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"Reel Lines" Capt. Chris Martin Fishing Reports from San Antonio Bay & Port O'Connor 888-677-4868 Sponsored by: Norton Lures Quick Twist, Majek Boats, Mercury Marine, Final Approach Blinds, Ray-Guard Wading Boots, Hook & Tackle Outfitters, Waterloo Graphite Rods, Simms Waders, Sea Striker, Shimano Reels, Power Pole, Kent Ammunition, Eagle Claw, American Airboats, Avery Outdoors |
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“Summertime Fun” Guide Lines, by Capt. Chris Martin May 20, 2009
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The kids will soon be getting out of school for the summer and a lot of folks will have already stock-piled their ever-valuable vacation time at their job so as to allow the family to plan some quality time with their entire crew. However, recent reports out of our nation’s capital indicate that many households may be sticking close to home this summer due to the current state of the economy. But this doesn’t have to be a fun-limiting factor for everyone this summer. Texans can plan the perfect summertime vacation right here along our own Texas Gulf Coast. And Texas coastal fishing is an excellent means of promoting family camaraderie and companionship that builds lasting memories and that can be rivaled by nothing else. Whether it’s trolling with huge artificials around an offshore wreck for kingfish, drift-fishing open bay-water structure for speckled trout under the birds with live shrimp, or sight casting your favorite top water to tailing redfish while wading a secluded cove or marshy back lake that strikes your saltwater fishing fancy, Texas has miles of coastline that are ideal for you. Texas coastal fishing at this time of the year can be fun in so many different ways for so many different reasons, and warmer conditions offer a variety of angling opportunities that may otherwise be discarded by many during other times throughout the year because of inclement weather, job addictions, or family responsibilities. So, if you are wanting to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life without severely impacting your bank account during these tough times, make it a point this summer to plan a most memorable experience surrounding some of the best relaxation that the Texas coast has to offer…Let’s go fishing! I have spent many a day near the end of May, and the first part of June, throwing plugs and plastics while wading endless miles of sand and shell, along both bay shorelines and mid-bay reefs. I’ve caught a lot of very nice trout over the years while doing so, and, God willing, will continue to do so for the many years yet to come. It’s always been a personal pleasure of mine to roam afoot across the vastness of the bay systems at this time of the year when searching for speckled prizes. But just recently, probably just as recent as the past couple summers, I have discovered yet another very fun and exciting speckled trout fishing tactic that pertains to neither bay waters, nor wading. Instead, this ploy incorporates fully functional fishing directly from the confines of a boat while either drifting or while anchored in the smooth and calm surf waters along Matagorda Island up and down its Gulf shoreline. That’s right, surf fishing. And no, I’m not making reference to the ever-popular croaker soaking here. I’m talking about the presentation of some of the larger models of some of my more highly favored top water baits. Before you get too excited, it’s important that you take special note of my previous mention of the phrase “…smooth and calm surf waters”. Now, the word ‘smooth’ and the word ‘calm’ aren’t always the first two words that pop into one’s head whenever the topic of surf fishing is discussed, especially during the summertime months. The winds of summer are predominantly onshore and tend to be out of the south, and they can be downright vicious at times, especially with summer’s combination of higher surface water temperatures and high-heat air conditions – conditions you don’t want to find yourself amidst when venturing out into the surf in a shallow water bay boat. But contrary to some popular belief, we do, in fact, still experience frontal passages of a northerly influence throughout the warmer parts of the year. It is during these periods, no matter how brief, that the once turbulent rollers of the Gulf will surrender to Mother Nature and will lay flat as a pancake, and this is when I like to be in the surf throwing big surface walkers at anything that moves. When such occasions arise, I prefer to be in position at the first light of day. I’ll set-up along the shoreline so as to enable me to place a long cast right against the beach with a color offering dark in nature while the sun has still yet to rise above the horizon. Working close to the beach enables the lure to pass over the first gut, the shallowest, that parallels the beachfront. As the sun rises higher in the morning sky, and when the water color is in good shape, which it generally is, I immediately switch my presentation of the dark-colored bait to that of a bright-colored bait. Just about any color imaginable is available on the market today, so take your pick. Some successful colors for me have been the She Dog in chartreuse/yellow, orange/gold, and orange/yellow/pink. But once the summer sun is baring straight down with all its might through the clear green surf water, I have found one particular top water lure that is seldom out-fished, and that’s the all-chrome Super Spook. It’s big and it’s loud. And in these conditions, it shines like a mirror. It’s manufactured with three large treble hooks, but I prefer to replace the front hook with a single hook and to remove the middle hook altogether, leaving only one treble hook at the trailing end of the lure. I find that by doing this I can help simplify things many times over – the lure doesn’t tangle in my leader line, there are less hooks for me to extract from the fish, and the fish undergo much less stress as an end result due to less required handling time and less injury. Like I said, surf fishing with top waters in summertime can be fun, if not categorically intoxicating, especially for kids and those who have never experienced the thrill of a top water strike. Take proper precautions, monitor the weather forecasts closely, and plan accordingly. It’ll be hot out there, so don’t discount sunscreen (lots of it), protective clothing, and hydration. Remember to practice CPR, “Catch, Photo, and Release”, whenever possible on trophy Trout and Reds…Guide Chris Martin, Port O’Connor/Seadrift region. www.BayFlatsLodge.com…1-888-677-4868
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8.2 Pound Redfish, Country Music, 25" Trout Guide Lines, by Capt. Chris Martin April 26, 2009
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Thursday evening we were pleased to welcome back a large
construction company to the lodge. With 43-employees attending for
an appreciation 2-day fishing trip, a true challenge for out staff,
but one that we all took to heart. Our first evening we served fried
stuffed crab jalapenos, grilled quail diablo’s and cheese balls made
from scratch for appetizers. The crew requested our center cut 14-oz
rib eyes for dinner. Shortly after dinner, guitars and banjos were
being delivered to the outdoor kitchen area. We had a “full blown
Texas Country music concert unfolding beneath our eyes.” The music
went on into the night… The first day would be met with many challenges, one that’s becoming a recurring theme, winds blowing 20-25 mph. But today, the tide was very low…Mix low tides and high winds; you better “dig-in.” The company had two separate tournaments taking place, one with the most fish, and another with 3 heaviest fish, trout and reds only. Fishing was very slow for many of our guides, but they worked hard to find fish just before 4:00 pm. Congrats to Captain Rick Hammond and Captain Terry Spoonmore for 1st place wins. Terry’s crew had an 8.2 pounds average on their reds and managed full limits with several oversized fish. Great job! Terry was using bait over sand spots. The next evening we served grilled lemon rosemary habanera shrimp with a twist of lime for appetizers. Dinner was Cajun seasoned fried flounder; trout and redfish served next to fried oysters. On our second day, redfish was the main focus, especially with winds increasing and water conditions deteriorating. Congrats to Captain TJ for 1st place win. He managed full limits of slot redfish; with several oversized to 33”. He was working bait over sand holes. Kudos goes out to Captain Nathan Beabout for putting his angler on a 25-inch trout that was released. According to one guests “Captain Rick Hammond gave excellent instruction while wade fishing with fly rods, we fooled a trout, red and even a flounder with flies.” I would like to commend our staff and guides who looked after our important guests in a warm manner. Everybody faced their own challenges, but overcame them to provide an event to be proud of. We’re already looking forward to the 2010 event…
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“Cedar Bayou – The Update” Guide Lines, by Capt. Chris Martin March 25, 2009
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This edition of Guide Lines is dedicated to updating you on the latest progress that has been made by the Save Cedar Bayou organization in efforts of having the Cedar Bayou and Vinson Slough areas re-dredged and, thus, re-opened. I last wrote about this subject back in August, when I explained to you that Cedar Bayou and Vinson Slough have rapidly deteriorated due to the lack of a quality flow of seawater, and that as a direct result, the quality of fishing in these areas has substantially declined since Cedar Bayou was last dredged in 1995. In that same August edition of Guide Lines, I also stated that Mother Nature had completely closed the mouth of Cedar bayou (at the Gulf of Mexico) by the early part of 2008, that the required Environmental Impact Assessment on Cedar Bayou had been completed and was up for review by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and that the Save Cedar Bayou group would soon be submitting their application for the third required permit which would then be placed out on the USACE website for a period of 30-days for public comment. Well, the Save Cedar Bayou folks have had an upward battle all along the way in their fight to re-open Cedar Bayou, and the home-stretch has been no exception. However, and after sixty-nine long days of critical scrutiny and bureaucratic red-tape, Permit Application Number SWG-2007-00813 was finally posted out on the USACE website on February 24, 2009, and was open to public comment until March 26th. The next step in all of this, if all goes well, would be for a permit to be issued whereby allowing work to begin on Cedar Bayou and Vinson Slough once the Whooping Cranes leave their nesting sites in April of this year. At this point, all we can do is wait. Wait and pray that those in power determine it their duty and responsibility to do the right thing by allowing the newly proposed dredging efforts of Cedar Bayou and Vinson Slough to proceed as solicited.
Why is re-opening of the Cedar Bayou and Vinson Slough area so important? Without getting into too much detail, it is important to have inward and outward flow of seawater available to the wetlands and the Texas Coastal Bend bay systems in order to maintain a proper equilibrium within the ecosystem of that area. Historical navigation records indicate that self-sustained water passages, now known as Cedar Bayou and Vinson Slough, formed naturally beginning as far back as the 1800’s, and that these passages had developed the robustness required in order to nurture themselves up until 1979. Unfortunately, this natural water connection with the Gulf of Mexico was lost in 1979 during a man-made emergency closure in an endeavor to protect the area from the Ixtoc oil spill that occurred in Gulf waters just off of Mexico. Follow-on efforts to restore this area to its natural state has come twice now, in the form of dredging in 1987 and in 1995, but neither attempt has shown any long-term success. So, why should anyone believe that the re-dredging of this area will work this time around? Well, since the time of the two previous dredging undertakings, a better understanding of coastal inlets along with advanced modeling and analytical tools have evolved in the field of coastal engineering, and coastal engineers now have data identifying the dredge disposal sites from the dredging in 1987 and 1995 as the actual culprits for the relatively rapid closure of the Cedar Bayou entrance into the Gulf following the two previous dredging episodes. You see, it is now understood that dredged material should be used in a way so as to help increase the stability of the channel that is being dredged, a factor that was not taken into consideration back in 1987 or 1995. In this particular case, there’s historical evidence of an offshore ebb delta existing off the mouth of Cedar Bayou during times of it being open to the Gulf, and that the ebb delta was a major contributor in letting the inlet remain open. Such ebb deltas allow for sediments to be carried around the mouth of the inlet, bypassing the mouth of the inlet without silting-in the mouth of the inlet. It is for this very reason that the proposed Cedar Bayou and Vinson Slough Hydraulic Restoration Project intends to utilize dredged material for the construction of ebb deltas directly offshore of the mouth of the Cedar Bayou inlet. These newly formed ebb deltas, the one to the West consisting of just over 25 acres of sand and the one to the East representing just over 40 acres of sand, will permit stability in the Cedar Bayou and Vinson Slough channels in two ways: water current and sediment will exit the mouth of Cedar Bayou and will travel across to the two ebb deltas instead of being dropped at the mouth of the inlet only to eventually build-up long enough to close the entrance to the inlet, and the offshore ebb deltas grant a separated wave-break opportunity that allows waves to break atop the ebb deltas instead of at the mouth of the inlet, thereby reducing resistance on an ebbing flow of water out of the mouth of the inlet which allows for better self-cleaning at the mouth of the inlet and helps with the overall stability of the newly dredged channels. Now, let’s keep our fingers crossed in hopes that this all becomes reality, and really soon.
