Ultralight Baitcaster Win: Trout on a Rooster Tail

Some days on the water are all about the little wins — and today, Average Angler Life avoided the dreaded strike‑out. After a few close calls, I finally convinced a trout to commit to a Rooster Tail inline spinner fished on an ultralight baitcasting setup. Light line, tiny blade, and just enough flash to seal the deal.

There’s something special about ultralight baitcasting. Every bump feels bigger, every take feels sharper, and when that fish finally loads up the rod, it’s pure fun. Nothing oversized, nothing dramatic — just an honest, clean catch that reminds you why simple gear and simple moments matter.

Here’s the quick highlight from the trip — a small victory, a solid strike, and another good day on the water with Average Angler Life.

Average Angler Life Fishing Gear

These are the rods, reels, lures, and tools I actually use on the water. If you want to gear up for your next trip—or just support Average Angler Life— this curated shop is a great place to start.

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Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. These recommendations are based on gear I personally use or genuinely trust. Your support helps keep Average Angler Life on the water and sharing more stories — thank you.

What Size Strike Indicator Should You Use? Here’s the Simple Rule.

When it comes to strike indicators, there’s one simple rule I live by on the water: use the smallest indicator that will still keep your fly drifting at the depth you want. It sounds simple, but it makes a huge difference in how natural your presentation looks.

Too big and it splashes, drags, and spooks fish. Too small and it sinks or disappears the moment you need it. Dialing in that balance is where clean drifts and subtle takes really come alive.

In this quick highlight, Average Angler Life breaks down how to size your indicator based on water speed, fly weight, and the kind of takes you're expecting. Subtle takes? Go tiny. Heavy rigs or deep runs? Step up just enough to stay afloat. Here's the clip.

Average Angler Life Fishing Gear

These are the rods, reels, and tools I actually use on the water. If you want to dial in your own fly‑fishing setup—or just support Average Angler Life— this curated shop is a great place to start.

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If you enjoy these fishing tips, on‑the‑water breakdowns, and everyday angler moments, you can support the channel by buying me a coffee. Every cup helps keep the rods bending and the videos rolling!

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Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. These recommendations are based on gear I personally use or genuinely trust. Your support helps keep Average Angler Life on the water and sharing more stories — thank you.

Live Q&A: Denison Dam Tailrace Striped Bass Slam – Full Recap & Video Breakdown

Mobile Fishing Livestream 141 (Spotify)

Replay of LIVE Q&A Session

This was a fun session. Here is the replay where I provided an in-depth recap of my striped bass trip in the Denison Dam tailrace below Lake Texoma! If you chase line-siders in Texas and Oklahoma, this is the session for you.

Here’s the full agenda:

1. Intro & Trip Overview – Time, date, water flow (CFS), generation schedule.
2. Video Playback with Live Callouts – I’ll roll the raw footage and pause to spotlight:
• Productive locations that held fish
• Gear breakdown: rods, reels, line, leaders, swivels, and terminal tackle
• Techniques used: bait and fly fishing
• Fish caught: Catfish, Shad, and Stripers
• Real-time adjustments from conditions and patterns
3. Open Q&A – Fire away in the chat! Ask about boat vs. bank access, reading generation reports, alternate baits, or any tailrace striper topic. I’ll answer live.
4. Closing Recap – Top 3 takeaways from the day, plus a quick highlight of the best viewer questions and answers.

Grab your favorite beverage and let’s talk stripers! Hit the bell, smash that like, and I’ll see you in the live chat.

#DenisonDam #TailraceStripers #LakeTexoma #AverageAnglerLife

Tips for my next lure!

DISCLAIMER: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. Also, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This helps support the website and allows us to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for the support!

TBT Pond Catfish Fishing with Homemade Doughbait!

This throwback takes me back to another pond catfish trip where my homemade doughbait recipe really got to shine. I mixed up a batch, headed to a local pond, and before long the catfish were finding it cast after cast. Nothing fancy—just a simple setup, steady bites, and that classic slow, heavy pull that makes pond fishing so relaxing.

