FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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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.

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Redfish love them!

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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,

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.)

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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.

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 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

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 Small Job Turns Big

You would think by now that I would have a clue about how some jobs go.  Before it was over it took parts of 2 days to take 2 locators off and mount 2 new ones, including a couple of trips to the store.

The Drangonfly Pro7 and Pro5 got here Monday afternoon late and I got started by putting the smaller one on the front deck with the transducer on the trolling motor.  The transducers on both are bigger than I have had before but I had the factory bracket and it fit fine.  That whole operation took that day and the next morning I was at it at 8:00 and spent the day doing it.

Of course none of the previous 2 different brands of locators had the same mounting holes which required all new.  Stringing the transducer with the cable running under the floor requires a rope to pull it through, which is permanently in the bilge.  On pulling it through it pulled a connection apart on the bilge pump which I found out later.

After getting both on it was out to the lake to check the transducers out and to finalize the functions, etc.  It took a little to figure it out, the view and functions are different than the other brands.  So with things set it was back to the house to finish the transducer mount.  When I hit the bilge switch nothing happened.  Going to the bilge I found the connection, which was 6 years old, had separated.  Instead of just rejoining the connection it was time for a total wiring replacement.

So off to the parts store for all new wiring, connectors, and switch.  By now it is 4:00 and it is freakin’ hot.  I put the switch on, over tighten it, and it comes apartt.  Nice.  So back to the store and get another.  All the wiring is almost inaccessible in the LTS and it takes a contortionist to get it done.  At that point I called it a day.

So today (Tuesday) it was finishing it all up good as new and off to the lake at noon to check it all out again.  Storms all around, it was hot and still.  The GPS and sonar work great.  This is the first time I can read the depth to 30′, all there is in Coleto, while running 30 mph.  Love that.  I did manage to fish for 45 minutes, 2 bites, before I heard thunder and saw some lightning in the distance.  Which was not unexpected but I hoped it would pour on the boat, it was dirty from putting on the locators, and it did, all the way home.

Doing stuff like that is always a small hassle and this time it was a little tougher.  But replacing the wiring in the bilge was the most work but was actually a good thing.  There may be a thing or two I would fish without, a bilge pump is definitely not one of them.  Will update you on the how they new GPS/locators work as it goes along.

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

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I Did Catch My biggest Ever

The weather looked ok for the lake, but there was going to be a north wind.  At daylight it was blowing pretty good straight out of the north so I headed up the plant arm and started on a long channel bank.  Since it had been so slow shallow I started with a 5XD in a shad color and spent and hour banging rock, wood, and anything else down to 12′ without a bite.  That did surprise me as the shallow bite has been so slow.  After over an hour without a bite off it went.

From then on I fished lots of places I have not fished in a while and it was same old, same old.  One here and there, today all on swim jig.  They were not interested in spinnerbait or buzzbait but they did not get that big a go.  The ones that did bite were right on the edge of green stuff, but they just did not make the grade.  So up the main lake I went.

All 6 looked just like this.  At least it was not 4 like the last 2 trips.  I can not buy a big bite.

One did cooperate out of wood on the worm, but again small.  So time to make another change.  With the water color the way it is up lake it was time to try a red shad 2.5 square bill.  It was around 11:30 and it was just clearing when one slammed it after a couple of minutes.  It only took a second to figure out it was a catfish, it has been one good year for catfish on lures.  Then a case of head up butt stuck.

Wait for it!

I reached down and grabbed the crankbait.  Held it up for a quick pic, he flopped, and we were joined.  He was thrashing like mad.  It drove the big treble into my middle finger and then he thrashed some more before getting him corralled.  Of course the other treble was buried in his lips so we had a pretty good struggle getting him unhooked.  So I tossed him back, cut the line, and looked it over.

What a mess, it was buried.  I tried the hook out method but with one hand just could not get it done.  Of course the wire cutters I usually have in the boat are in the cabinet after using them wiring the locators, so no way to get the bait off the hook.  Those big Strike King Squarebill split rings are stout.  The only thing was to head back to the ramp, put it on the trailer, and head to see a friend.  I did call the Boss who was working in the ER, but they sounded like a bunch of vultures wanting to jerk it out at my expense, (Just Kidding!) so I went to see my buddy Chris.  He cut the bait off, and used the loop method, and it popped out with little pain.  If there had been someone with me we probably could have got it out, but by myself it was a one legged guy at an ass kicking contest.