We’re all but able to state that spring has sprung, so slow down and enjoy your time out on the water during this beautiful and comfortable part of the year. Take your time, prepare ahead of time, and be safe. Spring break has come and gone for most of us, but remember that there will be an ever-increasing amount of boat traffic out on our bays as temperatures continue to slowly warm. Give each other plenty of playing space, as there’s definitely room enough for us all out there. Remember to practice CPR, “Catch, Photo, and Release”, whenever possible on trophy Trout and Reds…Guide Chris Martin, Port O’Connor/Seadrift region. www.BayFlatsLodge.com…1-888-677-4868.
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“March Preparations” Guide Lines, by Capt. Chris Martin February 25, 2009
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The normal topic of conversation around here this part of the year is how many 27” to 28” trout we have released, and so far this month our anglers have caught a 28”, two 26”, two 25”, a 22” and several 20” class trout. However, fishing during the last half of February has been a roller coaster ride, to say the least, and trying to get a handle on the fishing pattern as of late has been as hard as trying to figure out how the federal economic stimulus package is going to directly effect me and you. But now that February is all but over, it is important to remember that the big girls can turn up in the upcoming month of March just as quickly as you can turn to the next page on your wall-hung calendar. March shall continue to provide us its share of adverse conditions which may, at times, require a gladiator approach by even some of the most avid anglers, so to be successful I will need to maintain a positive mental attitude and stay focused, especially when the wind begins pumping in the 25-30mph range. Because of this, and due to the lack of any general pattern in late February, March fishing will call for me to begin a higher degree of prospecting in order to locate where the trout are holding. In March conditions, I’ll now be looking in different areas and will vary my lure selection and retrieval methods based solely on the condition at hand. It may very well become a suitable and appropriate time for me to “take the fight to the fish” as I slog through what may just be some of the toughest mud bottoms the Texas coast has to offer. Come March, many other seasonal vices so often practiced and enjoyed by the Texas sportsman, or sports fan, have ended – deer hunting, duck hunting, football season, etc. And for many coastal anglers, March is a starting point for the upcoming year of fishing. Quick warming trends following frontal passages will have started to raise air and water temperatures offering a much more inviting climate along our coastlines, in turn attracting added boat traffic and fishing pressure. For this reason, I’d like to share with you what I consider to be some key unspoken rules one must keep in mind when venturing to the coast beginning in March. These unpublicized rules dealing with safety, courtesy, and technique simply reflect my opinions, and are resultant of my own on-the-water experiences. File a Float Plan: Before your fishing trip, it is always good to carefully map out your fishing locations for the intended days of fishing. Include such details as point of entry, departure time, fishing locations, and return time. Leave your plan with someone you trust will be able and willing to assist you should the need arise. Prepare for Launch: Get to the boat ramp early, period. If other boats are already in line waiting to launch ahead of you, use the waiting time by making sure all gear is stored aboard and that your boat is water-ready. If you’re by yourself, offer to assist someone launching their boat by themselves, and you may just find that they will return the favor. Remember to always idle slowly around docks and vessels to avoid a wake. And if you did launch by yourself, it will be important that you make a serious effort to get back to the ramp to remove and park your vehicle. Think Responsibly: Regardless of the excitement, and before screaming away from the dock, verify that all passengers are seated and/or are standing where you want them. Everyone's spot in the boat should remain as assigned so as to minimize an unsafe condition should you have to swerve suddenly or you are forced to throttle-back abruptly. Practice Etiquette: Upon approaching your intended fishing spot, take note of other boats already there. If they are drift-fishing, do not position your boat so as to cut-off their drift. Place your boat at a similar starting point of the other boat's drift, but not on the same line. If you happen to be the first boat in the area, then you have your choice of either drifting or wading. Study the Area: For example, if your fishing spot happens to be a reef, knowing the reef’s shape and size is advantageous. Use your GPS or depth finder to monitor water depth. If electronics are unavailable, train your eyes upon the shallow top of the reef. With a wind blowing, the top of the reef will give itself away by exhibiting a breaking wave. Expensive and disabling prop damage can occur if contact is made upon a reef. Be Stealthy: With spring approaching, start by fishing deep and then move shallower as the sun warms the water. Slide the anchor overboard easily so as to minimize noise - fish detect unfamiliar sounds, so the less noise you make the better. Anchor in the deepest water possible without threatening to take-on water over the top of your waders. Boat traffic commonly goes on the deeper side of your boat, and will seldom run between the anchored boat and the shoreline or reef. This technique provides you additional safety and will also keep your fishing area undisturbed. Play the Wind: Leeward shorelines are friendlier for wading or drifting, but the wind pushes bait toward the windward shore and trout and reds will not be far behind. I've had many a good trip while having white caps hitting me on the back of my neck. Watch Bait Activity: Bait activity, especially large jumping mullet, is generally a must for locating trout and reds. Once located, make note as to the direction the bait is moving. Position yourself in the path of the bait. This allows you to thoroughly work all edges of the school of bait. Rig for Readiness: Set your reel drag tight enough to insure a solid hook set, but loose enough to allow a big fish running ability following hookup. With a fish on, allow the reel’s drag system and your rod to do all the work. To reduce fish escapes, outfit your wading belt with a 20-ft. stringer, a dip net, and a pair of hook-outs attached with elastic cords and tied off short. Remember the Principals: Fundamentals are the foundation of fishing success, don’t forget them. As an additional reminder, the Bay Flats Lodge team will be represented at the 34th Annual Houston Fishing Show. This year’s show begins on Wednesday, March 4th, and runs through Sunday, March 8th, at the George R. Brown Convention Center located in downtown Houston. If you’re unable to make the show, but you still wish to take advantage of the many show specials we’re running, you can still recognize the savings by contacting me directly via phone at (361) 785-2686. If you would like to receive more information about the Houston Fishing Show savings, please email me at Chris@BayFlatsLodge.com . Remember to practice CPR, “Catch, Photo, and Release”, whenever possible on trophy Trout and Reds…Guide Chris Martin, Port O’Connor/Seadrift region. www.BayFlatsLodge.com… 1-888-677-4868.
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“Test the Many Different Tools in my Arsenal.” Guide Lines, by Capt. Chris Martin February 17, 2009
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We
were now on the backside of what had been a noticeable cold front,
with today being the second day following the passage. Last night’s
temperature had dipped below that of the forty-degree mark, and the
air was not accompanied by much, if any, wind. The dark and moonless
pre-dawn sky was filled with nothing but bright stars for as far as
I could see in all directions, and the weather man was calling for a
blissful blow of only 5-mph out of the northeast once the sun had
gained its full composure above the horizon. The day was to become
one of brilliant sunlight with absolutely no clouds, and
temperatures ranging only in the high fifties to lower sixties. It
had now been about twenty-four hours since we last experienced the
harsh northerly winds that would have dumped significant levels of
water out of the bays. As a result, the shallows of the
backcountries would have been swollen and should now be posed to
begin emptying slowly once again back into the main water bodies of
the surrounding bay systems. Ankle-deep waters in some of the more
remote back areas would now be around knee-to-thigh deep in depth,
allowing prized predators to forage for new and otherwise
unavailable food sources. Today’s conditions would make for easy
recognition of these fish, and I wanted to be there to take full
advantage of the situation. But because the night had been as cold
as it was, it would take a while for the temperature of the skinny
back waters to be warmed enough by the morning’s rays of sunlight
before the fish would be fully lured out upon the back flats. I had
gotten up early and had already made the boat ready for an early
morning departure, but suddenly decided to make a change in my game
plan. I would retreat back to the Lodge for another couple cups of
coffee and some friendly conversation with clients before heading
out – I had some time to kill, as my new goal for the morning was to
be in the back lakes two hours after sunrise.
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“February’s Free Zing” Guide Lines, by Capt. Chris Martin January 28, 2009
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Wintertime fishing is extremely different from fishing during other times of the year, and it is only the hardcore coastal trout angler that usually learns to deal with it to any level of notable success. During the months of January through March, our Texas coastal weather forecasts can include anything from a blue northern to that of beach-going qualifications. Aside from blue-bird days, some of the warmer days can often be damp and muggy, and are most often accompanied by close clouds moving swiftly out of the south. But when the coast turns cold, it can get really, really cold. Coastal occupants realize somewhat of a wet cold during winter, making it feel as much as fifteen to twenty degrees colder than the reading on the thermometer, and that does not always take into consideration any additionally measurable wind chill factor that might present itself as a result of a bitter north wind that may be blowing at any given time. However, there is one noteworthy thing about fishing during this time of the year, and that is that there generally are not too many other anglers out on the water to compete with for fishing space. Given their options, most others will choose not to expose themselves to the wet and cold elements, as they refuse to relinquish the confines of their home where it is safely warmer and more comfortable. And that is unfortunate for them, because winter, as ill-tempered and as unpleasant as it can sometimes be, still resides as being a banner time to catch large, thick yellow-mouths, especially given our extreme southern locale. If you enjoy fishing for speckled trout then there is no other time like February to begin catching them in the San Antonio Bay region. You can not only catch your legal limit in February, but potentially an all-time career trophy-trout as well.
