25
inches/6 pounds on a slow retrieved soft plastic.
It felt like a log with wheels.
A
Day's Texas Slam Catch for Mark Drackert's Bunch.
October
27, 2007-Big
change occurred this week on the coastal waters of
Texas.
Last
week's report was all about the high tides. This week
was a different story.
High
north winds and a brisk cold front knocked down tides
to their knees and literally dropped tides about 3-4
feet.
Bird
activity picked up for those interested in working
birds. And the crowds followed. In fact, I counted
14 boats on one group of gulls saturday morning. WOW...
Fishing
this week was very exciting. Flounder jumped into
the mix...and big ones at that! Big trout showed up
again and what we experienced was at times spotty
fishing. In some areas fishing was slower and others
were extremely productive!
Plenty
of options this fall!
....On
Friday, Mark Drackert joined me in East Bay. The guys
chose to wade to start their trip. Good choice! Slicks
were popping as soon as we arrived. The fish had been
feeding all night under the full moon. Topwater plugs
were walked and fooled a couple of specks and the
release of a 26 inch trout kicked off the day.
We
drifted protected waters when the wind picked up out
of the northeast. We left the crowded drifting areas
and went to some calmer sheltered water in West Bay
to box 10 trout, 5 flounder, and one redfish. The
highlight for ME was catching a 25 inch flounder that
stretched the boga to six pounds. It was a saddle
blanket and felt like a log with wheels. The guys
had a great time and were a hoot to fish with.
Saturday,
was opposite. I had drifters that were bunked up at
the Full Stringer Lodge . We started off drifting
birds in East Bay to get swamped by dozens of other
boats. Went back to the same area as the day before
to box a handful of specks.
Minnesota
resident, Scott Drackert and a cruising flounder!
An
early morning 26 inch speck on a black/chartreuse
topwater.
--------------------------------
October
20, 2007-High tides still have us on our toes. With the
upcoming big front and strong outgoing tides, things are
changing fast.
I
went to East Bay on Friday and released a 27 inch/6 pound
trout and managed a couple of trout to four pounds and a
red before 20+ mph East winds mixed up the bay into a chocolate
shake. We then started drifting and caught big and small
redfish along with scattered specks.
Saturday,
winds calmed compared to Friday's heavy gusts but soon picked
fired back up. Royce Mitchell and Terry Hancock of Brownwood,
Tx jumped aboard and we veered West. While wading in knee
to shin deep water, the three of us caught fish on our first
two wades but the bite slowed as the wind picked up. She-dog
topwaters and bone/chartreuse Brown Lure devil eyes below
corks worked for four redfish to 27 and six trout to 19
inches.
Terry's
second fish EVER in saltwater was a drag-peeling machine!!
A 27 inch red gave him plenty of fun. Royce put the hammer
on specks and reds.
October
13, 2007-I fished a little less this week but did make a
trip to West Matagorda Bay.
Tides
are still high-actually about 2 feet higher than normal.
Friday, my charter and I fished in the Matagorda TroutBlaster's
Tournament. Our first stop provided triple hook ups with
rat reds using she-dogs.
We
continued to wade the outgoing tide at the mouths of shoreline
cuts using topwater plugs and the blowups continued. East
winds started cranking and we bumped a little further down
the shore to protected water.
We
piled out again tossing she-dogs. Like clockwork, as soon
as the tide started moving again, we caught fish.
The
highlight of the morning was when Richard caught his first
trout on topwater. When I first told his group to strap
on topwaters. He asked which one I recommended. I handed
him my faithful black and chartreuse she-dog that was chewed
up like a dog bone. I should have handed him my raincoat
as well. Richard got soaked when the first trout exploded
on his plug! He was reeling it in when the speck crushed
it about a foot away. A rip on the drag followed and casts
later, another healthy speck attacked.
We
ventured into an ICW backlake and saw three large schools
of reds busting baitfish. The water was shallow above bottomless
mud and shell. After several attempts to reach them, the
reds continued to bump further upwind within the narrow
bayou. It was a thrill to experience the frenzy feeding,
but we unfortunatly never got within casting range before
we it was time to return to the harbor.
We
continue to see changes. Blasting winds limited our choices
but the trip was very fun!
---------------------
October
6, 2007
Another
week in the books. With warm weather still present, the
same summertime haunts and approaches are still producing
fish. I'm all grins knowing mornings are becoming cooler,
drifting is getting better and there is much to look forward
to.
The
high tides still exist and are holding fish in backlakes
and especially on flats adjacent to deep water. Though wading
midbay structure is out of the question with the tides,
drifting the same areas you normally wade will likely produce
some fish. On the shorelines, fish are schooling but early
mornings and late afternoons are the best options before
the heat pushes them deep.
Light
winds have kept clarity in East and West Bay to be beautiful
in most areas. As far as lure selection goes, black/chartreuse
and plum/chartreuse Brown Lures stay on the line unless
a topwater plug draws the strikes.
In
other news, the yahoo's are out. Groups of working gulls
can expect to be greeted by a screaming outboard. In the
past, crowds have seemed respectful and tolerable. However
it can get rediculous when you are lucky enough to have
a group of gulls move into your wade and then have a boat
shut-off merely yards away and send every fish swimming
for their lives. No sweat. It is just fishing right?
Luckily
for those looking for big trout and quality wading, fall
in East Matagorda Bay is a good time. The numbers game sends
many of the shoreline crowd scoping for gulls.
Here
is a short clip-an afternoon drift turned up a speck with
a mad attitude. The blowup and pull was equal to that of
a sow trout. I was suprised when I saw its size.
More
pictures soon-New Camera on the way!
---------------------------------------------
Oct.
1, 2007
Here
is a video from last winter featuring 2 Trophy Specks to
29 inches caught on back to back casts. It goes to show
you, wading for several hours without a BIG bite does not
determine a big bite isn't available. I'm videoing a pig
getting reeled in while I have a sow on the line as well.
-------------------------------------------
Sept.
24, 2007
Well
as you can see, no pictures this week!! Yes we did spank
some trout and redfish, however, my camera tragically ended
up in the drink. The camera slipped out of my pocket while
drifting, bounced on a cushion, and SPLOOPSH!..in the water.
I even went swimming for it with no luck.
I
had a few highlights this week. One was during a solo trip
when I caught four specks between 20-25 inches and a redfish
all before the bite called it quits at 8:30 a.m.. You should
have seen a four-pounder jump four feet out of the water
with my plug in her mouth. It was indescribable and the
trout possessed the antics of a tarpon.
Another
trip was with Travis Elliot and his group. Travis was actually
featured on the cover of Gulf Coast Connections in August
about two years ago when he fished with me down in Port
Mansfield.
We
left early before the sun even thought about coming up.
I wanted to put them on some of the big trout action I found
during my solo trip. We arrived and started our wade. Two
of his buddies had never waded before and got the hang of
it in no time. We each lost a fish or landed one on the
wade before we decided to make some drifts. However the
morning was not close to my wade I had the day before so
we left the oyster shell covered bottom we were wading and
went to the deeper stuff.
Second
drift, we caught ten nice fish and released some that were
a hair undersized. Plum/Chart Brown Lures kept the bites
coming. A few sand trout that measured over 15 inches greeted
us as well with fun pulls. East Matagorda Bay's clarity
was improving and continued to clear as the week's winds
stayed light. On our next drift, the wind became nonexistent
and we soon felt like we were anchored in a pond-we were
not moving or "drifting" by any means.
Temps
are cooling and fishing is looking very promising for upcoming
weeks. Bait is loaded in the marsh and it will get pounded
by schooling speckled trout and redfish in no time.
I'm
taking donations for a new digital camera as well. I accept
paypal, credit, or you can mail a check to my home address!
;)
In
other news, we are kicking off the Texas State University
CCA Chapter again this week and planning for another successful
banquet and perhaps a few fall fishing trips.
September
16, 2007-Water is significantly cooler than it has been
in previous weeks. I think it is safe to say that these
small fronts are making wades much more comfortable.
This
week was a thrill and all about fishing for trophy trout.
Wades consisted of numerous fights with quality specks to
7lbs. and big & bad redfish.
Conditions
twisted up on one trip this week. We still caught schooling
redfish and trout in water that looked no clearer than chocolate
milk (don't believe me? check out above picture).
It
is getting to be the time that I enjoy fishing the most...get
in the waders and lets go pluggin'.
Hunting
season is back again. Don't confuse those gun shots with
trout slurps.
September
2, 2007-If you can catch a time when heavy rains and lightning
aren't creeping up on you, chances are the fish will bite.
We
jumped in the surf during a time that I thought we were
in the eye of the storm as thunderstorms circled us. Straight
up looked clear and stayed so for over a couple hours. Surprisingly
the surf was slow-the first time it looked good and was
tough fishing in weeks.
Other
stops were for shallow wades. We made wades that cause you
to think back and wish someone who has never fished before
could experience something like it.
Often
we would wade and just wait. Standing still in shin deep
water over a hard bottom, gangs of 28-30+ inch redfish bulldozed
and pushed a wall of water at us on several occurances.
I'm
not even about to describe the sight of a super spook getting
blown up by oversized reds that are literally fighting over
your lure....it is a fiasco!
If
the reds weren't steamrolling us, we made casts to popping
shrimp and caught trout to 3 pounds.
Some
nicer weather sure would make some more delightful pictures!
Just
a reminder, it is time to renew your Texas Fishing License.
August
27, 2007-We got 7th in the
artificial division at the 2nd Annual
Fish Jam Tournament in Port O'Connor with
close to 19 pounds.
After
prefishing numerous spots for a few days before the tournament,
we found out on Friday's prefishing trip that the high tides
were not keeping fish in any one particular spot. We caught
redfish to 9 1/2 pounds and trout to 5 pounds but the fish
were, without a doubt, scattered.
Saturday
was tournament day and we started off looking for big trout
and actually got into some nice redfish. Each of us caught
close to our limit of redfish over 5 pounds. We failed to
pound out a sow trout until we hit our next spot over a
mix of sand and grass.
We
had 5 bites and 2 trout were over 3 pounds. Our next bite
came within the last hour of fishing. Easily a 4-5 pound
trout, I lost it after a line was accidently crossed. My
partner nearly netted the fish just as the lure snagged
the net pulling the fish free. Tough stuff...it would have
put Team Brown Lures likely in 2nd or 3rd place.
Team
Brown Lures will be back to compete next year!
Lucked
out again! It's great to see the coast was much
more prepared. In route to San Marcos I passed about
200+ school buses returning back to North Texas
that were staged in south texas to prepare for a
potential evacuation.
I'm
taking this weekend off to participate in the 2nd
Annual Steve Coffman Fish Jam in Port O'Connor!
August
11-13,2007-No longer a grind here in Matagorda. Redfish
have bit steadily and become more predictable on grassy
shoreline. We have literally passed up schools of redfish
the size of swimming pools on the way to catch trout...its
not a norm, but the trout bite has been too fun to pass
up.
The weekend crowds have been the worst I have ever seen
and the bite has been quick in the morning and really picking
back up around 11 (when most people-especially those in
the boat-are drenched in sweat and ready to pack it up).
Highlights
have ranged from chunking topwaters for over two hours to
fat football-sized speckled trout-releasing about 30 apiece-
to following it up by getting plowed over by schools of
28 inch caliber redfish. Several trips have just got stupid
where we caught trout and redfish every cast for hours-ALL
ON TOPWATERS!!!!!
Sharks
haven't toyed around with our stringers but they have bit
the end of our lines plenty. Along with them, numbers of
bluefish, spanish macks, and even a pelican and sea turtle
have smacked our plugs.
Spent
a few days on the Frio River this week. Boy was it relaxing
and crowds were nonexistent...wish I could say the same
about the coast!! ;)
Plenty
of dates late August and on....if you crave some wadefishing
and some topwater action, shoot me an e-mail or give me
a call (979-240-9999)
Off
to Mansfield for a few days-should be some good reports
to come!
August
4, 2007-Fishing still great. Hit that surf while you still
can! I'm actually on my way out the door. For those that
e-mailed me with interest in Laguna
Rods, (visit this page)
or Brown Lures (visit
this page).
August
1, 2007-Finally! The wind and weather is starting to stabilize.
Of course we are feeling the full effects of summer heat,
but the fishing is picking up.
When
wading we are seeing bigger trout and more numbers. Winds
look to allow us back in the surf in the next couple of
days.
East
Matagorda has been my main focus lately. Wading has produced
much better size and numbers, however, when we can find
the fish biting really good the bird activity has been excellent.
Topwater
activity a little slower in the past few days. Plum/Chart
Brown Lures and 1/8 ounce jig heads.
Still
have some days in August! Book your trips for September
and October today!
July
25, 2007-Here is an update on how fishing has been playing
out in recent days.
The
surf has stayed light for us for the last four days. Quick
limits have been routine with a few trophy trout and redfish
lurking for some folks. Pitching black and chartreuse she-dogs
beneath bird activity or above bait activity has worked
to fool specks in the surf and over mud in East Matagorda
Bay.
Bone Spooks and plum/chartreuse Brown Lure tails are prime
picks while wading in East. The morning bite has been awesome
over there but it hasn't lasted long for us artificial guys
before the temperatures rise
I don't think I have ever seen so many shrimp getting blown
out of the water by attacking trout in one week.
Drifting East Matty has been a hit or miss with some days
allowing only a few trout with scattered small ones in the
mix.
In West Bay, water is clearing up closer....perhaps we won't
have to drive and wait at the ICW locks as long.
A
meeting to ban croaker takes place over here today...should
be interesting stuff. Looking forward to pursuing some trophy
trout and getting out of this heat!
Late
July '07 to Present June '07-Mid July
'07 May '07-January '07
All
rights reserved. All contents are property of Kyle Tomek.
October
13, 2007-I fished a little less this week but did make a
trip to West Matagorda Bay. 
October
6, 2007
Light
winds have kept clarity in East and West Bay to be beautiful
in most areas. As far as lure selection goes, 
