FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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**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.

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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

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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

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

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!**

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

Brought to you by

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

A 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.

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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.

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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.

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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

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Brought to you by

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

After taking the last 10 days off it is time to get back to the fishing, it was nice to take a little break..  But it was great to see the grandkids, they grow up fast.  Also my folks were doing well, good news for folks hanging around that 90 year old mark.  One interesting thing on the trip was I went to Cabela’s in Rogers Arkansas and they were busy putting all the Bass Pro stuff in and the signs outside had changed to Bass Pro.  The manager told me that it will be the only store which will be both.  And as a side note I find it funny to get Bass Pro flyers all the time and there is not one thing fishing.  Just saying.

As part of that Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana trek we saw almost everyone has plenty of water.  Of course central Texas is flooding hard with several lakes actually closed.  Lake Texoma has opened the floodgates and the Red River was high and muddy.  And in Oklahoma and Louisiana the ponds and rivers are all full.  To bad we can not do a better job of storing some of that water, it seems the big reservoirs end up super low after a while, Falcon and Travis are perfect examples.  But that is a small complaint, we all needed “some” rain.  And good luck to those folks in the Austin area, I feel for you and hope everything works out.

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A nice 8 point.  This guy was trailing a doe and other than stopping to look at us he kept his nose to the ground and did not pay us any mind.

We scared this guy!  Amazing how far they can jump.

And the little guys were trying to get in on the act.

And a grey fox stopped and took a look at us.  Great walk today.

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

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In our pursuit of the big stringer we often think that the final result is the reason for the season, but watching Buccaneers and Bones reminded me of what is really important.

“Fishing is 90% who you are with and where you are doing it.”  Lefty Kreh.

So next time when you think you are all that because you caught a limit remember what one of the greatest men to ever hold a rod had to say about our sport.  For me it is, and has always been – “In the doing.”

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And speaking of rain, our forecast is for winds primarily out of the north up to 25mph for the next 3 days with rain chances as high as 90%.  Fall this year came in overnight and as soon as it settles down the fishing should be off the hook.  Though not sure it can get any better on the coast based on the reports I am seeing.

With that in mind I made my motel reservations for a 3 day trip to the Upper Laguna and the Baffin area next week.  It can be risky making them that far in advance using a 10 day out forecast, but it looks like that is about when this weather pattern will break.  And the tide forecast has it dropping all morning, though in reality I just do not have the experience to know what effect the tide actually has there.  So if the forecast is even close it will be 3 days of hard fishing trying to catch a big trout.  The best thing about fishing that area is the anticipation of that big bite, whether it comes or not.  Keeps you on your toes every cast.

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While I did not keep up with comments this week it was good to hear from Devin and Ashley.

Just came across your blog doug.. awesome read

Ashley says hi.

Hi to both of you, hope you and the kids are fine.  Lots of water under the bridge since we all met at Academy.  Good to hear from you and glad you like the blog.

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After finally getting new boards carpeted and ready for the skiff’s trailer it will be off to Coleto to fish the lake one day this week will it isn’t going to rain and get them mounted.  I would not have to replace them but on one side the 2″ x 6″ cracked in half for some crazy reason.  So once it needed fixing time to redo them all.  One of those projects that has hung around way to long.

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Tomorrow there is an 80% chance of rain in the afternoon, and the wind will be up to 25mph on the bay, so it will be off to Coleto to see how much further it has come up, and if the fish just might want to bite.  The next few days will be played by ear but it is not the most promising weather pattern I have seen in a while.  It will be good to be back on the water no matter how it comes out.  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!**

With the way the week fell there was not a whole lot of fishing around here.  Today I had the pleasure of replacing the boards and carpeting on the skiff’s trailer.  This year has been a true Break Out Another Thousand.  Seems like it has all happened lately.  But the best thing, everything is basically up to snuff so I am ready for the fall and winter fishing to come.  And as soon as I shake lose from a family visit it is going to be some serious fishing.

David last year at Fishmas, which is right around the corner.  We smacked them pretty good.

It should be an interesting day tomorrow as I am headed to Fayette County to fish with a couple of the Austin Boys.  David is a bass guy who has just started in the salt the last few years.  He has been fishing the lake for years, and I have a little, so we shall see how it goes.  No matter what it will be a good time.  And I appreciate not having to bring the boat!

