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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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

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.

****************** 

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!

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

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!

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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!**

Beautiful!  The day was already a success before I even got in the water!

Weather

85/78. Isolated morning showers then partly cloudy later, 30% chance of showers. Wind ESE 10 – 15mph.

Tide

High 6:30 am. Low 8:17 pm.

Solunar Times

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

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

Redfish love them!

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

The wind was out of the east around 15mph and the tide was high.  Since conditions were exactly the same as 2 days ago there was 3 places on the list and 2 new ones.  While the fishing was not quite as hot, fish were caught on all stops.  It was wading all morning then a couple of hours of boat fishing.

The topwater was good about an hour and then they slowed down.

Today it seemed the fish were a little farther off the bank.  It was 3 drains off the island and they were out where the channel kind of flattened out and quite a bit more scattered.  But like 2 days ago it was topwater, DOA Cal, and the Controlled Descent Paddle Shad in the Pumpkinseed/Chartreuse Glitter.  None of the places was loaded with fish, but keeping a bait in the water and fishing the area systematically caught fish everywhere.

I did manage one good trout today.

You could see some of the fish early making a half hearted run under the topwater without committing.  So I would just switch to plastics and catch some.  Before it was over I fished near South Pass, Army Hole, Big Bayou and some other drain I am not sure which lake it comes out of.  I covered some miles both in and on the water today.

This guy smoked the Controlled Descent Paddle Shad.

After I quit wading it was time to check on the school of reds in Big Bayou and they were there.  With the water so shallow and off color on that bank the “brown’ Paddle Shad seemed logical.  Just reeling it a little ways and then pulling it a couple of feet and stopping it produced 2 real nice ones and 2 smalls.  It was rigged on a 3/0, 1/16th ounce swimbait hook.  With no floating grass to deal with it is fine to leave the barb out, when they hit they are usually there.  Plus the lighter weight hook lets the tail vibrate even more.  The key just like the spinnerbait.

They were eating it.  The other good one there.

After catching 4 I left them.  Don’t hassle them to much and they should stick around.  So the day was a success.  I needed a few trout for the fry pan and actually kept a limit, rare for me.  Thinking about them sizzling in the pan has my mouth watering.

I rarely do the dead fish picture, and I even messed that up.

There were definitely more small trout and reds today, but there was just enough good ones to keep me fishing.  Plus as long as something is tugging on the end of the line I am happy.  And you never know when that good one is coming, in fact the trout above was the last fish of the day.  I finally called it a day at 3:00, and left them biting.

So here is what I have learned in 2 days this week.  The fish are biting, that in and of itself is great.  When combined with something different, a drain, some grass,  oysters, structure of some sort, they are there somewhere. Today it seemed wading was a waist deep thing throwing out.  This is one of the times when if you do what you are good at, or like to do, it will work right now.  And a popping cork with Gulp or a Marker 54 shrimp would hurt them right now.

One thing I found interesting is the drain I love so much on the island was really changed last year during the hurricane.  Mud ran out of the back lake and the down tide side is a lot softer and does not have nearly as many fish.  What were potholes are now mudholes.  The bay is a constantly changing underwater topography and nothing beats wading to learn when it happens.

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(Funny, I wrote this yesterday before I took a dead fish picture.)

I did want to let those of you new to the blog know that 99.9% of all the fish I catch are CPR’d.  When it is just me and the Boss a couple here or there, cooked fresh, is all we need.  As a result of that I have quit taking very many cooler dead fish pictures.  Of course it still happens when fishing with a crowd, then it is all about the pile.  And this is not a complaint on folks who do, they are your fish and as long as they end up simmering in the pan it is all good.  Plus, they are dead.  Taking them as they are caught when I generally do not keep them is the only way to give you a true picture on how the day went.  There is a downside to that, when it is slow the pictures do not lie.

