Feb 03 2025
Steve Vandehey
Fry
Beautiful early February Sunday on Malouf. Low around 50, high near 75. Bright sunshine most of the day. After recent rains, the water level is much higher than my last visit—I'd call it “normal” based on prior trips. The water visibility was very low, maybe 4”. The wind was blowing 10-20 mph, so the water was a bit choppy.
Lesson 1: always leave the boat flipped over. Recent rains left me with a boat full of water (see pic). With no bucket to empty it, I used muscle, and it took most all I had.
Lesson 2: Weighing fish is much easier than measuring them. I have no idea how anyone is measuring a living, slippery fish while holding its mouth closed next to a ruler and taking a picture on a boat alone. Are you wearing GoPro helmets? I need a lesson on this. I did my best (see pic) to get this 19.5”-19.75” fish to cooperate, but I've had family photos turn out better and I have twelve-year old twins. I’ll have to practice this or my odds of winnng the big bass contest for 2025 will get even closer to zero.
Lesson 3: A lipless crank bait worked in these conditions. I landed six fish, the one in the photo weighing very close to 3.7 lbs. All on Lucky Craft LV 150 (go roughly 1'-3’ deep) in a Shad pattern. The noise must have been critical to overcoming visibility and current as I managed zero bites on t-rigged crawlers, creatures, etc., regular crank baits and shaky head flukes. While I picked-up some healthy grass consistently, the results justified the effort. Fish were caught all around perimeter except on dam end, so mostly in 3-8’ of water.
Feb 05 2025
John Freeman
Keeper
Member Since :
2020
Number of Posts :
271
Two years ago at Travis the plug was left in that boat. The cows would come drink out of it.