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Redbreast, White Bass and Bluegill
#12131836
03/08/17 11:48 PM
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 563
1960texan
OP
Pro Angler
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OP
Pro Angler
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 563 |
I've heard that white bass are a whole lot of fun to catch this time of year and decided to see for myself. It was still dark when I pulled out of the driveway this morning to make the hour and a half trip to the Llano river, with dreams of feisty bass and a full stringer keeping me company on the long drive. I was surprised to see that the wildflowers are already blooming, and saw plenty of Indian Paintbrush and Bluebonnets on my way there. Today was the first time I fished the Llano, and although I didn't quite know what to expect I had high hopes for a good day. I walked up river for about a mile until I found a likely spot. I've recently started fly fishing, and the wind was so calm this morning I had no excuse not to get in at least a few hours of practice. I like to think that my casting has improved after today's session, but I still have a lot to learn as far as fishing with a fly rod. So after a couple of hours with no bites I walked back to the car to get my trusty spinning rig. This time I walked downstream for a couple of miles, looking for the deep pools where the white bass were supposed to be holding. In short order I caught three bluegill, one right after the other, the biggest of the bunch about the size of the palm of my hand. I moved downstream to the next hole and started pulling in redbreasts. After three or four of those, in varying sizes, I moved down to another hole and finally caught a white bass. It looked like a small male, no more than 8 or 9 inches long. He spit the hook at my feet, then swam back to his hole with a bad case of lockjaw. I think he told all of his buddies what the deal was, because that was my first and last white bass of the day. At this point I'd been on the river for six hours and was starting to feel like an old man, so I hiked back up stream, fishing on my way back to the car. A few miles later I could see the car and decided that old man or not, I wasn't too tired to make a few more casts. I threw my lure across the narrow stretch of water and let the force of the current carry it down stream. The river was clear enough to see this guy smash the lure. This was a good day to be outdoors. I didn't get the stringer full of white bass that I'd hoped for, but came home with a smile on my face anyway.
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Re: Redbreast, White Bass and Bluegill
[Re: 1960texan]
#12131851
03/09/17 12:06 AM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 835
psalty
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 835 |
Thank you so much for sharing an informative and pleasant entertaining journey of your day. What a real treat !!!
Matthew 4:19 Script-Lures by Psalty founder and directed by the Big Fisherman
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Re: Redbreast, White Bass and Bluegill
[Re: 1960texan]
#12131900
03/09/17 12:40 AM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,847
banker-always fishing
Pumpkin Head
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Pumpkin Head
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,847 |
Awesome Post Will! Good job.
IGFA World Record Rio Grande Cichlid. Lake Dunlap. John 3:16 Sinner's Prayer. God forgive me a sinner. I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior !
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Re: Redbreast, White Bass and Bluegill
[Re: 1960texan]
#12132113
03/09/17 02:33 AM
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Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,079
Wildman of the navidad
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,079 |
Nice fish its beautiful country out there were u fishing public or private
Psalm:91
Quote on the wildman" They Said he'd eat the hair off of a man's head when he was hungry and squeeze the water out of rocks when he was thirsty"
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Re: Redbreast, White Bass and Bluegill
[Re: psalty]
#12132275
03/09/17 03:41 AM
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 563
1960texan
OP
Pro Angler
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OP
Pro Angler
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 563 |
Thanks psalty, Chuck and Wildman for the kind words. Wildman, I was at Kingsland Slab RV, which is one of TPWDs lease access areas. I met a couple of fly fishermen there today, they didn't do any better than I did on the white bass, but had a friend call from Colorado Bend State Park saying that they were having good luck. I almost went to Colorado Bend instead of the Llano, but decided that white bass or not, the Llano would give me an extra two hours of fishing.
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Re: Redbreast, White Bass and Bluegill
[Re: 1960texan]
#12132346
03/09/17 04:21 AM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 19,077
Laker One
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 19,077 |
Great post. Love that part of Texas. I kayaked the Llano last year. Had a blast!
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Re: Redbreast, White Bass and Bluegill
[Re: Laker One]
#12134215
03/10/17 04:13 AM
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 563
1960texan
OP
Pro Angler
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OP
Pro Angler
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 563 |
Thanks Laker! I've been thinking about getting a Kayak myself, but haven't pulled the trigger yet. On the one hand I love hiking to a secluded spot and doing a little wade fishing, but on the other hand I know that a kayak will open up a lot more water for me.
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Re: Redbreast, White Bass and Bluegill
[Re: 1960texan]
#12136023
03/11/17 12:34 PM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 19,077
Laker One
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 19,077 |
Academy will usually have a sale on all their kayaks in late August. You can get a pretty good deal.
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Re: Redbreast, White Bass and Bluegill
[Re: 1960texan]
#12136087
03/11/17 01:37 PM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 17,625
Gitter Done
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 17,625 |
Great post. What type of lure were you using?
Side note. I fished the Llano River two weeks ago around Llano. Did well on the White Bass. They should be spawning by now.
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Re: Redbreast, White Bass and Bluegill
[Re: Gitter Done]
#12136483
03/11/17 08:35 PM
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 563
1960texan
OP
Pro Angler
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OP
Pro Angler
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 563 |
Great post. What type of lure were you using?
Side note. I fished the Llano River two weeks ago around Llano. Did well on the White Bass. They should be spawning by now. Thanks! On the fly rod I was using a white wooly bugger, as the fly shop was out of clousers. When I switched to the spinning rod I caught a few on a black and yellow panther martin with a gold blade, then switched to a black rooster tail with a silver blade. Had the most luck on the rooster tail. It's become a real "confidence bait" for me.
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Re: Redbreast, White Bass and Bluegill
[Re: Laker One]
#12136485
03/11/17 08:36 PM
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 563
1960texan
OP
Pro Angler
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OP
Pro Angler
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 563 |
Academy will usually have a sale on all their kayaks in late August. You can get a pretty good deal. Do you have any recommendations as far as make and model? Will be using it almost exclusively for fresh water.
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Re: Redbreast, White Bass and Bluegill
[Re: 1960texan]
#12136697
03/12/17 12:29 AM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 17,625
Gitter Done
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 17,625 |
Great post. What type of lure were you using?
Side note. I fished the Llano River two weeks ago around Llano. Did well on the White Bass. They should be spawning by now. Thanks! On the fly rod I was using a white wooly bugger, as the fly shop was out of clousers. When I switched to the spinning rod I caught a few on a black and yellow panther martin with a gold blade, then switched to a black rooster tail with a silver blade. Had the most luck on the rooster tail. It's become a real "confidence bait" for me. Thank you Sir! Those Rooster Tails are a great go to lure for pan fish.
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Re: Redbreast, White Bass and Bluegill
[Re: 1960texan]
#12138039
03/13/17 02:13 AM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 19,077
Laker One
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 19,077 |
Academy will usually have a sale on all their kayaks in late August. You can get a pretty good deal. Do you have any recommendations as far as make and model? Will be using it almost exclusively for fresh water. I have both a Pelican Pursuit 8' and a Heritage Angler 10'. Love them both. The Heritage sits above water which I like. It is also a little bigger than the Pelican and handles better in rough water. I usually stay off the water if conditions are bad! Acadamey carries both of these. Side Note: There is usually a Kayak sale that takes place in Mid to late August!
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Re: Redbreast, White Bass and Bluegill
[Re: Laker One]
#12139002
03/13/17 06:09 PM
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 563
1960texan
OP
Pro Angler
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OP
Pro Angler
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 563 |
Academy will usually have a sale on all their kayaks in late August. You can get a pretty good deal. Do you have any recommendations as far as make and model? Will be using it almost exclusively for fresh water. I have both a Pelican Pursuit 8' and a Heritage Angler 10'. Love them both. The Heritage sits above water which I like. It is also a little bigger than the Pelican and handles better in rough water. I usually stay off the water if conditions are bad! Acadamey carries both of these. Side Note: There is usually a Kayak sale that takes place in Mid to late August! Of the two, which one would you say is the most stable? I'm not the most graceful person in the world, and would rather fish than swim!
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Re: Redbreast, White Bass and Bluegill
[Re: 1960texan]
#12139930
03/14/17 03:27 AM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 19,077
Laker One
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 19,077 |
The Heritage by far is the more stable! I have only been fishing from a kayak for two years and simply love it! You can get to fish very easily. I am still learning but have a blast at the same time.
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