater?  Go ahead.  Throw the buzzbait until your arm falls off?  Ok, I will.  For the rest of the afternoon I kept after it and they were on some really shallow stuff.  The buzzbait fish were bigger, but not as many bites.  But the couple above did blow up on it.  And then a funny thing happened.  It was around 3:00, I had kept the trolling motor on covering the miles hoping for a big fish, then nothing.  From then until I quit at 4:00 not another bite.  Wish I had started on the buzzbait earlier, but no complaints.  The fish told me what to do and so I kept doing it, always a good plan.  Just no big fish.

But I give the day a B+.  While I did not boat that big one, catching well over 30 on topwater and buzzbait, my 2 favorite baits, is my kind of day.  They basically bit for 8 hours almost everywhere I fished.  I still have no idea what the difference is from one cove to another, other than a big shallow side with cover and brush.   I never did throw the Jerk Shad today, they were eating and I was not looking a gift fish in the mouth.  But it would  have caught them right along.   And once I got on the buzzbait I basically threw my arm off.  Coleto is a good buzzbait lake, and with water temps in the mid 60’s it only made sense.  It was fun and this is my kind of weather.

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

When I got this question I had to really think about it.

I fish coleto about 3 to 4 times a year and have had some pretty good success i was wondering if you had any info on were i could wade or bank fish for speckled trout near Victoria. Thanks Gage

First would be the Indianola Marina area.  And the road runs along the beach leading to the marina and most of it is fishable.  There is another road that has some shore access around a back water, but seems to be strictly a redfish area.  The marina charges $5 I think, but you can fish quite a bit of shoreline near the campers, and of course the dock.  And the time to do that is now.  The big, and I mean hoss big black drum, will be caught this month, many at night.  Up to 50lbs which is a real fish.  Maybe an outgoing tide is better, but that is a guess, and crab is the preferred bait.  And a few big reds get added to the mix.  And occasionally they catch trout off the dock, though not as regular.

Other places are POC at the end of the road, people park there and wade.  And off Hwy 35 towards Rockport, the Aransas Wildlife Refuge road, o past Austwell, there is an old resort on the left,  sorry can’t remember the name.  You drive in to it and there is a little park at the end of the road.  Actually talked to a guy who was wading, and he catches fish.  And since it is pretty shallow there is lots of area to wade.

And last would be Olivia, off Hwy 35 right past the big plant at Port Comfort.  There is a park and several places you can drive to and fish off the bank.  And now that I think about it as you get to the end of the road some folks go off to the left somewhere, and wade out in the back end of that pocket.

That is about the size of it, but it is a start.  Most of the bank areas a popping cork is always a good choice, as you can toss it a mile.  So take a drive and scope them out and good luck.  Let us know if you catch a few.

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

And SA Joe had this question, I just do not know the answer.

Me again. Joe in San Antonio. You remember a story a little back that TPWD was having a big bass hatchery on someones private land and being fed prawns to beef them up.

The ranch charged alot of money to have people fish the other “ponds” but not the big bass ponds. Have you heard any more about them?.

Also do you think a group that gets injured vets “Heroes on the Water” onto kayaks and to fish would be able to have them fish those ponds? Give them a thrill to catch 8+ bass…

I don’t have a clue, but it never hurts to ask.  They and TWPD got it together and came up with a great plan that benefits us all.  In fact some of those fish were stocked in Falcon Lake.  Here is the link.  The worst they can say is no.  Good Luck.

