Retrieve Limits, SAB Shell Dredge

SAB/Espiritu Santo Shell Dredge

We welcomed Derrick W. and guest wade fishing Brown Lures with Capt. Steve Boldt on Friday. Steve said the bite was really tough “but there for the taking”. Dredging oyster shell low and slow produced a soft bite with Brown Lure Devil Eyes using 1/16oz. Tru Loc jig heads.

Retrieving Success Wade Fishing Artificial Lures

What’s in a retrieve, the difference between success and failure. Winter fishing can produce some of the softest and most indistinguishable bites ever encountered. Steve said “at the end of the cast, you could feel the lure hitting on shell for a few feet followed a spongy sensation” The spongy sensation was a Trout picking up the bait. Steve mentioned that “giving them a little line to work with by dropping the rod tip and then setting the hook” produced fish, but was a little more complicated than we would like our guests to experience.

The “Ole Sidewinder”

I will never forget the time, back during the Troutmaster Tournament frenzy, when I was fishing with one of the Busha brothers and his son-in-law. Both were “beyond talented” fishermen and always did very well in the Tournament Series. We were looking for big Trout of course and I was using a typical yo-yo working the rod vertically. Mr. Busha was using this funky looking sideways sweeping retrieve working the rod tip just above the water line. In short order, Mr. Busha started putting a whooping on me. Being tractable, I started imitating the retrieve as it was the only variable. Sure enough, that was the ticket. We were throwing Bass Assassin’s at the time.

Proof’s On The Stringer

I went on to use that retrieve more often than not. I saw it’s efficacy and perfected it alternating between the classic “yo-yo” and the “ole sidewinder”. What I’ve seen many times is that a yo-yo retrieve seems best intercepting fish that are actively feeding. A sand eel imitation with a straight tail like a Sea Devil or Devil’s Eye will make quick work of these fish. During the active feeding encounter, I would often notice that the bite might disintegrate or slow down dramatically.


Mechanics

When I would encounter this slow down, I would switch to the “ole sidewinder”. My impression is that the fish are not actively feeding any longer or they’ve gotten wise to me. If you could lay a watch on the water, your belly button would be pointing at 12:00. The “ole sidewinder” starts at about 2:00 or 10:00 o’clock (depending upon whether you have a right or left hand retrieve) and sweeps horizontally and parallel to the water line from 2:00 to 5:00 o’clock or from the 10:00 to 6:00 o’clock position. You are essentially dragging the bait through the water horizontally while dredging it through the mud/grass or just above your structure. This produces a low water column retrieve and you can slow it down or speed it up as needed.

Get Comfortable

One thing about the “ole sidewinder” that I liked was holding the rod on the upper cork above the reel. It was like choking up on a bat and made for very comfortable grinding and lightning fast and lethal hooksets.

Changing Baits

When I encountered a disintegrating bite on a lure like a Sea Devil, I would employ the “ole sidewinder” and switch lures to a paddle tail mullet imitation. The action on the paddle tail along with the “ole sidewinder” can take many “apparently dead end bites” and absolutely turn things back in your favor. The paddle tail gives the lure life and it also allows for varying retrieve speeds from “death crawl” to “smoke and roll”.

While I know varying retrieves such as this also has boat fishing applications. The focus here is most evident when wade fishing with these techniques. Different baits other than those mentioned will also find production with varying retrieve styles. I’ve even used the “ole sidewinder” with finesse baits like Corky’s. Try varying your retrieve from the vertical to the horizontal next time out, it’s one more tool in the box!

Duck Season Coming To An End

This is the last weekend of duck season here in Texas. We have opportunities available for Wing Shooting with us in Chihuahua, Mexico. If interested, contact me at your convenience.

Coming Up!

Capt. Chris Cady absolutely smashed the Redfish today, pictures and details to follow!

Good luck,

Capt. Kris Kelley
Castaway Lodge, Inc.
109 W. Austin
Seadrift, TX 77983
1-888-618-4868 Office
361-785-4487 Fax
361-648-3474 Cell
 

Retrieve Limits", SAB Shell Dredge

SAB/Espiritu Santo Shell Dredge

We welcomed Derrick W. and guest wade fishing Brown Lures with Capt. Steve Boldt on Friday. Steve said the bite was really tough “but there for the taking”. Dredging oyster shell low and slow produced a soft bite with Brown Lure Devil Eyes using 1/16oz. Tru Loc jig heads.

