Corpusfishing.com

[gulftrout]

My first experience fishing "Hobo Creek" was back in December of 1973, 40 years ago. That first trip I can remember catching a cooler full of specks while freezing to death hiding behind the South wall of the Garrett Fuel Dock. With the wind blowing a gale, you could hide behind that old blue metal building, only coming out to the east side of the building, to make a long cast straight down wind, into the darkness. Back then I always used a tandem worm rig similar to a speck rig, that I made myself. I remember buying 1/8 oz. red jig heads and using a split tailed beetle in green or pink. I usually used these colors during the day. My favorite rig at night was a white glow worm in front with a red shrimp tail trailer made by a commercial rod and reel fisherman in Aransas Pass named Slim Nichols. Slim Nichols also made a tandem rig of small 2" glow worms with tiny jig heads he called, "Slim's Fly." While fishing the summer before on the wooden Horace Caldwell Pier another 'Old Salt" named Slim Guffey told me, "When it gets so cold in Houston that road's start to freeze, head to Aransas Pass and I'll meet you at Conn Brown Harbor.

[gulftrout]

Every winter, when it gets down close to freezing I think back on those fun times I had through the 70's. I would usually head over to Conn Brown Harbor after dark and sometimes stay until daylight the next day, if the fishing had been good to sell my catch. The first two winters after moving here in 1978 were without a doubt the best. There were a small group of commercial fishermen that fished the harbor those two years and I will never forget the tales those old guys told throughout the night. I was the only young guy there, all the others were in their 60's or older and loved to tell stories. Besides Slim Nichols and Slim Guffey, the other two that I remember were Johnny Howell and my favorite, a guy they called "Shakus." A good night's catch back then was around 50lbs. of trout and occasionally a catch close to 100 lbs. on a really hard cold front. The fishing during the winter really dropped off around the harbor once the channels for the housing subdivision across the highway were dredged out sometime during the 80's.

[gulftrout]

With the cold weather we had the last couple weeks, I started thinking about how things were back then, but never could get myself out during the worst of it. One cold afternoon I gave "Fast Action Mike" a call to see what he had been catching. He said nothing, but that he was leaving Port Aransas and headed toward Aransas Pass to give Hobo Channel a try. I said if he had an extra rod I would make a few cast's. Well, for 30 minutes you could not hardly go without catching a "School Trout every cast. All but a couple were to small for today's regulations, but back in the 70's most would have made the 12" size limit for commercial fisherman. I guess when you really think about it, the fishing hasn't changed that much in all these years.

[cuzn dave]

Took a couple seconds to recognize the "live well"
Great story and report as always, Danny.
Thanks.
_________________
"If we don't leave any, there won't be any."
Capt. Billy
"Enjoy every sandwich" Warren Zevon

[ratherbefishing]

Does Goodyear make the best?

Good story and memories, GT....
_________________

[Fishing bum]

Awesome story gt and love the live well.
_________________
hang on its going to be a bumpy ride

[lifeaquatic]

I always enjoy a fishing story. Thanks for another good one.