FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

After the Boss came back from her walk the other day much to my surprise she wanted to head to Canyon Lake and the river for some fly fishing.  Her ulterior motive, she just wanted to practice her casting before we hit the Snake River at the end of the month.  So not having a clue about the Guadalupe trout fishing I quickly got a rundown from my buddy Dan Oko, she found a place, and an hour later we were on our way’

Thrashing away!

We stopped at a fly shop near where we were staying and got some flies and a little advice.  Give the store one thing, helpful would not really be a good description of his demeanor, but whatever.  The bad news, Canyon Lake is down quite a bit and they are just not releasing any water to speak of.  Luckily when we got to the motel it was right on the water with a good hole, and after driving along the river quite a ways it really was low so we got lucky there.  And just to add to the conditions the wind was blowing right up river, which really affected the drift when combined with no water.

To make a long story short we fished a couple of hours on both days and had one bite, and that was one who smoked my indicator.  Great bite but hard to hook up when they hit the indicator (bobber).  This morning that changed.  It was cloudy and I finally saw some feeding action.  I had thrown the works at them and this morning I had a fly dropper under a hopper style that I was using as my indicator.  (Thanks to my buddy Rusty for tying them.)

One came up and actually looked at it, and then 2 actually hit, but with my superior skill I did not get a hook in them, but at least there was sign of life.  So I switched just to a hopper but did not get any other bites.  It was getting close to check out time so for last call tied on a San Juan worm, which I  have used a time or two out west without any real success.  Also switched to a foam indicator, which I like, and right before quitting time it went under, I set the hook and a nice rainbow jumped.  It jumped again and took off, and unfortunately pulled off.  (Probably fisherman error, you forget how hard they pull on the fly rod, and how small the hooks on those flies are.)  And that was the end of our short trip.  I am at best a novice fly fisherman but watching that rainbow launch leaves me wanting more.

It really was good to get in some casting practice, and I definitely will come back for more of the Guadalupe, but earlier in the year.  The place we stayed had good access and even this late in the season there were still some trout to be found. As usual on a new place it took a while to figure it out, and the old “if we had one more day”  applied.  But it was a good time and got my blood flowing for the Snake.

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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Think there is not a problem on Fayette, or the problem is not as bad as they say?  Check out this comment from our Fayette guru.

Hello Doug! Happy Anniversary! I know you are a lucky and blessed guy to have a wife that supports your passion! It just makes our lives so much better
I’ve been fishing Fayette Lake last couple weeks with mixed results. When I can find a quiet seclusive spot, I catch a good bunch of fish. But that’s getting rare. Imagine you find that spot and you start fishing and a recreational type boat with the motor sputtering blue smoke come in full speed right on top of you with 6-8 people onboard and starts letting individuals out with cast nets every 50 yards with total disregard of you fishing there. It’s changing the fishing dynamics of the lake dramatically. I don’t know where it’s going to end up but right now it’s headed in the wrong direction.
I’m going over to Bastrop Lake this week to get away and hopefully catch some fish(and peace). These winds have not helped either
Tight lines
Rusty

That is just plain sad.  Like the petition said, time for some rules, especially during spawning season.  I can not imagine the damage done by netters on beds and just the general disruption of the spawn.  (And of course none of them would keep a gamefish, sure.)  I would suggest that they come over to Coleto and take a couple of million, but wading the shoreline could be life threatening with the size of our gators.  Not sure how it will get resolved on Fayette, but as usual I have absolutely NO faith that TPWD will do anything, unless some of the rich board members were directly affected.

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And speaking of gators, in the 10 years I have been fishing Coleto regularly I have never seen so many baby gators.   There are at least 3 coves with babies, some who are still hanging around.  In fact, I almost caught one when I thought his little nose by the shoreline was the tip of a piece brush, made the perfect cast, and he took a run at my topwater. Yesterday in one of the coves there was a big gator when I came around the corner in the area where the small ones have been.  While I am sure some have moved on, I think big gators like gator bites as much as I do!

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Well there is good news and bad news as far as the LTS goes.  The bad news, it will be late next week (Hopefully.)  before I get it back.  The good news, it is what they thought and they are just waiting for parts.  And interesting while there is some play in the steering, I am getting the cable replaced, the problem actually was one of the bushings that allow the motor to steer back and forth.  So guess it will be the skiff for a while, at least I am not shore bound.

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If you have not checked out the Knockin Tail Group on Facebook check them out.  Cool fish pictures from around the country, videos, articles, and the occasional give away, what is not to like?  So check them out, share some, or just lurk.  All the cool kids are there!

(1) Knockin Tail Lures Group | Groups | Facebook

And as a side note will be able to fill you in on the deal that Michael will have at the Houston Fishing Show next week.  There is no better time to stock up on your favorite Knockin Tail.  Hope to throw a few myself this coming week on the bay.

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Next weekend is the Houston Fishing Show which I always look forward too, especially this year.  As we slowly get back to normal please use at least a modicum of caution.  The Boss is still seeing cases in the ER, it is far from gone.  So wear a mask, it is the least you can do.  And if you don’t want to, your choice.  But it would really suck to be the last person to die from Covid in your town.

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Really looking forward to the coming week.  The weather, ie: winds, look good and it will be fishing until I drop on lake and bay, then topped off with the fishing show.  So I will save my allowance and get ready to do a little shopping, never know what will peak my fancy, but I have never made it out without spending some $$$$.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines