Sunday, June 8 2013
Took Redemption up to Big Tex today to try a little down rigging. Texasfivegun and I got on the water around 2:00 pm. Headed to " triangle of death" which is what we call the area outside of Grandpappy. Four rods, two downriggers and two u-rigs.

We had just got set up, in 75-80' of water headed toward the old river ledge where the depth changes up to 30' or so. Just as we got on top, I marked good schools of fish and both riggers went off. Both of us thought we were hung up so we took our time and got the u-rigs reeled in. I turned the boat and eased back towards the "hang up area" pulled the boat out of gear to let her coast to the spot while we both reeled in the slack. As I was reeling, it felt like I was gaining a little more than we were drifting. Then all of a sudden, my line takes off. I holler at Fivegun and tell him I have a fish. I look at the rod tip on his rod and tell him he has one too.

Been a little while since I've caught a good sized striper and had forgotten how they pull against a hybrid.

Got those fish in. One overs at 6 pounds or so, one under at 19". Went ahead and put em in the box. Set back out and came back around only to get hit on the port u-rig. I turned loose the wheel and grabbed the line. Big fish!!! I fought her for a good 6 min or so with a nice ache in my gut from the rod but. To the net and in the boat! Weighed her at 14 lbs


Reset and back across the spot and two rods went off. Don't remember if it was the riggers or u-rigs but we pulled into neutral and each grabbed a rod. Mine had an under at 171/2" and Fivegun had a big'un. Got mine in the box, grabbed the net and got his in. 11 1/2 lbs.

And so the day went. Several double knockdowns an one triple.

We had three overs in the box, keeping a spot open for an even bigger fish but caught an over at 22" that just couldn't revive. So we put her in the box and that ended our overs except no one told the fish. We kept catching overs. 9 total double digit fish, 7 more from six to nine and the rest all respectable overs to a total of 20 fish thrown back.

It was a superb day for us. My best "big fish" day ever. All fish returned quickly and safely and full of life.

We quit fishing at 6:00 pm and left em biting hard!

It was GREATNESS!!!

Wow!

Great report! I know that was a blast! What baits were you dragging? Don't think I know what a u rig is either?

Can't tell by the pic of fivegun but the fish you are holding looks nice and healthy.

nice report

yep, I hate it but I'm going to downriggers pretty soon. Water temp was 80 deg yesterday. Didn't get much until dusk when fish went nuts for about an hour. Pics to follow later.

Good Report!

Using #14 pet spoons at 30'. We buy em naked and tie feathers on them. White, black/purple, yellow. Then on the u-rigs, we use grubs or sassy shad in a chartreuse or white sometimes a pink color.

U-rigs are 20", 4 arm, nine bait trolling rigs. Requires much patients. Lol. You will hang up if your fishing them correctly. About 30 dollars each to make them. Maybe less.

Pk, you may hate it but I guarantee you won't be bored.

That's why I hate it. 32 cranks down and 32 back up.

At least at Texoma they don't hang up much. PK is a flooded forrest. I bet there's a zillion dollars worth of lures in those trees.

Holzer they were all healthy. That first pic of me was a fast CPR so I could man the net for John he had 3 big fish on and wanted some help. It was my best big fish day EVER! Four DD fish in about four hours of fishing, all are still swimming. We could have cought more but when the fourth over wouldn't swim away we stopped as killing a big fish and not keeping it is just something we couldn't do.

Captain John would you be interested in checking out the u-rigs my buddy makes and sells? Also shoot me a message I want to book a trip with you at texoma soon.

Chad, good to know. I was planning on going up there Sunday but I'm backing out. Just don't feel like doing all that needs to be done for me to go there on a Sunday. Going to take the fam to LL instead. Glad to know those fatties will be there waiting on me next time

Holzer? LL? On a Sunday? This time of year? Really?Are you that brave? Or are you that...... oh never mind I already know the answer to that! We couldn't see but one other boat fishing and didn't even have a pleasure boat come within 80 yards of us all afternoon. I couldn't believe it, even the pot lickers never showed up!

That is an awesome report. Glad to see it!

I was out at Texoma for the first time on Memorial day and strung a 9.5+ and a 13.5+.

Those big stripes are sweet!

Wahoo!!