Retrieving Success Wade Fishing Artificial Lures

What’s in a retrieve, the difference between success and failure. Winter fishing can produce some of the softest and most indistinguishable bites ever encountered. Steve said “at the end of the cast, you could feel the lure hitting on shell for a few feet followed a spongy sensation” The spongy sensation was a Trout picking up the bait. Steve mentioned that “giving them a little line to work with by dropping the rod tip and then setting the hook” produced fish, but was a little more complicated than we would like our guests to experience.

The “Ole Sidewinder”

I will never forget the time, back during the Troutmaster Tournament frenzy, when I was fishing with one of the Busha brothers and his son-in-law. Both were “beyond talented” fishermen and always did very well in the Tournament Series. We were looking for big Trout of course and I was using a typical yo-yo working the rod vertically. Mr. Busha was using this funky looking sideways sweeping retrieve working the rod tip just above the water line. In short order, Mr. Busha started putting a whooping on me. Being tractable, I started imitating the retrieve as it was the only variable. Sure enough, that was the ticket. We were throwing Bass Assassin’s at the time.

Proof’s On The Stringer

I went on to use that retrieve more often than not. I saw it’s efficacy and perfected it alternating between the classic “yo-yo” and the “ole sidewinder”. What I’ve seen many times is that a yo-yo retrieve seems best intercepting fish that are actively feeding. A sand eel imitation with a straight tail like a Sea Devil or Devil’s Eye will make quick work of these fish. During the active feeding encounter, I would often notice that the bite might disintegrate or slow down dramatically.


Mechanics

When I would encounter this slow down, I would switch to the “ole sidewinder”. My impression is that the fish are not actively feeding any longer or they’ve gotten wise to me. If you could lay a watch on the water, your belly button would be pointing at 12:00. The “ole sidewinder” starts at about 2:00 or 10:00 o’clock (depending upon whether you have a right or left hand retrieve) and sweeps horizontally and parallel to the water line from 2:00 to 5:00 o’clock or from the 10:00 to 6:00 o’clock position. You are essentially dragging the bait through the water horizontally while dredging it through the mud/grass or just above your structure. This produces a low water column retrieve and you can slow it down or speed it up as needed.

Get Comfortable

One thing about the “ole sidewinder” that I liked was holding the rod on the upper cork above the reel. It was like choking up on a bat and made for very comfortable grinding and lightning fast and lethal hooksets.

Changing Baits

When I encountered a disintegrating bite on a lure like a Sea Devil, I would employ the “ole sidewinder” and switch lures to a paddle tail mullet imitation. The action on the paddle tail along with the “ole sidewinder” can take many “apparently dead end bites” and absolutely turn things back in your favor. The paddle tail gives the lure life and it also allows for varying retrieve speeds from “death crawl” to “smoke and roll”.

While I know varying retrieves such as this also has boat fishing applications. The focus here is most evident when wade fishing with these techniques. Different baits other than those mentioned will also find production with varying retrieve styles. I’ve even used the “ole sidewinder” with finesse baits like Corky’s. Try varying your retrieve from the vertical to the horizontal next time out, it’s one more tool in the box!

Duck Season Coming To An End

This is the last weekend of duck season here in Texas. We have opportunities available for Wing Shooting with us in Chihuahua, Mexico. If interested, contact me at your convenience.

Coming Up!

Capt. Chris Cady absolutely smashed the Redfish today, pictures and details to follow!

Good luck,

Capt. Kris Kelley
Castaway Lodge, Inc.
109 W. Austin
Seadrift, TX 77983
1-888-618-4868 Office
361-785-4487 Fax
361-648-3474 Cell
 

Redfish Meltdown, Hynes & Mission Heat Up!

“Back To The Gold Standard”

Looks like things are picking up in general on the fishing front. Capt. Steve Boldt and Capt. Doug Russell limited on Trout mid-week; Steve fishing with Derrick W. and guests catching a dozen or so keepers on a tough bite Friday. Capt. Chris Cady “smoke poled” the Redfish with a decent showing on Drum on Friday with family as well.

Water Temperatures & Fresh Water

That Christmas to shortly after New Years stretch was brutal for sure but things are definitely looking good. We are piling up some timely fresh water run-off and that should set the stage for some advanced Spring action. The old timers here will tell you that fresh water trends warmer than saltwater. There in lies a migration to the brackish environs in cool Spring temperatures. Water temperatures in the shallows are already pushing low 60’s locally. Shrimp and other bait fish thrive in the fresh water while it’s effects can tend to bracket Trout and Redfish. These are all benefits to the early Spring angler.

