WHO I FISHED WITH: As Bryan Reed climbed aboard my boat this past Saturday, he looked at me solemnly and said, “It took us 9 hours to catch 6 fish the last time we tried this on our own, and that was a good day. If we can do better than that, we’ll be satisfied.” And so, as the rest of the crew arrived, including Jason Woolverton, Jason Walters, and Steve Guzman, we headed out on Stillhouse in search of fish. In just a little over 4 hours’ time, we returned to the launch having landed 57 white bass, 1 longnose gar, 1 freshwater drum, and 1 channel catfish — 60 fish in all.
Bryan, Jason Walters, and Steve are all on active duty in the US Army, and Jason Woolverton is a commercial electrician.
Steve, Jason, and Bryan with a trio of fish all landed seconds apart as we used the Spot Lock function to hold over top of loosely congregated fish we found as we covered water via downrigging.
Jason with one of the better 3-year class fish we landed as we fished both vertically and horizontally after finding fish via downrigging.
In addition to the 57 white bass we boated, we also landed this longnose gar, as well as a freshwater drum and a channel cat.
WHAT WE FISHED FOR: This was a multi-species trip focused on white bass
WHERE WE FISHED: Stillhouse Hollow
WHEN WE FISHED: Saturday morning, 21 July 2018
HOW WE FISHED: This was textbook summertime fishing under hot, dry, clear, high pressure conditions. We downrigged to find fish while catching them steadily, then worked baits vertically and then horizontally once large congregations of fish were found. Topwater “popcorn” action definitely helped lead to such congregations although these fish were definitely boat shy.
OBSERVATIONS/NOTES: About 75 minutes worth of spotty topwater action helped lead the way to our best catching spread out over a fair piece of open water. White bass were definitely boat shy. With 4 anglers it was not worth chasing “popcorn” fish just for a few casts; working vertically and staying put was the best option.
TALLY: 60 fish, all caught and released
TODAY’S CONDITIONS/NOTES:
Start Time: 6:15a
End Time: 10:25a s
Air Temp. @ Trip’s Start: 79F
Water Surface Temp: 85.5F
Wind Speed & Direction: SSW7-9
Sky Conditions: <10% cloud cover
Water Level: 6.62 feet low
GT = 30
Wx SNAPSHOT:
AREAS FISHED WITH SUCCESS:
**Area 1971 thru SH0040C – downrigging for white bass
**Area SH0047C thru 1969 – downrigging for white bass
**Area SH0045C thru SH0046C – downrigging for white bass; then vert. and horiz. presentations to capitalize
**Area SH0044C – downrigging for white bass; then vert. and horiz. presentations to capitalize
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@HoldingelleTheLineGuideService.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bobmaindelle
Twitter: www/twitter.com/bobmaindelle