There’s something extra satisfying about catching fish on bait you made yourself. It turns a regular pond session into a little experiment that pays off in bends, runs, and a few more memories for the Average Angler Life story.

If you’ve ever rolled your own bait and watched it work, this TBT will feel familiar in the best way. Here’s the quick highlight.

Average Angler Life Fishing Gear

These are the rods, reels, and tackle I actually use on the water. If you want to gear up for your own pond catfish trips—or just support Average Angler Life— this curated shop is a great place to start.

Visit the AAL Gear Shop

Support Average Angler Life

If you enjoy these fishing stories, TBT moments, and on‑the‑water adventures, you can support the channel by buying me a coffee. Every cup helps keep the rods bending and the videos rolling!

☕ Buy Me a Coffee

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. These recommendations are based on gear I personally use or genuinely trust. Your support helps keep Average Angler Life on the water and sharing more stories — thank you.

TBT Tenkara Fishing Gone Wrong: I Caught Goldfish!

This throwback takes me back to one of the funniest fishing moments I’ve had in a long time. I grabbed the tenkara rod for a simple, light‑tackle session… and somehow ended up catching goldfish. Not exactly the target species, but absolutely a memory worth keeping.

It was one of those moments where you’re fighting a fish, look down, and your brain needs a second to process what you’re seeing. All you can do is laugh, shake your head, and enjoy the surprise. Fishing has a way of throwing curveballs, and this one still cracks me up.

If you’ve ever had a fishing trip go sideways in the funniest way possible, this TBT will feel familiar. Here’s the quick highlight.

Average Angler Life Fishing Gear

These are the rods, reels, and tackle I actually use on the water. If you want to gear up for your own adventures—or just support Average Angler Life— this curated shop is a great place to start.

Visit the AAL Gear Shop

Support Average Angler Life

If you enjoy these fishing stories, TBT moments, and on‑the‑water adventures, you can support the channel by buying me a coffee. Every cup helps keep the rods bending and the videos rolling!

☕ Buy Me a Coffee

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. These recommendations are based on gear I personally use or genuinely trust. Your support helps keep Average Angler Life on the water and sharing more stories — thank you.

TBT Pond Catfish Fishing — From Daylight to Night

This throwback takes me back to a pond catfish trip that rolled from daylight into the night. I started with a simple setup and some doughbait, just enjoying the calm water and steady bites. As the sun dropped and the sky shifted colors, the catfish kept feeding, and the whole trip turned into one of those peaceful sessions where time slows down.

There’s something special about pond fishing after dark — the sounds change, the water feels different, and every tug on the line gets your attention. It wasn’t a complicated trip, but it was one of those honest, everyday fishing moments that sticks with you.

If you’ve ever fished a pond from day into night, you know exactly the kind of vibe this TBT brings. Here’s the quick highlight.

Average Angler Life Fishing Gear

These are the rods, reels, and tackle I actually use on the water. If you want to gear up for your own pond catfish trips—or just support Average Angler Life— this curated shop is a great place to start.

Visit the AAL Gear Shop

Support Average Angler Life

If you enjoy these fishing stories, TBT moments, and on‑the‑water adventures, you can support the channel by buying me a coffee. Every cup helps keep the rods bending and the videos rolling!

☕ Buy Me a Coffee

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. These recommendations are based on gear I personally use or genuinely trust. Your support helps keep Average Angler Life on the water and sharing more stories — thank you.

TBT Pond Fishing: Bass and Bluegill Mix

This throwback takes me back to a laid‑back pond trip where the fish were in a generous mood. I set up on a small pond with a simple setup and started working the water, just seeing what wanted to bite.

Before long, I was into a fun mix of Bass and Bluegill. The Bass brought those quick, sharp runs that jolt the rod to life, and the Bluegill added that steady, determined pull that always feels bigger than it looks. Cast after cast, there was just enough action to keep things interesting.

Trips like this are a big part of what Average Angler Life is all about—no big boats, no complicated plans, just a pond, some time outside, and a mix of fish willing to play along. Here’s the quick TBT highlight.

Average Angler Life Fishing Gear

These are the rods, reels, and tackle I actually use on the water. If you want to gear up for your own pond Bass and Bluegill trips—or just support Average Angler Life— this curated shop is a great place to start.

Visit the AAL Gear Shop

Support Average Angler Life

If you enjoy these fishing stories, TBT moments, and on‑the‑water adventures, you can support the channel by buying me a coffee. Every cup helps keep the rods bending and the videos rolling!

☕ Buy Me a Coffee

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. These recommendations are based on gear I personally use or genuinely trust. Your support helps keep Average Angler Life on the water and sharing more stories — thank you.

TBT: Pond Catfish Fishing with Doughbait

This throwback takes me back to a simple pond catfish trip where everything lined up just right. I had a good batch of doughbait, calm weather, and a pond full of willing catfish. It didn’t take long before the rod started bending and the fish made their presence known.

Cast after cast, the bites stayed steady. The catfish weren’t monsters, but they had enough weight and attitude to make every hookup fun. There’s something about that slow, heavy pull of a catfish that never gets old.

If you’ve ever sat by a pond waiting for that next catfish to load up the rod, this TBT will feel familiar in the best way. Here’s the quick highlight.

Average Angler Life Fishing Gear

These are the rods, reels, and tackle I actually use on the water. If you want to gear up for your own pond catfish trips—or just support Average Angler Life— this curated shop is a great place to start.

Visit the AAL Gear Shop

Support Average Angler Life

If you enjoy these fishing stories, TBT moments, and on‑the‑water adventures, you can support the channel by buying me a coffee. Every cup helps keep the rods bending and the videos rolling!

☕ Buy Me a Coffee

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. These recommendations are based on gear I personally use or genuinely trust. Your support helps keep Average Angler Life on the water and sharing more stories — thank you.

TBT: Big Bluegill at the George Bush Library

This throwback takes me back to a fun, unexpected fishing moment at the George Bush Library on the Texas A&M campus. I wasn’t on a dedicated fishing trip, but when I walked past the water, it looked too good to ignore—so of course, I grabbed a rod.

A few casts later, I was into some surprisingly nice Bluegill. For a quick, unplanned stop, they put a serious bend in the rod and turned into one of those simple fishing memories that sticks with you long after the day is over.

If you’ve ever had a “just one cast” moment turn into something special, you’ll get this one. Here’s the quick TBT highlight.

Average Angler Life Fishing Gear

These are the rods, reels, and tackle I actually use on the water. If you want to gear up for your own Bluegill trips—or just support Average Angler Life— this curated shop is a great place to start.

Visit the AAL Gear Shop

Support Average Angler Life

If you enjoy these fishing stories, TBT moments, and on‑the‑water adventures, you can support the channel by buying me a coffee. Every cup helps keep the rods bending and the videos rolling!

☕ Buy Me a Coffee

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. These recommendations are based on gear I personally use or genuinely trust. Your support helps keep Average Angler Life on the water and sharing more stories — thank you.

When Everyone Catches Fish… and I Catch Bait

Some days on the water just keep you humble. In this collab meme-style moment, I’m watching another angler reel in solid fish one after another… and when my turn finally comes, I pull up a tiny little fish that honestly looks like it escaped from the bait bucket.

But that’s fishing. Some days you’re the hero, some days you’re the comic relief — and either way, you walk away with a good story and a laugh. This little moment was too good not to share.

Here’s the quick highlight from the collab.

Average Angler Life Fishing Gear

These are the rods, reels, lures, and tools I actually use on the water. If you want to gear up for your next trip — or just support the channel — this curated list is a great place to start.

Browse the AAL Gear List

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. These recommendations are based on gear I personally use or genuinely trust. Your support helps keep Average Angler Life going — thank you.