Fishing Megathread: Looking For Big Girls Who swallow

[1leggedduck 443]

Son and I practiced for the TTZ tournament on Travis that was weekend before last. He pulls a 6lb girl and I get a 5lb 12oz. We're going to win some money on tournament day!

That Saturday a front passes. We catch two that keep for about 4.25 lbs. The winning team had 23 lb bag. Anyone who thinks golf is frustrating has never tried tournament bass fishing.

[DefinitelyNotHollywoodColt 12301]

34 minutes ago, 1leggedduck said:

Son and I practiced for the TTZ tournament on Travis that was weekend before last. He pulls a 6lb girl and I get a 5lb 12oz. We're going to win some money on tournament day!

That Saturday a front passes. We catch two that keep for about 4.25 lbs. The winning team had 23 lb bag. Anyone who thinks golf is frustrating has never tried tournament bass fishing.

Law of averages…gotta think really slow practice sessions means you’re in the money in the tourney.

I always feel bad for whoever is fishing with me the next time out after an epic day.

[Pescado_Rojo 19428]

1 hour ago, DefinitelyNotHollywoodColt said:

Law of averages…gotta think really slow practice sessions means you’re in the money in the tourney.

I always feel bad for whoever is fishing with me the next time out after an epic day.

Wanna fish the El Palometero in 2024? May 7th-11th. 

[troph 24905]

1 hour ago, DefinitelyNotHollywoodColt said:

Law of averages…gotta think really slow practice sessions means you’re in the money in the tourney.

I always feel bad for whoever is fishing with me the next time out after an epic day.

caught 3 in 3 hours 12/25 (no guide), caught zero in 4 hours a few days later (no guide), caught zero 1/3 at the coast (with a guide, reds were just GONE) and caught 7 on 1/6 (with a guide).  definitely law of averages. it's like I want to get the bad days over with so I can have the good one again.

[fattyflattie 4638]

2 hours ago, 1leggedduck said:

That Saturday a front passes. We catch two that keep for about 4.25 lbs. The winning team had 23 lb bag. Anyone who thinks golf is frustrating has never tried tournament bass fishing.

Especially 2 and 3 day formats.  Adds such another layer of mental to follow up a few great days on the front of the tournament.  

[DefinitelyNotHollywoodColt 12301]

6 hours ago, Pescado_Rojo said:

Wanna fish the El Palometero in 2024? May 7th-11th. 

Yes.

[Hook1997 5400]

Got a group going rainbow trout fishing on the Guadalupe River this weekend.  We rented a house on River road.  Does anyone have any tips, spots or other suggestions for us?

[troph 24905]

5 hours ago, Hook1997 said:

Got a group going rainbow trout fishing on the Guadalupe River this weekend.  We rented a house on River road.  Does anyone have any tips, spots or other suggestions for us?

I fish from rio Guadalupe resort to lazy L here on the map. 
 

 

There are a few public access points including both of those parks for a modest fee per person. Most of the stretch is private property so where you stay might be good too if it’s on the river.  

Kayaking is a good way to increase your chances.

water is cold so if you plan to wade or get wet you’ll want waders.

Look for deeper channels in the water and you’ll find the fish there. At rio guad resort you can sight fish if they are there, you’ll see as you walk down the hill, on a clear day with low wind the water is clear and you can see the trout hanging out waiting for you. 

if you haven’t fished the guad before it’s all nymph rigs no top water (late season you can try). And it’s deep too, 3-4 feet from your strike indicator to your last fly. You can also fish streamers too, I caught 2-3 on a game changer fly last week. Fish smashed it, hella fun. There’s a fly shop on river road go there they will set you up with what’s working.  Last week it was simple worms believe it or not. Me and a buddy caught like 14-15 trout between us on that set up minus my few on the streamer.  
 

have your license current, the game warden comes out all the time. Kayaks up and down asking everyone to show their license. 
 

if you don’t have the ability to get up and down the river, don’t have the full skill set or want to simply increase your chances call all water guides they may have a guide for a 1/2 3/4 or full day float trip. Those guys will put you on the fish, the guad is easy fishing for them. 

Edited January 13, 2023 by troph

[Hook1997 5400]

Thanks for the helpful info!  We will definitely try out the Rio Guadalupe Resort. 

