FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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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!

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.)

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

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!**

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

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!

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

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.

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

More boat ads…Or why in the hell would anyone buy this boat?

NO BATTERYS, NEEDS LOWER UNIT, NO KEYS TO IGNITION, SMALL DAMAGE TO HULL ON LEFT SIDE. Been sitting for roughly 3 years Selling AS IS only $20,ooo.  or…….

needs lots of tlc.  or…..

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……….

don’t have title to any of them that’s why it’s so cheap motor needs carb cleaned, motor was never registered in Texas.  or……………..

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

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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

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

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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Well the weather looks like it was going to go to hell on Wednesday night so I changed my reservation, thanks hotel, to Monday and Tuesday night and will be leaving in the morning.  I will be staying on North Padre. It is a short ride to put in at Bird Island Basin in the park, and I love the boat parking at the motel.  So the rest of this afternoon will be getting ready to go.  Hopefully a big trout is in my future!

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

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

Weather

85/71.  Mostly sunny with a 10% chance of rain.  Wind S 10 – 20.

Tides

Low 12:22 pm.  0.1.  High  10:03 pm  2.3

Solunar Times

Good 9:13 am  Best  3:28 pm to 5:28 pm.

I left the house around 5:30 and headed to PINS to put in at Bird Island Basin.  Not only was a big trout NOT happening today, I had one big small fish extravaganza.  I was in the water on the first bank on the King Ranch shoreline a little before 9:00 in an area I usually catch fish.  But a big problem reared it’s ugly head almost immediately.  The wind was pounding on the shoreline and with the tide going out it was covered in grass.  And when it is to grassy to fish a Controlled Descent it is to grassy to fish.  Plus hopefully topwater was still on the plate even though it was a little late in the morning.

Next it was across the bay to the island where there was little floating grass and the wind was not an issue.  I started on a big point that has a drop running along it.   And the catching began.  But keeping with my new policy concerning pictures, if I don’t want to see it you sure don’t.  So here us the only one I was happy with.

Fun on 8lb. test.

To make a long story short I caught maybe 15 trout, 5 reds, and 1 flounder.  Only a couple of the trout were even close, all the reds but one were rats, and the flounder was the smallest I ever caught.   It was about the size of one of those dollar pancakes.  That bank is long with plenty of good water, but no matter what I used it was small fish.  The DOA Cal was the preferred bait, though I threw the book at them.  Even caught a couple on a popping cork, which I have not used in I don’t know how long.  Seemed logical with the wind blowing.  Not even a sniff on topwater.  I moved the boat 3 times as I worked a long stretch and was just about to really move when something happened I have not seen before.

All of a sudden a big trout, and I mean a hoss in the 7lb range, came chasing bait and went right by my leg in 2′ of water.  She ended up on the sand and I could see her, and even made a couple of pretty good casts at her but she was spooked by then.  Unfortunately that gave me false hope so I kept working down the bank but the quality did not improve.  It will definitely be play it by ear tomorrow, not sure if right place wrong time, or what.  This is my 5th time here and there is so much to learn.  This is one big pond.

On a completely different note it always seems strange to see deer, without a tree in sight, on the way to the ramp.  And there were more ducks than I would have thought, just shows you, it is almost November and it doesn’t seem like fall.  At 4:00 it was time to call it a day and head to the motel and check in.  A brew and a burger, followed by early to bed as it will be on the water before the sun comes up. Not sure where I am going to start as the wind is supposed to blow up to 25 mph.  Keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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A morning worth getting up for.

Get a Flue Shot.

So being the responsible patient I am when I was at Walgreens a couple of weeks ago the lady at the counter asked if I had mine.  No, so I headed to the back and got my yearly flu shot.  In fact it was some kind of “super” shot because I am an old man.  So this Tuesday in the middle of the night I wake up sick.  Here I am 2 days later (Thursday) still sick with what?  Could it be the flu?  The Boss has diagnosed me with a “virus”, which I suspect is medical speak for the flu.  Or maybe, who knows, just suck it up big boy.  Her sympathy knows no bounds!  (Just kidding.)   The real problem is I am a big baby when I am sick because I can’t go fishing, even if I didn’t want to.  But in this case I really did miss out on some fishing.  Terry sent me a text that he was in Rockport with the air boat and did I want to fish Thursday.  Here I sit typing this, sick, when I could be flying around some back lake.  Definitely the wrong end of this deal.