Stupid!

The moral of the story, I know better than that.  Picking a fish up by the crankbait is just asking for trouble, especially a nice catfish.  I started fishing at 5 y/o, and have been at it for 60 years and never been hooked.  It is a good reminder that it can happen in an instant.

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Lately there has been lots of disturbing water issues in certain places in the country.  The red tide went nuts on the west coast of Florida this summer, which has led the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to implement new rules.  From way north of Tampa Bay to was south of Fort Myers, until May 10, 2019, snook and redfish are catch and release only.  Red tide has always been around but the bloom this year, and an ugly algae bloom last summer, were epic.  Why it was so large this year is still an open question, though the release of phosphates into the area waters is the likely culprit.  No matter what they need to figure it out.  The snook and reds will be fine, it will just take a while.  This time.  

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So there you have 3 eventful days.  It did not go perfect by any means but when you do it right it takes a little longer.  As far as getting hooked, 2 things, one I probably had it coming if you look at the odds.  Second, and the worst part, it felt like the fish were just starting to bite.  Stuff happens.   Beginning to get a feel for operation of the new stuff, and so far I like it.  The map is interesting and it will take visits to other bodies of water to see how they are presented.  Tomorrow if it does not rain, we have an 80% chance, I might get back on the water.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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It is the usual Saturday fall morning.  Watching fishing and just waiting on football, and there is some really good games today.  Unfortunately the Hogs have Auburn, and the way we are playing it should be a massacre unless somehow the boys step up.  But after the last couple of weeks I hold no hope.  When your team literally stands there and lets a guy run 90 yards for no good reason you have some problems.

A&M has Bama today, and while I am no real fan of the Aggies, anyone who beats the Crimson Tide has my vote.  And the TCU vs. Texas game should be a barn burner.  TCU is one powerful football team and Texas is on the rise.  So let the games begin.

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

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Nothing Astounding Today – Just a Bored Fisherman

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And to our resident Fayette/Bastrop expert Rusty, get back on your feet soon and back in that boat.  He had a knee done and will have a rod in his hand soon.  As I am learning, getting older is not for the faint of heart.  So here is to your quick recovery.

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It was a cool morning to be outdoors.

I wanted to thank Jerry for sending me this after I commented on wishing I had left the edge of the boat out.  So he edited it and it is cool.  I should carry my “real” camera with me all the time but I am always afraid of getting it wet.  And as far as the edit, most folks don’t know my undergrad degree is in photo journalism.  Just goes to show, I use a $100 digital camera and don’t bother to edit my pictures.  If it had been taken with a real camera and a great lens it would be one of those you could hang upside down and folks would barely notice.  Guess it really is all about the fishing with me.  Thanks again.

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With new electronics on the way I thought I would de-rig the 2 on the LTS to get ready for the new ones that will arrive on Monday.  It took a little longer than I suspected, and boy it was hot and humid out there.  Glad I got that done in advance, it will save an hour and half.  The power/transducer wire on the front locator had completely dry rotted and as soon as I took it off it completely shredded.  To bad as that one still worked, and I have another one but a different model (It is a basic GPS/locator that has basic mapping and no card slot.) where the same thing happened, so there are 2 locators in the pile that work but need cables.  And the Humminbird on the console, which has been turning off and on, is shot, but the coastal card is still ok.  But it is not a micro SD so unless someone has the bigger slot, the new ones all have the micro slot, a good $125 card is worthless.  The thing that was nice about that card is it had both the coast and Coleto on it.  So if you have a Humminbird that can use that card holler at me.

And while I was at it I fixed a trailer light wiring on the skiff and just generally did a tightening of assorted nots and bolts on both boats.  Having 2 is great when one is down, but the ongoing cost, and hassle, occasionally prompts me to sell the skiff and be a one boat guy.  Then I come to my senses.  The skiff will be 20 years old next year and it has served me well all over the country and I just can not part with it.  It is sure is nice to have a boat that can take a licking and keep on ticking.

