WHO I FISHED WITH: This Election Day morning, Tuesday, November 8th, I fished with father-and-son team Wes and Phil Perry of Waco. Wes’ daughter-in-law, Sara (Phil’s wife), arranged for a fishing gift certificate for Wes back around Christmas 2021 and today was the day Wes chose to redeem it, inviting Phil along to share in the fun.
Phil is retired out of the tech industry and Wes is retired out of the natural gas industry.
Neither fellow had really targeted white bass before, and neither had prior experience with Garmin LiveScope before. So, this was an eye-opener for both men; both had to unlearn a few things and, in the process, learned a few new things.
Here is how the fishing went …
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PHOTO CAPTION: From left: Phil and Wes Perry, both new to white bass fishing, were willingly coached today and enjoyed a peak-season 131-fish catch using MAL Original Lures on Lake Belton.
WHERE WE FISHED: Lake Belton
WHEN WE FISHED: Tuesday, 08 November 2022 (AM)
HOW WE FISHED:
I hate for my reports to sound like a broken record, but, the fishing is both excellent and predictable right now! I’m doing the same things at the same times and in the same places and the results have been solid since late October with things only getting better as the water continues to cool (at a slow rate).
Fish are consolidating into larger and larger groups, which means more competition amongst them when they are found, as well as the ability to stay in one place longer before the fish lose interest.
Once the fish are found, typically with well-tuned side-imaging, I’ll Spot-Lock atop them, then work MAL Originals (with white tails) vertically up off bottom using a smoking tactic for as long as the fish will stay interested.
Three big no-no’s to avoid: 1) hooksetting, 2) reeling the fish in too far, and 3) jerking the lure to a start using the rod’s tip. Instead, the better options are 1) continuing to reel at a steady cadence even when a strike is felt, 2) leaving the fish hanging ~4 feet down from the rod tip and swinging it quickly and smoothly out of the water and into the boat, and 3) cranking the lure to a start using the reel’s handle.
These are the “coaching” items I try to address early on during each trip. The earlier in the trip these lessons are learned, the better folks’ results are going to be. Fortunately, both Phil and Wes were eager to do well and gladly accepted my pointers.
That’s it. Just getting out there, finding fish and working the white bass plan.
My 2-man crew landed 131 fish including 120 white bass, 7 hybrid striped bass, 2 largemouth bass, & 2 freshwater drum.
TUTORIAL SMOKING VIDEO (Vertical): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDSvfXgrAUE
TUTORIAL SAWTOOTH VIDEO (Horizontal): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IC3FMEQHOMQ
TALLY: 131 fish caught and released
Find MAL Lures here: https://whitebasstools.com/
OBSERVATIONS: 1) a 40 cfs flow continued today, 2) I once again spotted multiple single gulls, but none helped locate fish, 3) yesterday’s rains raised the lake 0.06′.
WEATHER DATA:
Start Time: 6:55A
End Time: 11:00A
Air Temp. @ Trip’s Start: 64F
Elevation: 13.22 feet low, 0.06′ rise in last 24 hours, 40 CFS flow.
Water Surface Temp: 68.0F
Wind Speed & Direction: Lightest of breezes from SE1-3 until ~9:30A, then SE3-5 thereafter.
Sky Condition: 100% grey cloud cover all morning; no fog.
Moon Phase: Full moon at 100% illumination with early morning eclipse.
GT = 100
Wx SNAPSHOT:
AREAS FISHED WITH SUCCESS:
Areas B0026C (18 fish), 0005/717 (32 fish), B0169G (24 fish), B0166G/B0167G (40 fish), B0170G (11 fish), B0059G (6 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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