TEAM JO-JO:
Start of a new day, (Monday it be) new way / play (Delacroix), new technique, (popping corks) mates for today Big Rudy, along with Sr. first mate Big Don who be back off IR, Big Don be out of commission for extended period of time, good to have him back aboard the Bay Flat Sr. for a fun day down in our Disney World known as Delacroix Island.
It has also been confirmed that Team Jo-Jo’s Big Ronnie, temporary Yank from up north be back down to his roots looking to get back in the fold, out and about chasing Silverwodners & Redwarroies.
Me sure we will all be reunited this Saturday 3-16-24 at Team Jo-Jo’ s Fishing Curriculum Session at Fatty’s Seafood , (Dutch Treat) on Gause Blvd in Slidell at 11 AM
SIGNS:
· Weekend caught up on me sleep
· Got word Big Ronnie coming back south for awhile
· Good night sleep
· Up at 4 AM for our 4:30 AM meet up with Big Rudy at Waffle House in Oak Harbor, on to pick up Big Don at Waffle House in Chalmette for 5:30 AM
· Was not sure 4:30 AM right time to be at spot for daylight, but it worked out perfect.
· Not many boats n Hwy, gas stations, and/or boat launches
· Check point Alfa water level in canal at junction down 10-12”
· Check point Bravo slack tide in Reggio canal
· Delacroix Hwy looked deserted, no much pleasure or commercial fishing action going on
· Reached the home of the Bay Flat Sr she be swaying in her slings looking sleepy
· Gave me quick 10 second safety speech about crossing Hwy & open space around Bay Flat Sr and dock
· Crew made quick work of loading Bay Flat Sr
· Yamaha Dream Machined jump started with ½ turn of key
· Off to Lionel’s to see Big Joan and get some Intel on where fish be
· Off to Team Jo-Jo’s spot # R7 to star our fun day of fishing
CONDITIONS:
· Perfect
· Wind, N.N.E. 10-12 mph nice it be
· Water status / conditions: little ripples, very slight chop
· Sky, sunny & clear
· Temp, cool, jumpsuit and rain jacket on all day
· Water level, down 10-12”
· Water Temp , 64.58 F
· Salinity, 1.8
· Specific Conductance 3510
· Pressure, 30.25 F
· Water clarity on a scale of 1-7, 4 minus
· Tide, pouring in, slack, started to fall
· Peak tide, 05:52 H .9’
· Peak tide, 12:13 PM L .3’
· Peak tide 17:44 H .6’
· Major Feed Time: 0:54 / 13:25
· Minor feed time: 13.35 / 20:83
· Tidal Coefficient: 116
· Not much bait in water
· No birds diving
· Fish Activity
· Very High Activity
· Boats out and about, only saw 2 in area we be fishing
· ONEOFTHEPACK’S REPERTOIRE OF TECHNIQUES / STRATEGIES
· Be safe
· Have fun
· This be me daily therapy for ALL me aliments
· Put some run time on the Bay Flat Sr and the Yamaha Dream Machine
· Gather Intel for future trips, and to share with fisherperson, (on Facebook) to help assist them in their choice of areas to fish, lures to use and presentation of same to the elusive Silverwonders.
· Catch what catch can
· Learn what learn can
· Bring home some salad toppings for Petite Lucy
· Verify routes & paths still open
· Concentrate on spot # R7 it has the best clarity of water, confirm it still good to go
· Make a mike run to all zones, 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5 check out water clarity in them too.