[Chewbacca 7783]

I feel bad for the trout stocked in the Guad. The survivors must get cooked come May or so.

[fattyflattie 4638]

Acquaintance lost a prop shaft deep into the shallows today during Freeze Out. Had a pretty good stringer but nope.  Nothing like having a couple hundred tied up in a bay boat and getting pulled back by an old airboat on a chilly Jan afternoon.  

[troph 24905]

8 hours ago, Chewbacca said:

I feel bad for the trout stocked in the Guad. The survivors must get cooked come May or so.

The water is deep enough in the ruts and they’ve started feeding them in the summer and they can survive. A lot are taken as they are caught during the winter. But yes it’s an artificial habitat and there are summer deaths for sure. 

[troph 24905]

My son really, really needed a massive haul. 8:30am - 2pm, 5 for 7 on the nymph rig. He missed his first two, landed a smallie, then went 4 for 4 with the big mammas the rest of the day. 18-20 inches for all 4. He was about to quit flyfishing all together, couldn’t stop talking about his haul yesterday and this morning.  Said he’s in for the catch. As long as we watch the ratio the next few years I think I’ve got him. 

 

 

Edit - I meant to add, I’ve got a GREAT guide for you dads that want to introduce your kids to trout fishing on the fly. And if you need a slump buster, the Guad fits the bill nicely most days. 

Edited January 29, 2023 by troph

[justhookit 4191]

Super busy here I’ve been in Costa Rica 3 weeks now and have already fished 10 days, including a few tournaments. The bite was great for the first 2 weeks - 3 to 5 shots a day at marlin and 15-20 sailfish each trip but it’s slowed some the last week. Also had the most devastating end to a tournament ever in the Quepos Pelagic Rockstar. A boat beat us with 2 minutes left in the tournament and dropped our check from 250,000 to 13,000. Just brutal.

Marlin bite. If this video doesn’t post right let me know and I’ll put it on YouTube 

[RMac5 1551]

Damn! What a kick in the balls to miss out on that check at the buzzer! 

Edited January 29, 2023 by RMac5

[DefinitelyNotHollywoodColt 12301]

On 1/29/2023 at 9:22 AM, troph said:

Edit - I meant to add, I’ve got a GREAT guide for you dads that want to introduce your kids to trout fishing on the fly. And if you need a slump buster, the Guad fits the bill nicely most days. 

it's not the dude that sawed his mom's head off, right?

Edited January 30, 2023 by DefinitelyNotHollywoodColt

[troph 24905]

43 minutes ago, DefinitelyNotHollywoodColt said:

it's not the dude that sawed his mom's head off, right?

o_O

[Pescado_Rojo 19428]

59 minutes ago, DefinitelyNotHollywoodColt said:

it's not the dude that sawed his mom's head off, right?

 

15 minutes ago, troph said:

o_O

It's not. 

[Lhorn 4956]

Tied my first fly today. To get out of Nor Cal, the family moved to northern Idaho and I go back and forth for work.  Local store has free fly tying lessons in the winter.  This is supposed to be a golden stone and looks pretty good if I say so myself because I had some oversight. The second attempt I was on my own mostly and it looks like I tied it with my feet.  

 

[DefinitelyNotHollywoodColt 12301]

2 hours ago, Lhorn said:

Tied my first fly today. To get out of Nor Cal, the family moved to northern Idaho and I go back and forth for work.  Local store has free fly tying lessons in the winter.  This is supposed to be a golden stone and looks pretty good if I say so myself because I had some oversight. The second attempt I was on my own mostly and it looks like I tied it with my feet.  

 

that'll fish.

sidenote: i'm guessing they picked that fly because it introduces you to different elements of tying, but jeez, start with a zebra midge, master those concepts, then start adding concepts.

[DefinitelyNotHollywoodColt 12301]

went through a period where i was tying lots of golden stones for some reason (never really fished them), these were my favorite 'catch fishermen, not fish'

[Lhorn 4956]

2 hours ago, DefinitelyNotHollywoodColt said:

that'll fish.

sidenote: i'm guessing they picked that fly because it introduces you to different elements of tying, but jeez, start with a zebra midge, master those concepts, then start adding concepts.

