WHO I FISHED WITH: On Tuesday morning, January 2, I conducted the second SKIFF trip of the 2024 season, welcoming aboard Miss Aaliyah Smith, age 10, and her friend, Nevaeh Ponce, age 6.
ABOUT SKIFF: SKIFF trips have been provided to military families at no charge since May of 2009. SKIFF is funded by donations from Austin Fly Fishers, The McBride Foundation, & Austin Subaru. S.K.I.F.F. provides children of military personnel separated from their families by duty commitments with the opportunity to fish. SKIFF trips are also provided to Gold Star families who have lost their service member. In mid-2019, SKIFF began providing trips to kids of bona fide disabled veterans. I conduct these 3.5 hour adventures on Belton Lake and Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir year ’round. Call or text 254.368.7411.
Here is how the fishing went…
Here’s an up-to-date calendar so you can check availability: https://holdingthelineguideservice.com/available-dates.php
PHOTO CAPTION: From left: Nevaeh Ponce (age 6) and Aaliyah Smith (age 10) with a few of the white bass they caught using a slow-smoking tactic with Bladed Hazy Eye Slabs.
PHOTO CAPTION: Most every trip on Stillhouse sees quality largemouth coming aboard as bycatch, despite focusing strictly on white bass. This bass landed by Nevaeh Ponce weighed 4.25 pounds.
PHOTO CAPTION: Beginner’s luck was with Miss Nevaeh this morning! This freshwater drum was more than half her size!
Find the Bladed Hazy Eye Slab here: https://whitebasstools.com/
WHERE WE FISHED: Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir
WHEN WE FISHED: Tuesday, 02 Jan. 2023 (AM)
HOW WE FISHED:
Here is a tutorial on the slow-smoking tactic we used… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIPopSLUYoQ
TALLY: 105 fish caught and released.
OBSERVATIONS:
The water temperature profile measured on Stillhouse Hollow 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: 7:45A
End Time: 11:15A
Air Temp. @ Trip’s Start: 39F
Elevation: 17.78 feet low, 1 CFS flow
Water Surface Temp: 54.3F on the surface.
Wind Speed & Direction: ESE wind at 6-8, increasing to ESE11-12 at 9:45
Sky Condition: ~60% coverage of off-white/light grey clouds on a pale blue sky
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous moon at 65% illumination.
GT = N/A
Wx SNAPSHOT:
AREAS FISHED WITH SUCCESS:
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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