Decided to hit the river this time, looking for some crappie and do some bass fishing. Headed upstream first to get some minnows. Also wondered if there would be any whites up there. Got to the rapids/shallows and saw numerous large white bass all over the shallows. Spawning, etc. Threw all kinds of colors at them. Nothing. They would actually swim away from the lure...like they were scared. Caught some minnows. Thought for sure they would work. Nothing. Same deal. Fish were acting very spooked. I tried crouching down and making long casts, so they couldn't see me in the clear water. Nothing. I quit messing with that after about an hour and a half. So, the fish are there. Hope someone can figure them out. Went downstream the rest of the day. Fished the big bend with boulders along the bank just down from Pop's, and also the big bend with boulders across from Leibolds point (sp?). Caught a bunch of laremouth. Two were 4-5 pounds. Chunky fish. aboutt 18 inches long. Caught a couple threes, and a bunch of 1's and 2's. Almost all the fihs were caught pitching a 4 inch pumpkinseed green fleck rage craw. caught all the good fish on the drop. They love those wobbly claws on the drop. Fish seemed to rush out from under the big rocks and hammer it. Lots of fun. Only managed 6 crappie. 6 crappie from 6 different areas. Sat on each area after the first fish trying to catch more, but nothing doing. Even floated minnows in those spots. Last crappie of the day was a 15 inch 2 pound fish. Also caught one fat white bass. It was a great day. Still can't figure out those Medina crappie this year, but the bass fishing is better than I remember.

Hey Kyle, do you know where you can buy minnows at Medina? wanna try it out but don't know that lake very well.

I don't know. I've always wondered about that too. I cast net my own in the river.

try some small poppers!black n silver or blue n silver!

I know exactly what you are talking about with those whites and like I've said I grew up on that river fishing for those whites exactly where you were fishing and know the feeling.

Sometimes they get lockjaw and it doesn't matter what you do, but I used to spend a whole day and eventually they would turn on like someone flipped a switch.

Lure selection and presentation is key, and like you said long casts, but river minnows they can't seem to resist, so they were in lockjaw mode for sure.

i dont know of any place to buy minnows either. we seine in the rapids. hard to catch some of the minnows in a cast net. and we have been having the same problem with the whites. I dont know whats going on. and same thing with the crappie. whenever we catch one trolling we stop and go back and throw minnows, jigs, everything. we have never caught 2 in a row. When we come back later, might pick up another in the same area, but trolling again. I just wonder if they are feeding so much at night...

Call me crazy or call me old school, but I truely believe that the white bass especially during the spawn feed by the moon phases and an indicator I have found that works nearly every time is to observe wildlife and especially the deer.

If I see a lot of deer are up and feeding, I know I'm going to catch the whites, and if I don't see any deer then it's going to be tough.

The solonar tables for yesterday show AM 1:50-3:50 and PM 2:25-4:25 so that might explain the lockjaw as I stated.

Canyon and Medina fish seem to be more sensitive to temperature fluctuations and moon phases, and it might also be the clarity of the water that magnifies the importance of it, unlike rivers like the Nueces that are usually stained and warmer.

Here's the link:http://www.flwoutdoors.com/solunarTables/index.cfm

There use to be a fishing store on RR1283.
About 4-5 miles from Hwy 16.
Been years since I've been there although.

FI

dont know of any places to get minnows. we siene when we get out there. I remember several years ago, my dad and his friends would wake up and walk down to the rapids at 4 in the morning on bright, moon lit nights. They would clean house. then like a switch, a little after sun up, the fish just stopped hitting. I have had the same thing this year so far trolling. catching constantly from time on water (330-4pm) till about 6:15pm (now 715 with the time change). then just shut down. Last year, we were catching them pretty consistantly during the day, with it getting really good right at dusk/dark.

Fished rapids a couple years ago at Medina. You could see the fish ten feet down on bottom. Would not hit anything. Then thirty minutes before sundown turned on like fire. Free drifting minnows with split shot cast up current float it back down. Fast catching to try and get twenty five in thirty minutes but it was fish on every cast. Have not been in a while too low water.

I hesitate to tell everyone...cuz then they will be sold out when I want some...;) but they sell minnows at lakehills icehouse.

I fished the river mouth and river heavily the last several weekends with very little luck, but recently discovered that some nice whites, hybrids, and crappies can be caught trolling in the northern ends of the big coves, especially near points and gravely banks. way better results than the river...for me anyways. best bite has been dawn and dusk.

good luck everybody!

Have you guys tried KT Spoons for whites and hybrids? I have not been through Lakehills lately but the tackle shop there used to carry them. I think it was called Jims Rebate or something.

The fishing is VERY VERY good at Medina right now - we have plenty of live minnows at Joe's Place down by dam, come an get you some.

http://www.joesmarina.com/

Debra

Please Practice Catch and Release on the Black Bass!

Thanks Debra, glad to hear Medina heating up.

CPR (Catch, Photo, & Release) is the way to go for most fish. Keeps the sport alive.

As usual, I agree with what Jimbo is saying. During and around a full moon, days are tough. Gin clear water definitely complicates the situation further. I'm thinking the few days before and after the next new moon could be interesting...

Another thing regarding the clear water: If you can see the fish, they can see you, especially in that skinny water where the whites stack up to spawn.