Weather

85/68.  Sunny with a few clouds.  10% chance of rain.  Wind SE 5 – 10 mph.  (If you add both the 5 and the 10 plus a couple of more!)

Solunar Times

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

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

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The best laid plans of mice and men are not always realized.  I met David and Joey at the ramp and we were on the water by 7:30.  Joey and I started with jerk bait, and not a one took a pass at it.  David was throwing a senko and though he had 3 or so bites, he only got the hook in 1 and it jumped off.

                                          The best we could do today.

As the morning went on we just could not find them.  At this point the wind was blowing straight out of the South and it was pushing his bay boat all over the places.  I threw the swim jig a while but did not get a bite so I finally went to crankbait.  I missed the first 2 and then lost a good one before I finally boated a fish.  David stuck with it and also boated one on crankbait the last pass.  All came on a bank and cove with the wind pounding in it.

Joey lookin’ good!

The bites were spread out all over the place with never more then 1 in an area.  We should have boated several more, but sometimes they just come off, and today was one of those days.  Finally about 2:30 we called it.  They are staying at the cabins and will be fishing tomorrow so maybe we learned just enough to help them have a good day tomorrow.  And as usual I enjoy fishing with David and the retelling of the big tarpon story from last years Fishmas got us all looking forward to this fall.  So while the fishing was slow the day was fun with plans made to give it a go later in the fall.

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After fishing hard for 45 years I am truly beginning to appreciate the time spent sharing the boat with friends and appreciating the simple pleasure of being outdoors.  So much of fishing is being corrupted by the must sack a wad mentality.  I’ve had that pressure and it detracts from the true experience.  Larry Dahlberg is probably the best multi-species fisherman on the planet and I love what he said about fishing.  First you just want to catch a fish.  Then you want to catch a lot of fish.  Then you want to catch a big fish.  And then the day comes when you just want to fish the way you want.  So true in my case.

I am so fortunate that the Boss has been at my side while I pursued my dreams.  Marlin on the Great Barrier Reef and the coast of Puerto Rico, sailfish in Costa Rica, tarpon, bonefish, and permit in Belize, I have been lucky enough to experience some great fishing in great places.  From guiding for stripers, bass, and crappie off and on for 20 years on the highland lakes of Arkansas, rainbows and browns on the White and Norfork, and catfish in the Skunk River in Iowa, it has been a trip.  The Everglades, the Keys, Pine Island Sound, Falcon, South Dakota, Louisiana, Colorado, Missouri, the list goes on and on.  The thrill of watching a musky eat a bait at boatside on Lake of the Woods, a tarpon hitting a topwater and launching at boatside, my first carp on my Zebco 202, all memories permanently imprinted in my brain.  I remember each and every bite.

Maybe with age you begin to realize what is really important in this world, and the size of the stringer at the end of the day ain’t it.  Seeing an alligator smash a duck, a giant sunfish off the coast of Peru, a fawn trying to get in my boat, thousands of dolphins following the boat, all memories which have squat to do with how many I caught that day.  Fishing is what we make it, to each his own.  In my case being lucky enough to do so many things, and now doing them my way, makes me the luckiest guy on earth.

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I am going to give it a rest for the next 10 days, a break is needed.  Time to give fishing, the blog, and my brain, a little time to rest and recharge before the serious fall fishing begins.  There are many more adventures waiting to be had, and whether it is bass, trout, crappie, catfish, or blue marlin every day with a rod in my hand is a blessing and I never take it for granted.  So see you next week.  Keep stopping in and I can not thank you enough for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Brought to you by

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

After taking a couple of days off, including 2 days with the Boss in Austin, I am ready to hit the water tomorrow.  After looking at the weather the lake was an easy choice.  The wind looks like it will be out of the north, so it remains to be seen how it might affect the lake.  Not sure it could hurt it the way the fishing has been.  But the fish have to bite sometime, you’d think.

Weather

85/61.  Cloudy early then sun with a 20% chance of stray showers.  Wind  N 10 – 15mph.

Lake Level

Today  97.15 msl.  10 days ago  97.01 msl.

