FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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It Is Freakin’ Hot!

A beautiful morning!

I just spent a couple of hours doing stuff  (Sunday.) on the boat and it was rough outside today.  The one thing that I wanted to get done was to mount the seat back rest.  I just got the live well lid and the backrest re-covered and I wanted my buddy Jeffish to make me a custom vinyl logo, and boy did he do a great job.

It looks great!

Jeffish is a computer guru and graphic artist.  He can do just about anything with his vinyl machine, and if you ever wanted to personalize your truck or boat, or maybe some shirts, he is the man for the job.  He can do just about any custom work you might want to spiffy up that man stuff.  So a big thanks to him for the great work.  Trust me, if you can think it up he can make it!

And speaking of how hot it is, I came up with a great plan, but checking the forecast that plan got shut down in a minute.  What would have been nice was drive to Falcon Lake Tuesday morning and get in a couple of days of bass fishing, the reports are off the chain right now, then head Thursday to Port Mansfield to meet the boys.  And the good thing, as it is just a couple of hours from Port Mansfield it is not the far out of the way and would have worked just fine.  So I went to the weather channel and the forecast high for Zapata is 106 and 105, which is approaching to hot for me, at least for day time bass fishing.  So to bad, would have been fun.

So with the heat becoming oppressive it will be a half day on the lake tomorrow.  With 3 days of bay fishing coming later in the week it will be the only outing until Thursday.  The Port Mansfield bunch will start fishing Thursday afternoon, and fish the rest of the weekend.  I have not had the pleasure of fishing there so it will be another place to knock off the bucket list.

Weather

99/74  Partly cloudy, stray showers. 20% chance.  Wind  S 10 – 20.

Lake Level 

Today  95.35     8 days ago   95.67  (We need rain!)

Solunar Times

Best 6:43 am to 8:43 am.   (Only relevant time today.)

********************Get inhaled!  Bill Clinton would not inhale it but redfish sure do!  (Just kidding.)

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

This a freak!  Biggest over the side in a while.  I don’t weight them but this was a real big girl.

One thing that keeps me fishing Coleto is fish this size.  They don’t come often, but they are there to be caught.  And when you boat one this size the day is a success.  It was just breaking daylight and dead calm when I launched.  The water temp was around 90 degrees over most of the lake.  So I headed up lake to do the usual, throw buzzbait for an hour or so, and then go to pitching.

2 small ones came on the buzzbait and 4 small ones pitching.  But the size was not there and so it was time for a move.  I ran all the way down lake and then back up the plant arm to fish a bank that is a great buzzbait bank.  After making a pass with out a bite on the buzzbait I turned around and started throwing the bluegill swim jig back through the same bank.  With a few bluegill spawning the swim jig has it moments.

A swim jig fish.  Another big girl pitching the stick worm.

So I turned around and re-fished the same bank and caught 4.  The biggest was the first one above, and all 4 knocked the snot out of it.  So now things were looking up so I headed to a bank with some deeper wood and then good fortune struck.  I actually thought the big girl above was a big catfish.  She did not jump or thrash and until she was at boat side I was not sure what it was.  I lipped her and my day was made.  I kept after it for another hour or so, and boated the second one above.  Both came near deeper water right against the wood.

One of 4 big ones in the same place.  Got a feeling there was love in the air.

I am still using a 5″ watermelon red senko style worm, a 3/8 tungsten slip sinker, a 4/0 hook, all on 20lb/ fluorocarbon.  It still requires a good tight to cover pitch, and try not to move it off the cover for a twitch or two.  And when you feel anything do not get into a feeling contest, you will lose unless you get one who really has it.  Otherwise when you feel a tic, or see you line move or jump, drop your rod, take out the slack, and set the hook.

So a fairly successful morning.  I fished from daylight until 12:30 and caught a total of 12, not bad for summertime fishing, especially with a falling lake.  The water color up both arms is darker than the lower main lake, but I did not notice a real difference with the water color and the bites.  But no matter what there are fish to be caught, and obviously some pretty good ones if this morning is any indication.

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Next up it is a little prep for the Port Mansfield trip.  Get meal supplies bought, a few adult beverages, and organize my packing and I will be good to go.  I could not be happier about this morning.  That girl above was really fat and heavy.  One of those that when you lift them up you know you are in business.  The fishing remains good lake and bay and I am really looking forward to some serious topwater fishing at Port Mansfield.  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!**

Hope you all had a good weekend, I spent mine being lazy.  So with being gone a couple of days this week today is the only fishing chance I have until the end of the week.  I ran around and did some errands this morning, and with the tide and solunar periods being in the afternoon there was no big hurry.  I will be leaving at noon, which by time I get down there some folks will be getting off the water and who knows, I may not have to park a mile away.  (I actually got the 5th spot, wonder of wonders.) Plenty of water and cool clothes is the ticket as it has a chance to be ugly, but just maybe I will sack a few.

(Note:  This is late report from Tuesday.)

Weather

88/78  Some clouds giving way to sun.  Winds S 10 – 20 mph.  0% chance of rain.  (Possibly setting new temp high for the day.)

Tides

High  11:06 am  – falling the rest of the day.

Solunar Times

Good 5:14 pm to 7:14 pm.   Another from a different site.  Best times to fish – 2:00 to 4:00 pm.   (Could be a good afternoon.)

********************Get inhaled!  Bill Clinton would not inhale it but redfish sure do!  (Just kidding.)

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

I hit Froggie’s around 1:00 and headed across the bay to the island shoreline.  With only about 6 hours to fish first up was my favorite bank.  One problem, there was a boat parked right in the drain.  So I went on the other side of the point and hopped in.  Unfortunately the grass was everywhere and really thick, which made topwater out of the question, and put grass on your line at least halfway through the cast even with weedless rigged plastic.

So I kept after the plastics and started catching a few rats.  One thing that was unusual, at least for me, they wanted that thing jerked horizontal really quickly, and they smoked it when they hit, which was a problem with all that grass.  So after alternating between the regular texas two step for trout and the quick retrieve for reds, which only produced a few bites and 4 rats, it was not real promising.  So getting concerned about the conditions, and maybe my bank selection, it was time for a move.

The best I could manage today!  That Paddle Shad is in there, and I mean way in there.

So using my brain some, clearer water and less grass, I made the long ride to South Pass and the sandy shoreline.  It has lots of shell and isolated patches of grass that I have saved on the GPS.  Due to the solunar times I really wanted to catch a good trout on top, and I had my chance.   I was working the edge of sand and grass as the tide went out when she blew up on it, and missed.  My thought –  What a redfish!  About 3 foot later my Bagley Knocker B got plain smoked.  (One important thing about the Knocker B is the heavy single rattle for all you One Knocker folks.)   To my surprise up came a really good one, mouth open doing the big trout thing.  Unfortunately one part of the process was ignored, like setting the hook.  I just kept cranking and when she got close, she got off.  That was the last, and only, bite I had from a trout.  I did boat the red above, and a couple of more rats, on the Controlled Descent Paddle Shad in watermelon red/limetreuse.  I rigged it with a 4/0 swim bait hook and a big rattle.

