Arternoon Smashings!!

[shallowist]

Had a few hours to kill late today, and tried to call a few friends..... :confused:Hit one of my favorite winter wade spots, and it worked well!

Stepped into the water thinking that today was the day for the topwater bite to come back. Air temps at least 5-10 degrees above the water temp, barometric dropping, tides moving.... Water was excessively clear, I guess still around 52-55, nice overcast skies with a drop or two falling off and on. Got to the little muddy stretch, where the shell starts up, and worked the little ninja spook that had done so well there over the last year. Nada! Looked down at my boots in thigh deep water and after reading everything that was printed on them, I thought, I know what color to throw when the water is super clear. I pulled out a Catch 2000 in one of my favorite (no longer in production) colors, #19. For those who don't speak Mirr-O-lure code, that's dark green back, gold sides, yellow belly. Great color in some very specific situations.

Good thing that I had that one, second cast yielded the first fish of the day, at about 21 inches and easily 3 or 3.5 pounds, got a pic and dropped her back in the water. A few casts later, missed a good bite, then a couple more and hooked up with number 2. Second fish was slightly bigger, 23ish and probably about 4 to 4.5 pounds. Kept fan casting around the sweet spot, and hooked a 3rd trout after about 10 minutes. This one was nice, in the 25 inch range and very stout. Safe guess was about 5.5 to 6 pounds. On a very long cast, as far out into the open water as I could heave the catch 2, i stuck a very nice red, 26 inches and heavy headed. I thought for sure that this would be my 9 pound trout, but not today.:mad: This was all around the end of the outgoing tide. I noticed the the water was barely moving and then immediately picked up coming in. didn't get a bite for about 20 minutes so I walked around to another area where they hang. Missed one bite, and decided that I needed to go back to my top water theory.

Tied on the big spook in the "Jimmy Houston" chartreuse back, scheme. worked my way back to the area where the first bites came from as the drizzle started back up, and noticed that the sun was almost on the horizon. Got back in the spot and thought that I had a little blow, gave it a pause and then twitch, twitch, BOOM! Stuck another nice trout about 25 inches and between 5 and 6 pounds. About this time, the light was leaving, the mosquittos bitting and the bait wasn't moving. I decided that I had gotten most of what I came for and packed it in. All together I think that I had 7 or 8 bites in just under 2 hours, landed 4 trout 21-25 inches, and one red that was about 26.

I have a few cheesey cell phone picks sans angler, since I was flying solo. Hope you like them..:D well, in a few I guess. Still waiting for them to make it through the mail system from Black Berry to my puter. Post them as soon as they come through.

[Explorer21]

Damn Steve you took care of them today, nice report. Still looking to hook up with you.

[reeltime]

you make me sick with envy:D

[imhammer]

Very nice Steve....Wish I could have made it, but Anniversary dinner was Great!

[shallowist]

those fish aren't going anywhere far for a few months. I'm pissed at my stupid phone, never had a problem emailing a picture before. They text fine but can't get them to send as an email tonight. I took 7 pictures and 5 came out good. Close ups of the fish with the lure dangling. that's rare that I can actually make a camera work....

[Texxan1]

Sounds like a nice time Steve

Glad to know the fish are starting to bite again lol.. It was a long weekend with the slow bites

[txwhaler 22]

very nice very well written report!
sounds like you had agreat trip!

[extremewaderdude88]

very nice very well written report steve!
sounds like you had a great trip!and glad u did good also

[Ibtsoom]

Great Job! Thanks for the report!!

[Nwilkins]

Sweeeeet

[kenny]

Great report Steve. Sounds like a good bite for a short afternoon trip.
I use the 2000 jr. a lot in the winter, and that pattern topwater with the green stripe, we call the love bait.
Caught a lot of trout on that. Be sure to check out the new rattlin' (or one knocker) Spook at FTU. It's the perfect size between Super and Jr.

[shallowist]

Apparantly AT&T is having trouble with their network. My girlfriend told me that she couldn't get to facebook from her phone?? so she called yesterday and they said network was down. As soon as I can I will post the pics.

Kenny, have seen them, just not bought any yet. I'm old enough to have fished the orriginal spooks in salt water many years ago. I'm all about the big click this time of year. :)

[ron johnson]

Very, Very nice Steve!

[shallowist]

ATT finally woke up....here's the pics!

[shallowist]

here's the pics!:D

[nokatchin]

very nice.great pics.congrats

[Explorer21]

Nics pics, thanks for sharing.

[Robalo]

Great report and pics-thanks Capt. Steve-you made my day.

[shallowist]

Gonna try to get there again this evening. Joe Kent asked me for a big fish picture for something that he's writing for the Daily News. Sure would be nice to catch a big one and get that spot..:)

[plugger]

Thanks for the great discriptive report !! Congratulations and cool pictures. Too bad you didn't have me along with MY REAL CAMERA...hint, hint LOL. Dang work gets in the way of fishing and I have a cold now, too. :)

[shallowist]

Thanks for the great discriptive report !! Congratulations and cool pictures. Too bad you didn't have me along with MY REAL CAMERA...hint, hint LOL. Dang work gets in the way of fishing and I have a cold now, too. :)

Get over that cold and bring the camera! These were very close to the area we caught them last week. I need a picture of me with a big one. :D

[plugger]

I can use the panoramic feature on the camera for the big one !! :D

[shallowist]

One could only hope to have the need for a panoramic camera when fishing for trout!

[FishinAddiction]

The Shallowist strikes again! Nicely done sir, nicely done.

[FLAPPER]

capt.SS on the prowl again. great report.that was a good read.

