Rain and more Rain! Fishing was off and on last week due to weather and tides were slight and at the wrong times. The full moon tides are not near as dramatic and timely as in the dark of the moon so fishing during a full moon can sometimes be tough but a few anglers have faired well fishing at night because it has been raining during the day! I have also found at times the afternoon bite, due to tides, can be better than the morning bite. It would be nice if we could always plan our trips around perfect tides and weather but if ifs and buts…..! It is raining as we speak but should stop by Saturday after many inches again. This should send the fish once again towards the South Shoreline. The rivers are running out of the banks once again!

We have had some very successful days lately when the wind is below 20 knots. A little hunting will usually put some very solid 20 inch + Trout in the cooler. We had a couple of days where we limited on Trout on the south shoreline, on top waters of a lot of colors but I like the black/ chart. head She Dog winning first place the other day! The other colors were getting blowups but the black/chart. was getting hard hits, they really hammered it. Also, Reds are in the bays in large numbers and early in the morning we did great with the Skitter Walk by Rapala in Pearl and also the She Dog in Bone.

I also had another outing where we couldn’t get a Red to take a topwater, spoon, or soft plastic. I had caught two Lady Fish early morning and kept them just in case. I usually throw them midday to Bull Reds or I usually freeze them if I don’t use them the day I catch them. If you didn’t know it, this wild looking “Poor Mans Tarpon” , “Skip Jack”, makes excellent cut bait for Reds. We were in a large school of Reds but they would run from the Topwaters. They sometimes get skittish like this and won’t hit artificial no matter what! After throwing everything we had on us, I went to the boat and cut up one of them into about 6 good pieces and with only a #1or #2 Kayle hook, no weight, we “free lined” cut bait! Now, hold up before you start knocking it! You can’t believe it, just work it slow keeping it out of the moss and grass a little, working it toward a Red of choice and wham! Five Reds on five pieces of Horse Mackerel! This Lady Fish has many names but can spell success when all else fails. It is quite fun, no different really than “Soakin Croakers”. Remember, small hook, no extra hardware other that a leader attached to your line preferably with a knot versus swivel, to 20lb shock leader. Remember, your not tightlineing on bottom your freelineing cut bait! Doesn’t sound inviting to some of us, but…. it is fun and rewarding! Just fish it slow with a little twitch every once in a while. If you see a Red, spot cast to it, this cut bait rigged like described will cast as accurate as a soft plastic! Sometimes you just have to do what it takes to turn fishing into catching! Hope this helps when times get hard! Oh yeah, Mullet, Ballyhoo, may be some other choices, if you prefer! Good Luck! www.thiggy.com 361-972-6502