One important thing the winter trout angler must keep in mind is the tide and its varying levels. Cold water trout do not tend to move around much, and when the tide does not move the trout seem to move even less. It is for this reason that I attempt to plan my trips that are during extremely cold weather periods around more measurable tidal movements, paying special attention, of course, to overwhelmingly lower tides. A low, low winter tide can often introduce obstructions and obstacles that are at other times normally covered by at least a foot or two of water – there’s nothing worse than spinning a hub or cracking a prop on an exposed oyster reef, or fully grounding your hull atop a deep mud flat in the dead of winter while out in the middle of nowhere. Another thing to take note of in wintertime fishing, something we don’t have to worry much about right now along the Texas coast, is the salinity level of the water in which you are fishing. Keeping tally of salinity measurements can certainly make you a more productive trout man, so it’s vital to remember that heavy rainfall can change the saline count dramatically. Remind yourself of the fact that salt water is heavier than fresh water, and that cold weather trout will search to find deeper water during periods of extreme cold conditions, especially during or immediately following locally heavy rainfall.
There is a lot of water outlining the Port O’Conner and Seadrift bay regions, and the waters along the north and south shorelines are, for the most part, represented by one to four feet of water that often flows in and out of guts, bayous, and backwater lake areas. These are prime trout hunting spots that I love to wade beginning in February. But, how do you know where to drop anchor and start fishing? Well, that depends on what the water looks like and whether you witness the presence of any baitfish – I said “baitfish” here simply due to the bays being generally void of any shrimp activity once the month of February has rolled around. I like to practice what I’ve come to call the “1-on-1” technique. At minimum, I’ll search to find at least one area that consists of some green water, and then I’ll explore that greenish water for at least one sign of baitfish activity. Now, you are not likely to locate a large concentration of mullet in February, but where you happen to see a few engaged in active jumping is a good indication of nearby predators. Okay, I’ve now located an area of green water that I’ve seen a couple of mullet jumping out of, but what do I do now? If its heavy trout that you are after, fish that I would categorize as being in the three to five pound bracket, then I would have to say that your lure selection may not be as critical to your success as is that of the speed of your retrieve during the month of February. However, if you’ve concluded that you have the required dedication and determination to hunt for that career trophy, a fish in the six to eight pound range, or even nine pounds plus range, then what I’m going to say next may seem old-school to some, but I have found it to still hold true even to this day. I firmly believe that the larger, cold water monster trout tend to only eat once, or maybe twice, each day, and that when they do eat they prefer to Super-Size their meal. It is for this reason that I like to recall the old adage that “bigger is better” while I’m fishing in February. I’ll be throwing large mullet imitations all this month and into March – the kind that I can work below the surface to probe the varying water columns, and that can be retrieved slowly along the bottom in order to imitate an inactive mullet.
In closing this edition of Guide Lines, Bay Flats Lodge wishes to remind everyone of our 2009 FEBRUARY TROPHY TROUT & RED FISH SPECIAL. The dates will be February 1, 2009 through February 28, 2009. You and your guest(s) can fish at the NEW Bay Flats Lodge on San Antonio Bay and receive the February Trophy Trout and Red Fish Special Package at a discounted rate. This special is good throughout the entire month of February, and as with any of our other guided fishing trips, Bay Flats Lodge will donate 1% of your trip fee to the future of our fisheries and to the future of our sport, our kids, and their kids. Remember to practice CPR, “Catch, Photo, and Release”, whenever possible on trophy Trout and Reds…Guide Chris Martin, Port O’Connor/Seadrift region. www.BayFlatsLodge.com…
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“Productive Water” January 12, 2008 by Capt. Chris Martin
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One
of the hardest things to do when fishing at this time in the year is
determining productive water, and probably one of the best ways to
do this is to veto areas which you know will be unproductive due to
winter weather and tidal conditions. Learn to focus on those areas
which hold quality fish on a seasonal basis. This seems a monstrous
task in the warm weather months alone, but when the wind and water
turn cold, it can become an even bigger challenge. As a generic
rule, fishing deeper water in wintertime tends to be more
productive, and our general vicinity offers quite a few of what have
long been some of the coast’s more legendary cold-weather sites and
deep-hole hot spots like the Army Hole, the Port O’Connor jetties,
the boat basin at Matagorda, and the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW).
But even closer to the home of Bay Flats Lodge, in the immediate
Seadrift area, is the Victoria Barge Canal, one of but many results
of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and the Gulf Intracoastal Canal
Association that was formed back in 1905. The thirty-five mile
Victoria Barge Canal was completed to a navigable depth of nine feet
and to a width of one-hundred feet in 1968. Then, in 1995, work
began to widen and deepen the canal to correspond to the mandatory
government requirements that the canal must be twelve feet in depth
and one-hundred twenty-five feet in width, and this last leg of the
project was completed back in March of 2002. This means that the
Victoria Barge Canal now matches the size and depth of the ICW with
which it connects, and thus the canal can offer deep water access
for fish and protection from the elements for anglers during the
colder times of the year. And, because I’m now locating fish that
have moved toward the head of San Antonio Bay as a direct result of
us not having experienced any mentionable rainfall this past year,
the deep water attributes of the canal can prove to be a great place
to find wintertime fish that are staging themselves within its
confines.
Bay Flats Lodge, Inc. We specialize in "Lodge Exclusivity" for larger groups, a sportsman's dream, with fine accommodations, awesome views and exceptional dinning.
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“Frontal Passage Strategies” November 12, 2008 by Capt. Chris Martin
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A pre-frontal scenario so common for this time of the year along our Texas coast: Fishing has been sensational for the past several days, and you could not have asked for better water conditions and tides. But, you awake the next morning to what seems to you as a whole other world. Before getting out of bed you hear a harsh wind pulsating against the side of the house and hear it inflicting repeated blows upon the palm trees out in the yard. You think silently to yourself, “Maybe I’m not awake. It may be that I am still sleeping and that this is all just a really bad dream.” You hoist yourself out of your bed and make your way over to the nearest window in an effort to either verify or disqualify your initial beliefs. Except for the velocity of the wind, you can’t make out the true outdoor conditions by solely looking out of the fogged-up window, so you head on out to the deck through the back door. As you step out onto the deck you’re instantly met with a spine-chilling air temperature. You look out over the bay in the pre-dawn light only to discover that the ideal tide of just yesterday has now dropped overnight by more than one foot as a direct result of the wind pumping hard out of the north, and that the water is now similar in color to that of your morning cup of coffee when cream is added to it. That which was previously perfect and beautiful fishing conditions has suddenly turned out to be your worst dream imaginable. In dismay, you pinch yourself to make certain you are, in fact, not still asleep. Yep, you’re awake! Well, what to do now?
As I sit down to write this edition of Guides Lines, there currently are four low pressure weather systems stacked-up off the Pacific Northwest coast readying themselves to pump down much cooler temperatures upon us, with air temperatures in our area forecasted to be in the upper thirties to lower forties within the next ten days. In preparation for the arrival of these cooler weather patterns, I’d like to spend some time discussing with you the strategies I normally prefer to utilize in the face of their approach. Now, I know a lot of you have heard folks speak often of a highly anticipated trout feeding frenzy before and during stronger cold fronts, but very few people speak much about the revered post-frontal trout bite. While it is true that I have, at times, encountered and witnessed some spectacular catches just ahead of and during strengthening fronts, it has generally become an effective practice of mine to wait to fish on the backside of these stronger frontal passages. Why? Well, there are a few reasons. First, fishing just ahead of most of these stronger fronts normally means facing stiff southerly winds which often carry with them what can become some very unpredictable wind gusts, even along some of your otherwise protected shorelines. Secondly, and a no-brainer to even the most novice of Texas coastal anglers, is the severe weather conditions one often has to put up with when fishing in the midst of one of these passages. Lastly, and aside from the standard discomfort of what can many times be some very downright fowl weather, there is also an aspect of safety that must be taken into consideration when attempting to chase trout while a frontal passage makes its way across an open bay system – although not highly publicized, many a human life and boat have been lost on area bays when caught in the onslaught of frontal passages or while attempting to run an open bay during a strong front…simply put, it can be unsafe.
I personally prefer fishing the second and third days following a frontal passage, with the third day being my absolute favorite. This waiting period allows frontal winds to subside substantially and most often gives the skies ample clearing time from their previous frontal overcast conditions. Where do I start my search for the post-frontal trout bite? Well, in that the barometric pressure and water temperature undergo the changes that they do during these periods, the trout are in search for areas offering cover from the weather and protection from danger, so I like to locate leeward shorelines holding deep green water. Locating natural fish passes between open-bay reefs and islands are both good choices, but I have also managed some truly fine trout out of back lake area cuts and passes that possess a water depth of five to seven feet. These areas tend to hold marvelous water conditions after the passing of a front, and the make up of the bay floor at these points are, for the most part, mud and silt which is another prime objective of the fish during periods of cooler weather – mud is capable of absorbing warmth from the sunlight and is able to hold that warmth much, much longer than sand or shell. Deeper guts that snake in and out of coves are also good target areas for post-frontal trout, but just as soon as the morning sun begins to heat-up, I move out of the cove and on to area flats consisting primarily of grass and mud. My preference is to use a slow and deep presentation no matter what lure I happen to choose, and I like to use lightweight jig heads to prevent snags over shell or grass when slowly retrieving my lure. In reviewing my fishing records of years past, I’ve found that I have caught good trout during the mornings and late afternoons while working a slow sinking lure like the corky devil. I’ll focus on areas containing less floating grass, or will wade reefs with deeper drops or cuts, always keeping a sharp eye on my line while concentrating on what my lure is doing. Just because the bay looks ugly, don't give up or wait until a better day presents itself in order to go fishing. No one said it was going to be easy, but fishing "post-front conditions" has proved to make many a fisherman a better angler.
The past couple months have marked impressive fishing results for us – exceedingly when compared to the past few years, and one thing I believe may be contributing to this fact is this year’s lack of Texas rainfall. Many of the rivers leading from the Hill Country are very low, and the salinity levels of Texas coastal waters have maintained an all time high this year. Because of this, dark-colored plastics (Mardi Gras, Black Magic, and Morning Glory) should continue to pay off in the reef areas of San Antonio Bay, but don’t shy away from your focus on soft, warm mud with some dark grass mix as well, and don’t forget the necessity for you to use a slow retrieve if you are working soft plastics or slow-sinking plugs.