And to go along with that I rarely measure or weigh a fish.  It seems as I get older it is a simple, it is big or not.  The numbers are really not that important, one day a 20″ trout is “big”, another it takes a 28″, it is all relative to how good the fishing is.  A perfect example, a 5lbers on Flacon is just another fish, out of your farm pond it is a hawg.  Often fishermen get so wrapped up in the numbers that we forget the reason we are out there – To enjoy being out there with a tug on the line,

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

The bay is good right now and hopefully it is just the beginning of what will be an epic fall.  And the flounder should start showing up for us rod and reel folks.  And I do keep them!  Not sure what is next, though I feel like a trip to the lake in the morning.  But I am laughing right now as the news just gave the Coleto fishing report – Slow for everything.  But one thing can be said about my fishing habit, I am persistent.  Plus it definitely will not stay that way.  And as I have been saying all summer, when fall comes it is game on so let the games begin.  Keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Brought to you by

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

3 people in the last week have ragged on me about not fishing the coast.  But as I have said numerous times I was just waiting for 2 things, it is not so dang hot, and redfish time.  Plus it is my blog.  So here you go boys, does this qualify?  Plus even though the lake thing did not work out it was one of those things that could have been epic.  You never know unless you go.

Weather

84/78  Sunny/cloudy with a 20% chance of stray shower or thunderstorm.  Wind ESE 10 – 15 mph.

Tides

High  5:07 am.  Low  6:02 pm.

Solunar Times

Best  5:11 am to 7:11 am.  +  5:40 pm to 7:40 pm.

******************Get Inhaled!

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

Launching at Froggie’s as it cracked daylight there was only a few trucks at the ramp.  The wind was light out of the SE, the water looked fairly clear, and the tide was super high.  It was short run out to the Pringle shoreline to set up near my favorite drain.  It took a little to get a bite, but from that point it was definitely a game on day.

First one on the Controlled Descent Paddle Shad.  And it made the morning.

They were blowing up on the Bone Spook Jr.

Starting with the Controlled Descent Paddle Shad and a topwater, neither was getting bit.  I was real shallow, seemed logical, so I moved out a little and got in position on a point with current and wind on it.  As the Paddle Shad hit the water on the point the first one blew up on it.  So figuring topwater just might be the ticket time to switch to the Spook.  Every once in a while I have a moment of clarity.

This is the size of the mullet they were chasing.  And a bonus black drum.

                              The last 2 worth a hoot on the wade.

Basically they were in the cut and on the point.  The bait was everywhere.  Most of the time I threw topwater, and while it was not fast, it was consistent for a couple of hours.  Changing it up with the Paddle Shad catch a small one or two, letting them “rest” on the topwater would get them going again.  They wanted the topwater at a medium speed and most stayed buttoned.  Several small ones added to the mix on both plastics and on top, but the topwater was by far the best.  Plus who does not like the way a trout hits a topwater?  And I never did get over waist deep.

Around 10:30 it was time to go and really work on the reds.  I will admit I spent less time on the bay this summer than ever, but the current fishing is the reason.  Hard to get excited about the “live bait” season when you are a lure fisherman.  Plus, no real competition.  The anticipation, plus the actual results, make fall on the bay the time to be there, and today set up perfect.

It was on!

It was straight to Big Bayou to fish out of the boat on a bank that is perfect.  Real shallow, oysters, and plenty of mullet as they make their fall run, it is one of those places reds just love.  And of course it was spinnerbait.  The water in there was quite a bit more off color than out at the island, perfect spinnerbait water, and the tide was still high, also important for that bank.  It was simply a matter of getting to a point where I could just reach the bank on a long cast.  From then just a steady retrieve, keeping it right off the bottom, resulted in some serious strikes.  When they want a spinnerbait they will not be denied.  This time of year you should be able to see them moving around, and today it was easy.

Four of the seven off that bank.  They were hammering that Redfish Magic spinnerbait.  And my thoughts on the different colors – they have been doing whatever they do, where ever they do it, all summer and their color reflects that.  Now they are ganging up.  Maybe?

