FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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I spent the long weekend on South Padre with the Boss and some of her family.  I took a break and did not fish, just enjoyed the weekend and did some work on the blog.  Of course some good eats and family were part of the weekend.  I was hoping to fish Tuesday but with a forecast of wind to 30mph with storms I decided to do a few responsible things and fish starting Wednesday.  And I have to say again, the Bang O Lure is so hot right now I can barely stand to write this today (Tuesday) when I will not be fishing until tomorrow.

Wednesday

Weather

67/43   Sunny  NNW 10 – 20  0% chance rain

Solunar Times

Best  2:11 to 4:11 pm    Good   8:00 to 10:00 am  (Both times were consistent today.)

Lake Level

96.08 on 2/6/17.      96.17  2/14/17.  (It is clearly coming up.)

A Put on Your Big Boy Pants Day!

It was a balmy 47 degrees when I left the house, with a nice breeze of 20mph out of the N – NW, and it stayed that way all day.  The catching was not “tough”, but the fishing sure was.  I could not get to my 2 best places, and there were other places that were just not fishable.  But at least when I got to the lake I had already removed my head from my you know where and actually had a plan based on the conditions.

With an almost 40 degree temperature drop in 36 hours, an inch plus of 65 degree rain, and a mile high bluebird sky, I figured they would be tight to cover early, and they were.  There was no question they would not be in the backs today, and that also stayed true all day.  So it seemed the swim jig would be the ticket, and it was.  I did not catch a fish on anything else all day.

This was a nice  fish, solid.

Starting in a big cove without any real wood in it I put 3 in the boat there.  It also stayed like that all day.  One here, 3 there, in fact in only one place did I not catch a fish and a couple I caught 4 or 5.  Two places turned out to be the pattern, wood no more than half way in a cove early, and then later in the day it was calm spots with the sun beating down on it.  Those fish were shallow.

Happy with this size any day.

Spinnerbait, Bang O Lure, white swim jig, nothing.  But a slow steady retrieve with the bluegill/green Zoom Craw got bit.  Keep in mind, the wind is blowing hard, not only can’t get to my good places, but in some places I had a big bow in the line with the cross wind.  So catching fish basically from 8 until I quit at 4 was worth the effort, but it was work.  It was just tough fishing.

        Lots of ospreys around.     And the occasional catfish on the swim jig.

I have switched over to a Zoom Craw from the Rage Craw and I have found one great big difference, the Rage Craw is too soft.  I bought a bag of the Zooms and have caught a bunch on 10 of them.  I ran out and grabbed a Rage, and had 2 consecutive bites that did not hook up, but they ate the pincers off.  I had 2 torn up in 10 minutes.  The punch line, the Rage is $6, and the Zoom is $3, making them well worth it if you fish a lot.  And I can sure say that there has been no drop off since I switched.

It was very steady today in the middle of the coves, especially if there was a bend out of the wind with the sun on it.  Of course I missed and lost several, but before it  was over it was an easy 25+.  I actually saw a couple come out and eat, the green Cocoons were great today, perfect for the water color.  And I can not say it enough, see something deeper right now and there just might be a fish on it.  Today was one of those steady bites, not fast, but considering the conditions today was a success.

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After I put up the Lake of the Woods post in answer to Bill’s questions I got this from him a couple of hours later.

Thank you very much for not only your quick response but the excellent information . You nailed it perfectly, I could tell you know that with a group like ours we will have fisherman of all skill levels, your information will definitely make our trip a success. Many of us are taking son’s, grandson’s you might say a new generation of fishermen and I really want to them to have the best chance to have the most exciting Fishing experience possible, your information will insure of just that. I am excited as we will be House Boating which will allows us to spots right in the middle of this area.
I promise to give you a report and if you want with picture’s of this trip.

First it is so wonderful you are taking the kids.  To assure the survival of our sport we have to keep the generations coming.  And I am really jealous, the houseboat trip is on my bucket list.  So have a great time and we will be looking forward to hearing from you.

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And speaking of Billys, I got this from Edna Billy.

Well, I guess I need to beg along on a bass fishing trip with you as well.
Went to Coleto today. South wind was howling and there were a ton of boats on the lake(yeah, I know, weekend, don’t have a choice though). Between two of us, we caught, maybe 25 fish all day.

Well hey man, 25 ain’t chopped liver.  And if you did that on a weekend with that traffic it beats a kick in the head.  I will try to get over the “weekend” thing so we can go again, hate to see you suffering.  LOL!

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And congratulations to the fisherman who caught the new world record Kentucky bass.  I believe it was 11lbs 3ozs. which is a freak of nature.  I had heard about the big fish in that lake, and that is a big fish.  I may have caught one over 5lbs in my life, but that would be it.

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I really was satisfied with how it went today.  It was simply a matter of making sure the boat was in the best position possible, and then not messing up.  Several jumped off today because of the bow in the line I could not get a good hook set.  If it had not been for the braid I probably would not have know I had a bite.    Friday looks to be one of those days on the lake where you can put the real hurt on them.  If the water warms back up and clears some in the backs of the coves they will be hard at it.  So what exactly is next only tomorrow will tell, but the boat is on the truck.  And I love hearing from you so feel free to comment anytime.   Keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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Lake of the Woods  –  Trip of a Lifetime

Lake of the Woods Smallmouth

I got this question from Billy Ray, and I will do my best to help him and his group out.  It is a big one and requires a little more than a one word answer. (Like I can stop at one word anyway.)

Stumble across your site looking for information on Smallmouth Lake of Woods and really like your articles, very enjoyable reading thank you.
My Church group is making a Fishing trip the 3rd week of June to Sioux Narrows Ont.
Will be fishing at the head of long Bay in the Yellow Girl Bay area. What can you tell me about Smallmouth fishing in this area? What would recommend we throw and any suggestions. Is this in the approximately of Black Bear Bay that you have mention in previous articles? This is our first time in this part of LOW and any tips would be greatly appreciated.
To serve others is to serve Him
Bill Ray

First lets talk about lures.  It is really important that you consider the group, their abilities, and the equipment they will be using.  The thing that makes LOW what it is is the great variety of fish.  A trip there, as you know if you have been there, easily includes smallmouth, walleye, pike, and muskie.   So first lets consider lures.

                                                  Bear Bay smallmouth.

There is no way shape or form I would be caught dead on LOW without several Rapala Husky Jerks.  It catches smallmouth to beat the band, and everything else that swims.  The model I prefer is the smaller 3 hook, which I believe is #12, and also the next smaller size which is the 2 hook model 10.  Be sure you look them over to get the right size.  And we like any color, as long as it is the GOLD!  And as you can see above the fish on the right was caught on a Smithwick Suspending Rogue, which also works fine.  They like the Red Bream color, last trip it was the hot bait on several lakes we fished.

Clyde with a Bear Bay flyrod smallmouth caught on a popper.

Not being sure what equipment your folks will use, it needs to be thrown on at least a 12# test, again because it catches everything else in the lake.  And a wire leader, it can be a light one, is mandatory unless you like giving them up to toothy critters.  Now this bait is a jerk bait, and that is exactly what you do.  Throw it out there and jerk it under, let it sit as it will suspend, jerk it, let it sit, all the way to the boat, there is usually no doubt when you get a bite.  But I can not stress enough, take at least 2 or you might live to regret it.

And as far as topwater goes I would not want to forget 2 types of topwater.  First is a popper like a PopR or the Rapala Skitter Pop.  Easy to fish, fun to fish, this may be the easiest topwater to use as it is real apparent when you get a bite.  Like when it disappears in a toilet flush!  And to go along with that, a topwater Bagley Bang O Lure minnow in the 5 1/2″ is a sure fire killer.

The channel at the mouth of Bear Bay.

After those baits there are several options, again depending on skill level and tackle.  So lets talk about an easy bait.  One of the most popular baits up there, and down south, is a wacky rigged senko or stick worm.  It truly is a do nothing bait, just toss it out there, let it sink, and then twitch it, stop it, and hold on.  Green pumpkin is very popular, and I like watermelon red.  If you shop a little you will find that there are several brands that sell that do nothing stick worm, and  you can find bags of 8 or 10 for around $3 or $4.  Trust me in this department buying the more expensive ones get you nothing, they all work.  One of the problems is they get torn up but there is a way to minimize that by buying some O rings that fit them nice and tight, placing them in the middle of the worm, and putting your hook through there.   A weedless hook is an option but not a necessity.  It can be fished on everything from a push button Zebco to a $300 Shimano by all skill levels.  And of course tube jigs have been a staple on smallmouth there so are an option.

If you have some “fishermen” in the group with good equipment a buzzbait is great, and fun to fish.  White or chartreuse is fine, you just need a little faster retrieve reel.  And one bait that has appeared on the scene the last couple of years is the Whooper Plopper, a totally different hard bait style of buzzbait.  It is expensive but it catches big smallmouth, along with some ridiculous massive strikes from muskie and pike.

The entrance to Bear Bay.

Bear Bay is one of the greatest fishing spots on the face of this earth, and I really mean that.  The 3 times I have been there it was smallmouth, smallmouth, and more smallmouth.  Isolated and pristine, it is not only great fishing, it is an adventure to get there.  It is about a 50 minute run launching from Sioux Narrows.  Now please take this with a grain of salt – I do not have a clue how to get there.  We followed Clyde the first time and the other trips we had it on the GPS.  It is near Yellow Girl, and can be found on a map, it is actually close to a main channel marker.  The opening is small and easily missed but it is well worth the trip.  So the best I can tell you is find it on the map near Yellow Girl Bay.

My bucket list Muskie from Lake of the Woods.

And when you go in be careful, idle slowly as you pass through a couple of really shallow shoals until it opens into Bear Bay.  And there is a spot where I have seen folks cooking shore lunch on the left as you come in, if your group makes a day of it.  Really, between the 2 boats on past trips we caught a couple of hundred (And that is conservative!)  smallies a day.  It is not that large, I would call it a large pond or small lake, not a great place for a bunch of boats, but there is the smaller lake on the way in that also has largemouth and pike.

I hope this in some small way helps you out.  If you have any more questions please let me know.  And if you can, drop us a note and let us know how your trip goes.  I will not make it this year as there are other trips in the works, but just writing about it has me wanting to hitch up the boat and get on the road.  Have a great trip!

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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Not sure when my luck will turn on me, but it was not today.

Thursday I was headed out to take care of a bunch of stuff so Friday I would be free to fish.  Then my buddy Jeffish called and said they could do some plumbing work and was I going to be around.  Of course.  So him, his dad Ken, Alex, and Justin all rolled up and got to work.  They fixed all kinds of stuff that was needing it.  Crossroads Plumbing is a great company and does good work.  And that has nothing to do with him being my buddy.  They got a ton done, and it was inspected and finished Friday morning.   So the point of this?  Instead of getting the other crap done I needed to on  Thursday I had to wait until Friday morning so I was not able to get on the water until 1:00.

It was 70 degrees with a 15 – 20 wind out of the south, and while it had a good chance of rain it never did.  It stayed cloudy, with occasional sun, and I could feel it was gonna be good.  And it was.

Why I love the Bang O Lure.  I look forward to this every year!  Funny how pictures can be deceiving, the second fish here was quite a bigger.

There was at least 25 trailers at the ramp, looks like a busy weekend for Coleto.  There were bass boats buzzing around everywhere and there was a boat on most banks.  So figuring everything had been fished I just started in a cove.  Sometimes you get lucky, and today I did because the first stump I threw at in the back of a cove had fish on it.  It was a spinnerbait bite, and I missed it.  So I picked up the Bang O Lure and tossed it back to the same spot and she smoked it.  From then on it was the pattern.   And how lucky have I been lately?  I had a big fish come out of a stump and smoke the Bang O Lure, and my line broke when I set the hook.  I almost cried, and then it floated to the top.  My luck continues, but as we all know it can’t last.

The only other place I fished that was a little different from a cove was a creek channel I have been catching them on, and that place did not disappoint and it was an easy 10+ there.  Most of those came on the bluegill swim jig with a Havoc craw trailer.  And like it has been they just want it straight reeled at a steady pace close to the bottom.  On braid you can feel them if they barely touch it, or in some cases smack the crap out of it, cool bite.

     A few on swim jig, but the bulk of them were on the Bang O Lure.

At this point I probably boated a dozen on the Bang O Lure and swim jig in that area, and they almost all came out of wood.  So the next logical stop was a big cove with scattered wood all over it.  Now obviously that cove had been pounded during the day, it is a popular place.  But guess what?   They were there, and not just here or there, but on almost every good piece of wood.  Make a good cast to wood, twitch that minnow past it and hold on.  Nice ones, little ones, mediums, didn’t matter they were on the wood, especially the shady side.  Some areas are getting pounded, it is spring, but it was real obvious this afternoon that those areas are not being fished effectively.

That bank was covered up in wood and it was an easy 15, they were eating it under as it was jerked by wood, or sucking it off the top.  A couple actually did the spring time topwater bite and came out of the water and exploded on it.  You know the kind where the bait gets tossed in the air and you get to see the fish.  The best wood was in 3 feet to out as deep as 10.  You just had to make the Bang O Lure splash over the wood until they could not stand it.  And if they did not eat on top, or you could see them roll under it, then I would jerk it under and work it fast and erratic.  You can also catch them by throwing to the bank just twitching it right along on top.  They tend to be the smaller fish right now, but get a good warm cloudy day and it won’t be long before they are big fish.  But if you see anything below the surface, work it under and watch them roll out. y Cocoons are worth their weight in gold, you have to be able to see it.   But no matter what this freakin’ fishing is off the chart.

As I came out of the back end of the big cove a bass boat was coming at me on the other side, so he cut across real fast and cut me off.  As usual, I was in the skiff.  It had not been out in a couple of months so I wanted to run it.  Over the last 6 years since I have had 2 boats bass fishermen make some kind of assumption about the boat, which is stupid, but happens all the time.  It makes me sad that bass fisherman have come to this.  The only revenge was I kept following them for a little ways and caught 2 behind them.  I did not see anyone fishing that pattern today, but I did spread the news.