http://www.laperlaranchresort.com/fishing1.html

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

I knew they would bite and if I had got on the buzzbait earlier I might have boated the big one, less bites but a better average.  So the problem?  The weather forecast.  They are talking big rain, flooding, all kinds of mayhem.  It is the last thing the lake needs right now.  It has finally straightened out some and a big rise and mud will ruin it.  But if it is not to bad it should remain consistent.  And I will be looking for the exact same weather for a serious wading run.  These are the days fish bite, and I am grateful my life has worked out that I get to take advantage of it.  Keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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It will be good to be back on the water tomorrow.  I decided to fish the lake and see how the fishing is.  If it is ok then it will be back on Thursday hoping to have that epic pre-frontal big fish day.  There is a method to my madness.  If it sucks then it will be a no brainer back to the bay or river, that choice will be dictated by the wind.  That is what I love about fishing this time of year, somebody is biting somewhere, you just have to make the right choice.  Not saying I always make the right choice, heck I suck some days just like everyone else, except that one dude who somehow never has a bad day, ask him.   But occasionally I do get it right, so let the weeks fishing begin.

Weather

63/50.  Partly cloudy with 0% chance of rain.  Wind  ENE 5 – 10 mph.

Lake Level

Today  98.18 msl.  Week ago  98.20 msl.

Solunar Times

Best  8:25 am to 10:25 am.  (Only relevant time but we shall see as the day heats up.)

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Well it went about like I thought, and I am literally deciding where to go tomorrow as I type this.  The water temp is basically 61 – 64 degrees over the whole lake.  Up lake is clearing some and the rest of the lake is still slowly clearing.  First up was a cove they have stayed in the last couple of days, dropped the power pole to start rigging a Jerk Shad, and dang it.  The Controlled Descent pearl Jerk Shad box was not in the boat.  I look everywhere and finally it dawns on me, it is in the salt stuff from the Lavaca last week.  Having to much crap has its moments.   So must be time for the Bang O Lure.

2 best of the 10 or so.

Today the definitely wanted the Bang O Lure under the surface, which really makes it hard with the water color like it is.  I managed to miss the first 3 when I could not see them.  Before the day was out I got with the program some and started catching most of them.  They wanted it twitched pretty good and then pulled under about a foot.  They were still a little tough to see, and half I never did see.  It takes extra concentration on the Bang O Lure right now.

2 important things on fishing the Bang O Lure.  First, if you see a boil, or disturbance in the force, and they do not have it, let it pop up and then sweep it under.  Amazing how many will eat when you do that.  Second, if they flat miss it, toss right back in there and feed them how they want it, on top or under the surface.  Of all the lures over the years it is by far the best throw back lure I have ever used.

The best places continue to be the coves.  And once in the cove the calm side is clearly better.  That has stayed consistent.  They are shallow, at least the ones I am catching.  Today I threw spinnerbait some, which is just not working.  And none were interested in a senko style plastic pitched to wood.  Same results with a white swim jig.  Though several the last few trips have come out of wood, it really is more of a grass, shoreline bush pattern, than stumps or logs.

Fishing is about like it has been.  It did not help today that there was really no water warming, and about 4:00 it was over, unlike the other day they bit later as it warmed.   The air temp never did warm up much today.  With tomorrow hitting 70 degrees, and a good chance of rain the lake has potential.  And it sure would have helped if I would have had the Jerk Shad.  A much better bait in this color water right now, easier for me and the fish to see.  So I have just talked myself into hitting the lake again.  I am gonna catch a big one tomorrow!

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I get very irritated when folks criticize others who are engaging in a legal activity in a legal way.  If you don’t like it change the rules but otherwise keep your trap shut.  They have done nothing wrong.  And the new marlin story online is a perfect example.

A boat recently caught a huge black marlin off Australia, well over 1400lbs!  As sadly happens sometimes they die during the fight and this one did.  No one wants this to happen.  Some folks are bitchin’ about it but it shows their true lack of knowledge about the sport.  Fishing and hunting is better now than it has ever been thanks to sportsmen toting the note.  Change takes time and marlin fishing is a perfect example, it is evolving  into catch and release world wide.  Fish are tagged and tracked adding to the knowledge and conservation of the fish.  Without those efforts, and fisherman dollars, nothing would be learned.  No individual or organization has done more for the fish than the participants.  So if it bothers you then work towards changing the rules, or start giving to research if the rare loss of a fish likes this bothers you.  But these guys did nothing wrong and deserve no criticism.  In fact, congrats guys, the fish of a lifetime.  If I was that lucky I just might retire to the rocking chair!

