Take a Hero Fishing

There is a great feeling that comes with giving back. Whether it be something that seems easy to you or something that is a task, if you go about it the right way it will be rewarding regardless.
Driving into the Hill Country with storm clouds up in the sky sets your mind racing to the events that will occur during the day as I was volunteering my time to take a Hero fishing.

This would be the second time this year that I was able to assist on one of these events and just as much fun as the first one done in the spring. After arriving we started getting all of the gear rigged up for the many people that would join us to fish today. The joy of it was watching and helping children of these soldiers catch their first fish.

The event was successful and everyone of them caught fish on this day.

The bonus came later in the day as we were allowed to slip the kayaks into the water and fish the same water.

With the wind blowing and rain falling I worked a grassy shoreline surrounded by deep water that had bass exploding on the top hitting dragonfly's as they landed on the grass. Tying a popper on I began to throw into the grass and began to catch and release one bass after another, with the occasional very large perch exploding on the popper as well.

After the storm blew through I paddled over to a tree filled area and again worked the popper with better results as I landed some four pound bass and lost a few larger ones due to leaving the net at home.

Can't say enough about how much I enjoy being able to give back to the people who do their best to protect our freedom.

 

See you on the water......

After the Tube Hatch

Now that school is back in session and the heat subsiding (even if just a little) it was time to do some kayak fishing on the Guadalupe river. With only three weeks left in the Texas Double Haul Tournament, I was itching to get on the leaderboard.

Concentrating on Bass and Perch had me with two rods on the yak today. One with a hopper fly and the other with a Cajun Cheerleader which imitates a Crayfish as it is moving through the water. Casting the hopper along the bank of the river produced some great action and caught both species that were being sought.

Making a move around noon to a deeper section of the river that offered shade along the Cypress studded banks I decided to take a break from the 100 degree temp to get hydrated and have a little snack.

Back on the water and tossing the cheerleader into a deep bluff and beginning to slowly strip it back, the line grew tight and lifting the rod I knew that a good one had taken the fly. After a short battle the fish was landed, photographed, then released for the next time.

The bass really inhaled the fly.

Had a great time on the river and i'm looking forward to a trip down the Colorado River next weekend.

Wading the Llano

Having never been on the Llano river and seeing pictures of its beauty that friends have taken on their visits. I had to go find out first hand and all I can say is the pictures don't do it justice.

Hiking down the worn trail a glimpse of the river came into view. Never had I seen water so clear and a carved limestone bottom like this river bed before. The grooves under my feet worn through the rock by many years of flowing water and the granite boulders everywhere just added to its beauty.

Easing into the water and casting a Matthews 5wt with a wooly bugger tied to the lightweight tippet, it didn't take long for a bluegill to add a tug to the end of the line.

Heading further downriver to explore some, I was greeted with a first for me as a freshwater drum came to hand. I have seen them on other rivers and tried to catch them before with no luck so a grin came to my face when it was released back into the water.

Many drum were seen throughout the day and a couple followed the fly, but not another one landed. The day was also filled with many species of fish found including gar, bass, and carp. With the water so clear the fish definitely have the advantage here.

When the opportunity is presents itself you take advantage of it, guess that's what was going through his mind when he tried to eat the fly.

Although none were seen, apparently they exist here.

Looking forward to the next visit........................