Ron’s Fishing Tips and Stories: Add Some Variety to Your Fishing

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International AdventuresThis week, let’s look at a variety of fishing other than just bass fishing. Of course bass fishing is my favorite type of fishing but since I’ve had the opportunity to bass fish Mexico and its wonderful lakes over the past 37 years, I fish for different type of fish here in the states. I highly recommend to all fishermen that they change it up from time to time.

Currently, Ron Jr. and I are fishing for channel catfish on Cedar Creek Lake and Richland Chambers Lake which are close to where we live. We try and go 2 to 3 times a week this time of the year (daylight to 10 am) when it is cooler. Man, are we having a ton of fun and filling the freezers full of great eating fish for this winter to go with our backstraps, quail and dove.

Here is what we are doing…. We get up at 5 am and drive 6 miles to the power plant lake at Trinidad, Texas. Remember, that’s the Lake I told you about where the first Florida bass were stocked in 1972 before they were put in the public lakes of Texas. The first African Tilapia were also stocked in this lake so the Dept. of fisheries could study them before putting them in other lakes. We take our cast nets and about 6 am the threadfin shad start moving and in 15 minutes we have enough bait to fish that morning.

We then launch our 18 ft Xpress catfish boat at Star Harbor ramp and usually we have our first catfish in the boat within 15 to 20 minutes. We have 2 methods we use, but if there is a nice breeze we drift fish over the numerous humps out in the middle of the lake. In March and April we were fishing in 2 feet of water with corks along the sea walls but after the catfish spawned we had to move deeper. Currently we are catching our fish in 19 to 25 feet using the fresh threadfin shad. We rig up with 20 lb test P-line or Izor line rigged Carolina style with a 1oz egg weight and a brass swivel and a 6 inch leader. My favorite hook for these smaller type channels is a wide mouth #4 or #5 gamakatsu hook. If you drift fish most of your fish will run from 1 1/2 lb. to 2 lb. which is my favorite size fish to eat. We skin the fish and fry them whole in hot peanut oil (375 degrees). Take a fork and rake the meat away from the backbone and you will think you have died and gone to heaven. Don’t use catsup or you will miss the truly great flavor of one of the world’s best eating fish.

This coming Friday I will take my daughter Mary and we will get on one of the 20 foot humps and drop a weight to hold the boat. Then I will spread out some soured maize around the boat and then we will fish straight up and down. It is not unusual to catch a 2 person limit of 50 in 3 hours.

This kind of fishing is a great change up for bass guys and a ton of fun for those that are just learning about fishing. Since we catch sometimes a limit we may catch just as many that won’t measure, which means something is biting the hook all the time. That is great for kids but you will need to take the fish off for them as a stick from a catfish fin is no fun for anyone. Try it sometime as you may find it to be as much fun as I do!

Good luck with your fishing and wear that life jacket.

Many of the resources that we list on our site are helpful for varied types of fishing.


Ron’s Fishing Tips and Stories: Aside from Story Telling, Fishermen are Good Guys

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Picture of Cecil DowneyToday I want to talk about people who fish. Two friends of mine, Billy and Bobby Murray, have a TV show called People Who Fish. In my 64 years of bass fishing, I have met thousands and thousands of fishermen all over the hemisphere. From Canada all the way to South America with a couple years in Cuba.

I don’t know why, but I can testify that fishermen are some of the finest people on the face of the earth. Their biggest flaw is stretching the truth about their catches. It doesn’t matter what nationality they are, fishermen all seem to be ready to help each other. They’re eager to talk, except about where to find their secret fishing spot.

I have been very fortunate in my life to have met so many fine people who came bass fishing with us in the past 38 years. Unfortunately, many have already passed on over the years. But most had a pretty good life, I think because of their love of fishing. I don’t know what it is, but fishing has a way to make people forget about the trials and tribulations of everyday life. In fishing, there’s a sense of tranquility and peaceful calm that many other sports or hobbies don’t offer. Golf is a great game, but many golfers come home frustrated with their game that day. Hunters also have a different adrenaline rush that is definitely not calming.

There used to be a saying that went something like “a day spent fishing extends a person’s life by a day.” I have no reason to doubt that saying. I also have seen many remarkable things regarding people who fish. I had a call several years ago from a man in Arizona who wanted to go fishing with us in Mexico. I believe he was with two friends. I said “great!” But then he told me he was in a wheelchair and didn’t want to be a problem or a burden. His name is Dick Worrell and over the years he has become a friend of mine. I told Dick that I admired him very much and would do everything possible to make his trip a success. I not only told him he would not be a problem but added that it would be our honor to have him. I think the world of him to this day.

Back in March our company bookkeeper lost her dad, whom I had never met. Virginia and I went to the funeral. His name was Cecil Downey and around the casket were pictures of him holding fish, some of bass, others of catfish and perch. I thought how remarkable Mr. Downey was in his life to continue to fish after losing both his legs while fighting the Japanese on Iwo Jima — a world war hero whose favorite hobby was fishing. The loss of both legs at the hip didn’t stop him. He died at 83 and was planning a fishing trip with his new rubber raft at the time of his death. I sat there listing to different ones talk about him and everyone talked about HIS LOVE OF FISHING. I couldn’t help but shed a few tears and wished to goodness I had got to talk with him before he passed away.

I would advise everyone who likes to fish, don’t make excuses for not being able to go fishing for this reason or the other. Take time to go fishing and extend your life a few days. Continue to be the best of the best!

Good luck with your fishing and remember to wear that lifejacket.


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