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A quick word on fish photos on the blog for some of the new readers.  99%+ of all the fish caught are released and a few are photo’d then released immediately.  Unless they are headed to the pan they do not get laid on a dirty board, put on a scale, or handled by the body if at all possible.  A quick photo usually takes about 20 seconds and back in they go.  So that is why there are only selfies.  Catch and release works, and the less they are handled the better.

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The weather dude is about to get on my “list.”  He is now talking rain, rain, and more rain, maybe up to 6″ in some areas.  That is playing a part in the decision to fish the lake tomorrow.  If it gets another muddy rise that will about knock it in the head for another month.  So I am signing off now, and getting the deer sausage out of the over and let the feast begin.  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!**

After a fun long weekend in New Orleans it is back to real life.  We had a good time with our friends Chris and Jamie and of course we ate ourselves blue.  And on the way home our buddy Chris had heard about this Cajun Supermarket in Scott Louisiana and wanted to stop and get some Cajun stuff, and we loaded the cooler and another insulated bag.  After eating the bacon wrapped duck breasts last night we should have taken another cooler!  We are really looking forward to eating the other stuff we bought including the marinated rabbit on tonight’s menu.  So if you ever head that way stop, trust me, it is good stuff, be sure to bring your wallet.  The name of the store is The Best Stop Supermarket, and they are not kidding.

www.beststopinscott.com

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I missed the Austin Boys this weekend but here are a few of the pics.  They did struggle some, but as usual a good time was had by all.  And it does not take the dead fish pile picture to define a great fishing trip.  And apparently Roe’s etouffee was off the chain.  The boy can cook.

I think cell phones should be banned while operating a motor vehicle.  And from the pic above maybe from the boat!  The boys fish hard, play hard, and I will not miss next year, already blocked off the 3 weekends next year where when it is generally held.

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The real reason I wrote today is articles in our local paper, The Victoria Advocate.  There are 2 major developments, literally, in Port O’Connor.  Major changes may be coming, and the folks who are proposing them both have the ability to get it done.  One promises to make POC fishing trips easier by building a gated community with a new marina.  Now not quite sure how it will make fishing “easier” for the average Joe, wet slips at $500 a month and a boat barn at $300 a month.  The average Joe needs another public ramp and parking so he can afford to launch his jon boat.  And adding a huge development to the POC sewer situation is going to work how?  (If you know about that they have continued problems with sewer backing up into the houses.  Yuk!)   So go to the paper and read the articles and decide how you feel, but sorry, nothing I read will make fishing easier for the regular folks like us.  But if you are rich things are looking up.

https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/

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Why I Love Fall Fishing.

According to the weather dude we have a major multi day rain event coming in on Friday sometime.  With it will be a big low pressure moving in to dominate, and that usually means one thing, the fish go off.  So today I will be getting the honey do list done after being gone, and then the next 2, and maybe 3 depending on Fridays weather, will be on the water.

This time of year the pattern is usually cold front, then the slow warming and the high pressure then moving off.  As it does the next front, hopefully a big low, moves in with clouds and precipitation and the cycle repeats itself.  Timing becomes everything.  The last day or two as the front comes following the warming trend with the clouds the fish bite, and these are the potential epic days.  It tends to be the same fresh or salt, and the key to real success is being on the water if you can when those special days happen.  Thursday should be exactly that, and some of Friday weather permitting.  Makes me giddy thinking about it.

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I am off to the store and errands, then in the tackle room to get ready for a stretch of what I hope will be some serious catching.  It does take a little prep to keep 2 different sets of tackle and equipment organized.  One thing is certain, not using the freshwater reels in the salt sure lengthens their life.  No decision on where yet, that will be determined by conditions, but I am getting big trout twitchy!  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!**

Good luck to the boys at POC for Fishmas, tear them up.  Sorry I missed you.

