[David F]

Hey guys, did a lot of fishing during my trip and wanted to post my report.
First day out, was nice, went out for about 20mins, and pulled up to my spot, and pulled a nice 4 1/2lber out. Second cast. Then I left for lunch. and ate, went out to fish again, and some how the prop was missing

Tropical Marine in Marble Falls hooked me up bigtime. And got me running again. During that time I purchased a motor off Craigslist, and spent a day and a half getting it working.

So on the third day I go out in the morning and finally start my fishing.
Got to my spot at 7, and landed a 5 1/2 lber, and a 4 3/4lber, and a 3.75, and a 3 in about 2 hours. and no dinks so far. all keepers. So I kept them. And I never keep fish. Figured I'd keep them for all the frustration I went through.  best limit ever and didn't even have 5 fish.
I leave to go eat lunch. and right as I reach towards the basket the line snaps and sinks them to the bottom. So I spent 2 1/2 hours looking for them with no luck. Man I was totally devastated. The fishing gods where punishing me for keeping bass. But camping for 9 days, is a good enough reason to keep bass if I eat everything.

So the next day I go out again, same spot, whack another 4 3/4 and a 4.25 and another small 3 in there and went to another spot and got a 2. Kept em for dinner.

Next day, same spot.

and a Billabong hat. LOL>

Came home with these guys.

All fish caught on Rattlesnakes on shakyhead. The only pattern I found was anywhere where you could fish a drop off that's in 15ft of water or 20, you'd catch fish, but it was slow finding them. Fish where stacked bigtime. All these fish where caught from two spots I found, and they would recycle every day so I'd catch another big fish from it. Caught more big fish than dinks. It was a lot of fun. Windy, cold, and all that. But the fishing made it worth it, not even a lost prop was gonna keep me off the water.

I feel bad for keeping the bass. And don't normally do it. But a man's gotta eat.

 

[Leon Jr]

sounds like a great trip, nice fish and thanks for the report.

 

[fishbone]

Great report Moonraker. Nice fish you were on out there.

 

[JUSTINFISHER]

Hey great job Moon. I love camping at Inks.

 

[procraft375]

a hidden gem. a great little state park

 

[RPB]

I've caught a shoe, never a hat... I need to fish at the other end I guess.

Thanks for posting the report.

 

[Jukebox]

You ate fish!!??? You sinner!!!! I hope you rot in fishy hell!!!! :

 

[bassfantastic]

Looks like a great trip. What size a motor did you get?

Hope the guilt of murdering Bass doesnt last too long.LOL

Jim ;D

 

[JT]

Great report and pics, thanks for sharing.

 

[basstrack]

Sounds like a great way to spend 9 days. Thanks for the pics and report.

 

[evolution44]

Nice - hope that graph served you well...it looks like you know how to use it....

I'll probably hit LA one day this week...I'll give you a shout....

 

[David F]

Because of the short notice,my dad went and bought and old Sears motor. Called a Ted Williams. They guy from Craigslist said he's buy it back if we didn't like it, but I'm keeping it because i've never seen a motor crank so well in 30 degree weather with ice everywhere. It's a great little 7.5 hp. Now I've got two, and now, I'm thinking about buying this other Ted Williams motor for 100 bucks, just because it's a great motor. Needs a carb job. and the motor once it's running is totally worth 2hundred dollars I paid for mine. And goes about .4mph's slower than the 4stroke.

I'm thinking about putting both motors up for barter. Haven't decided yet. I do want a bigger motor. Thinking about locking one in place, and using the other to steer. lol.

 

[Bass-Ackward]

MY HAT!!!

 

[Bryan Thompson]

That pic of the Guad/Smallie hybrid is awesome! Cool looking fish.

 

[James Cantwell]

Never feel bad about keeping a few fish to eat. With the cost of fishing these days and the amount of fish caught for table fare it does not hurt to keep a few Don't let those so called die hard bass guys get you down to much. I wish I had all the fish that died after a tournament and from the guys that don't know when a fish has picked his bait up and ends up dead from a hook in it's gullet.
Enjoy yourself when on the water but practice catch and release as much as possible.

 

[RO]

We used to keep largemouth to eat when I was a kid and they were good enough, but we always liked crappie, cats, and whites more, so we'd usually let the largemouth go. When I first learned to use the C-rig, used to gut hook a bunch, so ate those and stopped C-rigging. Esp. if you're camping and need the fish for food, no one can make an argument to deny your nourishment. Nice pics and thanks for the report. That was a pretty smallmouth/guad.