In closing, Bay Flats Lodge wishes to announce our 2009 FEBRUARY TROPHY TROUT & RED FISH SPECIAL. The dates will be February 1, 2009 through February 28, 2009. You and your guest(s) can fish at the NEW Bay Flats Lodge on San Antonio Bay and receive the February Trophy Trout and Red Fish Special Package at a discounted rate. This special is good throughout the entire month of February, and as with any of our other guided fishing trips, Bay Flats Lodge will donate 1% of your trip fee to the future of our fisheries and to the future of our sport, our kids, and their kids. Remember to practice CPR, “Catch, Photo, and Release”, whenever possible on trophy Trout and Reds…Guide Chris Martin, Port O’Connor/Seadrift region. www.BayFlatsLodge.com…
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“It’s Time to Give Back” by Capt. Chris Martin September 3, 2008
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The word slaughter is defined by Merriam-Webster as the act of killing in great numbers. It is a strong word, which has held its place in time throughout the history of our Texas fisheries. Unlike today, coastal fishing back in the late 1800’s and the early 1900’s was viewed primarily as a means for providing food – people fished in order to eat. I’ve even heard mention of stories where folks traveled from many, many miles outside of Texas back in the real early days to gather just as many fish as possible for purposes of bartering with others and in order to feed their families back home. By 1940, the nations of the Western world had successfully fought to become fully recovered from the years of The Great Depression era of the 1930’s, but even as late as the 1950’s, and even the 1960’s, it still was not uncommon to witness small runabouts motoring on Texas’ coastal waters filled to near capsize capacity with fish – literally hundreds on any given day. Up until that time, the primary target for the Texas saltwater angler had been the speckled trout because the trout were usually readily available in large numbers in deeper parts of the bay systems which made them accessible and easy to get to. But as time wore on, and as the activity of fishing for coastal species with artificial lures began its rapid development, the speckled trout would soon find itself fighting to stay at the top of the saltwater angler’s priority list. It didn’t take artificial enthusiasts long to discover that redfish tend to be more prevalent in shallow waters, and that the redfish could be caught on the exact same lures as those used on speckled trout. It was also during this same period, the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, that commercial fisherman caught on to the fact that huge numbers of redfish could be taken easily on a daily basis in these shallow waters via gill nets. Gill nets ran rampant back then, and commercial fishermen made a pretty good living by catching mounds of fish each day and then selling their bounty. But all of this was back then, and coastal fishing has since taken on a new meaning for most saltwater anglers. Fishing is no longer simply a means of providing a source of food, as fishing has now become a sport.
It wasn’t until the late 1960’s that serious concern began to be raised regarding the potential over-harvesting of our coastal fisheries. There have been many organizations closely involved since the 1970’s in the fight to save our Texas fisheries, but two of the most well known advocacy leaders in our state have been the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) and the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD). Their efforts in the state of Texas alone have resulted in the prohibiting of trawling for speckled trout (1978), the outlaw of single-strand monofilament gill nets (1980), the gaining of game fish status for speckled trout and redfish (1981), the setting of fish limits (1983), the outlaw of commercially harvested adult redfish in the Gulf of Mexico (1986), the prohibiting of the sale of naturally raised, wild redfish (1989), the outlaw of gill, trammel nets (1990), the adoption of the no-harvest regulation for tarpon (1991), and the mandated use of by-catch reduction devices on shrimp vessels (1997). The total accomplishments of the CCA and the TPWD are too numerous to list, but one of their achievements that I feel must not go unmentioned is the establishment and completion of the three Texas marine fish hatcheries; Sea Center Texas in Lake Jackson – the world’s largest redfish hatchery, the Perry R. Bass Marine Fisheries Station near Palacios, and the CCA/CPL Marine Development Center in Corpus Christi. We salute these organizations, and the others out their like them, who have dedicated their time and efforts in building upon the past in order that we may all enjoy a better and brighter tomorrow. But the “giving back” to our fisheries does not have to stop at the large organization level. We, as individuals, can also contribute.
As a long time professional fishing guide, I’ve seen a lot of fish harvested over the years, and will hopefully continue to do so in the years ahead. But it won’t happen without help from folks like you and me – people who care enough about keeping the fisheries and the sport alive by “giving back” some of that which we have taken. It is for this reason that my wife, Deb, and I have decided to donate a percentage of the guided fishing trip sales provided by Bay Flats Lodge each month to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department hatchery program in order to aid the enhancement of the existing speckled trout and redfish populations in our Texas bays. Through the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation (http://www.tpwf.org/), the hatchery group has a Lone Star Legacy Endowment Fund. Annually, interest from this endowment account is provided directly to the hatcheries for equipment purchases and/or to fund research studies. This funding source has proven to be very valuable to the TPWD in their pursuit of answers to questions such as what percentage of the red drum in Texas bays are of hatchery origin (i.e., Galveston Bay = 6 to 12%). Also, TPWD currently has some exciting research ongoing pertaining to speckled trout and southern flounder. For example, TPWD is developing hatchery protocols in order to culture southern flounder for purposes of releasing millions of juveniles into our bays. This type of work would be difficult to accomplish without the support of conservation minded people such as you and others that contribute to the Lone Star Legacy Endowment Fund account. The TPWD Foundation website has more information about the Lone Star Legacy Endowment Fund; and should you choose to donate, the hatchery group’s Endowment Account is: CCA/CPL Marine Development Center in Corpus Christi.
In closing, remember to practice CPR, “Catch, Photo, and Release”, whenever possible on trophy Trout and Reds…Guide Chris Martin, Port O’Connor/Seadrift region. www.BayFlatsLodge.com…1-888-677-4868.
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D “Cedar Bayou – The Good Ol’ Days” August 13, 2008
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Those early morning hours had been hot and muggy back on that day not so present. We had three parties setup tight against the protected shorelines just adjacent to either side of the mouth of the bayou. Most everyone had either top waters or plastics tied on the end of their line, but a couple of the guys even had some live bait thrown into the mix that day. But they didn’t need it. Nope, if that day was to be anything like the previous months that I had spent in that same general vicinity, the fishing gods would be very generous to us today in our presentation of almost any artificial bait of our choosing. The fishing had been good for quite some time, and not just at the mouth of Cedar Bayou. I had spent practically the entire year fishing the southwestern most reaches of San Antonio Bay – from Ayres Point on down into Mesquite, and sometimes even beyond. Why? It was because I was successful at almost every turn of the way when I did so. The fishing had become more consistent in those areas back then, and it seemed as though you could depend on catching fish if you spent the required time it took in making the run down to the far regions of the lower bay systems. So much so, in fact, that I was forced into re-evaluating my overall business plan if I had any personal expectation of remaining a successful fishing guide in the Seadrift area. And one of the largest business transitions that I went through at that time was the reconsideration of my choice of boat models. Because the fishing had grown to be so good in some of those otherwise remote locations, and if I stood any chance at all of maintaining the acquired level of success we had grown accustomed to in those areas back then, I was going to have to opt for a faster boat in order to get me and my clients to those further southwestern hot spots ahead of everyone else each morning – thus was born my love for the Majek 2200 Extreme. But back then, the pure number of fish available down in those distant portions of the lower bays had not become our only point of interest. Most any of the surrounding areas down there had gotten to the point to where they were consistently producing some big numbers of large trout – continued numbers of large trout that neither we, nor our clients, could ever remember witnessing on such a regular basis. I caught one of my personal-best trout back during that period immediately west of the mouth of Cedar Bayou while tossing a plastic Norton Bull Minnow up against the grass in shin-deep water. And that was in the heat of the mid-afternoon sun during one of the hottest times of summer. Go figure! The year was 2005. But, that was then, and this is now.
Since those days, the Cedar Bayou and Vinson Slough areas have undergone rapid deterioration from a quality flow of water perspective, and the quality of fishing in these areas has consequently declined as a direct result. By January, 2007, beach sand and sediment had caused the entrance to Cedar Bayou at the Gulf of Mexico to be closed during periods of low tide. Aerial photographs taken in February of this year reflected complete closure of the mouth of Cedar Bayou at the Gulf of Mexico, and as of this month you would not even recognize an opening ever existed from the Gulf side – the entrance looks no different from that of the rest of the beach that runs for miles up and down Matagorda and San Jose Islands. Coastal navigation charts dating as far back as 1884 and aerial photos from as early as 1967 portray, in fact, that there once was a naturally sustaining water flow union between Cedar Bayou, Vinson Slough, and the Gulf of Mexico. Unfortunately, in the wake of the Bay of Campeche oil spill in 1979, Cedar Bayou was purposely filled-in as a part of emergency measures to keep oil out of our bays. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) later dredged Cedar Bayou in 1959, 1987, and again in 1995, but all three attempts at permanently restoring the pass to its original and natural state have proven unsuccessful. Experts in the field state new man-made waterways up and down the coast have altered water flow in the Cedar Bayou area enough to where there is now not enough outward water flow to maintain the once natural pass area. So, how does this have anything to do with recent downgrade in the quality of fishing in these areas? Well, exchange of seawater within any bay system is essential in allowing the bay to maintain its required ecological balance. With the closure of Cedar Bayou, the nearest resource of sea-quality water for lower San Antonio Bay and Mesquite Bay is suddenly now miles away at Port O’Connor and Port Aransas. Without intermittent open passes, like that offered by the presence of Cedar Bayou, it soon becomes an unreal expectation that any isolated bay system would be able to revitalize itself to a point where it can successfully support its water quality and fisheries. Open passes supply migration routes between the Gulf and the shallow estuaries and nurseries for organisms and many other members of the fishery food chain, like shrimp and crabs. With the nearest passes being many miles away on either side of these isolated bays, the present passes are simply unable to adequately support the many, many miles in between. After all is said and done, the quality of fishing gets worse as a direct result of the absence of many different members of the food chain. All of those quality numbers of trout and redfish, and the number of quality trout and redfish, that we caught in those otherwise isolated areas a few years ago were all being supported by the seawater exchange provide by open access to the Gulf via Cedar Bayou. As long as Cedar Bayou remains closed, you can expect to see a steady decline in the quality of fishing in the lower San Antonio Bay and Mesquite Bay areas.
