This morning I fished with returning guest and retired naval flight surgeon Ray Johnson of Harker Heights, TX.
Ray Johnson with a typical topwater hybrid striped bass. These smaller hybrid and white bass fed long and hard on the surface at mid-morning today. Spotting them, casting to them, and watching them trail and then smash our lures was a lot of fun!
Although the weather has been stable and the fishing very consistent, especially on Belton’s topwater bite, I’m always a bit concerned when I see us going towards a full moon as that seems to dampen the topwater bite. Today the moon rose during the day, so overnight illumination was not a big factor, and the fish fed well. Actually, they fed better on top in the middle of the morning than they did at first light.
Long story short we spent 3.5 hours of our 4.25 hours on the water looking for and/or cashing in on topwater action. When we found active fish I tried to stay as far away as I could while still being able to reach the fish with a long cast. We used Cork Rigs with shad imitators designed to “match the hatch” of the baitfish the white bass and hybrid striper were feeding on.
I had intended to do more live bait fishing than we did today (only about 20 minutes’ worth at the very end of the trip), but the topwater was so abundant, easy, and fun, Ray and I were loathe to leave it behind for the uncertainty of a few larger fish.
We boated 71 fish throwing Cork Rigs, all of which were a mixture of white bass and “short” (less than 18″ long) hybrid stripers. We also landed one just-legal largemouth during the short time we fished live baits.
Just a few tips on topwater:
1. Beware of your boat’s wake. A folding wake will cause topwater fish to leave the surface.
2. Keep your distance. Don’t go any closer to the fish than you need to.
3. Have plenty of line on your reel. Full spools cast farther.
4. Match the hatch. Look at what the fish are eating and match the color and size.
5. Approach from upwind. It’s always better to cast downwind and drift into the fish than to chase them into the wind.
6. Use single hooks. Treble hooks take a long time to get out, and increase the time between landing a fish and taking another cast.
7. Keep your retrieve speed high. On Belton and Stillhouse, with their clear water, you’re just trying to create an illusion of fleeing baitfish, denying the gamefish a real good look at your fake offering.
TALLY = 72 FISH
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TODAY’S CONDITIONS/NOTES:
Start Time: 6:00 am
End Time: 10:15 am
Air Temp. @ Trip’s Start: 75F
Water Surface Temp: 82.2F
Wind Speed & Direction: SSW7-8
Sky Conditions: Thin grey haze on a fair sky
Other: GT=0
AREAS FISHED WITH SUCCESS:
**Area 1271 Low light topwater
**Area 718 to 497 to 1069 widespread topwater feed from 7:45a to 9:15a
**Area 1409 largemouth on live bait
Bob Maindelle
Owner, Holding the Line Guide Service
254.368.7411 (call or text)
Salado, TX
www.HoldingTheLineGuideService.com
Bob@HoldingTheLineGuideService.com