Another boat was coming my way and we stopped and chatted.  Thomas had fished the lake in the past, and today had caught 2.  So in the spirit of fishcatchingtravel I paid it forward just like the 2 guys did for me at the river the other day.  I filled him in on how to catch them, and told him about the web site.  Not a couple hours after I chatted with Thomas on the lake I got this comment on the blog.

I met you tonight on Colleto an wanted to tell you thanks for the tips! You hadn’t even left the cove an I caught a 4 pounder !!! I’m going out tomorrow again. I would love the chance to learn some more.

That is freakin’ awesome.  And kind of funny because I told him the site was about sharing truthful fishing information.  We all need to help each other out, watch our for each other, and quit making this some king of freakin’ contest.  It is not the size of your boat, or some other part, that makes you a fisherman.  Thanks for the comment Thomas, maybe we can get it organized to fish together some day.

And it was not all about the bass today.  I saw the eagle, which I assume is the one that was here last year.  That poor eagle got harassed by the ospreys on a regular basis last year.  Then I saw the real dinosaur, the giant alligator in the same cove as last year.  His back was covered in mud and he was sunning.  I grabbed the camera, but the minute I moved he exploded off the bank in a shower of water and mud.  It is so awesome to see the really big ones, they are cool, but that is one scary creature.

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SA Joe dropped this comment after my trip to the Nueces River.

You’re welcome. Glad you did ALOT better than my big fat zero when i went. I used my knowledge from fishing the red river lock n dam #5 and threw crank baits and Kastmasters lure to catch white bass there. Just didn’t work for me Dec 29th when I went. But i also fished way north at Airport Rd and it just got crowded. Was planning on heading south Wed but ended up going local and slayed some Lrg Mouths. Biggest was 5lbs today.

I only went about a mile or so above the Hwy 59  bridge so not really sure what the Airport Rd area is.  I trolled down river until there was a train bridge and fished some below that before I trolled back up.  But as I tend to do, when in doubt go bass fishing, and looks like you had a good day.  I appreciate the heads up on the whites, may try to do it one more time.  And as usual thanks for your participation.

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And speaking of white bass Ro dropped this comment on the Pedernales River, which I hope is my next destination.

Great white bass report Doug! Sounds fun! I ran all the way up the Pedernales River Friday: they weren’t up yet. Most bait and arches are midway up, but predominantly 10-13 inch lmbs. Will try again in a couple weeks.

Thanks for letting me know.  That little white bass extravaganza the other day has me itching for more.  Plus with good timing you can add a bonus striper or two on a good day.  When they start let me know, would love to hit that right.  And looking forward to the next time the Austin Boys head this way, always a good time.

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So there you have it, my great fishing luck continues.  It seems like I am in tune and fishing well.  And as anyone who really fishes a lot knows, it can’t/won’t last.  But I am going to ride this horse as long as it continues.  Going to a new spot has always been fun for me, sometimes it works, sometimes it sucks.  But the last few weeks has me itching for more.  But I have not forgotten about the salt.  It won’t be long, and I am still waiting for the perfect weather report so I can head to the Upper Laguna out of North Padre for a few days.  Please keep sending those comments and reports, it makes for a much better site.  It is hard to believe that this blog will be heading into year 7 this summer, who would have thunk it?  And the big thing, Australia is a little over a month away and visions of big fish on the Great Barrier Reef are dancing in my head.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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Like I said in yesterday’s post, I need a little change of scenery.  Over the years I have caught tons of white bass, and really do miss the annual run we had in Arkansas.  While Coleto has a small run there are a couple of places I have heard about and wanted to fish.  One is the Pendernales off of Lake Travis, the other is the Nueces River down south.  I got this post from Joe in SA and so early tomorrow I will head that way.  And as Joe says, see how I do.  This is fishcatchingtravel.com and lets see if I have a clue.  I used to be pretty good at it.  I am looking forward to a new place, and will probably wake up to dang early.

White Bass Are running on the Nueces River in George West. People have been fishing from the Airport and Route 59 ramps. Pictures in the facebook groups show them getting their 25 fish limits. The river at Airport ramp is narrow(can flip a bait across the river), my bass boat fits but wont run in the 4-8ft water there. The day i went at least 20 people went past me and churned the hell outta the water. Never caught one. Should have gone further south were it widened out. Make that drive and see how you do…

Weather

91/56  Partly Cloudy giving way to sun.  Wind W 10-15  10% chance of rain.

Solunar Times

Best 8:08 to 10:08  (Only period when I will be fishing.)

It has been to long since I just went somewhere without a clue.  I have seen prior reports online and always wanted to give it a go, so after Joe’s report time to see what happens.  I got to the ramp on Hwy 59 at exactly 7:00, and was first.  After putting in there were a couple of good old boys in a Mako so I strolled over and only asked one thing, up or down?  When you are up a river with a good spawning run, that is about the size of it.  Are they all the way up, on shallow shoals, or more downstream in the main channel?  They were kind enough to fill me in.  They were trolling down river with Rattle Traps.  Trolling is they way I would have started, best way to locate a hot area.  Little did I know I would not shut the motor off for 5 hours.

                                                    That took about 5 minutes.

The Nueces there is about 12 foot deep right after the ramp, and got as deep as 20 feet as I worked down river.  There is a bunch of brush in the water where the bank collapsed a little down river you need to not troll by, but after that have at it.  The water temp was in the high 60’s, and slightly off-color.  On one rod I put a deep running Shad Rap in the foil and black back, and it never got taken off all day.  The other was a yellow looking Cabelas copy that I got in the bargain cave, and that did fine.

                              They just kept biting, and some were pretty nice.

Initially they wanted it about 3mph on the GPS, and they definitely wanted it deep.  I was fishing the Rapala on braid with a 20lb. leader and it was probably running about 8 foot deep.  Generally I put it about 45 feet behind the boat. I caught the first one in about 5 minutes, and from then on it was white bass all day.  Nice ones, small ones, mediums, they kept biting.  I trolled way down river and some of the bigger ones were down river.  It was foggy, but as it cleared off and got hot I noticed something watching the graph.  And then I made a great decision.

                     Once I got the speed down, 3.4mph, it was awesome.

As I trolled back up I noticed the bait and fish on the graph had moved up to about 5 – 10 foot, so I tied on a shallow running Rapala Shad Rap and it was game on.  They knocked the crap out of that.  So now I have two Rapalas going at once, and they are biting.  I am knocking over coffee, getting them in the other line, trying to get one off so I can get the other rod, and sticking the crap out of my hands getting them off.  It was awesome.

Then I started doing the trick I have used on them for 40 years.  The shallow running Rapala is perfect for giving it a pull.  Not quite a rip, but a good quick pull, then jerk it a little, and they just can’t resist.  See a wad of bait on the locator?  Wait a second and then give it a couple of pulls.  And one other nice thing about that bait, you can feel them bump it, then pull and twitch and you can make them  eat.  Today was classic great white bass fishing.   By time I trolled back to the ramp the water was in the 10 foot range, so I tied on a different shallow runner on the other rod and kept going past the ramp.   Of course they liked that.  I mean those fish were biting.

 I think it would have been even better just cranking, if that is possible.

So I made one pass a mile or so above 59 and kept catching them right along.  Then to finish the day it was time to cast just sliding down river so I started near the ramp.  That is really fun when they are hitting that way because often you can feel them really smack it.  And that they did!  I caught 5 in 15 minutes and said for the love of God you are back at the ramp, quit dude!  My hands were trashed, the boat was trashed, and after catching 50+ it was time to call it a day.  My only regret is not throwing small swim baits/jigs on the spinning rod, that would have been deadly.  And it just so happened that I saw those same 2 guys later and they had their limit of 50 and were just catching and releasing.  That is how good it was today.

Being a like to catch fish guy one thing that really helps keep the catch rate up is fishing for the right fish at the best time.  Whites are a perfect example.  They show up in the rivers and creeks, they bite like crazy, spawn, and it is over for the year.  A perfect example of the progression, first the white bass, then the largemouth, then the trout.  They all spawn at certain times, and that is when you need to concentrate on each species.  Attempting to do that over the years has taught me, get it while it is hot.  And by any definition, it was crazy hot today and I am glad I made the drive.  Thanks Joe.

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It is interesting how different the day can go from one guy to the next.  I got these 2 reports from readers on their trip to Coleto this weekend.  The first is from Jim.

We made the launch at 0900 due to some difficulty getting out of the shoot. Fished for the first time on the lake went to the left after exiting the no wake area and fished every cove and points. I had my fishing partner with me so I was fighting the wind while she did most of the fishing. I fished the purple and the brown swim jig with no bites. I fished a copy of the Bang’O Lure on wood where I could, nothing; did not fish the spinner bait. I did however fish a crank bait Black and Grey on top, White bottom with a splash of Red, proved to be the ticket on calm banks and coves. We caught about 10 boated 4. We had fun for the first time fishing on the lake. I fished from the launch up to what looked like a power station and stopped there when I ran into some shallow water on the left. So, I don’t know if that is up the lake or down the lake. I think I was on the other end than you were. Thanks for your tips Doug; thanks for writing your stuff and as Arnold would say I’ll be Back!

First where you went was up the creek (left) in what I refer to as the plant arm.  The other way (right) is up the Coleto Creek arm, which has more water and varied structural options.  For me “up lake” is always up to where the creek or river flows into the lake, no matter whether it is south or north.  Sounds like you turned a tough trip into a success.  It goes along with something I have been saying, fish what you like or are good at, they are biting.  Coleto just takes a little while to get used to, but once you do you will have better luck.  Nice that you have a partner who likes to fish, sounds like  she is getting the hang of it.  So keep trying it, the next couple of months should be good.

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For a completely different Coleto report Joe from Katy fished this weekend and did it up right.

Hey Doug, it’s Joe from Katy. Your reports on Coleto had me itching. Not being able to sleep I pulled into the ramp about 1130 Saturday night. Slept in the truck and was in the water before there was another boat at the ramp.

I could not get my hands on a bang 0 so I got a rogue with a similar color pattern and a foil finish. I stopped at my favorite cove next to the big creek bend just past the dam. 30 minutes late I already had 20 fish. 4 whites and 16 small bass. I also caught 2 at once on the rogue. They fish were everywhere and were eating well.

As the day wore on they cove bite slowed as they moved more towards the mouth of the coves and main lake area but it was pretty consistent. With a super bowl party to go to I was off the lake by 1230. I boated 35-40 bass total and probably missed at least 10 between the swim jig and the rogue. Looking at the weather this week I can easily see myself there again this weekend.

Glad to see you are well and back it friend.

That is exactly what I have been finding for the last 2 weeks.  It seems some days they are getting after in it the back of coves, other time they seem to be related to channels, points, and deeper banks.  I really think it has a lot to do with how early the water has warmed.  But no matter how it goes, the fishing should be good for quite a while.  And the big fish bite is right around the corner.  Good job.  Thanks for the report and continued support.

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Just wanted to take a minute to thank everyone who reads this stuff.  Last month was one of the biggest months for visitors we have had, and it looks like it will be a record year for fishcatchingtravel.com.  Last year we had our 500,000 visitor, which was a big milestone, and it is looking like we will have our best year yet.  Every once in while it is hard to get motivated to go fishing, much less write, but then  it is all worth it when I realize how many of you read this.  So thanks to all, but some of you, you know who you are, are what makes this fun.  And I appreciate all the help I get from Cocoons, Bagley, and Wade Right.  So keep those comments and reports coming, they are great.

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And last, but definitely not least, the guys at Coastal Fishing Gear, makers of the Wade Right wading  belt, just announced the addition of the Wade Right Tackle System to their line.  I have been using it and loving it.  If you wade the small boxes really are great, and make it easy to prepare and carry what you need.

So stop by the site and click on accessories and take a look.  And if you are headed to the Houston Fishing Show, March 8 – 12 like I am, stop by the booth, say hi, and put your hands on one.

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

It seems like the almost a month I was sick and off the water actually turned out to be a good thing, if that is possible.  Feeling rejuvenated, I have been fishing a lot, and well.  It seems crazy but I have caught a couple of hundred fish in the last week or so.  There is nothing like spring.  What is next?  Who knows, but one thing is sure, it will be on the water somewhere!  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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Preparing this gets my blood flowing.  A little wind never hurt the spinnerbait fishing, and that is fine by me.  It also sets up what I have been finding the last week, spinnerbait the windy point, and then slide around to the protected side and throw the topwater.  The fish love setting up there and waiting on supper.  And it will be interesting to try some different trailers for the swim jig.  And one other bait I am going to tie on right now as I get prepared for tomorrow is the Rapala wake bait.  It has real potential if I can find the right water for it.

Weather

79/65   Cloudy with scattered thunderstorms in the morning.  Wind S 15-25mph.  40% chance of rain.

Lake Level

Today  96.08        1/30/16   96.15  (You can see it is dropping slightly, hope it does not fall to much during the spawn.  Never a good thing.)

Solunar Times

Best 6:24 am – 8:24 am

I got to the ramp at daylight and I was first, wow.  So in the water the boat went, and by time I parked and made it back to the boat folks were lining up.  The water temps at the ramp was 65 and at least that over much of the lake, especially in the coves, was a lot higher than that.

There were 2 plans for today and first was to catch a limit to fill out the weekend’s fish fry, and fry a couple tonight.  Next was to try 2 different craw trailers on the swim jig, start using a tail on my spinnerbait, and see it I could catch a couple on the Rapala wake bait.  It is a 6″ minnow bait that runs right on or below the surface.  In fact, the first place 2 small ones hit it reeled over wood.  Unfortunately the wind really started blowing 20mph plus and that ended that technique.  The good thing it worked and should be very effective in the months to come.

Love that swim jig.

It was just a milk run.  Fishing coves and any wood that came my way.  They were biting when I started and biting when I quict.  Just for shits and giggles I counted to see how long it would take to put a  dozen in the boat, it took until 9:30.  From there it was old standby places, and some new ones.  One of those is a big cove with tons of timber, but way in the back it actually opens up in a nice area.  There was only 1 small one in the back, but as I worked my way out I think I caught 3 or 4 on spinnerbait.

The star of the day was the swim jig hands down.  Both trailers (see below)  caught fish, but the bluegill/with green Berkley Havoc Craw caught a few, like 2 dozen.  They were eating it.  To give you a feel for how it was today, the last bank I fished around 3:00 I caught 8 and missed a couple .  When you find them, then get the speed right on the jig, they will eat.  It works from one end of the lake to the other, dirty water or clear, just crank it along near the bottom and be ready.  Fishing braid with a 2 foot 20lb flurou leader is increasing my hook up ratio and when some of the small ones hit it close to the boat I see the go flying by my head as they go airborne.  But it sure has cut down on breaking them off with the hook set.

   This size is everywhere right now.                 Sucks t0 be these guys.

Cleaning a limit today, and one last week, is one of the few times in years I have kept that many.  But hey it is legal, and I have only thrown back a couple of thousand the last 4 years.  It was kind of tough to catch the barely legal to keep, the better ones went back, but it was easy to limit.  There were 2 things to take away from cleaning them.  First, their stomachs was flat empty, not a thing.  Second, 2 were small females, and while everyone may be moving up and looking to spawn, those eggs were in no way ready.  But on the other hand I saw a couple of beds, one with a small guy hoping to get lucky.  And I also saw my first tilapia, so they are really going to be early.  This is a funny spring, but if it keeps up we will have a long stretch of good fishing this spring.

It was a little different today.  The sun was out most of the day, and as it wore on the wind got to humping making it a little tough to fish.  And unless it was on the swim jig that I did not see the bite there were no big ones today  The day never had a big fish feel to it.  But again it is hard to complain when 30+ is the norm.  It is good when they bite all day, and you catch them everywhere you try.  And best of all it is cool to be able to fish lots of different baits and catch on all of them.

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

I got this comment from Joe in San Antonio and he took the words right out of my mouth.

Take a look at the Zoom Ultra Vibe Craw. They got great action from the claws. Dip them in Chartreuse Dip to make them stand out in all water color. I use the Green Pumpkin Or Watermelon. Usually on 20lb power pro with a small gremlin bullet shot. Finesse fishing. But they also work great on a jig or trailer. Ive had bass come out of nowhere right next to the boat and hit it. Scares the hell outta ya.

Ps. Dont use these, the claw action sucks. Unless you want a bigger profile.

Zoom-Bait-Super-Speed-Craw-Pack-of-8

Funny you would send that along.  I spent an hour in Academy opening every craw looking thing in the store, after I stopped at Wal Mart and they had zip.  I had already ruled out the Speed Craw, have some I got for Canada and the smallmouth wouldn’t touch them, which means they don’t work.  But I opened the Zoom Ultra Vibe Craw and the flanges look good so I got a bag.  (Today it was around 5 or 6 on it with a blue swim jig.)  I also got a bag of the Berkley Havoc craws which have a good flange on them, so only tomorrow will tell.  (They loved the Havoc today.  It will be a go to until proven otherwise.)  Of course I picked up some Rage Craws, just in case.

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

And speaking of buying tackle it is new catalog time and the Bass Pro got here a month ago, the Cabela’s Fishing Essentials a couple of weeks ago.  There were a couple of baits in the Cabela’s I liked the looks of.  I have been throwing the Skitter Walk for years and now they have the Rapala Skitter V which claims to walk the dog in a tighter quicker turn action.  Looks good.  Strike King is now selling unpainted clear crankbaits.  Not sure what the real value is unless you are one of those putter around and paint stuff guys.  Cabelas has a page of Whopper Ploppers.  If you like topwater for bass or redfish, they are the bomb.   Designed by Larry Dahlberg, probably the best overall fisherman on the planet, it has caught big fish all over the world.  That time is coming this year here, and I already have mine.  Plus who can resist a cool color called Monkey Butt, which put a muskie or two in the boat in Canada.  In fact, the first time I threw it on Coleto I got broke off in a toilet flush, this is not a light line bait.  Trust me, the bite is awesome.

The Bass Pro catalog had the Spro Rat Swimbait.  I have seen that fished on TV pretty successfully, and I know it would work on Coleto spring and summer.  I am still having trouble forking out $25 on a bait, but is sure looks tempting.  The only other thing I found in that catalog was the Nitro Z18 bassboat, but for some reason the Boss says I can’t have that.  She fell for the old bait and switch, now the $25 crankbait doesn’t look so bad.

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Now it is a weather game.  Time to catch some trout, so I will be waiting for a little less wind than today.  I have 3 days more to fish this week so one of them should surely work out.  At least the lake is always a back up plan, though it is time to see some different scenery.  I have a couple of interesting Coleto reader reports to share and will get to that tomorrow.  And if anyone else has something to say lets hear it.  The blog is better when you participate.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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Now I have never been a crackhead, though I defended one or two in court, and now I know how they feel.  The last week has me thinking and dreaming about bass rolling out of a log and eating my Bang O Lure.  Or the feel of a thump, or the complete loss of feel, as a big one slack lines the swim jig.  And the spinnerbait bite, when a big fish stops it in it’s tracks in a boil the size of a bucket ss the stuff dreams are made of.  So how do I feel like a crackhead?

Those of you who read this stuff know I rarely fish on the weekend, but not this Saturday.  I woke up at 4:am dreaming of the bite, then at 5 thinking about the bite, then finally getting up at 6:00 and heading to the lake.  The rest of the day was spent chasing the “crack”.   Like Thrusday, I ran around the lake like a mad man knocking the snot out of them.  The next cove, the next bank, one more spot, I was, and am, in a bass fishing frenzy.  So I may not be a crackhead, but I sure know how one must feel.  I can not get enough of the good fishing, and Saturday was as good as hoped for.

Second cast, this one flat out stopped it!

It was 53 degrees when I headed to the lake before daylight.  When I got to the ramp there was one in the water and one putting in.  Wow, third on a Saturday.  But with the weather forecast calling for northerly winds and occasional rain and drizzle, it wasn’t exactly nice out.  The good thing was it obviously kept the crowd down.  I decided to start in a spawing cove way up lake, right where the water color changes so I could fish spinnerbait where the wind was blowing near the mouth, and then Bang O Lure back in the calm stuff.  In the water went the trolling motor and on the second cast the one above came out of a log and absolutely stopped a buzzed spinnerbait in a huge boil.  What a freakin’ bite!  It turned out to be big fish of the day.

                                 Spinnerbait or Bang O Lure, your choice.

From that point on it was almost a carbon copy of Thursday.  I went from one end of the lake to the other, fishing coves, points, and channels.  If I had to actually pin down the pattern it boils down to this.   Spinnerbait in any area with wind, Bang O Lure in the coves with wood and the protected side of windy poinst, and the swim jig any where you want to throw it.  And no matter where  you throw it do not miss one piece of wood.  Just saying.

                                              This size all day long!

One of the good decisions made today was to return to the creek where I caught them 2 trips ago, then struck out first thing in the morning last trip.  Today I waited to fish it in the later afternoon, and boy were they there.  I caught 8 on swim jig fishing the channel side and one on spinnerbait.  Good timing, which obviously you get better at it when fishing a whole lot.  And wood produced today as it has been.  Without grass wood cover has taken over.  I have caught more fish on wood this year than the previous 3 or 4 combined.

I have given quite a bit of thought as to why I have not had a shot at more big fish.  Having to make a guess it might be related to our really early spring.  The fishing went from so-so to full out on in a matter of a week, it was that fast.  Now every small fish is on the bank looking to spawn, like boys getting to Ladies Night early.   The full moon will be here on Saturday the 11th, which has some effects.  Who knows, they may move in mass this week.  One thing that has been apparent, the different water temps where you are on the lake have been real important, above 65 and it is game on.  I have seen 59 degrees to the high 70’s depending on the day.  And that has not been real stable due to the couple of small fronts that slid through.  So we shall see, but I am going to keep after it for a little while longer.

The day never did get to warm, the wind was cool, and it started drizzling about 10 and did so for the rest of the day.  It was not quite as fast as the other day, but by time I talked to the wife before 10 on her way to work I had already boated a good dozen, and it went from there until I quit at 5.  Not sure how many, but it has been 3 trips where I caught fish literally everywhere I have been.  And mixing up the swim jig, spinnerbait, and Bang O Lure has really been productive, has keep it interesting.

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Sometimes it seems as a customer you just do not matter, not the case at Bagley Baits.  Thanks to Billy and his kindness in giving me a couple of Bang O Lures last year, the last one crapped out last trip, but he got me through.  And now thanks to Brendan at Bagley Bait Company hurrying my order up when I whined it was on down here, I have 4 brand new ones and a spin tail Bang O lure just in time.  Good companies give good customer service and deserve our support.

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Hydro Flask

And speaking of good customer service, there was another great example this week.  Back when I stayed up for days as a Nationally Registered Paramedic I acquired a serious coffee habit.  If I am in the boat so is my coffee.  So when the Yeti cup came out I was all over that.  Kept my coffee warm for hours, important when you drink while the boat is moving, then usually not again until you move.  But if I ever had a cup not made for a boat it was that Yeti.  Being bigger on top than bottom it was always tipping over.  Then I left it on the back deck and out it went, lost in Garcitas Creek somewhere.

The Boss and I were in Dick’s when she found a cup that I love, and it does not tip over near as much.  It is a Hydro Flask 16oz wide mouth that not only keeps stuff warm for hours, it does not tip over.  And like all things outdoors, I am hard on it but it can take it no problem.  Well somehow the gasket on the lid came off and I lost it.  No problem, I email the company and there is a gasket on the way.  Their stuff is guaranteed for life, and their customer service is awesome.  So if you are looking for another cup try a Hydro Flask, take it from a coffee nut.

https://www.hydroflask.com/

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Another thing I am working on is finding a good craw trailer for the swim jig.  The Rage Craw is the best, period.  But when they are biting like this they tear them up left and right, they are soft.  So I went to Academy this morning and found a couple of different trailers that look like they might work.  I do know from yesterday when I ran out, they want those craws to vibrate so the ones I am trying have the flange on the pinchers like the Rage Craw.  If either works out it will be easy to tell and I will let you know.

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Tomorrow the conditions will be a ton better.  A warm night fallowing a warm day, and rain and clouds.  It has all the markings of another great day.  I am going to mull over the big girl thing, what am I missing or are they just not up in mass yet?  The weather and timing will tell this week.  I doubt I will make the bay again this week, I am going to ride this horse as long as it lasts.  So sorry to you salt guys, but it is coming.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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I knew conditions, sunny and warm without a cloud in the sky, was far from perfect for bass fishing, but I was still confident I could catch a big one.  Unfortunately that did not happen.  But the fishing is still very consistent.  I should have know how the day would go when I got the boat out to get ready to go and I had a flat tire.  Dang it!  It seems like I am messing with tires way to much.  Since the last flat last spring the trailer tires are not the same age.  So time to buy a new set and make the good one the spare, and then the old spare will be spare 2, no such things as to many spares.  But I digress.

It does not do this lizard justice.  He was a monster! Be afraid!

There were 7 or 8 trucks at the ramp when I got there, and interestingly, only 3 when I quit at 4:00.  It was nice out with a medium breeze out of the west, sunny and warm without a cloud in the sky.  The water at the ramp was 63, up a couple of degrees from the day before.  And the lake is slowly clearing.

I decided to start in the creek where I caught them the other day, and surprise (or not!) I only had one bite, and boated a small one.  The fish were not on the creek channel bank, and the one I did catch was on wood.  From there I worked back down lake hitting multiple places on the main lake and in coves.  It was interesting that I could get them to roll on the topwater, but they did not want to eat.  I think I missed maybe 8 in a row, just a little frustrating.  So it was time for the fall back position, up lake.

The water color is still dingy up the river so I settled down with the bluegill/watermelon red flake Rage Craw.  It was almost noon when it started, and like it has been the afternoon bite is still the best.  I would catch one here, 3 there.  What was different, they wanted a slow steady retrieve and some were knocking slack in the line, an easy catch.

Best I could muster today.

I did have a “dang it” moment.  I tossed the Bang O Lure next to a big stump and a really big fish rolled on it and flat missed.  I freaked out, it was the one I was looking for, so instead of taking my time and getting it right I grabbed the swim jig and tossed it in.  He rolled on it in a big boil, and I flat missed him.  Funny how after all the years I still get as excited as I always have and I just blew it.

                         This was his little buddy a ways down the bank.

Though that was “the bite” I knew I would get, the rest of the day was like it has been the last few trips, plenty of bites.  The 14″ to 17″ are out in force, and with a couple of spots on the lake in the high 60’s in the afternoon it is full on pre-spawn.

                                                     This size is on the move.

It was not quite as good as Monday, and the morning bite was even slower than it has been.  And they were not as willing to commit early, but as usual this time of year, the sun warmed the water a bunch and the fishing got a lot steadier in the afternoon.  The size above are almost everywhere.  It is the time of year to just keep your bait in the water, and they will come.  I boated in the 15 – 20 range today, and had my shot.  With some clouds on the way the next couple of days the big bite is coming.  A nice warm night followed by clouds will keep the water temp up over night and make them a lot more active.

The swim jig was best today, the Bang O Lure caught a them as the day wore on.  Spinnerbait and crankbait were a bust.  And here is the Tip Of The Day!  If you want to catch them they are on the wood, be it main lake or coves, especially the spawning coves.  Just hit a spot like that and flip and pitch your favorite jig or plastic and you will catch fish.  They are there, I am just willing to get a few less bites to see them roll up and eat the Bang O Lure.  As far as days go it was flat out lovely and stuff was out moving around.  And being able to actually fish all day without feeling it says I am over the flu from hell.

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

I got this interesting observation from Colby Sorrels.

Hey Doug,
Since you like to fish both freshwater Largemouth bass and coastal speckled trout I was wondering why you never mention fishing a Corky for freshwater bass. If there ever was a big bass lure it is the Corky. Try it. It will catch big bass. Colby S.

I wish I could take credit for trying it, but my brother has actually fished it in both his pond and in Canada, catching bass in both places.  Now that you have brought it up I will grab a couple out of the saltwater box and toss them in the freshwater box.  Stay tuned for that.  As usual good to hear from you.

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Today is my least favorite day of the year…….Tax Day.  Time to sit down and get everything together and take it to the tax man.  This is the time of the year where I either hate the government to the core, or we got it right and I don’t get quite as mad.  It is time for the government to quit spending more than they take in, we can’t, but unfortunately it looks like this will continue.  I just know that when we pay more in taxes in a year than our first house cost the world has gone insane.   I don’t know about you, but I am not getting my moneys worth, no matter who is in charge.  I am a vote out every last one of them guy, no matter what party.

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Joe Bass sent me a note on the white bass run taking place on the Nueces River at George West.  It is famous in this part of the state for the big white bass run.  He had a tough day but reports that there are lots of fish being caught.  With the fishing in full swing it can be crowded.  My question is how is the parking at the ramps?  Tempting.

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As we all know B.reak O.out A.nother T.housand is so true.  It is interesting how my Michelins last 65,000 on the truck, and they tell me that trailer tires are only good for 3 years.  In fact, the guy at Discount Tire told me that they are actually good for around 8,000 miles or so, and I use steel belted radials.  8,000 miles is a drop in the bucket for me in a year, so I guess I should be happy they last 2 years?  So it is no freakin’ wonder I am replacing tires every couple of years.  At least they stand behind their warranty.  So I am changing brands to see if they last any longer.  And the bad thing is the other boat is needing tires also.  It never ends.

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I will be fishing, and fishing, and fishing.  Where who knows, but the boat basically stays attached to the truck for the next couple of months.  I am just watching for a low wind day to hit the bay, and full clouds to hit the lake.  Decisions, decisions, decisions.  This retirement thing is hard work.  And if any of you have anything to say send it along, we love to get your comments.  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 use promo code FCT15 and get 15% off on your online  order!**

It is just wrong when life gets in the way of fishing.  As I write a lot of this Sunday afternoon it pains me to not be going to the bay tomorrow.  Looks like a beautiful day with light winds, unfortunately I have to go to the dentist tomorrow afternoon.  So with an early quit time I will be on Coleto at daylight so I can make it off the water at 1:00.  Oh well, it is not like a bad thing, the bass are biting and there are a couple of places I want to try.  We will just have to see how it goes.

Weather

76/49  Mainly sunny.  WSW 5 to 10mph   0% chance of rain.

Solunar Times

Best Times   12:30P – 2:30P   Good Time      6:17A – 8:17A

Lake Level

Today     96.15msl

It was barely chilly when I backed the boat in the water.  I had already made up my mind I wasn’t going to fish anything I had in the last month.  And other than one place I kept to that plan.

                                       Everybody was fishing today.

The water temp at the ramp was 61, down a couple degree, but as the water clears it loses heat quicker.  The wind was light out of the NW and not a cloud in the sky.  First up was a main lake cove headed up the plant arm.   I stuck with the Bang O Lure but they were not interested.  The next place was a whole lot better.

                                       The spawners are on the way!

Fishing a creek channel bend about halfway back in a cove with the swim jig turned out to be a good choice.  Though most were the same size, I caught 5 in there.  From there I just kept hopping cove to main lake.  The fish are definitely moving up fast, and while I did not boat a big one today, that is coming.  A cloudy drizzling day and I am there.

                           Nobody catches more fish than an Osprey.

As the water started to warm they finally started eating the Bang O Lure.  Here is the tip for the day, find a cove with timber in it, especially if it is a spawning cove, and the fish are on the wood.  It is awesome when they appear next to a log and eat it.  Today a couple ate it right next to the boat.

                                   You can see what size is on the move.

Unfortunately I had to quit at 1:00 and the fish were just picking up a head of steam.  I caught around 10 altogether, most nice solid fish.  The day was not what I would expect to be a big fish day.  But later in the day as the water warms you can find those big girls in those bigger flat coves.   Between the Bang O Lure and the swim jig, that about covers it for me, though I will admit to throwing a spinnerbait some today.  I really like the way the lake is fishing right now, hit the right spot and you can put some serious fish in the boat, at least I hope so!

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I know I tend to rag on some segments of the fishing industry, but I want to give a shout out to the FLW.  In conjunction with United Fishing Tournament and Special Olympics they held a fishing tournament with the kids and it was a success.  That is the kind of thing I like to see, the industry giving back.  It can be big or small, but our sport benefits whenever we do something.

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I got this question from Jim, and it gave me a couple of additional thoughts on fishing the Bang O Lure.

Doug, that was a really, really good report. Tons of good information to be gleamed from it. That is why I like reading your stuff. One question regarding the Bang O lures you throw. Is it the 4.25″ or 5.25″ model? Thanks in advance for the information.

Jim

Definitely the 5.25″ 3 hook.  I have a few of the 2 hook models, but to get them to act right they need to be thrown on light line and a spinning rod.  If there is not to much cover to break them off or hang up I prefer to throw the 5.25 on a medium action with 10lb fluoro.  I will go as high as 15lb, but that is about it for this technique.  It is hard for me to adequately tell you how it should work when it is perfect, the best I can say it “shimmers” with a tight wobble.  It may not seem like it but it requires finesse to fish it properly, but once you get the hang of it you are in business.  I really think that the body being deeper giving it a larger profile than the Rapala is why it is more effective.   Big fish like big supper.  And one last word, I love the silver foil/black back.  They are not always available, so the Gray Ghost or the Black Stripes on Silver Foil will do.  So good luck if you try them. let us know.

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I forgot to tell you about one of those crazy outdoor experiences I had the other day.  As I was sliding down the bank there was a buzzard sitting on a big branch on one of the large trees in the lake.  He was going back and forth down it making buzzard noise.  It just seemed funny as he was worked up.  When I got to the tree I saw why.  There was a spinnerbait hanging from a branch in front of him, and it was moving with the wind and he was trying to figure out just what it was.  Funny, but a reminder of what could happen.  Since it was only attached by mono it looked like it was floating and who knows, maybe a bird could attempt to eat it and get hung up.  Just a reminder to make every attempt to get baits and line back, no reason to litter or hurt innocent wildlife.  It really came home when I freed that Blue Heron last year caught on a limb line that was left in the water.  So do what you can.

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

From the Falcon Lake Tackle website comes this comment on the big fish kill that happened last year on Falcon.

TPWD has still not released a report on the fish kill that happened in the Veleno.. Or any plans on what they plan to do about it.  There’s another government entity that has continually fallen short. More on that in a forthcoming post.

I love the way he holds their feet to the fire.  It has been MONTHS and still no word.  If memory serves me it took them quite a bit of time to even respond.  There is no reason for it to take this long, and there sure should be consequences if a violation is found.  No wonder people lose respect for government.  Come on TPWD, what is the deal?  As usual it appears they do not care what we think.  Sad, if they do not investigate and report on “our” fish being killed who will?

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Just a quick word on etiquette on the water.  Fishing is off to an early start this year and folks are really hitting the water.  With that comes busy ramps and crowded fishing spots.  All of us can do our part by being the bigger man.  Getting stuff ready before we get to the ramp, and then when pulling out pull way out of the way.  When running be nice, yield if you need to, this is not a race, it is fishing.  Give people space, give waders their area, give a boat fishing a bank all the way to the next point they are heading too.  If someone needs help or a tow, just do it, it will be returned to you in spades.  If you are way up a narrow creek or river idle with no wake by folks fishing, it will make you happier if someone does that for you.  And please give the guys in the kayaks a break, they have a right to water just like we do.  It really is common sense, almost the golden rule:  “do to others what you would have them do to you…”  It will sure make a better experience for all of us.

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Sorry to the saltwater guys, but it is going to be a long day at the lake tomorrow.  I got a case of the bass right now.  I am getting the numbers, and the size is consistent, and the big girls are not that far behind.  And besides, keep a bait in the water all day, in the right place, and it will happen.  This is my favorite time of year on Coleto.  So back I go in the morning.  Keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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The Big Move Is On!

When I checked the weather thursday night it was going to be a low of 46 degrees, high low 60’s, with the wind out of the north at 10 – 20, becoming cloudy as the day wore on.  And that forecast was right on.

Today had 3 objectives, First check on the white bass to see if they are after it yet and sack a limit of bass as the Boss requested that I do a fish fry when we meet her family on South Padre in a couple of weeks.  But most important, to stay out until dark and see if they move in those spawning coves in the afternoon.  All I can say about all that is life is good.

It was freakin’ cold, 48 degrees when I dropped the boat in the water.  It still has some color to it, and while it has stabilized, the temp was 64 at the ramp, same way up the river.  First it was up lake to do some bass fishing so that when noon rolled around I could check out the whites.  It was the bluegill swim jig/watermelon Rage Craw, and they starting biting right off the bat.

What separated today from last trip was the fish were a great average, but I did not boat a big one.  Why you say?  Because I broke 3 off, which really sucked.  That happened for several reasons.  I started slow reeling it, and while I caught a couple of small ones, nothing jumped out at me.  Then I made a long cast on a really shallow point, and I grabbed my coffee as I let it sink to the bottom.  I was thinking how are you going to set  the hook with coffee in your hand if he eats it on the way down?  Well of course the one below did.

This guy made the picture when he tossed this lizard out when I boated him.

When I lifted up she was on.  I wrassled her to the boat and when she popped over the side she spit up a Zoom lizard.  I couldn’t find a hook anywhere so back in she went.  It turned into one of those “Listen to the Fish and they will tell you what to do” days, so I did.  Instead of swimming the jig I fished it like I would a Texas Rig worm, hopping and dropping.  I use 12lb line on the swim jig, usually 17 -20 when worm fishing, which was to heavy for the light jig.

         A small white bass.                              They went all out in the afternoon.

They were picking it up and swimming away like crazy, some of them were almost to the boat, so when I reared back and stuck them, pop.  Occasionally I am hit with the old man’s disease, and today it took me breaking off 3 out of the next 5 or 6 bites before I finally changed to heavier line, but it was not the same fall/feel.   Since it was around noon I decided to try for a few whites.   The water color up lake is still fairly dingy, but I might get a chance to take Korbin for some whites Sunday afternoon so I gave it a go.

I trolled in the area where they gang up and ended up boating 2 and losing a few more.  So they are there, and as most strikes came in 4 foot of water, trolling might not be the most effective, unless you have the right bait, and I had 2 that are perfect for shallow whites.  I have been dying to try Bagley Lures new Rattlin’ B Minus, a new concept in lipless rattling baits that basically stay in the 2 or 3 foot range, designed for shallow grass or cover fishing.  In the case of white bass fishing the Rattlin’ Minus B is perfect.  And if we get our grass back this year it will be deadly.  The other bait is the Rapala Shallow Running Shad Scatter Rap, which also runs in the 4 – 5 foot range on the troll or crank.

Why both are effective is if I had to narrow it down there are 2 good places to catch whites up the river in the spring.  One is really shallow soft bottom banks with the sun on them that are sheltered from the wind.  The other location is on the shoals at the end and head of pools on the river.  So I caught a couple and missed a couple in about an hour, so while not on full blast, it is coming, now.  Next time out I intend to throw the Rattlin’ B Minus, it could be scary.  So after confirming they are there it was time to carry out the rest of the days plan, catch a limit, and see if they are moving in the coves later in the day when it warms up as much as it will.  And both were a complete success.

So first stop was a good spawning cove and out came the Bang O Lure.  All I can say is it is on.  The first cove, 5 in the boat and a few other taking a pass at it.  The an even better location cove choice, 9 came over the side.  Cove 3, 3 more, cove 4, 3 more.  I put 20 in the boat in a couple of hours!  It was freakin’ awesome.  Jerking it under and watching them roll up and smoke it in that clear water is a thing of beauty.  Toss it next to a tree, stump, bush, and jerk it under and hold on.  With the water color good glasses are critical.  My Cocoons did their thing, along with the one of the most important things I have learned about this technique, trust your eyes.  Think you saw one, you did!  They rarely hit it on top, so while it is a topwater technique, the bite is not.  Twitch it a few times then jerk it under and twitch it a time or two, and be ready.  And one more thing, seeing a boil come up behind your bait but without a bite?   If you see that start jerking it like crazy a couple of feet, then stop it, they just can not stand it!  It is a great throw back technique if you miss one, you can trick them and they can’t stand it.

Long before I was fortunate enough to have some help from them I was throwing the Bang O Lure.  It is a fabulous pre-spawn bait, all the way into post spawn, in clear water.  I have caught them on the Rapala, but it has a different profile and action, and is just not as effective.  But no matter what, BALSA is king for this, and I have yet to find a hard bait that acts the same.  I had to quit throwing the Bang O Lure on saltwater or in Canada.  All kinds of toothy critters like it, and I like it more than they do so I do not give them a chance.   There is something magical in my eyes to see a big bass roll up out of nowhere and eat.

After taking a couple of R & R days in Louisiana it was good to be back on the water.  Not sure what is next, that is totally weather dependent as to where, but no matter lake or bay I will be fishing a bunch, starting right now.  The lake is only going to get better, and there are some of those warm cloudy days in the next month where dreams are made on bay or lake.  Where that next jerk an 8 rolls up and swallows it.  Where an hour later it happens again, and then again.  It does not help as I am watching them redfishing on tv and I need to get me some of that.  And of course I am still waiting for the right Baffin weather, and the starts should align sometime in the next month.  It seems crazy but in 7 weeks it will be Australia.  Maybe knock the Barramundi off the list.  Looks like a snook, built like a bass, fight like a white bass, it is one cool fish.  And how knows, maybe finally catch a yellowfin.  It is going to be a good fishing spring around here.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines.