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Three Simple Steps to Cure the Common Monday
Yesterday I found three simple steps to cure the common Monday. 1) Put on waders. 2) Get a good jig and bobber set up. 3) Catch fish.
Location: West Side of Fort Worth
Water Temp: 64
Water Clarity: Clear
Time of Day: Afternoon
Rod: 11ft Ozark Tony Edgar
Reel: Shimano Sienna
Line: 8lb Hi-Vis Mr. Crappie mono
Tackle: Thump Jumpers on 1/8 ounce UV chartreuse heads with #4 sickle from www.constantpursuitoutfitters.com
Best Technique: Move around quickly but fish slowly. Jungle fishing is about getting the jig in some VERY unforgiving places. The darker the shade, and the heavier the brush, usually means more fish. As slowly as possible, lower the jig all the way to the bottom, then come up 6-12”, pausing about three seconds after you come up off the bottom. If you don’t get bit on the way down, and still don’t get bit after pausing, they aren’t there and it’s time to move. When fish are as hormonal and territorial as they are right now, there isn’t much guess work. Stick and move. Stick and move. Stick and move.
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The barometric pressure was rising, the wind was from the northeast and traffic was unusually bad for the middle of the day. Everything said don’t go, but it was just too pretty outside, and I needed to scout around Ft. Worth anyways, as I’ve got a lot of people who I’ll be needing to put on fish the next few months.
We went to the mouth of a creek, where we found isolated clumps of reeds and willows in 4-6ft of water. We also saw several acres of flooded vegetation and trees all around this creek, so the potential to catch fish was definitely there. What I wasn’t expecting was the water to be gin clear. I don’t like clear water, especially during the spawn. Never the less, we slipped on the rubber pants, grabbed the long rods and went hunting.
As a duck hunter, it’s hard to focus on fishing when blue wing teal are trying to land right on top of me. I considered swinging my eleven foot pole at them, but that’s probably frowned upon by the state and it’s local authorities. Anyways, we took off fishing through the jungle, and were simply not getting bit. “Hey man, I think this water is too clear, and with that front pushing through, I think we need to get out a little deeper.”
We found two long strips of willow and reeds that ran the edges of the main creek channel, all of which were in 2-6ft. I started casting my jig and bobber along the edges, while my partner in crime commenced to vertical jigging the thicker stuff. I stuck a fish almost immediately, but my buddy got up three to my one real fast.
“You finding them in that real dark shady stuff?” Looking over his shoulder, “yeah, right around the root balls of the bigger branches sticking out!” Good to know. After we established a pattern, we each took off in our own direction, and had ourselves quite an enjoyable Monday afternoon.
We caught upwards of 25-30, keeping a dozen or so for an immediate taco dinner, and to put a little padding in the freezer. Reflecting on yesterday’s events, it was good to see an old friend again, and the fact that his waders leaked in a very unfortunate spot made it that much better.
Good luck this spring!
Lane
ftworthfishing.com
817-266-9811
