    
Jeff Snyder
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 | | Posted on Monday, April 01, 2002 - 7:45 pm: | |
Date: Sun, 31 Mar 2002 21:51:45 -0600
Subject: SWFC report 4-01-02 Lakes Braunig / Calaveras, San Antonio, Tx
Greetings; Spring has dealt us a full house and the "screaming " wouldn't stop!
No it's not the kids or the car's tires. Drags, reels, smoke, and line blistering off the Shimano Mag 50 reels! It's been making me see 'red' and fortunately it's not just the wind in my eyes.
The wind has been blowing it's share, the thermometers had forgot which way was up, and the '3-in-1' oil can got a good squeezing that lasted almost three weeks. Ok, ok....... what am I babbling about this time? Reds and I don't mean just a couple of them. Why they started as early as they did and stayed as aggressive as they have been; has been confusing, but sooooo soothing. To sum it up; only 3 stripers (undersize) and easily well over 200 Freshwater Red fish; "NONE UNDERSIZE. " Average weights were 5-14 lb. each, feeding through out the day, daily for almost 20 days straight! Yes, don't ask; it really was fantastic and none the less, most enjoyable.
I pinched myself more than once, and yes; they didn't stop!
Roaring in as a lion and going out as a lamb generalizes our March weather. The early message the Reds sent this year was none close to any I've seen in the last 14 years. Granted, I didn't know then what I know now, but I would have still have caught some fish with them acting the way they did. Action suddenly started with the last warm period that February gave us and was almost constant until the winter blast on March 15th and the tornado's that rearranged southern Bexar county. Weather looks as though the spring rains are close to starting which in turn will help warm and oxygenate the water. Action will definitely transition into spring spawns and thermal stacking of the fish. The new Lowrance "X-15" sonar will make your knees weak with anticipation looking at the structural detail and fish concentrations lurking below the surface.
( Check out the new picture at top of web page.)
Talking with the Texas Fisheries crew at the lake; reveals they did see an above normal number of Hybrids on their spring samplings. Should be promising for summer patterns. The story with the Reds is a chapter about to be written that will go into the memories album and probably be talked about for many years to come. It started with the abundance of 'f'ry' stocking fish at the hatcheries a couple years back. Information from the lake rangers then showed about "2 1/2 times" normal number of Reds were stocked. Last year I had 1/2 day charters that some were catching 40-60 fish a trip with 1 out of 10 being bigger keeper fish. This year, all of those fish barely short in legal length last year, are about 3-6 lbs. this year. Yes; just terrible. But hey, somebody has to catch them. A patriot I am; I willfully volunteer.
Big fish; haven't seen them yet; a few about 16#, but no "Hogs" yet. The deep schooling fish we seen last year with body weights averaging 11-24 lbs. each should be a "reel" treat this year. Settling for regular limits of these 4-10's has made it easier to cope with the situation; till the hog's decide to dance!
Yes, 2002 looks as though it could be a "Bengay" type year. We have caught more Hybrids in the last week than we caught in the previous 2 months. Hybrid action is ready to blow wide open and freezer stocking time will be here. Fish are just now starting to show any signs of grouping. Movement has been from bottom feeding patterns to some suspension, below the thermocline which will shift to above it with a jolt of warmer spring water and weather. Hard to accept that it was only March; seemed more like May action. Remembering to use light tackle, slower presentations, smaller lures and an arsenal of color patterns will get the cool weather Hybrids started. The Reds weren't real picky at first, now they're going through a selective color thing; really keeps you working till a color starts producing. That has to be the biggest tip to spring time fish, "change," anything and everything till something starts putting fish in the box. After harsh weather changes, it's usually best to go to bottom fishing bait if numbers of keepers are important in your day out. As summer approaches, go to bigger, brighter, and faster type baits. Give your lure a good variety of presentations, if the fish don't like them, you shouldn't keep using it. Lure presentations fit the old proverb; " there's more than one way to skin a cat." Experiment; then remember what works!
Cats; weren't forgotten.Channels are usually good with liver and cut baits on bottom and dough under a cork, along the banks in spring while they're spawning. The bottom fishing trips are showing as mix of Channels, a few Blues, and Hybrids with good action on the lighter tackle. The big Blues we catch will usually start their deep pattern in May-July, with warm weather co-operating.
Sorry, need to go. I do hope to be more consistent with these reports, but I'd rather tell you in person on the lake!!!!!! So till the next drag screams, may monster fish romp in your dreams! Jeff
P.S.
*** Check out Trilene's new "Big Game" line; the 'Hi-vis' blue color is fantastic; my only line.
*** Teach a kid to tie a knot; a Palomar, moistened before tightening is all they need.
*** Caution is highly advised against using "hi-octane" in an 2 cycle motors; settle for mid or reg.
*** When was the last time your checked your prop hub for line or lower unit for water signs?
*** Marine wheel bearing grease ""IS"" different from regular grease; use a "Buddy."
*** Want to keep grease splatters from axles off your boat, carefully cut the bottom off a soda can, punch a small hole on the outside edge and slide over the wheel hub as an exterior cover.
*** What's a monster fish worth? Only costs about 50 cents to fill a reel with fresh Trilene.
*** Kids are unknowingly rough on fishing line, they need 'high abrasion," like "Big Game"
*** Teach them about a proper drag; keep the "line size to hook ratio" in balance and the drag will save them that next big fish.
So, till the next nibble occurs. <*)((((>< Jeff
www.texasfishingguides.org/snyder/ |
