WHO I FISHED WITH: On the morning of Saturday, December 30th, I welcomed family aboard for a bit of a fishing reunion. I chose Stillhouse, both for better quality fish, and to avoid the holiday weekend “boat show” which can develop over on Lake Belton now that birds have taken up residence there.
Joining me were my brother, Andy Maindelle, his son (my nephew), Trent Maindelle (both from Austin) my brother’s brother-in-law, Coby Davis (from Jonesboro, Georgia), and my brother’s son-in-law, Paul Stenstadvold (from Spring, TX).
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Next available dates are Jan. 9-11 (mornings)
PHOTO CAPTION: From left: Paul Stenstadvold, Trent Maindelle, Coby Davis, and Andy Maindelle with a few of the white bass which fell for both slow-smoking and snap-jigging tactics this morning.
PHOTO CAPTION: My brother, Andy Maindelle, with a personal best 5.50-pound largemouth bass taken on a 5/8 oz. Bladed Hazy Eye Slab (white) with a snap-jigging tactic.
PHOTO CAPTION: My nephew, Trent Maindelle with a freshwater drum taken from over 50′ on a white, 3/4 oz. Bladed Hazy Eye Slab using a slow-smoking tactic.
Find the Bladed Hazy Eye Slab here: https://whitebasstools.com/
WHERE WE FISHED: Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir
WHEN WE FISHED: Saturday, 30 Dec. 2023 (AM)
HOW WE FISHED:
With water temperature now just below 55F down to over 50′ deep (other than at the highly variable surface), I find we are teetering between tactics right now with slow-smoking taking fish consistently, especially 1) during the mid-morning once the winds have come up and the sun is shining brightly and illuminating the bottom in deep water, 2) when we first arrive at a new area and the slabs we are presenting are novel, and 3) when weather conditions have fish turned on to the point they are willing to leave bottom and stay up off bottom in a suspended mode.
Otherwise, snap-jigging is now entering into the picture especially 1) after we’ve caught fish at an area and the fish are no longer responding to a slow-smoking tactic, 2) during the first and final hours of a 4-hour trip, and/or 3) if the fish refuse to leave the bottom.
With fish routinely being found on well-tuned side-imaging in as much as 55′, I go prepared with each trip with both a set of rods with 5/8 oz. white Bladed Hazy Eye Slabs and a separate set of rods with 3/4 oz. white Bladed Hazy Eye Slabs.
This morning, I arrayed everyone on the starboard side, four abreast and had everyone looking on at one of two Garmin LiveScope monitors on that starboard side. We used a combination of snap-jigging and slow-smoking to piece together a 63 fish catch one fish at a time.
At no time did we get a frenzy to develop allowing us a prolonged catching streak, nor did we have multiple fish boated simultaneously.
Stillhouse winter fishing typically gives up a predictable mix of quality white bass up to or exceeding 15″, quality largemouth bass with multiple fish exceeding 4 pounds coming over the side routinely, and several bonus freshwater drum also exceeding 4 pounds on most every trip.
This morning was no exception as Andy landed a personal best largemouth weighing in at 5.50 pounds on a certified scale.
For those accustomed to the fairly easily read bird action on Lake Belton, Stillhouse bird activity is much, much more subtle, with a majority of the birds focused on loon activity.
Here is a tutorial on the smoking tactic we used… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIPopSLUYoQ
TALLY: 63 fish caught and released.
OBSERVATIONS: The water temperature profile measured on 01 Jan. 2024 was:
5 feet 54.7F
10 feet, 54.9F
15 feet, 54.9F
20 feet, 54.9F
30 feet, 54.9F
35 feet, 54.9F
40 feet, 54.7F
45 feet, 54.2F
WEATHER DATA:
Start Time: 7:30A
End Time: 11:35A
Air Temp. @ Trip’s Start: 39F
Elevation: 17.84 feet low, 1 CFS flow
Water Surface Temp: 54.3F on the surface.
Wind Speed & Direction: NW8 to 9 all morning through 11, then tapering down thereafter to NW6
Sky Condition: Cloudless, pale blue sky
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous moon at 89% illumination.
GT = N/A
Wx SNAPSHOT:
AREAS FISHED WITH SUCCESS:
Area 0133 – 12 fish
Area 1045 – 10 fish
Area 1952 – 28 fish (2 hops)
Area B0245G – 5 fish
Area B0255G – 4 fish
Area B0256G – 2 fish
Area B0257G – 2 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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