WHO I FISHED WITH: This morning, Tuesday, 22 November, I fished with returning guest Mike Tomberlin, accompanied by his sons, Josh and Sean, and by Mike’s friend, Donna. This was Donna, Josh, and Sean’s first time aboard with me. The trip was in celebration of Josh and Sean’s forthcoming birthdays.

Here is how the fishing went …

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PHOTO CAPTION: From left: Sean, Donna, Mike, and Josh with a portion of their take as we pursued Lake Belton white bass under cool, grey conditions with cooling water.

WHERE WE FISHED: Lake Belton

WHEN WE FISHED: Tuesday, 22 November 2022 (AM)

HOW WE FISHED:

As much as I hate to say it this early in November, I think we’ve moved “past peak” on the fantastic fall white bass fishing which, in some years, has held on through late December. This long downward slide we’ve had on water temperature ever since the Veterans’ Day cold front tore through has cut 4-5 degrees from the surface temperature in just over a week and the fish certainly haven’t taken a liking to it.

I noted that even when we were at peak feed times today with fish driving bait close enough to the surface to interest the birds, the fish were not moving with the speed and agility that I saw just a week to ten days ago. Corresponding with this was an increased number of “refusals” on our baits where fish either outright ignored the baits, or, followed half-heartedly a few feet and then gave up.

I’m sure things will rebound a bit when fish get used to the “new normal” if/when we get some stable and/or warming weather, but a rapid cooldown like we are now experiencing never helps.

Still, we managed a 98 fish outing, but everyone had to stay on their game for the entire time to make that happen.

We used MAL Originals with white tails the entire trip, fishing them vertically with a smoking tactic. I did try a slab now and then, but the fish weren’t any more or less interested in that than the spinner.

When all was said and done, this crew landed 98 fish including 1 legal hybrid, 9 short hybrid striped bass, 2 largemouth bass, and 86 white bass.

TUTORIAL SMOKING VIDEO (Vertical): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDSvfXgrAUE
TUTORIAL SAWTOOTH VIDEO (Horizontal): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IC3FMEQHOMQ

TALLY: 98 fish caught and released

Find MAL Lures here: https://whitebasstools.com/

OBSERVATIONS: 1) 6th consecutive trip helpful bird activity. Birds active 8:30 – 9:50A today.

WEATHER DATA:

Start Time: 7:15A

End Time: Noon

Air Temp. @ Trip’s Start: 43F

Elevation: 13.42 feet low, 0.03′ fall in last 24 hours, 40 CFS flow.

Water Surface Temp: 60.9F

Wind Speed & Direction: Calm with fog for first hour, SSE4 for middle 2 hours, NNW3-4 for last hour

Sky Condition: Solid grey sky all morning with light fog in the first hour.

Moon Phase: Waning crescent moon at 3% illumination.

GT = 0

Wx SNAPSHOT:






AREAS FISHED WITH SUCCESS:

B0167G through B0052G – whites on slope under birds

Area vic 151 – under birds

Areas B0013C/1543/966/967/715/1544 – under birds

Area B0102C/B0042C – after bird activity ended





Bob Maindelle

Full-time, Professional Fishing Guide and Owner of Holding the Line Guide Service

Belton Lake Fishing Guide, Stillhouse Hollow Fishing Guide

254.368.7411 (call or text)

Website: www.HoldingTheLineGuideService.com

E-mail: Bob@HoldingTheLineGuideService.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bobmaindelle

Twitter: www.twitter.com/bobmaindelle

As always. Nice post and fish. Good job.