15 SEPTEMBER 2008






Stillhouse Fishing Report by Stillhouse Fishing Guide Bob Maindelle


Start Time: 6:50 a

End Time: 10:50a

Air Temp: 64F at trip’s start

Water Temp: 81.3F

Wind: NE at 12 at sunrise, increasing to 22 with higher gusts by trip’s end

Skies: Starting clear and blue with high thin, sparse clouds, but eventually clouding over completely with high thin clouds to the point of obscuring the sun for the majority of the afternoon.

Note: Today’s trip was my first in the wake of Hurricane Ike. Ike had very little impact here. On Saturday, the winds ranged from NW to ENE at 20, gusting to 30 beginning around 8am. By 11:30a, some light rain began to fall for about 90 minutes (less than 1/8 inch). The skies were heavily grey clouded. By late afternoon, the skies began to dry and the humidity began to drop. Then, on Sunday, a significant NE wind ushered in our 1st significant cold front of the season resulting in this morning’s low of 64F.

Fished a half-day morning trip today. Fished Area 246 about 15 minutes either side of sunrise (at 7:18a). Got two 12 inch largemouth here on a Carolina Rig in ~12-14 of water on the ledgestone prevalent in this area.

Moved from here and looked over Areas 88, 129, 175, 87, 248, 247, 125, and 124 and saw little in the way of gamefish or baitfish.

Moved on to Area 243 and saw a small school of whites tight to bottom at the top of the breakline in about 32 feet of water. Jigged over them for 2 whites and 2 largemouth before they dispersed rather quickly.

Moved on to Area 186 and wound up staying within 30 yards of this area the remainder of the morning’s trip. The most active fish were on the top of the breakline in 32-33 feet, but fish were found all the way down to 43 feet on the bottom, with occasional schools of suspended fish or individual suspended fish hanging just out away from the face of the slope. These fish were very sluggish most of the morning with fish often barely moving towards or completely ignoring my offering. It seems it took both an occasional change in jigging rhythm and a little competition from other schooled fish to goad a few into hitting today. I caught a lot of fish “on the pause” using a standard jigging stroke, and had a lot of fish turn away even when they started after a smoked retrieve. I suspect the turbulent weather in the wake of Hurricane Ike had much to do with this, and that as stable high pressure builds in later in the week that the fishing will be much improved.

At Area 186, I caught 35 fish consisting of an equal mix of white bass in the 10-11 inch range, and largemouth mainly in the 12-15 inch range with larger individuals going right at 3 pounds and 16.5 inches, with only 1 drum taken all morning. The fish had a definite preference for the silver ¼ slab over the white ¾ oz., and the blade bait did little to perk things up today either in a horizontal or vertical presentation.

TALLY = 41 FISH, all caught and released

Bob Maindelle, Owner Holding The Line Guide Service and Kids Fish, Too! Stillhouse Hollow Fishing Guide, Belton Lake Fishing Guide, Lake Georgetown Fishing Guide, Walter E. Long (Decker) Lake Fishing Guide. Offering Salado Fishing, Killeen Fishing and Ft. Hood Fishing








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