2018 Fishing - Year of the big one

[fattyflattie 4631]

Because I live vicariously through some of y'all. 

[Pescado_Rojo 19192]

Did a little pond fishing in the front of our neighborhood with the boy last night. 

[DougO 5223]

Congrats on the first bass of the new board!

[Braff Zacklin 13284]

Glad to see this reborn. Fishing threads never die, they only fade away.

[Judge Roybeanbag 11728]

A couple buddies and I hiked a mile up the San Gabriel yesterday to try and catch some white bass.  Beautiful hike, but no white bass were had.

[Dry Elbows 142]

Really looking forward to spring and summer fishing. Hoping I can get a trout over 7#. Had quite a few over 6#, but still waiting for one over 7#. 

[Braff Zacklin 13284]

Fresh or salt, DE?

[El Diablo 4232]

5 hours ago, Judge Roybeanbag said:

A couple buddies and I hiked a mile up the San Gabriel yesterday to try and catch some white bass.  Beautiful hike, but no white bass were had.

This next weekend, if we get enough rain this week, should be pretty good for the sandies.

[Tommy El Gato 10]

18 minutes ago, Dry Elbows said:

Really looking forward to spring and summer fishing. Hoping I can get a trout over 7#. Had quite a few over 6#, but still waiting for one over 7#. 

I've been the king of undersized trucha this year.  6"-14" all day long.  I'm looking forward to just get some on the grill.  

[PatrickMcHorn 376]

Did an overnight trip on the Colorado this weekend,  didn't take any pics.  Fishing was shitty,  only caught 10, and none were worth writing home about.  Beer was drunk and steaks were eaten though,  so ill take it.

 

Edited March 26, 2018 by PatrickMcHorn

[tx 3 putt 74771]

Went out Saturday to 'run the boat' and just kill time. It was windy as hell so I figured we would just be site seeing. Put in at Charlie's Bait Camp between Seadrift and Port O'Conner. 

Welp, we came back with 4 very fat Reds, in the 26 inch range. All four put damn good fights, I go with top notch gear so they were over matched !

Days like that remind me that I don't need to drop $80k on a new boat 

 

[Pescado_Rojo 19192]

I've been super happy with mine since the repower and new trailer. Fished down south over spring break and ran from the Arroyo to the East Cut on the sand in 6"-8" of water the whole way...2/3 throttle and about 20-22 mph with the JP all the way up and the motor trimmed out and never overheated. And that's with no low water pickup. The boat runs faster than that,  but with the JP up, it will overheat at high speed, so I just cruise.

A buddy lost his skiff in Harvey (he kept it in Rockport) and just settled up with insurance, so he's getting build sheets done a couple places. I was absolutely stunned to find out the new skiff from New Water, the Willet was the same price I got quoted for a new Hell's Bay Professional with a 90 Suzuki. The Willet is a tiller boat with a max HP rating of 30!

[Dry Elbows 142]

10 minutes ago, Pescado_Rojo said:

 

A buddy lost his skiff in Harvey (he kept it in Rockport) and just settled up with insurance, so he's getting build sheets done a couple places. I was absolutely stunned to find out the new skiff from New Water, the Willet was the same price I got quoted for a new Hell's Bay Professional with a 90 Suzuki. The Willet is a tiller boat with a max HP rating of 30!

It's been talked about several times, but bay boat prices are fucking insane.  If he's going to spend that kind of money he might as well get the Hell's Bay or a Chittum. 

[Pescado_Rojo 19192]

Shit, his Chittum build sheet was $80+...with a 50.

 

[tx 3 putt 74771]

Damn 

[Dry Elbows 142]

LOL.  Who the fuck pays that much for a boat?

[Pescado_Rojo 19192]

I think the only ones in Texas are owned by guides. I assume they get a guide deal and don't pay retail. The two guys I know that are seriously looking at them that aren't guides...one is an energy trader, the other is a cardiologist.

