WHO I FISHED WITH: This past Tuesday afternoon, February 22nd, I fished a “Kids Fish, Too!” package trip with 7-year-old Koa Hanson and his buddy, 6-year-old Jack Jereb.
As the name implies, “Kids Fish, Too!” trips are specifically for kids. Parents are “optional” and those who do attend help me help the kids be successful, but don’t fish themselves. These trips are both shorter and less expensive than my standard adult trips and are intended for elementary-aged kids.
Helping me help the boys today were Koa’s uncle, Matt Murdoch, and Jack’s dad, Michael Jereb. When we first planned this trip, it was scheduled for the day before, when Koa’s dad would be able to make it, but, high winds forced a move to today’s date, before the incoming winter storm pushed water temperatures even lower.
Here is how the fishing went …
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My next few openings will be on March 1st, 2nd and 22nd. Weekday mornings are always best.
PHOTO CAPTION: After working out the kinks in their presentations at the first stop we made, the boys “got in the groove” of the tactics we used to attract and catch 78 fish (primarily white bass) in right at 3.5 hours on the water. From left: Michael & Jack Jereb, Koa Hanson, and Matt Murdoch.
WHERE WE FISHED: Lake Belton
WHEN WE FISHED: Tuesday (PM), 22 February 2021
HOW WE FISHED:
I picked up this afternoon right where we left off at the close of this morning’s trip, looking for congregations of white bass in deep water, near or on breaklines in 35-41 feet of water.
The incoming cold front and the barometric pressure change at hand made things much easier to find fish, as they were postured slightly up off the bottom feeding for most of the afternoon, thus making them easier to spot on all manner of sonar.
We looked over 6 areas, and found fish at 4 of them. We missed a number of opportunities at our first stop as the boys were getting used to the equipment and the technique, but, by the time we moved on to our next area, they were ” whackin’ and stackin’ “.
These two young boys with limited prior experience caught 78 fish in 3.5 hours, whereas my two adults this morning caught 80 fish in just over 4 hours. Were the boys more skilled fisherman? No — this result simply underscores the importance weather has on fish activity. The fish this afternoon were far more aggressive than those we encountered this morning without the strong influence of a rising barometer.
The boys took 100% of their fish on the white, 5/8 oz. Bladed Hazy Eye Slab used with a “slow-smoking” tactic in conjunction with Garmin LiveScope.
We caught 78 fish, including 3 freshwater drum, 2 short hybrid stripers, and 73 white bass.
Bladed Hazy Eye Slabs and MAL Lures found here: https://whitebasstools.com/
TALLY: 78 fish caught and released
OBSERVATIONS: No helpful bird activity this afternoon. Temperature profile was as follows:
0 feet 53.1F
5 feet 53.1F
10 feet 52.9F
15 feet 52.8F
20 feet 52.8F
25 feet 52.6F
30 feet 52.5F
35 feet 52.5F
40 feet 52.3F
45 feet 52.3F
50 feet 52.3F
55 feet 52.3F
60 feet 52.3F
65 feet 52.3F
WEATHER DATA:
Start Time: 2:15P
End Time: 5:45P
Air Temp. @ Trip’s Start: 75F, falling to 54F during our time on the water
Elevation: 2.89 feet low, 0.07′ rise in last 24 hours, 8 CFS flow
Water Surface Temp: 53.1F
Wind Speed & Direction: The lead edge of an incoming winter storm moved in over the midday period, shifting winds from SW at the end of this morning’s trip to NW by the start of this afternoon’s trip.
Sky Condition: 30% cloud cover for the entire trip
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous moon at 66% illumination.
GT = 50
Wx SNAPSHOT:
AREAS FISHED WITH SUCCESS:
Area vic 1679/0409 (2 fish), Area 0412 (41 fish), Area 0154 (14 fish), Area 2032 (21 fish)
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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