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The redfish bite is on.  There are tons of online posts all over the coast with some really great catches, and I plan to join the crowd as soon as the rigging is done Monday.  And Dez, one of the Austin Boys was at POC this weekend and put the absolute hurt on them fishing the jetties and pass.  But I do want to comment on the fishing pictures that are posted, many of them from guide services.

I basically quit posting the old dead fish cooler pics a while ago.  Why I often show me holding 5 or 6 on the site.  And since I CPR 99.9% of the fish I catch it lets you know a general idea of how the day went.  When I see the fish on the front of the boat picture it is just that, a pile of dead fish.  It would be nicer to see more bent rod pics, maybe the over the shoulder stringer picture, something with some action.  And while I know piles of fish are the life blood of guides, the same thing can be achieved without the pile of dead fish.  But hey, each to his own.

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And an update on the Lew’s reels I bought last year.  I love them and they have held up better than any I have owned in a while.  Of course since they only get used in fresh water that is to be expected.  As soon as the current reels on the saltwater stuff craps out, and they will, I will transfer a couple to the salt rods.  That will be the true test.  But all I can say is they are worth every penny and have held up to hard use way better than the Shimano’s I used to use.

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I am very concerned with our waters.  They are the life blood of our sport and without clean water no fishing, and in the end, no life.  One affect of the hurricane in North Carolina is a huge overflow from a coal plants retention ponds into a major river.  It contains mercury among lots of other ugly things, and it will be while before the true affect on the river is known.  What irritated me is no state or local agencies are on the scene, though there are private entities taking samples and tracking the flow.  But what really pissed me off is the coal company is blocking people from using a public road to a popular public ramp.  Since when does the coal company have the right to stop anyone from using a public road?  Maybe when they have something to hide?  They are not law enforcement and have no right to do that, end of story.

And the Formosa plant in our area just got fined $20k for environmental violations.  $20k?  I am sure a world wide company like Formosa is going to be deterred with that “massive” fine.  Hey we need oil and gas, we need jobs,  but when our water is at stake time to take a little sterner action.  Heck there is 100’s of square mile of a floating garbage dump  in the Pacific.  Companies need to do what they need to do, but it is our water.  And if you are not happy with my opinion on that just head down Port Lavaca bay and eat some of the fish near the plants.

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And speaking of water, day 2 this week on Coleto did surprise me some.  I expected them to move shallow but so far they are not so inclined.  But with some cooler nights in our future it is coming.  And with more rain in the forecast the lake may have another little rise.  Falcon Lake is living proof what affect cover has on fry survival.  So if we are lucky the lake will come up a little more and stabilize over the winter.  Which will also make the fishing much more consistent when it does.

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I just got an offer to fish Fayette in a few weeks with a couple of the Austin Boys and so it went on my calendar immediately.  They have fished it quite a bit in the past and hopefully I will learn a new technique or two.  Fayette may, no is, one of my favorite bass lakes I have ever fished.  50 fish days happen there, and when they are all in the 3lb and up category there is nothing not to like.  So see you then boys.

Part 1 is on the video page.  It was a beatdown.

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The Hogs sucked, A&M did as well as could be expected, and Texas is getting scarier and scarier and may be on a roll.  Today the Cowboys take on the Seahawks and a win should be in the cards.  I am patiently waiting for tomorrow to get the new electronics mounted.  The last year has been a B.O.A.T. x alot on the LTS.  New trailer, upholstery, trolling motor, and now electronics.  That about taps out my allowance.  Nice to have Team Nancy as a sponsor.  Not only a great wife she “gets” this fishing thing.  I am about to take advantage of all our fall fishing has to offer!  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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I got so wrapped up in catching redfish that I forgot a major milestone in the life of fishcatchingtravel.com – My 1000th post!  That is freakin’ nuts.  It has been over 7 years now and who would have thunk that this thing would last this long.  But it gives me pleasure to write, it must, and the folks I have met, the trips I have shared with them, maybe just maybe someone learning something which makes it all worth it.   So here it is –

POST 1004. 

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

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The plan was the bay but it is impossible for me to NOT go to the lake in the morning, especially with the possibility of some rough weather.  Plus better to be 1 minute from the ramp and 18 miles from the house if it gets ugly.  But clouds, maybe a little rain, and winds within reason, all pointing to a buzzbait beatdown.  So a trip to Academy and 3 new buzzbaits and I should be good to go.  Hopefully it will not be so hot and with the clouds should be better fishing in the afternoon.

Weather

89/76.  Cloudy in the morning with a 60% chance of thunderstorms developing later in the day.  Wind  SE 10 – 20mph.

Lake Level

Today  97.25 msl.  Tuesday  97.23 msl.

Solunar Periods

Best 7:45 am to 9:45 am.  (Only relevant period but love the timing.)

It was just a little sketchy this morning.

Sometimes I think I know something, and then it is back to earth.

Let me get right to the point.  I caught the same 4 fish as Tuesday and I did not take any pictures, I don’t want to see them and neither do you.  They were all small.  I fished buzzbait – 1, spinnerbait -1, stick worm – 1, Bang o Lure – 1, white swim jig – 0, and bluegill swim jig – 0.  2 small ones came in the back of coves, one in main lake grass, and one off a stump.  Other than that it might have been one more bite.  I tried new places, old places, windy places, all with out success.  I did not find even a smell of a pattern.

I stuck around the ramp area until it was clear I was not going to be struck by the lightening I could see in some of the bigger clouds.

The lake is clearing just a tiny bit, but it is up in the stuff.  I was sure it would be better, shows what I know.  I guess the fish are just not acclimated to the new water, but hope springs eternal and they are coming.  When?  Not sure but maybe the cold front they are saying is coming next week may turn them on.  But maybe this will be one of those times I have seen in the past when it takes them a while to make the move after a big raise.

It was awesome looking this morning.

Finally at 1:30 with rain and dark clouds heading to the lake I called it a day.  It was disappointing, but I was still fishing so it was not the end of the world.  But it is time to put that stuff up and start thinking about the bay as soon as this rain pattern gets out of here in few days.  I hope to get out with Jess the neighbor next week and it is weather watching time.  The Upper Laguna is on the list and I plan to spend a couple of nights on North Padre and put in at the park as soon as it is stable or at least within reason and have at the big Laguna trout.

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I finally took the plunge and bought some new electronics for the LTS.  Over the decades I have used all kinds so it was time for a change.  Not being a big deep water fisherman other than trolling there is no need for the high $$$ stuff.  In my case the mapping is the issue, when you go places without a clue it is mandatory not only to decide where to fish, but to keep the boat in water and not on a reef.

So this time I am trying the Raymarine Dragonfly 7pro for the console and 5pro for the trolling motor.  And where I got them they threw in Navionics mapping for both.  They are not complicated, I am all about that, but the real kicker was the power/transducer cable is the same for both.  That means even if the one on console decides to crap out I can just move the front one and still have the depth and mapping.  Sad when you think about it, the expectation that it “will’ crap out just like all the other brands that have gone by the wayside.  Only time will tell how they work out but will keep you updated.

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And to all you serious hunters TPWD has the annual raffle for some of the finest hunting in the world.  Only $9 a chance for each, you could actually end up killing a Bighorn Sheep, what is to not like about that.  But you have to purchase your tickers by the 15th of October.  And apparently you can buy them at any license dealer or of course your local TPWD office.  Somebody has to win and it might as well be you.

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Today was a bust, just another lesson to be learned.  Not sure what I could have done differently other than fish deep but I was sure it would not be necessary.  Like I said, every time I think I know something they throw me a curve.  So hopefully you all are having a little better luck but like all good fishermen I will not throw in the towel.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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Just got done cleaning truck and boat, organizing tackle, and putting the Grand Isle trip to bed.  The lake is on tap in the morning and I am totally amazed at how much it has come up.  Having seen that particular thing happen hundreds of times you never know how the fish will react, or how much color that the lake has.  So it will be up early and on the water.  Let the fall fishing begin!

Weather

92/72.  Partly Cloudy.  10% chance of rain.  Wind SE 5 – 10mph.

Solunar Times

Best  5:30 am to 7:30 am.  Good  11:18 am to 1:18 pm.

Lake Level

Today  97.23 msl.  One week ago  94.16msl!  (As my daughter says – Holy Crap!)

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

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A GREAT REPORT!

It is not very often you will hear that title when it was a total of 4 fish for the morning.  But there was a good thing – The lake is up 3′.  The water has hit the grass and cover, and the color is workable even way up lake where one would think it was muddy.

One week ago.  This morning.  Might have been just a touch foggy!

On Coleto that is a significant amount of water.  Coming right before fall this morning told me one thing, it is gonna be good.  Real good.

When I got there at daylight it was foggy and the word humid does not describe the morning.  So not being able to go to far safely, even though there was no one else, I fished the first big cove up the creek arm and started with the Bang o Lure as it was dead calm.  And it remained dead calm and hot all morning.

The Wood Storks have hung out a lot longer than usual.

One took a run at it but missed, and I saw a couple of more below it that just took a look.  The water has a brown tint to it down lake and so I wasn’t sure the Bang o Lure was the way to go so I made a decision to fish out the cove with a buzzbait,  And I continued down a long length of main lake and another cover without a bite.

Finally the fog lifted and up the lake I went.  I was hoping no big trash line or real muddy water, and there was none.  The water is back in the cover and over the next couple of hours it was buzzbait, stick worm, and swim jig.  The only ones caught there came right up in the grass and trash, super shallow.

Did not miss a buzzbait bite.

Pitching the worm to cover was pointless, not a bite.  Unlike that last 3 months where that was where they were hanging.  And the ones that did hit were super shallow.  It might be counter intuitive to be happy with only 3 bites up river, and none on the wood, but with the water stabilizing and the color clearing they are coming to the bank soon.  The lake has not looked this good in a while.

These were the size of it.  The last one was on the swim jig.

Around 11:00 it was flat calm, flat hot, and flat humid.  So just to be sure headed up the plant arm and the water was even clearer.  Worked the Bang o Lure over pretty good without a bite, which was a little surprising.  But it was so calm and dead it wasn’t happening.  One did jump on the swim jig and next trip instead of the bluegill it will be time for white.  That is always a good fall bait on Coleto but today one cove was full of small bass schooling on small shad.  As a rule bass go to the shad heavily in the fall and as much surface activity there was it is time to switch.

I am really happy with what I saw today.  Catching fish is the plan, but today just seeing all that water was a thing of beauty.  Of course that is somewhat selfish as I love that shallow fishing.  Now all we need is some cool nights and it will take off.  So I will be watching for one of “those” days –  Cloudy, drizzling, and light wind.

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Billy chimed in with a the rain report.

Right along the coast has gotten more rain than up the country. Lavaca nor Navidad is up much from what I can see. Not real sure about the Guadalupe. But I don’t think it is having terrible run off either.
By that token, the only issue you should have is any runoff from the marshes from the locally heavier rain the coast received.

Thanks for the report.  Since I am headed to the lake in the morning I checked the level, and it looks like it is up 3 feet!  (It was!) I even went back and checked it a couple of times as I found it hard to believe.  So in the morning I might/will be in for a big surprise.  Will holler at you for the coast soon.

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And here is 3 fresh reports.

A boat on Coleto had 31 crappie today.  The crappie fishing has been very consistent on Coleto this summer in spite of the heat.

A friend and his buddies tore up the redfish  a couple of days ago on topwater and croaker out of POC.  He told me the reds were everywhere.

Then a guy showed me a picture of a nice batch of white bass caught on the Lavaca River right before the rise.  Not really surprised just did not know they were in there.  And they also had a nice red and black.

Fall is coming and the fishing is about to heat up.

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Forgot to tell you about the nice thing that happened when I went to buy my fishing license.  I was prepared to shell out the $90 for an annual when the lady said “How old are you?”  Louisiana and Texas have reciprocity for old folks fishing license.  As long as you have your Texas on you while fishing in most of Louisiana it is all good.  Nice to be $90 ahead before starting fishing!

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Looking at the weather Thursday looks good for some bay fishing.  Cloudy with a 40% chance of rain, reasonable wind, and a falling tide all morning is as good as you can hope for right now.  Can you say redfish on topwater?  And who knows, might even catch a trout.  And speaking of adding to the bag it is getting towards the flounder run.  Things are looking up on the coast.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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I headed out for the house at 6:00 am and it took exactly 8 1/2 hours.  Sunday morning is a great time to make some miles before the traffic gets to heavy on I10.  And when I hit Houston it was like the twilight zone, I think I only had to slow down twice, a rare happening.  Today will be getting things organized and then back to it.

Weather

87/80.  Increasing clouds during day with a 50% chance of thunderstorms.  Wind  WNW 5 – 10.

Tide

High  1:56 am  +1.3.  Low  1:48 pm  -0.4.

********************A new bait coming soon!

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Turn Out the Lights – The Party is Over!

I know you can’t really see him, but I was real surprised to see a gator.  Didn’t know they were this far down.

A great way to end the trip.  It was going to be hot with mild winds so it was back to the marsh as I knew I would quit early to get organized.  (In other words watch a little football later this afternoon.)   Also the neighbors have stayed with the trout the last 3 days and have stuggled, even with plenty of trips here and live bait.  So it made sense to just go whack a few more reds and call it a trip.  There is just something about a redfish bite on spinnerbait that I love.  Plus, never leave fish to find fish and today was the perfect example of getting the most out of the trip.

When I hit the ramp at 7:30 the tide was running to beat the band, by far the best flow of the trip.  It was going to be spinnerbait the rest of the morning, and I started in a place where I have caught them on a past trip, near houses with lots of cover, pilings, and trash.  A couple jumped on right away.  And from then on it was one here, two there, but always a something anywhere I tried.

This was one thick red.

It was strictly power fishing today.  A few new places, and the old reliable places.  I knew I would miss the prime time so I covered the miles.  The water moved heavy until about noon, and got as low as it has this trip.  I fished until 1:30 and they bit fairly well all morning.  In fact, when I quit there were oysters on one bar out of the water, first time I have seen that.  Probably should have stayed, it was about to get right.  Not sure my poor old hands and fingers could take much more.  They are rough.

The marsh is a redfish nursery, and there are plenty this size and smaller.  But I never met a red I did not like!

Had one charge out of nowhere and smoked it right at the boat.  Cool bite.  The biggest one of the morning was in about 6″ of water and it was cool dragging him through the mud.  Several came in the boat the last 3 days by simply seeing a mud, a bust, or that slight disturbance in the force.  It was really a case of keep it in the water and they will come.  With the water color I was able to use 20lb XT, and it really helped to be able to muscle them when around trash.

The last fish of the day.

This is one great place if you like redfish.  And I will say it again, if you own a kayak and use it this is the place.  Folks launch all along the road in the Grand Isle area, and the only boat I saw fishing in the marsh this morning was a kayak, and he was in an area I would not have tried to get to in the boat.  To go along with that, as I fished down a channel where I catch some of my best reds there is a big pothole I could not get at it and they were in there having at it.  When the water falls out in to the narrow channel it is a great place for good ones.  In fact that happens all over the marsh.  This marsh is in the 20 square mile range and there are fish that never see a lure.  Wish it was closer, I would make the trip more often.

Reading the reports over the last few years this is a time of transition for the trout in Grand Isle.  From about now, as fall and winter come, they seem to spread out and the fishing is not its usual consistent.  Then as it gets cold many of them swim way the hell up the marsh to Golden Meadows, which is 20 miles from the Gulf.  There is an area of really deep water from old mines where they winter.  Of course the guides are still killing them right now, and with the 25 fish limit fairly common the trout fishing is nothing to sneeze at.  Next time I plan to stay a few more days and see if I can figure that out.

That about covers it and I give this trip a B+.  Nice to get the redfish fix I have been needing.  Now for our fall to come and the reds to start really ganging up.  And as it looks like you have had lots of rain since I left the lake should be on the way up.  Not sure if it has been enough to start affecting the bay with fresh water.  The only way to know is to go and Tuesday morning I will be back at it somewhere!

And a last couple of comments on football.  I have seen my Hogs stink up the place but Saturday was nuts.  North Texas State, the Boss’s alma mater, beat us like yard dogs.  And when somehow the punt team thought the guy made a fair catch and just stopped playing, letting him go 90+ yards untouched, was maybe one of the worst plays in the history of football.  At least the Cowboys got back on track.  Football and fishing, ain’t fall grand?  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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I just could not help myself and headed right back to the marsh.  When I was trying to go to sleep last night the Controlled Descent Paddle Shad kept coming to mind.  So the plan was to throw it all morning and see how it goes.

A cold one on the deck as the sun goes down.  Does it get any better than this?

Weather

86/80.  Generally sunny with 20% chance of rain.  Wind ESE 5 – 10.

Tide

High  1:15 am  +1.2.   Low  12:29 pm   -0.5.

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                                                     There is a new bait on the way.

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The biggest I managed to land on the Controlled Descent, but definitely operator error.

You would think as long as I have been fishing the head up butt syndrome would not happen as often as it does, but today it showed up.  I tied it on my trout rod, which has 10lb line, big mistake, more on that later.  It seemed like they wanted a nice steady vibration with the spinnerbait so why not slow roll the paddle shad?

They were eating it, and that one had some spots

I used both the white/limetreuse and the watermelon red/limetreuse on a 1/8th swim bait hook, rattle inserted with some scent.  Because I wanted a maxim thump I pulled off the small tail.  It did not take long to learn they wanted it at a medium retrieve where you just could not see it but you could feel the tail.  If there is one complaint, it caught lots of smalls, like that is a problem, but several nice ones hit it.  Obviously it had more to do with timing than anything else since I went to the spinnerbait at prime time.  I just have a “spinnerbait” problem.  And Chris, that fancy rod you made me is doing yeoman work.

On the other hand 2 broke off on the 10lb, and of course they were both big ones.  Rule 1 – Do not throw 10lb to redfish around pilings, you will not have a very good outcome.  And the bite could be little tricky, you would not even feel the bite but your line would just start moving.  Some right toward you and it was tough to catch up to them.  I even had a big one on a spinnerbait follow it all the way to the boat making a huge mud. Fun stuff.

This size really liked it and after a while I just quit taking pictures.

The weather was perfect, the tide was falling all day, and the wind was light.  It was another day of covering water, but since I am learning every day my timing was good.  But here it seems like anytime is good, sometimes are just better than others.  They seem to be on the rounded banks inside big coves.  That is where much of the oyster is and consequently that is where the fish are.

And one thing really driven home the last couple of days is reading the water.  Not talking about seeing fish, I mean getting back in these places without getting stuck.  As along as the tide is moving you can see a slight line where water drains these big places.  Idling real slow the cove might, and I do mean might, be 2 foot, but there is always a channel which allows you to get way back, it may only be 1/2  foot deeper, then fish the tide out.

This size is just right for a great fight.

Around 2:00 the water had all but fallen out and it was time to hit my 2 best spots.  It was back to the spinnerbait and 20lb test, running it just like the Controlled Descent Paddle Shad and the better ones would just smack it.  Today the hook up ratio definitely went to the Paddle Shad.  Not sure I lost any this morning other than the 2 break offs.   The 20lb test is fine for these waters, and makes it a lot easier to control them in cover and oysters.  I mean they are shallow!

Just waylaying the spinnerbait.

As you can see from my face, or lack thereof, it was hot and sunny.  The fish had moved out of some of the smaller potholes and were on the shell with bait.  I can see how down here if you fished it a lot you could have a milk run.  With the 16″ limit the paddle shad took care of that pretty quickly.  So a another successful day in Grand Isle.  I really enjoy coming here, it is one of the “fishiest” places in the country, both the fish and characters who live here.

This is such a fishy place.  The options are endless, from tuna to trout, tarpon, snapper, redfish, kinfish, and on and on, they are all here.  There are close rigs that when the wind is not blowing I have seen jon boats out there.  Buggy the owner guided some guys to a pile of mangrove snappers today.  Said all he could do was keep rigging them.  This whole place revolves around fishing as there is nothing else.  When I get back there will be more of a how to article.  The access is good, and you kayakers, this place is the bomb.

Bridgeside Marina and Cabins the place for fishermen in Grand Isle.

Tomorrow I might, and I use the term lightly, hit the bay and trout fish.  The guys from Louisiana next to me only caught 8 today, and they fish the salt a lot, so we shall see.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines