In the morning to float the Brazos below PK. Will put in at 1pm-ish and take out sometime Monday. No glowing reviews about fish catch quality and quantity but it's been a planned trip for a while and it looks like the rain gods have smiled upon us. So I hope to come back with a pic that'll finally get me more than 2 votes for the May FOTM contest...maybe win...GIANT STRIPER...I really want to put the new 8wt to good use.

Be careful, have fun, and bring me back something pretty.


That is all.

"Headin' Out"

I was hoping this was a thread about Mondays and Hush Puppies.

Be sure to post a report! Will be leading a group on Memorial day and want to know what to expect.

After many miles and much paddling into the wind we have finished the Brazos trip in one piece:

Put in on Saturday around 1:30. Before beginning the trip I walked across Hwy 16 bridge to see if there were any fish to target at the bridge. Right off the bat there was a lunker of a hold over rainbow sitting in the current. Had to be pushing 5+ pounds. Largest trout I have seen in person. Made a few cast's to him from downstream. Could get him to move to the small olive bugger but would never take. So we headed out. Stopped around the first little bend to fish for trout deep but nothing moved so on we went. Ran across a small heard of gar and carp right where the first major riffle empties into the first big bend. Cast several different flies but nothing budged. Could get the spotted gar to follow some streamers but no takes. Went into the first bend where I managed this catch behind the large rock formation on the outside of the bend:

First Carpallo on the fly.
More gar swimming but no luck. Paddled down to about mile 5-6 and sat up camp just before sundown.



Worked a lot of water but got zero bites. A lot of top water splashes but the ones I saw were carp splashing the surface.

Worked the same water the next morning and managed these 2 little fella's:



Set off again and found a back water area around a large shallow riffle that we worked and produced 2 more:
My buddy Charlie and his first carp on the fly which was the largest fish of our trip. Took it one a bendback I tied, which I thought was odd.


Then this guy:

We made up a bunch more time paddling and not fishing through a few bends due to ridiculous winds. We actually got to chick bend and there we found ourselves in a scene from the deadliest catch with the wind smashing the boat with large white caps and water filling the canoe. We were hoping to stop and explore the monoliths of rock on the outside of the bend but decided it weren't a good idea. On we headed and made camp around mile 17. The next morning we worked a lot of deep pools and could only manage this spiny, slimy guy:


We pushed on and cast a little bit more but nothing bit so we headed out to Rochelle's enjoying the scenery:


Overall impression:
Saw a ton of Gar and Carp. Didn't see or catch any large bass of any variety. Never saw anything bigger than the fish I've posted no matter where and how we fished. Threw floating, full sink, streamers, poppers, early, late and couldn't land the big one we were hoping for. So I am counting on sympathy votes for whatever fish I post for FOTM

Actually the coolest thing about the trip besides seeing only 4 other people on the river and having a ton of fun with my good buddy was casting along a bank stripping back a streamer and hearing a deep light saber sound coming from somewhere. I looked around and couldn't figure out what it was. Looked back at my fly and the it was the sound of a 4-5ft gar swiping his mouth wide open at my streamer. Stopped the strip and let him "catch" it set the hook and he was on for 5 seconds. He was no layne frost but it was way cool.

Looks like a great trip despite missing the lunkers. Beautiful river. I hope to get out there soon.

It is beautiful and very clean clear water. We also hit the Paluxy the following day. Spent the night at DVSP and had a most and largest fish contest. I lost the most 26-22 and largest was a 7in LMB which I also lost. Most the fish were sunfish in the 1-5 inch range.

Thanks for taking the time to post that up, SC. Sounds like a great time out there with your buddy. Sorry about that whole carp thing. haha

Tell me about it. I threw up a little bit when I touched it.

I hope you washed your hands before you typed that up. I don't want to get any on me.

You carp guys know I love you.

Went in and got a chemical peel then washed in tomato juice. it's almost gone.

There's always ethanol*.











*If you drink enough of it you might be able to repress the memory.

Sounds like a good trip.

Well you had a trip to remember, congrats, sounds like a great time to me!