July 31, 2005 — Catching A Breathe

Man, what a wicked busy two weeks.  Wall to wall fish, a bachelor party, three TV shows, and a number of writers plus all the folks from Shakespeare.  The consumer market and All-Star lovers should be chomping at the bit to get to the new products Shakespeare/All-Star/Pflueger have lined up for the 2006 season.  We got to test the new Getaway Adventures Lodge Signature All-Star and needless to say in the immortal words of Napoleon Dynamite, “Awesome.”  Next time you fish with us borrow one and be amazed!

Now on to the fishing, what can we say but here is to the dog days of summer.  Typical lower Laguna Madre south Texas mornings and fishing.  Water has been mirror calm until noon, both bay and offshore.  Top water mornings to our delight and fish deep in the afternoon.  A ton of water out of the bay right now but only helps to make the fish a lot more predictable and staging in our favorite places.

Trout are killing anything on top from sunrise until 10:30 or so.  Redfish are extremely skinny but turning on with the sight casting potential.  However, it is much easier to get the reds to eat on fly right now than artificials, ankle to shin deep water in crystal clear water.  However, only the truly efficient need to apply, 50 to 60 feet casts into a coffee can to get these fish to eat.  High grass laying so you have to get that instant strike before you get fouled in the grass.  But hey, that is what it is all about.  My buddy Jesse and I landed 10 reds and 20+ keeper trout before 10:30 on Saturday and released them all.  Are you doing your part?

Offshore fishing has been incredible with a number of tarpon hooked and landed.  The first break between the surf and beach has been very productive with some very very large fish targeted.  King fish and snapper have been world class.  However, the shrimpers are just not complying this year they are culling on the run making it very hard to get fish to stage underneath them.  They have to take a break sometime so we just remain patient.

Look forward to these patterns to remain through the end of August and then the white tail hunting to start taking off.  If you are interested in Cast and blast sign up soon we only have a very limited amount of space remaining!