Texas Light Tackle Adventures

So far March 2009 has been colder than February…that is nuts!

My wife told me to take a fishing trip this past Sunday (March 1st), so damn it, I had to oblige. 

I drove to to a beautiful river within 45 miles of my home.  The weather was beautiful, though windy, and there was a chill in the air.   I love fishing in the winter.  The waters I fish turn gin clear, you can see far into the forest, and the fish caught are usually nice and chunky. 

Don’t get me wrong, the fish don’t jump in the boat, but the fishing is challenging and often rewarding and that is what I really love.  I like hard days of fishing.  I actually prefer a day of a few big fish than a day of small fish smashing flies. 

Fishing in Texas in the winter is awesome.  For the most part, the weather is nice and rarely terribly cold.  I pack up my kickboat and I take floats anywhere from 4-9 miles.  I do not wear waders, unless the temperature is less than 40 degrees.  Yes,  I do freeze my ass off, but it is my sacrifice to the river gods, and the cold helps me focus on other things like fishing. 

 I am not a big trout fisherman.   There are several places in my area that are stocked with trouth, but I am a bass man for 365 days out of the year. In the winter I get a lot of inquiries for guided trout trips on the Guadalupe.  There are a ton of trout guides out there, so I am more than happy to refer those folks on.  I do suggest bass fishing trips over the winter, but I get turned down often.  If those folks only knew how rewarding the fishing can be. 

Anyway, back to my most recent trip. 

The river was beautiful.

I love fishing this section of river.

I was in my kickboat.  I pushed off into the river.  The river was freaking cold.  Normally, if I layer my upper body, I do not get cold while I am paddling the river.  I will wear a Patagonia Capelline undershirt, a Patagonia Flats shirt, a Patagonia Fleece vest and a Patagonia Rain Shadow Jacket.  There are many other brands out there, that are very good, but the Patagonia stuff is very good and the brand has proven awesome  for me over thousands of river miles.   I floated down through the first hole and I became acclimated to the water.  I fished a few cutbanks and a few pools and did not get as much as a nibble.  I was using the same fly I had used in my previous post titled “Today” .  At the first really good cutbank I made a cast into an eddy.  I stripped the fly and a fish struck.  I strip set the hook and fought the fish for a few moments.  The fish was stout, but I felt that I did not hook it well.  I set the hook once more for good measure.  I then lifted my rod tip too high and somehow the fish was able to attain some leverage and throw the hook.  Crap! 

I cussed at myself for losing the fish.  Loosing a fish is a part of the game, but I pride myself on hooking fish and bringing them to hand.  As good as I think I am…I know that I will loose many more fish before my fishing career is finished.  At least, I am pretty sure the fish that I lost was less than 15 inches. 

The cut bank ended and the banks lowered.   I fished the bank on the current side.  I came to a spot where a tree had fallen over.  There was a hole where the root ball had held the tree in place.   There was a slight current in the hole and dadgum it looked fishy.  I made a cast deep into the hole.  I let the fly sink.   I looked straight up and saw a fingernail of moon in the bright blue sky.  I thought to myself that the sliver of moon, the earth, me, my rod were all aligned.  I made a strip with the fly line.  I felt heaviness on the line, made a strip set and I felt a heavy weight move to the middle of the river.  I guess, the fish wanted to align with me and the planets .  I fought the fish.  Due to the weight of the fish, I believed that I had hooked a catfish.  The fish came up to within two feet of the surface and I saw that it was a very nice bass.  The fish then jumped and I knew if was a very large bass.  The bass swam under my kickboat and right between my two flippered feet.  I felt my leader catch on my left fin.  I lifted my fin and I felt the leader plunk off the rubber.  Luckily, the fish was hooked well.  After a minute or so, I brought the fish to hand.  It was big.  I did not weigh the fish, but it was every bit of six pounds, possibly seven pounds. 

Big ol Bass

Anyway, here is to fly fishing in the winter.  To anybody who wants a trip with me, give me a yell.  Fly fishing in winter is so rewarding.  Take advantage……take advantage.  So far 2009 has been offering up some really big fish.  I hope this trend continues for my clients, friends, and I. 

Peace

Marcus