[Dry Elbows 142]

There is one here in Houston that I know of.  The guys at Gordy & Sons have a Laguna Madre edition they keep in the parking under the store.  Last time I was there it didn't even have a prop on it and it was filthy.  I had no idea they were that expensive. 

[fattyflattie 4631]

12 hours ago, tx 3 putt said:

Went out Saturday to 'run the boat' and just kill time. It was windy as hell so I figured we would just be site seeing. Put in at Charlie's Bait Camp between Seadrift and Port O'Conner. 

Welp, we came back with 4 very fat Reds, in the 26 inch range. All four put damn good fights, I go with top notch gear so they were over matched !

Days like that remind me that I don't need to drop $80k on a new boat 

 

Is the cut at Charlie's really silted in?  I know the skinny boats will make it but is it passable for a pad boat?  I haven't been down there in awhile but have a tournament coming up; that may change the dynamics as a lot of that group runs that end. 

[tx 3 putt 74771]

I see pad boats in there

 

theres a deeper cut further down towards Port O’Connor 

 

 

[fattyflattie 4631]

31 minutes ago, tx 3 putt said:

I see pad boats in there

 

theres a deeper cut further down towards Port O’Connor 

 

 

I'm familiar with the area, just been reading that one in particular got really silted in over last few months. It was passable last time I was there but seemed to be getting worse and worse. Just curious before if you knew before I bury my sled in front of everyone. 

[Dry Elbows 142]

21 minutes ago, fattyflattie said:

I'm familiar with the area, just been reading that one in particular got really silted in over last few months. It was passable last time I was there but seemed to be getting worse and worse. Just curious before if you knew before I bury my sled in front of everyone. 

I've heard it's pretty silted up on the bay side and can be tough on a low tide for non-shallow running boats.  You may want to ask over on 2cool. 

[Pescado_Rojo 19192]

I haven't been through that cut since last fall, but it was pretty shallow then. Higher water this spring will probably help, but if it's low tide, I'd probably use the cut across from the Sanctuary. (Army cut?)

[fattyflattie 4631]

2cool is where I saw everyone fussing about it. I’ll likely just run all the way out the ditch before turning south.  I just never liked running through SAB, especially at dark and in a hurry.  Usually cut down and head towards south pass before heading further west.  More curious that anything tbh. Glad to see y’all got into some reds. Hopefully I’ll find some hefty ones of my own that week. 

[Judge Roybeanbag 11728]

20 hours ago, El Diablo said:

This next weekend, if we get enough rain this week, should be pretty good for the sandies.

Yeah the current was pretty slack and the eddies were stagnant looking.  

[swTXSU 18]

Anybody that fishes for Red Snapper, if you get a chance come out tonight and hear about the State of Texas applying for a Exempted Fishing Permit.  We need some public input on having common sense seasons and bag limits on Snapper so we can tell the feds we can do a better job managing our stocks.  If something doesn't give at the federal level we may have no recreational snapper season this year.

 

TPWD Sets Public Meetings to Gather Input on Red Snapper Exempted Fishing Permit Application

AUSTIN- The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is seeking public input on a proposed plan that, if approved by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), would allow the state to manage the recreational red snapper season in federal waters during 2018 and 2019. TPWD projects state waters to remain open 365 days a year.

The proposed plan, detailed in an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) application submitted by TPWD in February, seeks authority for the state to establish opening and closure of the red snapper fishery in federal waters off the Texas coast. The application also suggests consolidating all recreational anglers – private recreational anglers who fish from their own vessels and private recreational anglers who fish from for-hire vessels – into one sector. If combined, TPWD projects a 104-day recreational red snapper season in federal waters. Until two years ago, all recreational anglers were treated as one sector for the purpose of managing the Gulf red snapper fishery.

NMFS has offered an alternate scenario that suggests there is a reduction in the allotted poundage quota for the charter for-hire segment to calculate the length of the proposed season. Under the scenario of a reduced allotted poundage, TPWD projects that the red snapper season for all recreational anglers in federal waters would be 64 days.

NMFS has also suggested that the for-hire sector remain within its current management structure set by the federal government. Currently, the for-hire sector across the Gulf of Mexico receives its own fishing season independent of the private recreational angler season. Regardless of the two scenarios presented, if the for-hire sector is removed from the current EFP plan and remains under its current management structure then its fishing season would be 51 days. The projected number of fishing days for the private recreational angler sector is 82 days in both scenarios when managed independently from the for-hire sector.

Additional details on the EFP application, and opportunity for public comment are available on the TPWD website comment portal. The public is also invited to comment during a series of upcoming public meetings where details of the EFP application will be presented.

 

Three Public Hearings are going to be held on March 27th, Starting at 7pm at THREE different locations throughout the state:

Hilton Hotel - Clear Lake
Atlantis Room
3000 NASA Parkway
Houston, TX 77058

Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi
Natural Resources Building, Room 1003
6300 Ocean Drive
Corpus Christi, TX 78412

Port Isabel Event and Cultural Center
309 E Railroad Avenue
Port Isabel, TX 78578

TPWD Coastal Fisheries staff will be presenting a Facebook live webinar and responding to questions and comments on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Facebook page on Wednesday, March 28 at noon.

The public comment period is open until April 2, 2018.

https://tpwd.texas.gov/newsmedia/releases/?req=20180313a&nrtype=all&nrspan=2018&nrsearch=

 

                       

 

 

 

[fluff 87]

Anybody around here ever caught a Carp on the Fly?  I have a great carp spot and looking to catch on on the fly this summer...Any tips appreciated.  Also, if you have a kayak or  paddle board and want to fish a great spot on one of the highland lakes, let me know.  I have great spot with awesome access.

[Pescado_Rojo 19192]

I've been wanting to try carping on the fly, but have no idea where to start in the Austin area. Someplace I could fish from my skiff would be cool.

[Braff Zacklin 13284]

Crawfish patterns do really well for carp. Something you can drag/twitch on the bottom.

Carp are extremely intelligent and get absolutely massive, but I've never understood the appeal. They don't breach or run or anything that should surprise you. They're just big, heavy, and they chug around like a diesel truck. /shrug

[Braff Zacklin 13284]

I'll be visiting the Lone Star State for a couple of weeks in late April/early May. Most of my time will be with family, but if one of you saltwater specialists offered to take this landlubber on the flats for some specks or reds, I'd be eternally grateful.

Bassin' is always fun, too. Cue the carp invites after my previous post. 

[fluff 87]

19 minutes ago, Braff Zacklin said:

Crawfish patterns do really well for carp. Something you can drag/twitch on the bottom.

Carp are extremely intelligent and get absolutely massive, but I've never understood the appeal. They don't breach or run or anything that should surprise you. They're just big, heavy, and they chug around like a diesel truck. /shrug

I find it hard to believe they dont run much?  Just one of those things that has been a goal and would like to accomplish it.  Everything I have read says it is hard to do, but there are plenty people doing it and it seems those that do, enjoy it.  

[Llano Estacado 1257]

On 3/26/2018 at 12:58 PM, fattyflattie said:

I'm familiar with the area, just been reading that one in particular got really silted in over last few months. It was passable last time I was there but seemed to be getting worse and worse. Just curious before if you knew before I bury my sled in front of everyone. 

Simple solution. We should fish more. 

See you in 2019. 

[Braff Zacklin 13284]

14 minutes ago, fluff said:

I find it hard to believe they dont run much?  Just one of those things that has been a goal and would like to accomplish it.  Everything I have read says it is hard to do, but there are plenty people doing it and it seems those that do, enjoy it.  

 

I guess it depends on your definition of run. They take off in one direction, but they just chug along. Their endurance is good, but it's just a long, boring fight, imo.

They are leery and convincing them to take can be a challenge. And, yes, there are many who love carping on the fly and prefer it to trout.

Full disclosure, I'm not a very good fly fisherman, and I despise carp with the intensity of a hypergiant about to supernova.

Edited March 27, 2018 by Braff Zacklin

[Footballpants 121]

Went to a buddy's place in Jackson Hole over the weekend for a last minute spring ski trip. His place sits on a little creek that flows into the Snake River called Fish Creek. We had a little time to kill Sunday afternoon so I went rummaging through his barn and found some waders, a TFO NXT Combo, and a fly box filled of a hodge-podge of flies. Tied on a big stone fly nymph and a zebra midge dropper and decided to head out and make a few casts. Caught this 18.5" cutter on the stone fly nymph on 4th cast. 

 

[jofus 2265]

2 fish one lure.

 

 

[jofus 2265]

also pulled this one out of the tank:

[Braff Zacklin 13284]

3 hours ago, Footballpants said:

Went to a buddy's place in Jackson Hole over the weekend for a last minute spring ski trip. His place sits on a little creek that flows into the Snake River called Fish Creek. We had a little time to kill Sunday afternoon so I went rummaging through his barn and found some waders, a TFO NXT Combo, and a fly box filled of a hodge-podge of flies. Tied on a big stone fly nymph and a zebra midge dropper and decided to head out and make a few casts. Caught this 18.5" cutter on the stone fly nymph on 4th cast. 

 

Gorgeous.

[Mac8111 2096]

FYI. POC Crawfish Festival is the last weekend in April. Anyone going down?  We are going to spend the weekend there. 

[tx 3 putt 74771]

port oconnor ?

[Mac8111 2096]

1 hour ago, tx 3 putt said:

port oconnor ?

Correct!

[fattyflattie 4631]

1 hour ago, Mac8111 said:

FYI. POC Crawfish Festival is the last weekend in April. Anyone going down?  We are going to spend the weekend there. 

I'll be down there for a small annual tournament I fish. Hopefully too many beers while eating bugs will give most a late start. 

[Mac8111 2096]

Just now, fattyflattie said:

I'll be down there for a small annual tournament I fish. Hopefully too many beers while eating bugs will give most a late start. 

I am going to fish Friday with the wife.  (God bless her, it was her suggestion to spend her birthday weekend in POC) . 

 

May try to get a quick wade in Sat morning.  

[fattyflattie 4631]

I'll be anywhere from west end of Aransas to east end of West Matagorda. Wave, flip off, or throw out a hookem if you see a black/gray Haynie LS rolling by. 

[LoneStarBiker 145]

We (TPWD) went to the Livingston Dam tailrace to check for Striped Bass prior to our hatchery collections in April. Here's a 30+ lbs female we shocked up, saw a bunch of 6+ ft alligator gar, paddlefish, and a couple freshwater eels as well. 10 floodgates were open so there was quite a bit of flow (14,000 CFS; see image below) and any more it's too dangerous to get the boats in there. With all this rain, especially in the DFW, may keep us from collections next week. 

 

 

 

[El Diablo 4232]

Lots of good rain yesterday and last night that should have the sandies running. Crappie don't like the changing water levels but we'll probably get out and drown some minnows looking for them.

Nice to see that you guys saw some eels. They're one of my favorites.

[Cousin Strawberry 1258]

Anyone still finding white bass at Colorado Bend?

[fattyflattie 4631]

On 3/27/2018 at 1:11 PM, Llano Estacado said:

Simple solution. We should fish more. 

See you in 2019. 

If your grandmother would have planned her birthday better about 90 years ago, we’d be hoisting the BG trophy this year.  

Seriously gonna miss you at maddens post ceremony.  Bootlegger going to claim Kocian again? 

[Lat22 3941]

Guy on Facebook is posting a picture of a tarpon he caught in his canal at Tiki Island. I want to believe. 

[Lat22 3941]

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[fattyflattie 4631]

There were reports of many dead about that size in Caney Creek during the freezes this year.  Doesn’t seem unbelievable. Only one I’ve ever caught was about that size, trout fishing in the surf.