Spotlight on Castaway Lodge Capt. Chris Cady

Chris was working in Hynes and Mission Bay on shorelines in 4’ of water with cut mullet and shrimp using a 1oz. fish finder rig. He reported the action was best early and managed to limit on Redfish around 9:00am. The guests managed another 6 solid Black Drum and a token Blue Catfish as well.

What’s In A Name

The water looks pretty tough in the area with a lot of off color fresh water. If the Reds an Drum are in it, Chris will find them. This kiddo’s been with me since he was in High School and I’ve watched him pull Redfish out of thin air at times. Chris has a somewhat quiet and smooth personality, always very helpful and polite towards our guests and they just love him. He doesn’t have any shortage of personality and he can cut up with the best of them. Ask him “what happens if he spits on the sidewalk” and he will tell you that “a Redfish will jump out of it”! He is a Cady, and that’s a name distinguished by a long heritage of colorful Inlaw & Outlaw Watermen here in Seadrift. His dad is a talented fisherman and local shrimper. He learned a lot from his dad about the movement of Redfish in the area and between the two them, they know where to “make it happen Captain”. Helping him get his Capt’s. license was very rewarding to me and one of the best investments I have ever made on behalf of our clients.

Castaway Lodge News

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Capt. Kris Kelley
Castaway Lodge, Inc.
109 W. Austin
Seadrift, TX 77983
1-888-618-4868 Office
361-785-4487 Fax
361-648-3474 Cell
 

The Last Sunset

It was the last sunset on Texas Duck Season yesterday. We are all pretty much “hat-in-hand” with thanks and humility coming off yesterday’s close. “Thanks” that we live in a great Nation with a steeped Waterfowl Legacy protected, nurtured, and passed from generation to generation. “Humble” to stand at the waters edge with the best guides, friends, and guests anyone could ask for. I think everyone, in some expression, has a strong appreciation for the birds, the majestic beauty associated with the sport that we love so dearly; and, the camaraderie with all of our clients and each and every one of you that we share our lives and experiences with. We had a great year despite an enormity of challenges with weather and conditions. I can’t thank my team enough for their tireless field work, professionalism, and expertise. I can’t thank you enough for supporting us “on the boards”.

Don't Put The Guns Up Just Yet

We've got the "Snow Goose Conservation" season kicking into high gear, contact me for details. We will be gunning NE Mexico into mid-March, if anyone is interested in scheduling a trip, we're loaded with birds! Prices range from $2,000 to $2,500 per gun.

Recent Video Release: "Texas Duck Hunting With Castaway Lodge"

Recent Slideshow Release: "Season Highlights"

Kindest regards from everyone at Castaway Lodge, “the Home of Coastal Waterfowl”.

Capt. Kris Kelley
Castaway Lodge, Inc.
109 W. Austin
Seadrift, TX 77983
1-888-618-4868 Office
361-785-4487 Fax
361-648-3474 Cell
www.coastalwaterfowl.com
www.seadriftbayfishing.com
 

Trout Limits, Brown Lure Death Crawl

SAB Trout Limits, Brown Lure Death Crawl

SAB Trout Limits, Brown Lure Death Crawl

Castaway Lodge Announces 2coolfishing Forum Sponsorship

Texas Layout Boat Hunting

Gunning through the cold weather and ice had it’s challenges here on the coast. It was a brutal assault on us and our clients as we entered “unfamiliar” conditions. We hit some homeruns and made some mistakes. Taking a page from old Arkansas duck days helped and refreshed the memory a bit when approaching freeze out conditions. We have picked up a tremendous number of ducks but light pressure is creating some problems. The birds seem like they are balling up and moving in swarms, not my favorite air traffic.

More weather coming Friday, we look for some heavy hitting tomorrow and in the near term.

Best wishes,

Capt. Kris Kelley
 

Freeze Out!

Gunning through the cold weather and ice had it’s challenges here on the coast. It was a brutal assault on us and our clients as we entered “unfamiliar” conditions. We hit some homeruns and made some mistakes. Taking a page from old Arkansas duck days helped and refreshed the memory a bit when approaching freeze out conditions. We have picked up a tremendous number of ducks but light pressure is creating some problems. The birds seem like they are balling up and moving in swarms, not my favorite air traffic.

More weather coming Friday, we look for some heavy hitting tomorrow and in the near term.

Best wishes,

Capt. Kris Kelley