Corpusfishing.com

[Prof. Salt]

With college classes out this week, it should be a good time to take a morning off here and there to look for fish. I like the theory anyway, so I decided the low winds this morning warranted a morning trip to pick on the fish. I got to the launch a little later than usual and it was already light enough that I could load the gear without a headlight. One kayak was already on the water, and as I launched, he matched my direction. After a few hundred yards I turned to intercept the fisherman. We talked for a second and he stated that he was planning to work the same shoreline as me, so rather than compete for the same fish I gave it up and headed on back to the far lakes. On my way I checked the non-protected shore with no luck. As I turned into the cut leading back into the lakes, I spied a fish working the grass. He was trying to be sneaky, but the very tip-top of his pectoral fin was breaking the surface as he moved in stealth mode. It only took one cast to sell him on the idea of eating the lure. We were off to a good start as the 25" fish came aboard and went into the bag. I straightened the lure out and began paddling back farther. The first lake had a few smaller fish, but it was so shallow I could not scoot through very well, so I just powered through the mud to the entrance that lead to the second lake. Once in the slough it got much deeper again, so I went back to sneaky speed and slowly moved farther in. I spotted another fish working the same direction I was going, and I took my time quietly closing the distance. One cast again produced a loud slurping strike, but the fish missed the lure as it came flying back toward me. I gathered my dignity and reminded myself to give the fish more time to eat. The fish wasn't upset and just thought he missed a treat as he resumed hunting. A few paddle strokes got me back into position and this time I let the bait move slowly into the fish's view. The strike was on target, and we danced as the fish pulled drag and headed back toward the bay. For a minute I wondered if the little 1000 Vanford was up to the task, but the fish tired and slowed down like they usually do. I worked it in and released the 29" fish.



As I neared the lake, already I could see a group of tails out in the middle and working to my left. I paddled ahead of them and put the lure where they would see it. One steady pull of the lure gave them all the encouragement needed to get hooked up again, with mud and foam flying loudly into the air. The school broke into three smaller groups and all three slowed down making them hard to track. I got this fish in, and at 31" it was a tank destined for release. It took a while for the fish to get going, but it finally swam off nicely. By the time I was ready again there was another school not far away, and when I got closer it appeared to be smaller fish. I'm not one to turn down fish, so I put the bait out front and BANG another fish inhaled the lure. This one went 21" and was sent back with the hopes of finding larger ones. The lake got quiet as the fish all sat still for a minute to see if the yahoo on the kayak would leave them alone. My time was limited, so rather than sit and wait for the fish to feed again, I headed out to continue searching. As I got to the protected bay shoreline I saw the other fisherman working back toward another area. He had already been past, so I turned the kayak toward the truck to see if he missed any fish along the shore. I don't know if he had missed them, but there were some feeding fish here and there. One had the sneak thing down and barely showed a ripple as he worked the grass shoreline. The tiny ripple was moving like a redfish, so I put the lure out front and it got slammed. This one was a solid fish and after several runs right through oyster shells I finally got it to the kayak. I continued on, and at one spot as I paddled around a big blob of exposed oyster shell, my paddle came down right on a huge sleeping redfish right beside the kayak. He let out that tell-tale redfish drum of BRRP BRRP! as he left me with just a mud cloud and a smile. As I got closer to the truck I was worried I might not find a third fish to keep, but on the last few small sections of shoreline I found a couple of small reds. Several spooked but one at the lure right on cue and came aboard at 20.5". At that point I was not going to turn him down. I hurried back home, changed clothes and got to the office in time to take care of today's pressing matters and meetings. It never stops at work, but when I can sneak out and fish in the morning it's all good.