WHO I FISHED WITH:  This morning, March 9th, 2020, I kicked off the week-long spring break for most of our local school districts with a multi-generational trip for 5 eager anglers.  George Van Riper, grandfather extraordinaire, planned early and reserved this date months in advance for his son, Geoff Van Riper, and three grandsons — Jacob Howley (14), Kaden Howley (11), and Greg Van Riper (8).

Fortunately, the weather, despite being quite skewed as compared to NOAA’s forecast, more than cooperated with balmy temperatures, grey skies, and light winds.

Although Lake Belton is still producing good numbers of white bass, the quality pales in comparison to the jumbo white bass on Stillhouse this season.

 

PHOTO CAPTION:   Greg Van Riper, “Papa” George Van Riper, Kaden Howley, Jacob Howley, and Geoff Van Riper

PHOTO CAPTION:   Jacob Howley with a plump 4.25 pound Stillhouse largemouth.

PHOTO CAPTION:   Greg Van Riper and his dad, Geoff, with a 5.25 pound freshwater drum.

PHOTO CAPTION:   Kaden Howley with his largest fish of the morning.

 

WHEN WE FISHED:  09 March, 2002, AM

HOW WE FISHED: As has been the case over the past month as water temperatures have hovered between 51 and 56F, we found better quality, scattered white bass on mid-depth flats primarily in the first two hours following sunrise, then found greater quantities of smaller (but still healthy) fish using the old river channel breakline and holding there.

Regardless of where we found the fish, the go-to tactic remained the same.  We used an “easing” tactic with my white, 3/8 oz. Hazy Eye Slabs with Hazy Eye Stingers attached to draw fish upwards and goad them into striking.  At one area we fished this morning the fish really got fired up around 10AM and we began to encounter suspended fish instead of just bottom-hugging fish.  When this occurred, we changed over, briefly, to a slow “smoking” tactic with good success.

We managed to boat 5 species of fish today: white bass, largemouth bass, crappie, freshwater drum, and a bluegill sunfish.

Thanks to the clouds and wind, the birds stayed active through 10:40AM, although they only pointed us to scattered fish on the flats, not to the larger, channel-oriented groups of fish.

 

TALLY: 120 fish caught and released

OBSERVATIONS:

TODAY’S CONDITIONS/NOTES:

Start Time:   7:40A

End Time:  11:55A

Air Temp. @ Trip’s Start: 64F

Elevation: 3.00′ low, +0.02 24-hour change, 1 CFS flow

Water Surface Temp:  56F

Wind Speed & Direction: SSW2-4 all morning

Sky Conditions: 100% grey cloud cover with a light mist the entire trip

GT = 80

#WhiteBassFishing #LakeBelton #StillhouseHollow

Wx SNAPSHOT:   

 

AREAS FISHED WITH SUCCESS:

**Area v 1960 – scattered fish under gulls

**Area v SH0002G- scattered fish under gulls

**Area vic SH0015G – channel breakline congregation of whites

**Area vic SH0016G – scattered fish under gulls

**Area vic 1502  – channel breakline congregation of whites

 

 

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