Spring time fishing has started out "GREAT"! Myself and Rick aka Catyakker have been traveling all across South Texas and the Hill Country catching some very nice sunnies including five record fish. Record fish were a Large Mouth Bass,Redear Sunfish,Bluegill Sunfish,Hybrid Sunfish,and a Rio Grande Cichlid. Rick caught a super nice Redear that was 10" in length and paper work was submitted for the Hondo Creek Catch&Release Record.(Refer to Past Post). Rick had also caught a nice Elm Creek Large Mouth Bass that weighed 3.19 Lbs which will be the first Elm Creek Large Mouth Bass record. I was able to put three records on the board. A .53 Lbs Bluegill caught on Lake Casa Blanca, A .59 Lbs Hybrid Sunfish caught on Elm Creek and a Rio Grande Cichlid .52 Lbs caught on Elm Creek. All fish were caught on worms using float,drop shot,and bottom techniques. Fish were caught in 3 to 6 feet of water. The sunnies and Rios are getting ready to spawn. We caught plenty of nice fish the past two weeks. All fish were released. All record fish were weighed on a certified scale with Texas Parks&Wildlife. Catching some spring time record fish. It just don't get any better!

Awesome chuck! You and rick are traveling across this great state and setting records. In your own words " it don't get any better" congrats to both of you! Keep on fishing

Wow....talk about fun, traveling the back roads of Texas (never lost, just confused) looking for fishing holes on creeks we had to refer to Google Maps, to figure out where we were. Some of those itty bitty bodies of water have some real super sized Sunfish and Bass just waiting for someone to come along and feed them. And of course we were most willing to oblige. (I am surprised Banker didn't mention having a super sized BASS (well over 5 lbs) try to eat his bobber this morning, in a creek about 10 yards wide.)

Thats cool guys! Love your reports Chuck. Congrats on them records!

Thanks Leo and Yesenia for the replies. Leo: Greatest part about fishing other than catching fish is traveling the back roads of and fishing in God's Country!




Side Note: No telling where I am going to end up following Rick's directions! Like he said "Never lost,just confused"!
Rick: Yes Sir that one was one HUGE BASS! I have had many over the years hit a float! I should also mention Rick almost catching his personal best and highly possible RECORD Rio. He lost it just as he was getting it in!

You guys are living the dream. I love searching google maps and finding new places to fish. I found another one yesterday. I plan on launching my kayak there in a few weeks.

The sunfish still haven't moved shallow on the lakes I fish but hopefully they will by the next full moon on April 21st.

Great post

PS: I see you have taught Rick your game face

Thanks Jamie for the reply! With water bodies being in great shape, as I have been saying it's going to be a GREAT year for catching some BIG FISH! According to Rick the Rio that he lost was HUGE and could have possibly gone into the 12" range.

"PS: I see you have taught Rick your game face" . Yes sir J-Moe, Banker is teaching me his techniques real good. Even got me chewing that Big League Bubble Gum.

Good going guys !

Congrats on the records and thanks for sharing !

.

Thanks Doc for the reply. Rick: That Big League Chewing Gum is hard to beat!

Nice fish guys! Looks like you are off to a great year! Congratulations on the records and looking forward to seeing a few more. What is your take on the Rio bite this year?

Thanks Gitter for the reply! As for the Rio bite it's going to be a very good one. Myself and friends I fish with have already caught a bunch of nice ones. There will be some BIG ones caught this year for sure.

Thanks Chuck. Hope you guys bust some Rio Records this year.




Side Note: Any chance a 2 pound plus Rio being caught this year?

Nice going Chuck and Rick

Congratulations Fellas!

Thanks Gitter,Andrew,and Torrey for the replies. Gitter: Been catching some pretty nice Rios so far. Plan on catching a bunch more this year.

You guys are having a pretty good record year so far. Nice fish and some new water bodies being fished. We are lucky to have a lot of fisheries in our area. Nice fish and congratulations to both Chuck and the Catyakker on their record catches.




Side Note: Looks like a pretty good summer ahead. Where do you think most of your records will come out of this year? Rivers,lakes,or creeks?

Great fishing report. I would recommend you read my book, "The Art of Fishing for Records" but I think you have it already figured out lol. I would be very interested in your comments on the book if you can find time to read it in between catching all your records. I have watched your record escapades for years and it would be nice to get a review from a real professional record angler.

Thanks Curtis and Osbornfishing for the replies. Curtis: So far it's been creeks. Got a feeling it will stay that way. Osbornfishing: Like you I just love fishing. I keep it all very simple and do most of my fishing from the bank. I love being part of the Anglers Recognition Program via a certified weigh station for the Texas Parks&Wildlife. Through the records I get I hope they do only one thing. Promote the sport of fishing. I love setting the record bar on the water bodies of Texas and I also get great enjoyment seeing them beat. "Records are made to be broken". I would love to read your book! Ware can I get a copy? Hopefully one of these days we can meet up and share some adventures. In the meantime keep fishing and enjoying the great outdoors of the Great State of Texas!

Chuck you can get the book "The Art of Fishing for Records" on Amazon. The black and white paperback is $16.95, the color paperback is $28.95 or the ebook is $12.95. https://www.amazon.com/Barry-Osborn/e/B07JYRYJSB?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1557792598&sr=8-1 . The last time I emailed Ron at TPWD he said both of us keep him pretty busy lol. It would be great to go fishing with you sometime. I am still working (boo) but hope to retire in the next couple of years. Maybe this summer we can get together for a couple of days of fishing. I would really like to catch a Rio Grande Cichlid and I think you could probably give me some pointers lol.

I got a feeling it would be the creeks. However the small rivers are looking very good also.

Rivers are looking "Mighty Fine"!


Side Note: A few more Records added to the Spring Record Count!

#1 Rick's LMB Catch&Release Record Plum Creek. 21" in Length. Rick is also only one fish away from getting his Elite Angler Award from Texas Parks&Wildlife.
#2. Chuck's Verde Creek Weight and C&R Record Redear. 1.03 Lbs and 10.35" in length.
#3. Rick's Fisher Park Redbreast Record. .54 Lbs.

Nice fish! Again Congrats on all of your record fish. Keep on catching those hogs.

Thanks Gitter. A few more spring records!
#1. Hybrid Sunfish W. Nueces River.
#2. Common Carp Weight and C&R Llano City Park Lake
#3. Common Carp Weight Llano River
#4.Green Hybrid Sunfish Plum Creek
#5.Rio Record (Fly Rod) Verde Creek.
#6. Large Mouth Bass C&R W. Nueces River.

Man you guys are stacking up some nice fish and records as well! Good job.



Side Note: Spring is winding down and summer will be here in the next several days! What is your out look for the summer bite and for catching record fish

You guys have really had an amazing spring! May the great bite continue all summer for you guys.

Thanks Curtis and Fish The Bite for the replies. Curtis: The summer bite should be pretty good. The water bodies are in great shape. Providing that there is no MAJOR FLOODING there should be a bunch of BIG fish being caught! The fall bite should also be FANTASTIC as well!

Man you guys keep putting up the records. Awesome job to all! Great thread!

Thanks Curtis! Summer should be good also.