With clients posing for pictures with their heavy stringer of Trinity River White Bass I reflected on the events of the day. Recent warming weather and a south east wind had made the morning duck hunt tough.  As I met clients for an afternoon duck hunt I was concerned.  “It’s probably a better fishing day,’’ I casually mentioned as we stood and talked in short sleeve shirts.  “Have you been catching any fish” one of my clients asked?  “No I answered, but I think it would be worth a try.” Within the hour we launched my Ranger Boat into the creek and headed upstream.  Recent rains had muddied the water and I knew that if we were going to catch White Bass on this day it would have to be upstream.

We began trolling in the first “tea” colored water we found and I remember saying, “guys there is a chance that we may not catch a single fish today”.  Within seconds of posting the waiver a rod went down. “Fish on’’ my client exclaimed.  A chunky 13 inch male White

Bass was fought to the boat side. I cut the key off on the Evinrude 225 and dropped the trolling motor.  We began casting Bearpaws jigs into

the cut bank using the stop, drop and pop technique. When the bait would fall a hard fighting White Bass would attack it.  It was on!!  Fish after fish was fought to the Ranger boat.  “Bearpaws boys” I said.   The White Bass are literally eating them up.  We were throwing a new jig that had been custom poured for me by Bearpaws Hand Poured

Bait co.  Pearl Red Flake Goby.  A what someone asked? “Goby” I answered.  I first saw the Goby on www.bearpawshandpouredbaits.com.  and immediately became excited.  For years I had been taking three

inch Sassy Shad and by using my thumb nail and forefinger pinched the belly straight with little ridges and also adding a touch of red paint to the gill area.  It looks much like the touts used in saltwater.

“What is a Goby”?  I asked Bearpaws. “A bait fish common in the north east. Good Small Mouth bait” I was told.  Ok, “Can you pour me some in pearl red flake”?  The 3” plastic body jig is poured in a mold with lifelike detail including the belly ridges that I had been duplicating.  The soft plastic body will last through several hookups and is impregnated with Mega Strike natural amino acid scent.   Today was the first day that I had to field test the bait and all my beliefs came true. Fish after fish gobbled up the Goby.

As the sun began to sink in the west we caught a few more fish, then we spooled up and headed for the fish cleaning table. Smiling clients is my business and I felt good.  A slow duck hunting day was turned into a great fishing day. The water conditions, the right weather, along with Lake Livingston’s great White Bass fishery and Bearpaws new Goby, all came together on this day to put fish in the boat and a memory for a lifetime.