Day: May 11, 2017

Maturing and Sticking with it — 63 Fish, Lake Belton, 08 May ’17

by Bob Maindelle

This past Monday morning I fished with Mr. Steve Niemeier and his nine-year-old granddaughter, Macy Fowler.

IMG_2165

 

 

Steve Niemeier and his 9-year-old granddaughter, Macy, landed 63 fish on their early May hybrid trip to Belton this week.

We met up at 7 AM and planned to pursue hybrid striper as long as they remained interested in our live baits. We fished four areas this morning with the first and the last producing best. We progressed from 27 feet out to 42 feet going progressively deeper which with each of our five stops. The middle two stops we made today performed similarly in that I saw hybrid on sonar, stopped over them, got baits down to them, and got some initial action, but then that action dried up quickly. Eventually, as we stayed on seeing if the hybrid bread would return, we drew either white bass, blue catfish, or both, and then left once that occurred.

Our best action came at our last stop. We caught hybrid from 18 to 21.5 inches here. One interesting observation here – – the hybrid definitely showed a preference for smaller bait – – the size that would barely remain retained in my 3/8 inch mesh cast net.

We ended up with 63 fish on the day. I commented several times to Macy how, after fishing with her now for several years, she has really matured and has gotten much better at fishing and sticking with it, even through a slow bite.

TOTAL =   63 FISH, all caught and released

Wx SNAPSHOT:

08MAY17

TODAY’S CONDITIONS/NOTES:

Start Time:  7:00a

End Time:  11:50a

Air Temp. @ Trip’s Start:  67F

Water Surface Temp:  73.3F

Wind Speed & Direction:  SE8-10

Sky Conditions: 50% cloudy and balmy

Water Level: 0.61 feet above full pool and falling; 20cfs release at Belton Dam

GT = 40

AREAS FISHED WITH SUCCESS:

**Area  1935 – found a few hybrid, but mainly whites while searching for hybrid & moved

**Area  vic 081 – found whites while searching for hybrid & moved

**Area  vic 152  – found whites & bluecat while searching for hybrid & moved

**Area vic 1294 – lengthy hybrid bite on live and cut bait

 

Bob Maindelle

Owner, Holding the Line Guide Service

254.368.7411 (call or text)

Website: www.HoldingTheLineGuideService.com

E-mail: Bob@HoldingTheLineGuideService.com

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