2010 May 24 - FISHING REPORT

The White Bass and Hybrid Striper fishing normally gets a bit sporadic during the first couple of weeks of June. Overall, I'd still call it Very Good, but there will be a few days where you will really have to hunt hard for keeper size fish. The small school fish will begin to appear most mornings and the top water activity increases on almost a daily basis. The first hour or so of daylight is a great time to search the South Shoreline from Fisherman's Point Marina to Ferguson Point. Look for baitfish popping the surface and a Blue Heron or Egret flying low to pick up his breakfast. Tie on a Clear Tiny Torpedo or Blue/Chrome Rat-L-Trap and you're in business.

(Here's an excerpt from a June, 2009 Fishing Report pertaining to the effect of the Full Moon on the bite. Thought you might find it interesting and a reminder of what to expect!) We've fished several afternoon trips during the Full Moon phase of June 5th-12th. It's unreal how good the fishing can be in the middle of the day and early afternoon. We sometimes forget how Mother Nature, the Solunar Tables and Fish (and really all wild animals) are tied together. On two afternoon trips during the week of June 8th, my Customers caught an released well over 200 White Bass per trip during the hours of 1PM-5PM. All our fish were caught on Slabs in water 25'-35' deep and basically in the same areas that we didn't catch fish on morning trips that same day! As a bonus , we had several Hybrid Stripers up to 6 lb. plus on these same trips!

Crappie fishing should start getting better as the Summer Pattern of Deep Water, Timber, Brush piles and Bridge Columns go into effect. You should be fishing water in the 20'-25' depths, but fish will usually be suspended shallow early in the morning and deeper later in the day. Small minnows or jigs will catch you some of the these tasty fish!

Lastly, Father's Day is June 20th and you might consider giving Dad a Gift Certificate for a Fishing Trip on RC! I guarantee he will enjoy it more than another new tie!

Summer is a Great Time to get the Kids on the Lake! Get out early, catch some fish and enjoy the time together!

Good Luck and Good Fishin' !

Royce & Adam Simmons
www.gonefishin.biz
903-389-4117

2010 May 10 - FISHING REPORT

Before we get into the Report, just a reminder that “Father's Day” is just a month away on June 20th. If your Dad likes to fish, what better way to surprise him than with a Fishing Trip with Gone Fishin' Guide Service? No need to set a date...let him do that. Just call us and we'll put a special Gone Fishin' Gift Certificate in the mail. He will appreciate this much more than another new tie!

The Fishing Report for the next month will be almost a carbon copy of the one for most of the Summer, so here's what will be happening for the remainder of the Spring and early Summer on Richland Chambers. The White Bass Topwater action will begin in the next few weeks, and you can find them every AM and PM in pretty much the same locations.The Hwy 309 Flats area is always good for surface schooling fish. From the Spillway down to the Old Hwy 309 Boat Ramp is a good area to cruise with the binoculars in hand. If you spot a few Egrets or Heron on the Levy, check out the area as the Birds are there for a reason. Windsock Point is very predictable for a late PM Schooling Frenzy. Tie on a Clear Tiny Torpedo or a small Blue/Chrome Rattletrap, and you're almost guaranteed to catch fish when they are on top!

Crappie will be on the Bridges and manmade Brushpiles in the Summer. Small Jigs and minnows in the early AM and late PM should catch you some of these good tasting fish. A popular outing on many Lakes(but not as much seen on RC) is Night Fishing. The night time is much more comfortable, and the bite is usually better. Be careful and get set up before dark, and avoid moving around too much unless you really know the Lake.

Many fishermen use the Summer to run Jug Lines in anticipation of catching some of the Big Blue catfish RC has to offer. The bait of choice is normally Perch, and most folks fish the 309 Flats area.

Summer is AWESOME for Kids and an outing on RC! The Fish are cooperative, and the weather pattern is much more predictable than the Spring Turmoil we usually encounter. Check out our “Package Special” of a Fishing Trip for Two, Overnight at a Cabin at Fisherman's Point Marina, and Lunch at the Lighthouse Cafe for $299!"

Give us a call at 903-389-4117, and Let's Go Fishin'!

“SPECIALIZING IN FAMILY FISHING FUN”

Royce & Adam Simmons
www.gonefishin.biz
903-389-4117

2010 May 03 - FISHING REPORT

It's been about as good as it gets on RC as the White Bass, Hybrid Stripers and pretty much all the fishies have been on an “eating binge” the past week! Most days you can expect to limit out (25 per person) on the White Bass, and depending on the conditions, the Hybrid Striper bite has been good also. We're catching fish in most of the well known locations on the Main Lake....Pelican Island, 309 Flats, Old Hwy 287 Roadbed and many of the Main Lake Points. Keep a Slab, Rat-L-Trap and Sassy Shad handy as the majority of the fish have been coming off the bottom, but many days you'll see “Schooling” fish also.

The Crappie have been a bit of a challenge most days as there are still fish in the stages of spawning, but not many of the really large catches you normally hear about are occuring. I'm guessing we've got a few more days of shallow water activity and the spawn will be over for 2010. Over the weekend, I saw several folks catching fish from the coves at Fisherman's Point Marina.

It's a great time of the year to enjoy the Outdoors as it's not too Cold, not too Hot , but JUST RIGHT! Give us a call and Let's Go Fishin'!

Royce & Adam Simmons
www.gonefishin.biz
903-389-4117

2010 April 26 - FISHING REPORT

What a great week of fishing it was as we had Old Friends, New Customers and Lots of Catchin' going on at RC! We were able to fish almost every trip till it came to Saturday Afternoon when the WIND kept us off the Lake. The fishing is very good and the only thing missing is YOU!

We have Weekday openings in May, a couple of Memorial Day Holiday Weekend spots we need to fill, and it's time to book that June/July Saturday if you haven't done so.

Give us a call and Let's Go Fishin'!

