The Future of this Sport called Fishing!

Recently I had the privilege of meeting an individual who's excitement and enthusiasm about what he was involved in was epidemic in the way it caught my attention. Shane Wilson resides on South Padre Island, teaches for the Point Isabel I.S.D., and is the founder of Fishings Future. Shane and I spent the better part of a morning in his office as he related the history and purpose behind this organization.

"In 2004 the first KIDS FISH CAMP™ was conducted to get kids and parents together outdoors. Today, Fishing's Future is more committed to achieving this goal than ever before. After six years of conducting KIDS FISH CAMP™ and witnessing the profound changes in families, behaviors and environmental responsibility, through unique concepts like; parental inclusion, Leave-No-Trace philosophy, and environmental awareness, Fishing's Future is growing and getting national recognition.
In 2007, Fishing’s Future was granted 501 c(3) non-profit status, and began an ambitious national initiative to draw children ages 6-13 outdoors - to show them what they have been missing, and at the same time create bonds between children, parents and our natural environment.
Fishing's Future conducts KIDS FISH CAMP™ sharing the joys of fishing to new communities and kids in all areas. A KIDS FISH CAMP™ is a full day of education, fun, and excitement where Jr. Anglers and their parents learn the skills, knots, methods, rules, and techniques necessary to fish independently and then immediately apply those newly learned skills fishing during the last part of the KIDS FISH CAMP™.
Fishing’s Future also conducts Kids Fly Fishing Camps™, Kids Kayaking Camps™ and holds Jr. Angler Fishing Tournaments.
Fishing’s Future, now entering its seventh year, will keep its sights set on the original initiative of changing the recreational habits of millions of kids across America – city by city, region by region, state by state."

I plan on trying hard to get involved fully this year with this organization and I know Robert has also expressed a desire for Livingston Lures to take an active part in this endeavor. If this sounds like something you might be interested in, you can get more info at http://www.fishingsfuture.com/

HAPPY NEW YEAR and Tight lines in 2011!


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Winter Fishing

If the weather stays mild into January and February, we are going to have one great bout of winter fishing in the LLM. So far the fish are still plentiful and willing to hit. There appears to be a vast number of small summer hatched trout in the deeper part of the LLM. We have found numerous small ( 10-12") trout under vast flocks of birds. These should be close to keeper size by summer.
The redfish are still plentiful on the White Sands area. Topwaters seem to work all day, as do spoons. The top producer is still Gulp under a popping cork. Good numers of solid 17-20" trout are being taken by drifters on Gas Well Flats and north. Lots of fish are still in Rattlesnake, but watch the tides. Rattlesnake can get real shallow. One of my favorite fishing holes in the Holly Beach area is still producing some good size reds and black drum. Mangrove snapper are plentiful in the Brownsville channel. If you can get your hands on live mullet or piggys, take some heavy gear, perferrably 40 -50 lb PowerPro, a good stiff rod, and drop the live baits around the numerous docks, platforms, and rubble in the upper end of the Brownsville turning basin.
Another sure bet for some great redfish is St. Martin lake. You can only fish this vast oyster bed by a small aluminum boat or kayak. Explore it at a low tide in order to locate the channel and all the oyster beds. Then hit it on a strong incoming tide. If it doesn't get cold the big snook should still be around also. Lots of black drum on shrimp or Gulp!

Topwaters.....Ultimate Experience!

I don't think anyone can argue that fishing with topwater lures is probably the most exciting and rewarding kind of hardware fishing a person can do. Whether it be a sutle sucking in or the dynamite explosion of a blowup, fishing with topwaters is an adrenaline pumping experience. As I wrote some time ago, I've never read of who really started fishing for redfish and trout with these lures. Fishing with surface, noisy floaters in offshore waters has been going on for decades, but calling the inshore species in is more of a recent phenomenon. I just know they work. Clear, muddy, calm,or choppy topwaters will catch fish. You just gotta use the right one, the right way, and you'll also experience that adrenaline rush.

The kinds of topwaters are endless. The one thing they all have in common is that they mimic the mullet. Some make no sound, some are soft sounding, some are very loud, and then some make "croaker sounds". Once again the kind depends on the weather and water conditions.