After I beat them up it slowed considerably, and since it was about noon time to hit one more bank out of the boat.  The deepest bank in Big Bayou is a great fall and winter bank.  Once the trout get on it they stay for quite a while.  I wanted to hit it to see if they were there yet, and they were, small ones.  5 or 6 jumped on and none would have made the grade.  Most came on a DOA Cal with an 1/8th ounce jig head.  A smaller profile it falls quickly, important on a straight up and down bank with a 4 – 5′ drop.  The ones that bit came on a hop right off the bottom keeping it moving in the direction of the tide.  Also a couple of short reds also cooperated but nothing on that stretch would have kept.  So with that finish I called it a day at 2:00.

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And speaking of reds here is a couple from my buddy Todd, one of the notorious Austin Boys.

                                     Wade 1.  Wade 2.

He went to  Rockport last weekend and looks like they had a good trip.  Sorry to miss you next month but really looking forward to Fishmas.  Thanks for the pics.

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

What a day.  To get a good topwater bite and then follow it with spinnerbait is heaven to an old bass fisherman.  I can only imagine what might have come fishing later in the day.  Tomorrow it will be hanging with the Boss and then back at it Thursday.  I promised the guy who details the Boss’s car a trip when he could catch a red.  He is just getting into fishing so a popping cork and Gulp and he will definitely get bit.  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!**

It is 6:00 am Monday morning as I write this.  I am watching the coast and POC is covered up right now with passing storms, with a 60% chance the rest of the day.  But what I am really watching is the North Padre area forecast as I just might head to the Upper Laguna tomorrow for a couple of days.  So with that happening it will be slip out to the lake and then check the weather when I get back.  South appears to be the way to go so we shall see.

And to make matters worse I just got a text from the Austin Boys who will be coming to POC the first weekend of November and I have a wedding in Iowa that there is now way in hell I can weasel out.  It just seems the Fishing Gods have been continually conspiring against me.  Another example of the conspiracy is I have been waiting for later this fall to head to Falcon.  Now there is more reported troubles with some folks in pangas toting  guns from the other side scoping out bass boats.  And there was a shots fired issue lately.  So now it is not recommended to fish the Mexican side.  So of course the Boss has decreed that there is no way I am going to Falcon by myself.

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Not a monster but a shooter.

The rut is coming.

And the girls were out today.  

*****************Get Inhaled!

Lake Level

Today  97.01 msl.   11 days ago  97.25 msl.  (Slowly falling.)

Coleto

After checking the weather POC is the destination tomorrow.  I decided to hit the lake at 9:00 for a couple of hours, and boy oh boy.  Other than the pure pleasure of cruising around the fishing is just perplexing.  It is as tough as ever, and after fishing it for 8 years I generally have a clue, but not now.  The fishing on the lake sucks, end of story.

The best of 6 or 7, all pitching to shallow cover on the stick worm.  Where are the good ones?  I do not have a clue.

The reason I included the stick worm comment below the picture is the box got thrown at them in all the “right” places and some of the “wrong” places.  Main lake banks with rock, points, coves, dirty water and “clear”, up lake and down.  Topwater, spinnerbait, swim jig, squarebill, but pitching to cover was the only place to get a bite.  And that was up lake in the really off color water.   Even a couple banks way up where there was little water all summer produced no bites.  The ones that did bite were super shallow and basically started swimming off with it.  At least the one above came out of a tangle and was a good tussle.   Other than that it is just like it has been since the big raise.

I made sure to try the right stuff depending on the bank, but they are just not there.  And obviously chasing a moving bait is not in their wheelhouse right now.  If i had stayed with pitching a few more would have come over the side.  The rise has been something, the lake is clearing but is still very off color with much of the lake 86 degrees.  So if you came here today hoping for some good news it just is not going to happen.  Over the years I have seen a time or two like this, a big raise when the fish just didn’t like it.  But it will be just a bad memory soon enough, at least I hope.

