Day After Thanks

One more trip to Evans Lake was in store before the weekend.

Here is the photo documentary:

Mississippi Kite



Black Angus


One on the Wall


Catch N' Release


Flash Fish


Last Cast

Thanksgiving at Palacios

Everybody declined my offer to take a ride to Palacios looking for night time speckled trout. Something about the north wind blowing and the temps dropping into the 40's...

Go figure.

That is just the combination that brings the larger specks into the bay and up under the lights to feed.

I arrived at the pier at 7pm and there were several fishermen out on this holiday evening with the same idea as me. I heard a lot of, "You should have been here yesterday," from the locals. They said the bite was hot just ahead of the cold front. We saw the leading edge of the front at about 7pm in Needville so I guess things can change a lot in 24 hours.

I was getting outfished by everyone on the pier. My confidence bait, the Texas Tackle Factory double shad rig was doing OK and my go-to bait for trout off the sea wall, the TTF Little Spec Killer caught a couple, but the color that seemed to be best was anything small and chartreuse.

I was travelling light and had left my usual arsenal of small stuff at home so I had to make do with what I had.

"Dance with the one that brought you," so to speak.

A couple of keepers had been landed before I arrived but they were just barely legal. I caught several in the 14' to 14 7/8" range and a few sandys but couldn't connect with anything over 15".

I did manage to snap a shot of this pretty speck:

I saw my friend Tony from Pearland fishing with live finger mullet and having about the same luck as me. He said there were some nice trout caught off the wall in front of the Baptist Encampment just before dark along with a couple fat reds, one of which was currently in his cooler. He also told of some folks who had caught several sheepshead on shrimp along the seawall before dark as well.

I hooked something big enough to straighten out one of the 1/16 oz jigheads on the double shad rig - most likely a flounder, and lost a couple of trout that might have made the stringer, but at 10:30 I rolled everything up and headed for home to make my agreed upon curfew of midnight.

As I was thinking about all the good fish that would be caught by those that stayed, it started raining. Sometimes there is wisdom in making it a short night!

Thanks to a loving wife who keeps me from losing all good judgement - which I am prone to do when it comes to fishing.

Proverbs 12:15

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.

Give Thanks

It's the day before Thanksgiving and though the ground ain't muddy, folks are taking a break before supper and Bible study.

I haven't been able to frequent Evans Lake as much as I would like to so this was my chance! I had a couple of hours to test my skills against the wily bass and I intended on getting in some practice on the Revo baitcaster.

I still find the spinning reels more comfortable but I want to improve my confidence in both.

The lake has healthy weed growth which provides great cover for bait and bass.

I tagged this small fish on the first cast - always a good sign!

The BGW is still effective. I had recently switched from 15lb Suffix mono to 14lb Fireline on the Revo.

I was facing into the wind and quickly realized that I needed to move to where I could cast downwind or I would end up with a major league backlash.

I skirted around the edge and found "green gold" along the weedline.

As I continued along the shoreline I caught several nice fish...

Handful of Fish


Eye-to Eye


Back to Fight Another Day

...and a few more small ones too.

Future Lunker

I found a few nice fat ones as I approached the swimming area. The concrete wall is like a magnet for minnows and baby bluegill and the bigger bass tend to frequent this area looking for a free meal.

Healthy Bass


Along the Wall


Flying Fish

Many of the remaining fish were caught in an opening in the weeds just off the shoreline.

Cruising Lane


Scrappy Fighter


Sunbeams from Heaven

Here is a short video of some bass action. Just click the button and the video will play in the embedded mini player.

I didn't stay until sundown as the dinner bell was ringing but with an approaching cold front the clouds were putting on a real show.

Approaching Thunderheads

Psalm 104:1-3

Bless the LORD, O my soul!
O LORD my God, You are very great;
You are clothed with splendor and majesty,

Covering Yourself with light as with a cloak,
Stretching out heaven like a tent curtain.

He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters;
He makes the clouds His chariot...

Texas Sleigh Ride

I got to witness a fisherman's dream this weekend.

Sometimes it's just as exciting watching a friend catch the big ones as it is to catch them yourself. Troy and I decided to paddle in to McNab Lake on Friday morning to chase redfish before heading to Sargent for the annual elders' and preachers' retreat. Last year, a cold front blew in but this morning promised to be cool with warming throughout the day.

We launched a little later than normal but were greeted by a beautiful day to paddle through the marsh.

Troy at the Launch


Watery Highway

We jumped some fish on the way in but didn't go "on-line" until a little later.

Troy Scored First with a Flounder

On the east end of the lake we finally found some hungry reds and Troy hooked up on a nice 23 incher. The video below demonstrates the Texas Sleigh ride!

These fish are strong fighters and can pull you backwards and forwards!


Troy & a Nice Slot Red

A short paddle into the slough yielded me this rat red.

Triple Spot

Troy connected one more time and landed another keeper red.

Red #2 Back at the Launch


Happy Fisherman

We both had a great day at McNab and were uplifted and inspired by the beauty and majesty of God's creation.

This is a great way to prepare for a retreat!

Genesis 1:26
Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."

I'll Fly Away

This weekend Tracy and I took a short trip to the Texas Hill Country to visit the Wool & Fiber festival Kid 'N Ewe and Llamas too.

One of the attractions for me is this couple from north texas playing the guitar and dulcimer.

Blue Ridge

No fishing in this post

I had a busy week of travelling - first to Salt Lake City on Sunday and then to Virginia for a meeting at the Wintergreen Resort. This facility is just off the Blue Ridge Parkway so on my return to the airport I took the scenic route and caught some early morning pictures.

Wednesday morning at Wintergreen


Blue Ridge Morning


Thursday Morning Sunrise


Fire in The Sky at Rockfish Gap


Through the Windshield


Looking for Acorns


A Bend in The Road


Valley Pond


Wary Whitetail


Scarlet Glory


Many Colors

I did stop in Rhodes Fly Shop in Warrenton, VA and picked up a book describing good fly fishing streams in VA and some poppers for bass and panfish.

I guess that bit of info qualifies this as an appropriate post for this blog.

RV Karma

On Saturday, Tracy and I boarded the Research Vessel Karma for a two hour educational Discovery Cruise out of Matagorda Harbor.

Captain Tom Klaiber and Coastal Naturalist Doyle Schaer were our hosts and instructors. I think I could see myself with a nametag that read "Coastal Naturalist" one day!

Here are some of my pictures:

RV Karma

Matagorda Harbor


Deploying the Plankton Net


Hoisting in the Net - All Hands on Deck!


Mr. Doyle telling the kids "It's just like a lady's stocking"


He called the contents, "Matagorda Stew"


Baby Jellyfish


Looking at Diatoms under the microscope


Preparing the Clamshell Dredge


"Lower Away"


Looking at a mud worm under the scope


Dragging the trawl


Captain Tom gets some help with the winch


The bounty of the sea - shrimp, fish, & squid


Squid


Checking out the catch


Croaker


Barge traffic on the Intracoastal canal

Tracy has a good post on the Discovery Cruise as well.