Frustating fishing 5-30-09

[Reel Cowboy]

I took my Dad and a contractor he works for to Keaton for some trout scouting and maybe some catching.

We hit the ramp at 7:30 and eased on down the canal and out to the awaiting Gulf. We pulled up to our first spot in 5' of water and started casting. Daryl (the contractor) caught a lady fish on the 2nd cast and it was looking like a good sign. We were all getting bit but those pesky 6-9" rock bass were everywhere. That area lasted about 30-45 minutes and off to another section of Gulf.

2nd spot was more of the same with rock bass and rock bass and did I mention rock bass? My dad finally hooked one and at 13", he hit the ice chest. Then more shorties. Another 30-45 minutes and time to move again. I started seeing some bait getting busted on top in 6' of water and with a little trolling motor work got ahead of them. I landed a decent 20" trout on a Flutter jig head and GULP! jerk shad. We chased the school for a while but to no avail.

We started a drift over some nice looking spotty botttom and started seeing some remoras that kept it interesting but I didn't drive all that way to catch shark suckers, so we moved again.

Out of desperation we handed to Rock Island and started catching........... more dang short rock bass.

We finally called it a day and headed back towards Keaton, but I had 1 more area to check out. We pulled up and after 15 minutes I hooked a decent trout that got at the boat. That was all I could stand fired the Opti up and headed in. The ramp looked like it was scallop season, with 8-9 pontoons waiting to load and unload. We finally got on the trailer and headed home at 5:00.

Daryl acted like he enjoyed himself and my Dad did as well, so I guess that's what is important.

[boggob]

Sounds like my Sunday at Econfina, minus the keeper trout and rock bass. Although, we did get into a few rock bass.

[Bow'd Up]

Glad ya'll got out there and everyone had a good safe trip

[Ron Wilson]

Sounds like a good day RC. You got out and that's much better than anything I'm doing for the next several weeks.