Posted By: Laner
It Happens to the Rest of Us. - 02/22/18 05:00 PM
In the last two scouting trips I've caught a combined total of four drum and one blue cat. Now why on earth would a guide tell the public he hasn't been producing fish? Aren't guides only supposed to post when they are successful? I'm sharing this information to show an honest insight into what goes on during the slower months of the year when I'm preparing for the busy time ahead. I also want to give solace to folks out there who are struggling trying to find fish.
It's the middle of February, it's starting to get warm out, and as a fisherman I am ready to be catching fish. I've got one more guided deer hunt to conduct this weekend, but my instincts are already pushing me towards sinking bobbers and running trot lines. Needless to say, I'm getting itchy. I know of two spots that I can go and catch crappie, white bass and hybrids a plenty, and it's tempting to go there because I am very confident I'll have success. Scouting is scouting because it forces me to learn a new area, whether it be a creek, river or lake. I can't grow if I go back to the same productive spot time after time. I've also been doing this long enough to know for a fact either Mother Nature or the general public will mess these spots up, reiterating the fact that I need to stay ahead of the game.
I've been strictly focusing on Ft. Worth lakes, trying every tactic I can think of for producing fish at this time of year. One might say "well, if you can't produce fish, what kind of guide are you?" The answer to that question is simple: I'm a guide who knows February and September can be the two worst months of the year, and what I learn now will produce limits at a later time and place.
Although the fish haven't been treating me well, I have by no means gone home empty handed. On all the lakes I've fished, I have found a TON of new structure, both natural and man made. This kind of treasure is going to make my life really enjoyable when the right time comes along. I have also spent a lot of time sinking new brush. I do this for two reasons: one, there is nothing more rewarding than hard work paying off and two, with technology improving so quickly and cheaply, we have a duty to protect our resources and help improve their habitat.
I have no pictures and not much too offer aside from the water temps were 49-51 before the rains hit. The only other thing I have is a saying that I tell myself after a long day of fishing, with very little catching: "eliminating water where the fish weren't biting is just as important as knowing the areas where they are biting." Makes me feel better anyways
It's the middle of February, it's starting to get warm out, and as a fisherman I am ready to be catching fish. I've got one more guided deer hunt to conduct this weekend, but my instincts are already pushing me towards sinking bobbers and running trot lines. Needless to say, I'm getting itchy. I know of two spots that I can go and catch crappie, white bass and hybrids a plenty, and it's tempting to go there because I am very confident I'll have success. Scouting is scouting because it forces me to learn a new area, whether it be a creek, river or lake. I can't grow if I go back to the same productive spot time after time. I've also been doing this long enough to know for a fact either Mother Nature or the general public will mess these spots up, reiterating the fact that I need to stay ahead of the game.
I've been strictly focusing on Ft. Worth lakes, trying every tactic I can think of for producing fish at this time of year. One might say "well, if you can't produce fish, what kind of guide are you?" The answer to that question is simple: I'm a guide who knows February and September can be the two worst months of the year, and what I learn now will produce limits at a later time and place.
Although the fish haven't been treating me well, I have by no means gone home empty handed. On all the lakes I've fished, I have found a TON of new structure, both natural and man made. This kind of treasure is going to make my life really enjoyable when the right time comes along. I have also spent a lot of time sinking new brush. I do this for two reasons: one, there is nothing more rewarding than hard work paying off and two, with technology improving so quickly and cheaply, we have a duty to protect our resources and help improve their habitat.
I have no pictures and not much too offer aside from the water temps were 49-51 before the rains hit. The only other thing I have is a saying that I tell myself after a long day of fishing, with very little catching: "eliminating water where the fish weren't biting is just as important as knowing the areas where they are biting." Makes me feel better anyways