The classes have been going on for weeks so I got involved late.  It seems fun enough that I’ll definitely be going again and get some supplies to try more introductory type flies.  Come spring/summer I’d like a hire a guide and get myself on the water and catching fish. 

[midtown 3348]

Quick help from the more experienced anglers.  headed down to central america.  Pacific.  will spend a day inshore fishing with a guide.  other days will be spent just chilling around the resort which is right on the water.  they have a dock so i thought Id take a travel set up and just grab a beer and throw some line out.  not sure ill have access to any bait so my thought was to take a few hooks and lures.   Guide says grey snapper aka mangrove should be around.  So what should I do?  Popper?  use a spec rig?  internet says #2 hook.   any thoughts on a few lures to take?   Also might take my set up to the beach or any place else anyone recommends while down there.

Edited February 13, 2023 by midtown

[justhookit 4191]

13 minutes ago, midtown said:

Quick help from the more experienced anglers.  headed down to central america.  Pacific.  will spend a day inshore fishing with a guide.  other days will be spent just chilling around the resort which is right on the water.  they have a dock so i thought Id take a travel set up and just grab a beer and throw some line out.  not sure ill have access to any bait so my thought was to take a few hooks and lures.   Guide says grey snapper aka mangrove should be around.  So what should I do?  Popper?  use a spec rig?  internet says #2 hook.   any thoughts on a few lures to take?   Also might take my set up to the beach or any place else anyone recommends while down there.

Where are you going?  A few simple silver spoons and a few chrome rattle traps in different sizes should work pretty much anywhere.

[midtown 3348]

50 minutes ago, justhookit said:

Where are you going?

Boca Chica Panama.   Staying here

https://www.seagullcoveresort.com/

Fishing with

https://reelinninpanama.com/

Perfect.  I've got some spoons and rattles.  Easy enough.   Thanks

Edited February 13, 2023 by midtown

[MalibuSheriff 1090]

On 2/1/2023 at 3:54 PM, Lhorn said:

Tied my first fly today. To get out of Nor Cal, the family moved to northern Idaho and I go back and forth for work.  Local store has free fly tying lessons in the winter.  This is supposed to be a golden stone and looks pretty good if I say so myself because I had some oversight. The second attempt I was on my own mostly and it looks like I tied it with my feet.  

 

Once you catch a fish on your own fly, you’ll be hooked.  Great hobby to de-stress.

We are in the golden age of fly tying thanks to YouTube.  You can become incredibly proficient in short order.  Follow Charlie Craven, Kelly Galloup, tightlinevideo, and East Rosebud Flyshop and you’ll be well on your way.

Kelly Galloup was in Tulsa last week for tying sessions and a couple of presentations.  The real deal and someone who takes time to educate all the historic patterns that still fish.  Said he fished a hare’s ear, one of the oldest patterns, almost exclusively when nymph fishing.

[Zwylde 812]

April weather in February.  Loving it.  Only two bites in an hour and a half but both quality.

 

 

[MalibuSheriff 1090]

Took the kid on a recon trip yesterday to the Oklahoma Ozarks.  We were definitely pushing the season but the smallmouth are starting to get active.  He lost a nice two pound fish right at the bank.  White bass will be running soon as well.

Okie smallmouth water:

 

Edited February 22, 2023 by MalibuSheriff

[Johnny Chimpo 479]

Looks like a beautiful river to wade and fly fish. 

[midtown 3348]

Fished inshore today in Boca Chica Panama.  Hoping to report here with some good fishing tales and pictures of a big ass rooster or some cubera snapper but I got skunked.  I have not been skunked on a charter in a very long time.   The water was terrible.  Green and cloudy.  Rough too.  I will be bruised to hell tomorrow.   I was out on the bow with a u-shaped railing and I almost went down at least twice.  and it was brutally hot.  Fine if the fish are biting but miserable when not.  Oh well.  That's fishing. 

[Kennythetiger 9456]

21 hours ago, Johnny Chimpo said:

Looks like a beautiful river to wade and fly fish. 

I think I could get a canoe down that thing. 

[Jerry Callo 8725]

On 2/21/2023 at 10:57 PM, MalibuSheriff said:

Took the kid on a recon trip yesterday to the Oklahoma Ozarks.  We were definitely pushing the season but the smallmouth are starting to get active.  He lost a nice two pound fish right at the bank.  White bass will be running soon as well.

Okie smallmouth water:

 

Where in Oklahoma?  The GRDA sign makes me suspect NE Ok.  I spent a bunch of my childhood fishing Grand Lake at my grandparents' place.

Edited February 23, 2023 by Jerry Callo

[DefinitelyNotHollywoodColt 12301]

On 2/13/2023 at 6:03 PM, MalibuSheriff said:

Said he fished a hare’s ear, one of the oldest patterns, almost exclusively when nymph fishing.

buddy of mine, no matter what river we are on, at some point during the day pulls out his seine, dips it in the water, pulls it out and goes 'yep, looks like a hare's ear"

 

[Sam Lin 3561]

4 hours ago, DefinitelyNotHollywoodColt said:

buddy of mine, no matter what river we are on, at some point during the day pulls out his _____________, dips it in the water, pulls it out and goes 'yep, looks like a hare's ear"

I was definitely expecting a different word when I read that the first time.

[Kennythetiger 9456]

11 hours ago, Sam Lin said:

I was definitely expecting a different word when I read that the first time.

Yep. Deep, too. 

[DefinitelyNotHollywoodColt 12301]

“Yep, looks like a 20 incher.”

[MalibuSheriff 1090]

On 2/23/2023 at 2:26 PM, Jerry Callo said:

Where in Oklahoma?  The GRDA sign makes me suspect NE Ok.  I spent a bunch of my childhood fishing Grand Lake at my grandparents' place.

Upper Illinois River and a tributary.

When I grew up in Tulsa, 30+ years ago we always had native smallmouth in the Illinois but a big fish was as 3 lbs.  Oklahoma Department of Wildlife stocked Lake Tenkiller (which Illinois River feeds) with Tennessee-strain smallmouth in early nineties.  Those Tennessee-strain fish have migrated up the Illinois and those fish are huge.  Legit 7 lb.+ smallmouth are abundant now both in the lake and tributaries.  Below is not my fish/photo but one shared on a guide’s website that was caught recently:

[Braff Zacklin 13659]

 That's a fucking hog.

[Deej 76908]

Vic Mackey:

 

[Deej 76908]

They are loving the jerkbait in the fog this morning.

 

.

 

 

[Braff Zacklin 13659]

Oh, yeah? Well, the jerkbait store called and said they're running out of you!

[Deej 76908]

Well, I slept with your wife.

[Braff Zacklin 13659]

My wife has cancer.

[Brothahorn 10087]

Any recommendations for a good baitcasting reel under $50 - $75? Mainly for fishing stock ponds and small lakes. 

Edited February 26, 2023 by Brothahorn

[Deej 76908]

51 minutes ago, Brothahorn said:

Any recommendations for a good baitcasting reel under $50 - $75? Mainly for fishing stock ponds and small lakes. 

You can get a Abu Garcia Revo X on Amazon for about $70 to $80 bucks depending on what day it is. They go up and down. My favorite reel for under $100. I’ve got one in every gear ratio. They usually let you do 3 interest free payments, if you need to spread it out.

[DougO 5256]

You can still get the Abu Garcia Black Max at Wal Mart for $47 or so, left or right handle retrieve. One of the most popular baitcasters of the last decade, tried and true.

I got my Max X, the successor to the Black Max, around this time last year on sale at Academy for a similar price. They should be having big fishing reel sales soon. Also got a Max Pro for under $60. 

Last summer I got a Lew's Xnfinity in a pawn shop for $34, still in the clear pack. 

[Deej 76908]

I have a Black Max and Max X. In my experience, the Revo is worth the extra 30 bucks. Its smoother and and cast further, which when pond fishing is nice,as you can cover more area from the bank..

[Deej 76908]

I also find the Revo throws smaller baits better. 

[BearSchlong 8113]

What was the reel they had on Amazon which was the Chinese knockoffs of the $400 Shimano Metanium or Anteres? Was about $60 IIRC and had great reviews? I’d go buy a half dozen of them now. Anyone? I can’t remember if it was this site or one of the ancestor sites where that discussion occurred.

[Jerry Callo 8725]

Needed to get out of the house yesterday, so I went exploring a potential white bass spot.  Quite windy for a 5wt flyrod, but still managed to find some nice female white bass and one gaspergou.