Well, I guess i'm back too. I haven't posted in almost a MONTH! DANG that seems like a long time. I promise I won't be gone from posting here for that long again. I've made a new years resolution to start posting regularly on the blog's Facebook page too, so start looking on there more often and you should get to see some cool stuff.
The main thing on this post is the TFRs, or Texas Fly Reports, site is back up and seems to be running smoothly at last! The past host site was running ok at first, but we soon found out that the forum software we were using had been abandoned and we started getting absolutely slammed with spammers. We were getting hundreds of spammers a week signing up on the site, and it just got overwhelming. Shannon finally decided that our small band of moderators(basically him and me)couldn't deal with it anymore and recently took the site down and moved it over to where it's hosted now at phpBB. Sadly, we lost all of our past information, all posts, member profiles, threads, everything, but we have the site back and are starting to promote it again to try and replenish the info we lost and get some new topics rolling on the site. Well, with that being said, the site is now back up and running fine, so go sign up and start posting! There will be some big changes within the next few weeks, so keep checking back often!
Go check the site out at www.texasflyreports.com
Ruminations of a kid ruined by trash fish
Showing posts with label Events. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Events. Show all posts
Monday, January 9, 2012
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
TKF and TFF yakkers G2G
Saturday was the Texas fishing forum and the Texas kayak fisherman kayak get together at Jordan branch SP, Lake Ray Roberts, Texas. Not only was it a great get together, but Shannon made a few bucks in the HOW benefit tourney held during the get together. So, here's my writeup-
Shannon(Texasflycaster, if you don't read his site) and I decided to just enter into the tourney. Of course, that means I had all week to get ready, but put it off until friday night. Bad idea. I was busy messing with the kayak almost all afternoon Friday, but eventually I was ready. I didn't want to be tempted by the lure of carp on the fly so I left all the fly stuff at home and conventional fished this trip. I had everything I could need, so I finally went to sleep.
4:00 AM came way too fast and I was in the truck with Grandpa by 4:30 and at the Johnson branch gate by 5:30 and in the parking lot rigging out the kayak a few minutes later. The day started off cold for April at a chilly 39 degrees. I met a bunch of the people that would be competing against us. We talked fishing spots, messed around with the map, talked more, and before we knew it it was go time. The announcement came and we immediately paddled a mile over to a cove Shannon thought might hold some fish. Nada. Kept paddling. Nothing. We eventually made it over to a cove and fished it for a while. Shannon got a TEENY Largemouth, An 8 incher. He joked about the fish being so small and I remember encouraging him to enter it. He measured it and released it. He was on the board
10 minutes later he bagged his second bass, a scrawny 6 incher that almost went through the scupper hole on his Adios. Again, I made him enter it.
Shannon(Texasflycaster, if you don't read his site) and I decided to just enter into the tourney. Of course, that means I had all week to get ready, but put it off until friday night. Bad idea. I was busy messing with the kayak almost all afternoon Friday, but eventually I was ready. I didn't want to be tempted by the lure of carp on the fly so I left all the fly stuff at home and conventional fished this trip. I had everything I could need, so I finally went to sleep.
4:00 AM came way too fast and I was in the truck with Grandpa by 4:30 and at the Johnson branch gate by 5:30 and in the parking lot rigging out the kayak a few minutes later. The day started off cold for April at a chilly 39 degrees. I met a bunch of the people that would be competing against us. We talked fishing spots, messed around with the map, talked more, and before we knew it it was go time. The announcement came and we immediately paddled a mile over to a cove Shannon thought might hold some fish. Nada. Kept paddling. Nothing. We eventually made it over to a cove and fished it for a while. Shannon got a TEENY Largemouth, An 8 incher. He joked about the fish being so small and I remember encouraging him to enter it. He measured it and released it. He was on the board
Shot of Shannon fishing Diablo style!
10 minutes later he bagged his second bass, a scrawny 6 incher that almost went through the scupper hole on his Adios. Again, I made him enter it.
Where are the keepers?
We just kept toughing it out, I swear the weather was constantly changing. The wind blew every direction possible and changed several times. We moved around almost every cove in the area to no avail, no fish at all.
Documenting the 2nd pathetic bass
we toughed it out for a few more hours and threw in the towel and paddled back. Shannon found out we are so far the only ones with fish. What? Shannon could be looking at a win here!
Food! Crawdads, yummm!
Next was food- cajun style crawdads. Yum!
Eating, hanging out, having a good time.
Yaks, yaks, yaks
Finally results time! What happened during the tourney?
Crappie division winner
Bass division winner-
Well, Shaun ended up winning with several more fish than anyone else. BUT he is a local.
Shannon came in third and earned 60 bucks, a fake boga grip, and a fillet knife for his efforts. He slipped me a 20 for making him enter the fish, so I actually earned something that day.
Shannon and I showing off the Diablo's
We spent most of the rest of the day showing the Diablo's off. Lots of interest in the yaks!
All in all, it was a great trip. Check out the TFF or the TKF boards here for more pics and info
Monday, February 21, 2011
Al Crise Day 2
I met the Fort Worth Fly Fishers out at the Paluxy river for Al Crise Day 2. My D3000 was left in Grandpa's car so I can't post the pics off of that, but I have a few on my phone.I had a great time! 1000 trout were stocked for the trout derby so I fished for the lame little stocker troots for a while, getting my limit to take home for the grill. I started out with 1 trout on an electric blue north fork nymph
then I hooked something nice, which turned out to be a 14 inch channel cat. It fought hard on my 4wt, but I still got it in pretty easily. Next cast, the line went tight, so I set the hook and my reel started screaming. Not a troot! I fought this thing for a little over 10 minutes and finally landed it. It was a nice 6 or 7lb channel, big enough to put a nice bend in the 4wt.
then I hooked something nice, which turned out to be a 14 inch channel cat. It fought hard on my 4wt, but I still got it in pretty easily. Next cast, the line went tight, so I set the hook and my reel started screaming. Not a troot! I fought this thing for a little over 10 minutes and finally landed it. It was a nice 6 or 7lb channel, big enough to put a nice bend in the 4wt.
After that I filled out my troot limit, got a nice Redear and Green sunfish hybrid, a few small bass, and casted at a few carp. I think I got about 16 troots total, with the best one going 15 inches.
After I got out of my waders(I was freezing!) I walked on over to Les, who made me cast his sweet little 1960s Shakespeare fiberglass 5wt, which was SWEET! I want a glass rod now! I learned a bunch of casting techniques from Les, and then Jay "Fishy' Fullum walked over and taught me a few things. If you don't know, Fishy is an amazing fly tyer who writes the creative column for Fly Tyer magazine. He also casts GREAT and is a great teacher. He gave me one of the best pieces of advice i've ever heard when it comes to casting-
"Imagine the handle of this rod is a glass tube, and if you squeeze it too hard it'll break. If you find the right amount of pressure to apply on the rod handle, you'll be able to throw that fly anywhere and delicately drop that fly on the surface wherever you want it"
I had a great time! Check out the event here on the TFF and the FWFF site
**Update! here are the pics that were on my D3000
Great day!
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