I'm 0-December in three trips.

Confidence is not real high right now.

Anyone catching them anywhere?

I have spent 4 full days on Joe Pool since Christmas with 4 fish to show for it. So much fun I think Ill try it again tomorrow.

I caught these monsters in my favorite creek yesterday. They wouldn't tell me where mama was:

I know exactly where their momma and daddy are in that creek!

Jerry, I saw where you had been trying to catch them:

There was no trying last time I was there I slayed them. I don't have the pics here at work.

Of course I was just kidding Jerry but I'll take this opportunity to release a rant. I expect that seine was leftover from the last sandbass/hyb run given it's condition. It is no secret there are groups of people who do this - usually under the cover of dark but often brazen enough to do it in daylight and even with others around. Likewise, the amount of trash that is left by many bankers is ridiculous - if you can haul it in, you can haul it out. Last year, I can't count how many bags of other people's stuff I carried out of this particular creek and it didn't make a dent. Additionally, the keeping of undersize and over-limit is not uncommon even by rod/reel and hand-line "anglers". Rant over.

I suggest everyone keep the phone# of the local GW of any water you are fishing in your phone (a good practice anyway) and the first thing is to report your findings immediately. I can't tell you to confront or not confront offenders as this is up to your comfort level but think through what you would do and potential outcomes before doing it on spur of the moment emotion. If you can get descriptions, license numbers or even pictures without endangering yourself, I would advise that.

+1

+1







But the real question is .... Why are your holding out on creek Z???

Amen!! This is my pet peeve as well

I would have asked but you never get to go. lol Seriously, it was a spur-of-the-moment trip and I wanted to see what was going on that way as far as creek access.

You know I got all the intel for bank fishing! Could have save you the trip.

I think one of the bigger problems here is that a lot of guys are focusing on Grapevine because the CCKFS starts there in three weeks. That place is dead right now. If you've been following in the Bass Section, some of the most notorious PB sticks are even complaining of multiple skunkings. It's tough out there.

Catching bass in sub 45 degree water on big stained windy North Texas lakes is really difficult. The fish are only going to respond to a finesse approach at that point, but if the water's stained then they can't see the jerkbait or dropshot. Catch 22. When you add in the limitations of a kayak (namely, you can only cover a fraction of the water you could in a boat) it just makes it that much more difficult. When I've had success in the past in these water temps, it was with fish relating to grass in somewhat clear water, or a river environment. Places like the Vine and the Lew DO NOT have these conditions LOL!!

I've been off since Dec 20th. Been out to the Vine twice with two skunkings to show for it. Also been to the Brazos twice and though one of the days was slow, it wasn't a skunk.





Yesterday, I made the drive out to Brandy Branch. Clear water? Check. (This is hands down the clearest lake water I've ever fished, 8-10 feet in some spots). Warm temps? Check. ( Though it's really only warm as you approach the discharge). Grass? Check. (don't think I've ever seen as much hydrilla in a lake, don't tell TPWD or they might decide to come and kill it). At one point I located three beds in one sandy bottomed pocket, all within 20 feet of each other. Got out of the yak and snuck up on them from the bank. Bed fishing in water that clear is so cool. Absolutely worth the near two hour drive. Saw one really good one down there but couldn't get her to bite. But for awhile there you could catch a small male every single cast. Caught about 25-30. The biggest was 18 but for some reason the pic didn't come out. The other 29 were 10-15 inchers. No giants but man it was fun. Sure beat fishing the Vine!!! Ribs at Stanley's Famous Pit BBQ in Tyler were pretty good too...











No doubt someone's out at the Vine grinding it out figuring how to catch 2-3 14 inchers for T day. Hats off. I'll probably not finish in the top 10, but hey I bought a kayak 5 years ago because I love catching fish. Prefishing for the tourneys is just not conducive to that right now LOL!!!

Right on Tom! How was the wind out there yesterday? Texoma was brutal...