CLIENTS: This morning, Wednesday, 23 Oct., I fished a trip with solo returning guest Mr. Gary Jones, a retired banker from Temple, TX. Gary and I first got to know one another when he and some buddies bid on a trip I had donated to the local Ralph Wilson Youth Club. We hit it off, and he’s now been with me on numerous occasions. He is a great combination of financial savvy, local history, a family man, a godly man, and a well-rounded outdoor enthusiast, plus he loves dogs!!
DATE: Wednesday, 23 October 2024 (PM)
NEXT OPEN DATES: Next open dates: 5, 7, 13 & 18 November (weekday AMs and PMs). Next Saturday opening: 30 November (AM)
PHOTO CAPTION: Gary Jones of Temple, TX, with a few of the beefy white bass landed on MAL Originals and 1 1/8 oz. White Tornados.
PHOTO CAPTION: Side-imaging showing hundreds of fish in a single school in 37 feet of water.
PHOTO CAPTION: Close-up of the same image shown above.
PHOTO CAPTION: Side-imaging showing hundreds of fish in a single school in 49 feet of water.
PHOTO CAPTION: Close-up of the same image shown above.
WHERE WE FISHED: Lake Belton
SUMMARY OF HOW WE FISHED:
The fishing got off to a sluggish start this morning as the fish began feeding around 8:10A, but were none too enthusiastic about chasing very far or fast. It stayed this way until the end of our second hour on the water, with a catch of 21 fish/hour in our first hour, and 24 fish/hour in our second hour.
Around 9A, the wind picked up and the fishing picked up, but not dramatically so. Up to this point in the morning our best results came on presenting MAL Originals vertically with a smoking tactic used in conjunction with Garmin LiveScope.
We continued in this manner until around 10:15A when the fishing picked up and stayed strong right up to a very definite stop at 11:44A.
During this time, fish in deep water began to fan out and feed over a gently sloped (nearly flat) bottom, allowing us to cast and work 1 1/8 oz. White Tornados (white color) using a sawtooth method. This deep horizontal fishing is where these baits really shine, as they sink very quickly and can be thrown very far, thus allowing a lot of ground to be covered on each cast.
We ended the morning right at 11:58A, as our 100th fish came over the gunwale. This catch included 91 white bass and 9 hybrid striped bass.
Here is a tutorial on vertically smoking the MAL Lure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDSvfXgrAUE
Here is a tutorial on horizontally “sawtoothing” with the MAL Lure or White Tornado: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IC3FMEQHOMQ
LURES USED SUCCESSFULLY ON THIS TRIP: We used MAL Originals and Heavies in both vertical and horizontal modes this evening. Find all MAL Lures and White Tornados here: https://whitebasstools.com/
TALLY: 100 fish, including 9 hybrid striped bass and 91 white bass.
OBSERVATIONS:
1) The number of bottom-oriented schools of white bass now found in deep water AND showing a willingness to remain stationary long enough to allow for presentations to be made for substantial lengths of time have increased sharply; these fish are there to stay, likely until the water temps drop below 60F.
2) Mornings are much more productive than evenings at this point in the early fall.
3) I saw multiple large (several hundred individuals) schools today in multiple locations as the fish begin to coalesce heading into the fall/winter.
LATEST WATER TEMPERATURE PROFILE:
Here was the water temperature profile for Lake Belton, measured with a FishHawk TD device around 7:30 AM on Friday, 18 Oct….
WEATHER DATA:
Start Time: 7:50A
End Time: 12:00 Noon
Air Temp. @ Trip’s Start: 67F
Elevation: 2.02′ low and falling slowly with a 43 cfs flow; .02′ fall in last 24 hours (w/ inflow from Proctor)
Water Surface Temp: 76.8F on the surface.
Wind Speed & Direction: S5-8 all morning
Sky Condition: No cloud cover on a hazy blue sky.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous moon at 57% illumination.
GT = 205
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