ALL ABOUT EATER CATFISH – 21 FISH @ BELTON

WHO I FISHED WITH:  This past Friday evening, May 1st, I welcomed returning guests Rick Powell and Ricardo Cisneros aboard.  During the Coronavirus shutdown, I took my wife, Rebecca, and a handful of friends out fishing specifically for blue catfish on Lake Belton.  Ricardo, who regularly follows my Facebook posts, saw this and hoped to duplicate the effort on occasions where he hoped to catch a few “eating-sized” catfish (12+ inches).

He requested I take he and his friend (and boss) Rick Powell out to show them what I’d learned.

No, I’m not starting to guide for catfish and don’t intend to do so in the future, but, as the fishery offers consistency and as the quality of these fish continue to improve on Lake Belton (due to zebra mussel consumption, I suspect), I will no doubt routinely mix in some catfishing in my multi-species trips. Additionally, my 100% C&R policy still pertains to this species.

 

PHOTO CAPTION: This is what the methods I’ve pieced together (with a good bit of help from Steve Webb) typically produce – smaller “eater-sized” blue catfish, two of which provide 4 fillets — just enough for a 1-person serving if kept and cleaned properly. Most fish are 12-15 inches, like this one held by Ricardo Cisneros.

WHEN WE FISHED:  01 May, 2020, PM

HOW WE FISHED: First, I search for blue catfish concentrations on sonar.  Next, I Spot-Lock and chum with range cubes, then get right down to fishing vertically with my “Catfish Plumb” bait holders tipped with fresh, dead shad or non-stink doughbait.  To enhance things, I’ve brought Garmin LiveScope to bear, which allows slightly suspended fish to be targeted.  Otherwise, the default bait position is just inches off bottom.

Concentration is a must, as the catfish typically take only one swipe at the bait, during which time a quick, hard hookset is a must.

In 3.5 hours’ time, some of which was set aside for Humminbird side-imaging explanation and Garmin LiveScope explanation, we put 22 blue cat over the side of the boat with just as many missed on the hookset.

 

TALLY: 22 fish caught and released

OBSERVATIONS: As I searched for spawning shad, a definite, shallow-water and shad-oriented fishery is also ripe for picking, albeit short-lived with the action drying up about the time the direct sun peeks over the eastern horizon.

 

TODAY’S CONDITIONS/NOTES:

Start Time:   4:00P

End Time:  7:30P

Air Temp. @ Trip’s Start: 82F

Elevation:  0.77′  high, 0.06 foot 24-hour rise, 17 CFS flow

Water Surface Temp:  70F

Wind Speed & Direction:  S17 at trip’s start, tapering to S14 by trip’s end

Sky Conditions: 30% high white haze on blue skies

GT =28

 

Wx SNAPSHOT:   

 

AREAS FISHED WITH SUCCESS:

**Area vic B0073C (fished it at start of trip and end of trip with 2 other non-productive stops in between)

 

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)

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Website: www.HoldingTheLineGuideService.com

E-mail: Bob@HoldingTheLineGuideService.com

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THROWING BLADES & TROLLING CRANKS — 47 FISH @ STILLHOUSE

WHO I FISHED WITH: This past Thursday morning I fished with Mike and Gail Klosterhoff of Georgetown, TX, on Stillhouse Hollow.  Gail got Mike a fishing gift certificate for Christmas and today was when they chose to redeem it.  Based on recent scouting efforts I’d made on Stillhouse, I knew the use of bladebaits would figure heavily into our approach, so, I did some dockside coaching on the use of these lures before we encountered fish so Mike and Gail would be more capable when we got into white bass.  Because the Klosterhoffs recently bought a pontoon boat of their own and desire to get better at catching fish on their own, I tried to explain why we did what we did as the morning went along so they could apply such lessons to their own efforts going forward.  Thank you for the referral, Dan Marriott!!

Mike and Gail Klosterhoff of Georgetown, TX, put 46 white bass and 1 largemouth in the boat under warming, cloudy conditions on Stillhouse Hollow throwing bladebaits.

 

WHAT WE FISHED FOR: This was a multi-species trip focused on catching white bass.

WHERE WE FISHED: Stillhouse Hollow

WHEN WE FISHED: Friday morning, 09 March 2018

HOW WE FISHED:   All fish caught today were taken in under 20′ of water and primarily using bladebaits.  We used 3/8 oz. Cicadas in shallower water (<10′) and 3/4 oz. Binsky blades in water over 10′.  A lift-drop retrieve did the trick.  We also put a few fish in the boat via flatline trolling.  The fish showed a definite preference for the Storm Smash Shad over the Wiggle Wart I had on the other line.  The trolling targeted scattered fish whereas the bladebaits were thrown at congregated fish as seen on sonar.

OBSERVATIONS/NOTES:  1) Despite our decent catch, there still seems to be a scarcity of both fish and bait in the areas traditionally holding fish under current water conditions and in this season as compared to seasons past. 2) The “bridge tree” I watch each time of year for a gauge of spring’s progress began greening this week. 3) Sandhill cranes have migrated beyond us now.

TALLY: 47 FISH, ALL CAUGHT AND RELEASED 

 

TODAY’S CONDITIONS/NOTES:

Start Time: 6:30 am

End Time:  10:30 am

Air Temp. @ Trip’s Start:  53F

Water Surface Temp:  58-59F

Wind Speed & Direction:  S5-7 then increasing sharply to S14 around 9:30

Sky Conditions: 100% grey clouds

Water Level: 3.72 feet low

GT = 40

Wx SNAPSHOT:

AREAS FISHED WITH SUCCESS:

**Area SH0011C to SH0014C – blade baits in under than 12′

**Area SH0012C – flatline trolling

**Area 091 to SH0013C

 

Bob Maindelle, Central Texas Fishing Guide

Owner, Holding the Line Guide Service

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