WHO I FISHED WITH: This evening, March 11th, 2020, was Day 3 of the week-long spring break for most of our local school districts.
Joining me this afternoon on Lake Belton were siblings Michael and Leilani Brown, accompanied by their mom, Santa Brown.
This trip was a SKIFF program trip which I provide, free of charge, to children who are separated from their parents by military duty.
In this case, the kids’ dad, U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Michael Brown, is away on extended field time. Brown has served in the military for 14 years and currently works with drones.
Mrs. Brown is a U.S. Army veteran who served in the Chemical Corps. I met her and her children at the Neighborhood Walmart Market about two weeks ago when I noticed the kids staring at the fish logo on my wife, Rebecca’s, car.
ABOUT SKIFF: This fishing trip was provided to this military family at no charge. S.K.I.F.F. stands for Soldiers’ Kids Involved in Fishing Fun. This program began in May of 2009. It is funded by the donations and fundraising efforts of the Austin Fly Fishers and other organizations they have partnered with. S.K.I.F.F. provides the children of military personnel separated from their families due to duty commitments with the opportunity to go fishing. SKIFF trips are also provided, free of charge, to Gold Star families who have lost their service member while he or she was on active duty. In mid-2019, SKIFF also began providing trips to dependents whose parents are bona fide disabled veterans. I coordinate and conduct these 3.5 to 4 hour adventures on Belton Lake and Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir, just outside the gates of Fort Hood in Bell County, TX, year ’round. Call or text 254.368.7411.
PHOTO CAPTION: Michael Brown III and Leilani Brown show part of their catch made on a spring break SKIFF program fishing trip while their dad is away from home on military duty.
WHEN WE FISHED: 11 March, 2002, AM
HOW WE FISHED: I opted to take the kids to Lake Belton this evening, as the evening bite on Stillhouse is typically pretty weak when it comes to white bass. Also, the high numbers of small white bass now in Belton would help ensure the kids stayed engaged.
We found three different schools of willing white bass in two distinct areas and fired them up with a slow-smoking tactic.
Unlike the fish we’ve been catching at Stillhouse, these fish were not relating to the river channel, rather, they were on a gentle slope leading to a deeper basin area.
When all was said and done, the kids landed drum, largemouth, and white bass and lasted right up until sunset, amassing a catch of 67 fish. We relied on the white, 3/8 oz. Hazy Eye Slab with stinger hook to get the job done.
TALLY: 67 fish caught and released
OBSERVATIONS: Lake Belton still has a strong bird population. We spotted strong numbers of gulls resting on the water in loose groups. The only activity from the birds was that of feeding on insects; nothing helpful to finding fish this evening.
TODAY’S CONDITIONS/NOTES:
Start Time: 4:00P
End Time: 7:45P
Air Temp. @ Trip’s Start: 79F
Elevation: 0.93′ low, +0.06 24-hour change, 17 CFS flow
Water Surface Temp: 58.4F
Wind Speed & Direction: SSE8-9
Sky Conditions: Partly cloudy with 60% white clouds
GT = 0
#WhiteBassFishing #LakeBelton #StillhouseHollow
Wx SNAPSHOT:
AREAS FISHED WITH SUCCESS:
**Area B0195C
**Area B0130C/B0117C
**Area B0017G
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