Wicked White Bass — 54 Fish with Zach, Martin, and Markus

WHO I FISHED WITH: This morning, Saturday, September 29th, I fished with Zach Eldridge, his father-in-law, Martin Janssen, and Zach’s brother-in-law, 16-year-old Markus Janssen.  Zach’s wife was due to join us, but duty at OB-GYN called and she couldn’t make it.  We put 54 fish in the boat today under pretty tough conditions.

Not long into the trip Markus and I discovered a common interest in the show “Wicked Tuna”.  In the midst of battling childhood kidney disease, Markus’ family and the “Make a Wish Foundation” came together to grant a request from Markus to fish with one of the crews followed by the TV show.  Markus spent a full day on the water with Dave Marciano and a crew mate fishing for giant bluefin tuna on the Atlantic ocean.  Athough they went home empty-handed, and although Markus was seasick most of the trip, he really lit up while recounting the adventure.

 

From left: Martin Janssen, Markus Janssen, and Zach Eldridge with a sampling of the white bass we downrigged for this morning.  As seen in the background, our skies were very murky which did not bode well for a topwater bite today.

 

This shot was originally taken by Zach, then, using some spiffy app or feature of the “smart” phone, Markus enhanced the view of just the fish, making his schoolie-sized largemouth look like a leaping tarpon.

WHAT WE FISHED FOR:  This was a multi-species trip focused on white bass.

WHERE WE FISHED: Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir

WHEN WE FISHED:  Saturday morning, 29 September 2018

HOW WE FISHED:  Due to the murky, dark skies and the posture of the fish as seen on sonar this morning, we stuck with the downriggers nearly 100% of the time today, steadily picking a lot of singles, a few doubles, and one triple (which Markus landed).

OBSERVATIONS/NOTES: We fished six different areas today, finding at least a few fish at each.  At each location the fish were scattered and suspended at 32-38 feet.  When we came upon fish, they would all be holding within a 2-3 foot horizontal band, but only a handful of fish would show on sonar at any given time.  The fish were not tightly schooled, and we never encountered a single instance of topwater action.  Only once did I see fish even close to being schooled up tightly enough to work tailspinners for (and even that was doubtful and did not payoff with even a single fish taken that way).  Downrigging accounted for 100% of our catch this morning.

 

TALLY: 58 fish, all caught and released

 

TODAY’S CONDITIONS/NOTES:

Start Time: 7:00 am

End Time: 11:35 am

Air Temp. @ Trip’s Start: 75F

Water Surface Temp:   79.1F

Wind Speed & Direction: ESE5-6 all morning

Sky Conditions: Damp, grey, overcast skies all morning with a light drizzle falling from 7:00-7:30a

Water Level: 7.94 feet low and falling

GT = 105

Wx SNAPSHOT:  

 

AREAS FISHED WITH SUCCESS:

**Area 1419-1433

**Area 1447-1222

**Area 1254-1424

 

 

 

Bob Maindelle

Full-time, Professional Fishing Guide and Owner of Holding the Line Guide Service

Belton Lake Fishing Guide, Stillhouse Hollow Fishing Guide

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

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