12/21 and 12/24 Report on the Bayous

If we don't get any heavy rains and you want to catch fish, try hitting the numerous deep cuts, bayous and rivers in our area.

On Friday 12/21 ventured out into Bastrop Bayou with my son-n-law, Charlie and his dad.  Drifting the shell reefs in 4-6 feet of water we caught trout and reds and one small flounder.  Kept 6 of the trout for eating, threw rest back.  Hot bait was glow/chartruese tail either in a minnow imitation (TTF flats minnow) or curly tail grub on 1/8 oz jighead.   I also caught some trout on pink minnow imitation.  Tried other colors but not even a bump.  Also, no action on topwater or suspending baits.  All fish were caught on the bottom, if you weren't getting hung up from time to time you weren't fishing the right depth.  Charlie's dad was able to catch a number of small reds on 4" white gulp shrimptail, using the deadsticking method.  For those that don't know deadsticking is when you cast your artifical and just let it sit there.  Scented baits work best for this.  There was a small deep area where the reds were ganged up.  Interesting thing was if he threw in there with gulp, he would catch a red, however no trout, but if I or Charlie cast into the spot with the glow soft plastics we would catch a trout and not a redfish.

Another interesting thing is when the 6 trout were cleaned, not one of them had anything in their stomachs.

On Monday 12/24 Charlie, his dad and uncle hit Chocolate Bayou and fished same structure.  They caught mainly trout and another small flounder.  Same baits used, however Charlie's dad did stick a couple of trout on super spook jr. early in the morning.

The fishing in the rivers, bayous and deep cuts will only get better.  Another tip, if weather warms, the fish will become suspended and not be laying on the bottom and they will move up on the flats.