On a positive note, the required Environmental Impact Assessment on Cedar Bayou has now been completed and will be reviewed shortly. The Rockport-based organization called Save Cedar Bayou, Inc., has now applied for the needed Coastal Impact Assistance Program grant from the Texas General Land Office, and if the project is picked for funding the Save Cedar Bayou group shall immediately proceed with putting out bids for the dredge project. They are currently working on the 3rd required permit which will be submitted in the last part of this month. Once the USACE has reviewed the permit, it will go on the USACE website for a period of 30-days for public comment. If all goes well, a permit should be issued and construction shall be allowed to commence on Cedar Bayou and Vinson Slough once the Whooping Cranes leave their nesting sites in April, 2009. Your offer to contribute to the efforts of getting Cedar Bayou re-opened is most welcome. At this time, the Save Cedar Bayou organization is gathering names and letters to be sent to the USACE for the public comment period. You can also go to the Texas Flats Fishing website www.texasflats.net sign-in, and then sign the petition.
In closing, Whitetail and waterfowl are but just a couple of the great game animals that Texas is known for. Join Joe Coogan, host of Benelli On Assignment, on Versus Country TV this week as he heads to southern portions of our state to partake in some Southern hospitality – Texas style. Airing times are as follows: 8/28 10:00 AM Texas Deer and Duck, 8/29 10:30 AM Texas Deer and Duck, 8/30 10:00 AM Texas Deer and Duck. Remember to practice CPR, “Catch, Photo, and Release”, whenever possible on trophy Trout and Reds…Guide Chris Martin, Port O’Connor/Seadrift region. www.BayFlatsLodge.com…1-888-677-4868.
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“ Hello, and Good-Bye, Dolly! ” Guide Lines, by Capt. Chris Martin Aug. 6, 2008
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Last summer started-off as being what must be one of the wettest summers on Texas record. This very same time last year I was talking to you about the importance of being able to familiarize yourself with freshwater tactics and strategies. But dealing with the effects of unusually high amounts of freshwater runoff won’t be the topic of discussion for this edition of Guide Lines. No sir, 2008 has dealt the Texas hill country and coastal plains another extremely hot, dry summer leaving us with only the thought of cooling, wet rainfall. These somewhat drought conditions tend to effect different things in different ways. One such noticeable effect has been the exceptionally high salinity levels of our bay waters and the resulting impact this has had upon the coastal marine ecosystem – for example, this year’s annual brown shrimp hatch has been severely delayed simply due to a lack of a steady freshwater feed to our Texas wetlands and estuaries that allow for the re-establishment of the brackish environment required by the shrimp. However, salinity levels will vary by location and they are only one of the many different things that can offer-up hurdles during this time of the year. There are other naturally occurring events, such as major storm systems, that can also present directly-effecting physical forces that aid in the determination of the relative summertime fishing pattern. Recently, Hurricane Dolly demonstrated to us that even remote storm systems can have noticeable influence upon the physical actions that affect the ecological game plan in distant shallow coastal bays.
As we rounded the midway mark in July, the month was turning out to be a good time for fishing as the water was clear and green and the top water action was heating up fast. However, that was just as the fourth tropical storm of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season formed and made its way across the Yucatan Peninsula near Cancun. The storm proceeded into the Gulf of Mexico where it rapidly strengthened to hurricane force, and Hurricane Dolly made landfall two days later on July 23 as a Category 2 hurricane packing 100 mph winds in South Padre Island. Although our Lodge, in Seadrift, is located more than two hundred miles away from the actual landfall site, we still experienced the physical effects of this massive storm system. Torrential downpours were not a ramification for us here in the San Antonio Bay area. We got about one day worth of rain, but it was nothing in comparison to the 16+ inches that was commonly reported from some of the towns in the deep southern portion of the state. Instead, the marked impacts that we received were in the form of wind and tide. The wind forcing and physical responses of our local bays were evident through the strength and longevity of the southeasterly winds that we endured. These winds promoted what has to probably be some of the highest water levels we have seen in the San Antonio Bay and West Matagorda Bay areas this year – during the storm event, wind stress enabled a large pulse of saline-rich water to enter the bays, resulting in extreme high tides and increased salinity levels. The winds and the tides from Dolly made for some very tough fishing conditions, to say the least, in the days immediately following the passage of the storm. But the old adage of “that which goes up must eventually come back down again” is held true in Mother Nature, too, at least in some instances. Currently, the winds continue to howl on a daily basis, but the tides have since receded to a point to where they are now dropping below normal making the mid-bay reefs and the surf unthinkable options until such time that the wind decides to calm down. Some of our recent best action has been on protected flats on the windward side of the bay system near deep channels or canals. I recognized a particular redfish fortune while fishing on the windward side of protected shorelines during the period of the extreme high tides brought about by Dolly. But as I said earlier, the high storm tides are now gone, and I have since established almost the same level of success by focusing my attention in deeper water over sand with a Norton pumpkinseed/chartreuse Sand Eel Junior along leeward shorelines now that we are encountering much lower tide levels. As of late, some of the guides at Bay Flats Lodge have turned in results of daily averages ranging from 17 to 20 fish while using live bait, while others have seen single-digit to low double-digit trout numbers. However, and as I write this edition, I have just received a report from our own Capt. Chris Castillo which states that his entire party today managed trout limits. Well, we may have just witnessed our first step on the road to Dolly fishing recovery for the summer of 2008! August may very well turn out to be all that we hoped for and are used to.
In closing, we at Bay Flats Lodge join the rest of the state of Texas in sending out our sincere and heartfelt condolences to those who recently have fallen victim to the devastation brought about by Hurricane Dolly. In the aftermath of this storm, our thoughts and prayers are with all those whose lives have been impacted. Until next time, be courteous while on the water, and remind yourself to always approach wade fishermen in the same manner in which you would wish to be approached if you were in their position. Remember to practice CPR, “Catch, Photo, and Release”, whenever possible on trophy Trout and Reds…Guide Chris Martin, Port O’Connor/Seadrift region. www.BayFlatsLodge.com…1-888-677-4868. Thanks, Capt. Chris
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“July Fishing Report” Guide Lines, by Capt. Chris Martin July 15, 2008
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June
delivered unparallel trout action when considering the abnormal wind
we experienced in the Port O’Connor/Seadrift region. Over a 24-day
stretch, most of the 8 guides at Bay Flats Lodge have caught trout
limits with a mix of reds. Trout up to 6 pounds were recently caught
& released during the first couple of days of July. On one
particular day, we caught scores of nice size trout; a 24” trout was
landed, the next day produced a 27 ½, a 26, and another 26 and 24.
Good stuff!
We’ve been working areas with 2 to 3 feet of soft shell or what I call reef beds. Concentrate casting to the end of the reef or the curves near area reefs. When I say beds, there is a distinct difference between reef beds that are under water and reefs that protrude out of the water. These beds vary in depth but most of them slowly taper from 1 foot to 4 feet of water. Knowing when to fish these beds has been the most contributing factor in my recent catches. Just the other day while fishing someone asked me, why don’t you go far distances when you decide to move? I personally think trout stay within a general area. Yes, they will move away from a spot. But if you were catching good numbers and size trout earlier in the day, why wouldn’t these same trout move back at a later time or date? This really makes your gears turn upstairs. Getting inside a trout head is what I’m always thinking about, before making any move. Try to visualize what a trout would do if given the same circumstances. The sand and grass shorelines have been much slower for me then others. Talking with a few of my counter parts, shoreline fishing has been much better for them. I guess I’m too hung up on shell to make the switch. Their telling me, live fin fish while wade fishing has been the best method for catching trout and reds. The bite has been very early and normally is over after 9:00 AM. I noticed the early and late bite during out last full moon. Our back lakes have also slowed way down compared to earlier in the month. One thing I’ve noticed that hurt my fishing in the backcountry, the strong nagging south winds. The south to southwest wind is the kiss of death for pulling water out of the bay system. Hot weather and very low tides makes for fair red fishing, but trout prefer deeper water or cooler shell during the hot month of July. Let’s now discuss fishing during the month of July. Here are a few tips that might help during this month. If the winds lay way down, key in on the surf action. I will continue to focus on reef beds until they play out. My feeling is, once San Antonio Bay heats up from the rising temperatures, deep reefs will produce better then the shell beds. I will also continue to fish San Antonio Bay, Carlos Bay, Mesquite Bay, Espiritu Santo Bay, and given the opportunity fish the shorelines near Seadrift. My favorite passion is fishing with top water lures while wade fishing. Just the other day, a customer couldn't believe his eyes when he saw my top water selection. He asked if color and size made a difference. I replied yes, and they also work in dirty water, rough water, and clear water. You probably want catch quantity every outing, but rest assured, one that chunks top water lures all day will return with better quality trout. Try using different retrieves until you figure out which one works. The hard part is, remembering what you did to create a blow up or hook up. Duplicating the same retrieve to fool another trout the second time around is the essential key to becoming a better top water enthusiast. With soft plastic lures, the Norton sand eel jr. lure in the tequila gold color has been doing very well for our parties when conditions are right. I’m rigging most of my lures with a 1/16- ounce head when fishing shallow and switching to a 1/8 ounce when deep. As of late, the salinity levels in San Antonio Bay are high. But don’t get to use to these conditions, July can also be a month where the coast experiences severe weather and torrential downpours for days. While on the water, keep an eye out for the sky and check in frequently with someone who can check computer radar. In closing, I want to wish everyone a safe summer on and off the water. Remember to drink plenty of water and apply sunscreen frequently.
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“Death, Taxes, and Traffic” Guide Lines, by Capt. Chris Martin June 27, 2008
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Death and taxes are the two constants that everyone tells me cannot be avoided. If you live in or around any of our major cities, the third constant that is unavoidable would be the everyday traffic. On most days commuters can pick the time and place where you find the non-stop free flowing traffic, the stop and go areas and yes the dreaded bumper to bumper congestion points where everything comes to a stand still. Next commuters will be thrown a curveball when the unfortunate fender bender occurs and all the rubbernecking puts a twist in your best laid out estimated time of arrival plans.
Now lets apply this information to the type of fishing that is going on right now along the endless stretches of shoreline like the southern portions of our bay complexes (Matagorda Island) and the northern sectors of the mainland shorelines.
The windward or leeward shorelines all offer a wade fisherman’s best friend, hard sand bottom. Depending on which side of the bay you chose you’ll find more pronounced sandbars and guts which have been created by wind and current. The commuter fish that we have been targeting during this time of the year use the free-flowing unobstructed guts, to meet their daily forage needs. Most of these fish are definitely left hand traffic dwellers have the pedal to the floor slowing down occasionally to make a pass at a top-water or soft plastic. The result from these encounters usually will yield a few fish being brought to your hand.
Next group of commuters that you will want to focus in on will be the stop and go variety. Now to increase your fish to hand ratio you’ll need a couple of factors working in your favor. Steady bait activity and stained water are without a doubt are a two obstructions that will keep fish in an area for a longer period of time. Depth of course will always be a factor depending on the time of the day. Our better fish 20-26 inches have been taken along the shallow contours in the first two hours of daylight. As the temperature and sun both climb, position yourself in waist to belly deep water to intercept these traveling fish.
So many times we find ourselves thinking of greener pastures when the bite comes to a standstill. But, because my customers continued to probe into the far right lane, which was deeper, their footpaths came to a standstill while recording numerous hookups. We finished up with 30 trout for the day while chunking margarita Norton sand eel Jr. lures. Our plan for the following morning was to arrive in the dark to the same stretch of shoreline. Immediately after exiting the boat, we found ourselves rubbernecking to the right and left and noticed the lack of hookups. Roaming pods of porpoises created a fender bender on this highway that crushed our best laid out plan. It’s all about perception, that is, when to stay and when to go, and after looking at the given scenario, moving on was the best choice.
In closing, fish don’t have to take the same commute day-to-day like we do, knowing what intersection, exit ramp or shortcut they travel will result in a better days catch.
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“A Little Bit Is All It Takes” Guide Lines, by Capt. Chris Martin April 30, 2008
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The last week of April brought us two minor frontal passages that cooled things down around here much more than originally anticipated. During cooler times in the year, marine life activity can slow to somewhat of a crawl at times. The metabolism of the game fish shifts into low gear and the fish find themselves reducing the amount of energy they expend – for doing anything like feeding, and even swimming. In slowing down on their feeding patterns they reserve whatever small amount of energy they may have stored so they can utilize it for brief, yet violent, thrusts upon any unsuspecting food source. Bait fish are none the different. Like the game fish, their bodies also slow down, as do their activities, resultant of the effects brought about by the changes of cooler water and atmospheric conditions. This is the primary reason why you normally do not see a lot of bait fish, at least not in any significant numbers, scurrying along the surface of the water once temperatures have fallen. But don’t let that fool you. The bait fish are there. They are often just below the surface, and many times in numbers, but you don’t notice their presence because they aren’t running for their lives due to the inactivity of the larger game fish. Be certain that any bait fish activity, whatsoever, that you may witness during these periods should signal to you the presence of game fish. With the numerous recent mood swings in the weather along our coast, fishing has been hit or miss for a while now, and locating bait activity during these constantly changing conditions has meant the difference between success and failure on a daily basis for trout. This past week, Bay Flats Lodge welcomed back the ESS Company for another fishing excursion. These guys love to grind all day with lures, and I do mean all day. This crew normally enjoys fishing from dawn to dusk, and things this time around would be no different. They began their morning by casting across a protected flat covered with sand and grass, only to fool a lonely seventeen inch trout that was landed by Ron. We pulled the anchor and made our way to our second stop which yielded Capt. Chris Castillo but two more trout to twenty three inches. Upon settling onto our third destination of the day, Capt. Castillo managed another two trout. The morning hours were all but gone now, and the day had started out slow for the ESS party. The wind had grown to about 15-knots out of the northeast, and everyone needed a short breather from the grind at hand. We broke out the sandwiches and soft drinks and everyone enjoyed a relaxing break. Before getting underway after lunch, I sat silently and began thinking to myself of the time of the day it was then, the fact that the tides were falling, and of area protected shorelines that would be readily available to us during the afternoon hours given our current conditions. I decided to head in the opposite direction. Moments later I slowly motored into an area that showed signs of flicking mullet. We set anchor and we all proceeded to ease over the sides of the Extreme with our favorite lures. Capt. Castillo kept everyone in a line and instructed each person to cast directly ahead of their wade. It wasn’t long at all before everyone in the party started hooking-up, so I took that time as an opportunity for me to investigate the immediate area a little more for any further potential. I walked back to the boat and proceeded to let the wind blow the boat downwind about one hundred yards. I secured the boat and began my walk while tossing my Norton tequila gold Bull Minnow rigged with a 1/8-ounce laser-lock jig head. I hadn’t waded more than forty yards when I started catching twenty inch trout, just one right after another – not all of them were twenty inches, but most were over eighteen. Meanwhile, Carl, Greg, and Ron were still landing good, solid trout, so I continued on my way. I later switched to one my favorite top waters when I came upon sand flat and was fortunate enough to fool two nice reds. The day later ended with the guys picking me up out of the water at around five o’clock. Ron lit his cigar, shook our hands, and said, “You guys made my day. Thanks!” We probably landed forty trout at that afternoon location, all due to the simple fact that we had stopped to fish an area where we had seen just two small flickering mullet. Go figure! In closing, I once again wish to remind everyone of the fact that the month of May generally represents the first substantial warming month of the year, and with it will bring more boat traffic on our area bays and coastal waterways. So, please pay attention to the other guy, give waders and drifters a wide berth, and think safety at all times. Be safe, and have fun! Remember to practice CPR, “Catch, Photo, and Release”, whenever possible on trophy Trout and Reds…Guide Chris Martin, Port O’Connor/Seadrift region. www.BayFlatsLodge.com…1-888-677-4868
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Bay Flats Lodge Report Capt. Chris Martin April 16, 2008
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It was a long day on the water. I struggled with my conscience knowing I had made the best decisions while searching for a trophy trout. This same area back in 2003 gave up a personal-best trout while photographer Tosh Brown (www.ToshBrown.com) was following me with his camera. This area is one that produces lifetime trout year-to-year. It is a place very few people fish, especially due to the fact that closely held secrets are most often best left hidden. Now, let’s fast-forward to 2008. Tosh was getting his camera ready while he slowly slipped into the water and asked me, “Are you the one to follow?” I took a deep breath before casting my favorite top water and turned back toward Tosh with an ear-to-ear grin and said, “Let’s not celebrate just yet.” Between Capt. Chris Castillo, Capt. Jason Wagenfehr, and me, we lost a couple of big fish on this trip, but we never landed what we came for. Our search for big trout continued. I personally think we are way behind on catching big trout this year, especially if you compare this season to the past, but this last week offered more promise with several 4 to 5-lb. trout fooled along with some even larger 5 to 6-lb. class trout. In our mid coast region we are generally accustomed to catching trout between 25 to 30 inches during the spring months of February, March, and April. Last year, we had two ladies both land their personal-best trout in the same day while wade fishing together while throwing Norton’s plum chartreuse Sand Eel Jr. lures. So you never know, we might just catch more big fish this month if we can avoid the unfavorable windy days. On the other hand, I cannot remember redfish action this good especially over the past three weeks. Locate a windward shoreline in the back lakes of Matagorda Island, look for bait and stained water, and cast all the way to the grass edge – I bet you might just be able to stay put all day catching and releasing reds until your arms start throbbing. The lodge recently welcomed Houston-Stafford Electric for a 5-boat, 2-½ day fishing trip. Upon their arrival, our Bay Flats Lodge staff served the crew a lemon rosemary habanera Shrimp Diablo as a lead-in appetizer to a delectable 12-ounce Texas rib eye steak dinner, all of which was later topped-off with strawberry cheesecake for desert. Shortly after stuffing ourselves with desert, we all walked out onto the outside deck to enjoy the sight of the end of yet another beautiful day along the Texas coast. To our surprise, the wind began shifting from the north, and it continued to build by the hour. The very next morning, we awoke to the sound of coastal scrub oaks swaying back and forth from the strong wind blowing out of the north. But regardless of the adverse wind conditions, Capt. Jason Wagenfehr and Capt. Harold Dworaczyk were able to locate a very aggressive trout and redfish bite while drifting over the flats on a leeward shoreline. The area they were fishing is located in Espiritu Santo Bay, and all of the clients were fishing with live shrimp under a popping cork in stained water. Everyone returned with big smiles and a lot of fish at the conclusion of this, their first, day. As the guys walked in from the boats, Deb and I served fried oysters and Cajun style chicken wings for appetizers before serving them a fabulous dinner of grilled duck smothered in Fischer & Wieser roasted raspberry chipotle sauce. After a delightful banana fosters desert, all of us again watched the sun set over San Antonio Bay from the comfort of the deck. The evening’s sunset was more typical of that of a fall sunset – that is, with little to no wind. The conditions were changing right before our eyes, and the very next morning offered no wind for drift fishing. The Guides predicted that today would require a certain level of grinding to produce any numbers, and they were correct. Everyone caught fish, but not nearly as many fish were caught as compared to the day before the north wind started blowing. Historically, the bite tends to go through a somewhat slack period the first day immediately following the passing of a frontal system, and it is for this reason that the day after a front happens to be my least favorite day to fish. Regardless of whether you are a seasoned fisherman or have never wetted a line, you may have heard, “Fishing brings the best out in people.” In the early hours before daylight on the second morning of the Houston-Stafford Electric visit; Capt. Harold Dworaczyk was pulling his boat into the parking lot at the Lodge. At the same time, I was driving the golf cart over to the boats and noticed a noise coming from one of the tires, so I stopped Harold and asked if he had a flashlight so we could attempt to see what was causing the tire noise. To my surprise, Harold was already holding a flashlight in his hands. I noticed his hands were black with grease and I asked him what had happened. Harold explained that he just had a tire blow out on his boat trailer, and he expressed to me his appreciation all the other Bay Flats guides stopping to aid and assist him so he wouldn’t be late in meeting this morning’s party. This may seem like a small deal to some, but it is teamwork like this that enables us to serve others better. The Bay Flats guides work together day-to-day while out on the water in very much the same manner in which they helped Harold with his flat tire experience. This brings to mind another phrase you may have heard throughout the years, and that is the term TEAM – Together Everyone Achieves More. Fishing really does bring out the best in people. Thanks,Capt. Chris Martin |
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"Still Holding" by Capt. Chris Martin March 27, 2008
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The fish are still holding a winter pattern for now, especially on cold nasty days. Now, get geared up for a fast transition when the water surface temperature hits that magic 70 degree mark. Mud and shell patterns have produced the most fish during warming periods. But, the transition from mud and grass on cold, wet, nasty days to shell and mud/sand on warmer “calmer” days has been the hardest piece of puzzle to figure out. Just because trout have made a moderate transition to sand, I will continue to wade fish in that sticky stuff called mud. According to my logs, fishing over mud & grass offered continued success during the month of April. The key; find water that is slightly off colored because predator fish use stain water as structure, in other words they camouflage their body with dirty water. High winds are a factor in April and scout for added protection from the wind. Warmer mud will attract more baitfish during early morning hours. The presence of bait normally makes fishing the same spot, a good stock option. The key is, knowing what time of the day to fish these spots. Meanwhile, that brings up another good subject; fishing logs. Junk in, is junk out! Keeping good, accurate logs takes a degree of discipline. Take your time with each entry, so that, you build good data in you’re personal fishing logs. Let’s now get back to the subject of fishing mud. Most of the places I fish are not on the hot spot maps. I prefer fishing away from the masses. Fewer crowds normally equal more fish. In other words, don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Divide areas where you fish into two categories. First, new fishing areas that need to be scouted and learned. Second, areas you know that already produce. As spring blows in from the gulf, she brings with her warmer air temperatures to our bay systems and bait continues to gather over warming flats. Water temperatures are just warm enough to concentrate large mullet over sand and grass shorelines. Look for what I call key point shorelines where the contour of the land changes back another direction. The wind will be blowing towards the point of land sticking out, normally the land continues back the other way 45 degrees. Just out from this point or before the point is where I like to focus my wade. Because over time the wind creates wave action that results in wash out guts and saucers. Grass beds normally surround these guts and holes and baitfish may not see trout hunkered down below the surface. When scouting an area I will look for the following signs. Look for small, round slicks. Small slicks normally indicate larger fish. When presented with smaller slicks and higher tides, fish tight to the grass. Work your lure beyond the slick, retrieving slowly back through the slick. Use a 1/8-ounce Norton laser lock jig head rigged with a Norton quick clip. Long and big slicks normally have been blown by the wind for some time or possibly could be small school trout. If you cannot locate slicks, look for bait. The key word here is bait. Look for bait that is nervously jumping. Flipping shad or glass minnows is another good indication that trout are present. The spring tides will flood shrimp and baitfish out of the marshes. I will scout the openings of sloughs and drains winding into the back lakes. Look for diving brown pelicans near these areas. Talk about spring tides, as of late we’ve experienced nothing but low tides. Just the other day while fishing the windward shoreline in extreme skinny water in deep ankle biting mud, we kept seeing seagulls picking up something near the shore. As we waded closer, we witnessed trout actually jumping on top of fleeing glass minnows. It’s in my opinion the glass minnows are showing up early this season. But, like an old salt told me, “If you see lightning and thunderstorms in February, you better look out in March for cold weather.” Hopefully by the time you read this we will be out of the woods on bad weather. During the spring it seems anglers spend a lot more time running around looking when they should be fishing. If I’m catching decent size fish and adequate numbers, I will often re-wade the same area. Especially if an area has produced better during the middle to late part of the day, this is when I will decide to stay put. |
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“Fantastic Behind Us” by Capt. Chris Martin February 27, 2008
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In my last edition, I touched upon prime February fishing periods as being those times just prior to the arrival of the next northerner, and then the second and third days following the passage of the front. This has been my definite high-strike pattern this month, and today’s trip was no exception. The weatherman had said we should anticipate the approach of a somewhat dry-front moving through the coastal watershed during late evening, so we set out this morning to execute upon a practice that has worked for us over recent weeks. As we left the Lodge, we had a mild SSW wind with a forecast for air temperatures to reach the high 70’s today, and the water temperature was in the low 60’s. We knew the wind would rapidly increase over the course of the day with the nearing of the front, so we chose to take advantage of some deep water target practice at the first light of early morning. We set up our initial wade session just adjacent to a sandy shoreline in deeper water made up primarily of scattered shell and potholes. I had everyone tie-on an 1/8oz. Norton laser-lock jig rigged with my favorite Mardi Gras Norton Bull minnow and pitch their plastics just as far as they could out into deeper water, working the bait back to them at a ridiculously slow pace. We picked up a few class trout to 20-inches before the sun rose in the morning sky to the point where it was effectively warming today’s water temperature. But as expected, and after only about an hour of full sunlight in the sky, the wind began to build up substantially, and it was time for us to retreat to more manageable waters. I packed everyone back into the boat and moved to our next locale where we would be focusing our efforts in a well-protected area where the water would already be warming to the mid-60’s due to today’s warm air and strong sunlight conditions. It was an area offering what has proven to be one of my most productive February bottom structure transitions – from that of hard and deep, to that of soft and shallow – for the most part made up of soft silt, with a little duckweed thrown in for additional warmth and ambush cover. We were now about to change from fishing in waist-to-chest deep water to water only about knee-high, so it was also time to make a change in our bait selection and presentation. I had witnessed several loner “log” trout sunning in some very shallow waters on numerous occasions in recent weeks, so I was more than anxious this day to take things to the top. Top waters would be our choice for the remainder of the day, and what a fine choice it would turn out to be. Today’s trek would go down in my record book as a day never before experienced by an entire party during any one day of fishing, as every member of today’s party of four recognized a true “Texas Slam” – each person caught trout, redfish, and flounder. We had near limits of trout to 26”, many slot redfish to 28”, and a few flounder. February has been very good to us, as the fishing gods appear to have been with us throughout the entire month, and March should prove to be just as good, if not better. We have seen ever-increasing flounder numbers over the years, and I get several inquiries each month in regard to how folks should fish for flounder using artificial lures. So, here are some tips that might help you put more flounder on the end of your line. Flounder are a very aggressive fish, and they can be downright nasty when it comes to feeding, especially given their steel-trap jaws and their near razor-sharp teeth. A lot of anglers choose to fish from shore or from an anchored boat while trying their luck at flounder fishing, but I prefer the wade fishing approach myself. I guess it may just be me, but I think wading for flounder adds a whole other level of excitement to the experience. When going for flounder, my preference is to walk the edges of bayous and cuts – it’s a wonderful way to get out of the wind, and it’s a fine way to locate new real estate for trout and redfish. I’ll let water current and wind speed dictate what size of jig head I use, but I’ll generally try either a 1/16 or 1/8 ounce Norton Laser Lock head, and will also tie a loop knot to the jig head in order to add more movement to the lure. Now, cast your favorite plastic and slowly creep the Norton Laser Lock head back across the bay bottom and wait for the expected tap, tap-tap, or tap-tap-tap. The most important part about hooking a flounder is having lots of patience. Too many times anglers will attempt to set the hook prematurely, thus pulling the lure out of the flounder’s mouth. All too often the flounder will bite the lure while only holding the plastic with their sharp teeth. You should feel a hard tap, and maybe even another. Now then, lean forward, and as you allow the fish to tighten the line, set the hook. Happy hunting! With February behind us, steadier periods of higher temperatures and additional daylight should soon launch the seasonal transition into springtime fishing patterns. March is often associated with the arrival of that magical 70-degree water temperature, and within the upcoming weeks anglers should begin seeing indications of a marked transition taking place along the waters of the mid-coast bay systems. February may be gone, but the year’s cold fronts aren’t yet finished, so actively engaging the 1-2-3 frontal passage technique (1-day before the front, and 2-days and 3-days after the front) should continue to payoff for you throughout March. And in that March can also be connected back to some of history’s heaviest and most dismal weather conditions, it is of utmost importance that we all maintain safety as a top priority while out on the March waters. As an additional reminder, the Bay Flats Lodge team will be represented at this year’s Houston Fishing Show, March 5-9. If you’re unable to make the show, but still wish to take advantage of the many show specials we’re running, you can still recognize the savings by contacting me on my cell phone, (361) 746-0280, during show dates. If you would like to receive more information about the Houston Fishing Show savings, please email me at Chris@BayFlatsLodge.com. Remember to practice CPR, “Catch, Photo, and Release”, whenever possible on trophy Trout and Reds…Guide Chris Martin, Port O’Connor/Seadrift region. www.BayFlatsLodge.com…1-888-677-4868
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“Fantastic February” by Capt. Chris Martin February 13, 2008
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Basketball season is more than halfway over, and a month from now 65 collegiate teams from across the nation will begin slugging it out at this year’s NCAA “March Madness” round ball tournament for a chance at the 2008 crown. But why let them have all the fun? I’ve started my own basketball-type amusement, but with my game being played in an entirely different arena – the cold, clear coastal waters of wintertime. February often represents the coldest month of the year for the state of Texas, and the coastal plains are no exception. Blustery, northern-blown clouds fill the skies with the approach of turbulent frontal passages, which are then generally followed-up by a pattern of two or three bluebird days, slack tides, and the ever so popular gin-clear water that results as a condition of lower mercury levels on the thermometer. After that, south winds usually begin to re-dominate, and then the whole cycle starts over again with the onslaught of the next cold front. But it is the period just immediately ahead of the front’s arrival, and the period represented by the second and third days following a front’s passing that my outdoor court game comes into play. Naturally, I’m not out on one of the area flats literally tossing an inflated ball through a raised goal with four of my buddies. That would be silly. What were you thinking? Instead, I’m using a Waterloo HP Slam Mag 6’6” fishing rod, Shimano Core reel, Sufix Braid line while maneuvering the presentation of my artificial plastics in much the same manner as that of a basketball player handling the ball while dribbling it to the basket. I achieve this by pumping the lure across the bay floor without reeling it in. This tends to keep the targeted bait in front of the fish a longer period of time, and creates minute vibrations and mud clouds as it slowly works its way across the bottom. As of late, this methodology has paid-off substantially while fishing for redfish using the Mardis Gras color of Norton’s Bull Minnows rigged to a Norton 1/8-oz. laser-lock jig head. And with the brilliant water transparency provided by that of the wintertime cold, it often becomes very easy to pick-up on where these reds are located. With redfish being primarily a bottom-feeding species, they spend a lot of their time foraging and rooting their nose in the mud in search for food. As they do this, mud boils, or cloudy waters, become quite evident in the otherwise translucent water. My recent strategy has me keying-in on mud boils the size of (again) basketballs, then casting my bait beyond the mud boil. I’ll slowly reel the bait within a close proximity of the murky water, and then begin my dribbling procedure as I work the bait across the area. This technique has already provided its fair share of limits of reds this February, and should continue to do so throughout the remainder of the month. Because February offers the amount of opportunities for foul weather that it does, it’s always important to uphold safety as one of your top priorities. Before heading out, leave an estimated itinerary, or float plan, with folks who can be available in case you do not return when you think you will. Additionally, it’s not a bad idea to wear your life jacket while underway across a rough wintertime bay, or at any time for that matter. Remember that the water at this time of the year can fluctuate between the mid 50’s to the high 60’s, and if you inadvertently find yourself in the drink, there may not be anyone around for quite some time to offer help. It is also critical to remember the importance of proper attire. Layer your clothing, and include such items as a stocking cap and a pair of warm gloves. To keep water out of your waders in the event of an unanticipated slip or fall, institute the use of a belt around your exterior waist-line. You would hate to have to cut your big-speck career-day short due to you being too cold and too uncomfortable. The more comfortable you are throughout the day, the longer you will be able to fish. Be quiet, and remember to fish slowly. NEWSFLASH - Bay Flats Lodge is growing, and we've consequently added another full time guide to our already long list of professional staff. Meet a great ambassador for the sport of saltwater fishing and waterfowl hunting, Capt. David McClelland. David has been fishing and duck hunting the Port O’ Connor and Seadrift areas since 1983, and is married to Dawn and has a wonderful family of four children. David served our country five years in the U.S. Marine Corp, during which time he attended Survival School and Scout Swimmer School, and served a tour of duty in Operation Desert Storm as a Marine sniper. David is a U.S. Coast Guard licensed Captain and holds a Texas Parks and Wildlife Guide License, and he captains a new 21-foot Shoalwater Cat rigged with a 200 ETEC outboard. David takes great pride in his equipment and keeps his rods, reels, duck decoys, and boat in perfect condition. He is as genuine a person as you will ever wish to meet, and works great with kids and family – he truly works hard for his customers – David’s normally the last one to come in from a long day on the water. In closing, I once again wish to remind everyone of the fact that the month of February is rapidly booking-up, so please phone or email me to learn more about our February Fishing Special. Remember to practice CPR, “Catch, Photo, and Release”, whenever possible on trophy Trout and Reds…Guide Chris Martin, Port O’Connor/Seadrift region. www.BayFlatsLodge.com…1-888-677-4868.
