WHAT GOOD COMES FROM A TORNADO? — 102 Fish @ Belton

WHO I FISHED WITH:  This morning, Wednesday, March 23nd, I fished with brothers Max and Roman Porter, and their buddy, Braxton Hanvey, all accompanied by Max and Roman’s father.

The boys used to live in the Round Rock, TX, area before moving to Albuquerque, NM, some time ago.  While on their spring break this week, they returned to Round Rock to visit friends and family.  It was during this visit this past Monday night when parts of Round Rock were struck by a tornado.

This tornado knocked out power at Braxton’s school, thus giving him some unexpected time off, and permitting him to participate in this morning’s trip with his old friends, Max and Roman.  So, I had one adult and three boys aboard as the stiff, cool north wind which cranked up early yesterday morning, continued to blow.

Here is how the fishing went …

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My next few openings will be on April 4th, 5th, and 25th.  Weekday mornings are always best.

 

PHOTO CAPTION:   From left: Roman and Max Porter, and Braxton Hanvey, each with a Lake Belton white bass — three of the 102 fish my crew landed this morning, all on Bladed Hazy Eye Slabs (white, 5/8 oz.).  Look at the “cold front-induced” blue sky!

WHERE WE FISHED: Lake Belton

WHEN WE FISHED: Wednesday (AM), 23 March 2021

HOW WE FISHED:

The impacts of the recently arrived cold front were definitely felt this morning as the fish were more temperamental, less energetic, and less willing to chase.  Catching fish was a bit like pulling teeth for our first hour, as many fish simply ignored our presentations or just casually followed after them, instead of hustling to overtake and eat them.

Things gradually improved as the wind built.  The best stretch of fishing was, once again, between 10-11A.  During this stretch, our catch rate rose as fish chased harder and faster, and were more likely to be seen suspended up off bottom instead of hugging bottom as they had done up until this point in the morning.

All of our fishing was done in ~32-35 feet of water fishing vertically.

All of our vertical work was done with white, 5/8 oz. Bladed Hazy Eye Slabs using a slow-smoking tactic, in conjunction with well-tuned Garmin LiveScope.

When all was said and done, we caught and released 102 fish, including 5 short hybrid striped bass, 94 white bass, 2 freshwater drum, and 1 largemouth bass.

Bladed Hazy Eye Slabs and MAL Lures are found here: https://whitebasstools.com/

TALLY: 102 fish caught and released

OBSERVATIONS:  All gull/tern activity was focused on shad naturally occurring at the lake’s surface at first light — no fish-induced bird activity witnessed.

WEATHER DATA:

Start Time: 7:45A

End Time:  11:45A

Air Temp. @ Trip’s Start: 45F

Elevation: 3.25 feet low, 0.02′ fall in last 24 hours, 30 CFS flow

Water Surface Temp: 54.0F

Wind Speed & Direction:  NW11 at trip’s start, steadily ramping up to NW16-17 with higher gusts.

Sky Condition: Unclouded, light blue skies.

Moon Phase: Waning gibbous moon at 69% illumination.

GT = P

Wx SNAPSHOT: 

 

AREAS FISHED WITH SUCCESS:

Areas fished successfully today: 1269, 993, B0009C/B0003C, B0010C/0412

 

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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