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Bay Flats Lodge on San Antonio Bay
April 9, 2018
April’s Constant Variances
It seems as though the past couple weeks have thrown us every weather variable imaginable. We have seen everything from intermittent showers accompanied by subtle north winds to that of brilliantly bright days with winds pumping strong out of the south. With these variances in winds we have also been dealing with the associated changes in tidal conditions, some of which have been extreme – finish the afternoon with a high bull tide, only to awaken the next morning to a tide so low you might think it was still wintertime. Dealing with such conditions can be, and has been, somewhat of a challenge when attempting to locate fish on a daily basis. However, you can also look at differing conditions as being a wonderful opportunity for you to hone your strategy skills for future ventures.
For example, if you happen to be fishing a particular area that is concealed from a strong south wind during an excessive high tide period, look around the immediate vicinity to see where game fish might setup their ambush point in the event the area you are in begins emptying water and baitfish into the larger bay system due to abrupt wind and tide changes. Take note of these dumping points and use them to your advantage when staging your next wade session in the same area, but have exact opposite weather and tide conditions.
Conversely, if you happen to be wading a back lake area or even an open shoreline during exceptionally low tide conditions, make mental notes of the locations of uncovered structure – bay bottom features such as sand bars, oyster reefs, bare guts, grassy areas – that are not usually exposed. Next time you fish the same area under normal conditions you will not only be able to safely navigate the area, but will also be able to position yourself so as to focus your efforts on these structured locations for prime results.
For the past year, the fishing along our Texas coast has become increasingly good, and we anticipate it to only get better as we progress through spring and into summer. As we all continue to relish in all that our great fisheries have to offer, it is important for us to realize the necessity for replenishing that natural resource that we have enjoyed for so many years, and that is why Bay Flats Lodge has partnered with CCA Texas and their National Habitat Program, the Building Conservation Trust. All of our lodge guests now have the opportunity to get involved and donate, and we will match all of our customer donations as we submit them to CCA. With your help, these groups will be able to enhance marine life from Matagorda Bay to Rockport that will be appreciated and enjoyed by the local community for many generations to come. Donate today to make a difference! Until next time, remember to practice CPR, “Catch, Photo, and Release”, whenever possible on trophy Trout and Reds…Guide Chris Martin, Port O’Connor/Seadrift region. www.BayFlatsLodge.com …1-888-677-4868
In The News
First BFL Check Is Written to Building Conservation Trust – CCA Texas
And so it begins – Bay Flats Lodge partnership with the Building Conservation Trust is officially launched with our first check written to BCT. We want to say thank you to our great customers who have generously given, and we at Bay Flats Lodge are happy to match their gifts. These donations are going to habitat projects here in the central Texas coast from Matagorda Bay to Rockport. As these funds accumulate and are put to use, all those who enjoy the fishing and hunting that the Texas mid-coast provides will benefit. Check out the BCT Spring 2018 Newsletter – There are lots of great things going on with CCA’s National Habitat Program! Read on to learn more about new habitat projects, partnerships and ways you can get involved. https://mailchi.mp/89f4e2792e84/bct-spring-2018-newsletter
Ducks Unlimited Event Held at BFL
Bay Flats Lodge is proud to have been selected to host Ducks Unlimited this past weekend for their annual meetings, along with a 10-boat, 2-day fishing session. The camaraderie was awesome, and everybody seemed to have thoroughly enjoyed the stay with us. More noticeable, however, was the passion and the love everyone shared for the common good of conserving our nation’s ever-dwindling wetlands – a conservancy effort required in order to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. DU conserves, restores, and manages wetlands and associated habitats for North America’s waterfowl, which also benefits other wildlife and people. Waterfowl conservation is facing important challenges as wetlands and other habitats are being degraded and destroyed across the continent, and Ducks Unlimited has a vision to reverse that trend.
Upcoming Events
May 17th – Combat Marine Outdoors
Due to damages incurred by Hurricane Harvey, Seadrift’s own legendary seafood restaurant, Barkett’s, will no longer be opening their doors to the public. In Barkett’s absence, Bay Flats Lodge has volunteered to serve as host to this year’s annual luncheon event for the Combat Marine Outdoors organization. Their program serves as a vehicle to demonstrate to these Marines, Sailors, and other service members that there are tens of thousands of patriotic Americans who truly care about these brave warriors and are willing to show their appreciation and support by providing once-in-a-lifetime outdoor adventures in some of the most incredible places in the world. It will be our honor and our privilege to host the members of such a fine organization.
CCA Texas – S.T.A.R. Tournament 2018
May 26th through September 3rd, 2018
Just like your lure presentation, CCA is always working to improve the CCA Texas STAR Tournament. This year we are rolling out our brand new CCA Texas Guides Division. The addition of this division DOES NOT affect any other part of the tournament and guides are still ineligible in other divisions. It is the hope of Texas STAR and CCA Texas to be able to reward Texas fishing guides who support marine conservation, and empower them to help recruit more anglers into the CCA mission through this new division. The division winner will be taking home a new 26′ Mowdy Cat, Mercury 225hp ProXS OptiMax outboard, and custom Coastline trailer.
Division framework: All eligible guides who were present when a member of their party catches any fish on the final leaderboard on a paid, or unpaid trip, will be entered into a drawing to win the division, pending polygraphs. Drawing will be held after the final winner board is posted. Entries will be weighted in descending order based upon final standings, with a division-winning fish (including all tagged redfish winners) being worth five entries and a fifth place fish being worth one entry. The guide must be listed on the angler’s Official STAR weigh-in form to receive entries. Please see www.startournament.org for eligibility requirements and further details.
This Week’s Featured Special:
BFL’s Grass Roots Wade Fishing Lures Special
Our original customer base of the mid-1990’s consisted primarily of customers who loved to wade fish with artificial bait, and it was that clientele which stood as the foundation upon which we have grown Bay Flats Lodge into the company it has become today. In recognition of our grass roots, we’re getting back to the basics this year by offering a special deal to all of the wading and artificial enthusiasts out there. Beginning April 1, 2018, when you book 3 wading with artificial bait trips, you will receive your 4th wading with artificial bait trip FREE.
– The 4th FREE trip ONLY includes one free full-day of wade fishing with artificial baits for 4 anglers in one boat.
– The 4th FREE trip does NOT include free lodging and meals.
– One full-day of wade fishing with artificial bait constitutes one trip toward your goal.
– All trips must be taken prior to December 31, 2018.
– Offer not valid on trips booked prior to April 1, 2018; only valid on trips booked between April 1, 2018, and December 15, 2018
Here’s What Some of Our Recent Guests Had To Say…
The lodge staff and our fishing guide, Capt. Jeremy McClelland, were very accommodating and helpful. Keep up the great service! – Clay R. 4/9/18
The staff was professional with a great attitude, and the food was great (the quail was wonderful)! Capt. Doug Russell was awesome! – Mark L. 4/8/18
Capt. Jeremy McClelland was excellent and extremely competent. Probably was the the best fishing guide I’ve ever fished with. Kudos! – Greg D. 4/8/18
Everybody is great! TJ was there to meet us and made sure we had everything we needed and got us settled in. He always remembers our group and makes sure he spends time with us to make everyone feel welcome. I fished with Capt. Harold Dworaczyk one day and Capt. Jason Wagenfehr the next. They are both excellent guides who make sure you know the game plan but let you do your thing as well. Best guides around! The food is always top-notch! Can’t wait until 5:30pm each day to dig in to those appetizers! We stayed in the new house. We had the whole house to ourselves and had an awesome time! Keep doing what you’re doing! – Kerry J. 4/8/18
Five-Day Weather Forecast
Tuesday 0 % Precip. / 0.0 in
Partly cloudy skies. High 76F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph.
Wednesday 10 % Precip. / 0.0 in
A mainly sunny sky. High 76F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph.
Thursday 10 % Precip. / 0.0 in
Wind increasing. A few clouds from time to time. High 77F. Winds SSE at 20 to 30 mph.
Friday 80 % Precip. / 0.06 in
Showers and thunderstorms in the morning, then partly cloudy late. It will be windy. High 79F. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
Saturday 20 % Precip. / 0.0 in
Some clouds early. Mostly sunny along with windy conditions during the afternoon. High 72F. Winds N at 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
Synopsis:
A moderate to strong northeast flow will develop and continue into Tuesday, with the flow slowly weakening in the afternoon. Small Craft Advisories are likely for the gulf for part of Tuesday. Winds will gradually shift around to the southeast Tuesday night and Wednesday, becoming weak to moderate. Onshore flow will increase Thursday into Friday ahead of another cold front that will move through Friday night into Saturday.
Coastal Water Temperature:
Port Aransas 69.1 degrees
Seadrift 66.9 degrees
Matagorda Bay 66.0 degrees
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