Hi, I'm going to try fishing from the bank this Sunday evening at Braunig lake. I was there last Sunday evening using fresh shrimp and caught a bunch of 8" to 10" Reds. It was almost annoying. They would start hitting my line just about as quickly as it would sink to the bottom. "Bait theifs" another man called them who was fishing close by. I would really apprecaite some general tips/advice on where to go and what to use to catch bigger fish. I was fishing at the 3rd point to the left of the entrance.

Thanks a bunch!

Arthur

I don't have any experience with the freshwater reds, but have fished for them quite a bit in saltwater. First thing that comes to mind with your situation is that they school together. So chances are you were sitting on a school of rat reds(what we call them in Georgia). You would most likely have to move to catch larger. But I'm not sure of what would be the best bait for the larger reds. I'd think shrimp would work, and maybe live shad, bream, or some other live bait.

LIVE BAIT

You located and stayed in a school of "Rat Red" (What we call them in LA as well.)

My Tips:

1 Live Shad (TPWD article stated it is the primary food source http://www.tpwmagazine.com/archive/2006/aug/ed_3/
2 No live bait; freshest market shirmp you can get
3 Alternative bait to live shad and fresh shrimp; BLUE CRAB (HEB does sell them)break crab in half.
4 Plastice H&H Cocahoe minnow; with a spinner blad attached

See:

http://www.landbigfish.com/tacklestore/showcase.cfm?PID=2906

I like numbers: 14, 17, 40, & 105

As for the the spinner blad, you can by them at Academy and attach them to the jig head.

See Cocahoe Minnow Jig Spin:

http://www.hhlure.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=640

Gold and Silver Jonson Spoon on a swivel.

Oh, when you use market shrimp, ad a H&H Sparkle Beetle

http://www.fishingtackleunlimited.com/p/FTU/c-/HH-SR-102-P.html

Keep the colors simple: Chartreuse Glitter & White

Oh, the size jig head to use, well, you may want to get verious sizes. Academy has all of the baits I've mentioned, take a look at how they are riged. Color I'd get white, red, or black head.

Good luck

Thanks so much for the tips and links. I'm reading them now. Catching the rat reds was fun at 1st, but they'll go through your bait fast! I plan on going to Braunig or Calaveras this Sunday evening with a friend of mine. So I'm hoping for at least 1 keeper Red. I'm really curious to try the Blue Crab! If I stay with Shrimp and Crab, should I suspend the bait or continue to fish on the bottom?

Arthur

Yes; put two lines out. One on the bottom and one suspended.

On both, I had a sparkle beetle with the market shrimp as a sweetner. Now if you can find some crabe, split it into two halfs, or even quarters if it is big enough. I'd say lay the crab flat on your ice chest. Using a knief, you want to chop it into two halfs. (Left legs and eye on one half, and right legs and eye on the right)

The link here will show you were to place the hook. http://www.geocities.com/yosemite/trails/2615/crabs.html

The smell of the crab intralls and meat in the water, will drive the red fish nuts. I believe it is instinctive, so the fact these red fish are farm raised, should have no berring.

Check out the YouTube videos on Red Fishing.


http://youtube.com/results?search_query=red+fishing+&search_type=

Let me know how you do on the next trip.

Sorry for the delay. I did go out Sunday night. I moved spots, but it was so crowded I really didn't have a choice of where to fish. Just ended up fishing where ever there was room to squeeze in. I ended up using the box bait shrimp and chicken liver cause I couldn't find fresh shrimp or blue crab. My friend and I caught a few reds. bigger than last time. This time they were 16" so that was great! I also caught a few cats on the chicken liver. I'm going to head back out, but this time during the weekday evening so it won't be so crowded and I'll have more of a choice. Thanks again for all the info. I'll keep trying cause cathing or not, I enjoy being out there. I'm looking for a small aluminum jon boat or one of those pelican bass raiders, so I can bass fish around bullrush in the coves. It's a good way to spend a long lunch hour during the week.