Fred Raby
fraby@hook1.com
hook1.com
"FISHING WITH FRED"
Covering Tidal Waters And Impoundments
The Mighty Tensaw
For the past three weeks, the fishing has been getting better and better on the Tensaw River System. I had fished Nigger Lake, Big Briar, Lizard, Dennis and some secret spots on the main river and had ok results trying to put together a 'plan' for our club tournament this past Saturday. In the past two weeks, I have boated and released four fish over 3 pounds, working spots in the above areas, but really did not have a pattern that I had total confidence in.
With the weather warming, but a front coming in. The water rising and becoming more stained and a partner who had only been on the lower end of the river. I found myself struggling to put together a plan. Finally when I saw the water on the river at Cliffs low and falling with the outgunning tide, I decided to fish the grass beds in the back of Nigger Lake.
My partner tied on a Devislhorse and I started with a floating worm. He immediately started getting blow ups, but all short strikes. I thought a smaller bait might be the ticket and tied on a Crazy Shad…nothing. We slowed down and took the First Dollar with a nice 13 inch fish on the Devils horse. My good fish the week before came on a watermelon worm so I decided to work one over the grass mats…then the front blew through. The temp fell at least 10 degrees, the wind got up to 20-25 mph and I told
Stacy "that's it, it's over". Boy, was I wrong.
We both put on our rain suits to block the wind and falling temp and I started catching fish. I was hopping the worm across and between the grass, it would get 'mushy' and I set the hook. I had my limit by about 11 a. m. my biggest fish was about 3 pounds. Stacy still had the first keeper and that was it he had long since given up on the next two dollars! Finally, I gave him one of my worms and tried for the 42nd time to give him the pleasure of fighting the wind on the front. He refused the front. Well, I continued to catch fish, and forced him up front while I culled.
He scored his second fish and blew up. He said, "I have been feeling that all day but thought it was grass!" He ended up with four nice keepers.
We had watched Wally and Jim, who had moved into 'my hole' all afternoon. When I showed them there were fish there they worked the opposite bank and Wally really put it on Jim. He was down culling fish while Jim was still looking for his limit. We got to the weigh in and found everyone had a good day.Club records were broken in numbers and pounds. Ten fishermen with limits! Wally ended up in third place, in the money. Too bad it took
Stacy so long to get the feel he ended up one place out of the points. I finished tenth. A disappointing finish with a limit of fish, but what a great day for catching fish.
Good luck
Fred Raby
