Hi Gang!
Took my 10 year old grandson Hunter, fly fishing on Lake Waco today, only to find out that all the floating docks by the boat ramps had been removed for repair and new flotation. So it was really tuff on this old Texan climbing in and out of my bass boat from and onto a rocky shoreline - New ramp and nothing but rock ledges and other big rocks just under the surface all along the shore on either side of the ramp. I can still walk and wade, but climbing into a boat over a bunch of rocks plays havoc with my arthritic ankle, (the result of breaking leg just above the ankle two years ago, and tearing posterior tibial tendon on bottom of foot.), plus a recent injury to my left knee. Man, It's hell getting old!
I finally got into the boat, somewhat embarassed about not being able to jump in as I did in the past, and headed to my favorite bluegill haunt - Reynolds Creek. Normally I would put in at the ramp there, but with the conservation pool of the lake being raised 8 feet, that was impossible. Only about 8 feet of the ramp is still out of water. Anyway, had lots of new gill water to fish and the results were pretty good, considering we didn't get in the water until nearly 11 a.m and the temp already heating up. Most of the fish were in the shade under willows and other trees growing along the shore.
This was Hunter's first time out using a fly rod. (I taught him how to cast, etc. yesterday, in the front yard.) He's a natural and I didn't have to do any coaching this morning. He's really proficient at the roll cast and enjoyed rolling his gill cricket under the willows and flicking it in and out of the Cara Weed. He caught 8 nice gills, the largest about the size of my hand. I do have a big hand, so we're talking about a 10 inch gill. We got into some Sandies that were schooling and frothing the surface and I caught a bunch of them, around 12 inches. Sandies, (white bass), fight like you wouldn't believe. Hunter beat me bigtime on the gills.
It was a great day! Just being out with my grandson and seeing him handle my little 6 foot Wright & McGill Featherlite fly rod and catching fish to boot was a real joy. Next thing, he'll want to go to New Mexico with me to fish for trout. I CAN HANDLE THAT!
One thing I learned today is that I won't be able to fish Lake Waco anymore until the floating docks are back in place. Now if I can just convince the Corps to let me take my pontoon boat to the Reynolds Creek ramp, I can throw it in the back of my F350 and slip it right into the water. Then I can fish in the backwater and not worry about having to launch my big boat.
JIMMY D
P.S. We were using an assortment of swap flies. I had Ridderbos's black foam beetle and Hunter was using a black cricket. Think it was Bruce Whittle's. We used other flies also. I'll have to check to see who they belonged to and get back to the group. Also, we were using Del's furled leaders. Awsome!
--
========================================================
Jimmy D. Moore - Retired Scout Executive, BSA, Moderator Fly Fishing World Email List, TOWA, VFB, HCFF, GRTU, FFF, NAFC - Life Member. Contributor - Texas Fish & Game Magazine. Outdoor Humor Writer. Author of "MOON HOLLER MISFITS" Click URL below for info.
http://home.earthlink.net/~rayado/rayadoflyfishingflypatternstips/index.html
"Being able to read trout streams is just as valuable to a fly fisherman as the ability to read a defense is to a Quarterback."
Jimmy D. Moore [2004]
========================================================
