FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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Looking at tomorrow the forecast is a little different than it was a couple of days ago.  So looking at the tides and prime period, along with the potential for rain later in the day, it will be up and gone a little earlier than I have been.  How the fishing will be remains to be seen but you can’t catch them sitting on the couch.

Weather

61/54.  Cloudy with a 60% chance of afternoon showers.  Wind NE 10 – 20 mph.

Tides 

Low  10:00 AM     0.4   High   9:10 PM     1.0.

Solunar Time

8:22 am to 10:22 am.

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Redfish Candy!

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WOW!  Love me some Lavaca River!

I have been fishing pretty hard over the last 7 years, half of it in the salt.  Today was one of those days that started off great, and ended great, and the middle was nuts!

My first bite.  That is a nice snook anywhere!

My last bite.  This is all the higher I could lift her.  This was a hoss!

The water temp was 56 degrees, it was cloudy, and if felt like rain as I headed down river.  The water has some color, and basically stayed that way most of the way down.  First up was one of my favorite banks with plastics on a jig head.  Trout was the quarry today so I figured that would be the ticket.  The first bank produced zip, so I moved to my other favorite bank, and again zip.  It was not happening on plastics.

So I moved again, went back to the popping cork, and it was game on.  One just took off the minute it hit and it was the first time in my life I was happy it was not a big trout.  I knew it was big but when she thrashed I thought my eyes were deceiving me, but no, it was a nice snook.  It is the first one I have caught up here, but the fact it was in the river is not surprising.  Snook go to deep water when it gets cold like this, they can not take a freeze, so this one was just where you might expect to find one, if they were common, and they are becoming more common on the middle coast.  But enough of that, it just made my day.

So why am I showing you these two peanuts?  Because I wanted to show you my slam.  Not sure what a redfish, trout, flounder, black drum, snook slam is but I caught one.  I am just gonna call it a “Monster Slam”!

From that point on the  tide was slowly falling and the wind was just right to ease down river keeping a cast length from the bank and popping my cork.  For shits and giggles I used several plastics on the cork, including a Controlled Descent white/limetreuse Paddle Shad.  (See black drum above.)  I definitely learned one thing, any plastic worked, as long as it was white.  I finished the day throwing a cheap fake shrimp plastic and they did not care.

Here are just a few of the trout.  Nothing big, the top 2 first thing, the second couple later in the morning, with a bunch in between. I have no clue how many I caught.  It was trout mania!

From about 9:30 until I quit at noon it was bite after bite.  Rat reds, numbers of trout, the bite was on and I had them down.  I set the plastic about 20″ below the popping cork and threw it right on the bank.  Basically popping it, letting it sit for a count of 4, and popping it again.  Some were right on the bank, some half way back, you had to be sure not to get in a hurry working it.  Some of them smoked it, some barely pulled it under, but they were eating it.  If I were guessing, and I will, I can not think of anytime it was more than 4 or 5 casts without a bite.  It was crazy.

After making a couple of passes with the popping cork I intentionally went back and re-fished it with plastics on jig head, totally without success, not even a bite.  So back up and fished it with the cork and caught another 10.  Not sure why, but I have a history on the Lavaca with the popping cork.  And having the blog and looking back it has happened like this before.  My best guess is they don’t want to chase.  Popping cork is not the glamour bait, but if it is not in your arsenal you are missing out.  I always say let the fish tell you how they want it, or stick to your one trick pony, I bow to the fish.

So what a day, and it was topped off with me laughing my ass off so hard I almost threw up.  It was starting to drizzle, I had caught a ton, so I am putting everything away, putting my coat back on, and grabbed the self inflating life jacket.  I had some trouble getting it over the hood on the jacket so I gave it a jerk, and it inflated!  Are you kidding me?  So now I have this big giant balloon on my back and it was hell getting it off.  Ridiculous.  Wish I had thought to take a picture.  But I can not think of a more fitting way to end the day.

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When I got back to the ramp I had a guy stopping to check it out and I got to do my favorite thing.  He is going to fish with a friend from Fort Worth next week and I was lucky enough to fill him in.  I get so sick of people lying, hiding what and how they caught fish, and I have never really figured out why they do that.  When he gets to fish next week I hope he kills them.  It gives me great pleasure to help folks and I hope everyone who reads this gets a little bit of help catching more fish.

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Larry, who I met with Rusty yesterday, dropped me a comment letting me know he is out there.  Nice to meet you too and glad to have a new reader.  And a big thanks to Rusty, he saved me a copy of the article and cover of the AAA magazine when Dan and I were chasing a big one and I got it today.  My pleasure to see you guys and hope it is not that long before we meet again.

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I did forget to tell you something the other day that I find interesting.  When I kept that red the other day, everything else you see on the blog is CPR’d, he had a small catfish in his belly.  Why interesting?  Because a few years ago I got some plastics in the Bargain Cave at Cabela’s for $1.  They were a goby imitation like they use on the great lakes and it looks just like a little catfish.  I smacked them pretty good that year, and next time I hit the river I will find them in the tackle room, somewhere.

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So that is it for today.  As I said yesterday there is more fishing to come.  I love being a multi-species guy.  It never gets old to whack some trout and reds, then drag a nice bass out of a tree top.  And maybe a few crappies or catfish for the pan.  Fishing is a big world, so many fish, and so many ways to catch them.  And topping it off with a snook just made my day – year – decade.  One of those memories that will never fade.  That is why we fish, because we never know what might be on the end of the line.  Keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines.

 FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Brought to you by

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Initially I figured Garcitas would be up today just based on the wind forecast.  And they got that right.  It was one of those clear cold days with a steady 15mph biting wind out of the north.  It never did warm up and I think I made the right choice based on the wind.  When it blows out to the north the Lavaca can be a pain to fish, but tomorrow I will try to get there a little earlier than I have been.

