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Fishing Megathread: Looking For Big Girls Who swallow

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  • Popular Post

Trout under the lights were thick:

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Made some crudo, lime, salt, jalapeño, olive oil, salt, parsley:

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  • Ok I have left the building for the most part but I made an exception to come back and say I am THE queen of the fly rod.  It happened! thank the good lord above and all my living right, it happe

  • BearSchlong
    BearSchlong

    By myself, at the Sabine jetty. First time since my dad died in March. Hungry reds and trout. Thank you for the last 45 years of fishing, old man. And for leaving me a nice boat. I've seen you catch

  • MalibuSheriff
    MalibuSheriff

    Fishing trip with my son after picking him up in camp.  Rio Grande cutthroats caught last Sunday evening at an extremely isolated lake in southern Colorado.    

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  • Popular Post

Got to get up to the front range for college visits for the younger one, and then to visit the older one in Gunnison last week.  God, I love it up there.

Water was upper 40s, but I was still stupid Texan enough to wade in boots and neoprene socks.  Worth it.

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Didn't do as well as last time, but I was still absolutely content to be out there.  Best I came up with:

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This little guy was not pleased with my shitty fishing in his personal hole, and so decided to slip in and swim all through it, scaring away all the absolute units I was otherwise assuredly going to catch:

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Let's be honest, these were much more representative of my experience and skillset:

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When can I go back??

My son's exact words.

I was a successful dad in a few key areas.

3 hours ago, Damor said:





When can I go back??

Not soon enough. I’ve got a kid looking at CU…. My external dialogue (let’s pick the best school for you) my internal dialogue … please please please …

 

We promised not to move to wherever he chooses to go to school, whether Mines, CU, or CSU.

But we lie.

  • Popular Post

Rojo Jr making the most of his time at Arkansas. 
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30 minutes ago, BearSchlong said:

White river?

Yep.. That's Bull Shoals dam in the background. 

  • 3 weeks later...

Went down to Keller Bay with some veteran friends of mine and their teenage boys Sunday afternoon to stay until this morning.  Wind was brutal Sunday night but calmed a bit yesterday and today.  We caught limits of trout both days and five oversized drum like the one below.  And one tagged red, the other big ones went back in the drink.  Had a nice fish fry yesterday for lunch.
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  • Popular Post

Took advantage of the great temps and managable winds and made a run out to the jetties.  Gorgeous day but the action wasn’t very steady.  Moved around a bit but could never find any schools of bulls like we expected.  Managed a couple but being out there was good enough for me.

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • Popular Post

I just  caught the largest fish I have ever caught.  30 to 36 inch black drum on dead  shrimp  at Goose Island state park. Sorry pictures are terrible. 

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On 11/27/2025 at 11:23 PM, CoachTex said:

I just  caught the largest fish I have ever caught.  30 to 36 inch black drum on dead  shrimp  at Goose Island state park. Sorry pictures are terrible. 

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What did she weigh?

19 minutes ago, Cousin Strawberry said:

What did she weigh?

Didn't have a scale so just guess of around 20 to 25 lbs.

31 minutes ago, CoachTex said:

Didn't have a scale so just guess of around 20 to 25 lbs.

13 lbs is the largest drum I've landed.  8 weight fly rod.  Fun as shit.

7 minutes ago, CoachTex said:

Put up a hell of a fight. My drag was not ready for it. 

Me neither. I sight cast to a group of what I thought were puppy drum and she ate. Three of us caught 18 drum on the fly that afternoon after the reds disappeared.

10 hours ago, CoachTex said:

Didn't have a scale so just guess of around 20 to 25 lbs.

25.  This is Surly. 

19 minutes ago, Kennythetiger said:

25.  This is Surly men talking about catching fish. 

Truth

3 hours ago, Kennythetiger said:

25.  This is Surly. 

I guarantee I probably over estimated due me trying to not bust my ass on the wet algae covered concrete.  She was a healthy gal.

I haven't fished the flats in a year. Been watching a lot of Texas coast fishing YT videos. From those videos and from what I caught a few weeks ago, the trout are doing REALLY well. I caught a fat 25" trout who was mixed in with the reds slamming the baitfish along the grass lines. I caught another fat 23" trout casting to pot holes. Caught an easy limit of slot trout and probably ten more dinks and slots. Also caught an limit of reds. This was all within 3 hours of fishing on a mixed mud, shell, grass flat.

Sooo, it looks like the slot and 3 fish limit is working really well for trout. I would love to see them increase the bag limit to 4-5 per day but keep the slot limit.

15 hours ago, CoachTex said:

Put up a hell of a fight. My drag was not ready for it. 

You must have been wearing the wrong heels then... 😉

 

1 hour ago, CoachTex said:

I guarantee I probably over estimated due me trying to not bust my ass on the wet algae covered concrete.  She was a healthy gal.

One thing i did buy this year was some of the korker strap on cleats.  Thing I think I like best about them is actually standing ankle deep on that algae, and letting the larger waves cool me off from the heat.  

shopping?q=tbn:ANd9GcSE0ABPV1j3SItzWkrcE

 

Back in Costa Rica to begin the season. Yesterday was a marlin day, today was sailfish.  Fish again tomorrow and then we have the Flor de Cana tournament Friday and Saturday. We are here through mid-April and I am expecting us to fish the most days we ever have this year.

  • Popular Post
1 hour ago, justhookit said:

Back in Costa Rica to begin the season. Yesterday was a marlin day, today was sailfish.  Fish again tomorrow and then we have the Flor de Cana tournament Friday and Saturday. We are here through mid-April and I am expecting us to fish the most days we ever have this year.

