admin | May 31, 2009
Strange events on yesterday’s trip to the flats. First of all, the lake is recovering nicely from the May rains. At this writing it is 9″ high (@ 633.23′ above sea level – normal pool is 632.5) and the Corps has maintained a steady release of 373 cfs from the dam since May 21st. Water [...]
admin | May 22, 2009
I went up to Ray Roberts late this afternoon to get more of a handle on the current conditions. The lake is (at this writing) about 11 inches over normal conservation pool. Water is still up into the vegetation that was 20 yards from the shoreline a few weeks ago – and the fish are [...]
admin | May 10, 2009
(or “Reason to Hire a Guide #137) The flats of Ray Roberts are dynamic spots. Two weeks ago the lake was three feet low and crystal clear; carp were on their pre-spawn feed, happily eating craneflies and seeds after a long winter of minimal food. All folks could talk about was the drought and “when [...]
admin | May 1, 2009
Be careful what you wish for. An age-old saw at best but very appropriate here. About a month ago I jotted down a post in which I stated that we could use more rain. I said that the lake was at a place in elevation were it would be great a foot lower or a [...]
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!