Tackle and Landing a Giant Near Pilings
Most of Lady Bird's best giant water is next to hard, sharp cover: bridge piers, rock, boulders and docks. Zebra mussels make that cover sharper. TPWD lists Lady Bird as infested with zebra mussels (KVUE; TPWD map).
Tackle by technique
| Technique | Rod | Reel | Line analysisinference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glide (2–3 oz) | 7'9"–8' heavy swimbait rod | High-capacity 6:1+ baitcaster (not a 200-size low-profile) | 20 lb fluorocarbon; up to 30 lb for big baits |
| Swimbait (1–2 oz) | 7'6" heavy | 6–7:1 | 20 lb fluorocarbon |
| Football jig / big worm | 7'3"–7'6" heavy, fast | 7–8:1 | 20–25 lb fluorocarbon |
| Soft jerkbait / stick worm | 7' medium spinning | 2500–3000 | 20 lb braid to a 12–15 lb fluorocarbon leader |
| Topwater | 7' medium-heavy, moderate | 7:1 | 50 lb braid; 20 lb fluorocarbon near piers |
Glide tackle follows Caldemeyer: an 8-ft heavy swimbait rod, a high-capacity 6.2:1 reel, and 20 lb fluorocarbon (up to 30 lb); he says a 200-size low-profile reel is "asking for trouble" (MeatEater). The lake record came on a spinning rod with 20-lb braid (Outdoor Life).
- Fluorocarbon around mussels. Wired2Fish recommends fluorocarbon for durability around zebra-mussel cover and retying after contact (Wired2Fish). Run your fingers down the last 3 ft after every pier contact analysis.
- Hooks. Upgrade glide trebles to heavy-wire hooks matched to the bait's weight, and check that the bait still sinks level afterward (glidebait report) analysis.
- Drag. Set it firm enough that the fish can't reach the pier, but loose enough that a head shake doesn't tear the hook out; check it before each piling stop inference.
Landing a giant at a pier
- Position before you cast. Hold the boat upstream and off to the side of the pier, so a hooked fish's first run is away from the concrete and into open water inference.
- Turn her immediately. On the hookset, lift and pull away from the pier with the rod low and to the side. The first 3–5 seconds decide it inference.
- If she wraps the pier, open the bail or free-spool, take the pressure off, and move the boat to the other side of the pier. A slack fish often swims back out the way she went in inference.
- Net, don't lip. Use a large, rubber-mesh net. Lead her head into the net; don't stab at the fish inference. TPWD says to use "a rubber-mesh landing net instead of abrasive nylon" (TPWD catch and release).
- Bank anglers: pick a landing spot before you cast, and bring a long-handled net. Pipkin landed the record from the bank (TPWD release).
Bridge safety
Stay clear of rowing shells and tour boats under the downtown bridges, follow the traffic lanes (Austin Rowing Club), and don't tie to bridge structures. I-35 is under construction; obey all closures unverified.