CLIENTS: This morning, Monday, Dec. 16th, I fished with long-time client and excellent angler Dwight Stone, a retired restaurateur from the Georgetown, TX, area.
A run of sonar training engagements took the place of fishing engagements since last Tuesday, but, this morning we hit Stillhouse after fish and did well, enjoying what may be the last balmy temperatures for some time to come.
DATE: Monday, 16 December 2024 (AM)
NEXT OPEN DATES: 19-20, 23-28 December (AM)
PHOTO CAPTION: From left: Girthy white bass were common this morning as the water temperatures hover at either side of 60F, depending on depth.
PHOTO CAPTION: Dwight Stone with a deep-water largemouth which rocketed up off bottom to overtake his MAL Dense lure as we fished in over 30′ of water.
WHERE WE FISHED: Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir
SUMMARY OF HOW WE FISHED:
Here is a tutorial on vertically smoking the MAL Lure: https:/
Here is a tutorial on horizontally “sawtoothing” with the MAL Lure or White Tornado: https:/
RESULTS: 88 fish, all caught and released (1 largemouth, 1 crappie, 86 white bass)
LURES USED SUCCESSFULLY ON THIS TRIP: We used MAL Dense Lures (w/ chartreuse tails) for 100% of our catch today. Find all MAL Lures and White Tornados here: https://whitebasstools.com/
OBSERVATIONS:
1) No bird activity helpful to fish finding occurred this morning.
2) I observed the first male white bass oozing milt so far this season. Of the 88 fish landed, only one did so.
LATEST WATER TEMPERATURE PROFILE:
Here was the water temperature profile for Stillhouse Hollow, measured with a FishHawk TD device around 7:00 AM on Monday, 9 Dec, and at 7:00A on Monday, 16 Dec ….
9-Dec | 16-Dec |
0 feet 60.8F | 0 feet 63.2F |
5 feet 60.9F | 5 feet 62.6F |
10 feet 61.1F | 10 feet 62.3F |
15 feet 61.1F | 15 feet 61.5F |
20 feet 61.1F | 20 feet 61.1F |
25 feet 61.1F | 25 feet 60.8F |
30 feet 61.1F | 30 feet 60.3F |
35 feet 61.1F | 35 feet 59.8F |
40 feet 60.9F | 40 feet 59.2F |
45 feet 60.6F | 45 feet 58.4F |
50 feet 60.6F | 50 feet 58.2F |
55 feet 60.4F | 55 feet 58.0F |
60 feet 60.4F | 60 feet 57.6F |
65 feet 60.4F | 65 feet 57.6F |
WEATHER DATA:
Start Time: 7:30A
End Time: Noon
Air Temp. @ Trip’s Start: 66F
Elevation: 2.00′ low and falling slowly with a 1 cfs flow
Water Surface Temp: 63.2F on the surface.
Wind Speed & Direction: Calm for 45 min., then slowly building from the SE up to 12mph by trip’s end
Sky Condition: Grey skies at 100% coverage all morning.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous moon at 98% illumination.
GT = 5
Wx SNAPSHOT:
AREAS FISHED WITH SUCCESS:
Area 034 – 10 fish smoking MAL Dense Lures
Area 0317 – 31 fish smoking MAL Dense Lures
Area 879/880 – 24 fish smoking MAL Dense Lures
Area vic 196 – 2 fish smoking MAL Dense Lures
Area 0vic SH0298G – 5 fish smoking MAL Dense Lures
Area 779 – 14 fish smoking MAL Dense Lures
Area vic 0305 – 2 fish smoking MAL Dense Lures
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