Trout Season 2016

With the waters starting to fill up with a flotilla of inner tubes. I will start shifting my focus to other rivers and bass fishing from the kayak. Don't get me wrong. I'll still chase trout, but shift gears to fishing the trout river during the early morning of a weekday before the tube hatch.

This season has been fun. I have made new friends and was able to catch both Rainbow and Brown trout from the Guadalupe river. The flow has been the best I've seen it in years and with the river bottom being changed by the flood it presented a whole new challenge. But that's the fun of it, learn to adapt.

Most that know me, know that I love to fish streamers. It has to do with figuring out the presentation and the speed at which a strike occurs. Once a pattern is figured out then a good day gets better.

This season I pushed myself on a new challenge. Built myself a 5wt glass rod and used it almost exclusively with the exception of days that I tossed large streamers. Talk about fun, the bend of the glass and the fight to land a fish is unreal. I could almost cast a small streamer as far with it as a good Loop rod. Now I'm going to build a 7wt to toss the larger streamers.

This was my third season to fish for trout and by far the best. While there is still a lot to learn I look forward to the challenges that are presented.
See you on the water.

Passing it on

With the trout not biting, I watched as my son made cast after cast to a section of river that constantly produces for me. With each strip I await the sound that you make when you catch that first fish doing something new. As the sun starts setting behind the trees, a rod tip is lifted and excitement fills the cold air as I hurry back upriver to help net the trout. A quick picture and a high five let me know that a new bond had been formed between him and the river.

This was something that I've been looking forward to the whole time he was away at school. Trying to teach him a new way to fish has not been easy but with some casting help from one of my guide friends he picked up on it after a few hours.

A few minutes later he was hooked up again and after a few jumps the trout sent the wooly bugger back to him. As the light was fading I managed a few trout to the net on a dry fly and he ended the day landing his second trout.

This was one of those days that I had thought of for many years and I cant wait to get back on the water with him soon.

The smile says it all.....
Take a kid fishing...

Christmas Dreaming

It's that time of year again, when you start thinking about some gear that you went all year without and would come in handy. While I won't get a fraction of the gear that will be listed here, there are still a few items that would come in useful as I paddle and wade myself across this state.

While we don't get extremely cold for a long period of time, we do have the occasional three to four day front that comes in dropping the temps and making fishing miserable for a while. One thing that is lacking would be a good wading jacket. It would have to be warm but flexible to be able to take while fishing from the kayak or while wading the river.
The KAST  Velocity jacket would be my choice for this since it offers the functionality that i'm looking for.

Another item needed is a new pair of wading boots. Currently I wear a pair of hunting boots over my waders. While they have worked they are not made for wading. The boots that I am looking at are made by Korkers footwear and come with interchangeable soles to change for traction assistance.

When wading I try to pack as light as possible and should be able to save weight and take the important items with me by utilizing a Tightlines Sling Pak by Vedavoo, and it's made by hand in the USA.

 

 

A good pair of nippers comes in handy and the best of the best would be made by Abel Reels. Yes it seems like a lot for a pair of nippers, but if you take care of them I think it would be money well spent judging by the feedback that I get from people who have been using them.

 

 

One can never have too many hats and I like the hats that Howler Brothers offer.

 

 

 



My Lifeproof case has started to wear at the perfect time. I guess putting it in and taking it out of the life jacket case has taken its toll on it. Looking around at my local fly shop and seeing the Lifeproof case by DeYoung Canvasfish has me hoping Santa puts one of these in my stocking.

 

When you wear Buffs on every outing. It doesn't hurt to have a nice variety. Original Buff has been making some that are exclusive to fly fishing and have some cool designs by Bug Slinger.

 

 

 

Since I like to fish glass the list wouldn't be complete without a new hoodie from The Fiberglass Manifesto.

 

 

Hope you enjoyed looking at my list to Santa. What's on yours........