This father and son team had never been out on a boat together before so just that was a new experience for them.  They have fished before, but it has been a once-a-year and fairly unproductive arrangement, so, they were really hoping to “take it to the next level” today.

Once again the Lord blessed me with a very easy bait gathering process (300+ baits in one throw), so we got off to a timely start with an ample quantity of shad.

We fished 3 areas today and caught exactly 73 fish including a 40/60 split of keeper/short hybrid striped bass, plus 5 white bass and 3 blue catfish.

Our first 4 fish boated all exceeded 3 pounds, so, when a smaller fish was caught, Calvin laughed as we returned it to the water saying that before today he would have considered that small one a large one.  I told him I was proud to help him recalibrate his fishometer.

Our trip began a bit slow thanks to a residual north wind going slack and bright sun.  By 8:30, however, a nice 8-10 mph E. breeze began and this caused the fishing to pick up within 15-20 minutes of its arrival.

At the last of the 3 areas we fished today, a mixed school of white bass and short (12-13 inch) hybrid stripers clearly appeared suspended at 15-25 feet below the surface.  Because these smaller fish will usually kill or steal more bait than they will take well, we switched over to slabs and put the last 10 or so fish in the boat on lighter spinning gear more well-suited to these smaller fish.

We had a treat on our way in … 3 Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Wardens pulled alongside of us for a routine inspection.  My boat is squared away so there were no issues and the inspection was over in no time.  Then, the game wardens offered C.J. a ride on their law enforcement boat (with about 3 times the horsepower I have!).  They jetted C.J. around for a few minutes and then dropped him off where his dad and I were.  Thanks, Game Wardens Bernstein, Valchar, and Wilson!

As I walked up to the parking lot with Calvin after the trip he told me that he and C.J. agreed before meeting up with me this morning that this would be a great day if they caught 20 fish.  Our catch of 73 made the grade!