I’ve got several topics I wish to share with you this week including a couple of tasty outdoor recipes as well as a fishing pattern that is currently underway on a lake near you.
The shad spawn triggers good bank fishing
Shad are currently spawning which triggers one of the best shallow water bites of the year for several species. Each night shad pack the waters close to shore by the kazillions and just about every species in the lake moves in to feed. The trick to enjoying a red-hot bite is to get on the water at first light, throw a cast net a couple times and catch a bucket full of very fresh shad. Minnows will also work but shad are usually very easy to catch, especially around boat ramps with concrete that hold the heat and attract baitfish. I use a 4-foot net that opens to 8 feet.
Fishing is usually best on a windy bank where the wind is pushing water and baitfish in close to shore.
Catfish, both channels and blues will be close to the bank to enjoy the easy pickings but so will white bass and even largemouth. The game fish are there to enjoy the smorgasbord provided by the huge number of spawning shad. I like to target the catfish and white bass schools that move through in waves.
Rigging is simple; I’ve used a gold crappie hook with a split shot above to catch both species. It’s common to get snagged on brush and roots along the shore and the wire hook will often pull free easier than a stronger case hardened hook. It’s also good to use a light leader, 8 or 10 pound test and stronger mainline. In case you become snagged and can’t pull free the light line will break and you can quickly retie and be back in action.
Of course this rig is not suited for really big catfish but most catfish will be 3 pounds or less. I often rig with a floater set a couple feet above the bait/weight. When fishing a windy bank, the wind will be pushing the waves in to shore but there will also be a current where the water moves back out toward the lake. Under these conditions, the cork will follow the current and move to
the right or left. This is the spot where most of the game fish and shad will be concentrated.
This bite will be going strong for the next several weeks on most all of our lakes. I usually plan an overnight stay at Wind Point Park on Lake Tawakoni so that I will be there ready to fish at first light but if you’re a very early riser and close to the waters you plan to fish, an early morning drive is another option. The trick is to fish the first couple hours of daylight.
Luke's camp beans
I love beans, especially baked beans. Through the years I have developed a very easy method of making a version of skillet baked beans that I thoroughly enjoy.
Begin by frying a couple pieces of diced bacon in a cast iron skillet then chop a medium onion, half a bell pepper, one seeded jalapeno and several garlic cloves and sauté until tender. Next add a large can of the ‘off brand’ baked
beans, the cheapest you can find. These things are actually as far from real baked beans as a catfish is from a bass but they are the correct bean variety you need for this recipe.
Mix in 4 tablespoons of brown sugar and a tablespoon or two of your favorite barbeque sauce. Next, slice 3 smoked links crosswise and add to the mix. I use spicy venison links but use the variety you like best. Add water and allow to slowly simmer 30 minutes or so to allow all the flavors to blend.
Give this a try and see if it might just become a favorite bean recipe for home or camp. Dry Navy beans can also be cooked until tender and used in this recipe. I plan to make a gallon or so soon and can and pressure cook several jars.
Dewberries getting ripe
Many folks mistake dewberries for blackberries and for very good reason, they are both obviously black. But dewberries as a rule grow closer to the ground than blackberries which grow in a more vertical pattern. The ripe berries you see along roadsides or while out fishing or turkey hunting now are dewberries and although not as sweet as blackberries, they can be found growing just about everywhere in areas that aren’t mowed.
Blackberries will ripen in a few weeks. Both type berries make excellent cobblers or fried pies. A simple cobbler can be made from a couple quarts of berries, a stick of butter, cup of sugar and box of cheap yellow cake mix. Simply melt the butter and sugar in a Dutch kettle or heavy pot with berries, pour the dry cake mix on top and add a few additional pads of butter. Bake at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes and BINGO! You will have a tasty cobbler waiting for a big scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Fried pies are also easy to make. Cook all the ingredients except cake mix into a thick paste, spread on soft flour tortillas, fold the tortilla in half and crimp edges
with a fork. Fry in oil at medium temperature until golden brown, dust with sugar and serve hot.
Gumbo from wild turkey
Last week I made a huge pot of wild turkey/sausage gumbo. I smoked the turkey until tender (you can substitute a whole chicken). With the turkey and sausage chopped into small pieces, add to a heavy pot (I use a 14 inch cast iron skillet).
Next chop celery, bell pepper and onion and add to the pot, sauté veggies until tender. Prepare a roux in another skillet using oil and flour.
A roux is simply a dark gravy, the longer you heat the roux the darker it gets. You can use a wide variety of pre-made roux if you prefer. The trick is to continuously stir the roux as it is heating. Add the roux to the meat/veggies. I like to use a couple small cans of chopped tomatoes or, fresh if I have them. Season with your favorite Cajun seasoning, I really like the extra spicy Tony’s.
Put a lid on the pot and let simmer for about 45 minutes, adding water as necessary to avoid sticking. Add orka last and simmer for about 20 minutes. At this time, I like to garnish with chopped green onion tops. Serve on a bed or white rice and don’t forget to sprinkle some file’ (ground sassafras) on top before serving. Smoking the meat adds a great flavor to gumbo.
Email outdoors writer Luke Clayton through his website www.catfishradio.org . Listen to his weekly podcast “Catfish Radio with Luke Clayton and Friends) about everywhere podcast are found.
