Tweet
Each spring, Hemmingway and I (and sometimes SlobberBob when he can get off work on a non windy day 
) spend more than a few days, peddling a ton of miles on the ESVA targeting bull reds. Over the past few years, this has been a very hit or miss fishery for us. We've caught some reds, but had many blowouts, skunks, and running into large school of non-hungry fish. This year (year 4 of targeting them), I feel like things changed a little. We fished for 3 days (I fished 4 days), putting in around 20 miles a day and found huge reds on two of the days. Due to the poor water clarity, we were exclusively trolling 6 inch Storm or Berkley paddle tails. Once we'd find them, the other guy would cast and hook up quickly. Reds are super competitive in a school and will crush most anything that hits that water.
One day we found them within 30 minutes and the other we did find them until the afternoon; somewhere around mile # "way too freaking many". I think this made it more exciting because you never knew when your rod would double over! I even had the pleasure of foul hooking a dolphin. That was an absolute mess. (He snapped my line and as far as I know still doesn't know he was hooked!)
We caught 7 reds total in 3 days, with several citation and the largest two being around 51"-52". It was a great spring that I am very thankful for. Last year with the birth of my wife and I's first child, I didn't get down to fish at all, so I am not taking this for granted! Here are a few pics that I have. Hope you enjoy.
) spend more than a few days, peddling a ton of miles on the ESVA targeting bull reds. Over the past few years, this has been a very hit or miss fishery for us. We've caught some reds, but had many blowouts, skunks, and running into large school of non-hungry fish. This year (year 4 of targeting them), I feel like things changed a little. We fished for 3 days (I fished 4 days), putting in around 20 miles a day and found huge reds on two of the days. Due to the poor water clarity, we were exclusively trolling 6 inch Storm or Berkley paddle tails. Once we'd find them, the other guy would cast and hook up quickly. Reds are super competitive in a school and will crush most anything that hits that water. One day we found them within 30 minutes and the other we did find them until the afternoon; somewhere around mile # "way too freaking many". I think this made it more exciting because you never knew when your rod would double over! I even had the pleasure of foul hooking a dolphin. That was an absolute mess. (He snapped my line and as far as I know still doesn't know he was hooked!)
We caught 7 reds total in 3 days, with several citation and the largest two being around 51"-52". It was a great spring that I am very thankful for. Last year with the birth of my wife and I's first child, I didn't get down to fish at all, so I am not taking this for granted! Here are a few pics that I have. Hope you enjoy.
Comment