WHO I FISHED WITH: This past Friday evening I fished a multi-generational trip with the Benedick family. Jered, who lives in Belton, coordinated the trip, which included his son, Tyler, Jered’s dad, Ron, and Jered’s twin brother, Matt. Ron and Matt came down for a visit from the Ardmore, OK, area.
All of the men are involved in ministry. Ron is a retired pastor, Jered is a youth pastor turned youth counselor, and Matt is a hospice chaplain.
After Monday evening’s particularly tough trip on Belton, and after looking at the forecast which called for calm/very light winds and clear skies, I was a bit skittish about this trip, but, thanks to a SE wind velocity higher than forecast in the first 2 hours of this trip, all turned out well.
PHOTO CAPTION: From left, Matt, Ron, Tyler, and Jered Benedict with part of our 70-fish haul on a toasty June evening on Lake Belton.
WHEN WE FISHED: 05 June, 2020, PM
HOW WE FISHED:
After meeting everyone and covering the basics on the gear and presentations we would be using, we started off downrigging along a deep breakline. No sooner did we get both ‘riggers in the water then we had both rods go off as we encountered a sizeable, deep school of white bass holding tight to bottom in a feeding posture. As soon as we reeled those biters in, I changed us quickly over to spinning rods equipped with Hazy Eye Slabs (white, ¾ oz. with stinger hooks) and we worked these fish over with a smoking tactic.
We caught fish steadily for about a half-hour, including 2 largemouth and 1 freshwater drum in addition to over a score of white bass. After these fish dissipated, we continued downrigging in this general area and steadily picked up singles and doubles on the 3-armed umbrella rigs we were using, both equipped with Pet Spoons until the fish gradually lost interest, necessitating a move.
The first 90 minutes went better than expected. We then experienced a bit of a lull, checking several areas without result. Around 7:10, we began to slowly pick up white bass once again, and the catch rate improved right on through sunset with singles, doubles, and triples coming over the gunwale steadily.
Just following sunset, we found yet another sizeable school of white bass sufficiently close to the bottom to stay put long enough for us to Spot Lock on and fish vertically for. This feed lasted only 10-12 minutes as the fish continued to move both shoreward and upwards in the water column, but everyone caught several fish during the spree.
We closed the trip out with one last round of downrigging. Our final tally of 70 fish consisted of 67 white bass, 2 largemouth, and 1 drum.
TALLY: 70 fish caught and released
OBSERVATIONS: No topwater action worth noting as of yet.
TODAY’S CONDITIONS/NOTES:
Start Time: 4:40P
End Time: 8:45P
Air Temp. @ Trip’s Start: 92F
Elevation: 0.28′ high, 0.01′ drop, 17 CFS flow
Water Surface Temp: 82F
Wind Speed & Direction: SSE2-4
Sky Conditions: 25% white clouds on blue skies
GT = 30
Wx SNAPSHOT: N/A
AREAS FISHED WITH SUCCESS:
**Area vic 677- white bass found via downrigging, then worked over with smoking tactic
**Area 1608 thru B0196C
**Area B0018G – center of mass for pre- and post-sunset action on ‘riggers and smoked slabs
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)
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Website: www.HoldingTheLineGuideService.com
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