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Fish Talk: June 2008
Marty Weghorst; 25
Talk about some tough fishing, it seems we’re never going to get a break. I cannot remember so many northers coming during late April and early May. Just about the time the north wind subsides we get hammered again with south and southeast running anywhere from 25 to 40 mph. Let me tell you I’m ready for June and I know everybody is dying for settled weather and warm green water to chunk our lures and get some serious fishing going on.
EAST BAY
June should find me heading to East Matagorda Bay every day the conditions are favorable. The game plan will be wading reefs and tossing MirrOlures and Saltwater Assassins. We will likely mix it up a little by drifting some of the deeper mid-bay shell.
Just because you caught them last week or even yesterday, you still have to keep your eyes peeled for slicks, jumping mullet, and maybe a little bird activity. I ask everybody that gets on my boat to keep a sharp eye and help me find the signs. June also means we’re finally done with the mud for a while as most of our trout will be lurking on hard sand and shell bottoms.
Another area of interest to some of you diehards is night wading, especially around the time of the full moon. Generally speaking, 2-3 days before and after a full moon are the best times for this. I always use the same topwaters and Bass Assassins while night fishing that I use in my daylight trips. Some may be skeptical but I assure you that fish see the same whether night or day. Chunk a morning glory Bass Assassin at night and see for yourself. I have personally caught too many trout at night on plastics for anyone to tell me any different. All I can say is give it a try yourself and see what happens.
WEST BAY
Everybody that reads my column knows that East Matagorda is my favorite of the two wonderful bays that lie right out my back door. But when it comes to early summer fishing, I’d have to say that anyone who passes West Bay may also pass on some of the best trout and redfish action on the Texas coast. When I decide it’s time for a change of scenery or the nagging wind blows me out of East Bay, I’ll head towards the guts and grassbeds of the south shoreline and I’ll be using the same lures as in East Matagorda Bay. I’ll be fishing an incoming tide and, believe you me, I will be checking my territory for sharks and sting rays. There are thousands of sting rays in West Matagorda Bay and my faithful ForEverLast sting ray guards will be in place.
Anywhere from the Cullen Houses down to Airport Flats should be considered prime country and look for the presence of finger mullet to indicate choicest areas. Back lakes like Crab Lake and Oyster Lake should also be holding a few redfish. I like drifting Oyster Lake, usually out in the middle, and making long drifts, 1/4 to 1/2 mile in length, while throwing She Dogs. I have found this to be very productive at times.
Since Texas Parks & Wildlife initiated a 3 fish and 18 inch limit on tripletail, I’m a little bit more relaxed with taking people tripletail fishing. In the past, I have purposefully kept the secret because these are some of the best eating fish around and the vultures as I like to call them simply weren’t too polite, nor did they show much respect for the resource. For the first time in several years I plan to begin booking a few tripletail trips.
I’ll never forget the time I took a good friend of mine from Bellville, Steve Pawlowski, on a tripletail trip. As I mentioned I had not been booking tripletail trips and I wouldn’t take just anybody. Steve takes me hunting for axis deer every year so I made an exception for him. Well, he was fishing the Oilman’s Tournament that year and wanted to enter for tripletail so I showed him some spots and how to do it the day before the tournament. Steve ended up in first place, second, and only a few ounces out of third. One of Steve’s tripletail weighed in at 27.5 pounds. Not too bad for a novice; I’d say.
About three months ago Shimano gave me two Citica 100DSV reels to try. The only maintenance they received was wiping every day with a damp rag. I did not oil them at all as the test was to see how well and how long they would stand up in saltwater. I did, however, spray Line and Lure Line Conditioner - Saltwater Formula on the spools and tried to limit it to that area only. I use Power Pro braided line and the lengths of the casts I was making with them when new was excellent. To make a long story short — I just recently sent these two reels back to Shimano because I could no longer make long casts with them. Bottom line to the story is for a price tag of only $119 you’ll get yourself a great reel that requires minimal maintenance and holds up very well. Great bang for the buck!
It’s quite possible that the line conditioner I use helped and I can tell you honestly that this line conditioner is the best I have tried, especially for braided line. I can attest that you will be able to cast at least 15-20 yards further with your braided line when this product is applied. Mike Grigar at Johnny’s Sport Shop over in Eagle Lake handles this product and, as far as I know, is the only retail outlet around the area for this line conditioner. Otherwise, you can go online at www.lineandlure.com. Folks, this product is good for all lines and I highly recommend it.
Until next time… God Bless!
EAST BAY
June should find me heading to East Matagorda Bay every day the conditions are favorable. The game plan will be wading reefs and tossing MirrOlures and Saltwater Assassins. We will likely mix it up a little by drifting some of the deeper mid-bay shell.
Just because you caught them last week or even yesterday, you still have to keep your eyes peeled for slicks, jumping mullet, and maybe a little bird activity. I ask everybody that gets on my boat to keep a sharp eye and help me find the signs. June also means we’re finally done with the mud for a while as most of our trout will be lurking on hard sand and shell bottoms.
Another area of interest to some of you diehards is night wading, especially around the time of the full moon. Generally speaking, 2-3 days before and after a full moon are the best times for this. I always use the same topwaters and Bass Assassins while night fishing that I use in my daylight trips. Some may be skeptical but I assure you that fish see the same whether night or day. Chunk a morning glory Bass Assassin at night and see for yourself. I have personally caught too many trout at night on plastics for anyone to tell me any different. All I can say is give it a try yourself and see what happens.
WEST BAY
Everybody that reads my column knows that East Matagorda is my favorite of the two wonderful bays that lie right out my back door. But when it comes to early summer fishing, I’d have to say that anyone who passes West Bay may also pass on some of the best trout and redfish action on the Texas coast. When I decide it’s time for a change of scenery or the nagging wind blows me out of East Bay, I’ll head towards the guts and grassbeds of the south shoreline and I’ll be using the same lures as in East Matagorda Bay. I’ll be fishing an incoming tide and, believe you me, I will be checking my territory for sharks and sting rays. There are thousands of sting rays in West Matagorda Bay and my faithful ForEverLast sting ray guards will be in place.
Anywhere from the Cullen Houses down to Airport Flats should be considered prime country and look for the presence of finger mullet to indicate choicest areas. Back lakes like Crab Lake and Oyster Lake should also be holding a few redfish. I like drifting Oyster Lake, usually out in the middle, and making long drifts, 1/4 to 1/2 mile in length, while throwing She Dogs. I have found this to be very productive at times.
Since Texas Parks & Wildlife initiated a 3 fish and 18 inch limit on tripletail, I’m a little bit more relaxed with taking people tripletail fishing. In the past, I have purposefully kept the secret because these are some of the best eating fish around and the vultures as I like to call them simply weren’t too polite, nor did they show much respect for the resource. For the first time in several years I plan to begin booking a few tripletail trips.
I’ll never forget the time I took a good friend of mine from Bellville, Steve Pawlowski, on a tripletail trip. As I mentioned I had not been booking tripletail trips and I wouldn’t take just anybody. Steve takes me hunting for axis deer every year so I made an exception for him. Well, he was fishing the Oilman’s Tournament that year and wanted to enter for tripletail so I showed him some spots and how to do it the day before the tournament. Steve ended up in first place, second, and only a few ounces out of third. One of Steve’s tripletail weighed in at 27.5 pounds. Not too bad for a novice; I’d say.
About three months ago Shimano gave me two Citica 100DSV reels to try. The only maintenance they received was wiping every day with a damp rag. I did not oil them at all as the test was to see how well and how long they would stand up in saltwater. I did, however, spray Line and Lure Line Conditioner - Saltwater Formula on the spools and tried to limit it to that area only. I use Power Pro braided line and the lengths of the casts I was making with them when new was excellent. To make a long story short — I just recently sent these two reels back to Shimano because I could no longer make long casts with them. Bottom line to the story is for a price tag of only $119 you’ll get yourself a great reel that requires minimal maintenance and holds up very well. Great bang for the buck!
It’s quite possible that the line conditioner I use helped and I can tell you honestly that this line conditioner is the best I have tried, especially for braided line. I can attest that you will be able to cast at least 15-20 yards further with your braided line when this product is applied. Mike Grigar at Johnny’s Sport Shop over in Eagle Lake handles this product and, as far as I know, is the only retail outlet around the area for this line conditioner. Otherwise, you can go online at www.lineandlure.com. Folks, this product is good for all lines and I highly recommend it.
Until next time… God Bless!