School is out and summer fishing is in! 

For the Record

Capt. Chuck Uzzle

For the majority of our area students school is almost over for the year, for

some it’s already over. The much anticipated free days of summer are now upon us

and it’s this time of the year that is tailor made for taking a youngster

fishing. During the school year everyone is confined to schedules that only

allow free time on the weekends, which coincidentally is when everyone else is

free. The crowds are much larger on the weekends and who knows if the fish have

figured out what Saturday and Sunday mean. It is awfully difficult to get the

fish biting and your free time to happen at the same time.

With a wide open calendar and a little bit of flexibility in schedules, parents

can treat their kids to a great day on the water during this time of the year.

Weather patterns begin to stabilize as the long summer season here in east Texas

takes command. Lighter winds mean more comfortable outings as well as plenty

more options for places to fish. During the spring most fisherman are confined

to areas that aren’t whitecapping so a large portion of our local waters tend to

be “off limits” unless you can stand some rough seas.

Several seasonal programs come into play during this time of the year which can

really produce some super fishing. One of the more popular ways to catch fish is

to use live bait, either under a cork or fished on the bottom. Fishing live bait

on Sabine Lake means mostly throwing shad or mullet because they are much easier

to come by. Most local anglers who throw live bait have become

handy with a cast net in order to catch their bait, this can be a great way to

get a kid involved. I know I have spent several hours just explaining what

different kinds of fish or other critters we catch are to children on my boat during the

last couple of years.

Another summer program that may come back into play this year is chasing

schooling fish. Last year we had an unbelievable summer chasing flocks of gulls

that were feeding on brown shrimp which were driven to the surface by schools of

hungry trout and redfish. This wide open action is just what the doctor ordered

when it comes to getting kids interested in the sport of fishing, lots of fish

and very little down time. If you happen to get in on some of that crazy action

you will understand what I am talking about.

Whatever way you decide to chase fish this summer please be sure and take a kid

along, they will always remember the trip. Get some good information and ask

questions so your time on the water can be as good as it possibly can. After all

catching fish is just a small part of the game when you think about it, being

with your kids and spending some quality time together is what it’s all about.