CLIENTS: This morning, Friday, 01 Nov., I fished with returning guest Mr. Gary Emory from the Georgetown, TX, area. Joining Gary for the first time aboard my boat were his daughter, Megan, and Megan’s son, Nolan, age 12.

Gary retired from the roofing business in 2023, Megan runs a doggie-daycare, and Nolan is working his way through middle school, also in the Georgetown area.

DATE: Friday, 01 November 2024 (AM)

NEXT OPEN DATES: 11, 21, & 22 November (weekday AMs and PMs). Next Saturday opening: 30 November (AM)






PHOTO CAPTION: Gary Emory (center), treated his daughter, Megan, and grandson, Nolan, to a morning fishing trip on Lake Belton. The trio landed exactly 101 fish using MAL Original Lures worked vertically in conjunction with Garmin LiveScope.

WHERE WE FISHED: Lake Belton

SUMMARY OF HOW WE FISHED:

Thanks to a thick, low deck of grey clouds following the arrival of a damp cold front yesterday morning, this morning’s bite started later than I’ve observed recently on clearer, brighter days.

8:10AM had been when the fish began moving and biting, but this morning, it wasn’t until 8:40A that the white bass got it in gear.

From that point, and until my three-angler crew landed their 101st fish and decided to hang it up a bit early, the fish fed steadily. The time period from 9A to 10:30A was best. The NW wind scaled back around 10:30 and the intensity of the bite scaled back with it.

The only tactic necessary this morning was the smoking tactic, and the only lure needed with that tactic was the MAL Original with chartreuse tail.

Although my crew varied the upward speed of their retrieve as fish mood dictated, this tactic produced well all morning. Everyone commented how helpful and fun the Garmin LiveScope was, as everyone got to see in real time just how the fish were responding.

Here is a tutorial on vertically smoking the MAL Lure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDSvfXgrAUE

Here is a tutorial on horizontally “sawtoothing” with the MAL Lure or White Tornado: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IC3FMEQHOMQ

LURES USED SUCCESSFULLY ON THIS TRIP: We used MAL Originals (w/ chartreuse tails) vertically today. Find all MAL Lures and White Tornados here: https://whitebasstools.com/

TALLY: 101 fish, including 9 hybrid striped bass, 1 largemouth bass, and 91 white bass.

OBSERVATIONS:

1) We are in a solid, classic autumn pattern now, which should hold up until the water temperature near bottom falls to around 60F

2) Mornings are much more productive than evenings at this point in the fall.

3) Gulls were present all morning, but did not help find fish. Cormorants and coots are also increasing in numbers.

LATEST WATER TEMPERATURE PROFILE:

Here was the water temperature profile for Lake Belton, measured with a FishHawk TD device around 7:30 AM on Friday, 01 Nov….

0 feet 75.3F
5 feet 75.3F
10 feet75.6F
15 feet75.6F
20 feet 75.6F
25 feet 75.6F
30 feet 75.3F
35 feet 75.3F
40 feet 75.3F
45 feet 75.3F
50 feet 75.3F
55 feet 75.3F
60 feet 75.2F
65 feet 75.1F
WEATHER DATA:

Start Time: 8A

End Time: 11:40A

Air Temp. @ Trip’s Start: 64F

Elevation: 2.22′ low and falling slowly with a 43 cfs flow; .02′ fall in last 24 hours

Water Surface Temp: 75.3F on the surface.

Wind Speed & Direction: NNW3-7 all morning

Sky Condition: 100% moderate grey cloud cover all morning

Moon Phase: New moon at 0% illumination.

GT = 0

Wx SNAPSHOT:




AREAS FISHED WITH SUCCESS:

Area B0312G- 42 fish smoking MAL Originals
Area B0313G – 31 fish smoking MAL Originals
Area vic 1012/150 – 28 fish smoking MAL Originals

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

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They keep on smiling. As always, solid post and fish. Good job.