Spring break fun

This has been a pretty good spring break. I got some quality time with both boys one on one and together, and I got some time on the water with the boys and a couple friends.
The other day my youngest boy Wyatt asked if I would take him fishing, he really had to twist my arm to take him Ha! Ha! I loaded the backpack with a few jigs, water, and a couple cookies. We only had to walk a few hundred yards down the road to the honey hole on the creek. There was a down tree at the waters edge that made a real nice seat, Wyatt called it Mother Natures chair.

From Mother natures chair he had a blast catching the White Bass as they make there spring run up the creek to spawn. He wore the fish out and the fish really wore him out.

We caught so many fish together, we had to call home to ask my wife to pick up two fishy guys with a stringer load of fish. He was super proud to show off the catch to his Momma.

I sent a text to a friend and told him they are biting, hurry up and get over here! Brian made it over and up the road we go back to Mother natures chair but this time a five gallon bucket to haul back the catch a little easier. I dont park the truck down the road because I have permission, but if I start parking there it will invite trespassers. Brian had fun catching and he hauled his limit home too, I think its been awhile since he cleaned 25 fish at one time.

We caught a lot of fish and made plans for taking the kayaks out the next day.

The next day Brian and I hit the creek to chase the White Bass again, but this time for Kayak Wars points not the freezer. Between the two of us we only had to catch 20 White Bass over 12 inches long, then we would max out that species for that month for the whole team. I done it last month by my self, I teased them and told the team they better get on the ball LOL!

 Brian started off with putting on a bait his wife picked out, I told him she should have gotten two because it will probably catch fish since she really does not have a clue on what a fish might bite. Well sure enough it caught the fish that day. I made sure to get the bait in the picture so he will have prof she picked a winner for that trip.

The fish was still in the area but not wanting to bite like the day before. We still caught a lot of fish and met the quota for Kayak Wars.

You would think after catching a couple hundred White Bass a fellow would be tired of catching them. These fish for there size really put up a great fight and even more if there is a good flowing current. We like to use ultra light gear with 6 to 8 pound line and 1/16 to 1/8 ounce jigs or spoons style baits. Its only once a year they run up the creeks like this and it is a great way to kick off the spring fishing season catching lots of fish that really does not require a lot of tackle.

Then on Saturday I slept in late and it felt good. My hands where sore from the fishing the day before, and I really was not planning on hitting the water. By lunch time I got to thinking about my oldest boy not getting out enough in the kayak. I asked him if he wanted to go the past few times but he always pasted it up and wanted to play his video games instead. This time instead of asking I just nicely told him to get dressed and help me load up both kayaks, he did not argue at all. Dalton is still very green at the kayak fishing game but he learning fast.

We caught a lot of the little yellow bellies also, they do get up to 14 inches but it seems that 4 to 6 inches is way more common. Yes he likes that hair long, I dont mind as long as grades are up and good attitude. Dalton had a tough time with line getting tangled and using a brush grabber for anchoring. He laughed a few times about it too, I told him we all have days like that and you are doing the right thing by laughing it off. He is also learning on removing treble hooks from the fish, and the little ones are not easy sometimes.

Dalton caught some for the freezer and I showed off by stocking the freezer HA! HA!

We all had a fun time making great memories together that we can look back on and pass on to the next generation.

Kayaking with friends

The weather and water is warming up and even tho I fish year round, I still get excited every spring. For me its when the White Bass and Crappie start to run up the creeks and rivers from the main lake to spawn. The White Bass are great fighters and really fun on ultra light gear. Lake Arlington is ten foot low, it has been a dry winter. For a couple weeks after work I would walk down to the creek and wet the hook for a few. One evening I caught a good mess of Crappie, I called up my buddy Brian with the news that it has begun. We got together the very next weekend, we tried for the Crappie with no luck for hours. Brian's kitchen pass was only good for a few hours and he was running out of time. I told him my honey hole should be in the shade by now, so we gave it a shot.

That's a smile!

The honey hole paid off at the last minute, we caught over 20 fish together in 30 minutes time. I think Brian was thinking I was nuts saying the fish hiding in a small tree in 2 foot of water, but after back to back catching he had a blast.

A stringer full of Crappie to break in his new Jackson Cuda 12, great way to end the day. Brian has some relatives coming in and he wanted to have a fish fry for them, so he was happy to bring fish home for the freezer.
A week later I was trying for Crappie after work again and caught a White Bass, I was excited and let a couple buddies know. We got together for a quick trip up the creek, Brian, CudaDude, Dalton, and CudaDude brought a friend.

We all caught fish and had fun shooting the bull and goofing off. A cold front came in and I hope the White Bass have not started the spawn yet. Mostly all males was caught , so I don't think they are done. The weather just teased the fish, but that's Texas and mother nature for ya.

I have not been doing a good job keeping this blog updated, I will try to do better with that. I have been keeping very busy with family, work, and of course kayak fishing.
Things in my life have finally started turning around for the better. Thanks to my family and great friends for the moral support.

One of the awesome things that happened is I was asked to join the pro staff fishing team for Kayak Instruction out of Dallas. They are the number one Jackson Kayak dealer in Texas. Thanks to Mark, I'm sure he put in the good word for me. I looked and paddled a lot of kayaks at get togethers and done lots of reading. Jackson's kayaks stayed on the top of the list all the way, and once I had my pennies saved up, it was a tough on which Jackson I was going with, I liked all of the Jackson fishing kayaks. I even lost sleep thinking on it lol. I went with the Jackson Cuda 14, it fit my needs and wants over all. I have been taking my sweet time getting the kayak rigged up with pole holders, fish finder, and installing the rudder. This yak has a lot of storage from end to end, and it is making it fun with all the options and ideas. I have only been out half a dozen times or so, this kayak is very comfortable, stable, and fast in my opion.