Season’s End

Posted By on September 22, 2009

Fall seems to be coming early to north Texas this year; we’ve had over six inches of rain in mid-September (and it’s currently raining again as I write this – thunderstorms pushed ahead of another early “cold” front), cedar elms are already changing colors, and there are migratory species of birds showing up that usually aren’t around until after UT/OU weekend.
The fishing is taking its cue from all this and beginning the slow slide into the winter doldrums. Sand bass action that is usually fantastic in September (especially the evening surface bite) has become spotty at best as the random weather scatters shad all over the lake. I hear reports of “we caught an ice chest full on top-waters yesterday” followed by “they’re all deep on structure” the next day.
Carp are still carp -cruising along, feeding on the slim opportunities offered at this time of year. All the bugs that we can easily imitate with flies (think damsels, Hexes, and dragonfly nymphs)have long since hatched, crawled away, or otherwise thinned out. Now they’re left with the odd snail, mussel, grasshopper, and lots of grass. They’ll be around for the next month or so and willing to take a fly (“the Dude abides”) if you wade CAREFULLY, spot well in the lower light, and feed them right. I caught the fish pictured – and a few of his amigos – with a SnapDragon in knee-deep water yesterday.
(Please excuse the previous drought of posts – this last month was a whirlwind of activity with the beginning of semester at both the high school and university. Upcoming posts include an update on the hog population/damage at Ray Roberts and a review of the new TFO Clouser rod.)

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About the author

Joel Hays has been a professional guide since 1990, and has guided professionally in Colorado and Texas.

Comments

2 Responses to “Season’s End”

  1. Jonathan says:
    September 24, 2009 at 7:30 pm

    I headed out to my favorite bluegill pond and everything has vacated to deeper structure. Before leaving for Costa Rica last week I went out and fished for some white bass in the evening. Yesturday there was nothing biting. This cold snap has had a pretty strong effect.

  2. Joel says:
    October 5, 2009 at 2:32 am

    Yep. I believe it's that time of year to hang up the flats boots and start tying the little stuff. There'll be trout fishing in OK before we know it!

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North Texas Fly Fishing Adventures with Joel Hays

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!