Fishing Report: 5-12-15

Hi,

This is a fishing report for today 5-12-15. I didn't have it together for this trip. When I got there my cheap new reel had frozen up, even tho I used WD40 on it- so I had to use my old cheap spinning reel that barely worked-- haha. I also forgot my sunscreen so I couldn't fish long and had to leave when the fish started biting!!!! I also didn't check the tide, but I figured it might rain later.

Fishing Report Walton Road, west side of Lagoon; 5-12-15 at 10:30 am; wind 18 mph out of the east, gusting; water temp low 80s, air temp around 90, tide low almost dead low. Wet wading, with spinning reel, using 1/8 oz. jighead and a variety of CAL baits.

I got there at almost low tide and the deep side of the sandbar is good at low tide, but not dead low or low slack tide. I fished shallow - nothing, then headed for deeper water. It was very windy but I like wind, water was dingy and a bit stirred up. I couldn't cast very well with my equipment into the wind but there was no choice- you couldn't feel the jig if you fished any other way.

I went out to the edge of the 2nd grass bed and then went North to the shallower 1st grass bed. After about 15 casts I got a strike on my fav paddletail and the fish ripped it's tail off. That was the last one I had of my fav color so I switched to a watermelon swimbait with a forked tail- 1st cast to same spot and wham --another tail torn off!!! I'm 0 for 2!!!

I changed to an opaque paddle tail and this time did not get bit. I moved North some more and realized it was about dead low tide. I decided to go South to the 3rd weed bed which had more weeds.

I was making short casts into the wind and 2 foot waves which had some white-caps. Half-way there I had a fish on. I was fishing slow but this was mostly luck since I didn't really feel him take it. He splashed at once on the surface with his mouth open so I knew it was a trout. When I got him in it was an insta-release fish- I pulled him to me and he flipped off, not bad around 14 inches.

I made it up to the first pier to the thick weeds. By now I was starting to get sunburned and the tide was just starting to come in. I pulled my jig through a clump of weeds- bam!! I had a nice fish was on this time. I saw him jump and them circle around me. This was the biggest trout I'd caught at Walton in a while about 2 1/2 lbs maybe 18" or so. I had to unhook him and he swam away ready for his next meal.

I fished the area slowly then moved a bit more South to the third pier. I'd have to go soon or I would be a rock lobster- always remember to put on suntan lotion!!!

The tide had definitely moved in now and I got a nice strike but missed the fish. I move a bit North and hooked another trout who splashed on the top for a while before I pulled him in-- a nice 15" trout. I was feeling it and two cast later caught another trout about the same size. I shook him off so I didn't have to touch him and started heading back. The last trout I caught was the smallest maybe 11" long and I was fishing fast, trying to get off the water to keep from burning more.

I hustled off to the shallow side of the sandbar and scampered up the bank and into my car--out of the sun at last!!!

A good day on the water, 5 trout, missed 4 fish and got a nice sunburn on my arms.