Yesterday I had a few hours and was able to get away for a quick trip so after gathering a few things and driving to the Guad it was time to catch some trout on the new Matthews Fiberglass rod.
This was my first time to fish fiberglass but it didn't take long to put a smile on my face. The casts were crisp and sensitive. Wading downstream I stopped and talked to a few fisherman and all had the same response, the flow is down, water is murky, and the fishing is tough. Proceeding to an area and tying on a streamer I began to cover some water without any luck so I switched over to a nymph rig and covered more ground.
With this not producing and occasionally seeing rising fish my strategy changed and a dry fly was tied on with an emerger dangling six inches from the hook. After a few casts a bow slapped the dry and missed but the next one to hit was not so lucky. After a good fight the fish was brought to hand and quickly released after a picture.
Here is the video from the take to the end shot on the Go-Pro.
Rainbow on the Guadalupe River from
Robert Matthews on
Vimeo.
The fight on a fiberglass rod was fun as you got to see in the video. Can't wait to fish it again.
Cozumel, Mexico was the destination. Given only one day to scratch Bonefish from my Bucket List, we sent our wives for a day of fun and sun on the beach while myself and two friends met up with a guide to give it a shot.
Traveling light, I took the custom 8wt and Solitude5 reel along for the adventure.
After a forty minute boat ride in some rough water we manuvered into the sheltered Lagoon and anchored the boat. Jumping over the side of the Panga we seperated with me going solo with a guide since I was fly fishing and the others going to work a different stretch of water with the guides brother.
With the fish feeding on shrimp, I was given a streamer that closely imitated the bait in the lagoon.
The wind was howling as the front approached. With overcast skies and spotty rain showers it made for a rough time trying to sightfish and spot tailing bones. Suddenly two appeared within casting range. As the fly sailed in their direction, it's direction was changed and the fish went away spooked. We covered a lot of water occasionaly spotting a few tailing bones out of casting range and dissapearing as we approached.
Then it happened. Pointing in the direction of the feeding fish I stalked within casting range. Three casts later as the fly was stripped, the bite was felt and the hookset was perfect. The bone took line and surprised me with it's power as it headed towards a grove of mangrove bushes. With all of the line out and into backing, I tightened the drag and leaned on the fish trying to turn it. After successfully turning the fish it made another run and the line went limp. Epic fail as I watched a 5-6lb class Bonefish swim away. Reeling in the line I found that the knot held but the hook had been straightened.
Tying a new fly on and covering more ground, we moved to a deeper part of the lagoon and fan casted the area. It wasn't long and the fly stopped on a strip and the fight was on. Knowing that these fish are hard to catch it put a big smile on my face as my hand slid under it's belly and the fish lifted for a picture before releasing. Success was finally mine.
The 1/2 day trip ended with me catching three Bonefish and one of my friends catching another.
Next on the list of many is Redfish......
It's here, a new year, and the fish are still biting. The Guadalupe river is still producing nice trout and the fish have started to hit the surface. I've seen many fish rising and have been catching a few on dry's.
Wading downstream to get to a hole, I placed a cast upstream with a dry as I shuffled my feet along the slick rocks trying to keep from falling. Instintively the rod was raised high into the air to take up any slack and hopefully get a good hookset as the water exploded behing me.
Fish On, and the battle began as the bow realized the mistake it had made by inhaling what it thought was an easy meal. After a good battle the fish came to the net and was kind enough to pose for a picture.
The rain continued to fall and it got colder as the day grew longer to the point where my fingers were getting pretty numb from being wet. But I trudged on since the fish didn't seem to mind the weather.
I'm not very good at naming flies but these are the drys that have been producing. Basically my friends at ReelFly pick out what is needed and it works.
Guess i'll have to go get cold again tomorrow....
Good luck on the river...and enjoy it's beauty.
Robert
Put together a collage of some of the fish caught this past year.
Hope you enjoy,
Robert
As 2012 comes to an end and I look back on what was a fantastic fishing year. I'd like to highlight some of the trips with family and friends taken during the year.
The year started off with a freeze trip down the Colorado river with a group of friends for three days. Being caught unprepared happens occasionally in Texas, as the weather can go from one extreme to the next in the blink of an eye. I've never been so cold in my life. There was ice on my sleeping bag when I woke up, my waders which were hanging over a limb to dry were frozen. I had to take my boots into the river to thaw them out in order to put them on, but we caught fish and had a great time.
I spent most of the winter months fishing the Guadalupe river and learning about trout fishing. There is a lot to learn, but worth it when you hook into a good rainbow.
Sometimes it's hard to find someone to fish with due to conflicting scheldules. When you do, it makes for a great day on the water. Especially if it's your daughter that takes time out of her day to join you.
As summer approached, the heat drove me to the rivers where the water is cooler and the movement makes the oxygen content greater and the bite a little better. Spent the weekend on the Colorado with a friend from Houston and fought the 100+ temps and mosquitos to catch a lot of quality bass and have another great time.
As we got deeper into the summer I made a trip with fifteen other people close to the Mexico border in search of Snook. It was an incredible weekend and many new friends were made.
My first speckled trout on a fly rod came from this area as well.
Vacation was spent with some family in Mississippi and a number of fish were caught on the fly rod but the redfish that I was after still eluded me.
Three trips were made to the coast with two different sets of friends and each trip resulted in limits of fish being caught and a lot of stories being told.
A trip with a couple of my friends who guide on the Guadalupe river resulted in the best day i've had catching rainbow trout outside of Colorado.
And the best day had on the river for the year was when my nephew visited from Houston and I took him to the river for his first wade trip.
As you can see, there were a lot of good times spent fishing in 2012.
Thank you for reading my blog and following me as I fish.
Maybe someday we can fish together.
For 2013 I plan on spending more time at the coast in pursuit of the redfish on a fly. Almost forgot, I leave for Cozumel in a few weeks.
Have a great 2013......
Robert