Royce & Adam Simmons
www.gonefishin.biz
903-389-4117

2010 April 19 - FISHING REPORT

The White Bass and Hybrid Striper bite is about as good as it gets on RC!!! If you happen to be fishing on a Cloudy, Breezy Day, your chances of hooking up with a BIG Hybrid Striper increases dramatically. Check out the Pelican Island and Hwy 309 Flats areas for early morning activity. You can usually tell if the baitfish are there as you'll see lots of Gulls, some Pelicans and Blue Herons, and maybe even an Osprey having breakfast.

Tie on a 1oz. to 2oz. Silver or Chartruese Slab and bounce it along the bottom in the areas where the Gulls are feeding. Hold on as you may just hook into one of the largest and strongest fish in fresh water! The Hybrids really pull long and hard and certainly give you your monies worth!

We love Spring time and all the Catchin' that is done on Richland Chambers! If you've never experienced the thrill of filling the Ice Chest with White Bass or the pull of a big Hybrid Striper, give us a call and Let's Go Fishin'!

Good Luck and Good Fishin'!

Royce & Adam Simmons
www.gonefishin.biz
903-389-4117

2010 April 12 - FISHING REPORT

WOW!!!! What a week of fishing we had last week on RC as the White Bass and Hybrid Striper bite went from almost nothing to catching limits of Whites almost every trip out! The water temperature finally improved to the high 50's and low 60's, the cold weather turned into Spring and the fish turned on. We fished Monday thru Saturday and with the exception of Tuesday when we had some typical Spring high winds, we had great outings and lots of fish for our Customers.

Check out the Pelican Island and Main Lake Points for the best action. We're dropping 1 oz. Silver or Chartreuse Slabs to the bottom and bouncing them along the ridges and drop-offs in 15'-25' water. If you see the Gulls or Pelicans dropping down to to pick up bait, you've got fish! We're not catching great numbers of Hybrid Stripers yet, but I'm guessing this next week with the continued warm weather and the Lake being back to normal Pool Level, the Stripers will kick in gear!

It's a GREAT time of year to be on the Lake! Give us a call and Let's Go Catchin'!

Good Luck and Good Fishin'!

Royce & Adam Simmons
www.gonefishin.biz
903-389-4117

2010 March 22 - FISHING REPORT

Adam and I feel like we've been working for the Postal Department as the month of March has had us experience Cold & Warm Days, some more Rain and a whole lot of WIND! March is normally one of our busiest months of the year, but this March we've cancelled or rescheduled more than half our trips thus far. It's just no fun when you have to fight the elements even if the fish are biting!

The rain we experienced the past few months has had the creeks flowing and the lake rose about a foot. As of this writing, the Lake is at normal Pool Level and is starting to clear up nicely!

The cold weather this past weekend will slow the Crappie bite for a few days, but nothing ever seems to stop the White Bass from eating. Early Spring trips are producing mostly small White bass. We'll soon begin catching more and more of the larger Whites and Hybrid Stripers . The Crappie are in the shallow water for their spawn, and will hopefully be biting really good as you read this.

All this to say that I really believe the Spring fishing in April & May will be AWESOME! Check out the 309 Flats in the early morning for the Hybrids and then move to the Pelican Island area for midday and afternoon Whites on slabs. Keep a Sassy Shad, a Slab and Rat-L-Trap handy as these three baits are deadly this time of year.

Crappie will be in the backs of coves, creeks and around any shallow water structure this month. If you're bank fishing, Fisherman's Point Marina almost always has Crappie in the coves. Small minnows or jigs below a cork is a tried and proven method to put the “best tasting” fish in the lake in your ice chest.

Here's hoping you get to get out and enjoy a day on the Lake soon!

Good Luck and Good Fishin'!

Royce & Adam Simmons
www.gonefishin.biz
903-389-4117

2010 March 15 - FISHING REPORT

It's been a “Roller Coaster Ride” in regard to the Weather and Mother Nature on RC for the past couple of weeks!!! But then again, it's Springtime in Texas!!! If you can have a little cloudcover and preferably a South Breeze, you're in business to catch White Bass and Hybrid Stripers. That's not been the case much of March and the fishing has been just fair most days with the Afternoons being just as productive as the Mornings. The tremendous amount of fresh water and the cold water temps has pushed the normal AWESOME Spring bite back a few weeks.

Check out the 309 Flats early in the AM for some Hybrid Striper & White Bass action! Watch for the Gulls as they'll usually lead you to the fish. You'll catch fish on any number of baits.... Lil' Georges, Glitter Slabs and Sassy Shads. You really need to feel comfortable casting a Baitcaster or a Spin Cast with 15 lb. plus line to wrestle with the Hybrids.

The Crappie fishing hasn't gotten good quite yet as the constant weather changes keeps them from being on a consistent daily bite. The coves around Fisherman's Point Marina will soon begin producing catches in between the Cool Fronts. Small minnows under a cork work best. I believe we'll have a little longer Spawn period this year and probably go into early May still catching shallow water Crappie. The water level combined with the weather and temperature changes have them a little confused much of the Spring, but it should straighten out in the next week or so.

It's a Great Time of the year to get on the Lake! Adam and I offer Morning and Afternoon Trips and we fish everyday except Sunday. Give us a call at 903-389-4117 and let us show you some of the best fishing Texas has to offer!

Good Luck and Good Fishin'!

Royce & Adam Simmons
www.gonefishin.biz
903-389-4117

2010 March 05 - Fishing Update

We're used to giving you Fishing Reports with news of Big Fish and LOTS of them. However, we try and report the news like it is and submit this Report as proof that even a Fisherman can tell the truth every once in a while! :)

What a difference a year makes! Last year at this time, the Lake level was about 5' low, the Weather was Warm & Dry and the aggressive Spring Fishing had already kicked in gear. This February, with all the fresh water, the Spillway Gates have been open for a couple of months, the Lake is over Pool Level,the Wind, Rain and Snow has literally kept us off the Lake almost all year and when we have been out, it's been tough fishing. As a matter of fact, we had 10 trips scheduled the past couple of weeks and ALL were cancelled. Oh well.....Spring is just around the corner and we'll be off and running!

