This morning, Friday, the 11th of December, I fished with Don Mikeska and his grandson, Kaden Lehrman, targeting white bass and hybrid stripers on Belton Lake.
We used sonar to find fish under foggy conditions while the birds were unable to see and work. After the fog cleared, the birds went to work and led us to additional fish.
Kaden landed two at a time at the peak of the bite when fish could be seen from surface to bottom. One fish is hooked on the treble and the other is hooked on the stinger hook.
Don is a retired painter from Temple, TX, and his grandson, Kaden, happened to be staying with him and his wife, Monica, while mom is away visiting her sister in London, England, for a few days.
Well, while mom’s away, the boys will play! We met at the boat ramp at around 7:00 and had lines in the water by 7:15 under quite a thick blanket of fog.
The bird action that has been so helpful in the morning was non-existent under these foggy conditions as the gulls and terns simply couldn’t see well enough to spot fish and bait near the surface. So, for the first hour, we relied strictly upon sonar to find fish, and did well, boating nearly 50 fish in the first hour on the water.
By 8:15 the fog began to thin and by 8:30 it was gone, leaving grey skies, a stiff breeze, and great fishing conditions, especially given the unseasonably warm 61-62F surface temperatures more commonly found in mid-November than mid-December.
As the fog lifted the birds began to work and kept working for about 70 minutes. When the birds quit, we had another 20 minutes of fishing and then the fish shut down hard. By this time Don and Kaden had worked to put 144 fish (literally, a “gross” of fish) in the boat. Given the increasing wind and decreasing fish activity, they decided to call it a great day while they were ahead, and we wrapped it up a bit early.
Kaden when to a “fishing summer camp” for youth up in Massachusetts this past summer where he got to experience mackeral fishing, striped bass fishing, and lobstering. It was neat to hear him recount the tales from that experience in between fish caught this morning.
Our catch consisted of mainly white bass and short hybrid stripers. Kaden boated 3 legal hybrid, as well as a number of 2-3 pound freshwater drum, and a single largemouth bass just for good measure.
Once again the silver/white Redneck Fish’n’ Jigs Model 180 slab did the trick for us in the 3/4 oz. size.
FISHING OUTLOOK:
Saturday morning is due to be excessively windy, but the afternoon should offer solid (albeit wet!) pre-frontal fishing. (Booked)
Sunday sees a mild, fast moving cold front come through so I expect fishing will be off that day. (No fishing)
Monday sees a return to southerly winds and should offer good fishing. (Booked)
Tuesday sees continued southerly winds and should offer good fishing. (I have an AM opening this day 7:15 to 10:15; call if interested)
Wednesday wil see another cold front come in so fishing will be off that day. (No fishing)
TALLY = 144 FISH, all caught and released
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TODAY’S CONDITIONS/NOTES:
Start Time: 7:00a
End Time: 10:15a
Air Temp. @ Trip’s Start: 50F
Water Surface Temp: 61-62F
Wind Speed & Direction: SSE9 at dawn, increasing to S16 by trip’s end
Sky Conditions: Thick fog, accompanied by 100% grey skies. Fog lifted around 8:15, leaving better visibility but still-grey sky conditions
Water Level: 6.90 feet above full pool with 0.15 feet of water released in the past 24 hours
Other: GT= 30
AREAS FISHED WITH SUCCESS:
**Area 024 – low light slabbing after finding schooled fish on sonar (no bird action)
**Area 024 through 794 with fish and birds constantly on the move over this great span in an hour’s time
Bob Maindelle
Owner, Holding the Line Guide Service
254.368.7411 (call or text)
Salado, TX
www.HoldingTheLineGuideService.com