Update on the Texas Coast Box

My Texas Coast fly box has dwindled down to a few beat up flies that have each seen their share of fish. It is time to update and refill that box. First up, baitfish pattern. Thanks for the help Moon. This week I will test it on bass and see what they think of it before I tie up a bunch on Gamakatsu hooks. 

Bassin

The fishing was slow, the water was low and clear and there wasn't a hint of wind. Fished a black llama clouser deep. Managed a few bass and stuck a pig then long line released her after a nice jump.

Bassin with Tater

Tater is the best fishing buddy anyone could hope to have. He is one hell of a netter but his release of the fish is questionable at times. I'm not sure who likes fishing more.

Full Moon Bass

Full moon means late night top-water action. Grabbed the five weight and head lamp and hit the local pond. Fished Dahlberg Diving Frog. The fish were hanging right on the edge of the weeds. Saw a shooting star and caught two bass in a little over an hour. Not a bad way to spend an evening.

Lake Emma and Her Surrounding Ponds

Fishing lakes and ponds that are named after great dogs and stocked full of chunky bass and bluegill on a nice spring day is the perfect a way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Throw in some sight casting and top-water action and you have the recipe on "how to ruin a man." The bass and bluegill were cooperating and hit anything that resembled a shad. It was a good day and somehow we avoided all the rain and thunderstorms (until the drive home). Pictured above is Don Hart's nice bass being released by Mr. Ron Gard. Don put on a lesson and fished for 10 minutes and caught about 6 nice bass and then went back to the truck to nap.

Spring Tease, Active Bass

It seems that just yesterday we had temperatures in the single digits (I'm not sure if the temps ever got that low but I know for sure we made it into the teens) but here we are now in the 70s and the bass are moving into the shallows and they are aggressive. Hit a couple of local spots and found bass that were willing to hit the big fly. just about all the fish hung on the edge of the drop offs. Most of the takes were on the pause as the fly dropped or on the initial cast as the fly sank to the right depth. The fly has a slow sink and almost suspends. On the cast I would count down 4-5 seconds and long slow strip...pause...long slow strip. Many times on the initial strip it would just come tight.

Winter Bass

Tater and I hit Preston's Pond to see if we could figure out how to catch winter bass. Super slow retrieves with a black llama Clouser dropped about 6ft below a thingamabobber seemed to do the trick. Those bass don't stand a chance.

Slow retrieves require patient pups.