Shad Disco Pt 2

[LrgmouthShad]

Brought @thediscochef off bank ✅

Fished Stillhouse ✅

Hooked a bass ✅

Hooked an 8lber ✅

Caught the 8lber ❌

Still had a good time ✅

 

I brought @thediscochef out to fish on Stillhouse for the second installment of the Shad Disco. I really enjoy fishing with @thediscochef and we hope to go again soon. We did not catch a bass, but the lake was gorgeous and we had a good time nonetheless.

 

Here’s more or less what happened. We were not able to launch where we planned due to ramp closures and debated whether to even attempt to launch because of the stiffer winds at our new ramp. Eventually I tested out the spare kayak in the wind and determined it was safe for disco to be out there. So we launched into a cove and tried topwater, jigs and worms, and various mid column baits in wind protected areas. Once the wind was manageable, we ventured out and continually tried different types of structure to figure out what these fish wanted to be on. 
 

Eventually, we reached an intersection of a creek arm and the main river channel where the river channel formed a channel swing. I told @thediscochef that we needed to fish there because despite the high water, that type of area - especially with timber present - is textbook Stillhouse fishing last year. 
 

So we move around on this intersection and I note one particularly large section of timber out there. I roll cast a 1/4oz Siebert Dock Rocker jig out there with rage lobster trailer and it just stops. It feels like it ran into something. Just when I start thinking I’m hung up, I realize it’s a pressure bite. It felt like the timber was ever so slowly moving away. I set hook into this fish and it immediately darts out towards deep water away from the timber and jumps. I holler to Disco that’s it’s a real biggun. He sees it. I have it close to the boat. It gets within arms reach of me, then thrashes and jumps next to the boat and comes off. That one hurt a bunch. I haven’t lost a fish like that before. Biggest fish I’ve hooked in TX. I’m calling it all of 8lbs. Mouth was a gaping bucket and shaped like a football. 
 

We didn’t hook another bass the rest of the day. Again, it was a great day nonetheless and the lake was beautiful.

 

Ol Disco out in the kayak:

[GreenPig]

Awesome. Y'all will get them next time.

Better to hook her and lose her than not hook her at all.

[TnRiver46]

Aqua disco! Nice

[thediscochef]

I had a blast! I appreciate the amount of effort and hospitality @LrgmouthShad put into getting me off the bank and onto some fish! Major lake level changes are always a tough gambit this time of year. Stillhouse is a beautiful lake and Mr.Shad is a heck of a fisherman. He knows that lake as good or better than I know Roberts, it was impressive to watch him pick that spot and almost immediately hook a giant. I am still thinking about that big girl he lost - I saw it jump the first time and it would have absolutely been my PB. As he was fighting it I was pulling up my anchor to go help and take photos, but about the time I got the anchor up she let go on him. I admire Mr.Shad's restraint in his reaction. I've never been that calm after losing a big one. The rod he was using did that thing where it bends all the way over but then straightens out at the tip. One of those signs of giants. Based on what I saw I think we should be prepared for a streak of good fish coming from our man at Stillhouse

 

Squarebill delinquency did occur yet again at the ramp as we were waiting to land. Everything but a black bass on the ol kvd 1.5

[thediscochef]

my arms are also unusable today

[Fishingmickey]

TXKFBL (Texas Kayak Bass Fishing League) had a tourney on Stillhouse, Saturday. A bunch of big fish over 20" were caught along with three or four 24" plus.

FM

[LrgmouthShad]

@Fishingmickey it is actually fishing good right now for those that have figured out how to work with the high water. It is just not fishing like I would expect a lake that is flooded to fish. But those that have figured it out are doing spectacular. There was a Tuesday nighter recently where the winners won using deep cranks and Carolina rigs. Not exactly what you would expect to dominate a lake that is overflowing.

[Fishingmickey]

Stillhouse has a lot of really big Bass in it. Hearing about possible teeners caught wouldn't surprise me. I think it was a 106-107" stringer that won last Saturday.

[LrgmouthShad]

4 minutes ago, Fishingmickey said:

possible teeners caught wouldn't surprise me

Stillhouse record stands at 13lbs even. Light for TX. That being said, the lake seems to turn out numbers of 8-10lbers every year. 
 

It’s worth mentioning that I am still pretty new to TX. 

[Swamp Girl]

I love that you guys fished together. I hate that you lost that big gal!

[Pat Brown]

On 5/20/2024 at 1:29 PM, ol'crickety said:

I love that you guys fished together. I hate that you lost that big gal!

 

 

If the big ones were easy to catch, it wouldn't be special would it!?!?

 

I lost a giant on a Frog literally within 24 hours of @LrgmouthShad losing his giant.  We concluded that the bass were all extra careful last week.  Oh well - getting the bite builds confidence to keep on trying.  😎😎😎

[Swamp Girl]

5 minutes ago, Pat Brown said:

 

 

If the big ones were easy to catch, it wouldn't be special would it!?!?

 

I lost a giant on a Frog literally within 24 hours of Nate losing his giant.  We concluded that the bass were all extra careful last week.  Oh well - getting the bite builds confidence to keep on trying.  😎😎😎

 

You have a great attitude, Pat.