If I learned anything today it was I definitely do not fish the plastics fast enough at times.  They really wanted it ripped along, pulling and stopping, not really letting it sink any.  So that is something I will be watching this summer.  And it was good to be back on the water and just wets my whistle for what is to come on Thursday when I meet the boys at Port Mansfield for a long weekend.  One thing about fishing with those boys, it will be epic one way or another.

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And I got this much better report from Faye on her 2 day trip to POC with her husband.  Looks like it was a great time!

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Saturday, June 2cnd, is free fishing day in Texas.  You can fish any public water without a license.  And it is great time to introduce a friend or family member to the sport of fishing.  So if you get a chance take someone fishing.

********************* 

And speaking of Controlled Descent Lures I want to send along my congratulations to Michael.  Since his start 2 years ago he just got the largest load of lures out to one customer.

That’s a lot of freakin’ baits!

Michael has worked his tail off building his company and it great to see it really start to roll.  Just like I support Wade Right and Marker 54, Controlled Descent is a Texas company run by entrepreneurs just trying to make a better product.  So much of the products we use are foreign made, it is nice to support our hometown guys.

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Just got back from a couple of days of adult R+R with the Boss.  After working a long stretch her only request, get me out of here.  Suffice to say we had a big time, one of those trips where after everything we came back with $150 more than we left with.  What is not to like about that?  As far as fishing not sure what is next, but I am going out to check on boats as soon as I hit post.  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!**

Enjoy the holiday but never Forget!

To every vet, past and present, and their families, who gave and continue to give so much, ‘Thank You”.  You are not forgotten.

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It was good to hear from SA Joe who feels about like I do as far as fishing on the holiday weekends is concerned.

I’m like you, I stay off the water on the 3 day weekends. I have no patience when you have the guy testing his boat, or having problems with his first launch of the season and the boat will not start. Blocking the ramp.

To add to your quote ”When you feel anything set the hook, you just might be surprised. The old saying – “It does not cost nothin’.”

I like to say ” HOOKSETS ARE FREE”, we spent the weekend at Solid Rock Ranch with Heroes on the Water BAMC, were we get vets on kayaks and go fishing. If you know any vets located in San Antonio we have events for them and families

Most of my bites were very light and if I didn’t set the hook I would have lost a lot. I ended up with 46 bass.

First thanks for your work with vets.  Any of you in the San Antonio area who know a vet who would like to fish with these guys contact BAMC and ask about their program.  Or if you want to contact Joe let me know and I will pass it along.  It is a great thing you do and as usual good to hear from you.

********************Get inhaled!  

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I get this question occasionally and here is a quick answer.

Wonderful blog! Do you have any suggestions for aspiring writers? I’m hoping to start my own site soon but I’m a little lost on everything. Would you propose starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many options out there that I’m totally overwhelmed .. Any ideas? Many thanks!

I use Word Press and my host is Host Gator.  If you are just starting keep it simple and before you go spending money like a drunken sailor start with Word Press, trust me, if I can do it so can you.  But most importantly, if you are not going to write constantly don’t bother.  So pick your subject carefully and find websites where folks of the same interest gather.  Of course Facebook is a mandatory.  You will meet folks, just like I have my fishing buddies, and you can share your blog with them as you all have a mutual interest.  And you will get spammed by everyone in sight telling you they can get you this and that, absolutely stay away from that, build your site and get to writing, that is the only way it can happen.  And for the haters and trolls, f’em, they come with the territory.  But just like the fishing, you will never know if you don’t give it a go.  So good luck.

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One of the trailer bunks on the Carolina Skiff decided it was time to just break in half for some reason.  One thing about trailers, the work never stops keeping it in tip top shape.  So this go round I am going to take the Slic Stiks plunge.  I have spoken with several folks who like theirs, and if there is a complaint it is they are slick.  In other words no disconnecting the boat until it is time to drive it off the trailer.  So this time I am going to use a treated lumber, unpainted, and see how long it lasts.  It sure is easier than re-carpeting.  Speaking with a guy at the POC carwash who has been doing it this way for years he says it works great.  Since the boat is almost 20 years old no fear of marking up the hull, I have already done plenty of that, but only time will tell.

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The CCA Star Tournament kicks off this weekend and hope springs eternal.   It really is a great deal for our coastal fishery as the CCA does millions of dollars worth of projects benefiting the coast.  And who does not like dreaming about winning a boat and truck?  So good luck to all of you, and if you fish and have not joined and paid here is a word to the wise.  I know a guy (Really) and it actually happened to him, you never know when that tagged redfish is going to show up, so pay up, it is a good investment for lots of reasons.  And if you want to keep track as summer wears on here is the link.

https://www.startournament.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/2018-Leader-Board.pdf

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I really love me some Grand Isle fishing and according t0 Bridgeside Marina the trout smackdown is on big time.  There are lots of limits being caught with a few larger fish thrown in.  If I did not have so much else going on right now I would load the boat and hit the road.  But for me the trout fishing would be a morning, the rest of the time it would be fishing the marsh for reds.  After making 5 or 6 trips there I am finally getting the reds down a little better, you get plenty of practice.  In that marsh there are lots of really big coves/pockets that are really shallow and most have some oysters.  Once the water starts falling the tails start rising.  And once you get a few places down it is a milk run.  And best of all, I rarely see more than a boat or two.  So it will just be dreaming about it, but boy I sure would like to go.  So many places to little time,

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

And along with that great report the fishing report out of Falcon Lake is literally off the chain.  Some real big fish are showing up, and get on the right place and a real numbers beat down is possible.  Coming from Arkansas our lakes are clear highland lakes where come summer our fish were headed to deep water where they stayed until late fall I still am amazed by what seems counter intuitive behavior.  The water is heating up on Falcon and so is the bass fishing.  After a little down period Falcon Lake is back.  It is a bucket list destination and if you are a bass fisherman and have not fished it you are missing out.  You can keep up with the latest reports on the Falcon Lake Tackle website.  If he says “Some of the best fishing that has happened in a couple of years is going on at Falcon right now.” you better believe it!

http://www.tackleandrods.com/lake/flash.htm

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And one last report from a great destination.

Port Mansfield. Trout are good on topwaters around sand and grass. Redfish are fair to good while drifting pot holes with Gulps under a popping cork. Offshore is good for kingfish, red snapper and dolphin in state waters.  (TPWD)

I have never fished there and I am starting to get excited.  The coast has been hot and any report that starts with topwaters gets my attention.  Not sure exactly how much time we are actually fishing but it should be 3 full days total.  With 8 of us going we should be able to get them patterned fairly quickly.  The boys had a great fall trip last year and are hoping for the same results, but obviously not sure that means a rats ass.  So a week from Thursday it will be off at daylight to get in as full a day as possible.  The only time I visited there was a gas station, which is now closed.  The boys almost had to drive the SUV in the bay to fill up a the marina.  So if you go be sure to gas up.  Stay tuned for that report.

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Just sitting here watching some fishing and thinking about tomorrow along with musing about those things above.  Will be checking weather and tides before I make the decision on where to fish tomorrow.  Then we are off for a couple of days of Louisiana fun in the sun.

According to the weather dude our temps will be approaching 100 degrees plus by the weekend.  And boy do we not need that, we need rain, desperately.  I finally gave in and watered the front yard some, figured rationing is right around the corner.  It always gives me pause when it gets this dry, seems like it is a waste to use water for the yard.  You know, the old keep up with the neighbors thing.

One final note, the Boss reports several copperhead bites this weekend.  If  you water be sure to be cautious when walking outside at night.  When it is this hot copperheads are known for their cantankerous disposition and getting bit is an expensive and painful happening.

That will do it for this holiday.  Hope you all had a great weekend no matter what you did.  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!**

They have a holiday sale going on, no better time to join the Wade Right Team!  I did and it changed my wading forever.

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Today’s Tip  –  It is the Holiday Weekend.

Please be careful out there.  Be the bigger guy on the water and at the ramp.  Wear your life jackets and kill switch.  Always expect the other guy to do something stupid.  Just because you know the rules, or who has the right of way, means squat to some folks on the water so give a little.  It makes you the better man.  Keep the brews to minimum if you must.  Please, please, watch the kids around the water, it can happen in an instant.

And before you leave the house – 1.  Enough life jackets?  2.  Throwable  cushion?  3.  Plates up to date?  4.  Registration current?  5.  Fire extinguisher up to date?  6.  Everything on the trailer up to snuff, tire inflation, safety chains, turn and stop taillights good?  There is plenty to look at so do a walk around, you never know.  Law enforcement will be out in force, and they have plenty to do without you adding to the confusion.  And having had Coast Guard and Game Wardens compliment me on having everything in order is how appreciative they really are when we are all in compliance.  The last thing they want to do is give you a ticket.  So have a great holiday and enjoy what looks like might be a great weekend on the Coastal Bend.

Weather

91/71   Scattered showers.  Wind  ESE 5 – 10mph.  40% Chance of rain.

Lake Level

Tuesday  95.69   Today  95.67

Solunar Times

Best  7:22 am  to 9:22 am.  (Only relevant time today and it was right on today.)

********************Get inhaled!  The have a deal on right now, get you some!

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

I decided to get one more morning fishing trip in before the holidays.  I will be leaving it to folks and will not add to the confusion on the water this weekend, probably!  After catching a few on crankbait Tuesday I was wanting to give it a go, so that is what I started with.  When I started at 6:30 the wind was way down and really no clouds in the sky.

They started biting on the Bagley crankbait right away, and with lots of surface activity I also threw a Rapala foil with a black back spinnertail and both caught fish.  Wish I could tell you the good fish bit the topwater and crankbait, but far from it.  For the first 2 hours it was an easy 15, so plenty of action, but none really made the grade.  A couple of big splashes with the topwater, then letting it sit, then small jerks.  Almost everyone hit while it was just sitting there.  A topwater bite is always fun no matter how big.

The Rapala and the size that hit it.  And the Bagley crankbait, to bad I lost it.  And of course the day would not be complete without at least one catfish.

And then in a moment of clarity my mind actually worked.  It became dead calm and the sun was out and bright.  Normally not a good thing except  –  Can you say wood?  I started pitching wood and the bites came.  Always put that in the back of your mind, pitching cover may be slow until the sun drives the fish to cover.  When it does go with them.

It required a good pitch tight to cover.  And again I caught several after repeated casts to the wood.

When you are pitching that tight bad things are bound to happen, and today it did X2.  I had 2 really nice fish, one a real one, get me in the wood and make their escape.  The bigger one broke off, the other just buried up and I could not get her out.  But that is a small price to pay.  Once they moved to the wood it was a couple of hours of consistent bites.

Nothing like the thump when one eats.  I love the hand to hand combat.  The day definitely improved when they went to cover.

Some general info.  I am using a 1/4 ounce slip sinker, a 5″ watermelon red plastic, on a 4/o worm hook.  Braid with a 2 foot 20lb fluorocarbon leader on a medium heavy rod seems to work best.  It is important to be sure your weight corresponds with the depth you are fishing, you have to feel the cover.  And one mistake I see many folks make is not setting the hook soon enough.  When you feel any tic or bump, they have it, that is what it feels like when they eat.  No need to get into a feeling contest, usually you will lose.  When you feel anything set the hook, you just might be surprised.  The old saying – “It does not cost nothin’.”

From about 8:00, and for the next couple of hours, they were on the wood.  If it was in at least 3+ foot of water about half the wood had a fish on it.  Most were small, but I am happy to work my way through them to get to the others.  It was a really good bite and they were eating.  As the morning went on all of a sudden they would tic it, and not be there.  I finally quit when around 5 in a row hit it and did not eat.  It was interesting to watch the bite get going, and then slowly fizzle.  But no complaints.  Any time I can boat 20 on a flat calm summer day I consider that a win.

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I hope you all have a great weekend no matter how you spend it.  But please be careful, folks will definitely be out in force as will law enforcement.  The old saying that New Year’s Eve is amateur night applies to this weekend.  So enjoy your weekend, and if you do fish, sack them up!  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!**

Still suffering the hangover from our awesome trip to the Chandeleur Islands aboard the Southern Belle it was time to hit the lake and fish the morning and see what is up.  With the water dropping and heating up I do not have a clue as to what or where I am going to fish this morning.  But as usual, you don’t know unless you go.

Weather

90/71  Partly Cloudy with stray showers.  20% chance.  Wind SE  10 – 20 mph.

Lake Level

Today  95.69 msl   14 days ago  96.04 msl   (We need some rain.  We are 8″ down.)

Solunar Times

Best  5:57 am to 7:57 am   Good  11:44 am to 1:44 pm.

If I lay here real quiet no one can see me.

It was 6:15 as I headed up lake.  First I was interested to see how much it has dropped in 2 weeks, which is plenty.  The plan was to throw a great big buzzbait to keep the small ones off and maybe catch a big girl.  Well half the plan worked out perfect, the 4 or 5 small ones who took a swing at it missed, but part 2 of the plan was a complete bust.  Now obviously throwing a buzzbait with serious falling water and rising temps is not the best option, but I don’t care.  Give me a hoss over 10 little ones any day.  So after 2 hours of that less than successful plan, and with the sun full up, it was back to what I know works, pitching plastics to good cover.

They are there, it is just a matter of keeping after it to maybe boat a little better fish, but  unfortunately the others were smaller than this.

There is fish, as there has been for the last 6 weeks, on “good” wood.  Today I made a couple of casts to the better looking spots, and actually caught a couple on the 3rd or 4th cast.  They were not aggressive by any means.  But if you can find some deep wood with deeper water close there are fish to be caught.  The 5″ Watermelon red “senko” style bait will get bit.  After catching 6 or 7 it was time to do a little experimenting.

I went through the crankbait box and found no inspiration but when I opened the Bagley box I thought why not?  On went a 3 + 3/4″ Rumble B in a bluegill color.  By now it was around 10:00 so I headed down lake to deeper channel banks and went to cranking at a steady pace with the occasional twitch.  It was another 5 or 6, not fast by any means, but the crankbait pattern has some potential.

Both smacked the crap out of that Bagley crankbait.  And my run of catfish continues, hard to remember how many I have caught on lures this year.

So around 12:30 I could see a big front coming my way.  With the rain suit on board I was thinking of hanging in there a little longer when I saw a bolt of lightening in the thunderhead.  As I have no desire to be fried into a heaping pile of melt I headed to the ramp.  It rained on me as I loaded the boat but quit about half way back to town.  And of course as I sit here typing this not a drop has fallen at the house.  We need rain!

********************Get inhaled!

I did want to add a little about using the Controlled Descent Lure on the beach at the Chandeleurs.  First I used a big rattle and no foam as I wanted it to get down to the bottom.  Using a 3/8th ounce jig head on the white/limetreuse Paddle Shad, which I glued to the body like I do with all plastics, I allowed it to hit bottom and then stay close.  A steady retrieve produced some real solid thumps, and I mean eating it.  I probably boated 3 or 4 of my biggest trout of the trip that last day, and definitely had my best string of the trip.  They were smacking it.

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I got this comment from Gage.

I think your reports are great you need to keep posting I’m interested.

And in the same vein I got this from Kristina.

Hi! I’ve been reading your site for a while now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Houston Tx!  Just wanted to tell you keep up the excellent job.

Aw shucks.  But really you all know I love to hear from folks no matter what the reason.  This is a better place when others participate, I spend enough time here blabbing incessantly.  So thanks, and the rest of you we love to hear what you have to say.  So feel free.

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And I heard from Billy a couple of times this week and this comment is right on point.

Rain?
What is this you speak of?

Oh man do I wish.  When we drove home from Dallas this weekend it rained cats and dogs all the way to Schulenburg and then nada.  Maybe we had a little last night, and then there was a small shower at the lake this morning, but none of it qualified as rain at my house.  We are now 8″ down and it is getting close to a real serious problem.  I have not given up hope we might catch up, but time is ticking on and real “summer’ is right around the corner.

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A full rainbow following an early morning thunderstorm on the Chandeleurs. 

I have already heard from a couple of you who have expressed some interest in a Chandeleur trip.  Maybe we can organize a trip, it takes 10 and once we reserve there is no “Gee I can’t make it.”  Having been on lots of “trips” with folks it takes planning and commitment to make it happen but occasionally when it comes down to brass tacks things have a way of changing. This is not one of those we get a house on a moments notice and go fishing.  So I am keeping a list and if you are interested let me know.  Nothing is written in stone but I would definitely go twice next year!

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There is some serious crappie butt being kicked right now on Coleto.  A box full of minnows, deep brush, or timber near the mouth of a big cove, are all producing fish.  The best areas seem to be from mid lake up, at least where I am seeing the boats.  Just get over the brush and count it down until you get a bite.  Either let it hit bottom and reel up, or drop it 5 foot at a time until it happens.  It is not rocket science.  So if you want some fine eating go get you some!

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I am ok with the morning’s results, it really was just about what I expected.  Whenever the next trip to Coleto is it will be an evening trip.  The weekly pot tourney has started and it is fun to occasionally have a go at it so a little evening exploration is in order.  But the lake is headed to the back burner for a while.  Time to start fishing the bay a little more regularly, from what I am seeing online they are biting big time.  As you now I only go during the week this time of year, no need for me to add to the weekend confusion, but if you are around holler, maybe we can fish together.

I am getting excited about Port Mansfield.  I have the Sunday breakfast responsibility and am already stressing.  A healthy well balanced meal or a fat and salt filled breakfast of sausage, taters, biscuits, and piles of cheesy eggs?  Oh the dilemma.   Other than that not much else to report.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Brought to you by

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

I did want to list the folks who came on the trip and their totals.  It was a close race and a good time was had by all.

Kyle/Burl                    24 trout/8 reds.

Doug/Joshua             26 trout/7 reds

Jason/Jack                 27 trout/5 reds   (Big trout 7.8)

Ted/Tim                      37 trout/3 reds

Larry/Jim                    18 trout/13 reds   (Big slot red  6.9)

As a group if we had kept keeping them a limit of reds was no problem.  We did not weigh any of the over reds that were kept.  Nice job Tim and Ted for the numbers and same to Jason for the big trout.  I think a friendly wager just might be appropriate next year, just saying.

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One of the guys on the trip that I enjoyed speaking with was Ted.  He struggled the first morning, but then he started putting the hurt on them.  He joined us on the beach and even had his own shark encounter.

Great fishing with you this week! Still can’t stop thinking about those specks in that surf. Except for the tax man, it was a great experience. Thanks for being part of it.

Ted

That’s him under all that stuff with his Wade Right.

Speaking with him I learned that he sells cool fishing gear in support of the National Foster Parent Association.  A great cause that he and his wife do out of the goodness of their heart.   So please take a minute and visit their website, they need all the help they can get.  I love people who not only talk the talk but walk the walk.  Tell them I sent you and ask him when I can expect my hat.  (Just kidding!)

https://www.gluckgear.com/

And then he sent this follow up comment.

Great post, and thank you for allowing me to re-live our adventure. Most of all thank you for leaving out the biting flies, biting horse flies, and waterspouts that were part of our trip. LOL. Just to share, because Jason (Wade Right) was slow to get in the boat, Doug and I ended up completely soaked by a wind wave of water. I think the laughter helped dry us out. What a trip!

What a trip says it all!

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Want to know how much fun we all had?  Tim just sent me a note and he is already getting ready to book next years trip, just finishing up the choice of 2 different dates.  Does not matter to me, I am in!

For that matter I am already thinking about a additional trip next year, maybe in early summer.  No worries as the boat has good AC and is plenty comfortable sleeping at night.  Since I posted that thought on the last post I have already heard from a couple of folks who are all in, so stay tuned for that development.

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I have heard from my buddy Clyde after the last couple of posts.  Both comments apply to the Chandeleur post.

Dude !!!!!!!

As Doug Stange says” so many fish ,so little time “!!

My sentiments exactly!  This trip was right up there with my favorite and it is worth a do over, and over.  Good luck in Canada, we will be looking forward to the pictures.

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And I heard from Ryan again after he got his reservations for fishing with Ken on Caye Caulker.

Well I booked a couple days with Ken at Chasing Tails charter found him on Facebook and started a conversation, I will be there a week before I get to fish with him, going to have figure stuff out in the meantime.. Thanks for the help

Can’t promise you will catch a fish, but you will have a cool time and if it is all good it could be epic.  Tell him I will see him again sometime and thanks again for my bucket list permit.  And for those night tarpon do a little day time research at the Lazy Lizard.  I had my best luck on the old concrete pier sticking out in the water at the mouth of the split.  And while you are at it have a Belikin Beer for me!  Good luck and let us know.

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And I sent Capt. Howie a link and got this email from him.

Thank you for the kind words Doug, it was our pleasure to have you on board and we are so happy the trip went well and the fish cooperated. You were with a great group of guys that makes our job really enjoyable. Thanks again! Howie

All I will say about that, NO, Thank You.  They were my kind of folks and the service was beyond compare.  See you next year!

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So that kind of catches me up for the moment.  I am recovering from all the travel this month and needing to do a little tackle and boat work.  As I just got the front upholstery done it is time to get the Mako back in service.  I will be looking at the weather and tides this week and it will be back to the fishing.  And in less than 3 weeks it will be 4 days at Port Mansfield with the Austin Boys, which has the potential to be epic.  And it is finally raining here, please do not stop?  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!**

The Wade Right Crew got it done on the Chandeleurs!

I Want to Go Back – Today!

I do not have a freakin’ clue how to adequately tell you how much fun we had.  Other than Tim and Jason from Wade Right I had not met any of the other 7 folks.  Though we just met at the dock Sunday afternoon for the ride out to the Chandeleurs, I now count them all as friends.  It did not take long to learn that they were all accomplished saltwater anglers with tons of experience, and that experience paid off.  A couple have a floating house in the POC area, one a house at Sargent, as a group they have caught a few in their life.

The mother ship’s babies waiting for us to jump in.  Our sleds for the next 3 days.

fishsouthernbelle.com/  – check them out.

The crew loaded our stuff, grabbed 10 pizzas, Captain Howie fired up the big diesels on the Southern Belle, and we were on our way.  We ate and chatted on the 40 mile ride out to the island.  We grabbed our bunks early and headed to bed, for me it was easy to sleep with the steady thumping of the engines.  I was asleep when I heard the captain idle down and put the boat on the hook.  Of course that fishing clock went off in my head as soon as Captain Howie started moving around at 4:30 am to prepare for the day.  I could not have been any more excited!  But first breakfast, the beginning of what would be 3 days of eating some of the best food on the planet, but that is a whole other story.

Fish number 1 on the Whooper Plooper.  My trip was topwater mania!  I can not possibly get all the pictures organized so here they come in no particular order.

Let me get a few house keeping issues out of the way before I forget them.  First, it took me 2 days to get fully with the program.  Why?  Because when I say it was full service that is no exaggeration.  When you fish with the Southern Belle you do nothing. I mean do not take your stuff out of the boat, empty your fish, wash your stuff, do any dishes, clean any fish, in other words get out of their way and sit back and enjoy.  They even ask what do you need in your day cooler, and then they fill it and put it on the boat.  The crew does it all, and I mean freakin’ all of it.  Their whole goal is to provide the trip of a lifetime, and buddy boy they got it done.  They have a system which does not include you getting in the way so sit back and act like a rich guy.  The boats are 12′ skiffs with a 20hp 4 stroke for 2 guys, and they are just fine and easy to use.  I can not recommend Southern Belle any more highly.  You might find a fancier boat but trust me, you will not find a better crew.  As you know I have fished in many places in this world, with many different boats and captains, but these guys are the bomb.  Guess I will quit gushing and get to the fishing!

That is a 300 quart cooler full to the brim!  More on this later.  I took this before they put ice on that days catch, what an average.

We split up in 5 teams of 2 each and our adventure started.  I was paired with Joshua for 3 days, the owner of Marker 54 fishing lures.  (And thanks for running the boat Joshua, felt like I had my own chauffeur.)   He makes a full line of hard and soft shrimp with cool characteristics, and he absolutely slapped the taste out or their mouth on the 3″ Hard Plastic Shrimp under the popping cork.  In one stretch on the beach he caught his personal best red, in fact not 1 but 4 giant bulls.  The fish he found on the beach the first morning led to some of the best fun we had the last day stringing some great fish.

Think he was having a good time?  Before he headed to the beach he whacked a few drifting on his plastic Glide Shrimp.  The reds were lovin’ his baits.  They were freakin’ eating his plastic shrimp, but once he got on the 3″ Hard Shrimp under the popping cork it was game on!

Now for an unsolicited plug.  This rig, his 3″ Hard Shrimp about 24″ below the popping cork, flat catches redfish and some damn big ones!  It was his second popping cork because the first one got smashed repeatedly by bull reds, and in fact this one did not make it either.  He caught them up to 30lbs in the surf, it is was his go to bait on the trip.  He also has some cool plastic shrimp, one that stays in the strike zone for ever, the Soft Plastic Jerk Shrimp, and the Soft Plastic Guide Shrimp that always lands upright, amazing.  He has tons of work and innovation in his lures and is always looking to improve.  You could see his mind turning the whole trip and expect some more things to come from Marker 54 as a result of the trip.  So seriously, go to his website and buy some, I promise they catch fish and I saw it with my own eyes.  And the great thing about his plastic shrimp, as long as you do not screw up and lose it you can catch fish after fish.  Tell him I sent you.  And Jsohua holler when you are down this way and I will be happy to meet you anytime.

http://www.marker54.com/default.asp

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Getting it done in the Chandeleur surf on the White/Limetreuse Controlled Descent Paddle Shad.  A steady retrieve and they would thump that thing!  And the solid trout liked it too.

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Back to the story.  I actually had a great first morning.  They were absolutely smoking the One Knocker in bone.  First I wanted to catch a fish on the Whopper Plopper and it was my first bite right after we started.  When I set the hook the seat went back and other than Joshua grabbing me it might  have been over in the bay.  And it began.  Then Joshua dropped out and walked over the island to the beach, which turned out to be a good choice, and I waded inshore.  It was good, but anytime they are eating topwater is good.  I caught around 10 trout and kept 5 nice ones on the first wade.  I threw back a few keepers, not remembering it was a 25 fish limit and 12″ makes the cut.  Mine all topped 15′ easy and I could have kept them all. We kept hunting and pecking and ended up with some nice fish for the day.

Jason and his dad with a few from the beach.  And Jason paid the tax man, and for some silly reason he got scared when the tax  man literally ran into his family jewels.  What a trip!  

Now is as good a time as any to talk about the fishing.  Do not assume you will fill the cooler like we did the one above.  It might be a great place, but it is fishing.  Our group consisted of 10 real fishermen, and while we had to work hard to catch numbers the size easily made up for it.  The haul above was 131 trout and 36 redfish.  All 5 boats caught basically the same amount but it was not fast by any means.  Unlike their fall trip last year where they caught a 10 man limit of mostly smalls, ours was half that but boy were they good fish and made up for it in weight.  And the redfish, my God, all of us caught tons, not keeping many, and many were  overs both inshore and wading.  We quit keeping them after day 1, I can not even guess how many we would have had if we kept our limits.  In fact as a group we caught very few rats.  And if wading is not your thing we caught fish drifting, and we waded both inshore and surf.  There is plenty of ways to fish.  But our weather was perfect so it was one of those trips that worked out great.  Anytime you get light winds and perfect tides it is hard to go wrong.  So if you go remember there are lots of great things about this trip, fishing is just part of it.

Wade Right Tim laid the smack down on them.  That was the size we caught in the surf, good fish anywhere.  And Ted got in on the act, he also made a contribution to the tax man, and their boat had a great day.  And Ted has a great company working for foster parents and I will write more on that soon.

And speaking of limits, you buy a tour license and when aboard a charter boat in the Chandeleurs you can have a one day limit each.  In Louisiana it is 25 trout and 5 reds with one over.  And boy on this trip there were some overs.  I just wanted to make sure you understand that just going does not guarantee squat, and there were other folks fishing there who were obviously struggling as we got pot licked a few times.  There are 9 other boats making the trip so there is traffic.  It may be the middle of nowhere but there are other folks on other boats.  And to further add to our luck, we could not have had better weather, it was perfect.  So if you ever plan on going, this is a trip that is all about the doing.  The fishing is fishing, good or bad, but the trip itself is the reason for the season.  If you do not have fun no matter what there is something wrong with you.

Headed across to the surf.  Tim and I.  Once I got the speed down on the Controlled Paddle Shad they were smacking it, and I mean eating, not biting!  To bad I lost 2 big trout back to back, but stuff happens.

The last morning, in fact some of us went 3 times that day, we headed to Joshua’s honey hole on the beach.  You could park the boat, a short walk over the island, and you were on a beautiful beach.  There were fish moving up and down the beach, and boy was the average great.  Solid trout on plastics, topwater, and popping cork, the bite was on and we were having fun now!  You had to throw pretty far out, one of the few times I wished I was 6’5″ instead of 5’6″.  It was great as some one there would bow up, then someone else, then me, it was nice fish mania as most of the beach fish were solids.  With my superior skill I lost 2 big fish on back to back casts.  While we are speaking about lost fish I had an absolute big girl in the easy 7+ range smash the big Whooper Plooper and unfortunately she pulled off at boatside but we got a good look.  And I did have another big girl break off my One Knocker, I had my chances.  But no matter how big they were it was fine because Jason put his personal best on the stringer, she is headed to the taxidermist as I write this.

What a fish.  A Bone One Knocker drifting in the middle of the hot day when it was perfectly slick!

Jason not only caught his personal best, he broke the boat’s record.  Now keep in mind that covers years and hundreds of fishermen.  It is a record he should be, and was, rightfully proud of.  Though the fishing was not fast by any means, the topwater was to die for when one finally committed.  The other folks on the trip basically fished plastics, and as a group our success rate was about even with all boats putting over 3o combined good reds and trout in the cooler, a testament to how good those boys were.  And except for very few, they are all real solids, stringers I am happy with anywhere.

A couple of fishing rods.  Hanging on the deck.

Turn out the lights the parties over.  The skiffs headed to the upper deck as they crew battens down the hatches for the ride home.

I want to take a minute to thank the crew, especially for taking the time in the morning to talk to me before the others got out of bed.  For me it has always been in the doing, the results are just a bonus.  It was so interesting to watch them work and I asked lots of questions.  Efficient, organized, and competent, they are a well oiled machine so get the hell out of the way.  They all fished for fun and money their whole lives and they do everything to help you catch fish.  They load the boat and every time you pull away it was always, “Good Luck”, and they really meant it.  And who does not like a steak better than any I ever paid $50 for.  And the “seagull” pie was to die for, the fish fry was an orgy of consumption.  Every morning a great breakfast, (Thanks Captain Howie, I am a grit eating fool!) then back for a great lunch, fish until a little before dark, maybe a drink or two, bed, repeat.  This article does not do it justice, but hopefully as you read this you get a feel for how much fun I had.

We caught the occasional blue fish and some Spanish.  When a bull this size smokes a topwater in knee deep water it is a thing of beauty!  And you might have noticed the Wade Right belt was an important piece of equipment on the trip, lots of stuff for the beach.

If you ever think about this trip it is a hard core fishing trip.  Quarters are adequate but cramped, nothing like sleeping with 10 of your closest friends, but I sure as heck were not there to sleep.  Plus I couldn’t as I was so excited.  It takes the right group, no whiners or panty waists allowed.   No bitching or moaning.  Everyone has to get along, and you better be able to take a little ribbing.  And there was no lies told, no long stories, no jokes, at least nothing involving your momma.  So when I organize a trip next year, and trust me I am already picking a date, if you are any of the above don’t bother.  And I sure hope the Wade Right boys ask me again, 2 trips next spring are going to happen.  The folks on this trip were really a good bunch of guys, including the curmudgeon, that is the only way it works in tight quarters.  Stay tuned for that.

I do not know what else to say.  The Chandeleur Islands have been on my bucket list for years and it finally happened.  The whole experience was every thing I hoped it would be, and it is a bucket list trip that requires a do over, and over.  I hope to make this an annual trip, no, not hope, it is going to happen.  So my real thanks to Captain Howie and the crew.  Your kind consideration will not be forgotten and God, Karma, and tin foil hats willing I will be back.  And the rest of you on the trip a big thanks, you made me feel a part of the group.  You guys were the best fishing buds yet in spite of what Tim told me about you all before we left.   So there you have it but of course there are a few things that I will share later.  I don’t often ask but please share a link to this story to your fishing friends and any of the guys on the trip.  And please keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Brought to you by

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

I am in a motel and thought I would catch up on a thing or two before boarding the boat tomorrow afternoon.  I will be out of touch until we are done fishing on Thursday and I will post plenty of pics and the whole ugly truth as soon as possible, so stay tuned.

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You just can’t leave him unattended.  My buddy Aaron is at it again.  I am in a motel in Baton Rouge heading to Gulfport in the morning for the Chandeleur Island trip when I get a text from my buddy Aaron.  Looks like I might be headed the wrong way!

Keep in mind Aaron is a solid 6’3″ and is no small guy.

That is one shallow big girl.  I have not a clue about where but will try to find out and get back with you.  Plus I obviously need to get down south for a day, because his comment with the pic -“I found em”.  Those of you who read my stuff know he is one hell of a fisherman, if it swims he will figure it out.  If he says he found them you can bank it.  That my friends is a big one!

********************Get inhaled!

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Ryan sent me a question that made me jealous.

Hey going to caye caulker in June plan on bringing some rods and shore fish and possibly hire a guide I have 0ne piece rods and wondering if I should buy a two piece rods. I plan on bringing a bait caster and a spinning rod
any info that you can give me would be great

First, I am jealous, I have been twice and was able to catch a fish or two both times, including my first bonefish and my only permit, which was a real tussle.  I think that is probably pound for pound the toughest fish I have ever caught.  As far as rods, 2 piece spinning rods are just easier to carry than a full sized rod tube.  A light one for bonefish and medium for the tarpon or permit.  Fluro line 4 – 6 for the bones and 15 – 20 for the others.  And if you will toss live bait it needs to be freelined so keep that in mind, most of those fish require long casts or they are out of there.  As far as guides Ken is the man period.  Try to contact him through Sea Dreams and do it now, he is busy, but the best I have ever shared a boat with.  So good luck and we will all be waiting to hear how it goes.

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Then Rusty the resident Fayette and Bastrop Guru rubbed it in just a little more.

Glad your trip was fun. My wife and I are sitting on a plane headed to Nosara Costa Rica for some sailfish and marlin fishing. Fished Bastrop lake this week and I did well fishing flukes from daylight to about 10:00am. After that it got tough!! Been hearing some good Fayette lake reports!

Thanks, the trip was fun.  But of all the places I have fished nothing comes close to Costa Rica and will be waiting to hear how it goes, not sure there is a bad time to fish there.  And I have also heard Fayette was good and thanks for the Bastrop tip.  Have a great time, one place I will return some time.

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And then my buddy Chris dropped me a text and he is headed to the Keys for some R&R with his lovely wife.  While he was at it he booked a backcountry snook/tarpon trip with one of the guides out of Bud and Mary’s Marine in Islamrada.  The best guides in the world work out of there and it will be interesting to hear your report.  Be sure to feed the tarpon at Robbie’s, cool to get so close to them.  I love it down there, just another great place.  The story of my life, to many places not enough money.  So best of luck, just the trip itself is worth every cent, and I will be thinking about you catching a baby tarpon way in the back country.  It goes with one of my favorite sayings – It is in the doing, the results are just a bonus.

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So lots of folks on the road catching some fish and visiting some cool places.  One thing is for sure, generally where the fish are also happens to be cool, and everybody above is headed somewhere cool.  And me too.  I am chomping on the bit to get to the boat and wake up Monday morning on the island with miles of unfished grass flats and big fat happy trout.  So keep stopping in, as soon as I can post some results I will.  And a special thanks for sticking with me.  Fish On!

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!**

(Please excuse any errors, or in the words of K.A. Conway, alternative facts.  So much information I could never get it all right but I will do the best I can from this old memory.)

Peru North

I read about the old Big Game Fishing Club that was established in Cabo Blanco on the north coast of Peru.  Ernest Hemingway and a group of hard core early offshore anglers opened a club after a world record blue marlin was caught that weighed over 700kgs, that is a big fish!  After a few years the ocean currents changed and the fish left and the club fell into disrepair.  Now there are reports of the return of the fish.  So I signed up for 2 days of fishing.

It was definitely not the “season’ but I gave it a go.  Unfortunately no marlin, not a bite.  So while that was a bummer, since we have boated 4 marlin in 6 days of fishing prior to this trip I was probably due to strike out.  But I sure enjoyed our time on the coast of Northern Peru.

So I wanted to make a trek to Cabo Blanco and see the old pictures and just like Australia, just revel in the history of the place.  As I grow older it is not all about the catching but all about the memories, and having dinner in Cabo Blanco was a highlight.  While my fishing luck was not that great there is so much potential.

Inkaterra, a resort we stayed at in the Amazon and the base of Machu Picchu. is building a new resort at Cabo Blanco.  The beaches are beautiful and stretch for miles.  On our walks we saw maybe one or 2 people at anytime.  And this area is famous for surfing so there were lots of backpackers.

The photographs on the wall of the old days, big tuna, marlin, swordfish, they caught it all.

We had a guide on our 2 days of fishing who was great.  A degree in Marine Science she added so much to the trip.  She is a whale shark expert who is working with the local fishermen to educate them on how the whole system works together.  They was initially resistant thinking she was out to take away their fish, now they trust here and help her whenever they can.

I did get the pleasure of seeing my first ocean sunfish, which was awesome.  The sea lions were breeding, and having her along to fill in all the details made a couple of slow fishing days just fine.  I really learned a lot about the local subsistence fishermen.  A few extra bucks in their pocket but basically they fish to feed their extended families.  Most fish out of a bamboo raft, and some were as far out as 5 miles.  It is a tough life and balancing their need for fish with the needs of the environment are complicated, but a little education is going a long way.

It is so interesting how they use other logs to roll their boat into the surf and then out to fish with their nets.  I spoke with a couple and like all Peruvians they were so nice and accommodating.

I watched the boatman re-sew his nets before he headed out.

********************Get inhaled!

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Our guide, Alejandra.  She liked to bend the elbow a little.

https://www.facebook.com/TiburonBallenaPeru/

This is her facebook page on her research, and while it is in Spanish there are some great pictures of the whale shark.  She was plain and simple an awesome person who is doing what she can to educate the local fisherman.  And she tells me that during the season it takes about 15 minutes to see a whale shark and it is possible to see many during a day.  And I am sure snorkeling with one has to be one the great adventures in the ocean.

Frigates everywhere, and sea lions doing the nasty.

Headed out.   A harpoon at the ready in case of a sunbathing swordfish.

Though the fishing left something to be desired on day 1 we stopped and caught some ground fish and made ceviche right on the boat.  They are sure proud of their ceviche on the North coast, and we had some at our resort.

It does not get any fresher than this!

So while the fishing was less than stellar the experience was worth it all.  Having Alejandra along with days was so nice, she was a wealth of information and knowledge.  I find the local fishermen so interesting, up early wand work hard all day to feed their family. a lifestyle so different than ours.  And the area is a happening waiting to boom.  When the fish are there it is possible to catch tuna, marlin, sailfish, and swords.  So who knows, maybe I will get back there during a season.

The North Coast

The Boss.  The resort.

We landed at Talara, an air force base turned into a civil airport after the war with Ecuador.  It has opened the north of Peru with flights everyday, while in the past there was only 3 flights a week.  The resort was stunning and the food both there and in town was great.  They had a dry summer and the land was arid.  It really reminded me of Big Bend.

A little octopus and ceviche 3 ways, along with a cool adult beverage.  It does not get much better than this.

This area is a big oil area, and Talara is the center.  We actually got lucky the day after we left to head to the Amazon the fishermen blocked the Pan American Highway, the only way to get around up here, letting no vehicles through for several days.  The dispute is over drilling.  Every where you go the people tell you how corrupt the government is, and the fishermen were protesting the new drilling deals the president make with the oil companies.  To bad.  This area is beautiful and could explode both in fishing and tourism, but all it will take is one big spill to ruin it all.  So it will be waiting game to see how it works out.

A beautiful way to end our visit to Northern Peru.

Peru

Sorry for the disjointed report, after 15 days it all runs together.  But I wanted to say a couple of words about the people and the country.  This may have been my favorite trip yet.  The people are so nice.  (In fact, I would not trade a day in Peru for a week in Italy.  The people here really do appreciate tourists and are a hell of lot nicer than many places we have visited.)  While the Boss had guides and translators waiting for us at each stop, if you have a basic Spanish vocabulary, and many Peruvians have a basic English vocabulary, you can easily get along.

Food and drinks are so freakin’ cheap and delicious.  Rainbow trout, guinea pig, alpaca, fish, chicken, there is something for everyone on the menu.  Coca tea and leaves are chewed and drank all over Peru.  Not sure if it helped with my touch of altitude sickness, but it sure could not have hurt.

That is all this morning.  I am recovering from a tough cold that of course I got when I got home.  It happens.  Today is packing and organizing for the trip to the Chandeleurs.  Tim from Wade Right just talked to the captain who is returning from a trip and he reports limits of 3 – 4lb trout.  Who could not be excited about that.  So I will be out of touch a few days but as soon as I get back there will be reports a plenty.  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!**

  Tip for the Day

Always charge your trolling motor batteries immediately after use.  They will last many more trips.  And when you unhook the cord go ahead and hit the starter key, it is always nice to know the motor turns over before you head to the water.

It is always good to be home no matter how good the trip was, and in our case this was one of the best trips yet.  Peru was great, and the people even better.  The Boss and I spent some time yesterday working on pictures, of which there are hundreds.  So some of that will be coming this week as we get back to the “real world.”  On the fishing front it is 4:30 am as I type this and I am headed to the lake.  The buzzbait bite should be on, and that is the morning’s plan.

But the real news is Sunday a group of 10 of us head out on a houseboat to the Chandeleur Islands for 3 solid days of fishing.  That has been on my bucket list for years, and though I just got home I already started packing for this weekend.  They have taken this trip before and reported last year lots and lots of trout so the Controlled Descent Lures will get a real workout.

Some of the seats on the Mako are at the upholstery guy, of course it is not done though he has had it 5 weeks.  He asked me when I dropped it off why I did not drop the other pieces at the same time, and this is the reason.  At least the Mako is not totally devoid of upholstery.  Though the boat is usable, just the livewell lid and back rest are there, I will just grab the skiff and go this morning.  Who knows, maybe I will sack a few, though it has been a while so we shall see.

Weather

92/64  Sunny.  Wind  S 10 – 20 mph.  0% chance of rain.  (We read how tough the Amazon weather can be, and when we got there it was just like home.)

Lake Level

One month ago  96.43 msl   Today  96.04 msl.  (Almost a half a foot drop in the last month.)

Solunar Times

Best  6:00 am to 8:00 am  Good  11:48 am to 1:48 pm.  (About as good as I can hope for.)

********************Get inhaled!

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It was barely cracking daylight as I headed up lake.  It was calm and sunny and the plan was to fish the side of the river early that would have the sun on it, then the other side as the sun got up and there would be the last bit of shade.  The Solunar times today said the good bite was 6 – 8 am, and it was right on.

I caught a small one on about the 10th cast, and from there it was around 10 on buzzbait until about 8:30.  A moderate steady retrieve produced every type of bite from the light slurp under to the blow up.  None were big, in fact I did not have a big bite all morning.  They were here and there, and neither wood, nor trash, nor rock seemed to be any better than anywhere.  Of the 15 bites or so the majority were right on the bank in the first couple of cranks so it was important to have it moving when it hit the water.  By 8:00 it was really sunny so I moved to the shady side and caught a few, but it was really slowing down fast.

From that point until I quit at 1:30 it was swim jig and senko, with the swim jig getting the most bites.  If memory serves me it was 3 on swim jig and 2 on senko.  It was interesting that I did not get a bite tossing the senko to wood.  Again they were just scattered.  I fished both ends of the lake, but after about 9:00 it was only a couple of bites, and after about 11:30 not a bite.  I did have a big tussle when I hooked a nice soft shell in the side.  It was easy to figure out what it was and we did the round and round before I unhooked her at boatside.  Other than that no real excitement today.  I intentionally stayed until 1:30 to fish through a “good’ period, and it was fruitless.  So I called it a day.

Of course it has been a while since I fished and obviously did not land on the right bank.  But there is fish to be caught first thing in the morning and maybe next time I will try the Whooper Plooper, which might trigger those bigger fish.  But the water is clearly dropping, and since we are over 6” of rainfall down the fishing probably won’t be improving anytime soon.  Might be time for a night fishing trip.  And it would seem the points would be the next place to work over.  And on the crappie side lots of folks are fishing, which on Coleto usually means they are catching.

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I did want to make one comment.  While in the Amazon it was getting up as soon as there was a inkling of daylight.  You could hear the jungle come to life, and as I fished this morning I thought how cool is this.  The birds were having at it, the gators were out in force, I saw several pigs, deer, it was an outdoor morning.  So maybe it isn’t the Amazon but it sure was nice.  Sometimes we forget to just take a second and look around and it was just a cool here as the Amazon.

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Tomorrow it will be running errands and getting things ready to leave on Saturday.  Going to take it easy and stay about halfway there, and who knows, maybe a little game of chance or two.  I really am starting to get excited about going, it will be so interesting and maybe it will be as good as I know it can.  But before then I will fish another day or two this week, and there will be a few stories on Peru.  So back in the grind.  Keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines