| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Saltyhook Shark Wrangler
Joined: 10 Aug 2004 Posts: 12 Location: Austin Tx.
|
Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 5:15 pm Post subject: Fishing with a Living Legend. |
|
|
Ralph Wade turned 82 years young last week, doing the same thing as he has for the past 50 years - catching trout-"Big trout"-on the beach.
As my son and I go through the ranger station the lady says theres a message from Ralph , that he will wait for us in the 30's. Thats great news. So we hit the beach, conditions look good. Stop & net us a few mullet, stop again under the birds to play with the lady fish and spanish macs.They were so thick, we couldn't keep the fish off our hooks. As we past through high banks we see many deep good looking holes that I would have normally stopped & fished, but the sun was falling fast & the race was on to catch up with Ralph. Later reports from Kcon and others verify that reds were thick in this area but few Trout.
My son and I were grinning ear to ear to see our dear friend & birthdayboy putting his first Trout in the box as we pulled up around the 30 something mile marker on Pinns. It was about 6PM & once again this master fisherman had found one of thoughs almost non descript spots amongst 60 miles of fishing water that held Trout. Best I could describe it was a small washout on the north side of a point from the beach. So as usual we are free lining mullet in this small pool, and the wind blows in our faces strong enough to make not backlashing a challenge. About an hour passes & the tide has ebed, the sun is near gone, and bite has stopped, with my 3 small trout to Ralph's 5 large trout.
We make camp. Share a good supper, good laughs, and pleanty of that Ralph logic as Nickaway calls it. We go to bed with thoughts of Ralphs last words " The Trout will be back at sunrise." And he was right, he was up at 5am & before I can catch live mullet in the net he has already put 2 more large Trout in the box. Then the wind begin to howl & its all over with for this trip. Final count 2 slot reds and 3 trout for me and my son, with 1 red and 7 large trout in Ralphs box.
This is one of the many examples that explain why we call Ralph a Living Legend.
 |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
cjlandry Horse Mullet

Joined: 07 Sep 2004 Posts: 279 Location: Corpus Christi, TX
|
Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 5:40 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Very cool!
Is that his Suburban? Cool truck too.  _________________ Chad Landry
"Whiskey for my men, and beer for my horses" |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Saltyhook Shark Wrangler
Joined: 10 Aug 2004 Posts: 12 Location: Austin Tx.
|
Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 7:23 pm Post subject: |
|
|
No, Ralph drives a new Toyota Tundra. The 1960 saburban is our beach buggy. Full size air matress fits in the back, just right for sleeping on the beach. It has a 3/4 ton drive train and a 350 motor. Dont ask about the rust and the thousands of hours of maintnence, it has been a 15 year labor of love, that serves our island expeditions needs quite well. _________________ Futher on down the beach,
Saltyhook |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
kostya Mud Minnow

Joined: 10 Aug 2004 Posts: 30 Location: Austin
|
Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2004 5:50 am Post subject: |
|
|
Saltyhook,
Great report! I had 2 quick question. First, what size mullet do you use for trout? (what's too big, and what's too small?) And second, what kind of rig/hook is used for free-lining? Is there any weight at all? What size main line / leader?
thanx!
kostya |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Saltyhook Shark Wrangler
Joined: 10 Aug 2004 Posts: 12 Location: Austin Tx.
|
Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2004 10:28 am Post subject: |
|
|
Freelining is usually with out weight, although some times to strong a wind are current will make a small split shot necessary. Just the wt. of a good finger mullet 4 to 7 in. long in general, with an abu 5500 or simlar seize reel loaded with 12 to 15 lb. main line attached to a small barell swivel, and a 30 lb. bite leader ( 12 to 18 in.) attached to a hook. Small live whiting or perch will also work. There have been quite a few 25 in. trout found dead with a 20in. or larger mullet stuck in ther throats... so you proably cant use to lg a bait..Good luck. _________________ Futher on down the beach,
Saltyhook |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Mudshark Mud Minnow

Joined: 06 Oct 2004 Posts: 41 Location: Midland, Tx
|
Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2004 11:21 am Post subject: Happy Belated Ralph |
|
|
Hey Salty great report! If you talk to Ralph tell him Craig from Midland will be on the beach the last week of Oct. and the first week of Nov. and that I said Happy Birthday! Thanks
Craig _________________ Craig Harris
During times of madness only the sane man stands alone and unheard! |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
GoinCoastal Horse Mullet

Joined: 10 Aug 2004 Posts: 245 Location: Austin
|
Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2004 1:28 pm Post subject: |
|
|
In Ralph's honor.....
I no longer refer to large female trout as SOW Trout or Hog Trout. Since Ralph always seems to find the big trout, I now call them "Ralph Trout"!
SO has anyone other than Mr Ralph caught any Ralph Trout lately???? _________________ GoinCoastal aka Cap'nSherbet |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Old salt Finger Mullet
Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Posts: 75
|
Posted: Thu Oct 14, 2004 10:31 am Post subject: |
|
|
Hey Redfish Joe (aka Saltyhook). Ralph, Oz and I went down Tuesday 10/12 and the same thing happened to us. As always, Ralph knew EXACTLY where the fish were and when they would be there.
We got 8 slot reds, 2 oversize reds (released), and 6 trout. Ralph caught most of them.
Scott Nelson (aka Old salt) |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Kyle aka Kcon Tarpon King

Joined: 12 Sep 2004 Posts: 208
|
Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2004 12:23 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Hey Salty Hook, I'm sure glad to see that old 'bourb on the beach again.(after the big sink/sunk) That's the classiest ride on PINS.........Kyle |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Saltyhook Shark Wrangler
Joined: 10 Aug 2004 Posts: 12 Location: Austin Tx.
|
Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2004 7:37 am Post subject: |
|
|
Thank,s Kyle. It's sure good to be back. I think you will like the conversion we did on the carry all we purchased fom you; made a neat rod rack and live bait well holder. _________________ Futher on down the beach,
Saltyhook |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
cjlandry Horse Mullet

Joined: 07 Sep 2004 Posts: 279 Location: Corpus Christi, TX
|
Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2004 12:36 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Man, I'd kill for a truck like that!
If you ever need anyone taken out and want to get rid of the truck, look me up.
(I'm required to drive around in my company truck, a white '04 F150. On call 24/7, so I always gotta keep the service truck with me.) |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Kyle aka Kcon Tarpon King

Joined: 12 Sep 2004 Posts: 208
|
Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2004 7:42 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| PICS! Salty! PICS!!!! |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
|