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Monday, September 21, 1998
Good side of bad weather is rejuvenated fishing
By JOE DOGGETT
Houston Chronicle
HOUSTON -- The rain in Spain may fall mainly on the plain,
but the rain in Texas falls mainly on the coast -- especially
during the tropical-storm season of late summer.
September's salvos continue to roll from the Gulf of Mexico,
bringing wet weather and high tides to saturated areas. This abundance
of water stands in sharp contrast to the low-tide drought of spring
and early summer. But one advantage of being "flush"
with water is that fish are fond of the stuff.
Fresh or salt, north or south, warm or cold, this is one of
the few constants in angling.
The influx of water combined with the seasonal balm of cooling
weather should be a supercharger for fall fishing. Starting with
freshwater, here are several strong suits along the upper coast
to consider:
-- Rising lake levels -- All major reservoirs within easy reach
of Houston are experiencing at least modest rises from recent
runoffs.
For example, during the past week Lake Conroe climbed approximately
six inches and Lake Livingston rose approximately one foot. Lake
Houston is up more than two feet.
Sustained rises on big lakes tend to push predators such as
largemouth bass to the flooding shorelines to forage. Overcast
days only encourage this shallow-water pattern.
The fish leave the mysterious summer depths and move within
reach of weekend-type anglers unskilled in reading bottom structures
in open water. Typically, the shoreline bass are scattered rather
than concentrated, increasing the potential for productive water.
When aggressive bass are feeding shallow, the situation is
favorable for "banging the banks" with lures such as
spinnerbaits and crankbaits; indeed, "new" water during
late September should offer some of the best bass fishing of the
year on the big reservoirs.
-- New-lease ponds -- The smaller lakes and stock tanks scattered
across south and southeast Texas suffered horribly during the
spring/summer drought.
Shallow water levels dropped as aquatic vegetation levels exploded,
and the combination virtually choked off many previously excellent
ponds. The major rains and runoffs during the past two weeks have
gone a long way in restoring the potential of these smaller lakes.
A rise of a foot or more puts cooler, oxygenated water in the
pond; most important, a dramatic jump in the level covers much
of the surface vegetation, in effect opening the water again for
topwater and near-surface fishing.
Excellent baits over flooding weed mats are buzz-type spinners
and soft jerk-type plastics. Fly-rod bugs are another fine choice,
especially for the angler faced with tight pockets and defined
edges of open water.
-- Catfish -- Bewhiskered scent feeders are drawn to swollen
runoffs, and the conditions across southeast Texas right now are
dead-solid perfect for soaking a piece of chicken liver. Or maybe
a nightcrawler. Or a cheese bait. Whatever. Catfish in a feeding
frenzy are easy. And, they are universal.
Big reservoirs, small ponds, main river, or tributary streams
-- all drainages this side of the most polluted urban ditches
host thriving populations of catfish.
The top draws for most light-tackle anglers are channel cats
and blue cats, with most being in the 1- to 3-pound class, ideal
"skillet size." The statewide daily limit of 25 fish,
12-inch minimum, provides an abundance of fishing fun and freezer
potential on a soggy day.
During the past week, Lake Conroe and Lake Houston were among
the top catfish venues within easy reach of Houston. Both yielded
some full limits.
Here are several saltwater options that should "catch
fire" in this wet September:
-- Bull redfish -- The Comanche Moon of September was misnamed;
it should be the Redfish Moon. The full moon of the ninth month
(last week) brings hordes of raiding redfish to the beaches.
The annual spawning runs are in full force, and the high tides
of the autumnal equinox next week (Sept. 23) should keep the swollen
surf in a frenzy. This year, more so than most, conditions are
prime for beachfront redfishing.
If your favorite pier has been shut down or blown away, commandeer
a boat for a jetty run or chunk a long rod from the beach. By
whatever approach, this should continue to be an extraordinary
year for cut mullet in the suds.
-- Surf -- Many deeper guts and odd holes were gouged by the
powerful forces at play. Hard debris such as rocks and shell banks
were scattered along the inshore bottom. A few wrecks may be stranded.
These anomalies attract bait and surf-running fish and will serve
as excellent (even if temporary) fishing sites for savvy waders.
Water readings along the upper coast are in the low 80s, ideal
for lighting a fire on the next green tide.
-- Red Snapper -- The season closes in federal and state Gulf
of Mexico waters Sept. 29 at midnight, but the final weeks should
be excellent -- assuming offshore conditions finally settle within
small-boat tolerances.
The profound upheavals of currents created by 10- to 15-foot
storm seas last week almost certainly juggled snapper stocks in
favor of sport traffic.
Many deep-water fish probably rode closer to the beach and
now are schooling around bottom structures within reach of Galveston,
Freeport and Matagorda.
As far as that goes, new bottom targets rich with sow-snapper
potential no doubt are waiting for crafty skippers armed with
probing electronics.
-- Passes -- Massive tides and heavy currents "blew open"
many exchanges between the gulf and the bays. These avenues are
outstanding sites for early-fall fishing, often drawing schools
of bay/gulf migratory species such as golden croaker, southern
flounder, and redfish.
Not to mention opportunistic speckled trout attracted to the
funnels of bait moving on the constricted tides.
Key spots certain to benefit from the flushing are Rollover
Pass, San Luis Pass, Brown Cedar Cut, Pass Cavallo, and Cedar
Bayou. Also upgraded are the many channels and "guts"
behind the primary passes.
-- Bay systems -- Tides running as high as six feet above normal
created one of the greatest flushing of upper coastal bays in
recent history.
The massive transfer of saltwater was mixed with major runoffs
from coastal rain as heavy as 10 and 12 inches. The overall impact
of this overload remains to be seen, but if storms are nature's
way of revitalizing the stale bays and estuaries, this September
was on steroids.
Most encouraging, the Baffin Bay/Laguna Madre region south
of Corpus Christi received a strong flushing that should blast
the nagging and recurring algae blooms over the horizon.
It is a wait-and-see situation, but this may have been the
"perfect storm" for that fragile and fabled big-trout
venue.
------
Distributed by The Associated Press
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