WHO I FISHED WITH: This past Monday morning I fished with Gabe Carreras, his son, Christian, and Gabe’s father-in-law, Chris Melson, of Alabama who came in for a holiday visit.
9-year-old Christian put his first and largest fish of the trip in the boat within minutes of our arrival at our first stop of the morning. This smallmouth buffalo weighed 6.25 pounds. That’s his dad, Gabe, helping with the heavy lifting.
For his next trick, Christian landed the largest hybrid striper of the trip. This 19.75″ fish went right at 3.25 pounds.
And Papa Chris put his own hybrid in the boat, as well.
WHAT WE FISHED FOR: This was a multi-species trip focused on white bass.
WHERE WE FISHED: Lake Belton
WHEN WE FISHED: Monday morning, 20 November 2017
HOW WE FISHED: The big blow on Saturday definitely shook up the fishery, moved the bait, stained the water, and scattered the fish. We went nearly 2 hours catching only 3 fish, but then found relief in deeper, clearer water as the south wind began to move the water around 9am. I extended the trip by an hour to try to make up for the slow start, and we were able to put a total of 70 fish in the boat. Deep, slow vertical jigging using an easing tactic with light, 3/8 oz. slabs with Hazy Eye Stinger hooks attached did the trick. We caught the majority of our fish on just two similar locations, both in 42-44 feet of water on a breakline.
OBSERVATIONS/NOTES: 1) There was no helpful bird action today. 2) There were a lot of scattered, small fish up high in the water column (10-15 feet down) which we confirmed were white bass via downrigging. 3) The sustained high winds on Sat./Sun. left all but the main basin of the lake temporarily stained with silt. 4) Bite was poor until the south wind began to move the water. 5) We had a ~4.0F drop from Saturday AM to this AM.
TALLY: 70 FISH, all caught and released
TODAY’S CONDITIONS/NOTES:
Start Time: 6:45a
End Time: 11:45a
Air Temp. @ Trip’s Start: 36F
Water Surface Temp: 64.4F
Wind Speed & Direction: WNW breeze under 3 until 8:15, then calm until 9, then a light S. breeze tapered quickly up to S11 for the last 2+ hours on the water.
Sky Conditions: 10% cloud cover
Water Level: 2.40 feet low
GT = 50
Wx SNAPSHOT:
AREAS FISHED WITH SUCCESS:
**Area triangulated by 1318-346-085 smoking & easing with 3/8 oz. slabs with Hazy Eye Stinger Hook attached
**Area 1389 right on the breakline smoking & easing with 3/8 oz. slabs with Hazy Eye Stinger Hook attached
**Area 1486/787 right on the breakline smoking & easing with 3/8 oz. slabs with Hazy Eye Stinger Hook attached
**Area 2053 right on the breakline smoking & easing with 3/8 oz. slabs with Hazy Eye Stinger Hook attached
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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