Joel | June 24, 2008
Fishing Report – 6/23 Yesterday I scouted a new flat for the year. . . “Location C”. This is a limited place – it can only be fished on dead calm or W to NE wind days (which we don’t get much in the summer in N. TX) and it’s one of the original “you [...]
Joel | June 19, 2008
Fishing Report – 6/18 I had an opportunity for a “guide’s day off” and went fishing Sunday with David, Bart, and Travis from the Tailwaters Fly Shop in Dallas. Great guys, good times, and FISH! The meadow we cross to get to the south side of the flats is currently ablaze with color (Coreopsis and [...]
Joel | June 15, 2008
Fishing Report 6/14 I hit the eastside flats again Saturday, this time with Stanton Ray. We saw quite a few (read that over 100-150) fish and if I remember correctly, Stanton brought in 7. One of which was the 6 pounder in the photo. The winds of last week have finally settled and this enabled [...]
Joel | June 11, 2008
Product Review Temple Fork Outifitters TiCrX 7’6″ 6 wt. Flats fishing for carp at Lake Ray Roberts is a game of dichotomies; flies need to sink but cannot hit the surface too hard, leaders need to be strong enough to resist abrasion and land big fish but thin so as to not spook them, and [...]
Joel | June 6, 2008
Many people ask me if the fishing at Ray Roberts is as good as I make it out to be (this is BEFORE they go on a trip). People find it hard to believe that there are miles of clear flats just an hour from Dallas or Ft. Worth. “Is it REALLY like fishing on [...]
Imagine wading through ten inches of clear water,trying to be as quiet as possible. Fifty feet ahead is a pod of large fish "tailing" on the flat. You strip out fly line, make the cast, and pull your fly in front of the lead fish. After agonizing seconds the fish spots the fly, rushes forward for a quick grab, and feels the hook. The silence is broken as the fish accelerates across the flat, quickly exposing backing on your screaming reel. Sounds like a great day on the coast, or even an exotic bonefish flat, right? Actually it's a great description of the usual day my clients have fishing for Carp on the flats of Lake Ray Roberts where many clients are blown away by the water clarity and the actual ability to sight cast along miles of flats. Big spooky fish in shallow water. They fight and tail like Redfish and can sometimes rival Bonefish in nervousness. This is an EXCELLENT WAY to hone your flats fishing skills and test your "eyes" where it's more about stalking the fish than simply stumbling upon them. You will be a better flats angler!