Corpusfishing.com

[Prof. Salt]

The boss reminded me that I am carrying too many vacation hours and that I needed to burn some. At the end of summer only a limited amount of vacation time can roll over into the new year, so you "use it or lose it". With that on my mind, I noticed that Wednesday morning featured decent North winds and no rain. Tides were low-ish, so I went looking for fish in Copano. With the backward wind, my usual protected shoreline where I begin at daylight was choppy, but I started there anyway because it's shallow and features a few drains that hold fish. At the first drain I saw a blow-up as I approached. The fish was holding right on the shoulder of the little drain and hunting back and forth along the grass edge. I guess shrimp were being swept out and jumping into the grass. My lure hit the dry grass and as I pulled it into the water it got whacked. The red was only 14" but it was a start. The next drain had a few fish hunting, but the first fish to hit the lure missed it and spooked the others - so I moved on. At the very top of one lake there is a drain that I can't quite reach as I push through the mud. But by staying in the deeper parts where the rudder wasn't scraping in the mud, I was able to sneak within 20 feet of a red feeding in the open water. He swiped at a bait and I got set up to cast, waiting for him to become visible again. At this depth, I only get one cast and I needed it to be on target. Sure enough, the fish began leaving a faint wake as it moved to the next clump of algae, and my cast got his attention. This one ripped drag and alerted all the fish in the cove as it thrashed around. At 30" it was released and I headed to the next cove. On the way I was slowly drifting and looking because that particular shoreline usually has at least one hunting fish. As I drifted along, I noticed a submerged red pass right under the blade of my paddle headed where I had been. I couldn't move until it passed, but I eased the kayak sideways and watched. Fifteen feet away he swerved toward the reeds and I could see his wake and tell where the fish was. The lure landed ahead and past the fish, and as I pulled it past the fish turned and followed. I paused and the fish paused. I moved the lure and the red moved. Pause resulted in another pause. I let it sit for several seconds and when I moved again it got whacked. This one was 22 but was good enough for dinner. At the next cove I spotted a nice red feeding completely exposed along some reeds. It was out of range and as I quietly scooted closer I just prayed that the fish would stay visible ...and it did. There was a cross breeze so casting accurately was tough. On the first cast the fish was on the other side of a reed and it didn't even know the lure was there. Second cast landed closer to the fish and it immediately turned to look. I moved and the fish moved. I paused and he paused. I waited... and when I moved again the red hit hard. The other fish that were in slightly deeper water all scattered, but I brought a lovely upper slot aboard. On the opposite shoreline I noticed a black drum ahead. Every 20 seconds or so his tail would poke above the surface so I got close and waited. I put the lure just beyond the fish's head and very slowly crawled it back my way. The fish turned to follow but would not eat. We played the pause and move game all the way to the rod tip. Then I tried bobbing up and down a bit, but the fish finally spooked. In another part of the lake system I found another drum and I got the exact same reaction from that one too. Weird. As I entered one of the last lakes, it was choppy and fish were not visible. By chance I big red slashed a bait in the submerged grass just 15 feet away. I put both feet out and held the kayak still and waited. The fish circled around and surfed right up onto the grass and stopped. Talk about a gift! I could see the entire fish sitting there, and when he saw the bait pass his nose, he did not disappoint! This one was exactly 28" and went in to complete my limit. There was another redfish in there somewhere that I don't remember but there are photos, so I will include it. I guess that's the downside of a 4:30 wakeup and working while tired.

[awesum]

Good stuff Glenn!