WHO I FISHED WITH: I fished with Mr. Brian House of Killeen, his 9-year-old daughter, Claudia House, and Claudia’s grandfather on her mom’s side, Mr. David Peyton from near Salem, Oregon. At age 69, David commented that this was one of his top 3 most memorable fishing trips, both in terms of the quantity of fish we caught, and due to the fact that he caught both a white bass and a hybrid striped bass for the first time.
David Peyton of Oregon caught the first hybrid striper of his life during his week-long stay in Killeen to visit kids and grandkids.
From left: Three generations shared in the catching today including Brian House, Claudia House, and David Peyton.
WHAT WE FISHED FOR: This was a multi-species trip focused on white bass.
WHERE WE FISHED: Lake Belton
WHEN WE FISHED: Monday morning, 30 October 2017
HOW WE FISHED: We began our trip throwing bladebaits up shallow in under 14 feet of water using a lift-drop tactic for fish that were holding on or near bottom. We landed 4 fish and missed about as many in about 25 minutes’ worth of effort. The fish were definitely not really turned on thanks, in part, to the nearly calm winds. After leaving the shallows behind, we looked with sonar and gave deep, vertical jigging a try at a number of areas. Two of these areas produced very well, the first (Area 1619-1620) produced white bass from 0-2 years from out of 26 feet of water. The second area to produce well in nearly 45 feet of water was Area 1550. By 11am, the bite was dying hard, allowing us just one more fish at area 993, for a grand total of 77 fish on the morning.
OBSERVATIONS/NOTES: As it often does, the bite improved with rising wind speeds through about 11am when the morning bite wound down.
TALLY: 77 FISH, all caught and released
TODAY’S CONDITIONS/NOTES:
Start Time: 7:25a
End Time: 12:10p
Air Temp. @ Trip’s Start: 65F
Water Surface Temp: 67.9 to 69F
Wind Speed & Direction: Light and variable at trip’s start, tapering up to S12 by trip’s end
Sky Conditions: 80-100% grey cloud cover all day
Water Level: 2.04 feet low
GT = 65
Wx SNAPSHOT: N/A
AREAS FISHED WITH SUCCESS:
**Area 1821 – casting shallow blades for 4 whites
**Area 1619-1620 – vertical work for 19 fish in 25-26′
**Area vic 1550 – two short hops using vertical slabbing for 53 fish in ~45′
**Area 993 – 1 add’l white bass on vertical slabbing
Bob Maindelle, Central Texas Fishing Guide
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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