Lets start with one of those days that most fishermen dream of....no wind, glass slick conditions. We pray for those days and then bad mouth 'em because we can't move without a trolling motor and its so hot we can't breath. Those are the days that the smaller, less rattle lures will payoff. Its usually pretty easy to see bait on these days and matching the bait will definitely help. Work your bait in the normal "walk -the_dog" fashion, but alternate speeding it up and slowing it down. Many times trout will only slap at the lure and that's when slowing or completely stopping the bait will pay off. Remember that on those glass slick days, the fish can see very well and by using smaller terminal tackle and smaller leader material could result in more hookups. The one thing to always remember is that don't take the bait away from the strike zone. The biggest mistake most fishermen make is trying to set the hook on a topwater strike.....DON"T DO IT! Let the fish hook themselves. Keep the bait in the zone where the blowup occurred. Many times, especially with reds, they will follow your slow retrieve and strike again and again.
On those days that are windy, the water is choppy and off-colored , and no bait can be seen anywhere, its time to drag out the big guns. You need a topwater that not only makes noise but leaves a wake in the water as it works. The Livingston Spray Can large beads topwater is one of those lures. Top Dogs, Zara Spooks, and H2Os fill the bill also. All of these lures are designed to be worked in the "Walk the Dog" fashion, but many times using the technique of slashing the bait with a sharp jerk of the rod, letting it set for a second or two, and repeating the slash will result in really big blowups. The key in these conditions mimic the calm water tactics in that never try to set the hook on a blowup....you will simply pull the lure out of the strike zone.
Using topwaters can become addictive. My Prostaff partner, David Wood will put a topwater on when we leave the marina and fish with that ONE LURE all day long! Thats addiction and dedication...he catches lots of fish and usually big ones.
If you haven't tried topwaters in the salt give it a try...you hook fish and get hooked.

Trout are back!

It seems that the fresh water has moved a large number of smaller trout into the Port Isabel/South Padre area. For the last week easy limits of 15-20" trout are being taken taken on the flats close to the ICW and the PI channel. The majority of these fish are undersized, but we've been able to cull limits. Working the tide lines and currents with both topwaters, bone or chartreuse colored LL's, and the old style red/white Kellywiggler have been the ticket. Working the topwaters fairly quick with lots of pauses have drawn some great blowups. You would swear that a 20+ incher had just smacked your bait, but its usually an over anxious 15 inch. Some of the smaller trout I have cleaned were found with 6-8 inch mullet in them...figure? Working these areas with live shrimp under a popping cork will always pay dividends. Some of our larger trout are falling to white Gulp shrimp tails rigged on jig heads and fished slow and deep.
I did venture out to the jetties on Tuesday hoping to find a king, but instead worked the rocks on the south jetty. I was determined to use the new LL Talking Croaker as most of the waters around the area are too shallow to use this swim bait. I was rewarded with a number of good hookups, several skipjacks in the 25+ inch range and several small jacks slammed this lure without hesitation. I also took a couple of mangrove snappers fishing this bait around the new causeway. I plan on sending a few to a buddy who pounds Trinty Bay.....They should be killers under the birds!
Redfish are still reported up North. Bob Lany , Prostaff member and guide from Port Mansfield reported that good size and numbers of trout are being taken North of the East Cut.
We are looking forward to the gathering of Livingston Lure Prostaffers next week here in Port Isabel. We are coming together to fish the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance 5th Annual "Fishing for Hope" Tournament.
See ya on the water!

Alaskan Adventure..Day3 Otter Creek

Day three started with rain and ended with rain. We loaded into 4x4 trucks and headed for the boat landing on the tributary river that is used for bringing all of the equipment and supplies into the Lake Marie Lodge. We boarded jet drive powered flatbottoms and made a short run up the glacier feed river to a small side creek known as Otter Creek. Our first stop was a hole known as Beaver Lodge hole. It was located where another small glacier feed stream entered and the hole was filled with large kings slashing the water with their rolls and jumps. I used fly tackle that proved quite satisfactory. We were using large colored flys that resembled nothing, but apparently ticked off the fish. All of us hooked up quickly, but just as quickly lost fish. It seems as if these kings had our number. I personally hooked and lost 5 fish from this one hole. We continued up stream and fished several deep holes that produced nice fish. Two of us along with one of our guides decided to hike upstream to another hole that could not be reached by boat. This hole was crystal clear, about fifty yards long and literally stacked with LARGE KINGS! After several hundred casts and only one hookup we decided these fish also had our number. We decided to give them a break and wait for a time later in the week to attack them.

After lunch we headed back down and fished several of the same holes we had fished on the way up....with the same results...lots of hookups, but no cigars!

We decided to finish off the day by fishing the mouth of Otter. This proved to be the real deal...quickly providing numerous hookups and several nice fish brought to net. We decided to quit a little early due to the sloppy weather and returned to the lodge ready for a great meal and fellowship with the other anglers. It was always interesting to listen to their stories and lies!

LOTS of WATER!

