Honeymooners Captain Steve & Amy Auld spending quality time on the water. Capt. Jeff Larson

2015! Hope everyone is having a great new year.  The January wrap up for duck season was about the same as last month, mostly redheads but there was an influx of other divers.  Captain Charles Gremminger and his son Carl did some lay out boat style duck hunting. Capt. “POPPA” Chuck reported buffleheads, beautiful common mergansers, and some fully plumage golden eyes.  Plus, talking to various other Captains and Guides in our area, many hunters were lucky and snagged several bird bands.  Several were so worn you couldn’t even get the numbers off of the bands.   The oldest one that was talked about at the cleaning table was 10 years old.  It was on a beautiful Pintail drake.   Do you ever imagine where all they have traveled and landed?

Another side note this season that was pretty cool, was a pelican with a tracking device on his back at the cleaning table, wanting a hand out.  He also had a bird band on his leg and it stayed there on his leg I promise.  Yes,  the thought crossed my mind to catch him and swipe his jewelry. Who doesn’t want another bird band, right? I wanted to be a good steward and report the number. You know, so I could help the biologists with their research, I am sure they would want a report on that pelican; he was doing well in Seadrift, Texas dining at the cleaning table, staying healthy eating fish scraps.  I’m sure the consequences outweigh their need for me to extract the jewelry; therefore, I left the pelican and his bright shining ring, right where I saw him.  Man, I wanted that big ol’ band on my lanyard for next season.   The stories I could tell about that one.

Anyway, January fishing patterns were intact,  I believe things are early due to the mild winter.  The mild temperatures are producing springtime stringers  in February.  What I mean by that is we are seeing nice solid fish and a bunch of ‘em on the good weather days.  February is a tricky month to fish because the weather is constantly changing.  We are still getting fronts; some stall some make it through to the coast.  The good stable weather days are banner fish catching days.  And some cloudy, windy days can be good fish catching days also.  You have to be ready and willing to go grind.  We all know,  now is the time to catch a wall hanger trout.  The majority are caught wading, but don’t be discouraged if you are not a wade fisherman.  There are some guys who have caught their trophy from a boat.

Quick story, My dad didn’t have waders the other day and he doesn’t like to wade fish because he has knee replacements and it’s uncomfortable.   The redfish schools were shallow and out of his reach.  My crew were steadily catching them wading.  Thank Goodness, my Mowdy floats super shallow, so I waded back to the boat, lifted the power pole and pushed the 25 Mowdy right up to the school so he could catch his three.

Two things,  Guides do what it takes to get their customers on fish and wading this time of year pays big dividends.
No matter what your style of fishing is, we are willing and able to get you there.  We have plenty of openings this time of year and we can’t predict the weather, so if you want to be on a call list let us know and we can set you up on a trophy trout trip.  We are dedicated to fulfilling your passion of the outdoors and committed to your needs while you are with us.  Please call Scott to set up your next fishing trip. The Saltwater Lodge reservation line is: 361 – 785 – 3825.

Have a great month and come go fishing, Captain Jeff Larson 281 – 217 – 0399.

Great weather day; Red and Black Drum

Wade fishermen sight Casting to Redfish.