Sandbass are in!

It's official, the 2011 sandbass run has started in Texas! Now if we could just get some rain soon! Every water body is really low but the sandbass are in the creeks coming in strong. Oh, today was multispecies day 1, so here's the day from start to end

Morning- woke up, grabbed an ultralight, and went down to the creek. I saw lots of shiners and sunfish and even a few small bass, I got several Greenies, Longears, and Bluegill. I didn't have my DSLR with me so I used my Nikon Coolpix S630 for these, and I think they turned out pretty well.

After that, I went to my secret spot, armed with 2 carp float rods and my 5wt Clouser. I saw tons of fish today, mostly carp and buffs. I went ahead to where I saw gar yesterday and set up a carp rod there, baiting with sweetcorn. I put a yellow inline spinner on my other rod and started blindcasting it around. I got a bump and set the hook and missed it, then 2 more bumps and a fish hooked up. BAM Sandbass! I was pumped! First sandbass ever from the secret spot!

I casted again with a twin of the same sandbass. 

Cast 3 resulted in a small LMB

a few casts later I switched to the fly rod. First cast I hooked up  on something big

2lb sandbass!

FAT with eggs

I called Jonathan and got voicemail, so I kept casting. I caught 10 or so more sandbass then changed the carp rig to a catfish rig with stinkbait thinking I might get a channel cat. Well, that was not needed at all, because I got a channel cat on the very next cast with the fly rod

I  caught about 8 or 9 more sandbass, Jonathan calls and decides to come get in on the action. He's on his way when I hooked something huge, it hit like a freight train then turned and swam upstream, stripping off line like crazy. I fought this thing for several minutes, and I finally saw it- it was a 10+lb Drum. I saw it then shortly after the hook pulled! I lost it!

I caught 1 or 2 more sandies then Jonathan called and I walked the long distance back to meet him and we walked back to the spot together. When we get there, my catfish rod is snagged. I broke off the rig and we kept fishing. Jonathan caught 5 or 6 and I got 2 more, than Jonathan hooked something huge that I think might have been a hybrid striper. The hook pulled. The very next cast, Jonathan hooks a nice 7 or 8lb buff that fought like mad. I didn't get pics, so check Bluegill on the fly for pics. After we released that we moved upstream and we each got a small baby sandie then nothing, so we walked back. I thought the day was over, but no. Jonathan leaves after giving me some stuff(thanks!) and we drive off. 

Mom wants to pick up something for dinner. I see a pond close to where she wants to go- Costco pond, connected to the Lake Vista canal system, and Mom lets me fish it for a few minutes. It was worth it! I casted out the carp rod with corn and threw some freebait out, then started walking the banks. I look down and see a large bronze flag- Tailing carp!!! I ended up blanking here but saw 7 or 8 carp. This place is really cool, i'm definately coming back in the near future, I heard there are hybrid stripers and huge blue cats in here!

Well, that's day 1- 6 species. Tomorrow I hope to get a Crappie and a Black Bullhead. Stay tuned!