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All you wade fishermen, tired of rusty pliers on your wade belt?

get these plastic electrician pliers and drill a hole in the handle for your lanyard, sturdy af and won’t rust

https://a.co/d/bzTv3Nh

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All you wade fishermen, tired of rusty pliers on your wade belt?
get these plastic electrician pliers and drill a hole in the handle for your lanyard, sturdy af and won’t rust
https://a.co/d/bzTv3Nh
image.jpeg.955c939de1ebbcb41280b2442c865218.jpeg

What? No $500 Van Staal’s? Don’t be poor.
On 12/6/2025 at 6:09 PM, davidg said:


What? No $500 Van Staal’s? Don’t be poor.

In VS defense, they are for life.   Similar to a real boga, etc.  

1 hour ago, fattyflattie said:

In VS defense, they are for life.   Similar to a real boga, etc.  

Yeah.  Pretty sure my Boga is over 20 years old.

Pretty sure my knock off academy Boga is 30 years old and is indistinguishable from a real one.

My cousin is in town for our annual family party, and we ran to one of my favorite winter spots near Bridge City and caught 32-38 inch reds til our arms fell off. All sight cast under the birds as they rolled/busted the surface, honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a concentrated school that big in my life—only one slot.

December can be weird and awesome.

^^^ must have been awesome.

 

opposite down here in Galveston.  Weather was too nice to get out and try it.  Super clear water and super low tides did not make for a great wade but no matter what any time I can wade comfortably in December is a win.

 

 

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On 12/6/2025 at 1:54 PM, 4th and 5 said:

All you wade fishermen, tired of rusty pliers on your wade belt?

get these plastic electrician pliers and drill a hole in the handle for your lanyard, sturdy af and won’t rust

https://a.co/d/bzTv3Nh

image.jpeg.955c939de1ebbcb41280b2442c865218.jpeg

I’m still on my best pair of my life.  Rapala’s about 10 years old now.  Never let me down so far even after having to retreiving them from the bottom of the canal a couple of times.

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Was glass smooth then the wind kicked up to 30. So much fun running 15 miles straight back into a whitecap chop with an effective 70mph headwind.

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  • Popular Post

The boy has become obsessed and I am here for it.
A year ago he wouldn’t touch a fish.
This is the past 2 days at a small city park down the street from our house.
These are fun as hell to hook.

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My friend who is a lifelong fisherman out here would’ve kept this to eat it. I just toss them all back. Semi-paying attention because the waves always make me want to take a nap so nice to get this one before I pass out for a bit.IMG_0161.jpeg

Love when the cold fronts bring the reds into the canals. Love fighting them on light spinning tackle. Released for another day.

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On 12/29/2025 at 4:55 PM, UpperWestside said:

My friend who is a lifelong fisherman out here would’ve kept this to eat it. I just toss them all back. Semi-paying attention because the waves always make me want to take a nap so nice to get this one before I pass out for a bit.IMG_0161.jpeg

Pomp is great, jack is bait.

Wintertime is a good time to catch Pompano in the surf. Pomp is probably as good an eating fish as you can catch from the shoreline. Meat sort of reminds me of lobster texture.

17 minutes ago, horn4life said:

Pomp is great, jack is bait.

Wintertime is a good time to catch Pompano in the surf. Pomp is probably as good an eating fish as you can catch from the shoreline. Meat sort of reminds me of lobster texture.

I am contemplating getting an ocean kayak again so that I can get out and fish further from shore. Right now getting further from shore involves swimming out 200 yards or so and dropping the bait, usually mackerel or baby squid. I enjoy swimming so that is okay with me. Still would like a fishing kayak again though so I can sit and fish on top of them.

1 minute ago, UpperWestside said:

I am contemplating getting an ocean kayak again so that I can get out and fish further from shore. Right now getting further from shore involves swimming out 200 yards or so and dropping the bait, usually mackerel or baby squid. I enjoy swimming so that is okay with me. Still would like a fishing kayak again though so I can sit and fish on top of them.

I hear yah. But my option has been to downsize my reels onto longer surf rods with as low as 20lb braid to get distance. One setup I have adopted that works especially well if I am trying to get out a larger bait (or farther period) is a pulley rig. Basically it allows you the put the mass of the bait and weight together for a smaller less wind resistant profile, AND then makes a shock leader that also pulls the weight up off the bottom while fighting the fish. Without having the bait fluttering creating drag on the long cast you really can gain quite a bit of distance.

only difference for me is I use these clips as they are smaller, and bait slide rather than a swivel to form the pulley. I have a wire leader one I made for shark fishing that works really well and I think the bigger slide works a little better overall on the heavier leaders. Try it, I bet you will like it. And easier to lug around than a kayak. ;-)

shopping?q=tbn:ANd9GcTlmzWjnPQXpmMp1Y8PDIngVf_7MVXI8Mx0Fn8kwP_WpH-68peCG3FTkDWW1QTKF6fu6D-f6TXQQLGnbN2kk-zlAx65GCQpFS4pcIN6hNG2ykPrtFXExUktug 30pcs fishing tackle running ledger zip slider beads swivels pulley   rigs readytouse swivels glossy   metallic swivel fishing gear   precision engineering fishing rig components fishing enthusiasts

@Mac8111 the usual spot was fire prefront, sight casted big reds up shallow on top waters til it got dark

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