Late Summer Tidbits
Posted By Joel on September 14, 2010
A few mixed ramblings from the last week of summer:
- Bart and I hit the lake Sunday to check out the effects of Hermine’s flooding. Prior to the storm, Ray Roberts was at 631.00 feet with a usual, late summer release from the dam at 46 cfs. The rain started on the 8th and the lake quickly shot up to 633.40 – almost a foot above its normal conservation pool. The Corps opened the gates and have been releasing at 1300+ cfs for several days now, dumping millions of gallons into the Trinity (and Lake Lewisville). As of this writing, the lake is only down to 633.17!
Fishing was rough at best on Sunday. The fish were up in the flooded shoreline vegetation and, for the majority of the fish, the only way to get a fly to them was to sneak up and dapple – not very fun. We heard several fish feeding before we saw them. The few fish spotted in the open, deeper water were difficult to hook because of water clarity. We finally switched to dark olive flies and got a few hook-ups but these were from “extended” dapples as well.
It will take a few days of moderate temps and no rain (and continued release from the dam) for things to stabilize. The problem is that were RAPIDLY reaching the effectual end of the season. Carp food is disappearing and signs of desperation were noticed Sunday as large mats of floating grass covered windward shorelines. This is grass they starting eating right as the rains started. If we get a few clear days AFTER they stop the release (and the lake is down 4-5″), we should get a last, good shot at some “real” flats fishing before the first good cool front shuts out the lights for the season.
WARNING – the Marsh Fleabane (Pluchea odorata) is in bloom now around the edges of the flats. This pink-flowered bush attacts every bee and WASP in the area . . . be careful walking through it.
- A good side to this is that the increased water elevation and flooded vegetation seems to be helping early season waterfowl numbers. I saw several LARGE flights of blue-winged teal Sunday (early teal season lasts until the 26th) and some very happy mallards!
- I was finally able to catch a carp on the Eagle Claw/Pflueger outfit. The casting quality leaves something to be desired (OK, a LOT to be desired) and the Pflueger’s drag would let out line in what I would term as “clumps” but it was interesting. Basically, you get what you pay for . . . a $50 outfit fishes like a $50 outfit. It was kind of like smoking Clove cigarettes in college – yes, I caught fish but, at the end, I wasn’t that thrilled and a little embarrassed (maybe it was my companion’s $500 custom carp rod built on a Z axis blank)!
- We might have an answer as to where all of our grass carp and big buffalo have disappeared to this season. Check out the “bowfishing” water-body records for Ray Roberts here. Notice the date of the grass carp entry. I KNEW some of those fish we were seeing were over 50 lbs. The accepted theory is that the grassiescame over the dam at Lake Kiowa during the 2007 flood and grew rather quickly in Roberts grassy, east-side coves. I got a kick out of watching clients as a 5 foot long, freshwater “tarpon” slid past and ignored all offers. Wilson J. even brought a Seychelles milkfish outfit to tempt the massive vegetarians (as I held my breath for about 15 min.). I don’t have anything against bowfishing – as long as you eat what you kill. Thanks to Shannon @ TexasFlycaster for that tidbit (and, BTW, check out his record for the bass in the fly-fishing catagory).
Comments
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.