Joel | February 13, 2012
As a post script to my last posting, you should be aware that Shannon Drawe (of Texas Fly Caster fame) is taking over as lead “carp wrangler” on the flats of Ray Roberts. Shannon knows the flats like the back of his hand and is also dialed into bass on the fly as well. He [...]
Joel | February 8, 2012
After much deliberation, I have decided that it’s time to hang up the guide business. This decision did not come lightly but several factors have led me to an obvious conclusion . . . 1) I have two adorable, growing sons (9 and 4 yrs.). Explaining to them that I can’t take them fishing because [...]
Joel | August 1, 2011
Sorry about the delay in posts but life sometimes gets in the way of even fishing! I’ve spent the last three weeks either in St. Louis (one of my favorite towns) or Colorado, hiking the CD trail and getting in some cutthroat fishing. As for the carp fishing on Ray Roberts? There isn’t any. I’d [...]
Joel | May 14, 2011
I’ll be at the Tailwaters Flyfishing Co.’s 4th annual birthday bash tomorrow in Dallas. Food (crawfish catered by Hook, Line & Sinker), beer, gear and casting demos, and sale items galore! Sunday it’s out to the lake for a full day scouting mission. Things are really starting to pop and I need to check the effects [...]
Joel | April 10, 2011
Carp Day 2011 As Mr. Walton laid out in The Compleat Angler, “April 10th is a particularly deadly day for carps” – and it was. The flats at Ray Roberts are in fantastic shape, the spawn is winding down and lots of fish were seen and caught today. Low water levels and lack of rain [...]
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!