VOL . 41 • ISS . 4 March 18 , 2022
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GONE FISHING continued from page 2
Be careful on how you handle speckled trout ! You wouldn ’ t want to put your fingers anywhere near it mouth . These two teeth could do some damage !
Photo Courtesy of Amy Wellenkamp
At a quick glance you may think that this is a striped bass . However , it is a redfish that Ernie Marlan caught on the Lavaca River while throwing a soft plastic bait . The baits used for redfish are very similar to those used for striped bass .
Photo Courtesy of Amy Wellenkamp
It was mid-afternoon by this point and we decided to make a run to an area off the main river that was about a 20-25 minute boat ride . During the boat ride , I found myself enjoying the similarities of the Lavaca River and the California Delta . Specifically , it looked like driving through Sherman Lake to the Sacramento River . I also thought about what popular striper baits in the Northern California region would be productive in this region for redfish and trout . I thought a weightless and weedless fluke would be a phenomenal bait to throw up on the banks in the shallow water . I also thought about throwing it near a bridge and laydowns that we fished as well . A chatter bait seemed like a no brainer ! I could see how a redfish would crush that bait . I would rig it a couple of different ways . The first , I would rig it in a traditional style which would be with a skirt and a small swimbait trailer . Secondly , I would rig it without a skirt and just a small 3-4 inch swimbait . During both days on the Lavaca River we often saw several birds working the water and diving on bait . Small baitfish and sometimes shrimp is what I think they were eating . When I see birds working like this on the delta my bait of choice is a spoon . My first choice would be a BladeRunner Spoon that weighs 1 ¾ oz and has a great fluttering action when it falls through the water column . Trust me ! There were several times I wish I had one because I think vertical jigging and fan casting near the active birds would be a very productive technique on this body of water . Captain Jason and I often talked about fishing in April or May so I could get a chance to throw topwater baits for redfish . His excitement about using topwater fishing really got me wondering when I could
make it back over there . I would love to try a wood style walking bait over there but I know your traditional spooks are a local favorite ! Once we arrived at our spot on the main river we had some good signs that gave me some confidence . The current was moving pretty good and there was great water movement . There were many birds around . Some were diving on bait and others just flying high above searching for the schools of bait . There were also birds on the bank taking advantage of bait that was being pushed up to the shoreline . This looked like prime time ! Late in the afternoon , cloud cover , good water movement and birds were working . We were casting with confidence and rightly so because it wasn ’ t long before Captain Jason hooked up with a redfish . Then Amy set the hook and was doing battle with another red . I think they both caught a couple more before I finally got in on the mix . The bite was on and we expected to get a bite on every cast . Captain Jason was on the bow of the boat and he made a cast just a couple / few feet off the bank . He was working his bait back to the boat and when he just felt weight on his rod . Was it a fish ? Was it a snag ? Well , it was moving and there were some head shakes . We quickly determined it was a fish and it was slowly headed toward deep water . It was a big fish but how big and what was it ? That is one of the great things about fishing saltwater . You never know what you are going to catch . Once the fish moved to deeper water Captain Jason handed the rod over to Amy . Amy is a experienced angler and recently caught a 175 pound tuna so we were confident that she could handle this battle . We also had FINS Braid spooled on the reel so we confident in the line as well . However , we quickly decided that
Captain Jason Stanley Guiding & Gigging Service put Amy Wellenkamp on several redfish on the Lavaca River over a two day period .
Photo Courtesy of Ernie Marlan this was an unfair contest because she had a 2500 sized reel and a 7 ft rod with a line rating of 4-10 pound test . I will guess and say it took about 15-20 minutes of chasing the fish up-river and down river with the trolling motor before we got the first look at the fish . What ? An alligator gar ! Captain Jason was so surprised because after all the years he has fished in the region he has never hooked an alligator gar . The day before we fished several miles up-river and saw several alligator gar roll . It was amazing to see them for the first time but now we were hooked up on one ! Were we going to land it ? I thought the probability of landing it was pretty low since we estimated the fish to be at least five feet long and in the 100 pound class . Amy was doing battle with this monster and got it to the boat a total of three times . I can ’ t explain to you the reaction all three of us had each time it was so close . Amazed , excited , disbelief , and hopeful are some of the words that come to mind . Amy was 45 minutes into this fight , it was starting to get dark , and who knows how far we had traveled up-river from where we initially hooked the fish . We wondered what was going to give first . Amy ’ s cramping arm , the fish , or the line . Well , after this long battle the fish just unbuttoned and the fight was over . It was a weird feeling because we knew the probability of landing this fish was probably at exactly 0 %. I think we just celebrated that we hooked the alligator gar and had an amazing and unforgettable experience fighting it . Truly , an incredible and memorable experience . One that I don ’ t think any of us will ever forget . The plan is for Amy and I to head back to Texas this Spring or in the Fall to throw topwater lures for redfish . I cannot wait and I plan to bring some of the baits I mentioned earlier to see if they work . If you have ever considered fishing for redfish , speckled trout , flounder give Captain Jason a call . He is a phenomenal guy , a great guide , and will do a great job making you laugh while putting you on some great fish . You can reach him at 361-771-5945 or you can find him on FaceBook at Captain Jason Stanley Guiding & Gigging Service .