Sunday, May 13, 2001

‘Gou’ Convention

Ed Ferris takes a break from bass fishing when the gou run is hot.

THREE RIVERS - Any occasion to recall my father's father is a welcome one.
   I cherish memories of the man I called Paw Paw much the same as I do time spent in the field and on the water with his son.
   Both men are gone, but not the frequent reminders of the influence they continue to have on my character and on my love of outdoor pursuits.
   The rural colloquialism "gou" for example, summons images of my grandfather recounting a story of his biggest catch.
   Paw Paw was a reserved man, not known for his story telling. But his steel-gray eyes appeared almost impish when he spoke about this particular gaspergou, which my childlike imagination places in the 30- to 40-pound range.
   My grandfather was not a skilled bass fisherman. He was a backwater, fill-the-box kind of guy. Panfish were his specialty, mostly bream and sac-a-lait (Cajun for crappie). He was strictly live bait, usually minnows, crickets and catalpa (pronounced cataubla) worms picked off catalpa trees somewhere between Opalousas, La., and some remote boat ramp.
   He and my father had built a 12-foot wooden skiff in the classic design. It looked like a small Stoner Skiff, except for its red and white color. On the transom hung a 7½-horsepower Scotatwater.
   I still have the motor, minus a few parts. Unfortunately, the boat sold after Paw Paw died.
   Anyway, to the best of my recollection, Paw Paw caught the monster goo and filleted it.
   They're excellent eating.
   Targeting the goo

Anchoring and jiggling along the dam can be monotonous with intermittent periods of fast-paced action.

   The fish probably was caught at Lake Fosse Point, but I'm not certain about the location. It could have been most anywhere, because gaspergou - also known as river drum, white perch, jewel head and (my favorite alias) thunderpumper - has the distinction of being the most widespread of freshwater fish species. It's also the only freshwater member of the family that includes black drum, red drum, croaker and speckled trout.
   Around here, gaspergou runs at area reservoirs rank in popularity with crappie and white bass runs. Gaspergou are considered river fish, but generally are caught while spawning in reservoirs during April and May, sometimes lingering into early-June at deepwater lakes.
   At Choke Canyon, unlike at Lake Corpus Christi, Lake Texana and Alice City Lake, anglers also target goo in mid-summer in deeper water near the dam. It's cooler down there.
   They're also found in tailrace areas in summer, seeking cooler water.
   The gasper-gurMost goos are caught on a lure called a Gay Blade. But any variety of silver slab, spoon or deep-diving crankbait and Rat-L-Trap also are popular goo baits. At times, shad, minnows and even cut perch work as well.
   There is no bag or size limit on gaspergou.
   I arrived at mid-run on Choke Canyon Reservoir at the invitation of bass anglers Ed Ferris, who has homes in San Antonio and Three Rivers, and Duane Lyssy of Falls City. The fishing had been hot just days prior to my arrival and likely it picked up after my departure.
   Ferris came highly recommended as a gasper-guru by fellow bass fisher and mutual friend Carroll Atkinson.
   I'll never understand the stigma attached to certain species of fish and the anglers who enjoy catching them. Like some of their saltwater cousins, gaspergou are considered "trash" fish by certain "serious" anglers.

The dep water near the Choke Canyon dam in April and May is crowded with anglers at times during the gaspergou run.

   Tell that to young anglers who've lost their Snoopy rods to a goo. This might be a tough way to learn that loose grips lose fish, but an unforgettable fishing lesson just the same.
   Gaspergou strike as if they haven't eaten in a week, then pull as if foul-hooked. In fact, goos are more likely than many other species to become foul-hooked, maybe because of their ferocious bite and the density of schools. There is no shame in this and certainly no disgrace in serving an accidentally snagged goo fried, smoked or grilled.
   A lifelong goo fan
   Ferris began targeting goos seven years ago, after about 20 years of releasing nearly everything he caught. He doesn't care what his bass-fishing buddies say about his guru status. His freezer is full. Theirs aren't.
   "I've eaten one, maybe two bass in my life, and that was years ago," Ferris said before our trip. "But over the last seven years, I've eaten hundreds of gaspergou. I'll probably have some for dinner tonight."
   Gasperpou are primarily bottom feeders, which feed mostly on insects, clams, snails, small fish and crawfish. They are open-water breeders, which is why they can be found in the 10-20 foot depths of area reservoirs in spring when water temperatures are between 66 and 72 degrees.
   The gaspergou's spawning routine is opposite that of white bass, which leave reservoirs and swim upstream to lay their eggs.
   Gaspergou grow as big as 50 pounds or so, but average catches are between 2-4 pounds. Ferris' biggest Choke Canyon goo was about 15 pounds.
   Nothing we caught last week came close.
   Hit and miss
   It was a relaxing morning of fishing, requiring little skill, no fancy equipment and only a modicum of patience. I've never much enjoyed fishing that requires a lot of patience. Most of the fishing I do doesn't.
   Be warned, goo fishing can be monotonous, with its constant jigging motion off the bottom. But at times, the monotony involves another kind of repetition; that of yanking fish into the boat, then opening and closing the ice chest.
   My latest goo experience was somewhere between these two scenarios. I was jolted out of complacency more than once by goos that hooked themselves on the up-jerk, while my attention wandered.
   As for Ferris and Lyssy, theirs were of the intentional variety.
   As for our success, I'll just say the Ferris family ate well that night