Forums59
Topics1,038,884
Posts13,954,795
Members144,181
|
Most Online39,925 Dec 30th, 2023
|
|
Sabinal River - Return to Thompson Rd Crossing
#11058168
08/23/15 04:38 AM
|
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,257
Neumie
OP
TFF Team Angler
|
OP
TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,257 |
Although it's been a short time I needed to wet a line in one of the clear flowing Hill Country Rivers, so that's what I did Saturday. I had waded this section of the Sabinal just north of Utopia a little over a year ago and I've been suffering a nervous twitch ever since. My only concern was water condition. The Sabinal is a beautiful, clear flowing river, but for a 36 hour period the region experienced some rain that in creased the cfs by 10. So, I had my concerns whether the next day I would be slipping my feet into pristine or murky waters. Well, that solves that. I was going to have B-E-A-Utiful waters for this morning's wade. The first pool up river from the launch is productive one; mostly loaded with sunfish and small bass. It's a little tricky to fish with a roll cast being the dominant casting technique utilized to maximize the hole. I caught quite a few sunfish and guad/largemouth bass up to about 10 inches. After this first hole the Cyprus tress quickly enclose as the river gets narrow and shallower. The shallower waters do hold fish, but it's dang near impossible to fish with a fly rod with all the overhanging Cyprus limbs. In between the two pools is a nice little waterfall, so I snapped a photo. The next hole was a very productive one for me and had large cats (up to 18"), sunfish (up to 9") and bass (up to 20"), though I never could get the alpha bass to bite my fly. Actually, thinking back, each pool I fished (4 total) had an alpha cruising around, but I could not get a single one to follow my fly. Same thing happened a year ago.....so......it's official; I'm on a mission. Oh, so the last time I fished this section I found a horseshoe sitting in the water. Well this time I found I a dead Armadillo. So, I'm not sure if that's good luck or bad, but it's something; right? After the dead Armadillo I reached the opposite side of the hole where it began to get shallow and I saw one of the alpha bass cruising. She spotted and me a refused the fly I put in front of her. So, and I'm not really exaggerating, I stood still for almost 15 minutes thinking the bass would establish I wasn't a predator and would relax some. It didn't work. I did manage to hook into one of the large catfish swimming around. But it snapped my tippet when I reached to land it. After that I hooked into about a 1.25 lbs Guad that gave me a great fight and some aerial acrobatics! Until it tossed the hook. So, here are a couple pretty pictures: After those mishaps, and my watch telling me noon had come and passed, I reached the final hole. Again, there were nice sized catfish, an alpha bass, juvenile bass, and plenty of sunfish. I laid my line out next to a big rock and got an enthusiastic strike. To my surprise it was a Rio Grande Cichlid! Even better was it was one of the largest I've hooked on the fly. I played her slowly, and got her in my hand, about 11". Feeling great about catching the Cichlid and seeing it was coming on to the 1 o'clock hour I decided to call it a day. Since I had done this wade before I knew there was a large spring at the end of my wade, so I planned accordingly. I pulled out a cigar, fired her up, and relaxed next to the spring for the next 20 minutes. Not a bad Saturday. Not a bad Saturday at all.
"Water is life's matter and matrix, mother and medium. There is no life without water." -Albert Szent-Gyorgyi
"No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man." - Heraclitus
|
|
Re: Sabinal River - Return to Thompson Rd Crossing
[Re: Neumie]
#11058171
08/23/15 04:43 AM
|
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,238
RexW
TFF Team Angler
|
TFF Team Angler
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,238 |
Nice report. That's a beautiful river.
Fly Fishers International certified casting instructor TFO Rods pro staff
|
|
Re: Sabinal River - Return to Thompson Rd Crossing
[Re: Neumie]
#11058173
08/23/15 04:44 AM
|
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,257
Neumie
OP
TFF Team Angler
|
OP
TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,257 |
"Water is life's matter and matrix, mother and medium. There is no life without water." -Albert Szent-Gyorgyi
"No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man." - Heraclitus
|
|
Re: Sabinal River - Return to Thompson Rd Crossing
[Re: Neumie]
#11058180
08/23/15 04:49 AM
|
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,716
banker-always fishing
Pumpkin Head
|
Pumpkin Head
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,716 |
Solid post and thanks for sharing. Side Note: Love fishing that Sabinal Valley!
