Goodhands Blast!

[J. Rentch]

Launched from Goodhands this morning at dawn. Crotalus (Kevin) was already in the water.
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The fish were breaking thick along the shoreline to the left of the launch. By the time I got in the water, he had landed at least 3 fish-1 keeper. We spent the next hour working the shoreline and further back into the cove. It was a blast-I landed at least a dozen, most were 18-19", but got one over 20.
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I was casting 1/2 oz jig with a 5" paddletail as close to the shoreline as I could. Hooked up almost every time. The fish just kept moving chasing the bunker everywhere. Birds were dive bombing the water-had to be careful not to hook one when casting. We worked from the very back to back to the launch area. A guy casting from the launch pier and landed what appeared to be a 24" or better. Around 8:30, I started trolling out of the creek, but just got around the corner and started nailing more-again 18-19" fish, got my second over 21". I quit around 9:30 and never left the river. Think it was the result of a high tide a 6:30, and maybe that full moon we had last night. These two lures were my most effective.
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[Crotalus]

Man oh man, was that fun. I had my limit in less than half an hour. After that I switched to top water for fun and they were hammering it. Got off the water just before John did and caught ~30 fish from 18"-22" (8 over 20") and never left the creek.

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[Nikon]

I was casting 1/2 oz jig with a 5" paddletail as close to the shoreline as I could. Hooked up almost every time. The fish just kept moving chasing the bunker everywhere. Birds were dive bombing the water-had to be careful not to hook one when casting. We worked from the very back to back to the launch area. A guy casting from the launch pier and landed what appeared to be a 24" or better. Around 8:30, I started trolling out of the creek, but just got around the corner and started nailing more-again 18-19" fish, got my second over 21". I quit around 9:30 and never left the river. Think it was the result of a high tide a 6:30, and maybe that full moon we had last night. These two lures were my most effective.
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Is the top lure in the picture a Storm paddle tail lure?

[J. Rentch]

Yes, picked it up at Anglers last week.

[Mark]

Excellent outing, guys.

Goodhands has indeed lived up to its name recently.

It has been a very good place to fish.

[J.A. Veil]

Great job. You stayed within a few hundred yards of the ramp and caught plenty of fish. Mark and I ran 40 miles in my center console today and caught fewer fish than you did. You chose wisely.

[EMSer]

Nicely done, indeed!!

[Crotalus]

It was almost as good this morning. Except I had to paddle out of sight of the ramp today. Good fishing with John again and meeting Mike(?). Really good top water action. Had my limit by 7:30. Got off the water at 8:30. Probably 20 fish or more. Most 18"-22". Largest at 24".

[J. Rentch]

Agree, after you left Scott and I trolled around for a while with little success. Finally I started heading back to Goodhands Creek where I got into some nice ones.


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[rugbyfish]

Goodhands seems to have cooled off a bit. Fished from 4:00 - 7:00 PM yesterday, and the bite really didn't turn on until the last hour. No keepers, but a decent number of fish both trolling paddletails and casting topwater plugs.

[EMSer]

I would agree. I was there from 5-8pm and did not see the action I had the previous 2 nights.

Goodhands seems to have cooled off a bit. Fished from 4:00 - 7:00 PM yesterday, and the bite really didn't turn on until the last hour. No keepers, but a decent number of fish both trolling paddletails and casting topwater plugs.

[Crotalus]

I was out there again yesterday morning. It was calm at first but I did pick up double 18"s trolling out of the creek. All at once the fish started breaking and birds came out of nowhere. I would pick up a fish, reel it in, unhook it and they would be 100 yards away. I'd paddle over, pick up a fish and repeat. Caught ~15 fish, including one 21", and then as quick as it started, it shut off like a light switch. I didn't pick up another fish for over an hour, and I only got one more after that. Crazy how quick it can change. I hope this cool spell will get the action going again. I won't be able to get out again until Monday

Beautiful morning, though.