[gsb]

Great read. Almost like being there!

[dbarham]

nice report and pics thanks!

[shallowist]

round two report posted shortly.

[extremewaderdude88]

man i need a camera to take with me to wade fishing but no room for my waders or anywhere...im afraid it might get wet

[Steve_A]

man i need a camera to take with me to wade fishing but no room for my waders or anywhere...im afraid it might get wet
................... Olympus makes some nice waterproof cameras that will fit in your shirt pocket.

[extremewaderdude88]

thanks..ill see what i can do!

[shallowist]

................... Olympus makes some nice waterproof cameras that will fit in your shirt pocket.

Just finished eyballing the next camera at Fry's. Pop and Pimp both have waterproof. I think the good one is little over 200$, they have a small one that is 12 megapixels and 5 times zoom for 139$. It's not waterproof, but neither is the blackberry that I took the pics with the day before. Bought a little dry bag that I carry with me, just have to be careful when I take it out for photo ops. I also saw a Fuji that was around 149$ that is waterproof. they will get cheap in the next few weeks when retailers see their numbers and get scared!! I'll be watching. :D

[plugger]

man i need a camera to take with me to wade fishing but no room for my waders or anywhere...im afraid it might get wet

I got a PENTAX waterproof camera for $300. It's suppose to shoot underwater pics and movies as well. I have it tied to a leash around my neck and tuck it in my waders . You DO want it tied to you somehow so as not to drop it. There are less expesive models . Look up my thread started by me asking " what camera do you use " to get the input I got before buying my camera. :)

[plugger]

Here you go. September 8, under " help " forum, " what camera do you like ? " . :)

[Nwilkins]

http://www.fujifilmusa.com/products/digital_cameras/z/finepix_z33wp/index.html

This is what I got from Santa, Ha, now I can be like Chip

[michelle]

i had an olympus 790 waterproof and loved it. i lost it somewhere and just replaced it w/ an olympus 560 waterproof for 149 at walmart. the only thing i don't like about them is you have to reset the settings each time you power off. the default setting on autofocus doesn't take nearly as good of pics as the other settings do. the software is extremely user friendly and the resizing feature is super easy to use. i hope to have more of a review on the 560 soon,, but it does use the same software.
michelle

[shallowist]

I dropped my $$ on the Pentax Optio W80 at Frys'. they had it on sale day after Xmas, for 239, and since the only one left was open box, I got it for 215. Took a few land lubber shots already and it has some cool features, including 5x optical zoom. I picked it over the Olympus that I had seen primarily because the zoom was better and it was almost 150 less. I will give it the water test today and hopefully not be let down.

[imhammer]

http://www.fujifilmusa.com/products/digital_cameras/z/finepix_z33wp/index.html

This is what I got from Santa, Ha, now I can be like Chip

Yep.....That little one has done an awesome job for me with photos and videos!

[reeltime]

Yep.....That little one has done an awesome job for me with photos and videos!

hey i didn't know you the fuji chip :confused: now i guess i'll have to take my new fuji back.....not.......i ordered the little silicon johnson for it.

[Steve_A]

I'm in the market for a new camera too. Walmart is carrying the Olympus Stylus tough for $250.00. It's water and shock-proof. I would of gotten it, but the lines were way to long. Best Buy also has it at the same price, but you have to get in on-line.

[FlatoutFishin]

I dropped my $$ on the Pentax Optio W80 at Frys'. they had it on sale day after Xmas, for 239, and since the only one left was open box, I got it for 215. Took a few land lubber shots already and it has some cool features, including 5x optical zoom. I picked it over the Olympus that I had seen primarily because the zoom was better and it was almost 150 less. I will give it the water test today and hopefully not be let down.

I've been very happy with my Pentax Optio WPi. It's going on 3 years old and still works great. I've swam all over the reef in Belize and carried it accidently in some shorts while wading and never had a problem. I misplaced it awhile back, and went and bought the newer version, probably the one you have, and it too worked really well until i took it diving in Playa. Take it from me, when they say 10ft...they mean 10ft!:mad: Luckily, I found my old one right after that. :)

You'll be happy with it!

[shallowist]

Steve, the tough that wallyworld has is 10 MP, that's why I went to the Pentax, it's 12MP and 5X zoom. Both of the Tough models are 3.6X zoom. I can vouch for the picture quality and HD movie capabilities of the 12MP tough. Watched a DPop sailfish video on the way to the bay last week that was very impressive. didn't get to shoot any pics today, will have to give it the test later this week.

[trophytroutman]

nice report.

[key lime kayaker]

Nice report Steve. That green back Jimmy Houston plug is officially called the "Okie Shad" in case you didn't know.
I have taken lots of good trout on it over the years, as I am sure many others have also.
I gave one to your friend Henry (Plugger) in 1999 and it was the very first top water plug that he caught a trout on. Next time you see him, kindly remind him please!
By the way, I'm the guy that gave you the FishSlick stringer at the show a few years back.

[shallowist]

Nice report Steve. That green back Jimmy Houston plug is officially called the "Okie Shad" in case you didn't know.
I have taken lots of good trout on it over the years, as I am sure many others have also.
I gave one to your friend Henry (Plugger) in 1999 and it was the very first top water plug that he caught a trout on. Next time you see him, kindly remind him please!
By the way, I'm the guy that gave you the FishSlick stringer at the show a few years back.

I remember the Okie Shad name, it just never felt right for me to call a lure by that name here...:) The day that I met Henry I think that I was throwing that plug as well.

I do remember you very well. Are you still making the stringers?? I have pretty much worn that one out, but still use it. I think that has be 6 or 7 years now!!!! Great product!