Joel | March 21, 2011
As promised, here’s the recipe for a great sand bass/hybrid fly. I have to preface this with the fact that these fish ARE NOT picky. Just about any pattern/color combination that sinks and is in front of their faces will get a strike. A wooly bugger or Clouser will get the job done just as [...]
Joel | March 18, 2011
They’re BACK! Our local sand bass run has officially started. While other locales further south have had fish for days and even weeks (like the famous run up the Colorado around Bend SP), our fish had to wait a bit for the right water temps. The warm, humid weather of the last few days and [...]
Joel | March 12, 2011
The new Patagonia 2011 eCatalog is out and it is nothing less than spectacular (these folks know how to consistantly put out QUALITY media). Do yourself a favor, check out the catalog, and then head over to Tailwaters to see all the newest gear in person.
Joel | March 10, 2011
Our annual sand bass/hybrid run has still not kicked off as of yesterday morning. A recon run to the Ray Roberts dam and the FM 428 access point scored a whopping ONE male sand bass (maybe he was the “point man”?). We need a 72 hour window with night time lows above 50 degrees to [...]
Joel | March 5, 2011
Well, winter has made an abrupt (and, hopefully short) return to north Texas. It was forty degrees with a 20 mph north wind when I left the house this morning for a run. COLD! Definitely something to take one’s mind out of “fishing” mode. Report of sand bass are trickling in but nothing confirmed regarding [...]
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!