jcdogfish

Good weekend BF, You gonna have to show me how to find those productive ledges. It was nice to be able to fish out in the lake, don't get a chance to do that too often with the wind. I fished a spot I marked last June and had a good day Saturday. Had one 7#10oz, a 5, a couple of 4's and some 2-2.5's. All the nice fish came making the same cast on the same spot. Caught some there last summer too, something is there holding them. Or something close is bringing them in. I really am clueless why they are there, looks like a thousand other places on sonar but something has got to be different.

I usually launch in six mile or housen and every now and then cross to pirates cove from there. With that being said, if I was on the LA side and wanted to fish one of the Texas coves from Palo Gaucho down to the dam I would trailer around and launch in the cove I wanted to fish. No reason for me to have to worry about the wind, and weather or crossing the main lake if I don't have to. That's just me. Is it safe to cross, yes, if the conditions are good. But, they can change fast.

A good swim jig trailer is a fat albert or big bite curl tail grub. 5". A single tail or double tail works. I prefer the single tail. You should trim the skirt on the swim jig if it is close to touching the action of the trailer. Also, with the single trailer it works best if you thread it on the jig hook with the curl tail straight down. It will run better. If it runs crooked your trailer is off center.

Mike, I have no doubt you will be better than new before you know it. Take care of yourself and good luck. When you do get right give one of the Coonasses on here a shout and we'll figure something out. Might even be able to talk Chris into driving you down.

Well Sharon, I didn't notice any accents......Don't no wat u talkin bout dare sha....... Great weekend, I'm ready to do it again anytime. Maybe when Mike heals up we can get a few together for another weekend. I hate to rub it in but I will be there again this weekend and 2 or 3 times a month from now til December. Its a big lake, somebody's gotta fish it.

I also found the morning to be much slower, which is probably to be expected right now. Bigger fish bit midday for me.

Good job on the weight loss Felix, I could stand to loose some. I would probably have to move north to get that accomplished . Maybe Catt has a few pictures of the lake a few years ago and show you what is below, then you can really pucker up. I'll let Chris handle our report, he seems to have a better relationship with the computer than I have..

I want to thank Mike for putting this trip together, hope you are doing well. It was a great weekend. I really enjoyed spending time with some new friends, thanks fellas. We did eat too much. I'm already ready for the second annual Baked Potato Classic. Hope we can do it again next year. Oh, we did get a little fishing in. With the rain and lake conditions we did catch enough to keep it interesting. If anyone makes a trip to Toledo Bend give me a shout, I'm usually there on weekends.

So.......ya'll tearing up the fish?

Yep road trip II, and how did the scan go? Catt,I just looked and they have 9 gates cracked open on the spillway. Too bad they can't send some of that water to south west texas. Hopefully they got some with this system that went through.

You gonna spot us 15lbs or so??

I'm working on getting up there Thursday night, 7:30 or so. Would like to meet up for a burger or a cold beverage. Probably stay til Sunday afternoon. Sunday looks good so far. So, we have 3 definite? Is everyone staying through the weekend?

For Mercury engines I hear nothing but good things about the dealer in Six Mile. Never had to use him so info is second hand.

Wow! Hope everything turns out OK for you Mike.

My first reaction was to run from the stained water, I'm rethinking that decision now. FYI Mike and others, main lake looks pretty good around white oak and most other places around there. Didn't go around hurricane but I think you can find some good fishing close. I caught a few 13-17 feet and got a couple of other deeper reports. I don't mind mixing it up with boats shallow but right now most of the boats are right over where I think you can catch some good fish 6-10 feet just off the grass. Don't mind fishing behind someone just not right where they just trolled over in 6 feet of water. I really think I could have done better in the stained water with very few boats around. Especially close to the mud lines. We'll see.

Heavy rains can do two things in Verret. 1, they muddy some places and 2 they create clear black water areas depending on the level. After rains I usually opt for the spillway side(but I tend to favor that side anyway) If the water dirtys up I would wear the blades off a Humdinger spinnerbait or if its slow, a black/blue jig. In the clear water i would go with a Rogue or redfin. If its slow in the clear water a texas rigged lizard with a light weight or weightless. Someone mentioned Craighead Canals. Good start and don't pass up the main drags.

I think I will try to get up there Thursday night so I can fish friday. may be a few less boats up there.

The fish had to be dizzy saturday with the boat traffic. I did not even attempt to get in any coves to see if something shallow was going on. I think the dirty water had the fishermen piled in some areas. Only had 4 saturday. Two around 4 and 2 other keepers. All off one spot. Did not even put the boat in the water today, packed up and came home. I am saving my patience for next weekend. Its probably gonna be a crazy march and april.

Its only 6 tournaments, you are not marrying the guy. Sounds like a great way to learn some things about the areas and fishing in general. Could be the beginning of a long relationship so pay your share, try to get along and enjoy. If it works out you may have found a partner for years, if not you still can learn a lot.

I will go up there tomorrow for a couple of days to look around

Yea, sorry to see a lot of folks can't make it. Its always hard to get schedules in line. Seems like there is always so much on the table in our life today. We may not get a bite but we sure as heck will slow it down for a few days and have a good time.

I don't have a problem riding with someone or taking my boat. I would love to get in the boat with some of the guys that really know the place. You could even break the days in 2 parts and swap partners during lunch. (or we can follow Catt, Fanatic and Wesley )

Here's another 2 cents worth. Unless you are using a very soft rod I don't think the rod, line is the problem. Skin hook a good wide gap sharp hook and you can get it set pretty good with any rod with any backbone at all. Most of the time I don't think you can set the hook too early. There are times when they are mouthing it or when swimming it I tend to give it a little time but that comes with experience and being able to see what the fish is doing. Keep your rod tip below 11 o clock, preferably 10 which means work the plastics from 8 to 10 oclock or so. This puts you in position to when you feel the strike you can drop the rod a little, reel up the slack and set the hook.keeping the rod in front of you and in good control. Tie off to a branch on a bush and practice this a few times and you will see how much pressure even with a softer rod you put on a fish with the hook set. when you can afford to upgrade to a better setup but its still the same process. Next problem, landing the fish. If your rod is extremely soft it could be an issue in grass, deep water and cover but concentrate on hooking them first. You will soon be able to tell if its a sunfish nibbling or a bass most of the time. Also, unless you are fishing a very heavily pressured area, or very clear water go to 14 or maybe even 17 lb flouro. When I say reel up the slack for me that is about 2 cranks on the handle. if you are taller, or use a longer rod etc it may be 3 or so. You can figure that out when tied to the bush. The thing with plastics or a jig is the fish will sometimes suck it up and stay put and sometimes pick it up and truck away with it.

Getting close!!! I have a tournament down south this weekend, after that looks like I will be up there every weekend. Trying to swing the long easter weekend too.