Float down The Guad 7-20-12

I showed a fellow TKF'er  (Texas Kayaking Forum) down a section of the Guadalupe the other day. We wore out the smaller fish through the day but as I went to set the hook on the one fish with shoulders on him my line broke right at the split shot.  Bad luck? Bad rigging? Or was it simply fait?  I guess we will never know but form now on I think ill be using those little sliding barrel weights not split shots.

We didn't take many photos but here is my fishing partner for the day Daryl showing off what was the smallest fish of the day but certainly still plenty of fun.  Its a blast out there get you some.

Thanks again to Daryl and I hope we can do it again soon.

Spring brake on the Frio!!!

We showed up a day early and instead of two days one night it turned into three days two night. It was one of the few times I actully got more time on the water then expected. This always makes things interesting. We had a bunch of fun and a mess of fish, here are some of the better ones.

Here was our first fish, it was a healthy Blue.



My buddys wife Stephanie rigging up for day two adventures.


Glad she was eager so she could land this 5 pounder! A lesser angler would have missed this amazing fish. Way to go Stephanie!!!


I get a good bass on some ultra light tackle. I love this almost as much as fly fishing.


My buddy spence got lucky with this bass running a buzz bait along the roots of an old river tree. In his words "it just looked fishy".


A verticaly jigged grub works this bass in under tough mid day fishing conditions. We joke and say it was the shade of the yak that did the fish in.


After arriving back at the launch and eating lunch I rig for a trip well into the evening.


Here comes Stephanie with another buzz bait bass.


I happen to know a good midnight spot for the kitty fish and after throwing out the never fresh frozen dead shad I end up with this and a few others for my efforts. I contemplate the idea of another back to back mini slam. LOL He went 24 inches and 3.2 pounds. Not a big flatty by anymeans but I have something to beat now.


Not to be a selfish fisherman here is my secret spot. LMAO


Early the next morning my mini slam becomes true I land my channel to make it a Blue, a Channel, and a flat head in the smae trip two trips in a row.


If you see this guy fishing at your local hole you know the fish are there.


Funny how hungry you can get while spending days on the river. I thought this looke like gourmet when I ate it. DO you realy wana know what was in it? I dont!!! YUM!!!


Another one of my bass on ultra light. How big is he?


He isnt huge but he is another bass in the boat, I think im getting tired.


Spence with another buzz bait bass, its all in how you work it, or so he says. I however had the most trouble with this lure as you see no big bass on buzz baits for me. I will say that all the biggest fish were seen on buzz bait but none of them made it to the boat. GRRRRR!!!


Can the water realy be that clear?


YES, YES IT CAN!!!

The Frio river

Me and my yakin amigo headed to the very private section of the frio river that I have negotiated my way into. I have had great fishing on this river, unfortuanitly, this wouldnt be a 200 fish weekend like some of my trips in the past.

[off topic]
We left around 10am and by noon there was already some fishing going on. However, there was a slight role reversal. We had become the fish and the law man had become the fisherman. After being baited for what must have been 4 miles I finnaly got hooked as he reeled me into the shoulder I wondered what lure I must have fallen for? Speeding? No... No flag on my kayak that over hangs my truck bed? No... I have a flag? Do you know why I pulled you over, I get asked, No Sir!!! Well your gunna loose your thingy. My thingy? Sir? Oh my PFD, Um... yah he replies. Oh thats my flag since my kayak over hangs the truck. Oh, expensive flag he replies. (5 doller pfd I think to my self) Well the second reason I pulled you over is you have a dark shirt on and I couldnt see your seat belt. Oh, well I had it on. Yah I see that, the third reason I pulled you over was when I was behind you there you touched the line a couple times so I am gunna need to see your license and insurance. Long story short I get HWRed. (Harassed,warned,released)

Back to our fishing trip
Once I finnaly reach our section of river all was forgotten and forgiven. We hurried to launch our yaks for what would be the slowest two days on the frio I have ever had.

We managed two double hook ups, a couple good bass and a variety of dinks in the first hour or so One dink spot was so hungry as soon as I released him he slamed my partners worm within seconds of his prior release.
We followed this by finding a 3pm buzz bait bite that last an hour or so. However I would have gladly thrown that bait all day to watch that 4 pounder I cought slam the surface the way he did. Did I mention he was 4 pounds on 4 pound test? What a challenge. Just watch me work this guy as he brings the trees to me.


After portaging two dry spots and going a few miles we decided to get back to the first portage by dark.. Here I am catching a bass after a portage on a buzz bait. Problem was spence wouldnt take the pic so I got his mad face and the pole bending!!! Once we arrived back at the first portage we decide to try to go back to our phenominal buzz bait bite. We manage a few good fish and some good times in pitch blackness with the most stars I have seen in as long as I can remember. Between the stars and the still silence of the uninhabited hill country I was in heaven.


Once back to the camp site we make dinner Then we turn our attention to the catfish that call this river home and to the area we chumed hours before, when we first got on the water. We decided to chum the area again and drop two fishing lights over the area. We paddle back to camp to make our fire and start to tell storys. Its not but 3 foot of flames later that we here the sound of a strong river fish tugging on one of our rods.
Then I get my big fish of the trip

All in all we manage two small flat heads several decent channels and a 13lb blue. A mini slam is what ill call it. LOL






The second day was more good times on a beautiful river with nothing to worry about except not getting backlash in my bait caster. I will admit I finnaly got out fished but the only camera with film was on my campadres boat so his pics were limited. Im sure the front that moved through this weekend and the drop in temps hurt some of our fishing but may have been the reason the blue and flat heads were in the mix. This trip has earned the nick name trip of death becouse it wasnt an easy trip and definitly not for the week of heart. JUST LOOK AT THESE PORTAGES!!! We were in a battle with the river it seemed and I think we won!!!

Fisherman 1---River 0---Trooper 0

The secret bass pond

My secret bass pond, nobody knows. If you do dont tell.


One of my nicer fish for the day.


My buddy Spence with a nice figting size bass, also known as texasdjl on the texas fishing forum.


Why is Spence catching all the bass?


Fight him Spence fight him. I secretly hope you loose him! Jerk he was my bass, oh well next time.


Can anyone say structure? Fishing when the water level is at zero helps find under water structure for next year.


The other structure we were targeting. Under water vegitation rules but can make for a messy day.

All and all we cought about 30 bass in about 2 hours between the two of us. It was one of those great mornings where any good cast to structure would produce a good fight. Again this was all on the fly rod. Gotta love it.

Medina river Aug 4th

Me and texasdjl from the texas fishing forum went down to fish the medina river up above medina lake where the river still looks pristen. It has a rock bottom and a very nice selection of fish. We took advantage of the texas public waters law and waded up and down the river about 4 miles from the park in Bandera where we started. The following are pictures of the amazing scenery and a few shots of the fish and my new flynatic friend.