Fresh water that is! With the Rio Grande flooding, lots of water has been diverted into the LLM. The floodway and the Arroyo are carrying lots of fresh water these days. Tons of trash are also entering the LLM. For the last couple of weeks it has been hard to locate fish. You may find them one day and a day later they have moved. Case in fact was our Texas Redfish Series that was held last weekend. On Thursday and Friday we had located a good number of 26-28" reds near the Holley Beach area and felt that we had a winning hand for the tournament on Saturday. Not so! We were only able to secure two 25's for the day, 10.5lbs, 35th place. We have fished the same area several times in the past week and only managed a few short rats. The trout have been doing the same number. The water is off colored on the west side, almost the shade of clear green river water. We are still taking some nice trout, 20-24", on red/white gamblers and cohoes. Topwaters have been working off and on, with mostly the smaller versions of the Skitterwalk. We've had two tide days this week and it seems the bite is taking place later in the morning when the tide starts to drop. reports are that they are still catching some nice fish up North, but be careful of the debri if you head up that way or fish out of the Arroyo. We are gearing up for the Doctors Tournament on August 21. Livingston Lures is a major sponsor of this worthy cause. See ya on the water.

Alaskan Adventure Day 2.....RED CREEK

Our morning was set in concrete.....up at 6, breakfast at 7, on the road again at 8!

Today was going to take us on a two mile hike approximately 5 miles up Red creek, through bear and mosquito infested forest. The mosquito's were far worst than any bears! Even though the air temp was in the 60's it didn't take long for me to break out in a sweat. The gym prior to my adventure didn't hurt. We entered Red creek and almost immediately found a hole with Kings in it. It was way too small for 4 people to fish, so I moved about a hundred yards downstream to another somewhat larger hole. It too was crammed full of monster Kings. I had decided to use a flyrod for the remainder of the week, but was not too sure about what I would do if one of these bigboys slammed my fly. I had semi used a flyrod in Texas for bass and perch, but NEVER on big game...It was going to be a GAME! On my third cast it happened. The king slammed the fly with force of three Texas redfish and sought the nearest cover. I wanted to hold the line, but was told in not so gentle a voice, "Get your hands off the damn line....use the handle, that's what its for!"After a dozen long runs, several aerial combat jumps, and jack like bottom hugging I managed to land my first ever 30+" fish on a flyrod....I was hooked!

I decided to keep this fish...it measured 38 1/2" and we guessed the weight at about 25lbs. It was a male or buck and was just what we wanted to take home. After pictures and high fives, Larry wanted a picture of him with my fish, we continued to hit the hole pretty hard. When Eric and his group arrived on the scene I asked him the name of this hole...it was unnamed. It was christened the TBH Hole ( Texasbowhunter). I managed a couple more smaller fish from that hole before we headed downstream.

As we progressed down this truly Alaskan wilderness stream, I keep thinking that this was the way I had envisioned fishing Alaska would be. Red creek was for the most part a shallow, fast, rocky waterway with the exception of a small number of deep pools that without question held Kings on their way upstream. We fished for Rainbows and Dolly Vardens in the shallow areas without too much success.

Besides Damon slipping down and filling his waders, the only excitement was the numerous bear signs that dotted every beach we walked on, but no sightings.

After a great lunch on a forgotten beach, we headed for a spot called the Birch hole. This was simply a long deep pool approximately 50 yards long and 10 yards wide. It had a fallen Birch tree across it. This was the only fishing platform to reach the lower 40 yards of the pool. There were as in the other pools lots of Kings, but they would not have anything to do with our offerings. A couple of our team did manage to pull a few good size rainbows from the upper end. Later in the week a number of Kings were landed here, but three times as many were lost. Our goal was to reach the Ferry Hole by five and we still had a way to go. We fished another good hole before exiting the creek and heading back to the lodge. This last spot was known as Sunset hole . We spent the majority of Day 5 fishing Sunset and it turned out to be one of the best!

Alaskan Adventure Day one

Our first day of fishing in Alaska was all that the hype had made it out to be. We were up at 6 and at sharply 7am..breakfast was served! And what a breakfast, your choice of pancakes, french toast, eggs, bacon, reindeer sausage, patties, links, toast, oatmeal, fresh fruit, orange juice, milk, coffee, tea, soft drinks, or just about anything else you pallet desired. Mike, our chief, had worked for several 5 star restaurants prior to coming to the backwoods???? We were glad he made the switch.

8 am found us in the Ranger 4x4 headed off to the fishing holes. Our team was told that we would fish an area that no one had been to this year. We soon found out why! We were headed to what was called the confluence of Johnson Creek. Johnson Creek is one of the primary water ways directly to the ocean. It was swift and deep. We forded this creek 6 times before reaching our fishing spot. Crossing was indeed an adventure when 6 people lock arms and very slowly wade through swift water that had enough hydraulic force to sweep you away if you made a wrong step...and the water was COLD! After our sixth crossing, we had to bushwack through very thick brush for a couple of hundred yards before arriving at a beautiful stretch of beach that was to be our camp for the day. I might mention that all along the shore line were numerous BIG bear tracks and other fresh signs!

We were equipped on this first day with spinning reels loaded with 30 lb mono and large spinners. We were after King salmon, and I was not aware that they were no longer feeding after they started their upstream journey, they simply hit out of frustration and anger. It kinda reminded me of bass fishing....150 casts and then a hookup...and what a hookup! These fish are some strong. As long as they fought upstream you were in command, but if they decided to turn and use the current...Katy bar the door! We all hooked up numerous times and several 40 inch fish were landed with high fives and releases. Prior to our arrival, the limit had been one fish per day, but changed the day we arrived to one fish! This made it hard to decide what fish to keep. My count showed that we released 7 good fish that first day at the confluence. After a lunch of sandwiches, chips, drinks, and brownies we headed back upstream to another hole. We had six crossings to negotiate on the way back. We made it with a few slips, but no dunkings. At about 3pm we arrived at another spot which proved to be the best spot for all of the groups staying at Lake Marie. It was named the Ferry Crossing, as we used a boat to cross the big creek. This hole was where another tributary, Red Creek, flowed into Johnson Creek. Red Creek was very clear while Johnson was somewhat off color. I think the off color made it harder for the salmon to see us. I managed to hook and land two good fish in Red, while the others all hooked and landed fish in Johnson. I think my count for Ferry Hole was 8 fish hooked, 6 landed. Total Kings for Day one.....18 fish hooked...15 fish landed...two fish went to the freezer!

Dinner was served at 7pm..a full Italian meal was the cuisine for the evening. After dinner it was fly tying for the guides and entertainment put on by several of the guides. Most of the gang were in bed by 9:30 or 12:30 (Texas time).

Day two was going to find us doing a two mile hike on what was named the Red Creek Loop.

Later......

Alaska....Home of some BIG REDFISH!

My trip to Alaska proved to indeed be one of those once in a life time dreams come true. I spent seven days fishing the waters of a great state....and yes it is bigger than Texas and the "red" fish that came out of the little streams (we would call'em creeks) were unreal. I have to admit I've never seen a Texas redfish, completely empty a reel of 180yds of 30lb mono and still be headed toward the sea!
We left Houston on Friday, arrived in Anchorage about 3am (it was still light!).
Saturday afternoon found myself and two others of our group of 18 crammed into a small bush plane headed to Lake Marie Lodge. We flew inland for about a hundred miles and landed on what appeared to be an East Texas logging road. We were welcomed Alaska style....mosquito's singing in our ears!
After checking in we were served a meal fit for a 5 star hotel and for the next 7 days, breakfast and dinner were things we waited for. We were served on a gigantic table that seated all 18 of us...it was made from a single tree!
It took a little to get adjusted to the time zone...three hours difference, but the big problem was it never really got dark. The sun sat around 1am and rose around 4am.
On Saturday night we picked our teams and guides. I fished with Damon Ankenman, Larry Gray, and Bill Carpenter. Our guides were Eric Neunhoffer and Drew Hatter. Eric was a Texas boy from Kerrville and a follower of TexasBowhunter.com, user name TC. We were the only team of 4. After we became acquainted, we were told where we would fish the next day. This was our evening routine for the next week. We had our choice of using spinning gear or flyrods. I opted for both!There was not much sleep on Saturday night with what we knew was going to be an exciting fun filled fishing trip. How little we knew about the adventures that were in store.

I will continue to update on a day to day basis of our GREAT ALASKAN ADVENTURE!

North to Alaska!

After a very hetic and stressful few days prior to the arrival of Hurricane Alex, Patsy, the Granddaughters, and I hit the road and headed for Houston.If it had not been for having to deliver the girls to their other Grandparents, me catching a flight to Alaska, and Patsy heading off to Center, Texas, we probably would not have left paradise at all. It appears that our area missed the bullet.
Anyway it's about time for me to catch a plane and start an adventure to Lake Marie Lodge in Alaska. This lodge is located some 90 miles north of Anchorage. It is known for its one on one guide service and small numbers of people it accepts per trip. We will be there for 9 days and expect to catch LOTS of trout and King salmon.
I'm not sure what kind of computer facilities they have but I will try to update as allowed. Check out www.lakemarie.com
I'll also be taking my Livingston Lures jersy in order to promote our sponsor!

Fishing with BUGS

Ever try flyfishing with your casting outfit? With the new BUGGS lures you can do just that. Buggs are tied like flies and fished like lures. They come in 1/8,1/4, and 3/8oz. sizes. They are great for both sight casting to fish and fishing deep water.They are weedless and will work unbeliveable in the heavy grass. The flat jig head is really unique in the way it slides along the bottom.I've fished for trout and redfish with great success. I have not targeted flounder in particular, but fished alone or by adding a twister or Gulp tail it should be a flatfish's nightmare.
Fish the Buggs by working it slowly in and out of potholes. Let it drop, lay still for a second, jump it in order to stir up dirt, and then drop it again. This same action can be used in grass.
I am headed to Alaska in July and plan on taking a few with me. They should work well on salmon.

Texas Redfish Series

Team Uno Mas, representing Livingston Lures traveled to Bluff's Landing on the Upper Laguna Madre on Thursday to fish our first Texas Redfish Series. We prefished on Thursday, having never been to this locale before! The winds blew hard, but we traveled almost up to Baffin Bay and it was nearly noon before putting our first keeper red in the boat.
After lunch we decided to head back closer to the marina and fish the west shoreline. This was an area that was getting battered by the winds, but the water remained very fishable. I had located a small drainage on the plotter coming into the bay and we decided to wade the area for a couple of hours. We picked up four keepers in the 22-24" bracket and a decision was made to fish the same area on tournament day.
The luck of the draw had us leaving the marina in spot number "LAST"! But we were on our hole in less than 15 minutes and probably fishing before some of the others got to their areas. Right out of the hat I hooked what was probably an oversize fish that broke the hook after a long run. Twenty minutes later I netted a 28 1/4 in. On our scale he hit 10lbs, after much thought he was released.( That 1/4 " probably cost us $22,000.
We had decided to camp out on this particliar shoreline and to fish it all day. Normally we are up and moving, but this time we stuck with what proved to be a good choice. We would wade for about 45 minutes, pick up a few keepers, return to the boat, rest, and hit it again. Around mid-morning David picked up a 27 3/4" that was heavy, but we knew we needed a second fish that was close to this one in order to place. We had two additional 23", 4 pounders in the live well.
Around 1pm, I connected with a 26 1/4". We were feeling good!
We headed for weightin with our expectations high and knowing that we had done well for never fishing this area.
We weighed in our two fish at 15.08lbs. We ended the tournament in 16th place. We were in the money, but with the 10 pounder would have had close to 17lbs. 16.58 took home a $22,000 Majek rig! So close, yet so far away! There were 81 teams entered and so 16 out of 81 ain't so bad!
Our next RedFish Series Tournament will be on our home gounds in the Lower Laguna Madre, July 24th.
By the way, every single fish we caught on Saturday fell to gold or silver spoons!
See ya on the water!

The Beach is HOT!

Holly Beach that is! The last several days has found us drifting parts of Holly Beach, just east of Laguna Vista. Water has been some what off colored, but clear on the north shores. The fish are there...Big trout and reds. we have been drifting water in the 18" depth range. The fish have been laying in the potholes and on the grass edges. The secret seems to be stealth and long casts. We have been taking fish on several lures and colors. The big trout have been taken on Zara Spook Jrs., Livingston Topwaters, and paddle tail soft plastics. Colors...redfish brown,livingston red, and red/white paddle tails.
Redfish are being taken mainly on spoons, but occassionaly they are blowing up on topwaters.
We found good numbers of keeper trout north by Cavallo Island.
It appears that the brown tide has done a number on grass in Cullen Bay. I have never seen so much area vacant of grass. I had heard it was bad, but if I hadn't seen for myself I wouldn't have belived it. I've been told that Rattlesnake bay has also suffered.
We are headed to Port Mansfield this coming weekend for an outing with Livingston Lure founder, Robert C. and a number of his comprades!
Take care...release those big trout! David and I have agreed to release any trout over 22".

Transitions / Key Areas to Target

It may be a little early to write about fishing the transition areas of the LLM, but it was in my head and I decided to make the best of it.

WHAT ARE TRANSITION AREAS?

These are areas in the bay, usually adjacent to deeper water that show color changes. We sometime refer to them as "color change areas". The most apparent area for these color changes are just to the North of the Port Isabel Channel. There is a line where the grasses begin to thin and the water drops in depth from around 3ft to 5-6ft.During very rough water, use your depthfinder to find these breaks. It is also an area that tends to hold more current when the tides are running. Usually early in the morning these areas will also hold lots of bait. When the water is clear, which is most of the time, this area is highly visible. We like to drift these areas if the wind is right or use a trolling motor to stay in the change. At times fish will be found all over the transition areas and at other times they may be located in very small areas usually within 50 yards of the actual color change. Many times we have drifted these areas and only picked up fish as we approach the "off-colored" waters.
We have found that plastics usually work best. Use a slow retrieve with lots of dropping action. The trout will almost always hit as the bait drops. Topwaters will also work very well at times. Try to match the bait.
Usually in the summer you will always find a boat or two drifting the transition.

Spinnerbaits for Redfish

Some time ago I started using several different types of spinnerbaits that were really freshwater bass models. The design was simply altered with a plastic shrimp or coho tail instead of the standard ribbon like material. I have successfully caught redfish and an occassional trout on these lures. They are easy to cast, but depending on rod weight a little difficult to retrieve....lots of drag. To work a spinnerbait in the LLM, you almost always have to run it shallow. This requires you to have a high speed reel and usually keeping your rod high to avoid the grass. I've used them in the Brownsville ship channel over sand and shell and they will take snook and jacks. Jacks, althought sometimes a pest will readily hit a spinnerbait.
Recently I was sent a brochure on a company out of Brownsboro, Texas. It was for a very unique spinnerbait called Brass-N-Blades. It is a rather large bait, with a solid made brass blade and a unique double hook that should run weedless to a degree.
The double hook should also ensure more hookups. It comes in lots of colors, but I think the gold with white or red will be a sure fire thing in the LLM. I am ready to to hit the water and try these lures. Check them out on line at http://www.brassnblades.com/ or stop by their booth at the Houston Fishing Show next weekend.
Take care.

Rods vs Rods

Well after a long, hard but very profitable day doing our moving sale, here I am writng another somewhat controversial blog. Expensive rods vs less expensive ones. I own several semi expensive rods, Castaways and AllStars that neared the $100 range, but nothing in the $200+ range. I really love the custom made rods that are actually works of art, but once again choose not to buy them. I long ago left the graphite rods and have instead chose to use the titanium hybred models made by American Rodsmiths. These are not the $400 Redfish Series or the Trout Master Series, but the series that Academy has carried for some time. These rods started on the market at around $60. The handles were redesigned several years ago and I love them. These are what I suspect, are rods that American Rodsmiths have produced to supply the masses. It works. I have once again tested this rod against those $400 jobs and find that they perform just as well. I fish about 150 days out of the year and hopefully in 2010 that number will jump due to our relocation in Port Isabel, Texas. I have tournament tested them and this year we will fish the Texas Redfish Series using these $60 rods. Wouldn't it be a surprise if Tean Uno Mas could pull off a couple of top finishes using this "less expensive gear." We might even be given a few more "expensive rods", but I would probably put them up and continue to use what has worked for me!
Do what makes you happy, I like saving my money for other things....like going to Mexico or Alaska to fish!
Take care...

Not Tonight!

We have spent all day sitting up for our moving sale and I am dead tired. I am going to bed! Good Night and Take Care!

Expensive v.s. Less Expensive

I realize that by writing this blog I will probably have a large number of individuals who will disagree with me, but then everyone is free to express their own perspectives. I have a few friends who spend considerable amounts of money on their various rods and reels. Without mentioning brand names, they spend upwards of $600 for a single baitcasting rig. They swear that these rigs will out perform the "cheaper" outfits everytime. Now I firmly agree that those individuals who chase the monsters of the offshore realms need to be well equipped and have reels with the smoothest drags on the market. When you battle a 500lb.tuna or grander marlin you had better have the most expensive gear money can buy. On the other hand for working topwaters and plastics for trout and reds, I want a reel that casts easy, casts long, is light, has a good drag system, and a good warranty. I look at all of these things in my reels, but I also look for deals. You can tell alot about a reel at the counter. First, its ok to try out that reel in the showcase, but just think how many times it has been handled. If it feels right, right shape and weight, ask to see one out of the box. To me a key to any good reel, whether it has five,ten or more bearings, is how easy does the spool spin when you press the release. On your very expensive reels that spool will take off and cruise for multi seconds. There are some not so expensive ones that will do the same. Good examples are H2O, Pflueger, and Daiwa. The Daiwa Coastal Inshore CL153L, Academy's H2O Express Menance, and Pfluegar's Trion Lp and President 2WLP are all great reels that will only sit you back around a hundred bucks. Academy has a warranty that is second to none on their H2O reels. Just take it back with in a year and a new one is in your hands no questions asked.
If you clean and oil these less expensive reels after each trip, they will last a long time and I like the idea of having three reels for the price of one!
Rods are for tommorrow.
Take care.

Moving....A real Pain in the B_ _ _ !

Now that could be butt or back or both! In my case its definitly both. We have lived in one location for 30+ years and it is unreal at the "stuff" we've collected. I alone hold a world record for nuts and bolts. I'm sure that in the many buckets that I have sent to the metal processor there's got to have been 30 year old nuts and bolts. Is there any value in antique nuts and bolts? Didn't think so!
Then the clothes....its embarrassing. Even after donating lots of clothes to places like Dress for Success, Good Will,Salvation Army,and Churches United ans Caring,I still have nore shirts then I can wear in a year! Hopefully by this time next month I can be down to a 1/2 closet full!!
Fishing rods....they're coming out of my ears! After pulling out a dozen of my "best", I still have 34 to sell in our garage sale this weekend.
Oh well, I just was looking for a subject to write about tonight and this came up...really its been coming up for a while now.
The good news is that we are definitly downsizing and that means we gotta get rid of a lot of stuff before we make our move South.
Take care.

A ROLL of the DICE!

I like to think of fishing as a game. Sometimes you are on your game and other times you are not. Even though there are lots of scientific factors envolved and lots of personal knowledge, the actual art of catching fish is a true game of chance. Its a roll of the dice! We can up the odds in our favor by studying and practice. I read every article that I can get my hands on to absorb any information that others deem important to the sport. Many times I get new ideas and sometimes not.
An example was today I read an article in SaltWater Sportsman about using topwaters in the Carolinas. The first thing I realized was that what they were writing could just as easy been written for the LLM. The techniques and lures are no different than those used by us in South Texas.
I did see a new idea that just might work down here....fishing topwaters in tandem.
Not really new, but I've never tried it!
How many of you can remember using a poping cork with shrimp tails back in the 60's. I used to have trout blow up on the cork almost as often as on the shrimp tail!
In fact I remenber as a teen fastening a treble on the cork and actually hooking a few trout. I wonder who actually started using topwaters for trout and redfish. It was not something you saw in the 60s or 70s. I'm glad someone did...it continues to be my favorite technique.
I'm going to follow up on the techniques I use with topwaters later.

LIVINGSTON LURES

One thing that all fishermen have in common is always wanting something new to help them catch fish. Just check their tackle box or in my case many boxes!I've got many lures that have never tasted water.
Back in 2009 I was thumbing through the pages of TSJ and suddenly became engrossed with an advertisement about a lure that actually made sounds under water...croaker sounds. If you fish for speckled trout you know what a croaker does for big trout.
I ordered a couple and in the process got in touch with Robert Castaneda, the owner and founder of the company. I immediately liked this individual and a friendship was born. Robert is not only an up and coming businessman in the state, but he has an inventor's mind that never seems to shut down. He and his lovely bride, Bridgette, love to fish. He is constantly thinking of ways to aid fisherman in their quest.
Now back to this very unusual bait. Even though I have used the Croaker style baits, I am mainly a topwater person and Livingston's topwater series are top of the line. They are great out of the box "walk the dog" lures with the added extras of flashing light and sound. Sounds like a lure that was designed to catch fishermen instead of fish? Wrong! They indeed catch fish. I have found the flashing lights are extremely useful at night, early mornings, overcast days, and in muddy water. Even though the sound made is not very audible in the hand, put it in a swimming pool with you and listen underwater...it works!
I worked with Robert in trying to develop another topwater similar to one produced by Walmart sometime ago and since abandoned. I still use this lure with good sucess. It was a "cheap" knockoff of the much more expensive TopDog. Livingston now has one in the works and hopefully it will allow fisherman to purchase a high quality lure at a very affordable price.
Stay tuned...there are lots of new items planned from this new Texas Company.
If you are looking for something different in lures give the Livingston Line a try.
Go to www.livingstonlures.com and check them out.

Gettin your Boat/Trailer Ready

A Quick Spring Boat Inspection

Before you launch your boat this year, give everything a good inspection.

Author: Frank Ross





It won't be long until boats will find their way out of winter storage, and anglers will be backing them into the water, hoping for a great day of fishing. But if you don't take a little time before you leave the house, you may be back at the dock sooner than you intended. Nothing is more frustrating than a ruined trip, unless it's a trip that got ruined right when the bite turned on. Do yourself a favor and give your boat a thorough going over before it's time to fish. A pre-launch inspection is a very productive way to spend a waning winter day and you'll have time to take care of any problems without having to rush around at the last minute.

This is also a good time to think back to last year's season and remember those things that you were going to add or change before this year - like repositioning rod holders or adding more.

You may need to adapt this list to your own needs, since it covers a wide variety of equipment that you may or may not have. Most of the items on this checklist are things that need a visual inspection, but a few may need more attention.

BEFORE YOU LAUNCH
1. Ensure that the stern drain plug is installed and that the rubber is in good condition, free of cracks and signs of dry rot or deterioration.

2. Inspect all hoses and hose clamps and replace as necessary.

3. Props should be inspected for dings, pitting and distortion. Also, check to make sure the cotter pins are secure. Grip the prop and try moving the shaft, to see if it is loose. A loose shaft often indicates that a cutlass bearing may need to be replaced.

4. Inboards should have the rudderstock examined to make sure it hasn't been bent.

5. Hulls should be inspected for blisters, distortions and stress cracks.

6. Check your engine's water intake strainer to make sure it's free of corrosion and secure.

7. For large inboards, check the engine shaft and rudder stuffing boxes for looseness. After the boat is launched, make sure to check these as well as through-hulls for leaks.

OUTDRIVES and OUTBOARD ENGINES
1. Inspect the rubber outdrive bellows for cracked, dried or deteriorated spots. These are often found in the folds. Replace any that are suspect.

2. Check the oil levels of the power steering and power trim reservoirs. Replace worn-out zincs.

3. Inspect the outer jacket of control cables. Cracks or swelling indicate corrosion beneath the outer cover. It's wise to be proactive and replace any cables that show signs of deterioration.

ENGINES AND FUEL SYSTEMS
1. Fuel lines should be inspected very closely every spring, including fill and vent hoses. Look for softness, brittleness or cracking. Inspect all joints for leaks and make sure all lines are well supported with non-combustible clips or straps with smooth edges.

2. Fuel tanks should also be inspected annually, as well as fuel pumps and filters. Look for leaks or signs of deterioration. All clamps should be snug and free of rust. This is also a good time to clean or replace your fuel filters.

3. Cooling hoses and fittings should be inspected for stiffness, rot, leaks and/or cracking. Check for a snug fit and double-clamps.

4. Check the exhaust manifold for corrosion.

5. Inspect all electrical connections for cleanliness and tightness, especially both ends of battery cables. It's a good idea to remove the terminals and wire-brush both the battery terminals and the cable ends. Fill cells with distilled water on batteries that are not sealed.

6. Bilge pumps and blower hoses should be checked for leaks. Also check the float switch for operation as well as corrosion.

TRAILERS
1. Inspect your trailer tire's treads and sidewalls, looking for cracks or lack of tread and replace as necessary.

2. Check the air pressure in your tires and don't forget the spare!

3. Bearings should be inspected and repacked if necessary.

4. Test your taillights, brake lights, turn indicators and back-up lights.

5. Test your trailer's winch to make sure it's working properly and inspect the cable for excessive wear.

6. Inspect your trailer frame for rust and sand/paint to prevent further deterioration.

MISCELLANEOUS
1. Flares and fire extinguishers should be inspected for expiration dates. It's also a good idea to turn powder extinguishers upside down and give them a little shake to keep the powder loose.

2. Dock and anchor lines should be inspected for chafing or deterioration and replaced as necessary. Recoil line and stow for ease of use.

3. Examine your charts and waterway guides and update or replace outdated materials.

4. Make sure your boating license and/or registration is up to date. Don't forget your trailer tags.

5. Now is a good time to review your boat insurance policy and update coverage if needed. Be sure you have fuel spill insurance coverage.

6. Make sure you have a properly sized and wearable life jackets in good condition for each passenger, including kids and pets.

7. Check your landing nets for holes or deterioration of the netting.

8. Sea anchors should be checked for holes or worn fabric.

9. Rod holders should be inspected to make sure they are free of rough edges that will abrade line or damage rods.

10. Check your kill switch to make sure it is functioning properly and that the lanyard is attached.

11. Emergency lights and signal devices should be inspected and have new batteries if appropriate.

12. Running lights should be checked and contacts cleaned if necessary.

13. Inspect livewells for trash or residue and ensure that pumps are working properly.

14. Check your live bait aerators as well as hoses and clamps.

15. Trollers should inspect related gear to make sure that planer boards and other systems are ready to use.

16. Tighten all loose fittings, bolts and screws that may have vibrated loose. Pay special attention to your motor's main mounting bolts, and if you've got a kicker motor check that one as well. A 3/4" socket will snug them down quickly. Many boats are operated for months with loose mounts.

Usually something bad happens that gets your attention, like a kicker motor falling off the transom in heavy weather, which prompts a thorough check from stem to stern. It's far better to give everything an inspection before you're staring down into the water, wondering how to fish a motor off the bottom of the lake.

SPARES
1. Spark plugs & wrench

2. General tool kit

3. Extra Prop

4. Extra shear pin

5. Extra cotter pins

6. Flashlight

7. Starting fluid

8. Extra stern plug

9. First Aid kit




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Frank Ross grew up on a lake in Florida, where fishing and hunting were second nature. He has pursued his passion from the jungles of South America to the northern reaches of the Arctic Circle and most points in between. With a background in newspapers, the wire services and magazines that began in 1970, Frank brings a unique perspective to his work with Cabela's. He is an award-winning photographer with a flair for getting to the bottom line of every story.

Getting Ready for Spring

Its time to start getting ready to hit the water again full force. The fishing in the LLM never really stops, but does like most winter fishing in Texas...slows down. Nows the time to check out those things that we don't think about until it causes us a problem.
Lures.......this is a great time to wash and change hooks. I like to remove hooks, scrub my hard baits with brillo pads and replace all the trebles with either new ones or single circle hooks. Spoons need to be polished and hooks replaced. Take your soft baits and make sure they haven't mixed with other softs that can cause then to breakdown. Check your jig heads and sharpen hooks. I like to add snap rings and swilves to my jigheads...really helps the action.
Reels........Clean, clean, clean and lubricate. Great time to replace that line...maybe try that new braid you always wanted to use!
Rods..........Check and replace broken, cracked, missing eyes. This is a quick way to lose that trophy fish. Lubricate that reel seat!
Tackle Boxes.......It may be time to downsize! I've found that I have way too much STUFF!

More later!

TRY A LIVINGSTON LURE! http://www.livingstonlures.com/