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

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

So I will be fishing the lake in the morning as I am not sure I will be up to a big wading extravaganza.  Plus, with 3 days coming on the upper Laguna next week I will be getting in plenty of saltwater fishing.  I really do expect the lake to be a little better, it sure can not get much slower, but as the lake stabilizes the fishing will improve.  Maybe tomorrow is the day, we shall see in the morning.

Weather

77/56.   Clouds and sunshine with a 10% chance of rain.  Wind  NNW 5 – 10 mph.

Lake Level

Today  98.15 msl.    Monday  98.03 msl.   (Still on the rise.)

Solunar Times

Best   11:56 am to 1:56 pm.  Good  6:10 am to 8:10 am.

It was absolutely beautiful for an hour this morning.

I woke up really early, probably due to being sick and sleeping all day the first day and a couple of hours the second.  So not feeling to bad it was load the boat and off to Coleto.

Today the forecast was for light winds and sun after a while, and it was right on.  It was almost dead calm all the way until I quit at 2:00.  The water color is still ugly and it was 70 degrees at the ramp, and early on 67 – 68 in the coves.  The water looks like it has stabilized finally and it looks great.  An important observation as the day went along, the back ends of some of the smaller covers are somewhat clear and were in the high 70’s as the sun came out and warmed the water.  And it was possible to get a bite or two in most of them, but not all.

The best of the day.  All were caught on the Controlled Descent Pearl Silver Jerk Shad.

The more I thought about it the last couple of days the more the Jerk Shad seemed logical.  No wind, warming water, and my bites, however few they have been in past trips, all came in grass.  So until I quit it was throwing it in the cover and walking it out in a walk the dog pattern.  Missing the first 3 I went up a rod size, and while the hookup ratio obviously improved, the 2 best of the day managed to pull off.  And there was a reason.  When they hit they immediately headed straight out and I just did not catch up enough to get a good hook set.

I ended up caching 7, most small, and every single one of them was either right on the bank, or in a green bush/grass clump close to the bank.  They would not chase, not even a little bit.  They were tight to cover and the bites all came in the first few jerks, and not a one off the bank.  Not sure if it is a water color thing, or it was just so still and sunny that they were nose into the cover.  One thing that didn’t work on a couple who missed it big time and would not hit again, was pitching a creature bait as a follow up.  Every bite was a “right now” thing, pause or think about it they were gone and  I easily missed as many as I boated today.  The fishing is getting better a little bit at a time, and as soon as the lake stabilizes it can only get better from this point on.

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

And Rick dropped this comment the other day.

Glad you are back in the saddle. Hope you had an enjoyable break from the blog. You probably needed it. Now get your ass in gear and let get back to fishcatchingtravel!!!
(just rattling your cage). Your blog is really appreciated especially for the workaholics like me who dont get to go very much. Thanks!

And I figured the best way to get back to it was to book a motel for a few days on North Padre next week and do my best to put the hurt on them.  I always preach about going at least 3 days, better chance to not get completely screwed with the weather, and to figure enough out to have a successful trip.  And with this cold front it just might increase my chances of catching a good one, which in my world is anything 27″+.  It is comments like this that keep me fishing and blogging because  I appreciate what it is/was like to be dreaming about fishing the weekend.  But once you retire you are living the weekend.  Thanks for being a loyal reader.   Always good to know someone is paying attention.

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

And congrats to the guy who caught the new state record 246lb tarpon.  What a beast anywhere on this planet.  Best of all, they kept time out of the water to a minimum, and it was a successful CPR.  Along that same line the DNR reported netting 3 tarpon in a survey net in one of the bays, I believe around Rockport.  The tarpon have been slowly returning to Texas and there are enough around to actually fish for them, a real addition to the options on the bay.  If you have never caught one a tarpon should be on your bucket list.  I think, unless you have caught tons of them, nothing is ever more exciting than the first one, and maybe the next one.  The power is amazing.  And speaking of big fish, Falcon Lake Tackle reported a guide and his party catching a 38lb sack, one over 8, and released 25 over 4lbs.  While Falcon is a lot tougher than it used to be you can still have the best day of your fishing life there.  Fall is here and there is no better time to catch a big one.

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

Fishing Line

Over the last 40 years fishing line has changed dramatically.  From braids, co-polymers, fluorocarbon, the choice is endless.  But time for a confession.  After trying them all, liking some, hating others, a full circle has been achieved.  It is back to nothing but Berkley Trilene Big Game.

Believe me I have given them all a good go.  I hated wind knots with braid, and doing the leader thing.  While I never had a problem with the additional knot it was hassle if the leader broke wading.  For my tastes fluoro is just is to brittle, and chaffing is a real issue when you are pitching or fishing heavy cover.  And the copolymers seemed to break to easy in the lower test lines, which I try to fish as low as the conditions allow.  In fact, looking in the tackle room I have a dozen or more different spools with line on them  that I have quit using.  All the above have a place, and if they work for you, good.

I settled on the Big Game for a couple of reasons that work for me.  First, using it for years I know everything I need to know about the particular characteristics, sink rate, stretch, strength, and how it handles in all weather.  Next, it is nice to be able to buy it in the 1,000 yard spools, depending on line size, so that I can replace it regularly, which is a habit of mine. I just replaced it on 6 freshwater rods 2 days ago and will do the salt rods next.  And keeping it in 8,10,12, 15, and 20lb test clear covers all the usual fresh and saltwater fishing.  By keeping rods with the above weights you always have a line weight for a specific lure or technique.  And it is nice to have a couple of spools in the boat just in case.

So there you have it.  This is what works for me and it actually simplifies things some.  Of course there are exceptions, tarpon fishing or flipping in super heavy cover, but for the everyday fishing Big Game does just fine.  Yes I might occasionally use line just a hair lighter than I should, but lighter line gets more bites.  And often it is not the line but the angler that is the problem.  Drag to tight?  Not checked line lately?  All play a part no matter what line you use.  So use what you have the confidence in – confidence is the name of game in fishing.

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

I was just really starting to get them patterned a little better when I called it a day.  Probably should have rested one more day but hey, I’ll rest when I am dead.  It was just to nice to be in the house and the lake was a great option if I needed to quit early, which I did.  But as you can see from the pictures it was nothing short of stunning this morning.  Another day where the numbers were not the best, but the experience was a 10.  Every day with a rod in my hand is a good day, and now the countdown to the Upper Laguna begins.  The only fishing job I have this weekend is putting the skiff bunks on, so it has to be in the water, a good excuse for a short wade trip to Keller Bay.  I appreciate all of you and love the feedback.  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

67/56.   Cloudy with 80% chance of afternoon showers.  Wind  NNE 10 – 15mph.

Solunar Time

Best  9:14 am to 11:14 am.   (Only relevant period.)

Lake Level

Today   98.03 msl.    13 days ago   97.15 msl.

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

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

As I sit here Tuesday morning it is coming down and I am glad I hit the lake yesterday.  It has been raining since 1:30 am and the radar shows it will continue, solid for another day.  We do not need any more rain right now and I sure hope it is not raining this hard up in the Hill Country.  (Funny.  Todays forecast is for light rain this morning becoming heavier in the afternoon.  If this is light look out later today!)

The lake was clearly up when I hit the ramp, it is almost over the piers, and the color looked about the same.  The water temp at the ramp was 72 degrees, an almost 15 degree drop.  The further up lake you go the temp continues to drop, 70 at the bridge and as low as 67 way up lake.  The water color gets worse as you head up lake, and up lake is almost muddy, and has dropped almost 20 degrees.  It only took about an hour to decided that was not happening.  And one more note on the color, the Coleto arm has quite a bit more color than the other arm, and all my bites (Maybe 10.) today came from the clearer water.

She smoked that spinnerbait.  Not big but happy to have her.

The wind was as advertised, blowing about 15 mph out of the north and it was cloudy and stayed that way most of the day.  Again I threw the book at them, and it was almost noon before I caught my first one.  It would be the first out of the 5 landed today, 4 on spinnerbait and 1 on the swim jig.

With the water level up like it is it looks so good.  I finally settled on spinnerbait after not getting any bites on anything else.  All the bites came in the new green grass lining the lake.  The ones that did bite were in the stuff, but there is still no real pattern to it.  A cove, a flat, a channel bank, a bite here or there.  Either I am missing something or it is just that unstable.  But one thing was apparent, they like that little clearer stuff.  Only about half of the bites stayed hooked up, they were not aggressive by any means.  I did lose one at the boat that was a little bigger than the one above.

So the fishing remains as it has been the last few weeks since the raise, and with it coming down outside there is more water on the way.  And while it might seem pointless to keep fishing the lake, when it finally settles down, and the fish acclimate, it will be good.  When that day comes, and it will, it could be awesome.  One thing about this raise is the lake was at a level where this raise spreads it out and the lake is a lot “bigger” than it was.  The fish will not be able to resist all that new cover.  Hope springs eternal.

The most exciting thing today was a pack of hogs that I could not see but definitely could hear.  I don’t know if it was a gang fight, a killing, or what.  But those hogs kept screaming for a half hour.  To bad I could not see what was going on because it was something.

When I put in there were was no one at the ramp, when I took out, there was no one.  A pretty good comment on the fishing.  I only saw one kayak guy and a couple of crappie fishermen, other than that I had it to myself.  The crappie fishing has remained good, just might have to catch a few for the pan next trip.

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

It was good to hear from SA Joe, and his B.O.A.T. saga continues.  It has turned into one of those the deeper you go the worse it gets.  Oh the joys of boat ownership.

Glad to see you back and well rested. Got to replacing that pump i mentioned a couple of weeks back. Well it got worse. Another pump, under the gas tank broke off. Guess that plastic only holds up about 17yrs. Its a 2001 Bass Cat Pantera Classic. Its now in the garage, getting ready to re-do all the plumbing. Even have the PVC piping breaking leading into the livewells.

Lake travis in a day rose 20ft, in 14 days rose 44ft. Its a great lake when the water is up because of all the structure.. But not for docks and people living around it..

Joe

Sounds like one of those jobs that self propagates.  But it will end up being for the better before there was a big failure letting serious water get in the boat.  Hopefully when it is over it will be good as new, but it sure is a hassle.  That is one thing I love about my skiff, everything is open and easy to get to, unlike the LTS where even putting on a new trolling motor was a hassle.  So keep after it, this is a good time to do it with all the flooding going on.

And wow with the Travis raise, that is something.  One year on Lake Norfork when I was living and guiding at the dock we had a 28 foot raise over night.  We worked all night letting docks out before they were dragged under.  And the fish did not bite worth a crap for a month.  In fact the only consistent pattern that spring was roads and it was tough until things settled down, much like we are experiencing on Coleto right now.  Thanks for the comment and good luck on the boat job.

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VOTE

Early voting is on in Texas and many other states.  We are headed out the door to vote right after I hit publish.  Seriously I do not give a rat’s ass who you vote for.  As far as I am concerned if you do not vote you need to shut your pie hole if you do not like the results.  It is your DUTY as an American, and voting is what separates our great country from the rest of the world.  So show some pride in your country and head to the poles.  It is going to be interesting!  God Bless America.

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

Today it will be an organize the tackle room day.  Stuff is spread out all over the place and this is perfect weather to get organized.  With some serious fall fishing on the way time to put new line on both the fresh and saltwater stuff, glue some plastics to jig heads, and replace some topwater trebles.  Don’t want to lose that big trout.  With Baffin less than a week away I am starting to get excited.  And if the weather does as advertised a trip to the bay is on tap for Friday.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines