WHO I FISHED WITH: On Sunday afternoon, Dec. 18th, I conducted the 2022 season’s 15th SKIFF trip for military kids separated from their parents by their parents’ military duty.

Joining me this afternoon was Michael Gilman III. His dad, Michael Gilman Jr., is a U.S. Army Sergeant who served previously in the U.S. Marine Corps. In all, SGT Gilman has served for 11 years. He is currently deployed to Europe as part of a Field Artillery unit. The Gilman family is from south Georgia.

Mrs. Jessica Gilman, the homefront parent, towed her other three kids, all younger than Michael, with her to and from our meeting site in order to make this opportunity become a reality for her son. The Gilman’s heard of SKIFF through Mrs. Denise Igo’s Ft. Hood Area Events Facebook page.

Although Michael had gone fishing before, he’d never caught a fish, nor had he ever been on a boat.

ABOUT SKIFF: This fishing trip was provided to this military family at no charge. S.K.I.F.F. stands for Soldiers’ Kids Involved in Fishing Fun. This program began in May of 2009. It is funded by the donations and fundraising efforts of the Austin Fly Fishers and other organizations they have partnered with. S.K.I.F.F. provides the children of military personnel separated from their families due to duty commitments with the opportunity to go fishing. SKIFF trips are also provided, free of charge, to Gold Star families who have lost their service member while he or she was on active duty. In mid-2019, SKIFF also began providing trips to dependents whose parents are bona fide disabled veterans. I coordinate and conduct these ~3.5-hour adventures on Belton Lake and Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir, just outside the gates of Fort Hood in Bell County, TX, year ’round. Call or text 254.368.7411.

Here is how the fishing went …

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PHOTO CAPTION: Talk about beginner’s luck!! Michael had never fished before, nor been on a boat before. During his 3.5 hour SKIFF trip, he landed (from left) a 19″ hybrid striped bass, a 3.00 pound freshwater drum, a 2.875 pound largemouth bass, a 4.75 pound blue catfish, and a mess of nice white bass, all on the white, 5/8 oz. Bladed Hazy Eye Slab!

WHERE WE FISHED: Lake Belton

WHEN WE FISHED: Sunday, 19 November 2022 (AM)

HOW WE FISHED:

I normally don’t fish on Sundays, but, with cold and/or wet weather forecast for the week ahead, and a pending request to get 8-year-old Michael out on the water, I wanted to fish with him while the water and the air were still warm. If this coming Thursday’s cold front pans out as forecast, we likely will not see water the temperature it is now until well into March.

I had my work cut out for me this evening with an 8-year-old who had never landed a fish nor been on a boat. Fortunately, Michael was very enthusiastic and willing to be coached in order to enjoy success.

I kept it simple by just working a white, 5/8 oz. Bladed Hazy Eye Slab vertically through fish we found both under birds and/or on sonar.

We enjoyed about an hours’ worth of strong bird action. This allowed Michael to gain experience through repetition as he hooked (and also missed) fish. This also gave me an opportunity to point out small adjustments he could make in his technique to improve, one at a time. By the time the birds settled down, he was fishing very well and was then able to take on the tougher conditions we experienced as the fish became less aggressive as (obscured) sunset approached.

Michael and I fished side-by-side as we watched Garmin LiveScope and landed a total of 58 fish including 1 legal hybrid, 1 short hybrid, 2 drum, 2 largemouth bass, 1 blue catfish, and 51 white bass.

TALLY: 58 fish caught and released

Find the Bladed Hazy Eye Slab here: https://whitebasstools.com/

OBSERVATIONS: 1) This was the 20th consecutive trip with helpful bird activity.

WEATHER DATA:

Start Time: 2:00P

End Time: 5:30P

Air Temp. @ Trip’s Start: 54F

Elevation: 13.17 feet low, 0.03′ fall in last 24 hours, 24CFS flow.

Water Surface Temp: 58F

Wind Speed & Direction: ESE10 all afternoon

Sky Condition: 100% grey cloud cover all afternoon

Moon Phase: Waning crescent moon at 29% illumination.

GT = N/A

Wx SNAPSHOT:






AREAS FISHED WITH SUCCESS:

B0169G to B0120C – 16 fish

B0184G – 10 fish

B0186C – 20 fish

BDH008 – 12 fish



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

That's just amazing work to serve and better folks around you aka the community, Bob. Hats off to you and thank you for all you do, Sir!

What a wonderful report! The smiles on that young mans face tell the whole story. Mr. Maindelle I fished with you years ago and have followed your posts on this forum ever since. I have fished with a great number of guides and can honestly say I have never found another person who champions the sport of fishing and the profession of guiding as much as you. If I list all the attributes here this post will be to long. I guess it is easier to say I have never seen even one area pertaining to angling and guiding where you don't excel. What a remarkable representitive of our sport you are. Thank you.

Great stuff Bob!

Outstanding! That kid will always remember that trip. Good job Bob!