The last couple of trips out have been challenging. After a bumper season catching bait with my net I drew a couple of blanks, and with the fish going deeper with the cooler temps it was time to get out the big heavy taped net.

Throwing and retrieving it is a workout, as it's a lot of weight to throw around. I was rusty and decided to get some practice on the back lawn. After many less than optimal pancakes, I slowly started to make some progress.



Success!



The bite has been slow of late, water temperature down in the low 50's and the fish have been spread out in between 20-30 feet.

One decent fish a couple of weeks ago that was 29 pounds, but slim pickings since.



Earlier this week I went out armed with my tape net and no reserve/frozen bait. If I wanted to fish I needed to get me some bait. Despite 3 hours throwing my net in the Marina, in creeks and off of points I didn't snag a single shad. I had to return to the boat ramp empty handed with my tail between my legs and without me casting a single rod. It sucked.

Today I was ready to go at it again. This time with some reserve bait. Over 90 minutes throwing the net in no less than three locations, and once again drew a blank. I must be doing something very wrong. This time I deployed my reserve bait, this time fish purchased at the market.

Again a slow bite and a somewhat bluebird day with no wind for most of it. I caught a couple of box fish, one 3 pounds and one 5 pounds, and then a big take down on my long line.

(short movie)
https://maddbrit.smugmug.com/Fishing/Fishing-Trips/i-PSZ27PG/A

A nice big fat Bluecat, hitting the scales at just under 44 pounds. Quite the fight and quite the workout.






Patience paid off.

A very good day.

BCB,

Great pix and as usual great info shared. Bait is getting really few for even the fish to chase down in our better local lake. The state stocked it with the spotted blackbass and the rest is history. The state really messed up putting them in the lake. There just is no bait of any kind around the lake now, after the fact. We were all told they were not going to stock this lake with them in the beginning. Then something changed.

So when going there to fish I will bring some kind of bait, but I am going to mess around with some artificials and see if I can purposely catch cats on them. I have caught a couple before while fishing for blackbass, but that is not at all the same as going after cats all together with artificials. Least till I figure the bait situation out.

We have a smaller local lake that is so full of shad, it's actually ridiculous. Problem is by the law of the state we have to have a license to take bait like from there to another lake, even if it's not to sell. I have read these regs over several times and still not certain about all of it.

I do plan a trip to our TPWD here and visit with them about what I am wanting to do, in case I may not be able to regardless. I get the issues with mixing the lake waters and all, that want even be a thing as I load my big livewells I converted to bait tanks with well water before I ever leave the house. But the concern I do understand.

But like you, even if our lake did have bait, they can be really hard to catch this time of year. To me, good live and frisky shad for freshwater fishing here in Texas is a huge thing. It may all get down to frozen cut bait for me if these artificials I purposely plan to see how they do, just don't lol. Thanks for sharing these awesome pix and info too.

Great job!

Nicely done. Good job.

Nicely done sir!

Nice work Bob!

I am hoping for some more rain later this week. I need about another 6" in the lake to get the big boat out! Getting close and getting anxious!

Cheers
Ken

I was on the lake yesterday, wind was blowing hard out of the south, Shad and blues were very shallow on shallow points and back of flats in very shallow water less than 2 feet deep.
Don’t be afraid to fish super shallow this time of year when it is warm with a good south wind. They were stacked up yesterday super shallow

Solid advice there.

I never knew they would get that shallow this time of year guys

Me neither, but I will give it a try for sure.

Thats a true catfisherman … taking pics of his perfect throw with all smiles
Good stuff bob

Nellie, you are spot on about the shallows. I went out after the rains last weekend and I couldn't keep bait on all the rods. I was in about 5 feet of water and having a blast. Bob, I can lay my net out in the backyard like that too. Haha, kidding! Like we have talked, you have to know how to throw it for sure, but it's more important to know where to throw it as you have found out. It is a great feeling of accomplishment when you can put all the pieces together and have some success. That 44 is a fish you will long remember. Congrats buddy!