Early Morning Bite -
Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 10:22 pm
A couple of weeks ago I stopped at Dick’s Sporting goods to use the Field & Stream gift card that I won at the PACK Christmas Party raffle. I figured that I would have $25 on the card so picked up a few items thinking – this is winter, want large fin fish and get them on bottom in deep water. In strolling through the aisles I saw a pack of Yum Money Minnow at 5” – a large paddle tail – that fits. Then I matched it to a Berkley 5/0, 1/4oz, twist-lock – should get to the bottom. At check out the total was $33 plus a few pennies. I was about to pay the difference but then we saw the full amount was covered!! Surprised we checked the ticket and found $66 plus left on the card!! Wow, that was a generous donation! I picked the card out of the last two items, not picking the PACK hat, since I already had one.
Anyway – On to fishing -
Drifting Yak and I went out in search of trout and of course in deep water since ‘tis the season. What better place for deep water than Offatts Bayou? As discussed above I had a new large, deep water lure ready to go, so I began throwing the Money Minnow. At Offatts we definitely found deep water – plenty of deep water. I thought maybe my fish finder was not tuned properly, since the screen was blank in 20’ of water. The most water it generally sees is 5’ or 6’. Perhaps it was overwhelmed by the depth? But no – eventually the fish did show up, but generally in much shallower water. So we went on a hunt for at least fish on the fish finder and hopefully with a drop-off and moving water. Turns out there was plenty of wind to give us the moving water!
Mike and I were throwing different lures, which we like to do just to test the waters a bit more. He had a bump, then another and soon had a lower slot spec in the boat. Then I had a hit and brought in a 17.5’ spec. Several minutes later I get another, only a bit larger at 19”, I like this trend.
I soon bring in another – in between the first two at just under 18”. At this point Mike is sensing a trend – and says – ‘You have any more of those Money Minnows?’ Of course I did, so we fix him up with one as well. As he is getting in a few casts with this new lure I get another hook-up, but now we have upped the ante a bit – this one runs much harder, heading for the dock. I drag it away, thinking, could this be a red? The fish follows, then runs under my kayak, bending the rod into a nice C shape. Mike comes closer to see what all the commotion is about and soon the large trout surfaces, show us her broad side. The first pass with the net – a foul tip and she slides out, still on the line. The second pass she is firmly in the net – a nice 23” trout. Once in the boat I easily remove the hook, since it is just in the side, having worn a hole and only held in place by that tough lip. Any slack and she would have been gone.
So that was it – my day was done! I still had coffee in my cup and 4 fish in the boat and visions of trout limits floating around in my head - but my day was done! Of course, I did not know this at this time – it was only 5 hours later that I came to realize this. But that was just fine by me – a fine morning it was!!
So it was quite a sequence of events – I attend my first PACK Christmas party where I have a great time swapping fish and food tales and eating great food, winning a raffle with 2 items left, but end up with a $100 card! I go to Dick’s to buy more lures, cause the boxes full I already have just won’t do and end up with some nice trout with that brand new set-up! The moral of the story - Go to the PACK Christmas party!!
One last – fishing info – water temp 52, air temp – maybe upper 50’s, thick clouds – no hint of sun. Wind not too bad in morning but still noticeable, stronger later, especially when heading back into it!! Water clarity was good for Galveston – maybe 2’?
Mike will likely add his fishing adventures somewhere here -
Anyway – On to fishing -
Drifting Yak and I went out in search of trout and of course in deep water since ‘tis the season. What better place for deep water than Offatts Bayou? As discussed above I had a new large, deep water lure ready to go, so I began throwing the Money Minnow. At Offatts we definitely found deep water – plenty of deep water. I thought maybe my fish finder was not tuned properly, since the screen was blank in 20’ of water. The most water it generally sees is 5’ or 6’. Perhaps it was overwhelmed by the depth? But no – eventually the fish did show up, but generally in much shallower water. So we went on a hunt for at least fish on the fish finder and hopefully with a drop-off and moving water. Turns out there was plenty of wind to give us the moving water!
Mike and I were throwing different lures, which we like to do just to test the waters a bit more. He had a bump, then another and soon had a lower slot spec in the boat. Then I had a hit and brought in a 17.5’ spec. Several minutes later I get another, only a bit larger at 19”, I like this trend.
I soon bring in another – in between the first two at just under 18”. At this point Mike is sensing a trend – and says – ‘You have any more of those Money Minnows?’ Of course I did, so we fix him up with one as well. As he is getting in a few casts with this new lure I get another hook-up, but now we have upped the ante a bit – this one runs much harder, heading for the dock. I drag it away, thinking, could this be a red? The fish follows, then runs under my kayak, bending the rod into a nice C shape. Mike comes closer to see what all the commotion is about and soon the large trout surfaces, show us her broad side. The first pass with the net – a foul tip and she slides out, still on the line. The second pass she is firmly in the net – a nice 23” trout. Once in the boat I easily remove the hook, since it is just in the side, having worn a hole and only held in place by that tough lip. Any slack and she would have been gone.
So that was it – my day was done! I still had coffee in my cup and 4 fish in the boat and visions of trout limits floating around in my head - but my day was done! Of course, I did not know this at this time – it was only 5 hours later that I came to realize this. But that was just fine by me – a fine morning it was!!
So it was quite a sequence of events – I attend my first PACK Christmas party where I have a great time swapping fish and food tales and eating great food, winning a raffle with 2 items left, but end up with a $100 card! I go to Dick’s to buy more lures, cause the boxes full I already have just won’t do and end up with some nice trout with that brand new set-up! The moral of the story - Go to the PACK Christmas party!!
One last – fishing info – water temp 52, air temp – maybe upper 50’s, thick clouds – no hint of sun. Wind not too bad in morning but still noticeable, stronger later, especially when heading back into it!! Water clarity was good for Galveston – maybe 2’?
Mike will likely add his fishing adventures somewhere here -