If you're one of the many folks on the March Calendar, keep your fingers crossed for a week of warm weather to get the fish in the feeding mode. We'll be calling or e-mailing those of you who have trips next week to give you an update and if necessary, talk about rescheduling. We want everyone to experience Richland Chambers fishing at its' BEST and maximize on the FUN! Last year during Spring Break week, the fishing was as good as it gets with LOTS of BIG fish and an Ice Chest full of Keepers every trip out! We expect the same this year!

Here's the latest update for March and Spring Break Week.....We still have at least one boat open each of the Saturdays in March except for the 27th. During the Week of Spring Break, we have a boat open on Tuesday & Thursday. After Spring Break week, we have several Weekdays with a boat open.

Adam and I are getting excited about Spring and hope you are too! Attached are some photos from Spring Break week a couple of years ago to get the heart pumping. Give us a call and Let's Go Fishin'!

Good Luck and Good Fishin'!

Royce & Adam Simmons
www.gonefishin.biz
903-389-4117

2010 February 22 - March FISHING REPORT

Adam and I always look forward to March as it signals that Spring is here, fish begin to bite more aggressively, and we're usually on the Lake six days a week!

March gets everyone excited about getting on the lake again! It's especially exciting for us as we get to fish with a LOT of Kiddos and Families that take a "Spring Break" Trip! Over 50% of our Trips in March are with Kids!!! Texas Public Schools have their Spring Break this year the week of March 15th. White Bass and Kids are made for each other! The Whites will still be in the deeper water in the Main Lake area. The Windsock Point, Pelican Island, and the Long Arm Branch are all good areas to start your search. Drop a RSR Chartreuse or Silver Glitter Slab off the Points and Humps in 25'-35' water and bounce it along the bottom. Watch for the Gulls and if you're new to the Lake, find those areas where you have a few other folks fishing, and join them.

Adam will begin conducting some Spring Crappie Trips this month, and the action normally gets more consistent and better as we move into mid March & April. The Creeks and Coves we have fished in the past are at a good water level this year versus being extremely high last Spring, and you can bet the Crappie will adapt and not miss the opportunity to Spawn in the shallows. Small minnows below bobbers is a tried and proven method, but Adam likes to Jig Fish. Both methods will put some of the "Best Eating Fish" in the Lake in the Ice Chest.

Almost all the fish species will be on a more aggressive bite as we begin the Spring. Don't miss the opportunity to get out and enjoy God's Creation! We'll be conducting Morning & Afternoon Trips to accommodate as many Folks as possible. If you have questions, want to take a Fishing Trip, or just need a current Fishing Report, give us a call at 903-389-4117.

Thanks and Have A Great March!

Royce & Adam Simmons
www.gonefishin.biz
903-389-4117

2010 February 08 - FISHING REPORT

Rain, Cold, More Rain and Cold!!!! That's been the recent Weather Forecast for much of the New Year. However, like the Farmers and others that make their living in the Outdoors and off the land, I'm not complaining! We'll enter the Spring of 2010 with an absolutely FULL Lake instead of having to count on the Spring Rains to fill er' up. A couple of years ago we had a similar weather pattern and it just kept on raining thru early Summer. You know what......The fish were already wet so it didn't seem to matter to them how much rain we got. They just kept on biting!

There's really not much to report on this past week as the Weather did keep us off the Lake most of the time, so........Let's talk a little about what is going to happen in the next 30 days!

First, the White Bass and Hybrid Stripers will “turn on” sometime in the very near future. It was late February last year when we began loading the boat with really BIG fish. The Highway 309 Flats will be the place to begin your fishing. Look for the Gulls and Pelicans dipping and diving for baitfish and drop a slab below them. Usually you'll find the fish have pushed the baitfish onto a hump, ridge of channel and are feeding aggressively. Once the feeding activity begins in late Winter, we're off and running all Spring! This is the absolute best time of year to catch a double digit Hybrid Striper!

Second, the Crappie will begin to make their move to the shallower water in preparation for their annual spawn. Check out the many Coves, Creeks and shallow water bank areas that have timber, grass or boat docks in proximity to deeper water. Small minnows or jigs under a slip cork are deadly in March and April, and will provide lots of fun and good table fare!

Third, the FUN begins for Fishing Guides on RC! In our case, our boats go from being on the water once a week to six days a week. Many days, we'll conduct a Morning and Afternoon trip as the bite is good all day long! About half our trips are with Kids or Grandkids of our Customers. There's nothing more FUN than to see a Kiddo catch his/her first fish and see a smile that goes from ear to ear! Springtime, Fishing and Kids....It doesn't get much better than this!

If you're planning your Spring Break, just want to get out of the House due to Cabin Fever, or want to fill the freezer with fish filets, give us a call at 903-389-4117. Check us out on our website at www.gonefishin.biz . We fish everyday except Sunday and would love to show you a GREAT TIME on Richland Chambers!

Good Luck and Good Fishin'!

Royce & Adam Simmons
www.gonefishin.biz
903-389-4117

2010 January 30 - FISHING REPORT

As of this writing in late January, Richland Chambers is about a foot above normal pool level, the water temperature is in the high 40's degree range and the fishing has been good considering it's still officially Winter! The last few trips have produced some nice catches of quality size White Bass. I have heard of a few catches of large Hybrid Stripers, but we've not been able to find any that were of legal size. However, based on the number of 17” Hybrids we caught last Fall, the future looks good for the Hybrid population, and this Spring should be Great!

We've been catching most of our fish in water depths that are a bit surprising! We've caught fish as deep as 50' with the majority coming in the 35'-45' range. We're using a 1 oz. Silver Glitter Minnow Slab ( www.rsrlures.com ) and tying a small jig about two foot above the Slab. About half the fish are coming on the jig! Check out the Windsock Point as it's been as productive an area as any place on the lake for us. The reason the fish have been in this area and as deep as they are is the tremendous amount of baitfish that's congregated along the deep dropoffs on the Windsock Point.

For those of you who like to catch and eat Catfish, you'll find plenty of them in the same areas as we're finding the White Bass. Some really large Blue Cats are caught every year in the Winter & early Spring months on Richland Chambers. If you can fish on a nice breezy (not Windy) day and drift over the Main Lake Humps and Points in the 35'-45' water range, you'll usually find some cooperative fish. Small perch, shad or shrimp will get you a bite!

Spring is near and the fishing on RC will be AWESOME!!! If you're planning a Spring Break, just want to get rid of the Wintertime Cabin Fever, or want to get the Friends and Family on the Lake, give us a call at 903-389-4117. We fish Morning and Afternoon Trips in the Spring and fish everyday except Sunday!

Good Luck and Good Fishin'!

Royce & Adam Simmons
www.gonefishin.biz
903-389-4117

2010 January 25 - FISHING REPORT

The week of January 18th was almost Springlike in that we had South Winds, 70 degree temperatures and even Thunderstorms on a couple of days! The water temperature warmed up from a frigid 42 degrees to 48 degrees by the end of the week. On the MLK Monday Holiday, I fished with some folks from Mesquite and we had a pretty good afternoon. It started out slow with only a few White Bass the first hour or so, and then got into some almost non-stop action for the next hour and a half. Toward the end of the week on Thursday, the same results were had on another outing!

We found some of our fish about 5 miles up the Richland Creek Arm, but caught most in 40'-45' water off the Windsock Point on the Main Lake. You'll need to use your Graph and find the fish holding on the bottom. All you'll see is a little dot on the Graph as the fish are buried up on the bottom. All our fish came on 1 oz. Silver Slabs or on a Jig teaser above the Slab and literally little to no movement on the bait.

Winter fishing and catching is a different type of fishing than you'll experience any other time of the year.There's no schooling fish, usually no birds and a very,very slow presentation of the bait is required. The bite is often just dead weight on the end of the line or just a slight tick. Most folks give up after a couple of hours of fishing too fast or not finding the fish. I enjoy Wintertime fishing on the nice weather days as it's a real challenge to find and then catch the fish versus the easy catching during the other Seasons of the year.

If you want to get in on some of the action, give us a call at 903-389-4117 or check us out on our Website at www.gonefishin.biz .

Good Luck and Good Fishin'!

Royce & Adam Simmons
www.gonefishin.biz
903-389-4117

2010 January 20 - FISHING REPORT

We had to work for them, but the 60 plus degree weather and nice Company made for an enjoyable MLK Holiday Afternoon on Richland Chambers! (See Attached Photo) Kyle Fortenberry and 16 year old Daughter Erica had a Midday Trip start with me yesterday. After the first couple of hours and only about 6 fish, the action got much better and for the next hour we caught, kept and released around 40 fish. The water temperature is still too cold for a good bite in my opinion, but I guess the fish didn't think so. With the nice temperatures this week, the water temp will continue to warm and the fishing should only get better as we head into the weekend.

If anyone wants to take advantage of the nice weather for Thursday, Friday & Saturday, we have a boat open. Give us a call and Let's Go Fishin'!

Good Luck and Good Fishin'!

Royce & Adam Simmons
www.gonefishin.biz
903-389-4117

2010 January 13 - FISHING REPORT

Here's hoping you survived the “Cool Temps” we had the past few weeks. When the really COLD COLD Weather hit, we were inside at the Arlington Convention Center at a warm Booth talking “Fishing and Springtime” at the Texas Fishing & Outdoor Show. It was good to see some of you at the Show, and we had lots of new Customers chat with us about taking a trip this year!

The last fishing trip I conducted was on Saturday (January 2nd), and we caught fish, but really had to work for them. The water temperature had lowered to 47 degrees then. The two gentleman I fished with that Afternoon caught around 25 fish with a dozen of them being really MAGNUM White Bass. The bite is barely detectable and I tell folks “that when in doubt, set the hook”. The bite will continue to be like this till we get a few days of 60 degree weather to warm the water up a bit. The fish bite all year long, it's just a little slower until we hit Springtime.

I did get on the Lake for a couple of hours on Tuesday (January 12th) to check out a few spots, see how low the water temp had got and see if I could find a fish or two. The water temperature had dropped almost 5 degrees to 42 degrees, the fish were not on the locations I had been catching them at and I gave up after a couple of hours on the chilly Lake. As mentioned, I think we'll need a week or so of 60 degree weather to get the bite going again!

We have booked many of our Springtime (March -May) Saturdays in the past couple of weeks and also have a good start on Spring Break Week (March 13th-20th). We'll be conducting Morning Trips starting around 7AM and Afternoon Trips starting around 1PM. If you're wanting to do some fishing on a Saturday or during Spring Break Week, you might want to give us a call soon. Between Adam and I, we can usually accommodate you on a Weekday trip with pretty short notice.

And lastly, if you just want a Fishing Report, updates on the Lake Conditions, or have any type of questions, send us an e-mail or phone us anytime.

Have a Great Day and hope to see you soon!

Royce & Adam Simmons
www.gonefishin.biz
903-389-4117

2009 December 27 - FISHING REPORT

It's been a wild weather period this late December & early January with Warm Days and strong South Breezes followed by Blue Northerners and extremely Cold Weather. The Lake Level is Full and the Spillway Gates are having to be opened periodically to let a little water out. It's WONDERFUL to have a full lake and we've still got Spring Rains to look forward too. I guess the fish don't seem to mind as they have been cooperative even with the weather and water changes.

We had some really good fishing during the mid to late December timeframe, and if the Cold Fronts don't get too severe, it will continue into January. The White Bass have been on their less than aggressive Winter feeding patterns lately, but they still have to eat. The key is being on the Lake when they do! Our most productive trips have resulted in catches of Magnum Sandies, a few Hybrid Stripers and an occasional Monster Catfish.

We're catching most of our fish on RSR Glitter Shad Slabs in the Silver or Chartruse colors. We're also placing a small Crappie Jig about 18” above the Slab and sometimes catching “Doubles”. The key is to move the Slab verrry, verrry slowly off the bottom and set the hook on the slightest bump! The bite is very “soft” in the Winter. The Whites have been in the normal Winter locations with the Windsock Point and Pelican Island areas producing late in the Morning and early Afternoon. We've found a few Hybrids off the Hwy 309 Flats and also up near the Old 287 Roadbed.

