FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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Tip of the Day

There is this thing on your steering column, it is called a turn signal.  It is a great little device that is used to let folks know that you will be turning, and which way.  I know it is a new device, but try using it, we will all appreciate it.

Aaron and I had a pretty good day yesterday, and I am hoping for a repeat today.  The wind might be a little higher today, with tomorrow (Friday) slated to be interesting.  But like all good fishermen when it is time to go, it is time to go.  Dan will be arriving here mid morning and we will meet at the lake.  There is always that little bit of nervous anticipation when fishing with someone new, but with the fish biting a little better there is hope for a good day.

Weather

80/62  Sunny.  Wind SE 15 – 25.  0% chance of rain.

Solunar Times

Good  9:36 to 11:36 am.    Best  3:49 to 5:49 pm.

Lake Level

Today  96.46 msl  Yesterday  96.50 msl.  (The slow decline continues.)

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I did not do the numbers for Friday, all you had to do was add was another 15mph wind on top of that forecast and that about covered it.  Thursday morning I went to the lake at 7:30 to check a couple of places before Dan arrived about 11:00.  In 3 places I boated 9, and had another big tilapia jump all over a swim jig.  Both the swim jig and pitching assorted plastics caught fish.  And as far as the plastics, senko style, creatures, and craws all seem to work if you toss it by a good piece of wood.  The thicker the better.

This is what makes spring bass fishing what it is.

Dan is a professional travel writer who is doing the leg work on a story for next year, the leg work being fishing.  The premise is his quest to catch a Share a Lunker, which now includes a certificate for a fish over 8lbs.  He is not a “bass fisherman” by any means, so the point of fishing with me was to learn some basics.  He is a fly fisherman, has fished plenty of salt, and is one of the Austin Boys.  So he is by no means is a rookie fisherman.

To make a long story short Thursday was a learning process.  Pitching would seem elementary, but of course like all techniques takes a little work.  Same with the swim jig. Before it was over he caught maybe 4 small ones the first day but did miss a good one on a spinnerbait.  The wind was not helping matters by any stretch, and would only get worse today.  Surprisingly though we tried spinnerbait off and on we might have added 3 to the total, they just are not on it.  But he soldiered on in spite of slow fishing for good ones.  Both days it was 2 here, 3 there, and before day one was over it was 15 small ones, then approximately 20 today.  We just could not stick a good one until I pulled it out.

My tilapia mastery continues it smacked the swim jig.  And you have to wade through a bunch of these to get one like the one above.

I picked him up at the motel Friday morning before daylight so we could get on the water.  The professional photographer tagged along and off we went.  The first tree I caught a small one, and from then on it was back to one here and one there.  Dan started catching some, learning how to really set the hook, but most important, the “feel’.  My old buddy John Storey, the owner of Champion Boats, maintained that it all comes down to “feel”, with the wind and as light as they were biting it was a little tricky.  I would say maybe 3/4 of the fish I am catching right now are not “hitting” it.  They are just there or the line starts moving sideways.  It was actually a good thing as he had enough bites to really learn a thing or two which should help with his quest.  Unfortunately we both broke one off today.  But you never know, mine jumped and tried to throw the swim jig, and it was maybe 2lbs.  A reminder when pitching trash, retie, it doesn’t cost nuttin’.

Today I finally put a 4 in the boat around noon on a swim jig, which told me a couple of things.  First, there are definitely fish who have not spawned and are not in the coves, she was a fattie with a belly full of eggs.  Second, they are around wood in some of the coves, but falling water is not helping things as the lake declines.  (And a reminder, the tilapia are spawning big time so if you want to bow shoot a few have it.  The back of any cove will do.)   After catching the better one we tried pitching another big cove, caught a couple of smalls, but it was just not happening like it should.  At this point the wind was hauling ass with the lake white capping as clouds moved in.  It just said big fish time.

So I decided to run back up lake to where we started, occasionally I actually make a good call.  The wind was blowing hard right down the pike.  We caught a couple smalls, it was tough fishing the swim jig with a 20 mph cross wind.  In fact, one of them hit the swim jig right by the boat and when I set the hook it landed on Dan, which gives you clue how small that one was.  And then a real one jumped on my white swim jig.  It was an awesome bite, a great fight, and after some CPR she was on her way.  And at that point with 30 mph winds we called it a successful day.

This is the one above and Dan.  Say hi Dan.

I can’t wait to see the story next year, and I hope that he learned something.  Will he be successful?  We shall see.  But he has another lake or two coming with someone who has a clue so you never know.  But I know one thing, breaking a real 8lbs is not something that happens all the time and is a righteous quest.  While this one did not make the 8 it was a nice big spawned out fish who would have made the grade, and she was proof it can happen.  And for me personally, it was my third big fish this week, and I would have not been happy if we did not boat at least one big fish while he was here.

It really is a good day when you spend it with a good guy.  He wanted to learn, and he did not give up.  He also listened, and if you have spent the day in the boat with me I have been know to talk some.  And who knows, one of the ones he missed just might have been a big one.  So while it was a grind, a big girl like that takes all the grind away.  A good couple of days.

Other than heading to the Texas Mile tomorrow to see some hot cars run there is no specific fishing plan on what or where is next.  And of course washing the boat, new line on a few reels, reorganizing the mess from the last 3 days, all with the sole purpose to get back on the water in a day or two.  Just maybe we will even shoot a few tilapia Sunday morning.  And there are definitely some trout in the bay that need catching.  I love this time of year, so many fish, so little time.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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Tip of the Day

Every once in a while it is good to run your fingers over all the guides on your rods.  Cracked guides fray line and could cause you to lose the biggest fish of your life.

Weather

78/52  Sunny to partly cloudy.  Wind ESE 10 – 20.  0% chance rain.

Solunar Times

Good  8:37 to 10:37 am.  Best  2:50 to 4:50 pm.

Lake Level

Today  96.50 msl.     11 days ago  96.69 msl.

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We had a good time in Nashville, it is a great city.  Heard some good tunes, ate some great food, and had an adult beverage or two.  We were to fly out on Monday at 5:00 pm but there was bad weather on the horizon so they cancelled the flights around 11:00.  So we ended up spending another day in Nashville, but if you have to be stranded somewhere it was a good place to be stuck.

This was a healthy gator, and not the least bit worried about us.

Not getting back until Tuesday late in the day the Boss had to hit the road and do a 10 hour night shift, which made for a long day for her.  And for me I have some fishing plans this week, and was really wanting to fish Monday before a writer and photog come Thursday and Friday.  So today it was off to the lake to see how it was, and thank goodness the fish are biting.  And to add to it my buddy Aaron was able to come up and fish with me today, and for once I beat him out of the back of the boat.  It does not happen to often.

This girl was an easy 7.

The water temp was in the low to mid 70’s all over the lake, and the wind was blowing 15+, not bad.  I guess the water color is what it is and unfortunately the lake is still on the drop.  But the good news, the fish are back shallow and on the beds.  To make a long story short we caught fish from up lake to down, coves to main lake, and on several baits.  Senko, brush hog, craws, spinnerbait, and another thing or two produced fish.

My catfish run continues.  And that is one big ass tilapia!

And here it is, hard wood shallow.  Tight to cover and it had to be the perfect pitch for most of them, and the good thing, almost every place we fished we caught a couple.  We only boated 2 “good” ones, but caught fish consistently.  And to go along with that I added a couple of “weird” ones to the catch.  And it always blows me away when a tilapia smacks a spinnerbait.  And by the way, if you like to bow fish, get to the lake right now, it won’t get any better than it is right now, the tilapia are spawning everywhere.

You talk about smoking a spinnerbait this girl smashed it!

So a good day.  The wind was borderline tough, and it is supposed to keep blowing.  It was good to see the bass back on the banks, and there were lots of beat up tails.  And it was nice to spend the day with Aaron, he has a new technique that he has been killing them on Fork right now, and we spent several hours trying it today.  He did lose one big one, but we just could not get them going.  There will be more to come on that.  So wish me luck fishing with the new folks the next couple of days.  A little luck, and with maybe a little skill tossed in, and we should boat some fish.

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I got this comment from Jason and it is on point with the small cork thing.

That small cork is something that I used in Baffin with plastics around the rocks when I lived down there, good to use with croaker in the same areas(especially with people that don’t fish much, mom caught 28″ speck doing this at 70 years old). I also use it fishing over the oyster spoil shell islands again keeping croaker out of the shell and getting hung up and cutting off so much. A old timer showed this to me a long time ago and it does work and the fish don’t notice it.

I love comments like this.  Here are a couple of applications of the small cork that you might not have thought of.  And it could be a real money saver on both plastics and to you croaker fishermen.  Thanks for the tip and the share, I really appreciate it.  The rest of you, it only takes a minute to share a little knowledge the rest of us can use, and this one is spot on.  And it must have been great when mom caught her biggun!

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I saw the picture of the net that Texas Game Wardens found on a fresh water lake.  It had only been out a little while and already had a big bass in it.  I am always puzzled when I hear some folks who do not think the netting on Falcon and Amistad has a real affect on the bass.  Seems pretty clear to me.  And on that note when we spoke with some game wardens on Falcon last month they were specifically on the US side looking for illegal nets.  We need to cut a deal with Mexico to stop the netting, it sure can’t hurt.

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And Glenn, who I fished with the other day, sent me a text just to tempt me, and it worked.  They have a cool little place on Lane Road and I am invited to stay some time and fish with them.  How could I pass that up?  Thanks Glenn, a kind offer.

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It will be a couple of days of hard fishing, and hopefully we can get it done.  I was thrilled with how much the fishing has improved compared to 2 weeks ago.  Friday looks like it will be windy, but with clouds coming the afternoon.  Who knows, maybe it will be one of those good pre-front bites.  But no matter what we will be fishing.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Brought to you by

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

Tip of the Day

Always check Cabela’s Bargain cave at the first of the week, there are always good deals that can save some serious money but the good deals don’t last long.  My last reel purchase saved me $145 bucks!

Weather

71/67  Mostly Cloudy.  Wind SSE 10 – 20.  20% chance of rain.

Tides

High  12:55 AM     0.4    Low   11:44 AM    -0.1  (Maybe if we fished till dark they would have turned back on.)

Solunar Times

Best  9:52 am to 11:52 am.  Alternate  12:15 pm to 3:14   (I look at 2 sites.  So it should be the middle of the day.)

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An Old Dog Learns a New Trick!

Headed to the frying pan.

If given the chance, and things work out, it is always a pleasure to fish with folks who read the blog, and today I had the distinct pleasure to share a boat with Glenn.  We have communicated a time or two in the past and it worked out we got to share a boat for the day. While he said he wanted to learn a little more about using lures, he is a big bait guy, he sure did not need my help.  In fact, I learned a new technique today that is a variation on the popping cork.

I met him at Froggie’s at 8:00 am and after quick greeting we were off in his JH to the South Pass area.  He has been here most of the week, they have a place on Lane Road, and the day before he caught a ton of shorts but had trouble putting keepers in the boat.  Today it was just the opposite.  Not near as fast, but we did not have to work through a ton of shorts.

First up was my choice and we hit an area of shell outside a drain close to South Pass.  We jumped out and I started with topwater, due to the clouds I could not help it, and completely struck out.  Glenn on the other hand started with plastics, with a technique that I really like.  He was using a small slip bobber, you know, the red/pink one usually used for crappie fishing.  He rigged it with the plastic sitting below, keeping it just off the bottom.  And in nothing flat put 3 keepers on the stringer.

Here is a clue to where we were fishing.

Basically it was similar to the classic popping cork, only smaller.  Besides the ability to control his depth it had one other characteristic that I think makes it what it is, that small splash.  A similar sound to a small flipping baitfish, it definitely attracted fish without the mass of the big cork, and it was easy to see getting a hook in them was lots easier.

I kept after the topwater way to much today, but just could not help myself in spite of only one small red taking a pass at it all day.  After those on the first stop quit we headed to the area he caught so many yesterday.  We waded a reef that I was familiar with, though had never specifically fished, and it was game on.  There were plenty of mullet there, and so were the fish.  The wind was blowing hard, the tide was hauling, the water was somewhat murky, and he continued to catch them with his float rig.  I finally got with the program throwing a small soft corky style bait and caught 5 or so in nothing flat.  With the wind it was tough to feel, and I missed several before finally started doing my part.  If I had to guess, and I will, we probably caught around 10 or so on that spot before we moved.

Unlike his experience the day before we did not catch numbers, but before we left that place he had his limit and I had 3, all nice trout.  Now I should have had my limit, but being to lazy to use the boga I had a couple of keepers jump off while I was acting the fool.  And both of us have the same theory, if you have to look “closely” at the length, back they go.  Several would have made the grade if we were hungry, but not today.

Around 1:00 we headed back to the place I wacked the reds last trip, and not a bite.  There was bait around, though not as thick as the shell reef, and nothing was moving.  So today it went exactly like it had been for him this week, by noon the big bite was over.  Around 4:00 we called it a day with 8 nice trout in the box.

I want to thank Glenn for a great time.  Not only did we catch some fish, we had plenty to talk about.  Every once in a while I am fortunate enough to fish with not only a good fisherman, but a great guy.  There is not doubt we will be fishing more in the future, and I will definitely be working on the small cork thing.  So thanks for the great day Glenn, I appreciate the boat ride, it is nice to occasionally to not have to provide the boat.  And the best thing is we can all learn from everyone we fish with, there is never a single way to “skin the cat.”

R.I.P.

One of my heros died yesterday at 93, Lefty Kreh.  Watching him in my early years fishing with Flip, Jose, and many others peaked my interest in saltwater fishing.  A consummate author, journalist and world traveler, he was one of the early saltwater pioneers and a true icon in the sport of fly fishing.  Watching him catch giant tarpon on the fly always filled me with awe.  One of his many legacies, the Lefty’s Deceiver, is probably the most widely used saltwater fly in the world.  He was 93 and fished until the end, including at 90 fishing with the Buccaneers and Bones TV show the last few years.  So Rest In Peace, you were an inspiration to me and we will miss you.  If you are not familiar with him check his bio on line, one of the greatest fisherman and gentleman to ever grace the planet.

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 And speaking of fly fishing it was good to hear from Rusty, the Fayette guru, and I am jealous.