Weather

64/42.  Partly Cloudy with 0% chance of rain.  Wind  NNE 10 – 20 mph.

Tides

Low   9:35 AM     0.6.       High  11:47 PM  1.0.

Solunar Times

None relevant to today’s trip.

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Redfish Candy!

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It was about 10:30 or so when I got to the ramp.  The water may have cleared a little bit from the other day.  While I was unloading the boat a truck pulls up and couple of guys get out.  I figured it was someone wanting to see how the fishing was, and while that was true, it was Rusty, our resident Fayette guru, and his newly retired friend Larry.  They were just driving around checking stuff out when they saw me on the way to the ramp.  More on that in a bit.

They were not as big and plentiful today but still good fishing.

The tide was out, and the water was not moving.  The temp was 57 degrees and down river still has plenty of color.  I headed to where I caught them the other day and let the wind push me down the bank.  Throwing the same plastic shrimp on a popping cork with a 24″ leader was up first.   As I headed down the bank another boat came upriver and started behind me.

The first pass I caught 9 redfish, most rats but with the occasional keeper tossed in.  After the front you could tell the difference in the way they bit.  Sometimes the cork would just “waffle” and then they would take it down.  Of course where I caught them the other boat ended up staying right on top of them.  But hey, it is a big creek with plenty of places to fish and I needed to fish some other areas.

The only trout that might have measured today.

Of and on I threw plastics on a jig head but they were not having it, I threw it hoping for a few more trout.  Additionally with the number of reds in the area I figured the Redfish Magic spinnerbait was a no brainer.  It was actually also no Bueno, and I gave it plenty of time.  That did surprise me, I wonder if the water is just to murky and that is why the popping cork is the only consistent producer.

The rest of the afternoon I just let the wind move me down the banks alternating but always coming back to the popping cork.  It was probably a total of 20 or so, and only 4 were trout.  On the way down I fished a bank that is usually good without a bite.  On the way back I hit another better bank way up river and did catch one rat red.  I am not totally convinced there is not some fish up river, but it just may be to fresh for them.  I give the fishing a B+.  This is a great time of year.

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Shooting the breeze with Rusty he told me that the folks at Fayette County lake are intentionally killing the grass.  I am really sorry to hear that.  The lake hardly had enough to cause problems, at least as far as I know, but there must be some rationale.  Losing grass usually comes with a decrease in water color and it sure does not help the fish or the fishing.  To bad, the loss of grass sure has not helped Coleto.

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And when I posted that link to the Corp of Engineers proposals I head from Colby Sorrels.

Doug,
Thanks a bunch for posting the “plans” for work along the coast. I see by what “they” are planning some real damage to the ecosystem. I will be going to the meeting and I will be sending in a letter. I sure hope a lot of folks see this because “they” are about to make some big changes to areas we all fish. From what I see some of the changes will definitely be for the worse. Folks, look at these maps and be sure you understand what is about to take place. Colby S

Colby has been a writer for Gulf Coast Fisherman for decades. He is also the author of Flyfisher’s Guide to the Texas Coast: Includes Light Tackle (Flyfisher’s Guides), which is available on Amazon.com. and I respect his knowledge and opinion.  So  thanks for the heads up.  Just glancing at one local project my initial thought was – why?  So time to read them all.  I wish I had something good to say about some of the Corps projects, but living on Corp ground, and working at a boat dock on their lake, we dealt with them for years, and it was not always a great experience.  So time to read all of it and take the time to comment.  Like I said, don’t comment, don’t whine.  Good to hear from you.

coastalstudy.texas.gov/alternatives/index.html

Hey, if you have time to read this drivel take a minute and look it over.  It is important.

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The redfishing both on the river and the bay is just to good to not catch right now.  In the morning it will be off to the Lavaca.  The wind will be down some and I owe a guy a trip so need to see if I can catch them and give him a call.  Hopefully the color will be better and the trout fishing to go along with that.  And then it will be back to the lake to see what is going on there.  The Boss is working the holiday so I guess I will have to suck it up and keep fishing this week.  Keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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The temperature is dropping and it is raining off and on this morning.  My hope is that the rain coming this week will be a nice slow soaker and not a big run off, we do not need anymore water in the lake or rivers.  And with that is the hope to hit the Lavaca the next good fishing day, which should be Tuesday.  Tomorrow looks a little more uncertain with showers in the morning, so if it falls right I might get out for a while tomorrow.  No matter what the redfishing is off the chain and the big trout should be on the move.  Nothing like fall fishing.  And speaking of trout…………..

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From reading the TPWD web site it looks like sometime in early 2019 there will be a proposal placed on the agenda to reconcile the statewide speckled trout limit.  I never was convinced that leaving the limit at 10 in the upper part of the state was based on any real science.  It looks like the consensus is coming around to a 5 fish limit statewide.  It is one of those issues if you have an opinion share it with TPWD, my vote is for uniformity.  If you think back there was real opposition to the 5 fish limit when it was first instituted.  Hard to find any real complaints after the change and the trout fishing has only improved since.

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Redfish Candy!

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One thing I forgot to mention with the bloody thumb picture from the other day was how it happened.  When I am not keeping fish for the pan I rarely use a net, which rubs the protective slime off.  So as I rule I lip most of the fish I catch.  I would have used the Boga but it was in the wading bag so it was back to old school lipping.  The other day they were a heavy bunch and they did some chewing on me, and I loved every second of it!

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My Arkansas Razorbacks are in complete disarray.  A new coach with a new offense that is the complete opposite of what they had been doing is not working, at least now.  And the continued changing of quarterbacks during the games has not helped.  As they say there is always next year.  Meanwhile the Aggies are playing pretty well, but on this side of the conference there is always Alabama and LSU to deal with.  And I never thought you would hear these words out of my mouth but I really like what Texas is doing and if they win out it will be a showdown with Oklahoma, which will be a heck of game.  Last but not least, the Cowboys are in a must win, basically every week, situation.  If they can get just a little help from someone with the Redskins it sets up a big game with them Thanksgiving day.  Funny how the long season is starting to wind down.  Where does the time go.

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And I got a comment from SA Joe that did a much better job of explaining my complaint with some of the animals being used as emotional support critters.

What is a Chahoohoo???? Click the following link to see about the emotional Squirrel, Hamster and the lady wrangling her peacock !!!

https://abc13.com/society/woman-removed-from-flight-over-emotional-support-squirrel/4454221/

I’m a disabled vet, So i have a hard time seeing this BS !!!!
These are the people that ruin it for the actual Service dogs that trained, raised and given from established organizations to people because of their conditions. Their dogs are attacked from “So called ” service dogs all the time.

Thanks for that.  Real service animals are great and not only do I never mind them on a plane, train, or in my house, having a disabled brother anything that helps with the challenge is welcome.  I am a animal lover and love the work done by real trained service animals.  But sorry, a freakin’ squirrel?  (I do admit I would get some “emotional support” from  a squirrel with the smell of them  simmering slowly in gravy.)  There is a difference and you said it much better than I.  And what about my “emotional support” beer?  Why can’t I take a tall one on the plane?  Chahoohoo is my term for a Chihuahua dressed up in doll clothes.  And I appreciate the fishing offer, will be interested in reading the reports to come from that area and I just might take you up on that.

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And here is some good reading on proposed coastal projects by the Corp of Engineers.  A couple include work in the Port Lavaca area, Keller Bay, and the Powderhorn Ranch shoreline.

coastalstudy.texas.gov/alternatives/index.html

Anything that preserves coastal marshes and barrier islands if good with me.  It really has been brought home to me with my visits to Grand Isle LA the last few years.  Big islands on the mapping card are just plain gone, some of those we fished were gone 5 years later.  They are important to our fish, much less keeping the hurricane damage to a minimum.   There will be public meetings for comment or you can comment on these proposals by mail.  Like the proposed trout limit above, if you do not comment do not be upset with the outcome.  If anything is left to the government without the public’s input you just never know what might happen.  Funny how the people that work for us often have their own best interest at heart.

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In the morning and for the rest of the week I will be playing it by ear.  We dropped about 20 degrees today and it looks like low 40’s with rain tonight.  No matter what I will be on the water somewhere this week.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Brought to you by

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

I finished up installing batteries, dropped by the marine shop to pick up DFI oil for the Opti, and had a shot of hydraulic fluid in the trim which was working a little to hard at the top.  So with everything done, hopefully, I decided to drive down to Garcitas and the Lavaca and see what they looked like.

If  you are a hard core fisherman you know what this means.

Garcitas looks sorta ok.  There was one truck and trailer at the ramp but I did not find anyone to talk to.  So I headed on down the road to the Lavaca.  When I got there I saw a boat using the trolling motor headed to the ramp.  He was having engine trouble and did not get to fish.  He said one day last week he caught 3.  Then another boat came in, and they had caught 2.  I asked about the water color, it was poor at the ramp, but the other boat said it cleared up down river.  So weighing it all it will be Garcitas in the morning.  And if it does no work out I will put the boat on the trailer and hit the river.  Nice they are close to each other.  Time to catch a couple for the pan.

Weather

71/48.  Sunny with 0% chance of rain.  Wind  SW 5 – 10 mph.

Solunar Times

Best  5:00 am to 7:00 am  and  5:22 pm to 7:22 pm.   (Neither of which I will be out there.)

Tides

High   3:09 AM     1.2   Low   5:35 PM     0.6  (That is POC, it will be interesting to see when the water moves that far from the tide station.)

*******************Redfish Candy!

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I had something I wanted to see on tv this morning so it was around 10:30 when I got to Gracitas, which is fine this time of year with a warming day.  It really is a special place and I always enjoy fishing there.  The water at the ramp was really dirty and the tide was almost out.  So I made the first good choice of the day, and it only got better from there.  It made sense to head all the way down and find clear water, it turned out there is none, and see if the tide was moving or not, maybe a right place right time thing.

These are real redfish!

When I got there the water was just barely moving out.  Starting on one side of the river I tossed a Controlled Descent Paddle Shad in Pumpkinseed/Chartreuse Glitter on a 1/4 ounce swim bait hook and the DOA Cal in a lighter color on a 1/4 ounce jig head.  That first one above just ate the Paddle Shad, but since the Boss ordered trout I stuck with the smaller bait.  It was real important to get it on the bottom and hop it up and let it fall back.  I felt very few, and when you would lift it up was just soft, but the trout were cooperating.  The first bank put a 17″ in the box and 6 or 8 shorts.  I did not take a picture, I thought I would get a few more keeper trout.  But the redfish just kept jumping on.

A couple of them were real studs!

I re-fished the bank without catching another trout.  The water had totally stopped moving and stayed that way the rest of the afternoon. So with her trout in the box it was time to work the reds over, and for the next 2 hours it was thumb ripping, rod bending, redfish mayhem.  And I made the second good choice of the day, a popping cork.  With the color sucking and the redfish biting it made sense.  I used a leader around 2′ with a 1/4 ounce jig head with a Rage Shrimp in a white with a chartreuse tail.  And they loved it.

And these are just the good ones, lots of rats and big shorts.  I finally got an exact 20″ for my supper.