IGFA World Record Rio Grande Cichlid. Lake Dunlap. John 3:16 Sinner's Prayer. God forgive me a sinner. I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior !
|
|
Re: Sabinal River - Return to Thompson Rd Crossing
[Re: Neumie]
#11058185
08/23/15 04:58 AM
|
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,146
Robert Hunter
TFF Team Angler
|
TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,146 |
That's a great trip right there!!!! Great pics to go with it.
|
|
Re: Sabinal River - Return to Thompson Rd Crossing
[Re: Neumie]
#11058259
08/23/15 11:25 AM
|
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 384
Hunter498
Angler
|
Angler
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 384 |
Great pics and fish, thx for sharing!!
|
|
Re: Sabinal River - Return to Thompson Rd Crossing
[Re: Neumie]
#11058592
08/23/15 03:48 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,344
2FlyFish4
Extreme Angler
|
Extreme Angler
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,344 |
sure would like a few of those for the aquarium
|
|
Re: Sabinal River - Return to Thompson Rd Crossing
[Re: Neumie]
#11058787
08/23/15 05:47 PM
|
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 909
Fishwfly
Pro Angler
|
Pro Angler
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 909 |
Awesome report. I would love to fish there one day.
|
|
Re: Sabinal River - Return to Thompson Rd Crossing
[Re: Neumie]
#11058841
08/23/15 06:26 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,306
Linecaster
Extreme Angler
|
Extreme Angler
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,306 |
Neumie, I just love those pictures and a very interesting report, you have reawakened my desire to fish one of those rivers very soon, thank you.
In the beginning God created. Gen. 1:1 All things were made by him and without him was not anything made. John 1:3
|
|
Re: Sabinal River - Return to Thompson Rd Crossing
[Re: Neumie]
#11058885
08/23/15 06:48 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 206
Capt. Brendan
Outdoorsman
|
Outdoorsman
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 206 |
That river looks great! Nice pictures too!
USCG Licensed Captain & Fly Fishing Guide @ Fishing Bear Lodge
|
|
Re: Sabinal River - Return to Thompson Rd Crossing
[Re: Neumie]
#11060555
08/24/15 03:34 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 26,660
Bass_Bustin_Texan
TFF Guru
|
TFF Guru
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 26,660 |
Great pics, looks peaceful. I wish our creeks looked like that.
You can avoid having ulcers by adapting to the situation: If you fall in the mud puddle, check your pockets for fish. ~Unknown
Open your eyes & look within, are you satisfied with the life youre living.
No matter how good or bad you have it, wake up each day thankful for your life. Someone somewhere else is desperately fighting for theirs.
|
|
Re: Sabinal River - Return to Thompson Rd Crossing
[Re: Neumie]
#11060821
08/24/15 05:50 PM
|
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 557
Lloyd5
Pro Angler
|
Pro Angler
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 557 |
Beautiful write up and photos of a beautiful day - and to finish with a cigar, well that tugs at my heart.
Last edited by Lloyd5; 08/24/15 05:50 PM.
|
|
Re: Sabinal River - Return to Thompson Rd Crossing
[Re: Lloyd5]
#11063707
08/26/15 12:50 AM
|
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,257
Neumie
OP
TFF Team Angler
|
OP
TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,257 |
Thanks for reading guys, it really is a beautiful stretch of the Sabinal. Neumie, I just love those pictures and a very interesting report, you have reawakened my desire to fish one of those rivers very soon, thank you. Interesting in a good way or bad? My reports tend to tell more of the story of the day as well as touching some conditions. Beautiful write up and photos of a beautiful day - and to finish with a cigar, well that tugs at my heart. The cigar was definitely a nice "nightcap". Could have only been better had I beer to share with it.
"Water is life's matter and matrix, mother and medium. There is no life without water." -Albert Szent-Gyorgyi
"No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man." - Heraclitus
|
|
Moderated by banker-always fishing, chickenman, Derek 🐝, Duck_Hunter, Fish Killer, J-2, Jacob, Jons3825, JustWingem, Nocona Brian, Toon-Troller, Uncle Zeek, Weekender1
|