Weather

79/64.  Partly cloudy with a 20% chance of random showers.  Wind S 10 – 20.

Tides

High   2:34 AM     1.0       Low   4:19 PM     0.2

Solunar Times

Best 4:19PM – 6:19PM   Good 10:05AM – 12:05PM

*******************Try one on a popping cork!

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Love Me Some Lavaca River – Thanks Ken.

The other day I made this comment on why I have not been hitting the salt hard right now – “What’s the point?”  It was no diss on saltwater fishermen or salty fish, but other than eating some occasionally, like today, catching a bunch of trout gets pointless.  And that is the result of how crazy good it is right now.  But today keepers were on the menu!  And with that said I met my buddy Ken at the ramp at 7:00, we loaded up and headed to “the place.”

Ken with the only keeper redfish.

Winds were light, water temp 58, and the color was great.  So no screwing around today it was straight to the bank I caught them on the other day, and they were so there.  From the minute we started, until we quit at 2:00, (We thought it was 3:00) it was bite after bite.  Popping cork, plastics, double rig, I even caught one on a corky for the hell of it.  (Ken, when I got in the truck and headed out my clock said 2:00 something.  Forget to reset the clock on the fancy locator?)

We caught some nice fat trout.

Ken was on his way to POC for Fishmas with the Austin Boys and the last few years he has been coming the day before specifically to fish the Lavaca.  And when he volunteered to haul me around I was all about it.  I appreciate the occasional ride with other folks.  At the first bank Ken was throwing a couple of baits and I was throwing popping cork with a cheap shrimp looking thing, it was still on from last time.  I started catching them immediately and it went like that for a little and we both got the same message.  The critical thing, just like last trip, any bait was fine, as long as it was white.  Since the Boss ordered a fish fry for tonight, and Ken was wanting a limit, we ended up sacking his 5 and my 3 who are going to be in the pan as soon as I hit publish.  And Ken had the one redfish thrown in.  So a good start to his trip with 3 days to go.

Doubling up!

Ken had seen the Controlled Descent video on using the double rig for flounder.  So he made up a couple, and though he did not catch a flounder, he did double up a couple of times.  Which is a comment on how good it was.  The thought of using a double bait on the popping cork is scary.  It would be something.  We only fished 3 areas and they were on all of them.  One of those river days when all you had to do was keep it in the water.

We did boat several rat reds but only that one keeper.  And we had to wade through a ton of small trout.  No drum, no flounder, no snook, no problem!  This was one of those days where conditions were perfect: a slowly falling tide, light winds, drizzle, a day that has fish written all over it.  I don’t care what body of water you are on, or what species you are fishing for, it does not get any better than that.  In fact on the way back from the river the little devil on my shoulder kept repeating -“It’s only 2:00, go to the lake!”  Since this is the 4th fishing day I came to my senses, but writing this now I wish I had.

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This is my favorite time of year for lots of reasons, and the last few weeks is why.  Bay and fresh are good, crowds are down, and the weather is fine,  (You can always get warm in the winter but it is so hard to get cool fishing in the summer.)  As a perfect example yesterday.  Second one to the ramp and it was late, and last one to leave.  I only saw one boat all day.  But pigs, deer, Ospreys, and the 3 eagles all make the day on the water what it is.  I appreciate every one of them, and catching a bunch of fish is just the icing on the cake.

4 days in a row and the results were great.  Sticking with it at the lake finally came through, if I was not at the river I would have been there.  And finishing the week whacking the trout made the week.  Next week will be much the same as the time to fish is now, and I am going to keep after it.  And while I might not be the best trout fisherman on my block it is time to chase a big one.  When I threw the corky today I realized I have never caught a big trout on a corky.  Time to man up and give it a real go, which in my case means leaving all the plastics at the house.  Today would have been a perfect day to do just that, and the bass, and the river, and…………….  So many things to do, so little time.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines