I had a good day on Fork, Monday. No big ones but more action than I've had in a while. Caught 7 in the two to three pound range on hollow belly swimbaits real shallow, two on 5 inch flutter spoon in 18 feet of water, and one on topwater. Spent the first three hours of the morning wondering if I would get skunked before finally trying it out deep and getting some action. I was just drifting around timber looking for bait and working it under them. Paddling back upwind and repeating.
Thought I might have done better if I'd stayed with it but it was a beating to fight the wind and have to constantly paddle back into position. Between paddling and getting spoon stuck and fighting waves to get it back with plug knocker it got old fast.. When I finally got hung up and couldn't get it back I was done with that kind of fishing as I only had the one with me. Forgot to put the ones I had just bought that morning at Joe Spaits Tackle Factory, in my kayak.
Covered a lot of water fishing shallow back up Little Caney. Picked up a few scattered here and there but finally found an area with shad swimming around on the surface and caught a couple real quick and lost a bigger one. When I saw an alligator come swimming into the same cove... it was like a sign for me stay put. Didn't get a picture as it went to the other side of the cove when it saw me and I figured I would catch up with it later but it disappeared in the vegetation.
The key for me catching was to only fish around the shad when they came near to shoreline vegetation as it didn't seem like they were getting chased in the middle of the cove. There were three or four schools on top for hours. Wished now that I had stayed longer but kept thinking I should try deep again once the winds laid down later and fished the last two hours of light where I started the day.
No complaints today and I'll be back there next Monday.
Been missing the kayaking sandals but finally found the replacement pair – Columbia’s Ridgeway! Water shoes were not cutting it; this will be our fourth pair of Columbia Sandals – First two were Santiams (I think), third one was the Riptide, and this one is a Ridgeway. Columbia is our favorite for fishing shirts and kayaking sandals…. will see how the Ridgeway works out this season and on! In the past, the sandals stay secure, can get wet but not slippery, and makes a cool tan line when you take them off! Do stay tuned for more kayak fishing videos… and be on the lookout for the Kayak Fishing Sandals!
More tinkering around with ice fishing rod components. For ease of reference, calling it the Do It Yourself (DIY) Tanago Rod. Going to use it for Micro Fishing; hopefully to catch one of those “guppy” looking fish! Easy to make… used a 20″ solid fiberglass ice fishing rod, a 12″ wooden handle, and a braided cord for the lillian. Add some 2 pound test mono – smallest line in the tackle box, ready to try it out! DIY Tanago Rod compared to Micro Fly Rods
This round I decided to mix things up and forego the low water crossing. Instead, I walked the area north of the crossing and explored the area. Learned a few things and even limited out on Trout! Great times fishing a river! PS: Here is the map referenced in the video of the Blue River.
Keep this one handy. Stocking points posted on the Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area Facebook page! Here is a link if you have a Facebook account… Link. Else, here are pictures for reference from their site:
Video snippet showing how I switch the Martin Fly Reel from left to right hand retrieve. Works for similar click-pawl drag single action, fly reels. For more details, see the full video Try These Two Modifications for the Martin Fly Fishing Combo
Re-published an article originally posted as a Squidoo Lens. We have since updated it and posted it online at HubPages – “Guadalupe River Rainbow Trout Fishing” . Do check it out when you get a chance!
Cold and windy but did have fun practicing casting the switch rod. Even had a few little Bass and Bluegill jump on the line! Made a run over the Plano East Senior High School and fished their catch and release ponds. Had a number of light strikes using a Near Deere under a strike indicator. But, it was the short, quick pulls or the steady retrieve that had the fish striking… at lease the little Bluegill and Bass! Fun time getting out and bending a rod; great way to close out the long holiday weekend!
Having fun pond hopping local ponds and getting lots of practice casting the OPST Commando Head that we like using on our 5wt Fly Rod. Able to demo different casts that we use while in the Field. Not sure if they are the traditional fly casts techniques… mainly go with variations of casts until we find one that works for us. Gear used: Echo Ion Fly Reel 4/5 wt: http://amzn.to/2ql1EhN Redington Classic Trout Fly Rod (9′-4pc-5wt): http://amzn.to/2rENFHu OPST Commando Head (200 grain): http://amzn.to/2zftMuC OPST Lazarline Running Line: http://amzn.to/2gTrjOU
Saturday started with rain but by afternoon all had passed, decided to go pond fishing at the local pond with the old Redington Pursuit 4wt Fly Rod with Ross Flystart 2 Reel. Fished a Pat’s Rubber Leg, Near Deere, and Guadalupana without success. Thought Bass would be biting given temps in the high 60 to low 70s. Wind was brutal, else a really nice day to be outdoors fishing! Ended up playing with the little Bluegill lurking by the Waterfall; strikes on a Griffith’s Gnat and Black Midge. No Bruisers but great practice for light striking trout!
Made it out to Bethany Lakes today for more testing of the Olive/White Tenkara Fly. So far, liking the results – 20 fish this round! 1 Bass, 1 Rainbow Trout, and 18 Bluegill! Go figure a Rainbow Trout in May! Today’s Catch! Rainbow Trout in May!
Comments
Post a Comment