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.