· Practice / prefect our popping cork techniques / presentations
· Find a spot # with the seven fundamentals / criteria of catching:
1 WIND AT YOUR BACK: (Wind was a little challenge, but we sued it to our advantage, used it to help us drift across pond. We also used one Cajun anchor to slow our drift down and keep so on the best angel to wind to have wind at our back)
2 MOVING WATER: (AT first pouring in wind had it doing this, wind slowed down a little then started to fall, still falling when we left at 2 PM)
3 WATER CALRITY: ($ plus could see lures down 8-10” below surface)
4 HOLDING FISH: (Spot # R7)
5 PATIENTS: (Quick catch , then a period of slow action, then a period of on, on, on, then period of slow cation, but not patients needed today, we all looking for fishing trip)
6 SKILL: (Popping cork technique / presentation)
7 LUCK: (Big Don back off IR, and Big Ronnie back down south)
· Oneofthepack’s repertoire of Techniques / presentations:
· Anchor up cast & retrieve slowly along the bottom, with a twitch every now and then, tight lining…………………………………Nothing
· Drift with the wind cast & retrieve ….Did not try
· Oak River Troll (ORT)……………….Did not try
· Reverse Oak River Troll (RORT) ………..DID NOT TRY
· Oak River Skim (ORS) ……………DID NOT TRY
· Cork ……..Drift with wind, popping cork caught all fish this way
· Lake P Troll (LPT)…………….Did not try
· Drop shot: Nothing
· Dead bait……None
· Live bait………………None
· Oneofthepack ‘S repertOIRE of LURE DU JOUR:
· 3” H&H Purple Beetle, matched up with H&H ¼ oz. round white head with gold hook……………Did not try
· 3” Chartreuse Glow Beetle, matched up with H&H ¼ oz. round white head w/gold hook………….Did not try
· Matrix Shad Lemon Drop, matched up with H&H ¼ oz. round white head w/gold hook……………Did not try
· Matrix Shad Lemon Drop, matched up with H&H 3/8 oz. round white head w/gold hook……………caught 85% of fish
· Matrix Shad Lemon Drop, matched up with H&H 1/2 oz. round white head w/gold hook……………DID NOT TRY
· Matrix Shad Lemon Drop, matched up with 3/4 oz. round lead head w/ 2 trailers, ……Did not try
· Tandem rig, ¼ oz. round H&H jig head with gold hook, matched up with Matrix Shad Lemon Drop …..Did not try
· Salt Strong Power Prawn ……….w/ ¼ oz. jig head caught 15% of fish
AREAS / SPOTS / NUMBERS ON THE MAP FISHED:
Team Jo-Jo’s spot # R 7, stayed there all day until 2 pm
OUR REWARDS:
· Lived to fish another day
· (34) Silverwonders, 26 Miniwonders
· (1) Popped drop shot line
· Having Sr. First mate Big Don off IR & back aboard the Bay Flat Sr
· Team Jo-Jo’s Big T doc be having a birthday he be of the 1942 vintage, with a lot of fishing & catching experience to share with Team Jo-Jo group, Happy Birthday T-doc
· Being on the water with 2 of the best fisherperson me know, that be Big don Big Rudy they be
· Lots of fresh cool, clean, air in our lungs
· Bay Flat Sr & Yamaha Dream Machine running like a champ
· Lessons learned:
o Popping cork fishing like riding a bike you never forget how to do it
o Various variations of popping cork technique / presentations
§ Most important lure depth below cork, need to know water depth to set lure depth
§ Distance to cast, cast as far out as you can
§ Jig head weight, 1/8oz., 1/4oz., & 3/8 oz. me always think less is best me like 1/8 oz., (lure falls slower) but sometime additional weight is needed. Big Rudy & me with ¼ oz. jig head, Big Don using 3/8oz. me think he had more action then Big Rudy and/or me.
§ Retrieving speed important, we drifting with wind today, and moving at a pretty good clip, others catching but me not, figure out me problem me retrieving to fast trying to keep up with wind.
§ Presentations
· Pop and stop let sit for awhile
· Double pop / stop
· Triple pop let sit
· Pop, (any above) then drag & pop let sit
· Drag then pop
· Drag reel in slow steady
o Water clarity in spot # R7 a 4 plus looking good
o Old routes / paths to spot R 7 still ok to run
o Not checking gear after not using of awhile, (me lake P Trolling, not popping cork or tight lining) me fist cast lost first rig with a big tangle line, me glad me had two other rigs with me
o 1,000 hr service had Yamaha Dream Machined running like a kitten, thanks to Big Eric at Cypress Cove
o Me prefer Lake P Troll technique, can cover more area, and less wear & tear on arms & forearms
· Best fishing trip of my life, until the next one.
FISHERPERSON OF THE DAY:
Oneofthepack was out of the running just could to keep up with the mates, did manage a real nice (NMR) Silverwonder.
During our slow periods Big Rudy kept trying different lures, different colors, and techniques, but before it was over he be with the Matrix Shad Lemon Drop lure. Had he used it all day he may have taken the honors today, but he gave Big Don time to close the gap.
Big Don stayed true to the Matrix Shad Lemon Drop matched up with the 3/8 oz. jig head, just popping his cork way to a possible between him and Big Rudy. But me felt it was too close to call so we agreed to a catch off.
Word was who ever caught the next fish would be fisherperson of the day, 10 minutes go by no one even had a bite much less catch a fish. Then me saw Big Don deploy his patient recoil setting hook, and that quick it was all over. Big Don came out off IR and took honors today over Oneofthepack & Big Rudy, now that be a sign.
SUGGESTIONS:
The popping cork fishing technique offers a versatile and effective way to target various species of fish, especially in shallow water or around structures like oyster beds and grass flats. Here's an expansion on different presentations and lessons learned:
1. Classic Pop and Drop:
· This is the traditional popping cork technique where you pop the cork to create a disturbance on the water's surface, imitating the sound of baitfish feeding. After popping the cork, let it sit for a few seconds, allowing the bait to sink, and then repeat the process.
· Lessons Learned: Vary the intensity and frequency of your pops to see what triggers bites. Sometimes aggressive pops work, while other times, subtle movements are more effective. Also, experiment with the length of the pause after each pop.
2. Drift and Drag:
· Instead of staying stationary, let your boat drift with the current or wind while dragging the popping cork along. This mimics natural bait movement and covers more water.
· Lessons Learned: Adjust your drift speed and direction to find where the fish are holding. Sometimes, a slow drift is better for enticing reluctant fish, while a faster drift can trigger reaction strikes.
3. Underhand Skip:
· Cast the popping cork under overhanging mangroves, docks, or other structures by using an underhand skip cast. This presentation can reach fish hiding in tight spaces.
· Lessons Learned: Practice you’re skipping technique to avoid snagging on structures. Use lighter jig head weights and shorter leader lengths to prevent excessive snagging.
4. Long Cast and Pause:
· Make a long cast with your popping cork, allowing it to cover a wide area. After the initial pop, let the cork sit for an extended period before popping it again.
· Lessons Learned: Patience is key with this presentation. Fish often strike during the pause when the bait looks vulnerable. Experiment with different lengths of pauses to find what works best on any given day.
5. Depth Control with Weighted Jigs:
· Adjust the weight of your jig head to control the depth at which your bait is presented. Heavier jig heads allow you to fish deeper, while lighter ones keep your bait closer to the surface.
· Lessons Learned: Pay attention to the water depth and the behavior of the fish. If you're not getting bites at a certain depth, try adjusting the weight of your jig head to explore different depths.
6. Double Rigged Corks:
· Rig two popping corks at different depths to target fish at multiple levels of the water column. This technique is effective for finding where the fish are feeding.
· Lessons Learned: Experiment with the distance between the two corks to find the optimal spread. Adjust the depth of each cork based on your observations and any feedback from bites.
7. Color and Noise Variations:
· Try different colors and styles of popping corks to see what attracts fish. Some days, bright colors and noisy corks may work best, while on other days, subtle, natural presentations are more effective.
· Lessons Learned: Keep a variety of popping corks in your tackle box to adapt to changing conditions. Pay attention to any patterns or preferences displayed by the fish and adjust accordingly.
By experimenting with these different presentations and paying attention to the lessons learned, you can increase your success with the popping cork fishing technique across various conditions and target species.
Top of Form
PONDER OF THE DAY:
"They say you forget your troubles on a lake / bayou but that's not quite it. What happens is that you begin to see where your troubles fit into the grand scheme of things, and suddenly they're just not such a big deal anymore."
Q&A:
What are your most important rules when going fishing date?
TEAM JO-JO’S future stratagem:
Off the water till Friday, maybe me find first mate for that day, and next week whole week open to fish, until then:
Good Fishing
Team Jo-Jo & Oneofthepack
釣り先生
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