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

After my rather meager results on the lake Topwater Billy sent along this comment.

Man, you just continue to pound that freshwater.
That stuff is for drinking and showering in.

And obviously this last week you might be right.  I was so sure that they would move shallow but it just has not happened yet.  Every time I think I know something about fishing I get taught a new lesson.  So the only way to fix poor results is head to the redfish.

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I enjoy the MLF fishing show and they just made a big announcement.  The professional bass fishing tournament game was changed forever when the MLF announced a new tournament series.  It is in direct conflict/competition with BASS and FLW.  And with that has come an exodus from the other 2 to MLF.  VanDam, Hackney, Grigsby, Martins, Klien and most of the really big names in bass fishing are switching with over 60 names released and another added today.  While there has been the usual online trolls ragging on them, as far as I am concerned that move is made in the interest of making a good living and taking care of their family.  And my guess is most of the trolling is wannabes.  The MLF will become the place to be and before it is over, if I was guessing and I am, FLW and BASS will become the minor leagues.

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And my usual reading the boat ads prompted this muse.  Why do folks take the cover off the engine and take a picture?  To prove it is there?  To prove it is not broken, or runs great, or just that it is clean?  Seems kind of pointless, especially for someone like me who knows there is nothing under that cowl that I have any business messing with and I sure do not have x-ray vision.  You don’t need to show me inside the cowl, a copy of the last scan ran on the engine when you did the required maintenance will do much better.  Anyone that would buy a used boat without having the numbers run and confirms the maintenance is just kidding themselves.  But hey, you could get lucky.

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As soon as I hit post it will be the tackle room and making sure the saltwater stuff is all ready to go.  It has been a while.  In fact my buddy Chris asked me the other day if I have given up the salt.  For a while that was actually the case, but there was good a trip to Grand Isle La a couple of weeks ago.  So it will be good to be waist deep in the bay in the morning as a redfish blows up on the topwater.  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!**

“Where the f*#* are the big fish?”

Now that would be fairly strong language for the title of a post, but it in this case it is right on point.  There were heavy clouds and it was humid when I got to the lake.  It was almost 10:30 when I started on the first bank.  So first up was the same color and size 2.5 squarebill that bit me yesterday.  And low and behold I caught a bass pretty quick, 1 bass, despite throwing it off and on all day.  The problem, he hit it right when it hit the water without a crank.  Now you would think if one hits it on top right on the bank that a topwater might work, not so much.  The water is still really off color and the temp is in the 84 and 85 degree range all over the lake.

The one and only on the squarebill.            The run of the mill swim jig fish.

As I fished a grassy bank a bass boat came around the corner and stop right next to me and yelled – “Where the f*#% are the big fish?”  Usually when folks stop and talk it is because of the blog, but not this time.  He is not a happy tournament fisherman.  Right off the bat I know the answer – “I don’t have a f’in clue.”  His club is here to fish a tournament this weekend and several boats from their club were out the last 2 days.  Yesterday and today, as a group not one of them caught a good one either day.  Exactly my sentiment, but he said it more eloquently than I can.    As usual love talking to any of you I meet on the water.

So it remains tough.  In about 4 2/2 hours I caught 6 or 7, and might have missed a good one on the swim jig along with several others.  Whatever, it was one of those bites that just swam up behind it and kept on going, often those are the big ones.  I hate missing that one, when I am fishing it regularly I generally stick those.  But that would be the size of it, one here, one there. It seems like you can catch one on this and one on that, but nothing particular suits their fancy.  And it seems the good fish have done a disappearing act.  Fishing is slow and it is probably one of those find the pattern, or more important right now location, find that and there is probably a wad of them.

When I got home I took all the freshwater stuff out of the boat.  Time to let someone else figure it out, I am ready for some redfish.  We are going to be wet a few days, and the nice thing about fall redfish is not sure they give a rats you know what about lowered salinity.  And according to the weatherman there may be another 3 or 4″ of rain on the way.

********************A new bait is coming!

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

One thing that is going on right now is there are big bunches of carp all over the lake doing that mouth open thing on the surface.  Not sure if it has anything to do with maybe lower o2 in the lake, or just eating some kind of plankton type stuff.  If anyone has an opinion let me know because I sure do not have a clue what they are doing.  One of the few times I wish I had an o2 and ph meter, might be telling.

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

I sure was pissed having to get off the water yesterday when it looked like they were about to get after it.  And to add a final stamp on the day, I ended up just mowing the lawn after getting home.  I should have just gone back out to the lake.  Dang it!  (I wrote this last night, after today I am not sure it matters what time you are on the lake.)

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

I read the Falcon Lake Tackle fishing blog regularly.  Falcon has lots, and I do mean lots, of huge alligator gar.  I know, I caught one years ago that was a beast.  TPWD has been conducting yearly netting surveys to see just how many there are, and this year was something.  In one day placing nets in a approximate 100 acre area they netted 123 alligator gar.  Think about it, that lake is 40,000 acres depending on water level, so how many are in the lake?  I just know that I caught a bass over 9lbs that had a line of tooth marks on it, her lucky day when she escaped.

The “badder” news is there was an incident involving a panga  full of what can only be described as Mexican gangsters.  There were shots fired in the water close to the boat and the US boat bugged out.  You see them there all the time but lately there are reports of pangas full of guys with guns scoping out fishermen.  Most folks think they are lookout boats, probably to let their “friends” bring drugs across when there is no law enforcement close.  They are currently recommending that you not fish the Mexican side.  Apparently there is some kind of turf war going on across the border.   Might be time for law enforcement to return big time and see what can be done, if anything.  One suggestion to law enforcement, do not go out in your regular boats which scream police, try using a bass boat and wearing street clothes.  If they are doing it then it won’t be long until they approach you.  Plus you get to fish all day.  Sorry, don’t mean to make them bait but they might be surprised.  I know I have seen the pangas run across the lake into a cove real fast and then back out, not to mention them illegally running gill nets on the US side, which I have hung up on in the past.  Sad it has come to this, we have a right to be safe anywhere in the US with a fishing pole in our hand.

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

 After my locator/bilge pump mounting extravaganza SA Joe sent along this comment

Love the repairs. Had a pump start leaking thru the canister. Went to replace and could not get out the canister without taking out center seat pole, move the fuel tank. So i decided to unscrew from inside the live well and moved it by angling it. Ordered 3 new canisters at $25 each. Whew I got a deal and it was easy–YEAH RIGHT !!!!

A whole setup cost $36. Go to tighten in the livewell, overtighten and the intake breaks. Now i have to order the outer casing at $22 ea. take the advice and replace the whole frickin thing. I got screwed paying an extra $11 ea x3=$33. Thats alot of beer. Take in the $15 for shipping. Their response, send them back and we’ll credit you. I misheard them thinking they were $18 ea for the casings.

I don’t mean to laugh but been there and feel your pain.  I went to Lowes and the auto parts store 3x’s before the job was done.  We all make fun of Break Out Another Thousand, but it seems like it can nickle and die you to death.  But we soldier on, and when flying across the water as day breaks it is worth every penny.   Thanks for your comment, every boat owner can sympathize.

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Football is on the schedule and the Hogs have A&M.  Though Bama whipped their butt last week A&M did ok.  It was one of those games where the outcome was apparent, it was a slow beat down.  The Hogs on the other hand suck, or worse if there is such a thing.  So unless we rise up A&M  should take it out on us tomorrow.  And the Cowboys,  as the kids say WTF?  Talk about offensive ineptitude, they are the epitome of ineffective.  This year “my” teams are just not playing that well.

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It was a little eye opening fishing the last few weeks without a functioning GPS.  Not sure I understood how much I rely on it.  But that problem is solved and the little short trips to the lake to confirm it all works are over.  Time to get off my rear end and back to wading.  So have a great weekend and be nice.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines