I heard they are serving Rainbow Trout at the DQ in New Branfels....

Concerning rainbow trout being used as bait....when caught using any gamefish for bait, you will lose the priveledge of any type of fishing license (including guide license) you may have for 5 years + huge fines.

Rainbow trout patterned swim baits and Redfins will work under low light conditions, especially before a front comes in. Even when it's raining (no lightning) and the wind is howling would be an ideal time. If you can see the fish, they can see you.

There is one angler who owns 3 of the Top 50 Texas striped bass who has had great success on another body of water in central Texas. He does read this forum and that's all I'm saying.

I was fishing off "The Wall" at Denison dam the night Doug Norwine caught his top 50 fish (1989). I remember he and a helper had to go wayyyy down river with it to land it after hooking up with it between the cable and the dam.

Man guys thanks!!!anyone wanna go?!i got trollin motor so no paddlin...need someone who knows.thier shhhhhh about this river..im a lake austin fisherman this is so different....ill buy beer afterwards!!!!....whos down?!

Hey redfin i wanna go sometime with you..i livebin canyon oaks estates..have canoe troll motor..bout to have it registerd so i am 100%legal....new to this type of fishing wanna learn all i can..its my life...whatcha say ill buy linch/beer lol...

Redfin,what was he using for a lure?Thats incredible!

[quote=....ill buy beer afterwards!!!!....whos down?! [/quote]

Careful, that could get expensive I would love too, but have to pass. Might want to try a guide? Best way to learn a lake or river.

Bet one of the trout guides would take ya!

Redfin,please teach me some lure techniques I can use instead of live bait all the dang time.!!That work on big striper!

hahaha

who guides it??? plz wanna learn!! striper is my lifelong dream fish to catch and i want a monsta!!! kyak bill ??? ill pay ya to guide and buy the beer!!

These links should help. Good Luck


http://www.actionangler.net

http://www.expedition-outfitters.net/id20.html

http://www.castellguideservice.com

http://www.guadalupefly.com/links.html

Lightning Rod and anchoviebob, I have nothing to tell about the techniques or areas Mr. Cruz uses but I'm very confident that he has invested a lot of time and casts to have done what he's done. There are no shortcuts to those type investments. Since another winter season is close at hand, all I can do is talk about what has been successful for me and other night time fishers I've river fished with and not concern myself with what's made other successful striper fishers successful. Go-see-learn-do method is still very much alive in me.

My wife's sister and her husband live in Rockwall Ranch between Schoenthal Rd and W TX 46. I don't get down there often but when I do my BIL and I check out some spots on the Guad. Not really the best time yet...needs to cool down and get some flow going. Don't know if the state still dumps trout in the Guad at Canyon Dam or not in the winter months but if they do, it will be Valhalla time for big stripes.

Fishing for the big stripes at night on a full moon during the cool/cold months with big Redfins on top is SOP for me (standard operating procedure) below any dam on a lake that holds big stripers (Texoma, Granbury, Whitney, Livingston are a few). You don't want a lot of flow coming out of the dam. Texoma and Whitney have electric generators and when they generate to a schedule, that will hold the bigger stripers in a few holes closer to the dam. Dams pull bait thru that become wounded/half alive. You can actually hear these big fish "slurping" struggling bait off the surface downstream from the dam on a quiety winter night. Then when they're not generating and river is at its lowest, that's time to walk the banks at night for a couple of holes downstream from the dam. Keep the big Redfins on top by slow reeling - I mean SLOOOWWWWW - and if you think you are reeling it slow enough, slow it down even more. Just make a ripple/wake on top - the fish will sillouette it against the moonlit sky. At night the Redfins don't have to be rainbow trout colored - the fish are only locking in on a sillouette that appears to be a large shad or trout. Only set the hook when you feel pressure and not by the slurping sound. Most rivers have too many hang-ups - rocks and wood - to fish swimbaits successfully because you have to retrieve the lure too fast for the bigger fish. Most are opportunistic, waiting on that BIG, EASY, struggling meal to pick off.

Think winter time and full moon nights for the best odds of hooking up with a big striper in known big striper rivers. The water temps should be in the high 40� to mid 50� range.
Some nights you'll not have even a strike so don't become disappointed. Remember, you're after BIG FISH and not the typical schoolies that have satisfied you in the past. Concentrate on ONE lake/river. Fish the first three to four holes of water below the dam, both sides of the river. Once you do catch that dream fish you've been looking for all your life, then try the same scenario on another known striper lake/river. I PROMISE you night time fishing striper rivers from the bank or float is a exhilarating/addicting experience.

My goal is to one day accomplish what my good friend has in the picture below and I hope this picture creates as many nightmares for you as it has for me - I've had some BIG fish on but couldn't seal the deal. But one day......

Great info RedFin! I would fish at night, but I find it gets too dark??

Once your eyes adjust with the full moon, you'd be surprised at what you can see.

How big was that fish?And thanks for the info Redfin.Im a rookie at lures but I might be able to tell a few tales about large live baiting.

Also Redfin do you ever replace the treble on back with a J hook?