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BAY FLATS LODGE WELCOMES BENELLI ON ASSIGNMENTJanuary 09, 2008
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Bay Flats Lodge welcomed host Joe Coogan of Benelli On Assignment to film a Waterfowl / Whitetail Trophy Deer Hunting trip to air on Versus TV show. Joe Coogan is the brand manager for Benelli USA. He is a respected outdoor writer and former editor for Peterson's Hunting Magazine and recently worked with Tanzania Game Trackers Safaris conducting seasoned safaris as a licensed professional hunter in Tanzania, East Africa. Joe Coogan is the host of Benelli On Assignment. He holds a degree in mass communications/journalism from the University of South Florida. Join former outdoor writer and professional hunter Joe Coogan as he travels around the globe with some of America's finest outdoor writers. Each week showcases a new location and new writer who is there to put Benelli firearms to the most grueling test possible. From bison in Colorado to plains game in Africa, Joe and his guest will inform and educate all along the way and, at the same time, show you some of the finest game and locations to be found throughout the world.
Our first assignment was to shoot the video of a duck hunt with myself, Capt. Capt. James Welder, and Joe Coogan. Along with this video, I will have another assignment to write an article about the waterfowl / whitetail trophy deer hunting trip for Sporting Classics magazine.
Before Joe and I loaded up the airboat, Guides TJ Christensen and James Welder took the other airboat and went ahead to place out the decoys and get the blind ready. From the minute we arrived in the airboat, teal were buzzing and trying to land in the blocks. We set one cameraman in the blind with us and placed the other on a bench covered with brush in the water. The flights of teal continued to build while the sun was starting to peek above the horizon. The hardest part of shooting this video, it didn't matter if you could shoot ducks; we had to make sure the cameraman could get the ducks on video coming into the decoys and trying to land. Also the angles of our video man were pointed right in front of the blind, so having ducks land to the sides or behind the blind would not work for TV. I was extremely nervous about not only shooting ducks, but also having enough ducks trying to land into the decoys. The pressure was building, and the sun was very bright making this a blue bird day, but soon as Joe pulled the trigger and folded the first pintail drake trying to land into the blocks, we both grinned ear-to-ear. Both cameramen gave us the thumbs up showing us they got the entire footage. The morning worked out great with many flocks of teal and single pintail working the decoys. The cameraman picked up several other good shots of ducks being taken. The pressure was not over because we had another day of duck hunting ahead of us.
January 10, 2008 The second day's weather was completely different and was challenging because we had thick fog and no wind. We safely made it to our hunting spot by airboat and started working on building our natural blind. While working on brushing the blind and setting the decoys out, both cameraman were busy getting footage of us working to make this hunt a success. The duck hunt started out very slow due to the thick fog and no wind. The sky was becoming light enough for the cameraman, so we started looking for incoming ducks. Just out of my right eye, I noticed about 30 redheads swinging towards the decoys. They had gear down and were about to land, I was going to call the shot, but Joe said wait, the cameraman still need more light.
The fog started lifting around 8:30 and waves of ducks were approaching the blocks. The wind was building strong out of the north into our face. The gamelan for this video duck hunt, we would let one person take a shot at a time. Finally redheads swung towards the shore and started heading right for us. I told Joe, wait, wait, and wait, now take'em. The cameraman gave us the thumbs up on getting the shot on video.
Later into the morning Joe Coogan, James Welder and myself got on a pintail drake from far off and called the duck right to the edge of our blocks. The duck worked back in forth and we slowed the calling down. Joe had the perfect camera shot and folded the duck right above the decoys. Redheads continued to fly low over the blocks and try to land in front of the blind. We had many other flights of ducks come into the decoys and got a lot of good low flying bird footage. Now the pressure is not over, James Welder and myself will be relocating to South Texas to hunt Whitetail Bucks with Joe Coogan and Benelli On Assignment. More to come!
January 11, 2008 After a wonderful duck hunt on the second day Joe Coogan, James Welder and myself shifted from duck hunting in Seadrift to driving down to South Texas to rattle up a trophy whitetail buck. After arriving we had about an hour of sunlight remaining so we went to the range to site in our Benelli Slug Shotguns at around 100 yards.
I was up the next morning before the alarm clock ever went off making coffee and getting my gear in order. After a quick breakfast we drove down where we would have the best chance to rattle up a buck. The air temperature was 31 degrees and we had a light north wind. After several attempts of rattling, we finally saw a buck. We made several more attempts to rattle this buck.
It was getting late in the day so time was not on my side. We walked up into heavier brush where we had seen several larger deer earlier in the day. We set up in a spot to rattle, and while James was rattling, we both noticed a nice 10 point buck that was walking out of the heavy South Texas brush. James asked,” Do you have a shot, if so, take it" I clicked the safety off and started to pull the trigger. Now, the only thing I remember was the small opening I had to shoot this deer. Next thing I noticed the deer dropped like hit a concrete wall.
The two mornings of duck hunting and the South Texas Trophy Whitetail hunt with Benelli On Assignment and working with Joe Coogan made me appreciate my career and job even that much more. Just having the opportunity to hunt next to Joe was a treat in its self, not to mention having the entire hunts shot on video for Versus TV.
Thanks
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BAY FLATS LODGE ANNOUNCES NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH WATERLOO ROD COMPANYJanuary 02, 2008
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Bay Flats Lodge announces a new partnership with Waterloo Rod Company. The guides of Bay Flats Lodge will have their boats outfitted with Waterloo Rods. After fishing with a Waterloo Rod, you will be able to purchase your own rod from the Bay Flats Lodge pro shop. I personally fish with the HP Slam Mag Waterloo Rod 6'6" and prefer the palm swell.
Trout move slowly during winter months and like to conserve energy. The fish’s metabolism slows during colder days and they “may” become less aggressive in their feeding habits. During these colder days it helps to slow down your presentation. This is where subsurface lures have an important role in catching big trout. Slow subsurface lures are becoming increasingly popular for winter fishing. Some of my personal favorites are the Corky Fat Boy, Corky Devil, and the regular slow sinking Corky. I also cannot leave out the Catch 2000 family of lures. I am really partial to the smaller Catch 2000 Jr. I actually have a chartreuse Catch 2000 Jr. that I’ve been using for over 3 months now. I have replaced the split rings and treble hooks twice since I’ve been using it. This particular lure has so many scratches on it from sharp teeth, that it’s loosing its chartreuse color. I have confidence in this lure and it’s normally the first lure I start casting with on each trip. Any of the above subsurface lures will allow you to keep the target out in front of the fish for a longer period of time, while at the same time delivering a slower presentation.
I have a few techniques that I like to share when fishing subsurface lures. To start off with, when fishing shorelines I like to slow down my retrieve, allowing them to sink a foot below the surface. When fishing deep reefs, I will let them fall between the middle and lower water column. No matter if I am fishing shorelines or reefs, once the lure sinks, start reeling at a slow to moderate speed. It’s good practice to make sudden stops with the lure, allowing it to fall. After the lure has fallen, reel at a slow pace first! If it feels too comfortable, it's probably the wrong speed...If you find yourself getting grass on the treble hooks, you’re allowing the lure to sit too long. Most importantly, if you find yourself casting more “then once every minute”, you’re probably reeling too fast. Pay attention to how the trout hits the lure. In deeper water, I normally get hits on subsurface lures as the lure falls. In shallower water, I have more trout hit aggressively when I start reeling the lure right after it falls.
The month of January offers anglers fewer choices where to fish for big trout due to such inclement weather. There are days when mud and shell would be wonderful if the wind wasn’t blowing 25-30 mph. Therefore, you will find me working over mud and grass in area coves and back lakes. Also many flats offer plenty of the same environs as area back lakes. The number one key to locating big trout is locating mullet. Because of lower water temperatures and the trout’s metabolism, these big fish will eat larger mullet to carry them through the cold periods. While looking back, I dressed in layers and stayed warm so I “could” stay out longer in the elements. During the next few months the temperatures can be brutal. Stay focused. A non-focused angler will make cast without thinking about why he’s casting to that spot. Focused fishermen will have a “reason” for every cast. Each cast is planned out before hand. No matter where you decide to fish during the month of January spend more time prospecting new areas and remember it’s never too late to start recording accurate fishing logs.
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