For those folks who like to catch large Catfish, it's near the time of year when the really BIG ones are caught. We don't often fish for the Trophy Cats, but those that do drift fish or anchor up in the same areas we're catching our Whites. Fresh Shad or Shrimp near the bottom can result in a Hook-Up you'll not soon forget!

Adam and I will be at the Texas Fishing and Hunting Show at the Arlington Convention Center from January 7th-10th. This event is a great way to spend the day as there will be Boats, Tackle, Seminars , Guides, and more to get you thinking about the Texas Outdoors. If you do attend, please drop by our Booth and say Hello!

Last, but not least, we're extending out “Special Winter Discount” into January! Give us a call and see how inexpensively we can get you on the Lake for a day of “Catchin” with Gone Fishin' Guide Service!

Happy New Year and Good Fishin'!

Royce & Adam Simmons
www.gonefishin.biz
903-389-4117

2009 December 14 - FISHING REPORT

We finally got a small break in regard to the weather and were able to fish on Saturday. Adam's Group had to cancel due to a four letter word (WORK) , but my Party of regular Customers that included Steve Hayes, Sean and Tom met me at the Marina at 9:30AM. The rain had slowed to a foggy drizzle, the winds had subsided to about 5 miles from the Northeast, the temperature was all the way up to 45 degrees and the Barometer was steady. In other words, IDEAL for Catchin'!!!

After a couple of stops at some of the regular spots, we had a dozen fish in the box. I told the Group to reel em' in and we headed up the Creek to my Winter Honey Hole! The fish were there just like they were a couple of days before. For the next two hours we caught fish after fish and by Noon had our 75 fish limit. We caught and released for another hour and then headed to the Marina for Burgers and Fries!!!

Winter fishing can be just like what was described above. The fish get congregated in an area, the bite is often best around midday or afternoon and most all our fish are caught on Slabs. One plus is that you often catch the LARGEST fish of the year and you never know when you might get the fish of a lifetime. BIG Hybrid Stripers and BIGGER Catfish are often caught this time of the year.

We have lots of openings on Weekdays and one boat open on the next couple of Saturdays. Watch the Weather Forecast, pick a nice day and give us a call and we'll go Catchin'!!!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Royce & Adam Simmons
www.gonefishin.biz
903-389-4117

2009 December 07 - FISHING REPORT

The number of folks fishing in the late Fall and Winter slows to an almost halt, but the fish are still biting! On most days when we've been on the Lake, we're one of a very few (and sometimes only) boats on the Lake. We've been conducting most of our Trips in the Afternoon when the air and water temperatures are a bit higher, and the fish more aggressive. As the water temperature lowers to the low to mid 50's, the fish become somewhat lethargic. Their metabolism is at it's lowest and they just don't bite near as aggressively as they do during the warmer months.

So....what do you do to still catch fish? It's really pretty simple, but sometimes difficult to coordinate. You need to (1) Be in the right location, (2) At the right time, and with (3) The right offering. Recently for us this has meant being in the Windsock Point or Pelican Island area of the Lake in the mid day to late afternoon timeframe, and using RSR Glitter Slabs to catch Whites and Hybrids. We're watching for Gulls that sometimes make it very easy to find fish. If you don't get help from the Gulls, you'll need to feel comfortable using your Graph to locate the baitfish and fish. Most often they'll be hugging the bottom in 25'-35' water off the sides of the Points and Humps.

When you do locate fish, the presentation of the Slab is critical. We're moving the Slab very slowly about a foot or two off the bottom. I tell Customers that when you think you're moving the Slab slow enough,then slow it down even more. The bite will often be a vey subtlle “tick” and not the aggressive bite you've been experiencing in the Fall. We even refer to the presentation as “Deadsticking” when you literally leave the Slab motionless right off the bottom. When you feel that “tick” or just a sensation of the line getting heavy, set the hook! You've just had a hit!

Adam and I hope you're having a Great Holiday Season! If there's someone in your Family or a Friend who would like a Fishing Trip as a Christmas Gift, just give us a call. We'll get a Gift Certificate in the mail immediately! Or perhaps you want to get the Kids on the Lake during their Christmas School Break? Whatever the reason, give us a call and learn why I still refer to my Favorite Time of the Year as the October-December months. We have the Lake all to ouselves and the quality and quantity of fish is as good as it gets!

Have a Great Day and Good Fishing!

Royce & Adam Simmons
www.gonefishin.biz
903-389-4117

2009 November 30 - FISHING REPORT

Here's hoping you had as GREAT a Thanksgiving as we did in the Simmons Family! We spent Thanksgiving Day at the Lake with much of the Family in attendance and LOTS of Turkey, Dressing, Cowboy Football and FUN!!! NO FISHING on Thursday, but we made up for it on Friday & Saturday as we had both boats booked for morning and afternoon trips both days.

Friday morning was a little tough as it was cool, with bluebird skys and a bit breezy. We caught fish, but had to really work for them. All were caught on Slabs in 20' to 25' water. Adam found us a hugh school of fish way up the Richland Arm of the Lake on Friday afternoon and they were there for the rest of the Weekend! We hadn't fished anywhere but the Main Lake for almost three months but everyone doing so on Thanksgiving Weekend came in with little or even NO fish. We cleaned over 100 fish Friday evening and both trips on Saturday, and the majority were MAGNUM size White Bass and a few Hybrid Stripers. Highlight of the Weekend were two BIG Flathead Catfish weighing 45 lbs and 25 lbs caught by young men on Saturday morning. The lesson to learn is “If you don't find the fish in your usual locations, go elsewhere.” If we had stayed on the Main Lake and kept fishing the normal locations....Windsock, Pelican Island, etc. our customers and we would have been very disappointed!

December is usually a good month to catch BIG fish and they're normally on the 309 Flats, Main Lake Points and Pelican Island areas. Watch for Gulls and Pelicans dipping & diving on baitfish, and as mentioned earlier don't give up if the bite is slow or not happening. Burn some gas and track them down! They can swim, but they can't hide!

Please keep us in mind for Christmas as we offer Gift Certificates. We'll also be offering morning and afternoon trips thru the month and fishing everyday except for Sunday and of course Christmas. If you want to enjoy some of this great late Fall weather, give us a call and Let's Go Fishin'!

Good Luck and Good Fishin'!

Royce & Adam Simmons
www.gonefishin.biz
903-389-4117

2009 November 23 - FISHING REPORT

What a GREAT run of weather we've had as we were able to fish most days this past week and every outing caught LOTS of quality White Bass and a Keeper Hybrid Striper or two most trips! All our fish are coming on 1 oz. to 2 oz. Slabs and normally off Main Lake Points, the 309 Flats and the Pelican Island area. Look for the Gulls and Pelicans and if they're in the area and especially if they're “dipping and diving” and picking up bait, you've found the fish. If the birds are not around, you'll need to use your electronics to find the baitfish and fish.

We finished last week with a GREAT Saturday trip with the Kids and Sponsors from Trinity Valley School in Ft. Worth. Over 30 Kids fished with us this year. This is the fifth November that a Group from Trinity has made the trip to Richland Chambers. They always have enough Kids to have us use three boats and fish half the Group in the morning and the other half in the afternoon. They stay at the Lodge at Fisherman's Point Marina and have a Fish Fry on Saturday night. I'm not sure how many fish we caught, but we cleaned over 150 for the Fish Fry. The BIG FISH of the trip was caught by an 11 year old fisherman who hooked, landed and released a 7 lb. Hybrid Striper!!!

Over ther past 10 years, we have built our Guide Service business by specializing in “FAMILY FISHING FUN” and conduct about half our trips with Kids and Grandkids on board! Check us out at www.gonefishin.biz or give us a call at 903-389-4117 to see what we're all about!

Good Luck and Good Fishin'!

Royce & Adam Simmons
www.gonefishin.biz
903-389-4117

2009 November 17 - FISHING REPORT

Here's hoping that everyone is getting into the Holiday mood and is ready for some Turkey, Dressing and all the Trimmings! It's my absolute FAVORITE time of the year what with all the Family, Friends, Food and of course FISHING!!!! The continual Cool Fronts have challenged us in regard to having to fish some days in a stiff North or Northwest Breeze, but they have also finally lowered the water temperature to a very good 60-65 degree level. This is ideal to get the Fall Feeding Frenzy on RC in full gear!

This past Saturday we fished with an eight person Men's Group from the Baptist Church and cleaned almost 200 fish! In addition to the White Bass, we had several Catfish and Hybrid Stripers up to 5 lbs. It doesn't always come that easy, but Fall Fishing can often result in some AWESOME catches. Look for the Whites to be hanging on the edges of Points and Main Lake Humps in the 30' water range. We almost always check out the 309 Flats early for Hybrid Stripers. Some days they're there and other days you'll find them on the Windsock Point or Pelican Island area. While we use a 1 oz. RSR Glitter Slab year around, we often use a little larger Slab in the Fall and early Winter. The fish are larger and really aggressive and sometimes a “Bigger Bait Results In A Bigger Fish”!

If you're thinking about a Fall Fishing Trip, keep in mind that we fish Mornings and Afternoons and that the bite is often even better in the Afternoon as the weather gets cooler. Plus, if you're not a Morning Person, you don't have to get up before daylight. It's a GREAT time of the year to enjoy the Lake and the Outdoors as the trees have started to turn, the Waterfowl is everywhere and the Fish are biting! Give us a call and Let's Go Fishin'!

Royce & Adam Simmons
www.gonefishin.biz
903-389-4117

PS: We still have openings the Week of Thanksgiving on Monday-Wednesday, and some December Saturdays are still available. Lots of Weekdays available!

2009 October 30 - FISHING REPORT

WOW!!!!!! Have you ever seen so much water? The two Lakes (Navarro Mills and Bardwell) that feed Richland Chambers are way over their Pool Level. Chambers Creek has been up and down over Flood Level, and the Trinity River has been periodically out of it's banks for weeks! I'm amazed at the job the Tarrant Regional Water District has done managing the water level on RC as many homeowners have water at or above their Dock level. I know that the Fisherman's Point Gas Dock has been just inches above the water level for days.

With all this water, you'd guess the fishing has been just AWFUL! Just the opposite, as the White Bass and Hybrid Striper action has been as good as it gets most days with easy limits on Magnum size Whites and LOTS of 17" Hybrid Stripers that will be Keeper size by Springtime. Most of our fish are coming on RSR Glitter Slabs in 20'–30' water off Pelican Island and the Windsock Point. Adam and I have been lucky in that we've stayed on the Lake about half the month of October and that's not bad considering the weather we had. We're hoping we get a little more of the typical Fall weather (Cool & Dry) in November as the fish are aggressive and we normally catch LARGER fish in November and December!

As we enter the Holiday Season, keep in mind that a Family Fishing Trip is what we specialize in! We offer Morning and Afternoon trips and fish everyday except Sunday. We still have a boat open on a couple of the Saturdays in November (7th and 28th) and lots of Weekdays we need to fill.

Lastly, if you have a special Friend or Relative that loves to fish, think about a Gift Certificate for him or her for Christmas. Just give us a call and we'll get one in the mail to you.

Good Luck and Good Fishin' !

Royce & Adam Simmons
www.gonefishin.biz
903-389-4117

2009 October 20 - FISHING REPORT

It's been a very busy late September and October.   In addition to fishing almost everyday for the past month, we had the new addition to the Family (Adam & Brooke's first child and our first Grandaughter...Reese Noel Simmons) and saw our Lake go from 5' low to 1' over Pool level with all the rain.

With the exception of just a few days when the Weather Conditions hurt the fishing, we've been fortunate to get a box of fish or limits most trips.   This past weekend was an example of how the Wonderful, Sunny, Calm conditions worked against us as the Ideal Cloudy and Drizzly days changed quickly as a Cold Front passed through.   Saturday, we had to work for the fish we caught!   The conditions (Rain, Clouds, Fog & Breezy) we had much of early October were GREAT for fishing as the Hybrid Stripers turned on for a week or so and the BIGGER Whites were with them.   I was fortunate to be on the Lake with many of you when this occurred!

The fishing should be good throughout the remainder of the year or until we get some severe Cold Fronts.   The fish will be feeding aggressively as Winter nears and we catch some of our larger fish in the Fall!

If you're looking to do some fishing, we have quite a few Weekdays we need to fill in November.   This week we still have a boat open on Friday, 23rd.   Here's the few Saturdays we have a boat open: October 31, November 7th and November 28th.   The December Saturdays are still open.   We offer morning and afternoon trips this time of year and usually recommend an afternoon if Kids are fishing.

Hope we hear from you this Fall!

Royce & Adam Simmons
www.gonefishin.biz
903-389-4117

2009 October 12 - FISHING REPORT

RAIN and more RAIN!!!   Isn't it wonderful!   As of this writing on October 12th, the Lake level is only down about 1' from normal pool level.   Just a few short weeks ago, the level was 5' low and going down rapidly.   The creeks are still flowing and by the time you read this report, we'll hopefully have closed the gap even more.

Even with all the fresh water, the fishing has been VERY GOOD for White Bass and GOOD for Hybrid Stripers!   Fall is here, the water temperature has cooled to the low 70's and the fish are heading into their FALL FEEDING FRENZY!   Check out the 309 Flats early in the morning for bait fish being chased by fish and look for the Gulls to help locate the feeding activity.   We use Slabs year around to catch Whites and Hybrids, but when the fish are aggressively feeding, a Sassy Shad or Rat-L-Trap is a great bait to use also.

October can be AWESOME for Crappie fishing!   Check out the Hwy 287 Bridge and the standing timber off Hickey Island.   Small minnows fished in the 15'-20' water will often be the key to a Crappie Fish Fry!

As most of our regular customers know, Fall is my FAVORITE time of the year!   We'll be catching lots of fish from now till it gets really cold which is normally January.   We've got weekdays that need to be filled and even an occasional opening on a Saturday.   Give us a call and Let's Go Catchin'!

Good Luck and Good Fishin'!

Royce & Adam Simmons
www.gonefishin.biz
903-389-4117

2009 October 4 - FISHING REPORT

Last week was a good week on RC as we fished Wednesday, Friday & Saturday and had an almost full box of fish to clean each outing.   The White Bass and Hybrids are getting ready for their “Fall Feeding Frenzy” and we're catching more larger fish as we move into the cooler weather.   Crappie are a bit easier to find and should be easier to catch thru October.   It's a GREAT time of the year to enjoy the Lake!   An added bonus is our Feathered Friends have made their appearance and we're enjoying Gulls, Egrets, Herons, Osprey, and I saw the first Bald Eagles of the Season a week ago!

This week we may be challenged a bit by the weather, but I'm booked everyday and have two trips (am & pm) on Friday & Saturday.   Should be a fun week as we've got lots of Customers who are making their Fall Trip this week and staying at the Marina and/or St. Elmo Ranch.   Even have three Fish Frys scheduled this week!

Lastly, and most importantly, this week Adam and Brooke's Daughter will make an appearance.   If she hasn't arrived by Thursday, they'll induce and we'll have our first Grandaughter!   :)   She should fit in nicely with the three Grandboys!

We have Weekdays open the second half of October and even have a boat open on Saturday, October 17th, 24th and 31st.   We're fishing afternoons as well as mornings from now thru the Spring.   Give us a call and Let's Go Catchin'!

Royce & Adam Simmons
www.gonefishin.biz
903-389-4117

2009 September 25 - FISHING REPORT

It's been a GREAT week on RC and we've still got Saturday to go! Adam and I have fished everyday except Monday and even slipped an afternoon trip in on Wednesday. We had the opportunity to host twenty-two (22) Six Flags Maintenance Personnel on Tuesday & Wednesday for their annual trip. Lots of Trash Talkin', lots of FUN and lots of White Bass! We braved the cool, cloudy and breezy conditions and had really great trips out both days! On Thursday & Friday, Adam fished for Crappie and did very well! He had two gentlemen from Houston with him today and they're preparing to fish a Crappie Tournament on RC in October. They and Adam had a very good morning fishing Brushpiles, Bridges and Timber and they learned a lot about RC and Crappie fishing. Tomorrow we have both boats out in the morning and then I&m taking a couple of days off to visit the folks in Texarkana. Next week is busy from Wednesday on, but Adam does have a couple of Weekdays open if anyone wants to go Catchin'!

Lastly, we still have a few Saturdays open over the next few weeks. Here's some Saturdays we still need to fill....October 17 & 24, November 7 Afternoon Opening, November 28 (T'Giving Weekend Morning Opening)

October is a GREAT month for Crappie, and the Whites and Hybrids never seem to stop biting!

Hope to see you soon!

Royce & Adam Simmons
www.gonefishin.biz
903-389-4117

2009 September 13 - FISHING REPORT

What a nice week on RC as the HOT temperatures gave way to some nice Fall like 80 degree weather and some much needed rain! We ended last week with the Labor Day Holiday and fished four morning trips and two afternoon trips over the long Weekend. Fishing was good as the afternoon trips actually out produced the mornings, but in every case we had a nice box of fish! Lot's of Kids and Grandkids of our Customers fished with us over the Holiday!

Yesterday (Saturday),the rains finally came but not before we had two GREAT trips! The Smith Family from Tyler fished with us once again and I had new customers Kim & Judie Cotten from Dallas join me for an exciting morning. We did have a brief Shower during the middle of the trip, but we got a full morning and a limit of 50 fish in my boat and Adam's foursome had about the same on their trip!

It feels like Fall and it looks like the next week to ten days has below normal temperatures and some AWESOME weather in store for us. Plus, the weekend rains will have the lake cooling down and rising a little and make for some really good fishing! We have lots of Weekdays we need to fill this week and the week of September 28th. Our Saturdays are booked much of the next month, but we do have a boat available on Saturday, October 17th & 24th. From this point on thru the Fall, we'll be offering morning & afternoon trips.

Here's hoping we get to show you some Fall Richland Chambers Hospitality! Give us a call and Let's Go Catchin'!

Royce & Adam Simmons
www.gonefishin.biz
903-389-4117

2009 September 8 - FISHING REPORT

Another Summer has come and almost gone on RC with the recent Labor Day Holiday capping off a Great Weekend! Adam and I fished several trips over the Holiday period with the Afternoon bite being much better than the Morning fishing. Seems that once again the Full Moon was working its effect on the fish and they were a whole lot more hungry around 3PM than at 7AM. Every trip except for one during the long Weekend involved Kids and/or Grandkids of our Customers and we had a ball. We caught little Yellow Bass, big White Bass, a couple of Hybrid Stripers in the 6 to 7 lb. range, some Blue Cats and to top it off one Afternoon, we landed a Carp that must have been 35 lbs! I've said it for many years and I'll say it again....For Kids and Catchin', it just doesn't get any better than Richland Chambers!!!

Most of our fish are coming on RSR Glitter Slabs in 25'-30' water off Main Lake Points. The Whites and Hybrids are not staying in any one location for long periods of time so you may have to move around to find them. On several occasions, I'd check out a Point (Long Arm Branch, Windsock, etc.) and not find fish and then check again in an hour, and the fish would be there. There's also not been much Topwater Activity or help from the Gulls and Terns, so you'll have to use your Electronics to find the bait and fish.

It won't be long before the fish will become much more aggressive as we're approaching Fall. The Feeding Frenzy will be on and the Gulls and Pelicans will find their way back to RC. Finding and catching fish will become even easier and the size of the catch will be BIGGER!!! It's my FAVORITE time of the year as the temperatures cool and the action heats up!

We've got openings for Weekdays and even a few Saturdays over the next couple of months. If you want to get out and enjoy the Fall with us, give us a call at 903-389-4117 or check out our website at www.gonefishin.biz.

Good Luck and Good Fishin'!

Royce & Adam Simmons
www.gonefishin.biz
903-389-4117

2009 AUGUST 23 - FISHING REPORT

It was another very good week on RC as we had both boats out almost everyday and a box full of fish everytime out! While we caught lots of fish every trip, the best "Fish Story" of the week came on Friday as I had a couple of Dads and three small Sons fishing with me, and Adam had a foursome of Guys from DFW with him. This was the morning that Dallas got hammered with Thunderstorms and it appeared they were headed our way around 7am. Well, we got a little wind and very little rain in the area and delayed the trip start to 11am. At 11:15am we got on a school of fish off the 309 Flats in 25'-40' water and stayed on them for the next 4 hours. We threw Rat-L-Traps, Tiny Torpedos, Slabs and anything you wanted....and all caught fish. We estimated we caught well over 250 fish that included over 30 Hybrids. One of the best fish is pictured below with "Colby" holding his good un! Adam's boat had the same #'s ! It was really a great afternoon with a school of fish that was over 20 acres in size and only two boats to try and catch them all!!!!

After our busiest Spring and Summer in the almost 10 years we've been in business, our SLOWWWWW time begins this next week. The last week of August when School starts and the first couple of weeks in September is painfully slow. Adam and I will be sitting near the phone waiting on a call from someone who wants to go Catchin'! We can get you on the Lake on a Weekday easily and even have a boat open on several of the upcoming Saturdays. If you're wanting a trip over the upcoming Labor Day Weekend (September 4, 5 & 7 are open), you might want to schedule it now. And lastly, we are seeing the Fall Saturdays booked pretty far in advance as usual. If you want a Fall Trip on a Weekend, we have a couple of Saturdays open in September, three in October and one in November.

Thanks again to all who have fished with us this Summer and hope to see many of you in the next few months. As you know, FALL is my FAVORITE time of the year! Big Fish, Lots of them and loads of FUN!

Good Luck and Good Fishin'!

Royce & Adam Simmons
www.gonefishin.biz
903-389-4117

2009 AUGUST 9 - FISHING REPORT

July was another VERY GOOD month on Richland Chambers as we fished almost everyday and had a box full of fish most trips! The Topwater bite is ON and we're spending an hour or so each morning throwing Rat-L-Traps and Tiny Torpedos. Then it's on to the BIGGER fish down deep with RSR 1oz. Glitter Shad Slabs. The latter part of July was about as good as it gets with really large Whites and several Hybrids up to 7 lbs. ( We always have a few that "Got Away" that we just couldn't turn!) The fish never seem to be in the same area of the lake from day to day. We start our search on the South Shoreline from Fisherman's Point to Ferguson Point and then head to the North Shoreline and the 309 Flats if we don't find them quickly. Just keep looking and you'll find them too!

Adam is doing some Crappie fishing, and the few trips he has conducted are still yielding lots of fish....just too many small ones. Check out the 287 Bridge and the timber around Hickey Island for the most consistent bite. Small minnows in the 20' water range will result in some fish for the freezer! The Crappie usually get on a very good "bigger fish" pattern in late Summer and then it just gets better in September and October!

As a reminder, we fish everyday except Sunday and know the Lake pretty well. We've been fishing RC since 1994 and fulltime as Guides for 10 years. You need to exercise caution if you're new to the Lake as the water level continues to drop and it's not unusual to find a treetop in 40' water in the Main Lake area. Many of our Customers have hired us in times like these just to insure their safety in low water conditions. Might be something you want to consider if you're a local resident, weekend visitor or just want to learn the Lake better.

Hard to believe, but it's only a few weeks till school starts! We've got plenty of Weekday openings and even a Saturday or two with a boat open in August. Round up the Kids or Grandkids and Let's Go Fishin' !!!

Hope your Summer is going as good as ours and we get to see you soon!

Royce & Adam Simmons

Gone Fishin' Guide Service

www.gonefishin.biz

903-389-4117