WHO I FISHED WITH: This morning, Saturday, October 12th, I participated in a C.A.S.T. (Catch A Special Thrill) for Kids Foundation event. C.A.S.T.’s focus is to enrich the lives of kids with special need through the sport of fishing.
This morning I had two awesome anglers aboard my boat, and an equally awesome crew of 5 to help make those two anglers successful.
My anglers were 10-year-old Abby Carnes from the Waco area, and 30-year-old Chris Barrington from the Gatesville area. Both are autistic, and both love being on the water and catching fish.
My crew consisted of Abby’s mom and dad, Sarah and James Carnes, Jason Olivar who was a chaperone for Chris, my wife, Rebecca, and my mom, Charlotte. Both Rebecca and my mom are pediatric registered nurses (I wasn’t taking any chances!!).
PHOTO CAPTION: Abby Carnes with a pair of white bass she caught all by herself!
PHOTO CAPTION: Chris Barrington overcame some fears, braved up, and held these two fish up close to himself for a photo.
WHERE WE FISHED: Lake Belton
WHEN WE FISHED: 12 October 2019, AM
HOW WE FISHED: I came prepared for everything as I really didn’t know what Abby and Chris’ capabilities would be, nor what the cold front that ripped through Central Texas on Friday was going to do to the fishing. I had downrigging gear, jigging gear, catfishing gear, sunfishing gear, and more.
On Wednesday this week, the last time I fished Belton prior to this event, I compared notes with fellow guide Jason Weisberg. We enjoy “debriefing” one another, especially on days we both fish the same body of water. I let him know of the C.A.S.T. event and of my concern for quickly getting on fish in the wake of the cold front. We agreed to touch base before I launched out with my “boat buddies” so I could benefit from what Jason learned given the 2+ hour head start he’d have.
This turned out great. He had found cooperative white bass and short hybrids in about 32 feet of water and invited me over. This allowed both Abby and Chris to have lines tight nearly as soon as the boat settled in on Spot-Lock. We wound up catching 18 fish here by working tailspinners vertically including 17 white bass and 1 hybrid striped bass. When the fish began to dissipate, we downrigged in this general area for 2 more fish, and then moved on.
Our second area, which we also fished with tailspinners, gave up another 24 white bass and 1 largemouth.
By now it was around 11:40. We had to be back at BLORA by noon for lunch and an awards ceremony, so, we took some photos of Abby and Chris with their fish and took a speedy ride back to the dock.
I very much appreciate Jason’s assistance in helping me help Abby and Chris be successful.
TALLY: 45 fish caught and released
OBSERVATIONS: The cold front did not severely drop the surface temperature quickly, thanks to abundant overnight cloud cover after the front’s passage. We did not experience the negative impacts of true post-frontal conditions (clear, cold, calm) today, and enjoyed a bit of cloud cover and a manageable NE breeze, instead. Fish were quite cooperative.
TODAY’S CONDITIONS/NOTES:
Start Time: 9:45A
End Time: 11:35A
Air Temp. @ Trip’s Start: 54F
Elevation: 1.68 feet low, 0.07′ 24-hour fall, 34 CFS flow
Water Surface Temp: 78.3F
Wind Speed & Direction: NE8 at trip’s start, slowly tapering to NE3 by trip’s end
Sky Conditions: 100% grey cloud cover as we launched, clearing to 50% white clouds on a blue sky as the trip concluded
GT = 0
#WhiteBassFishing #LakeBelton #StillhouseHollow
Wx SNAPSHOT:
AREAS FISHED WITH SUCCESS:
**Area B0120C – 20 fish on tailspinners including 19 white bass and 1 hybrid striped bass
**Area 1882 – 25 fish on tailspinners including 24 white bass and 1 largemouth bass
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@HoldingTheLineGuideService.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bobmaindelle
Twitter: www/twitter.com/bobmaindelle