They wanted it popped pretty hard and then rest.  They were eating it and often the cork would just start moving sideways.  With the water temp around 60 they were feeling mighty sluggish, and it was just a matter of reeling it tight and game on. A couple of short trout jumped on, and if I were guessing popping cork would catch the snot out of them if the water was moving.  When I finally quit at 3:30 they were still biting right along.  But I wanted to fish a spot half way back up to the ramp.  It is my favorite bank for trout, and not a bite.  The water is a lot dirtier up river and my thought is that it is just to fresh for the trout.  But one bank is not enough to know but it seems that way.  And the only other thing I could not determine, is when the tide is coming in full blast does it move more trout in with clearer water.

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When I wrote my report on last Wednesdays fishing things were really looking up.  I fished 3 days in a row on the lake and the fishing got better each day.  Then the weekend and we were out of town when the weather went to crap, then Sunday night it started to howl.  The wind blew out of the north for 3 days, some of it well over 20mph for most of it.  And we were below freezing for a couple of days, setting a record Wednesday morning.  I was really confident in how the fishing was going, the water color was clearing, the level was stabilizing, and the prediction was for some of the best fishing in a while.  Not so much. I made a trip out there Wednesday afternoon to take a look and it was ugly.  The whole lake was brown and most of it had dropped 16 – 20 degrees.  It might be a little while before they recover from this.

Lake Levels

Today 98.24 msl.  Thursday  98.28 msl

Water Clarity

One Week Ago  Clearing rapidly with the whole lake fishable.  Today  The worst I have seen it.  It was ugly at the ramp, completely cold mud up lake, and the rest of the lake sucked.

Water Temps

Ramp  55  (Wind was blowing right in it.)  One Week Ago  77

Up Lake  55

Bridge  59    One Week Ago  80

Outflow  68

Big Island 60

Plant Arm  63

There was one bright spot, I saw 3 big bald eagles.  They were riding the wind and it always means winter is here.  A few are always around the lake and it was good to see them back.  I always wonder what happened to the one I saw last year with a hurt wing who ran up in the woods.  It is tough out there.

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Emotional Support Peacock

As we waited to get on the plane last weekend there was a woman with a chahoohoo that had a dress, a tutu around it’s neck and little booties with a big sign – Emotional Support Animal.  My only comment – If you are so fragile, so emotionally unstable that you need a peacock, or an alligator, to get on the plane it bothers me.  Sorry.  But if you are that “whatever” and an emergency does arise, and my life, that of my wife, and the other passengers is in danger, you are going to respond how?  Please do not sit anywhere near the exit doors and keep your emotional support animal to yourself.  Sorry again, but I just don’t get it.

(This may not be very sympathetic but as a people it seems we are getting softer.)

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And I want to say a few words about Garcitas.  I normally post on facebook where I was, but in the case of Garcitas Creek I don’t.  It is not that big a place and most of the fishermen are locals.  Lots of jon boats with the occasional canoe or kayak.  So if you go please do not run like a mad man.  Idle by other boats.  Respect it, and other fisherman, for the small water it is.  As long as folks are considerate it is a great place to fish.  Running 60mph shooting a rooster tail is for the big water.  This is a “creek.”

So what a day.  It is nice when every decision is a good one, and you get to catch fish all day.  And when you add some serious redfish no complaints.  If I had gotten out earlier the trout fishing might have been pretty good.  To bad our weather is apparently going to crap again.  What is worrisome is that the weather dude says it may rain from Sunday night until Friday with expected up to 4″.  If that happens it will just muck things up further and drive more freshwater into the rivers.  But that is what makes our sport so interesting.  Everyday is a new day and I am just glad I get to take advantage of it.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Brought to you by

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

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OLD MAN MOMENT!

I know I am getting old.  As I got ready to write a little about current lake conditions I went back to check the water temp and found I was missing a report.  Well guess what?  I wrote it and did not publish.  Once we headed to the wedding it never crossed my mind.  And in light of what I learned at the lake today, that will be up tomorrow, it is a new world.  So here it is, better late than never.  I might start sitting and slobbering incoherently if this keeps up!

COLETO CREEK

Weather

86/68.  Cloudy becoming partly cloudy later with a 20% chance of a stray shower or thunderstorm.  Wind S 5 – 10 mph.

Lake Level

Today  98.28 msl.   Yesterday  98.28 msl.

Solunar Period

Best  9:39 am to 11:39 am.  (Only daytime period.)

*******************The bass are eating the pearl silver Jerk Shad!

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It was pretty easy to say it was a good day/bad day.  I caught fish right off the bat, and on 3 different lures during the morning, so no complaints in that department.  The problem was I took the Mako so I would have a temp gauge, and I planned to fish way up both arms today, which I did.  As my facebook friends know I have been mulling over new trolling motor batteries.  It is either AGM or stick with the Interstate lead acid.  I have used both in the past and it is simply a cost benefit analysis for me as I go through batteries with 2 boats.  The point of this is at 10:30 this morning it was easy to tell the batteries were losing power fast.  I was able to nurse them until noon so guess it is time to make a decision. Looks like I waited one to many trips.

But as to the fishing it was an interesting morning.  The water is really clearing fast and I basically made it to the back end of both arms and it is all fishable.  The water temp was 77 at the ramp and 80 near the bridge.  Again I caught fish in most places I fished with the Controlled Descent Jerk Shad in pearl silver being the primary bait as it has been.  But I did catch a few on a couple of other baits.  Though fishing the frog was not on my list today it was actually first up, I couldn’t help it, and several had a go at it.  I think I caught  3 and missed a couple on the first bank but as the sun came out they deserted the frog. From there it was the Jerk Shad basically until in caught a good one on a Bang o Lure later.

 Why I love that Bang o Lure on Coleto in the winter  And it looks like real winter will be here this weekend.

I intentionally fished 2 of the good shallow banks from yesterday right off the bat, and it was clear they were not there like they were the day before.  Though I caught a couple fish in both places the reason I fished them early was so I could check, then come back later in the afternoon and see if it was a temperature change that really put them there.  To bad there was not a “later.”  But the good thing, 3 or 4 nice fish hit the Jerk Shad way off the bank.  Good to see that.  And the one above boiled all over the Bang o Lure close to the boat but missed.  A quick flip back with the Bang o Lure and she ate.

I had another bigger one break my line setting the hook on the Jerk Shad, I know she was a good one when she jumped and tossed the bait.  Oh well, my fault.  Fishing in the really heavy stuff, and hauling fish out, is tough on line and that is the second one I broke off in 2 days.  Looks like I will step up a weight in line for the cover.  But there is always a trade off and you do not want to impair the baits action with to heavy a line.  Then 2 casts later I missed her twin, again off the bank.  The good news, just like the small ones did, the bigger fish made a showing.  I missed another couple of nice ones, so for the morning it was shots at 4 or 5 like the one above, a real improvement.  It has gotten better every day.

A frog fish and a Jerk Shad fish.

Shallow grass is still the preferred cover and bait completes the pattern.  Coves are also holding fish, and if it has some grass they will be there.  And like I have been saying, here comes the rest of them.  Now for some stability in the lake level and water clarity and it will be a stellar fall on the lake.  The Bang o Lure deserves some serious attention as it tends to catch the bigger fish, and when it has been like this in the past it has worked most of the winter.  But there are plenty of different baits that will work, a couple of different topwaters come to mind, Zara Spook specifically.  It was probably a dozen this morning before the juice quit, to bad as the rest of the day held real promise.  But no complaints, it has been 3 days of good fishing with many more to come.

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I dont know what year, make or model it is. Not sure if it will float. Has no title. On trailer but not sure what condition of trailer is.  or……….

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folks that we got it from, lied about the title process.  or…………..

Wooden floor and carpet need replacement, Light wiring needs replacement.  or …….……….

All need rebuilt or gone thru, Does not run, Been sitting for many years.  or …………..

Boats needs repairs and cleaning, Johnson Motor not working, Trailer has flat tires.

 These are just a few from today’s ads and they crack me up.  Some were way overpriced, some more reasonable, if buying a boat with these problems is reasonable.  I think the problem is there is no place to take boats that need to be retired.  Just remember if you are a first time boat buyer, someone else’s project that did not happen is your new nightmare.  And the ones with title issues, the sellers make it seem a little trip to TPWD and all is good, sure……..   So good luck to the folks above, they are going to need it.

********************* 

And to all you Austin area guys good to hear that Travis is reopening this week.  I see it is a couple of feet up over pool and with no fishing pressure for a couple of weeks it could be good.  I had such a good trip there last year it might be time to head that way depending on how the fishing reports fall.  Our Coleto fish took almost a month to start to really adjust to the big raise, it will be interesting to see how the Travis fish react.  Travis closely resembles the highland lakes of Arkansas where I cut my teeth.  I still want to get up there, maybe in January, it looks like it has great jerk bait potential.

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

We have a big wedding this weekend so it will be next week before I am back on the water.  As I have gotten a needed recharge on the lake it will be time to put some of those salt fish on the stringer.  We ate the only trout in the freezer so time to sack a few.  It looks like another cold front is on the way which should help fishing on both the lake and the bay.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

(Funny reading it days later in light of our current conditions.  Every day is a new day on the water.  There will be more on the lake tomorrow, it is messed up.)

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!**

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

You have to love that Texas weather.  When I got in the truck after fishing Wednesday it said 90 degrees.  This morning when I stuck my nose out it was sleeting/snowing and blowing 25mph.  Don’t think fishing is on the plate today.  Wish I had a fireplace.

After getting back from the wedding, and not fishing in a week, I was so looking forward to fishing the last couple of days but our wind decided to howl.  Last night around dark it was shaking the walls.  But things are looking up the rest of the week for a couple of great days on the bay with winds <10 mph and warming during the day.  Combine that with a falling tide it will be interesting.  That is an area I have limited experience.  Good trout are known to hit the shallows after a cold front as the day warms, just not sure if it is better on a falling or rising tide.  There is only one way to know – Go.

*******************Redfish Candy!

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

The Ramblings  of a Fisherman Stuck in the House.

More fun with boat buying.  When it is blowing 25mph and in the 30’s a guy has to humorous himself somehow.  Sorry, I just can not help myself!

This one is knocked up.

Motor makes a “rod knock” sound. Not a mechanic so that’s why I dropped the price. This boat is worth $12.5k all day without the knock…
Engine starts right up, runs good (other than the knock)

Other than the boat part this is a good boat.

This old boat needs transom replaced and floor repaired. 

So is my 1971 AMC Gremlin, if it has not been crushed by now.

Not running but complete.

Thank God, finally someone who is not clueless. 

Old boat and trailer that was abandoned on lot. No information on condition. Trailer needs tires. No title. Free to anyone who will haul it off.

Just have your buddy sit on the transom and keep spraying.

Good sturdy boat one weak spot in the floor and needs fuel lines. She runs with starting fluid

I just got tired so instead of finishing I took a nap.

The floor has been replaced except the front 8″ where there is a small hole.

At least you know it is a boat.

I do not know anything about the boat

Hey, no big deal, it was only smashed.  He probably wasn’t on plane.

There is a spot on the front of the boat where it supposedly was smashed into a dock

Back to my Gremlin.

1970 Johnson 85 hp motor, not running but ran 2 years ago,

It works really good. Promise.

The engine works but it needs a new fuel filter “on the engine”. The ignition switch just went out on it and the carbs need to be cleaned on it.

Me “thing” you do not have a clue.

I thing the engine has a blown head gasket

Another guy who ended up taking a nap instead, but hey, free carpet.

needs new carpet. I started to replace the front deck but lost interested. Still have a roll of carpet to throw in the deal.

Now of course these are the worst of the worst.  And like last time I posted some it only took a half hour to find these.  So my advice to a lot of these, give it away before it sinks into the ground, the tires rot off, and the mice move in.   

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

And just yesterday I commented about what can happen when you post yourself holding big bucks after kicking some fish booty.  While checking the TPWD website I came across this, which led to his arrest.

After the warden advised him of the photos he had obtained from Facebook, the hunter apologized and admitted to harvesting his trophy deer without a hunting license

So you think I was just blowing smoke.  Trust me Facebook is a happy hunting ground for all law enforcement.  (And potential employers.)  So be sure to engage brain before hitting post.  It really is a new world out there.

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

And speaking of TPWD these guys must be rocket scientist.

Upon inspection of their “teal,” the warden advised the hunters had actually taken cormorants, a federally-protected species. The hunters stated they had no idea. They had researched it on the Internet and assumed it was a cinnamon teal.

All I have to say:  How is this even possible?  About the only thing I know about ducks is they are great bacon wrapped, but this is crazy.  But it does remind me of the time Chris and I were hunting public land and some other “duck?” hunters were close to us blasting away when we heard the following:  “I didn’t know that ducks were white.”  Probably not a great day to be an Egret.

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

The only outside job , other than turning off the outside water for tonight’s freeze, will be removing the trolling motor batteries from the LTS so I can replace them later this week.  There may not be heat there but at least the boat is in the garage.  One of the design flaws on the LTS makes changing batteries a real hassle, good thing I am a little guy.  (And on that note:  You always hear “little old man”, never “big old man”.  Something to that?)  Though what they will be replaced with is still up in the air, AGM is probably going to be the answer as the estimate on the number of recharges is important.

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

I have managed to while away the morning and it is time to get off my rear end and accomplish something.  Might be a good time to clean up the tackle room, a little organization never hurt anything.  And every time I do it I find something else I forgot I have.  Which means I have to much fishing stuff.  Just kidding about the to much thing.  But stay tuned there is some serious fishing to come this week, good things come to those who wait.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Brought to you by

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

I am sitting in a motel in Iowa as I write most of this waiting to head to the wedding of the Boss’s niece.  It is going to be something as everyone involved is big in theater.  In fact one of the guest is a big wig in Disney entertainment.  And with the Boss’s other sister being a professional photographer, and an ordained minister, the whole family is all about these extravaganzas.  Of course me not so much, culture and the arts are out of my bailiwick but I do clean up well, occasionally.  It has been a while since I wore the “Sunday go to meeting clothes” and was happy to see they still fit.  For some reason the Boss said no jeans and fishing shirts.  What is wrong with that girl?

*******************Redfish Candy!

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

If I were in Texas I would have been fishing with my buddies Todd and David, a few of the Austin Boys.  In spite of what looks like some sketchy weather they managed to knock a limit out in nothing flat the other day.

David with a limit.  He is relatively new wading the salt but is getting the hang of it fast.

           Todd’s limit.                                 Headed to Austin.

Todd reported that they both got a nice limit within 30 minutes of jumping out of the boat.  They fished the barge canal for a few hours Friday adding a couple of trout and a red before calling it a day.  Todd said there was 30mh winds and rain so they made a short morning of it and headed to the house for Bloody Mary’s.  Hope the weather is better for them today.  Wish I was there.

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

And speaking of weather it was something yesterday on our drive to Iowa from St. Louis.  It had snowed a little in St. Louis that night and when we got up and headed to Iowa we drove right through the front.  It dropped from 36 degrees to 26 in a couple of miles, the wind started howling, and we had a 15 minute blizzard.   Once we got here it was blowing 30mph and was in the low 20’s, reminding me why I do not miss those Iowa winters.  Plowed corn fields are just not that great a wind break!

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

And though we are close to my hometown I have no reason (Or time.) to visit.  I hated my high school and here is a little story.  As I have gotten older and looked back on my life I now realize how one moment in time almost deep sixed me.  When I started my freshman year I had my one and only meeting with my high school counselor.  (That is a joke.)  And this f’ing idiot told me I was not “college material.”  No “you can do it speech?”  No “what would you like to be and how can we help you get there?”  None of that.  Of course I got the last laugh as I was a Presidential scholar in undergrad, then a Juris Doctorate, and passed the BAR.  And he was/is nothing more than an incompetent in the middle of nowhere making sure that our children do not achieve all they can be.  Think about it just a second, who else did he impact that might/could have been something?  And why would any freshman in high school give one crap about school if you are told you are already stupid?  How many kids did he hurt by telling them they would never be anything?  Is that what you want your school system telling your child?  That is not counseling, it is at best lazy, but in my opinion is simply malpractice.  So Mt. Pleasant, Iowa high, I hope you have real counselors and administrators (Our principal was an asshole, you can quote me on that.) that really care about the lives of students because those fools were everything that is wrong with education.

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

Facebook is an interesting place.  I have some friends, and they are my friends, but all of a sudden hundreds of people want to be my “friend.”  Not sure how I got so popular all of a sudden.  Now they are basically fishermen, except for the occasional big boobed chick who for some reason ($) wants to be my friend.  But my favorite is a request from a local dude in the fishing industry who sent along a request so I confirmed, and it came back he has 5,000 friends and can’t have any more.  So you have 5,000 friends and you need some more?  Sounds like you don’t really want to be my friend.  I am so hurt!  But seriously, I think having lots of friends on Facebook is a way for some folks to not have to interact with live people.

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

And speaking of Facebook one thing that always tickles me is seeing folks holding wads of cash (Saw one the other day.) as they toot their own horn about their tournament awesomeness.  Of course you know they reported it to the IRS and paid taxes on it.  If I was still practicing law (Which I am not.) my advice, shut up or don’t whine if it becomes a problem.  With a basic 20% reward from the IRS for turning folks in for tax fraud the temptation can be hard for some folks to resist.  Think it can’t happen to you?  Then you are clueless.  So if you are tempted to break the law  by broadcasting a handful of cash (And not declaring and paying tax on certain income is a crime.)  don’t be that freakin’ stupid.  People are busted on Facebook everyday.  It is a new world out there.

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

I am itching to get home and head to the bay.  The fishing is good and I have a hankering for some fresh fish.  And if we do not get to much rain it is time to head to the Lavaca and Garcitas and see if they have migrated in there yet.  Saltwater fishing does not get any easier than in the fall.  And I have a couple of folks I want to take next week and put them on a few.

It is Monday and we are home, and the forecast for this week is sure interesting.  Tomorrow looking at low 30’s overnight with a 30mph north wind.   I will give it one more day and hit the lake.  Thursday and Friday look fantastic for the bay and will be heading that way for both days if it stays as forecast.  Nothing like 5 – 10mph and sunny.  Look out for the afternoon fishing!  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

85/65.  Foggy early then partly cloudy with a 10% of rain.  Wind  SSW 5 – 10mph.

Solunar Times

Best  8:52 am until 10:52 am.   (Only relevant time.)

Lake Level

Today  98.28 msl.   Yesterday  98.26 msl.

*******************The bass are eating the pearl silver Jerk Shad!

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

Open Wide!

With the bass eating like they were yesterday it was a no brainer.  I have been saying for a month that they are coming to the cover, and today they did.  Now I did not catch any big fish, but they are next.  The next cloudy drizzling day on Coleto has a chance to be epic.

They were biting when I got started………….

I started on the bank I started on yesterday and caught 3, today it was 7 and it went from there.  Still jerking the pearl sliver Controlled Descent Jerk Shad on 15lb mono with a 3/0 1/8th ounce swim bait hook.  I am making sure that when I work it there is a nice walk the dog pattern,  and again like yesterday they are right on the bank in next to nothing.  I am seeing every bite and it is freakin’ cool.

Next I hit the second bank I fished yesterday where I caught 4 and did not have a bite,  but no worries, I fished it later this afternoon and caught 3 or 4.  By time I was there I had way lost count.  After not catching on that one place it did not happen again the rest of the day.  Everywhere I fished I had bites, catching a couple, 5, 2 or 3, just real steady.  First I think the water stabilizing and clearing is really helping, and today something else was important – No wind!

No big ones but they sure were willing.

Once I figured it out it really was game on.  There were no big fish, the only one I broke off was probably me not paying attention to my line.  I am tossing it right in the stuff, and today had a couple of those bait flopping out on some grass and they would try to get it.  The perfect cast is right to the bank and working it immediately in a walk the dog keeping it right where you can see it in any little slot or open area, even if it is behind cover.  Then you will either see the fish or the bait will just disappear.  And I can not stress enough how the Jerk Shad needs to be on there perfectly straight.  If it is it will work back and forth without spinning.  But today held one other great big surprise.

It finally dawned on me, they are way back, not only in the stuff, but they have moved to the coves.  And they are on the shallowest bank they can find in some of the shallowest places.  I fished several coves I have not fished in a while and they were there.  Since I am fishing out of the skiff no temperature gauge, but I have a feeling as it warmed up the bait went there, you could see some flipping, and so did the bass.  Grass is still the preferred cover, but I did catch a couple out of shallow wood.  And on the last bank alone I caught 9.  I was going to quit when I gave it the old one more place, and that place was the shallowest place on the lake.  In fact, it is a spring time place.  And 9 fish later, plus several misses, I called it a day.  When you really do figure out a pattern and they cooperate nothing is better no matter what fish you chase.

And biting when I quit………….  Lots like this during the day, with many more smaller ones.

I wanted to show you some fish today and from the pictures give you a pretty good idea what is going on.  They really did bite from the moment I started until I quit.   And once it sunk in my pea brain to go really shallow, then shallower, it was as consistent as it has been all fall.  As I have been saying it was no brainer that the fishing was going to get good.  Next one would expect the big fish to follow, and they will.  But it might take a little more cool weather and no more color in the lake.  As a side note I did not fish way up lake today.  There are some really good days coming and I intend to take full advantage of it.

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

Today was one of those really fun days.  It almost turned into a call your shot day.  A nice patch of grass in a foot of water, get ready.  A little channel way back in the stuff, here one comes.  And being able to see them eat only made it better.   The weather looks perfect for tomorrow and I will be back at it.  While frog, worm, and even a small swim bait will work I am going to stick with a different version of the old saying  –  “Never change baits when it is working, or don’t leave fish to find fish.”  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!**

For those of you who were waiting on the last day’s report from the Laguna it did not happen.  When I headed to the ramp before daylight it was already blowing harder than the prior 2 days.  There were thunderheads all around with a little lightning and I was just not feeling it.  With my best spot 7 or 8 miles down the Laguna the thought of a rough ass ride down and back, combined with my lack of success the prior 2 days and resulting lack of confidence, I turned around and headed to the house.  Oh well, it has been awhile since I lost a day to the weather.  But with winter somewhere on the horizon I will be headed back.

