Fish Catching Travel
Love that fun in the sun. We are down here with my wife’s sister, her husband, and their son. They are from Iowa, and Sean the son, who is a physical therapist, has just taken a job in Harlingen Tx. So we all met for 3 days on South Padre. Of course I managed to weasel in a couple of fishing things while we are here.
An ad on Graigslist concerning a fly fishing lesson on the island for $50 for an hour peaked my interest, so I decided to give it a go. I have had the rod for a year, and while I have thrown it in the backyard, I have not gotten to the point were I felt proficient enough to really give it a serious fishing go, so it was time to change that.
Matt McLeod picked me up at the condo and off we went to an access point on the island with plenty of room to flail away. Matt relocated from the South Florida area to South Texas in the last year. He has an extensive history of fly fishing and guiding in the Keys and has fished Belize, Bahamas, Abaco, just to mention a few. Of course that includes lots of tarpon, bonefish, trout, reds, snook, and a host of others. So of course we hit it off immediately. And to add to that he has extensive experience fishing bass tournaments so it was old home week.
As I am beginner he started at the beginning, attaching fly line to the leader, and we went from there. One thing I have learned over the years is if you hire a guide, listen to him. In other words, shut your mouth, listen and learn. You are there to soak up as much information as you can, good use of your time is listening and doing what you are told. I always wondered why the occasional guide customer would tell me how to go about my business. If you are that guy just do it yourself and save the money.
Over the next hour he coached me on my casting technique and form, and it really started to help. He also included different techniques like attaching the fly to the line depending on whether you wanted the fly to float down or drop, an example of those little things you would never know without someone telling you. There was other stuff to numerous to mention, but it was a ton of information. Before I knew it the hour was over.
Matt is not what you might expect of a fly fishing instructor. (You know the funny hat, the vest, and the high dollar Sage rod.) He is self-taught with years of experience in all conditions, and like me, a hard-core fisherman. What made his instruction so good is he specifically dealt with fishing in our wind, a condition that we experience here on a regular basis. This was no little rod, small stream small trout instruction, it was balls to the wall South Texas flats fishing. Additionally he does guided walk in fly fishing along the island. I did not have the time to go a day with him, but it is on the list.
For me the whole experience was worth the $50. He immediately identified my faults, which were many, and my form and distance improved right away. Now I can not wait to get back, practice, and then do some serious fishing with the buggy whip. I was surprised to learn how many nice big trout he boats. In fact, he was fishing the morning before he picked me up and they had spent the morning catching black drum from a giant school. Sounds like fun to me.
So if you are a beginner like me, he is the guy for you. And fishing with him on a walk in trip on the island would provide you a primer on fishing the island without a boat, perfect for those family trips. So if it sounds good to you give him a call.
Matt McLeod – $50 for an hour of instructions, $120 for a 4 hour trip, $200 for an 8 hour trip. (A good deal considering the current costs of some guided trips.) He can also provide spinning equipment if you are so inclined for a small additional cost. And if you have a kid with you who is 12 or under he can fish with you for free. 956/330-8837.
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I got up first thing this morning and headed to the beach, taking some plastics to see what I could catch. The tide was coming in, and while it was rough, it was manageable. Tossing a dark paddle tail on a 1/4 ounce jig head got me 4 hook ups, and with my superior skill I managed to land one. Normally one fish does not a morning make, but in this case it did – I caught a snook about 3 pounds. I have caught lots in Florida, but this was the first Texas snook I have landed, so it was a welcome surprise. It also answered the question of what those couple of fish were that jumped and tossed the bait, I thought they looked kinda funny for a trout.
Then I hooked something big, I suspect a large redfish, and after a protracted fight he managed to pull off. A while later a very large fin came cruising by, and since my shark identification leaves something to be desired I don’t know the species, but it was a pretty big shark. And then the bane of all beach fisherman, the grass, started coming in waves, and my short morning trip was over. So in the morning it will be out a little earlier, and if my luck holds I can toss the topwater some. Nothing like the way a snook blasts a topwater.
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Speaking of shore based fishing I read a note in Lone Star Outdoor News, (thanks to them) my favorite rag/mag, about a book for shore bound anglers. Pier, Bank, and Wade Fishing, Sportfisher Map & Guide covers the upper coast and it looks like it would be invaluable to folks without a boat. So I went to their website and it is currently sold out, not surprising considering the subject. So here is link to their site, sounds like a great book to own. http://sportsfisherguide.com/
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My friend Chris and his lovely wife are continuing to make mince meat out of those ducks. Looks like I missed out on a great hunt. So here it is for all you duck nuts. (That would be you Evan).
Nothing like a hot chick with a gun.
Link’s first season, I think he has it figured out.
So proud.
Chris has a duck lease with rice fields next door, so he reports they have a bunch teal and are seeing tons of whistlers, though not many other types of ducks yet. But over the next month that will really change with the weather. Thanks for the report Chris, if that does not get a duck hunters heart to pumping I don’t know what would.
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Last, most of my family back in Fayetteville AR went to the Arkansas – University of Northern Illinois football game. My wife and I are both UA alumni, my brother works there, and my mom is a UNI alumni, so it was family affair at the game. One of the things we really miss is the games, we love our Razorbacks and spent many a beautiful fall afternoon screaming our brains out. So here is hoping you all had a great time watching the Hogs spank UNI, wish we were there with you.
Love me some Hogs football!
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So that is it for today. The big question left unanswered is where in the heck are we going to eat next? The Iowans are getting there fill of seafood, so maybe tonight it will be some Tex-Mex. Who knows, might even hit the beach later this evening, and definitely in the morning. And thanks to the other folks who have commented lately, I like it when folks are paying attention. So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.
Good Luck and Tight Lines
