Just got back and had a good time this morning. Seems like we didn't really have a long lull in the action. Not great, but steady. Size wasn't in our favor, although we managed to catch about 6 that went maybe 3 to 4 pounds, with the rest in the 2 1/2 pound range, which is ideal for the pan. Had a total of 28, all on fresh shad, and probably could have done better had we started in the second cove where the water is being pumped in. We didn't get there till later, and from what we caught when we first got there, I now know we should have started there.

Lot of boats in the cove, and off the point trolling for reds, I'd expect. Beautiful morning, and pretty calm with a slight hint of a breeze. Just the way I like it. I'll bet it will be a little on the warm side this afternoon though, but I think the fish will still be cooperating.

Good luck all, to who ever fishes this evening! Wish I could, but the ole kitchen pass expired.

Alex and I started out in the second cove this morning and even though we had a bite every cast, they sure were small. We went back around to the rip-rap by the reed bed and did better size-wise. Ended up with 17.
Jeff Snyder sure did good-he had a bus load of prople. Three boats downrigging and I think they probably still had to take turns. I don't know where those people were from.
Jess

UncleJess, what were you using for bait? Mine (28) were 2 pounds and up. Threw back a few one pounders.
Don

Jess: I thought that was you when we left the rip rap ya'll were pulling out of the second cove. In the aluminum semi-vee? Anyway we just swapped ends, and all we caught was small ones at the rip rap and caught the bigger fish off the bank to the right of the cove where the water was being pumped. The bigger ones came from the cove. Go figure?

I will say this though, we didn't catch the bigger fish until we ditched the cork and went with a small split shot above the hook, and fished on the bottom. Had some savage hits, and a few break-offs. We lost the last four fish we hooked, which seemed to be good ones, and called it quits after it slowed down considerably.

I saw that bus, and wondered what that was all about. It did look like the circus was in town.

Thanks SKyshark.
Hey Jimbo..which coves are yall fishing? if you don't mind or send me an email..I'll be taking pop monday. today turned out to be a little draining to go tonight.
Great Job guys and looks like yall are cleaning house!

Hey Cliff: That would be the second big cove from the dam. What I call the first cove is the one with the telephone pole off the point, and the second cove is more directly across from the boat launch. If you drew a straight line across the front of the wall it would line up with the second cove. It goes all the way back toward the hwy. and the inlet is pumping water so you'll hear it before you see it. It's kind of hidden way back in the brush off to the right of the back of the cove near the hwy. Also just look for all the boats. Fish it kind of the same way you'd fish a river, off into the slack water or eddys off to the side of the current flow.

Good to know my favorite kitty hole is producing. I just got my boat back in action and need to get out there!

SQ

Jimbo, did you see that guy Striper fishing? He was catching one about every third cast. He told me he caught 150 in one day last week. Using a Rattletrap in and around the catfishermen. He was throwing them all back.
Jess

Jess, we were watching him, and he was doing a lot better than when you saw him, because he was catching one on every cast. They looked pretty small though, and it looked like he had the technique down of de-barbing the hooks. He'd lift them out of the water and they'd flop off right at the boat.

I wish I had thought of that last week when we got into them. I didn't think about debarbing the hooks on my rattletrap, and I paid dearly for it. One fish I attempted to remove the hook on, flopped just as I was grabing it and drove the loose treble hook into my middle finger on my right hand all the way to the shank with the hook point buried deep into my finger. I had to cut the hook off the lure, and I couldn't get enough leverage on the hook to turn it and drive the point through the flesh of my finger. So there I was packing it in and loading the boat with this treble hook in my finger. Had to go to the ER to get it removed. Darn, and all I would have had to do was bend down the barbs on those hooks. Seems like the older I get the.....Oh well live and learn.

Lesson learned, if you want to catch those undersized fish.....Debarb your hooks for ease of catch and release, and safety!

Another morning - another limit
http://gadberry.com/don/choke/index2.html#May%2025th,%202006

Tough going this morning because of the wind and the boats. Got 23 but they were small. I fish the rip-rap almost exclusively with a trolling motor and it seemed this morning there was a boat anchored everywhere I wanted to fish. Sometimes though, that is a plus because it makes you try new places.
Jess

Texas Alien,

Where abouts is this notorious pump area @ Cally?

thanks,

Jimbo

Extreme Angler


posted 05-19-2006 18:50
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Hey Cliff: That would be the second big cove from the dam. What I call the first cove is the one with the telephone pole off the point, and the second cove is more directly across from the boat launch. If you drew a straight line across the front of the wall it would line up with the second cove. It goes all the way back toward the hwy. and the inlet is pumping water so you'll hear it before you see it. It's kind of hidden way back in the brush off to the right of the back of the cove near the hwy. Also just look for all the boats. Fish it kind of the same way you'd fish a river, off into the slack water or eddys off to the side of the current flow.

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GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!

Good Fishin! Jimbo

Alien, nice website and nice catch. Hope to get down to Calaveras sometime this summer. How long do the big cats bite?

Third week in a row reaching limits on channels. The wind was tough today, but most of the fish were caught in 1-2 feet of water, next to the bank in the pump cove. Other people were not doing as well. We free lined HEB 41-50 count natural shrimp. Peeled the bodies and left the heads on for flavor. Lake is full.

Stretchin' a little about today's limit. Actually my newly graduated AGGIE boy helped me with these 24 fish.

http://gadberry.com/don/choke/index2.html#May%2031st,%202006

Thanks, Ketchum25. I have not seen this lake keep the bite on for this long. There seems to be a large number of 2-6 pounders in this lake this year and there is a lot of bait... so, if you can stand the heat, come on down.

Don
The TexasAlien