The last few days have been awesome! The weather is warming up and the winds aren't blowing so hard and the topwater action has been fantastic!

This is the time of year that we all love, but mixed in with the sand bass are undersized hybrids. On Sunday we were catching 12-14' hybrids 20% of the time. When the topwater action starts and everyone on the boat starts bringing in fish, it is important to make sure that you are only keeping legal fish.

On occasion, it appears people start putting every fish that hits the boat in the cooler. I'm sure I'm probably wrong as I am watching my clients and trying to keep an eye open to make sure that my boat doesn't get too close to anyone else's and just don't see them putting the undersized fish of all types back in the water.

We all want every lake to continue to produce excellent quality fish and quantities of fish, so everyone that fishes has a responsibility to do the right thing and know the laws. Every now and then, great fisherman and fisherwomen make a mistake and an under size fish or wrong species might make it in the cooler, but it is always important to be alert for such an occurrence and makes all attempts to avoid it.

One of the most common mix ups is the white bass and hybrids identification. They can look similar, but there are some very distinct differences between them. I have attached a link below to the TPWD's Striped Bass and/or Their Hybrids identification poster. If you are unsure about telling the difference, please take a moment and review the poster.

http://www.texasthestateofwater.org/screening/publications/pwd_lf_t3200_086.pdf


Have fun and be safe!!

Nice reminder....Thanks a lot!!

Great advice Capt. Craig. We had a blast catching hybrids and sandies out on RC Friday and Saturday! There is a huge bass tourney non RC this weekend so the ramp will be a rodeo for those who get there late.

Double Dee,

You are correct, the ramp will be congested and the basin of the marina will be especially crowded if boaters don't exhibit a lot of patience and take a lot of time and get in and out of the water. The water is so shallow and that makes very tight quarters for everyone. I was teasing the other day that we need a "take a number" machine and a school crossing guard in order to keep everyone from piling up at the edge of the ramp. People must avoid trying to stage near the dock and stop in the lake until they can get close enough to drop someone off and then get on the trailer. There isn't enough room for more than 3-4 boats there at a time.

Hey Capt. Where are they going out of?

Oak Cove Marina

Peace Lutheran Church will be having their 34th Annual Men's Fishing Retreat this weekend as well at Fisherman's Point.

Thanks for the info guys

Oak Cove currently has 1 lane open due to the constantly dropping water level. Stay to the far right and about 2-3' from the right edge. As you back your boat in, this will keep your trailer level as you back down the ramp.

The courtesy ramp can be accessed to pick up a passenger, but you need to stay to the left of the walkway. To the right of the walkway is shallow mud!!