New Lower Coast Video

3-25-07- Lower Coast-3 Boats

3 Boats
That’s right! We only saw three boats while fishing today. I have no clue why; the sun penetrated the clouds in the afternoon and winds were calm making conditions ideal today.
First wade was on a grassy bar filled with potholes and excited baitfish. Topwater plugs worked slowly down the edge and over the potholes worked best for a limit to four pounds. Fish bit best at daylight and dwindled slightly until our next wade over grass and sand up tight to the shoreline.
Just as yesterday, my partners and I kept our surface walkers on the line and made slow steps along a grass bed tight to the shoreline. Numbers of trout to 4 ½ pounds came quickly and full limits of reds arrived even faster. Red/White Devil Eyes along with light colored soft plastics were excellent in the crystal clear water. Trout and Baby Bass Patterned Super Spooks were best for the specks.
Sorry to those who missed out! ;p

-Kyle

Video available at www.kyletomek.com/videos.htm

March 24, 2007-Lower Coast Report

Rich with Bronze
Upper Laguna Report
March 24, 2007-Winds were blowing!! Just as they have for the last few weeks. Three anglers and I left the dock at daylight for a grassy bar holding potholes and an excellent drop off. The spot was gleaming with potential.
Boats drifted near us from behind and boats were stacked thick in the area. The early morning wade offered several smashes on super spooks and ghosts but the best bite for a few specks came on soft plastic.
Upon noticing frantic mullet, drifting over rocks became our approach for targeting specks and reds. Pumpkinseed, chartreuse, and white soft plastics was definitely the top color. Two specks, between 24-25, were the biggest of the day and two of several we caught in the area.
Wading grass potholes tight in beautiful water tight to the shoreline proved successful at lunch time until late in the afternoon. Redfish came on nearly every cast and numerous keeper sized specks entertained throughout the majority of the day. Awesome day....tomorrow will be spent looking for "one bite."

March 18, 2007

A Stop to
Check-in
on Baffin
Well if you have been tuning into my previous blog feeds you would know fishing was on the slower side for finding big trout. Not to mention, nearly all of the fish we caught were very scattered; making it almost rare to get into a good bite.
Saturday morning began with near-perfect weather...making it even tougher to pack up my bags to head back home.
One hour later, while passing through Riviera my buddy and I decided an afternoon run into Baffin just made sense.
We waded an area from around 2 until dark with high hopes for finally getting that trout we have been looking for....in other news, don't ask me about the big trout I lost today; I'm still recovering from it.

Kyle

March 16, 2007-Lower Laguna

In Search of Big Girls

Rediculously high north winds were definitely expected during weather forecasts for this morning. My group of guys and I strapped on the frog togs along with the waders and headed south in search of clean water holding some quality fish.

First wade consisted of a half limit of keeper specks using red/white soft plastics. Topwaters and Corky's just were not producing like they have in the previous weeks.

The following wade found us wading along the ICW spoils that have been producing for us lately with fair results. The water was great and the wind was not too much of a nuisance; the bite just never really turned on. It was an all morning grind for the fish we obtained until we took a break for lunch.

The afternoon was all about drifting with weedless spoons and red/white Brown Lure tails.

Making drifts across potholes to the south of Mansfield was productive for scattered specks and reds. Garrett boxed a redfish at 27 3/4 inches-a perfect tournament red. Sunset found us cleaning fish and preparing for some karaoke fun at El Jefe's. Saturday will most likely consist of a trip back home and hopefully Sunday will find me in East Matagorda chasing some big girls with hopefully more consistent action. It was a slot week here on the lower coast....you win some you lose some..I'd say we did in between!

-Kyle

March 15, 2007

Working Hard for 'em
Just another day in the Lower Laguna: The only difference today was that we awoke to nonexistent winds and expectations to tear up some specks and reds on the first wade. 2 hours later, bait was no where to be found and our first wade over mud/grass in waist deep water produced only one speck on a Super Spook. Spoils along the ICW was our next destination. This spot consisted of us casting brown lure tails in red/white to specks laying against the dropoffs and topwaters to trout holding in potholes. We made four to five more wades and several drifts with limited results. We ended the day with a limit of trout and reds. The last wade was an unproductive search for trophy trout and was over three hours long and produced an oversized red. It was tough fishing with calmer conditions than we have been accustomed to down here in the Lower Laguna this week. Winds are pumping out of the north at 20 and we hope to track down some clear water!

March 14, 2007

Lower Laguna

& Ripping Winds

Awaking to high winds isn’t the envied by most Texas Coast anglers. While spending a week on the lower coast, this morning’s wade consisted of off-color water and one stiff South wind.
“Strap on some loud, black topwaters,” I said as I eased into the three foot depth over mud and grass.
Surprisingly this morning was warm enough to wet wade for the other five fishermen; I was comfortable in my breathable waders.
The initial wade lasted several hours. Positioned in an area holding fair colored water, at a place we knew held big trout, was our best bet for boxing several, fat trout for each angler.
I was chunking a trout colored Super Spook before switching to an all black Spook.
The biggest of the wade was a 26 along with an oversized red; which were also one anglers’ 2nd and 3rd fish ever on topwater.
We soon began drifting grass at a deep depth of 4-5 ft. for the rest of the afternoon. The fish were scattered but we stick with it using red/white Brown Lure Devil Eyes. Another 25 inch speck was released and several limits of redfish hit the deck!
It was an exciting day on the lower coast, but we definitely had to work for our fish.

March 13, 2007

Fighting the Slow Bite…
In the Lower Laguna
March 12, 2007-Driving dead into the face of 20 mph winds and blistering rain didn’t stop us from entering Port Mansfield Monday afternoon.
With two hours left to spare, we hit an area we have had good luck in the past with hopes of fooling a few specks on topwater.
Water was slightly off-colored, the flat was void of bait, and bites were tough to come by.
Several small trout were caught and released with time to spare before dark. We made a last drift before beginning preparation for the following morning.
March 13, 2007
The next morning, we greeted sunrise by throwing topwaters, Corkys, and soft plastics over a mix of grass and mud. With poor results, we made several other wades before finally walking into a solid group of fish. By working soft plastics along the ICW, we located keeper sized specks in good numbers. Chrome Super Spooks and Super Spook Jr.’s worked rapidly over potholes were successful for heavy specks as well. We worked hard for the fish we acquired. We ended the afternoon with releases of two specks in the 25-26 inch range along with half limits in the box for this week’s dinners.
It was a great way to kick off the week in Port Mansfield. Look for more Lower Laguna reports this week!

Winter 2006 in Review

A Fun, Quick Run

Finally! I’ve made my return to the salt after a busy intermission crammed with captain school, midterm exams, and the CCA Chapter duties at Texas State. A midday run to Matagorda’s deep shell exceeded expectations and boosted my outlook for an exciting week of fishing I have ahead.
I broke out the 25’ Explorer Flatsmaster and aimed her East down the ICW. Without an idea where the fish have been biting lately, I knew of an area that consistently furnishes fights with schooling reds and trout.
Drifting semi-cloudy water across a drop off of 3-4’ shell to 5-6’ mud/shell mix really didn’t provide amazing results, but we definitely hooked into some nice scattered fish. 1/8 ounce lead heads matched with bone, dark strawberry, and pearl Brown Lures' Devil Eyes stayed on the end of the line.


Only a couple trout were hungry but the redfish made a reasonable presence for us. For only being on the water a few hours this afternoon limits of redfish to 27 inches were more than we could ask for.
The type of fishing we did today will definitely help you distinguish a hang on shell from an actual “bite.” We were dragging the lures very slow; often bumping it across the bottom.
Look forward to more reports this week. I’m going to attempt to squeeze in 5 days in Port Mansfield and two in Baffin. Wish me luck!! ;)
-Kyle

The Fishing Show

THE FISHING SHOW
I had an excellent time at the fishing show yesterday visiting with the good folks at Gulf Coast Connections/TSF, Brown Lures, Lone Star Outdoor News, Fishing Tackle Unlimited, Full Stringer Lodge,and Tran Boats among many others. I thoroughly enjoyed working the Laguna booth for a short while.
What the show has to offer and the amount of things to lay eyes on will probably take me back this weekend. I recommend taking a visit.


Here is what else the show has to offer:
32nd Annual Houston Fishing Show
Where: George R. Brown Convention Center, 1001 Avenida De Las Americas (Located in downtown Houston) Exhibit Hall A, Houston Texas, 77010, 713-853-8000 View Map
When: Starts Wednesday, Feb 28 and lasts 5 days through Sunday, March 4th
Hours: Wednesday through Friday 12:00 noon to 9:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Admission: Adults - $8.00 Children (6-12) - $2.00


Exhibit Space:
With over 200,000 square feet of space available, the 31st annual even will be the largest consumer fishing show in the nation.
Show Theme:
The emphasis will be on fishing tackle and fishing boats with all facets of the world of fishing fully explored through displays, clinics and movies.

Types of Exhibits
Fishing
The latest in all types of fishing equipment from manufacturers around the world
Equipment:
displayed and demonstrated.
Boats:
Bass boats from all over the South completely rigged with all the electronic gear and equipment that have made these boats famous will be displayed. Blue water rigs equipped to tackle the Gulf Coast fishing waters and smaller bay rigs play an important part of the boating display.
Guides:
Guides for both fresh water and salt water will be present in large numbers from all over the world.
Vacation:
National resort areas including exhibits from regional resort areas, marinas, fishing camps and seashore will have experts available to help the Southern fisherman plan his vacation
Seminars:
Seminars will be conducted on the subject of fishing. These “clinics” will be staffed with experts in each particular field of interest.