WHO I FISHED WITH: This past Wednesday morning, November 24th, I fished with long-time client Steve Niemeier and his grandson, Caleb Fowler, a 16-year-old Belton ISD high school student.
As Caleb works his way through his junior year of high school, we talked a bit about post-graduation plans and options.
His grandfather and I agreed that going into a field you truly enjoy, and shrewdly managing your money would be prudent no matter what direction a young man heads in.
Here is how the fishing went …
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My next three openings will be on 22 & 23 December, and January 3rd. Weekday mornings are always best.
PHOTO CAPTION: Steve Niemeier and his grandson, Caleb Fowler, with a few of the quality white bass we took on MAL Heavy Lures (white blade, chartreuse tail).
PHOTO CAPTION: Steve came up with this 7.75 pound bluecat hanging around the white bass we were targeting in ~28′.
WHERE WE FISHED: Lake Belton
WHEN WE FISHED: Wednesday (AM), 24 November 2021
HOW WE FISHED:
This morning’s fishing was average for this time of year and for where the trip fell in the frontal cycle. We were due to have developing wind and cloud cover thanks to pre-frontal warming in advance of the next cold front which was due in around 9PM later this day.
That southerly wind and cloud cover did develop, and the fish fed, albeit not super aggressively.
We found fish fairly easily and, as is often the case when the fish are in a neutral mode, we caught fish as soon as we got lures down to the fish, but the fish would turn off after a few minutes, forcing us to hop around to get our lures in front of nearby fish which would not come our way.
We hit 4 areas, and did “short hops” at each. All but 3 or 4 of our fish were taken on the MAL Heavy Lure (white blade, chartreuse tail) fished vertically. Those other 3-4 came on a Bladed Hazy Eye Slab when we experimented with it to see if it would do any better when the bite started to tail off. We determined it really did not … once the fish turned off, they turned off to everything, regardless of retrieve speed.
We wrapped up right at the 4 hour mark so I could make it on time to an appointment and then get turned around for an afternoon trip.
When all was said and done, we landed 68 fish.
Bladed Hazy Eye Slabs and MAL Lures found here: https://whitebasstools.com/
TALLY: 68 fish caught and released
OBSERVATIONS: Average fishing this morning on a day with classic pre-frontal warming.
WEATHER DATA:
Start Time: 7:00A
End Time: 11:00A
Air Temp. @ Trip’s Start: 54F
Elevation: 1.80 feet low, 0.03 fall, 39 CFS flow
Water Surface Temp: 63.8F
Wind Speed & Direction: S12 at trip’s start, tapering down to S9 by sunset
Sky Condition: Blue skies with 60% white cloud cover
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous moon at 78% illumination.
GT = 45
Wx SNAPSHOT:
AREAS FISHED WITH SUCCESS:
**Area 1659 – 7 fish caught on MAL Heavy with white blade, chartreuse tail used vertically
**Area B0113G – 20 fish caught on MAL Heavy with white blade, chartreuse tail used vertically
**Area 1827 – 11 fish caught on MAL Heavy with white blade, chartreuse tail used vertically
**Area 788 – 30 fish caught on MAL Heavy with white blade, chartreuse tail used vertically; 3 short hops
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
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