Solunar Times

Best  6:08 am to 8:08 am.  Good  11:53 am to 1:53 pm.

Well no, they don’t have to bite, and did not, at least for me.  I was really surprised when I got to the ramp, it really is still coming up, and with that spreading all over the place.  The water is almost topping the piers.  The water temp at the ramp was 86, the lowest was up lake where it was 82 with the incoming water.  The lake still has lots of color to it.

As you get way up lake there is another color line coming down.  It was almost muddy, and I could not get a bite on anything in that water.  To make a bad story short, 3 on Bang o Lure, 1 on white swim jig.  If you placed them end to end they might have made a good one.  (Just like last time this happened I decided if I don’t want to see a pictures of that you sure don’t.)  I threw the book at them, the 3 on Bang o Lure came in the back end of a cove, one after another.  After having a big one blow up on the buzzbait, completely missing it, the back ends held some promise.  That was the only real bite today.

So maybe something to work with?  Nope.  3 more coves after that produced zip.  They are just not having the raise yet.  On the other hand the crappie are biting to beat the band.  I talked to a couple of people and they all did fine, and there were several other folks crappie fishing.  Minnows seems to be the thing right now.  The bass on the other hand have not come to the cover.  Flipping and pitching resulted in one bite, which I missed.   So all in all I give the fishing a big fat 0, but the weather sure was nice.

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Redfish love them!

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Now on the other hand Jeff Lowrance had a little better luck than I had today.  I met Jeff when I fished Lake Dunlap last month, great guy.  He was kind enough to let me leave my boat in the water at this dock and we shared a couple of cold ones on his deck overlooking the lake.  He and my buddy Vetter do a good bit of catfishing and it really paid off.  Jeff now holds the lake record for blue cat.

54.5 lbs.  Now that is a beast!

47″ long it was quickly weighed on a certified scale and confirmed by TPWD.

They did everything they could to keep her alive.  Everything was done quickly and efficiently.  They got her confirmed and took the time and care to keep her wet as much as possible and then spent the time to make sure she was good to go.  She swam off to hopefully spread those great genes.  Congrats on the lake record but a bigger congratulations on the CPR!

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The Boss was telling one of her co-workers about my results on the bay the other day when he got a call.  It was a friend of his telling him about “that guy’s” post.  Crazy.  Amazing how that has evolved into my nickname – That guy.  I have been asked that many times on the water, but hell, I answer to anything.  And it is nice to know folks are out there reading this.  Feedback is important to me, it keeps me writing.

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And I got this comment from Ed after my first POC report.

Thanks for the report for POC been long overdue and I’m glad you got on them.
Where about is that big bayou area? Is it big pocket ? By lighthouse cove? Just wondering. I’ll be going down in about 2 weeks and hope to find some of those red brutes. Thanks again. Always enjoy reading your “stuff”
Ed Soto

Big Bayou is the small chain of islands between Barroom and Bill Days reef, where the string of cabins are.  Most of it is definitely NOT a wade fishing area, lots of mud and some really deep water.  In fact there is a hole that is 13′ deep, give or take a hurricane.  Good luck on your trip and let us know how it goes.

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And Topwater sent along his .02 worth.

“sigh”, see what happens when you fish the correct water.
Remember, salt is for fishing, fresh is for drinking/cleansing.

While I may not agree with your freshwater premise, not sure our water is for drinking any more.  We are polluting our waters all over the earth including the oceans.  Unfortunately it is also happening to many wells where folks get their drinking water.  But I have to admit the fishing is sure better in the saltwater right now.  But when it is all said and done I love all fishing, fresh and salt, trolling and casting, big fish and small, and the great places where you catch them.  I consider myself fortunate getting to sample many different places for lots of different fish.  In fact, might be time to start a new bucket list because I only have a yellowfin tuna left on the last list.

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I have a friend fishing POC today and am waiting for her report.  The north wind continues so it will be very interesting to see how their day went.  A couple of the Austin Boys are planning on fishing Fayette this weekend and if nothing has changed I will be joining them on Friday.  Tomorrow is up in the air, but not sure there is any scenario where I will not be on the water.  So keep stopping in and thank for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines