Day: March 25, 2024

Connecting with Connections in Connecticut — 57 Fish

by Bob Maindelle

WHO I FISHED WITH: 

This morning, Monday, March 25, I fished with returning guests, Clint Murphy and Maureen Parker, accompanied by their friends, and my first time guest, Barry and Rosale Lobo.
Maurine and Rosale went to high school together in Orange, Connecticut, reunited later in life, and for the last several days have been visiting with her and Clint here in Texas.
Here is how the fishing went…
PHOTO CAPTION:  From left: Clint Murphy, Maureen Parker, and Barry and Rosale Lobo with a few of the 57 fish they caught, mainly in the last half of their morning trip following the early morning passage of a wet cold front.
PHOTO CAPTION: Today was Maureen’s day to shine.  She caught the first fish.  She caught the most fish.  She caught the largest fish.  And, she caught the greatest variety of fish.  She says she never has days like this, but, I have my suspicions!!!

WHERE WE FISHED: Lake Belton

WHEN WE FISHED: Monday, 25 Mar. 2024 (AM)

HOW WE FISHED: 

We had a rough start of it this morning with the tail end of a wet, cold front’s passage exiting our area right around sunrise. The forecast called for very quick clearing with an ensuing dry , westerly breeze.  What actually developed were lingering cool, calm conditions with some occasional drizzle.
Eventually, this also moved east, allowing for skies to clear, temperatures to climb, cloud cover to thin, and a westerly wind begin to build.
As these things happened, the fishing improved. We went from only four fish in the boat at 10:15 to a 57 fish catch by 12:55.
When it became clear early on that the fishing was going to be slow to start with, I set aside the MAL Lures and horizontal tactics up shallow, and from that point on we focused only on vertical use of Bladed Hazy Eye Slabs using a slow smoking tactic in 22 to 34 feet of water for the remainder of the trip.
For the first time in quite a while I found fairly consistent schools with 20 to 40 fish per school in distinct areas holding on the bottom.  These have been few and far between lately, and, even when I had been finding them, they tended to consist of fairly disinterested fish.
Today, those grouped fish on deeper topographies bit fairly well with the conditions considered.
When all was said and done,  my four-angler crew’s catch of 57 fish consisted of 1 blue catfish, 2 largemouth bass, 1 legal hybrid striped bass, 1 freshwater drum, and 52 white bass.

Find the 3/4-ounce Bladed Hazy Eye Slab here: https://whitebasstools.com/

 

TALLY: 57 fish caught and released 

 

OBSERVATIONS:  No spawning activity observed once again this morning thanks to a cold front over the weekend dropping this morning’s low to 55F, along with turbulent weather, including thunder and lightning, right up to sunrise.  Limited bird activity, mainly by terns.

WEATHER DATA:

Start Time: 7:40A

End Time: 12:55P

Air Temp. @ Trip’s Start: 55F

Elevation: 11.65 feet low, 33 CFS flow

Water Surface Temp: 62.0F on the surface.

Wind Speed & Direction: WSW 0-7 all morning

Sky Condition: Grey skies with decreasing light sprinkles through around 10:15A, then clearing rapidly to 60% white clouds on a blue sky following a wet front’s passage, complete with thunder, lightning and 6/10″ rain from ~4:30-7:45A

Moon Phase: Full moon at 100% illumination.

GT = 105

Wx SNAPSHOT:    

 

AREAS FISHED WITH SUCCESS:  

Best areas were B0011C/B0185C and 2028/B0184C

 

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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