Got out and pulled boards with my 5 yr old fishing partner. Yesterday was his B-day and he said he wanted to catch something big today. North wind had the fish not wanting to bite too good this morning. Scanned for close to 2 hrs and found fish everywhere from 48 ft up to 20ft but nothing big enough to throw down on. Found Gizzards loaded in 30 ft and that’s where we fished. We missed our first 2 big fish that came unbuttoned at the boat. Moved to another area of the lake staying in 30 ft. Gizzards were grouped up good there too. Missed 3 more toads and one was over 40. 5 big fish in a row we lost! I was starting to get real discouraged and my son had to remind me numerous times to stop cussing! I apologized and 1 minutes later we hauled in a 28 lbr. Then a 20 and several teeners. We missed several more big fish on the big baits and ended with a 10 lbr. All fish released to fight another day. We were slow to start but finished strong and my boy got his B-day fish!

Man, and I passed 'cause we couldn't get out until after noon

Happy Birthday to your son and congratulations on a good fishing trip as his present. Well done sir.

That’s the way to turn a trip around. Awesome day

Nice job Dad. Good birthday with the first mate. Way to stick with it and finish strong.

I went duck hunting today, had good hunt and killed several. But kept thinking it would be a nice day on the boat. Lol. Will have to wait a few more days to chase those blues...

Stay safe

Ken

Awesome post and awesome fish. As always. Good job.

We need to change your name to "afortunado El Gato". Because you are one LUCKY Cat!!! Getting to fish with your FB and having a great understanding lady. One of these days your son my be helping you hold the big one, time goes by VERY FAST. Hold on to all you can!

Have a good one,
O1

Awesome catch!

Nice going , some time the little ones have remind us to just enjoy the day and relax.

Thanks Amigos! We’re on a good run!

You can’t catch em if ya don’t go Ed. Cold front can make em bite later anyways.

My wife wasn’t always so understanding Otis. I was raised a lake rat and she wasn’t. Much like every other woman I’ve dated, she had a hard time believing I was at the lake fishing so much. Over time she began to understand my obsession to water and now that we have my son she has fully embraced it.

Chris what was the water temp? My boy gets out for Christmas break on Friday. I am going to try to take off a few days over his break and try to get out on the water. It seems like we have something going every weekend here lately

Sometimes we lose perspective Dewayne. My wife called after we had lost the first 4 big fish and I was just about ready to throw in the towel for the day. She reminded me that it was my sons b-day and to quit worrying about catching a big fish and just enjoy spending time with my son on a beautiful day. I told her that’s easier said than done when you miss every single big fish you tangle with. 5 minutes later we lost another toad and that’s when the whole lake could hear me cussing. My son told me to stop cursing like a sailor! The moment I let go of all that anger and disappointment we started hanging some good ones. God works in mysterious ways!

Water was 53 Matt and I marked 4 good groups of fish in 22-48 ft. 22 ft fish were on a threadfin and small sandbass pattern. I fished the Gizzard Shad pattern which was in 30 ft.

Gato and others... do yall ever fish shallow in winter for big blues?

I went with a guide on Lewisville about 7 years ago, well known guide, used to be a mod on here...anyway we ran up into the mouth of Hickory creek, on that big shallow arse flat and slayed some HUGE blues in 4-5 feet of water. This was in January and it was icy cold out.

Just wondered if thats still a thing or what might trigger one to fish that pattern?

I am about to get the kayak rigged back up for catfishing now that bass fishing sucks.... and dont believe those guys who say "Winter is my favorite time to bass fish!" They are lying to themselves and you, winter fishing for bass sucks.

Its time to try to get a big blue again! Or at least a few eaters, either way ha ha. Thanks as always, I appreciate yalls help.

Its time Dan! You can get to em in your yak right now. I will haul you out there and keep an eye on ya amigo! I’ve caught some toads up shallow in the winter on other guys boats Dan but that’s not something I have much experience with. I grew up on the south end of the lake so I’ve grown accustomed to looking deep and mid-depth before I ever go shallow. Blues can be anywhere on any given day though. Some guys fish in 1-10 ft and some guys fish out deep both with matching stringers. I can guarantee you all the blues in the lake aren’t on the same pattern each day. If it’s been cold and we get a warm up then some of my fishing buddies will go shallow on that day and catch some big fish and the same day I will have a matching stringer in 30-40 ft. I’m no guru and I’m still learning as I go but one thing that 3 different top end guides have told when I asked them about the same thing. They all 3 said that if your getting your tail kicked and you’re looking for that Hail Mary, find a point or pocket that the wind has been blowing on all day and anchor shallow. I still prefer to pull boards over structure cuz it’s produced plenty of hail Mary’s for us. There are a million ways to skin a cat.