Cast and Blast – Arroyo Style

LeeRoy Gonzales, of LG Outfitters in South Texas and I planned a Cast and Blast in the Arroyo area near Harlingen Texas.  We planned to start out with a Dove hunt and then move to the Back Bays and catch some fish in the super shallow water bay system which is known for its amazing top-water action and endless flats.

The Dove hunting proved to be slow at first.  We initially set up near a tree line adjacent to a grain field.  We were waiting for the birds to fly over us as they headed to the grain fields for an evening dinner.   It seemed that we had a solo dove here and there but it was slow.   We were watching all around us and we noticed that some hawks were hovering over the field itself and they would spook up small groups of dove in the field.  We therefore moved into the field itself and hunkered down low to the ground and set up our Mojo Dove decoy.  That was the tick, doves would come in to the decoy and we were able to get the hunt into high gear.   We were using automatic 20 gauge shot guns.  The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department manages Texas hunting and we were allowed 3 shots at a time.  We had a great hunt after we changed up the plan and moved to the center of the grain fields.

We then headed for the back-bay and caught some really nice Redfish and a few trout as well.  We drift fished the flats and stood up on top of the center console and leaning post so we could see the fish and cast either soft plastics or top-water to them.  All in all we had an excellent Cast and Blast.  We captured it all on HD footage for Television.  Special thanks to Jennifer for shooting the video for us.   Contact LG Outfitters at---- 1-956-371-0220------ and they can put you on a great “Cast and Blast” as well.

 

 Outdoorsman’s Note:

We cooked up the proceeds of our hunt and fishing and had some great, off the grill eating.  We deboned the dove breasts and wrapped them with bacon and stuffed them with jalapenos and cheese.  We also cooked the Redfish on the grill as “Redfish on the Half Shell”.   We covered the fish with Ranch dressing, some special spices and some crispy onions.  After about 25 minutes, we were ready to sit down and enjoy a great meal.

Thanks For Your Time Today and……………………..I’ll See You In The Outdoors !!

Hiking in……. and Camping

Most people think that packing in your tent and camping gear can be a really back breaking…tough task !!    Truth is, with today’s new technology, you can do it much more easily than you could in the past.

We are gearing up to shoot a television show focusing on Hiking into the Mountains of Big Bend, 8 miles in, and then setting up camp and staying for several nights.  It will take some serious pre-planning to make sure we have what we need to stay warm at night and have food and water to last our days in the outdoors.

    

It makes sense to get your gear together ahead of time and make a shorter hike, 2-3 miles, to make sure that you have your act together.   A large backpack loaded up should fit very comfortable to your body.

Your really not hanging the pack-pack on your shoulders.  Instead, you’re strapping the pack to your back with a multiple strap system.   Test it out first and dial it in to make sure that it supports your back and is comfortable.  That is key !!

Some folks like to go camping with a little more comfort.  For example, some like to rent a cabin, others like to pull a Trailer with their Motorcycle and have a Tent System in the Trailer.  You can also pull a Travel Trailer or pull a Fifth-Wheel trailer.  Either way, get out there and see some great country side.   Garner State Park and Lost Maples State Parks are only 1.5 hrs from San Antonio, our home base, so make the plan and get in the outdoors.  You don’t have to go to Colorado or New Mexico to go hiking, look on-line to find some great hiking close to your home base.

Outdoorsman’s Note:

Making a packing list makes good sense.  I suggest you use these items for your list at a minimum: Good High Quality Hiking Boots or shoes, Back-Pack, Tent and Tent Tarp, Small Hammer, Sleeping Bags, Sleeping Pads, Brunton Compass, Map of the Area, Portable Chairs, Rope, Waterproof matches, Toilet Paper,  Flash light and Extra Batteries, Small Wood Saw, Water, Food, 2 Way Radios, Camping Pillow, First Aid Kit, Hat, Insect Repellent, Rain Gear, Multi-Purpose Tool or Knife.

                 

Thanks For Your Time Today and……………………..I’ll See You In The Outdoors !!

Badlands Fishing - ON FIRE !!

Rich Gidrey, Mike Jalifi , and I. left the boat ramp from Bird Island Basin at 6:30am in search of some rod-bending action. 

The transition between Summer and Fall can be some of the most awesome weather we can hope for in the year.  What makes it great is the fact that the winds can be just right, 10-20mph, and the heat of the Texas Summer has dropped to the 70-85 degree range instead of the 98-105 degree range.

We hammered down the throttle of the 250-HO Evinrude motor and ran at a top speed of 62 miles per hour, that is really fast on the water.   Our first stop was a barrier island complex that we saw on the way south.   We moved in and surveyed the area looking for three things, visible signs of baitfish, moving water and birds.  We had 2 of the three; we had moving water and birds working the shorelines.  The plan today was to use life piggy perch on a size 4 mustad croaker style hook.   We used 30 or 40 lb braided line with both bait-casters and spinning reels.  The first stop was not productive so we jumped back up on top and ran further south.

We chose the Badlands of Baffin bay because of the amazing rock formation structure that is sometimes just under the water’s surface.  These rocks hold baitfish and sometimes, just sometimes ----Big Trout and Redfish.  Today we hammered the Redfish, oversized Reds and top of the slot reds.  We moved probably 10 short moves against a shoreline working the rocks.  When you fish the rocks of Baffin bay, you will get hung up in the rocks and have to break off your hook and tie on another hook.  If you’re not getting hooked up in the rocks, you’re not fishing tight enough to the rocks.  The fish will be right in on and around the rocks.  Don’t be afraid of losing hooks, it is part of the game.  Use a Uni-knot tied directly to the braided line and you can break your line by aiming the rod directly toward the rock, tighten your drag all the way and pull the rod and reel back until the line breaks, it will almost always break at the knot and you will get all of your line back.   Simply tie on another new hook and bait up and get back out there.

Anglers Report:

Now----What made the fishing so good on this trip ?   Why were we so productive ?  

First, we had a sliver of a moon the night before, that means that the fish could not see very well so they did not feed much.  Second, we had moderately stained water, that means that the fish can find our bait by sight but they could not see us in the 24 foot Mako Bay-Boat that we were fishing from.  Third, there were visible signs of baitfish.  I mean at our last stops, where we hammered the Redfish, we could see mullet jumping and silver flashes in the water indicating that baitfish were in the area.  Forth, we could see birds hovering over the water in areas, sitting on the water in the middle of a bay and foraging along the shores.   That means that there were baitfish in the area and they were feeding.  

 
Seeing all these things helps us identify that we have a “Multiplier Effect” working for us.  We had 4 signs that the fishing should be good. 

Use the “Multiplier Effect” for your fishing and you just might…………………………… “Catch More Fish”.

Thanks for your time today and….I’ll see you in the outdoors !!

Dave