Weather

84/68  Clouds early giving way to sun.  10% chance of rain.  Wind  SSW 10 – 20.  (It made an easy 20 mph.)

Lake Level

Today  98.26 msl.   10 days ago  98:15 msl.

Solunar Times

Best  8:08 am to 10:08 am.  (Only relevant period.)

*******************Redfish candy!

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

There are a couple of important things to say about the fishing.  Today was the first day in a while where I caught some fish, in fact 11.  To go along with that I missed several and lost a couple.  And though they were not all that much size wise the fish are on the way to the new cover and it is about to get good.

The best from the morning.

I started on a main lake bank with lots of cover extending out from the bank.  I chose that bank because it is in the plant arm and the water is quite a bit clearer than the creek arm.  With the wind not to bad at daylight it was time to keep with what little pattern I have, the Controlled Descent Jerk Shad in Pearl Silver.  I am rigging it on 15lb Big Game with a 4/0 1/16oz swim bait hook.  It allows the bait to suspend using it fast or slow.  And today when they wanted it they rolled up and ate it, I saw most of the bites.  3 came on that first bank but it just got to windy there.

So next it was a main lake cove near the ramp.  It has a stretch of grass and reeds and the fish were on the last 3rd of one side heading out of the cove,  4 jumped on there.  So next up was 3 coves which should have had a fish in them but I struck out.  At this point the wind is howling right along and finding a place to toss that light bait was tough.  From that point on it was at least one fish in the next 4 places, and I missed several due to the bow in my line.  And another thing I learned today, they like the grass/reed combo and if it is from a point to half way back there are some in most of the coves.

I used if fairly fast in a walking the dog pattern, and one thing was readily apparent, other than a bite or two, they all came in the “stuff” in really shallow water.  The wind really played havoc and I thought maybe a spinnerbait might generate a bite or two but no such luck.  They do not want to chase anything, putting it right in their face was about the only way to get a bite.   I saw a couple of dead shad today and they were fairly small, which might have something to do with their bait preference right now.

By 12:30 the wind was really blowing so I called it a day.  The fishing was a significant improvement from what it has been.  With the water finally stabilized and some cool nights the fishing will only get better.  And I am sure there are some other baits that might work, including a frog or swimming a big worm right in the trash.  In fact next time out they are both going to get a work out.  And maybe the big worm will produce more bites in the off color water.

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

It will bay or lake tomorrow, a decision that will be made in the morning.  The wind looks great, good for the bay, but also prime weather for walking the Paddle Shad.  Being able to work it properly and see it the whole way back will help a lot.  And some of the places I wanted to get at will be just fine tomorrow.  So many places, so little time.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Brought to you by

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

*******************Redfish candy!

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

Weather

84/74.  Sunny with  a few clouds and a 10% chance of rain.  Wind  SSE 15 -25 mph.  (I would have taken the 15 mph.)

Tides

Low  1:23 pm  0.2.   High  11:09 pm  2.3.

Solunar Times

Good  10:17 am to 12:17 pm.  Best  4:32 pm to 6:32 pm.

Same Result, Different Day  –  Or I suck.

It was blowing pretty good right off the bat.  The King Ranch shoreline, much to my consternation, was un-fishable.  I am just not that mad at them.  By mid morning the wind was a nice steady 20 mph plus, and it only went up from there.  So those are my excuses and I am sticking to them.

The best I could muster today.

As far as where, not being horribly familiar with the island side of the bay I fished 4 “points” headed down toward Baffin, 3 of them I have not fished before.  The tide was out when I jumped in and the water had some color to it.  Topwater was first up and a 14″ jumped on it right away.  So that led to a couple of hours with no more topwater bites, though I did alternate with plastics all day.  The problem with plastics was even on the “protected” side, and I use the term loosely, it was tough fighting the bow in your line.  The day basically went just like yesterday, but no rats today, and only around 10 on the short trout list.

What are you doing?  Oh, now I get it.

I am wading away at the first place and here comes a boat.  They pull right in next to my boat and toss out the anchor and Power Pole.  I am thinking “wtf” but as I wade over they get out of the boat and walk over to this dune and climb it,  I assume to look at the beach.  And I was parked in the perfect spot, a deeper cut with flat points on both side.  To bad the dune picture is not clearer, the sand was blowing off it in cool patterns.  A good visual on how the beach and bay are ever changing.  Just wish it would change some other day.

Sea Robin.  Definitely wins the coolest fish of the trip so far.

Most of the fish came on either the DOA cal or a Down South.  Normally I rarely fish a jig head heavier than an 1/8th, but today it took a 3/8ths with the thinner and heavier Down South to keep it in contact with the bottom.  And for a couple of hours I gave 2 different twitch style corky baits a good go in different colors, and I did miss 2, which might have been “the bite” for the day.  It was just tough to keep any lure in good contact.  But I soldiered on.  So far there is no pattern that I can discern.  One here, 2 there, a couple on this bait, one on that, 2′ or 4′,  just nothing to hang my hat on.

Of course there was also a couple of screw ups, one of those, something I should  know better.  One place I caught a couple of skip jacks, that is how my day went, and I did not check my line, which you need to do on each and every one.  And a while later a solid thump, set the hook, and the line just goes slack.  While it was seriously slow, a few missed opportunities can make or break a day.

The ride back was one of those where you are going forward jumping waves, and the wind is blowing spray on you from behind.  Most have been the reason there were only 4 trucks left at the ramp.  And I just talked to a couple of guys who have been here since Sunday fishing the beach and caught them good until today.  I can only imagine how rough that was with it blowing right on the beach.

So with the wind looking like it could be 25 mph tomorrow I am not exactly filled with confidence.  It will probably be a short day, or I may knock the snot out of them, you never know.  But it sure beats sitting at the house.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines