Before the Storm

It's been dry here. For three years now the rivers have either had no flow or have been completely dry. With the river overnighter being called off due to the approaching storm that was to include some flooding, a river day trip was in order before the storm.

The morning greeted me with dark skies and wind. Rain would begin to fall thirty minutes before the destination was reached. Loading the Coosa and gear into the 4X4 we headed to a private section of river that can only be accessed by permission from a nice rancher. Rain was pounding as we drove across the river bed and into a pasture where the kayaks would be launched.

After launching the kayaks we approached the river alternating working each side. Throwing a popper started producing a few bass along the grass marking the edges of the bank.

 

Finding a small creek and slipping the kayak through the narrow entry it opened up after ducking through the overhanging branches. Tossing the popper at the edge of a grass bed and seeing a large shadow dart out knocking the popper out of the water before retreating back to the safety of the grass, making the popper explode in the water changed the fish's mind as she turned around and exploded on it. Fighting a large bass on a 5wt was insane. I had to let the drag on the Opti reel wear down the fish before easing my hand into its mouth and lifting it up for pictures and a quick release.

 



The rain quit and after a short lunch we launched again with the sun high over our heads.

Putting the popper away. I took out my 8wt Loop Cross S1 and tied on a Cajun Cheerleader to imitate the crawfish that I knew were lurking down below. What a good move it was as the bass were holding tight to cover. This set up produced quite a few more fish to close out the day.

Thanks Chuck for the great day on the water.

Always a great time fishing with a great friend.

Spring Break Bassin

During Spring Break most people are hitting the beaches while I'm searching the shallow water for any sign of the spawn. With the weather being very inconsistent here in Texas and figuring it was still a few weeks away before the beds are inhabited. I paddled around on the SUP to get a better view from a standing position while throwing poppers and Cajun cheerleaders to the nearby flats.

 

 

It didn't take long to figure out that the bass were not shallow so it was time to move to the deeper trees and toss a crawfish imitation fly into the brushy depths.

 



With no success in the deeper water, tactics were changed again and I started fishing the outer edges of the grass and its drop offs. This was the pattern that I was hoping to find as buck bass were caught followed by some fat females that were bulging with eggs.

With the wind picking up I paddled to a cove and took a quick lunch break and a stretch it was time to get back at it.

 

 

With the weather warming up I was looking forward to some larger females moving up to the break line. I wasn't disappointed as the first one was lifted from the water for a picture.

 

 

 

After catching a few more it was time to paddle in and get out of the wind.

 

 

 





It's aTrout time

After retrieving my sling pack that was left in the jeep after the Devils River trip with the crew at Reelfly, and picking up some new flies for trout. Decided to hit the Guad up today and see how the trout bite was doing.

 

 

Slipping into the water I was worried about the cold since the waders were left behind and I chose to wear shorts. With the hot weather that we have had lately the water felt good until you got waist deep. Wading a few hundred yards over the slippery rocks and limestone ledges, my destination was reached and I began to cast a Girdle bug upon the cypress needle covered water. Working the fly just below the surface and feeling the bend of the custom glass rod as I gently stripped and lifted the rod to set the hook. Fish on and after a short fight I worked it into the net for a few pictures and a release.

 

 

 

Another bonus that occurs this time of year is the changing of colors as fall arrives in Texas. We are not in an area that has extreme changes during the different seasons but when we do, the beauty is magnified.

 

 

 

The day was productive for the few hours that were fished. Occasionally a trout would rise but I had no takers on dry's. Most of the fish caught were on a girdle bug in black with white legs. Had a few followers when throwing a booger in black and green but the size didn't appeal to the fish.

 



 

 

 

 

See you on the river..........

 

 







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.

Pre Easter River Trip

Was invited to fish the day before Easter on the Colorado river outside of Austin. The trip was arranged to help put a couple of guys from  the Heroes on the Water program onto some fish.
We met up early in the morning and dragged the kayaks down to the water. The overcast skies would hang with us for most of the morning but give way to warmer temps and clear skies.

These guys were excellent fisherman as they caught bass after bass all day long tossing a texas rigged lizard.

Tossing a popper on my LOOP 6wt all day coaxed strike after strike around the outer edge of the grass lines.

Everybody seemed to be having a good day with the fish as well as the company.

Even the cow seemed to be enjoying the river.

It was a great day and I came away with some new friends.
See you on the water........

A Day Of Firsts

Sunday was a day of firsts for me. Not only did I catch my first Largrmouth bass of 2013, but it was caught on a new LOOP fly rod and reel.

It was the first time for me to fish with a Cajun Cheerleader fly from DragonFly Angler Flies. The fly is designed to mimic a crayfish with it's moving arms and slow sink rate makes it a great fly for bass as well as trout.

This was the first time for me to fish on the new SUPerFISHal from Jackson Kayaks. A standup paddleboard that was designed with fishing in mind.

The wind was blowing hard as the SUP was slid into the water and I climbed aboard. Stable is an understatement, not once during the day did I feel uncomfortable or tippy. Sitting atop my K2 cooler to rest during the day was a breeze and I was able to sit on it and paddle when I felt like it.

Can't wait to get this SUP out on the flats and chase some redfish with it.

Here is a short video of the bass that bit the fly.


3-3-13 Guad from Robert Matthews on Vimeo.