Liquid Ice Fishing! Stillhouse Fishing Report — 6 Fish, 01 Feb. 2014

This
morning I fished with Mr. Pete D. of Round Rock, TX.  Pete participated in the sonar use & interpretation seminar I presented at the Central Texas Boat Show in early January, and was eager to learn electronics on the water.



Sonar Certified!  Pete went from 0 to 60 on sonar interpretation skills today.


Pete phoned me Friday morning looking to fish this morning.  I was very up front in letting him know the fishing would be slow and would require a methodical approach in deep water using electronics.  He was game for that as his real interest was in learning to use sonar more effectively.

We fished for 5 solid hours, drew the interest of about 30 fish,  hooked 9, and landed 6.  Every fish came from at least 43 feet of water, and all on a small, 3/8 oz. white TNT 180 slab.

We found shad schooled up in deep water, located white bass in small groups near the shad, then I held the boat steady so Pete could fish perfectly vertically, keeping his presentation on sonar nearly 100% of the time.  As fish responded, we finessed them into striking using both a snap-jigging action and an “easing” tactic.

As Pete got accustomed to what he was viewing, I switched from the intuitive chart mode to the interpretation-intensive flasher mode to hone in on our presentation and the fishes’ reaction to it.  By the end of the trip, Pete was reacting well to whatever the fish threw our way.  There is always a steep learning curve, but Pete got through it quickly.

I repeatedly refer to this kind of fishing as “liquid ice fishing” as it is just like fishing through the ice for cold, slow fish as far as the vertical tactics, the finessing required, and the slow approach to things.

In 22 years on Stillhouse and Belton, this is by far the longest, coldest water temperature I’ve witnessed.  The water is only in the high 40’s and has been for the last 4 weeks.  The fish, being cold-blooded, are simply lethargic, deep, and tough to fish.  I did not say impossible to catch, just tough.  It takes persistence and realistic expectations of a reduced catch over results from water that is even just 4-5 degrees warmer.  It’ll come!

TALLY = 6 FISH, all caught and released

GO TO FISHING GUIDE’S FACEBOOK PAGE

RETURN TO FISHING GUIDE HOME PAGE

TODAY’S CONDITIONS/NOTES:
Start Time: 7:00a
End Time: 12:15p
Air Temp: 62F at trip’s start.
Water Surface Temp: 47F 
Wind: SSW12 at sunrise, tapering to calm by 9:15a and remaining calm
Skies: 100% grey and cloudy
Other Notes: GT0

Areas Fished with success:

**  1331 (0 B)
**  1319 (0 B)

**  1332 (0 B)




Bob Maindelle
Holding the Line Guide Service

254-368-7411

www.HoldingTheLineGuideService.com
Salado, Texas