I will be headed to the annual “Sowbug Fly Tying” show, seminar & good times in Mountain Home, Arkansas next week. Staying at Rim Shoals on the White river for the week. Will be tying lot of flies and putting them to use each day on the river. If I knew how to post pictures for you I would.
Tight lines,
Rusty
La Grange

I am so freakin’ jealous.  As you know I fished it for 20 years and guided on the White off and on during that period in my life.  In those days fly fishermen were an uncommon sight.  We used to call them “Beaners.”  Now don’t get your panties in a wad it was not a racist slur, we called them that because they often looked like they were right out of the L.L. Bean catalog.  Which in those days was not a common site in the Ozark mountains.

The White River is one of the greatest fishing destinations in the world that has produced some of the biggest brown trout in the world.  You will definitely get your line stretched, and who knows, just maybe hook up to one of those huge browns.  So have a great trip, the area has changed a lot from the sleepy little Mtn Home I moved to in the early 70’s where it was hard to find something to eat after 6 pm.  But one thing that has not changed, the trout fishing, so stick a big one.  And if you have some pictures to share let me know and I will send you my email.  Have a great time.

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Tomorrow morning we are off for a quick weekend in Nashville.  I am looking forward to the music, and will spend the weekend bar hopping Music Row looking for some great tunes.  And to add to the confusion Saturday is Saint Patty’s Day, so Music Row should be hopping.  I will do my best to not turn green as the brew.  And to further add to the confusion, Tennessee, a great basketball team, is playing an NCAA tournament game on Saturday,  I expect the day to be nothing short of mayhem!

Then the end of next week there is a writer coming to fish with me Thursday and Friday, with a photographer coming for pictures on Friday.  Not to much pressure.  He is doing a story for a major magazine on his journey to learn bass fishing, with the end result breaking the 8lb mark. He is a professed rookie and makes no bones about it.  Now only in my wildest dreams will we do something spectacuar, but hopefully I can share what little knowledge I have and just maybe point the way to achieving that goal.

It has been great to fish with so many new folks the last couple of weeks.  At times it seems tough to get with everyone who wants to fish, but this year I am making a conscious effort to fish with more folks.  It is always an adventure, but I sure have met a lot of great folks in the past and hope to meet more of you before the year is out.  And my apologies to those who I have not managed to get with, I am trying to do better at that.  So there will be lots of fishing to come.  After last year’s fiasco I am finally back to my old self and my fishing desire is high.  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 of the Day

Remember when fishing plastics on the lake or the bay that weight makes all the difference in fall rate and action.  If they are biting but acting “hinkey” like today, change weight, it may change the way they eat the same bait you thought they did not want.  And it gives you a reason to re-tie.

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Sorry no weather or other info, I just decided to go around noon after it warmed up some.  The cool weather has definitely affected the fish and the water temp was still in the high 60’s in most places after what has been a series of cool nights.   One cove I was in was 64 degrees, it was 71 last week.

The plan for today was to spend the afternoon pitching soft plastics on hardwoods adjacent to spawning areas.  I figured those that are done are resting there, and a few who have been chased out of the shallow water are holding waiting for it to start warming back up again.  And as my pitching leaves something to be desired a little practice was in order.

She just about ground her tail off by time she was done spawning.

I started with a stick worm on a 1/8th ounce slip sinker.  For the first hour it was slow, I missed more than I caught but finally managed to catch a couple.  As you can see in the pictures they are totally beat up from the spawn.  I missed as many as I landed, after a while it became apparent they wanted a quicker fall, so I upped the weight to a 1/4, and it helped.  But the high pressure seemed to have them not really wanting to eat, and of the 8 – 10 I boated in a quick afternoon trip maybe 2 actually thumped it, the rest were just there.  If you did not set the hook quickly they were gone the instant you thought it might be a bite.  And as I am learning it needed to be “pitch perfect”, right in the stuff.

During the afternoon I offered up the topwater, spinnerbait, crankbait, and other than a couple of half hearted nips on the swim jig, it was all plastics.  The best bait turned out to be a craw/creature style plastic I picked up in the bargain cave at Cabela’s to use as a trailer on the swim jig.  But it had lots of wigglers on it, and they seemed to want a little more action.  Which seemed counter-intuitive, but hey, it is what it is.  But the shallow fish are definitely cover oriented, pitch it close.

A little better, and as tough as it was I was happy to have her.

So that covers a slow afternoon.  After catching some really big fish in January, they are few and far between now.  I really do not know what to think about what is to come this year, but one thing is real apparent, we need some rain.  The lake continues to fall slowly without warming any appreciable amount this month, in fact the water temps continues to drop at night without getting the daytime warming we need.  One of the things that makes fishing what it is is the difference year to year, day to day, hour to hour.  It is up to the fisherman to make changes, I just seem to have “lost it” right now.  But when it is all said and done, no worries, there is always the next trip, the next cast, and hope springs eternal.

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I did spend the last couple of evenings fishing from the bank with Jeffish and his son Korbin for catfish at their campsite on Coleto.  Sunday night we strung 6 eaters but it was tough with a 25mph+ wind pounding right on us.  And Monday evening the fishing was really slow and we did not catch one while I was there.  After 2 days of a north wind pounding into the cove it cooled it way off and muddied up the water.  It has been awhile since I bank fished, to bad the weather did not cooperate. It reminded me of the “old days” where I cut my fishing teeth bank fishing.  And while they were camping they adopted a woman and her son who were camping, the son was autistic and a funny guy.  Jeffish was so good with him, and he was excited to catch a couple of fish.  Says a lot about my buddy.

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The ramp at Coleto was flat nuts all weekend.  There were some crazy loading and unloading, boats not starting, folks yelling, it had it all.  After watching a guy and his wife struggle trying to put their big Lund on the trailer I finally could not take it and went over and with another guy we finally got it on the trailer.  Not sure what was wrong, but something was twisted.  I know the wife was happy to see us, she had just declared she was done.  Always an adventure.

But the thing that I saw that needed to be addressed, kids on jet skis.  The whole cove is a no wake zone, which apparently does not apply to jet skis.  It there had been a warden there it could have been a ticket writing extravaganza and along with an opportunity to educate.  Boy it was nuts.

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Funny how things are coming together on the next few month’s fishing trips.  I got a note from Tim at Wade Right with the info on the trip to the Chandeleurs.  As I said before, that trip has been a bucket list trip for me and I could not be more excited.  Nothing like getting back from one trip and turning around the next week for another great adventure.  Check out their site, looks good to me.  Can we go ahead and leave tomorrow?

fishsouthernbelle.com/

And the Austin Boys are all a twitter about the early June trip to Port Mansfield, it was epic for them last year.  But every day is a new day when you are fishing, so we shall see.  It is turning into a big group as a few more reprobates are joining in, and as usual with those guys it will be interesting.

And then we got an email from the guide service in Peru.  We need to send them a copy of the front page of our passports, this happens lots of places we go, and the best thing is it lets you know they are keeping up with the program.  It always gives me confidence when we hear from the operators we use when we travel a couple of times before we go.  It is 5 weeks away and we are chomping at the bit to hit the road.  And who knows, maybe another marlin for me!  (I really am spoiled!)

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And a shout out to Faye (One of my most loyal readers.) and her husband who after a long absence from the bay are headed to POC next week.  Good luck and it is good to see you back on the water.  Nothing improves anyone’s attitude more than the anticipation of a trip to come.  (See above!) We will be looking forward to some pictures.

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I had a great time fishing with Fred and David Saturday and it brought back some memories of fishing tournaments.  Tournament fishing is a different beast.  What I have seen over the years is the guy who is a terror on his home lake, and begins to think that it is no big deal, until they have to do it against some of the best sticks around on unfamiliar water.  You have to be able to do it all no matter the conditions.  When I was with the lure company in the 70’s he supported a great local fisherman.  BASS came to Bull Shoals and he won, which was a freakin’ big deal.  And when it came time to hit the road he never won again.  It is a tough life, home sweet home it is not.  And funny how some of the tourney guys post when they win, then not a peep when they don’t do so well.  That is one thing about the blog, when it sucks I am stuck with it and you have to listen to it.  With that said I plan on fishing the local jackpot tournaments on Coleto this summer as soon as I find a partner.  Guess I am a glutton for punishment.

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Tomorrow I will be joining Glen, another reader, for a day of wading at POC.  He reported catching some fish, but had trouble with shorts.  He is interested in lure fishing, which is out of his comfort zone.  Not sure what I can do to help that along, but no matte what it will be great to fish with another reader.  I have met some great folks through this blog. either in person or through comments, and I appreciate it.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Brought to you by

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

I am really looking forward to fishing with Fred and David today.  A couple of hard core tourney fishermen Fred contracted me a while ago wanting to know if I could fish with him and spread a little swim jig knowledge.  Not sure what I can really show them, but I am looking forward to the day.  For some reason I am always a little apprehensive fishing with new folks, and in this case it is a little more than normal but that is what makes guiding and tournament fishing what it is.  After fishing hundreds of tournaments in my early years the guys now are light years ahead of what we did in the days of flasher electronics, cigar style boats, and when graphite rods were a new thing. And I sure do not want to mess up their practice for a coming tournament, they have their ways and don’t need me to add to their confusion.  But like I always say, you don’t know until you go.

Weather

84/66  Cloudy becoming partly cloudy.  Wind SSW 5 -10.  10% chance of rain.

Solunar Times

Good 11:03 am to 1:03 pm.  (Only relevant period today.)

Lake Level

Today  96.69   Thurday  96.73   (The slow decline continues.)

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All I Have to Say is WOW!

There were people, boats, jet skis, tubers, and a ton of folks fishing.  Every parking lot was full and it was overflow parking.  It has been a while, in fact never, when I have been on the lake and it was that busy.  (Reminded me why I don’t fish many weekends.)  Since David and Fred drove over from San Antonio we met at 8:30.  By time we got on the water the lake crowd had a full head of steam.  And it looked like there was at least 2 tournaments going, not to mention several folks from their club who were practicing for a tournament next week.

We only had one plan, they wanted to swim jig fish, and that we did.  It started off slow, and because we stayed with the swim jig it remained slow.  It took David a little to get the hang of, and unfortunately David never did quite get it right.  It is not as easy as it would seem.

David with one of the 3 or so like this, the rest were small.

We fished from all the way uplake, where it was stacked with boats in the morning, (The most I have ever seen “up” there.) to a big cove near the plant.  If I had to guess we might have scratched out a tournament limit, but only 3 during the day were “ok”.  I give them tons of credit, they stayed with the program in spite of slow fishing.  Occasionally we would toss the senko style bait at hardwoods, and like I said the other day, that is the pattern right now, and for what little we did that the bites were regular.  But we soldiered on.  They were determined to get the feel, the only way to become competent with a bait is to stay with it until you get the “point”.

Unlike the last couple of trips, or months it seems, there was literally no wind.  Oh the lament of the fisherman, “It is windy every freakin’ day, now there is not a lick.”  It is why we keep going, because every once in while it all lays out perfect, unfortunately today was not that day.  But when it is all said and done I hope they learned something.  You have to start somewhere, and while at times they slam that swim jig, today they were just getting on.  It led to them having a tough time when the fish would just do the swim up behind and eat it without having a “hit”.   Actually it might be for the best, as tough as the bite was, next time they give it a go hopefully not only will they catch more fish, but some will actually result in a “hit’, which makes it a lot easier to catch them.  And today was a perfect example of experience, it is amazing how often I set the hook on the swim jig before my mind ever registers a hit.  And the way they have been eating it is not the easiest bite on the lake.

They are fishing today, and the conditions could not be better this morning.  A little windy out of the south, cloudy, and there is a big ass cold from coming with north winds to 30 arriving this afternoon.  Hope they get on the big bite before it gets here, and I am sure the traffic is not nearly as spectacular as yesterday.  My only complaint about our day together, I could have fished better.  Guess that is why they call it fishing.  But it did remind me of why tournament fishing is what it is, you have to catch them no matter what, conditions, traffic, it does not matter.

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I got a chance to stop in Cabela’s Friday and the plan was to pick up some swim jigs and assorted other stuff I can’t live without, but keep it to a dull roar.  But of course we did find a great deal on a pair of Simm’s wading boots that were regularly $225 at $80.  Having small feet, deal likes this come up every once in a while, and at $80 could not pass them up.  And with a trip to Alaska on the bucket list they actually fit the wife so she will be stylin’ when we are there, and I now have a spare pair.  And she picked up a one of those bug repellant Exofficio shirts.  Can’t wait to see how well it works in the Amazon.  I have my doubts, but if you want to put that to the test the Amazon would seem to be the place.   Funny how a couple of swim jigs turns into a couple sacks of stuff.

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There will be some serious fish catching travel going on around here the next few months and I could not be more excited.  First it will be Peru at the end of April with some offshore fishing followed by a little fishing in the Amazon.  How cool is that?  Then a week after I get back it looks like I will be off with the Wade Right guys and some of their friends on a 3 day house boat trip to the Chandeleur Islands.  That has always been on my bucket list and has some of the best wade fishing in the country.  And then a couple of weeks after that it will be joining the Austin Boys for 3 days of fishing in Port Mansfield.  It might have been a little slow around here at times last year but I am back with a vengeance.

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I want to thank Fred and David for taking me fishing yesterday, I really like fishing with new folks, especially when they bring the boat!  And I promise not to whisper a word about the Biffle Bug.  Depending on this front, it is 11:00 Sunday morning as I type this, Jeffish and Korbin are thinking about camping on Coleto and doing some jugging for catfish.  If it happens I will be heading out there later to catch bait and toss jugs.  I have done that occasionally for years, and love finding a big cat pulling the jug under.  As a side note, when we did that for cats on Lake Norfork we would find the occasional big striper on the line.  After that I will be looking for a day or two on the bay.  Then it is off to Nashville for a quick weekend trip, then 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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**For a super deal on your Wade Right use promo code FCT15 and get 15% off on your online order!**

Tip of the Day

When using a swim jig there are 3 basic types of trailers you need.  A 3 – 4″ paddle tail swim bait, usually fished with the white jig when duplicating a shad, a big craw with aggressive claws like the Rage Craw, and a more subtle craw like the Zoom Super Salt Craw Jr.  They cover most situations including cold, warm, and off colored water along with the preferred prey.

Tomorrow I continue the swim jig fishing on the lake.  I got just enough taste Tuesday to think it should be better tomorrow, and the weather sure looks like it will cooperate.  Possibly the topwater fishing should pick up also.  And added to the mix will be the white swim jig as there is a good chance with the warming weather that the shad will spawn some mornings.  Hopefully I can round out the pattern some so when I fish with some new folks on Saturday we can cut to the chase.

Weather

71/55 Partly cloudy becoming cloudy.  0% chance of rain.  Wind ESE 10 -15.  (It was definitely 15+ all day.)

Solunar Times

Good  9:53 to 11:53 am.  Best  4:04 to 6:04 pm.  (The morning bite has been better.)

Lake Level

Today  96.73 msl   Tuesday   96.74 msl  (The slow decline continues, we need some rain.)

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]

This is the reason I do not swim in the lake.  I saw 3 this size today.

I made it out at about 8:30 and fished until 3:30.  The wind was a steady 15+ mostly out of the east, and the water temp was down as much as 4 – 6 degrees in some places and the air temp was 48.  To go along with that there are beds everywhere, though only a couple had fish on it that I could see.  I am not a bed fisherman but if you are pick a cove, almost any cover and there are beds every where, not to mention the tilapia, which if you are a bow fisherman, time to load up.

Starting up lake the plan was to fish the white swim jig primarily, and though I did finally start catching some on it later, including some down lake, most were small.  Of the 10 or so maybe 2 measured, maybe.  They definitely wanted it reeled fairly fast and jerked and hopped erratically and like the other day most came close to the bank.

This is what the white swim jig fish looked like today.  Got the bites but no size.

But I have learned one thing for sure, they will bite it, but the swim jig is not the go to bait right now.  What is?  Plastics and Bang O Lure for how little I threw them, definitely produced the better fish.

This one thumped the snot out of it.  To bad I broke another on the next cast.

My day started off with a couple of hiccups.  Before I switched to the white for the bluegill swim jig I reeled it by some brush and I could feel the line hanging, so pulled back trying to get it over the wood and one just smoked it and broke the line when I set the hook.  So I went to the white but when I went by deep brush it would be the stick worm in watermelon red.  The first place I caught the one above, and then promptly broke one off in the same pile.  So now with my superior skill I have broke off 2 good ones.  (I finally checked my drags and a couple of them were still set on Falcon time!  Stupid.)

Love that Bang O Lure in the spring.

But I soldiered on with the swim jig, but occasionally throwing the Bang O Lure, which added a couple to the pot and a couple of misses.  The wind was making it a little tough but it was clear, the senko and Bang O Lure was by far a better choice.  There was a little slow period but I did have a little run in 2 places on the white swim jig in the afternoon.  They were on shallow banks with scattered cover and most hit it on after a jerk or a hop, though a couple hit on a straight retrieve.

The little cold front we had last night really did affect the shallow fish.  If we could just get a couple of days of really stable weather and water temperature, along with warm nights the fishing would improve dramatically.  I think I caught an easy dozen, but would have been hard pressed to squeak out a limit.  And cover is still the key, there were shallow fish today, and I think the jerk shad may be the way to go.  If the wind is right that will be the next project.  I give the day a B and they were biting a little better when I quit.

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It was good to hear from POC Elaine.

I always scan my inbox for Fish Catchin’ Travel when I open . Always interesting and I pick up good tips! Thank you!

Thanks for your kind words, it is always nice to know you all are out there.  Hopefully you got a little something you can use down there at POC.

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Next it will be fishing with a reader and his tournament partner on Saturday.  Taking the weather forecast with a grain of salt it is supposed to be around 90 degree Saturday, it could be interesting.  Whether or not the swim jig plays much of a role is to be determined.  If I had to catch fish the stick worm would probably  be my choice, unless it was cloudy and drizzling with a light wind, then it would be the Bang O Lure all day.  Then my buddy Jeffish and his son will be fishing with me a couple days as Korbin is on spring break, where is yet to be determined.  I think I will try to keep this fishing 4 days a week thing going, get it while the getting is good.  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 of the Day

It only takes a second to attach the kill switch, it may save your life.  Do it for the folks in your life who love you.

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I had a good time yesterday fishing the bay and looks like I made a good call as to the order of where I fish this week.  It is raining this Tuesday morning as I type this.  I am just waiting for it to settle down some to head to the lake as it is thundering pretty regularly.  I hope to get in a long half day today.  I am meeting a couple of tourney guys for some fishing Saturday and it would be nice to get in a day or two on the lake prior to fishing with them.  Somehow they got the notion that I might have a clue about fishing the swim jig, so time to go see if I can make them eat it.

Weather

75/46  Rain early then clearing.  90% chance of rain.  Wind NE 10 – 20.

Solunar Times

Good 8:12 to 10:12 am.   Best  2:23 to 4:23 pm.

Lake Level

Today  96.74 msl.   A week ago  96.76 msl.   (We need the rain.)

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At 8:30 it was off to the lake.  It was still raining and 48 degrees when I got there.  As soon as the boat was off the trailer and parking the truck it started pouring.  So I hung out a little until it slacked off.  The water temp was down a few degrees, and some of the coves have a little tint from some runoff, which also dropped them several degrees.

The goal was to make them eat a swim jig.  It has been a slow spring for me, especially the swim jig bite.  Of course the complete lack of grass has definitely slowed it’s effectiveness the last couple of years.  But since the plan was to make them eat, I stuck with it excusively until 12:20.  I fished up lake and most of the fish came off cover of some sort, none way off the bank.

Not a giant but glad to have her.

Before I started back down lake I caught 7 bass on the swim jig and 2 catfish.  Both of them were tight to cover and smacked it.  It only took a minute to figure out what they were, and if they are up like that they are heading to the beds.   Of the 7 bass only a couple were okay, the rest small.  It definitely helped that the clouds stayed until after noon.  Once they were gone, and the high pressure which will dominate our weather for several days moved in, the fishing slowed considerably.

Catfish city.  They don’t hit lures often, but when they do it only takes a second to figure out it is a cat.

I stuck with the bluegill color and a watermelon red craw trailer, though will add a white next trip.  If the cast was perfect and you could swim it right by cover they would hit.  If not, the occasional hop several feet off the bank, produced the occasional bite.  There was nothing after about half way back.   I did miss several who either pecked it, or started swimming with it.  It was easy to see it has not been a staple on the end of my line this winter, I would have caught several of those.  So not a bad few hours, not great, but at least a few were willing.  Then it cleared up so it was time to fish down lake.

Ok if you need to fill a limit, but not enough to win on Coleto.

It was slow after that and I only boated 2 until I quit, both on spinnnerbait.  Missed one on the Bang O Lure and did not have a touch on the swim jig.  Just not sure what that is about.  No place filled me with confidence but I did have one big ass bite, which unfortunately I missed.  Buzzing a spinnerbait and when it got close to the boat I reached down to move the trolling motor letting the bait sink right by the boat, when a freakin’ big one came out of nowhere and absolutely smoked it with 4 foot of line out.  I got a slam hook set, and nothing but bait back, almost.

Look how far she bent it, crazy.  She smashed it flat and ate the blade.  No wonder I missed her.

That big fish literally ate that whole spinnerbait and when I set the hook it was compressed in her mouth, bent, and slid out.  Crazy as a it just happened at Falcon, which makes it twice this month.  It takes a big fish with a big mouth to eat that whole thing, and that one is swimming around with a #5 willow leaf in her stomach.  So while it was a bummer, it is also one of those things that you have to see to believe.

So there you have it.  At 4:30 I gave it up, it was clear the front had put them off their feed.  Nothing spectacular, but a good warm rainy day and it could be epic.  It was nice to catch a few on swim jig, not sure that is the pattern, but I am going to fish it at least another day this week before I meet those guys this weekend.  Who knows, it just might turn into a pattern.  Usually we are trying to find the bait they want, today was making them eat something intentionally, different from your average days on the water but an interesting way to spend the day.  The good fishing to come is all contingent on the end to these cold fronts, which when combined with a continually falling lake, has kept it tough.  Several of the coves  I was in today had beds, but other than a few tilapia, I didn’t see any bass on them and the water temp was 5 degrees lower in some of them.

Tomorrow it is finish the taxes and get them to the CPA, mow the lawn, get some groceries, and do all those things that keeps our life going but mess up the fishing.  Then it will be right back at it, with intentions to fish another 3 days this week.  Then it will be some bay fishing for a few days next week, though all the water will be busy with most of the schools and colleges on spring break.  And just wanted to take a minute to express my appreciation to everyone who reads the blog.  At times it becomes a chore, and then I hear from a few of you and it renews my determination to keep it up.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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

Tip of the Day

Next time you see some in the store pick up a package of Flambeau Zerust Plastabs and put a couple in all your tackle boxes.  Trust me it is a money (lure) saver.  I started using it a couple of years ago and it is worth every penny at $5.99.

I am constantly looking at the 10 day weather forecast for both lake and bay.  It at least give you a general idea of what is to come.  Of course things change, but looking at this week is a perfect example of why it is important if you fish both bay and salt.  Tomorrow is the best wind day this week for the bay, and the island shoreline should be good with a light chop and there should be some clouds.  The rest of the week higher winds are expected so time to hit the bay.  It definitely is not a low tide day, actually it will be more of a flat high tide day, but just like the forecast you don’t know until you go.  I am interested in trying both new baits from My Coast Outdoors, including the solid body.  And with some cloud cover the topwater will definitely get some serious work.  Hell I am getting excited thinking about it and I can’t wait for tomorrow.  (It is Sunday afternoon as I type this.)

Weather

79/60.  Partly to mostly cloudy with occasional stray shower.  20% chance of rain.  Wind S 10 – 20.

Tides

Low   1:19 AM    -0.1
High   8:45 AM   0.2
Low   1:52 PM     0.1
High   6:13 PM    0.2

Solunar Times

Good  7:19 to 9:19 am.  Best  1:31 to 3:31 pm.  (Caught them during both periods.)

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There is a method to my madness.

When I hit the road at 5:45 for POC the wind was really blowing.  I was apprehensive driving down there that it might be rough, but it turned out to be perfect.  There was only 3 trucks in the lot when a pickup parked next to me and out comes Jarrod who was going fishing with friends.  Now that is a sportsman, spend all day in the outdoors and then fish when he is off, perfect.  I worked with him at Academy and he is in his first year as a game warden in the Zapata area.  He is a good guy and the kind of person that we need more of in law enforcement.  So we shot the breeze until I had to get fishing so off I went.

It was not their lucky day, but it will be ours when they are sizzling in the pan.

The wind was perfect and the run to the island was quick.  The water temp was basically 71 everywhere I fished today.  It was about 8:00 before I finally jumped over the side and first up was a deep drain.  Normally I catch fish there pretty consistently but today not a bite on either topwater or the Controlled Descent Paddle Shad in the new solid body watermelon red flake.  They just were not there, not a bite.  So I eased out and headed down the bank knee deep tossing the topwater, casting to the bank and then out as far as I could.   And the good thing, mullet.  Remember this time of year you can almost cruise areas and find bait, then the fish.  Most of the bites came in less than 2 foot, and you had to move slow.

Love my Wade Right belt.

For the next couple of hours I moved very slow, it was super clear and they were basically knee deep and really spooky.  It was classic topwater redfishing.  The Bagley Knocker B has been a consistent producer for me since I started throwing it, and plenty got after it.  Of the 6 I caught on that bank, 5 did not get it on the first blowup.  You had to just keep it moving with little twitches in the walk the dog pattern, and they would finally eat it.  Jerk before you felt them and it was a clean miss.  A couple of nice ones missed it and one good one pulled off.  And you could see the occasional follow, but for every one that hooked up 3 or 4 did not commit.

One on the Controlled Descent and the size run for the day on topwater.

I stayed with it longer than I should have, but love that topwater.  Before leaving that bank one more made the boga on the Controlled Descent.   There was not even a swing and a miss from a trout so time for a move.   And I did fish both flats on each side of the drain.  With the wind just right to lightly blow on the Barroom shoreline I headed over there.  It was not even 3 casts before a red jumped on, and I was thinking it was gonna happen.  But it didn’t, in fact I never had another bite there.  So it was time for a radical change.

It has been awhile since I fished Big Bayou out of the boat, so why not?  It turned out to be perfect.  I hit one place where they always are, and guess what?  The trout were there.  The tide was moving lightly and the wind was perfect to fish the deep bank.  From that point on, on both watermelon red 3″ paddle tail and the Controlled Descent Paddle Shad, the bite was on.  It took maybe 1/2 hour to catch about 20, with a few rat reds mixed in, and fill my limit with a couple of good ones.  They were about 3 foot deep and would smack it.  About 3:00 with fish to clean it was time to call it a day.

I may not be the best trout fisherman, but when they are stacked up it makes it easy.

It has been awhile since I fished the salt but the fishing is good in spite of me not having a clue, and will only get better this month.  I am still not “on” the trout, but plan on fixing that in the weeks to come.  But anytime you catch 10 reds and 20 trout is a success.  Well worth the drive.

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I got this from my buddy Clyde who is also trolling a fishing show or two.

Saw a 80,000 plus Ranger 50th anniversary ed edition and it didn’t have power poles !!!! That was at the Omaha Sport show ;Paul says hi!

Wow.  Just my point on the manufacturers producing more moderately priced boats.  Sorry Ranger but that is crazy!  (My old fishing buddy and occasional tournament partner was the floor manager for Ranger and I must admit I liked riding in a new boat every time one came out.)  And I am sure it was good to see Paul from Muskie Bay Resort.  I am still mulling over a trip there this year, but as usual, so many places so little time.  And I hope to get back to Arkansas for a couple of days.  Good to hear from you and tell your lovely wife hi.

As a side note if you are ever thought of making the trip to Canada, Muskie Bay is a great choice.  From basically all inclusive, to a more do it yourself trip, they can take care of you.  Not only does Crow Lake offer great muskie and lake trout fishing, it is right down the road from Lake of the Woods, a must location for a bucket list trip.  Check out their website, they are great folks who will do all they can to make your Canada trip a success.

http://muskiebayresort.com/

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If  you are a CCA member it is time to think about renewing your membership.  Not only do they give us a voice, by renewing early for the Star Tournament you are automatically entered into the drawing for a boat.  Hell, somebody has to win it, might as well be you.  I actually know someone who caught a tagged redfish, and he was the only one in the boat without a membership, it happens.  So if you are going to set foot in the salt even once this year do it now.  And a side benefit is the couple of $10 gift certificates from Academy they usually send every year.  Nothing beats free stuff!

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And I got this from SA Joe, sorry I wasn’t clear and obviously my spelling left something to be desired.

Is this the woodys custom rods you were talking about selling the rods? Or the other one??
https://www.facebook.com/Woodys-Custom-Wrapped-Fishing-Rods-120387521331962/ (houston)

When you were at the houston show, do the big boys show up like Shimano rods? Or someone selling them? I’m having a hard time finding Shimano Crucial.

It is Woodys from Houston, sorry about that.  And as far as the show they had a booth and there was plenty of other rods to buy.  Fishing Tackle Unlimited is always there with a bunch of rods and reels with lots of brands and options.  I got out of there relatively cheap, but got the fluorocarbon I use for $6.50 a spool and a bunch of marked down baits, also what I use.  So if you have never made it there put it on your calendar, well worth the drive.  Good to hear from you.

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What is not to like this time of year?  The white bass are running, the bass are spawning, and the bay is heating up.  It gets tough to decide where to go sometimes, but no matter what it is time to be on the water.  I will be looking for a couple of days in a row like this to make the Upper Laguna trip if the timing is right.  As far as the next couple of weeks I will be lucky enough to fish with some new folks this weekend then the following week.  Funny how just thinking about it I start to put pressure on myself to produce.  But hey, I asked for it.  It will definitely be fishing in the morning.  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

Before you leave the driveway walk around the boat and trailer.  Lights work, rims tight and greased, tie downs and winch strap ok, air in the spare, any new rust, motor turn over?  Taking 2 seconds can save you hours of trouble and maybe even big $$$$.

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I had my usual great time at the Houston Fishing Show.  They claim they are now the largest in the country and while I have no clue if it is true it is one great show.  The only other outdoor show I have attended that was in the same class is the Tulsa show, which has tackle, boats, and RV’s.  (Funny story time –  The last time we attended the Tulsa show Jimmy Houston was there with his marina and tackle booth and the Boss leaned over and said – “I thought he was bigger”.)

First up I stopped by the Coastal Fishing Gear booth, makers of the Wade Right fishing belt.  Both Tim and Jason were on hand, it was their 8th year at the show, and as usual it was good to see them.  This year they added a fly box to their line of wading products, which also includes a really innovative fly rod holder.  The box is big enough for the large flies used in saltwater and includes the clip to attach it to the Wade Right like their other small tackle boxes.  So if you are a fly fisherman, fresh or salt, take a look at the rod holder, it can keep your rod and reel off the bank or out of the water if you are changing flies or releasing a trout.  They are having a good show and I wish them the best of luck for the rest of the show.

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Next up I headed to the My Coast Outdoors booth where I got to shoot the breeze with Michael and met his dad.  Incidentally his father actually made the molds for the Controlled Descent Lures.  Since Michael came out with the Controlled Descent Lures his company is growing as folks begin to really appreciate the possibilities of being able to actually control how the bait’s atttitude.  My favorite, whether deep or shallow. is the way it will suspend level, they just can’t stand it.  And I will be throwing the Pearl Silver Jerk Shad on Coleto to take advantage of the shad spawns to come.

The latest addition is 2 new colors, a watermelon red color, which is still my favorite fresh or salt, and a Purple Demon Limetreuse in the Paddle Shad.  He also had a few in the solid body and is seeing how it goes at the show and is mulling over adding solid bodies to the line.  And I really like the cool hats.  In this day and age the clothing aspect of the fishing business had become a big part of it.  Who would have “thunk” it?  I probably own more “fishing clothes’ than I do regular clothes.  I can look as good as anybody while I am not catching fish.  So good luck Michael, great to watch My Coast Outdoors grow.

As far as the rest of the show the one thing I like seeing is something I have been preaching about for years, the smaller, lighter, and less expensive boats.  There has been a market of for that style of hard core fishing machine without all the frills and there were multiple on dispay.  Easy to tow, good on gas, easy entry into the market, there is a place for them in the boating industry.  One thing many of them posses for the saltwater fisherman is access to areas otherwise not accessible with a bigger boat.  There were plenty of boats at the show between inexpensive and stupid expensive.  And of course the other end of the spectrum was represented with the likes of New Water Boat Works.  Not sure $80K will put more fish in the boat but you sure will look like you know what the hell you are doing.  (Maybe!)

There was one booth, sorry I never checked who they actually were, but they had some great deals.  I bought 3 spools of fluorocarbon that were less than half of what it is at Academy, and several hard baits which were ridiculously cheap.   Other than that I did not see anything else I could not live without.  But just like every year I left feeling motivated to fish harder and longer.  Just walking around and chatting with folks and seeing what this business had to offer was worth the trip.  So if you have not ever attended it is well worth your drive, just be sure to bring the wallet.

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 Those of you who read this stuff know I often spend Saturday morning watching fishing, and this morning is no different.  The Muskie Hunter is on Cave Run in Kentucky  (Would like to fish it some time, it also has some really huge stripers.) this morning and watching them catch muskies gets my blood running.  They are such a cool fish and give a new meaning to freshwater predator.  Catching my big one was one of my great fishing accomplishments and it would be nice to repeat.Sorry if you have seen this before but I still get excited looking at her!  That is a freakin’ monster by any measure.  And catching her on 10lb line with a Red Eye Shad rattle bait on my smallmouth rod made it all that much better.

The point of this?  As I try to decide where my week or 2 long fishing trip will be this year I am having a real problem deciding what and where to go.  A Florida trip would be fine, back to Lake of the Woods in Ontario is a possibility, and a fall trip to fish the streams of Southern Colorado has been on my mind since our trip there this year.   The advantage of Colorado, no need to take the boat.  The others are long tows, but at least being able to stay at least a week or two makes it worth it.  The trip to Peru next month should give me a little fish catching travel to tide me over until I make some final decision.  It’s a tough life.

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Tip for the Day #2

You can read all the fishing reports you want, talk to them at the tackle store or marina, there are lots of ways to get a good report.   Well I know another.  Coming back on Hwy 59 there were at least a dozen trucks at the ramp on Lake Texana.  There is nothing more to say about that except – Go Get Your Crappie On!  As soon as that ramps starting filling up the bite is on and with the warming temps better get it while it’s hot.  There are some serious crappie in that lake.  (And they are going on Coleto as I speak.)

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Here is a little review of the Lew’s Speed Spool LSP, I give them an A+.  I got 3 last month and so far could not be happier.  It is light weight and my favorite part, they cast a mile, you can almost empty the spool.  They handle light line well, at Falcon it did ok with 20lb test, though it is built for less and as I fish 10 – 14lb as a rule it fills the bill.  So now it is a question of just how long they last.  When it has the misfortune to have me as an owner they will get a work out, I will let you know what I think after a year of hard use.  Interestingly, when I had my tackle store in the mid 70′ they came on the scene and it was a must have.  I loved mine but they disappeared from the market and it was great to see them back.  At $50 it was “expensive” for those days.  Now look at the cost of a fine reel, about what I paid for my 15hp Johnson in the old days.

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I may just slip out early in the morning even though it is a Sunday.  While I prefer to leave it to the weekend warriors I have not fished enough in the last couple of weeks so think I will start the week off strong.  Spring is here and I feel a little revived after a somewhat slow winter.  And to the rest of you, have not heard from some of you in while, so if you have a report, picture, or just a bitch drop us a line.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Brought to you by

No better time to pick one up than the Houston Fishing Show!

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Thought For the Day

Why do you rarely push the gas peddle to the floor in your car but feel it is necessary to do it in the boat?

Beautiful!

Unfortunately I give the Boss’s weekend birthday in New Mexico a 3 out of 10, and I was the problem.  We make the 11 hour drive, check in, head to Inn of the Mountain Gods where we had some free play and $30 of free food.  We are there less than an hour when I start to feel a little rough.  I hadn’t eaten lunch so we did that, but no dice.  So exactly 1 hour after we get there I have a snot slinging head full, sneezing, coughing, aching, piece of crap cold, I mean a giant.  So great.  Now I am sick, and to make matters worse, our hiking plan are further foiled when the wind literally blew a steady 25+ all weekend with gusts easily topping 50mph.  I mean it blew, and then blew some more.  When the truck was parked it would literally rock, it was insane.

I have seen more turkeys in the Ruidoso area in 5 or 6 trips than I have the rest of my life in the outdoors combined.   They are everywhere.

We did manage to do some scouting in the national forest for future hiking and saw the usual bunch of mule deer.  We managed to have a little bit of other fun, but dang it, I was hoping it was going to be a great weekend.  She soldiered on like the trooper she is and here I am home 5 days later and feeling like a mile of bad road.

Weather

61/79  Cloudy in a.m. then clearing and windy.  Winds S 20 – 30.  Chance rain 10%.

Solunar Time

Best  9:03 am to 11:03 am.

Lake Level

Today  96.76 msl   6 days ago 96.80

After looking at the weather for Wednesday it was obviously a lake day with gusts to 30mph.  So not sure what will happen tomorrow but I am fishing no matter what.

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A big boy.

Like I said the other day, why do they get it absolutely right when they forecast high winds?  Unfortunately they were right on today.  When I got to the lake it was blowing at least 20, then got really cranked up, and it never let up one bit before I called it a day.

*******************The Houston Fishing Show is this week, no better time to stock up!

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And speaking of forecasts, the solunar table could not have been any more correct.  I caught a good dozen during that period, and then from noon until quitting at 2:00, one little one and not another bite.  The water is fairly clear and was 67 degrees at the ramp at 7:30, getting to the mid 70’s in some coves in the afternoon.  There are tilapia bedding and I saw a couple of bass, but with the winds it was tough to really get a feel for what is going on.

Enjoying the heat of the day.  His back was covered with dried mud.

Starting with spinnerbait on the second cast a small one jumped on, so I stayed with it a while, putting 4 more bass and a white bass in the boat.  There were shad flipping and it sunk in my pea brain, shad spawn.  The water temp is right and it will happen in the mornings for a while so keep your eye out.  At this point the wind was freakin’ howling so it was time for a crankbait. Both a regular shad looking bait, and a Bagley Rattlin’ B Minus in the Realistic Shad, caught fish.  2 small catfish even joined the party, smacking the snot out of it like they are want to  do.  3 white bass added to the mix, they are clearly spawning up lake, along with another 3 or 4 small bass.

Crankbait fish.  The bass is the best I could do today, it was tough.

I don’t think I had a big bite today, it was really tough fighting the wind, of course that was where the fish were.  And the few places that did not have any were completely barren, including the back ends of 2 really good spawning coves.  It was definitely the wind pounding on the banks with shad flipping.  Speaking of calm places, I figured a fish or two would hit a Bang O Lure in the back ends, but that was not happening.  Before the wind got completely crazy one did smack it after twitching it a time or two and reeling it slow making a wake.  That had the potential to be killer today with a moderate wind, but it was a little more than “wind”.  And if I had to do it all over again when the shad were happening the white swim jig would have been the ticket.  So if you get a chance to fish Coleto watch for the shad, it was definitely where the fish were.

As I was heading in I saw something that was just plain crazy.  Understand there where serious white caps, and I mean big ones for Coleto, and here comes a small jon boat with 3 people in it.  I saw no life jackets and it was plowing.  Now I may be crazy and have no room to talk, but I hope I would have stayed at the house.  On the plus side today the wildlife was out, ducks everywhere, deer, a couple of gators, things were happening this morning.  I should have been out at daylight.

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RANT

By time you read this a fishing day will be lost thanks to the “guvment”.  Today is do our taxes day, something that has to be done and is a chore.  And I only have one comment on the current state of affairs – For what we are paying we are being flat ripped off!  Hell why don’t they just go ahead take the rest of it and give it to someone else who did not earn it?  They have already taken care of themselves.  People work their whole life and after a little success the money grubbing politicians decide that your money is their money.  And don’t get me started on “Parties”.  It has taken decades under both “Parties” to get here, and both are equally to blame.  So keeping with my current philosophy – “Vote out each and every incumbent no matter the party, maybe they will get the hint.”  As you can tell I am not to pissed off.  Happens every year.

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Friday it will be off to the Houston Fishing Show.  It will be great to see the guys from Wade Right and Michael of Controlled Descent Lures.  Not only are their products great, they are home grown Texans trying to make it in a tough business.  So every chance I get I try to patronize local, buying the “name brand” stuff is fine, but you are supporting corporations who are living the high life on your money.  So support you local folks, they need and deserve it.  And there are plenty of good deals at the show.

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And speaking of buying local I got this tip from John.  Woodee custom rods is going out of business and are selling out the last of their inventory.  My understanding is they have spinning rods left.   https://www.facebook.com/WoodysCustomRods/

They were advertised at $80 (originally sold for $200), but he let us have all we wanted at $60. (No warranty at this price) The bait casters all gone but he has med action 6’6″, 6’9″, 7′, and 7′ 6″ spinning rods. They have all cork handles and have fast tapers. I especially like the 6’9” and 7’6″.  If any of your friends want some, Mason said its okay to give out his cell.

Hope you and your wife have a great trip.

Thanks for the tip so if you are in the Houston area give him a call, you will not find a better deal on a custom rod.  If you think you might want one drop me a note and I will give you his number, the price is sure right, I just don’t want to put his number out there.  And thanks for reading, I always love to hear from new folks, and would love to hear from the rest of you.  And as far as our trip, see above.

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One more thing about the wind, it has even chased me to New Mexico and Amistad.  Time for it to give it a rest.  Fishing in 20mph plus is doable depending on the body of water, but it sure is a hassle.  As an example, while I was fighting a fish it blew me to close to the bank where the trolling motor hit a stump and snapped the transducer off the trolling motor.  And easy fix, but just an example of things that happen when it is howling.  All I have to say is I am sick of it.

Friday it is off to the Houston Fishing Show, then this weekend I owe my buddy Jeffish a trip as we planned to go the weekend I went to Amistad.  He has a relative in town and I will be taking them out for trout if the wind does not blow to freakin’ hard.  So that is it for a couple of days.  It has been tough the last few trips, but the good thing about that is it always turns around, and this time of the year when it does it will be great.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines