Sabine River Sandbass'n

Had a great time down on the Sabine river this past weekend. Caught plenty of fish and had a great time with with everyone that was able to make the trip. For yall that didn't we will probably make this a yearly trip so mark your calendars for next spring. I'll let the pics do the talking, hope you enjoy the white bass porn.

Not bad for the first fish of the trip.


An average fish for the Sabine.


One of the better fish at 17"



Lots of fat females.


Camp over looking the river.


Big fish on little rods.



Robert fighting a fish off one of many sandy beaches.


James hooked up.



Did I say these fish were fat.


even caught a creek x sandbass on a pink neardeere


its getting about time to hit sandie flat road for the hybrids

Sandy flat rd. is on tomorrow! Good fishing with everyone!

Enjoyed the pics, I fish the south end of the Sabine for bass and redfish. You guys look like you had a blast!

What a trip caught good weather too. You know it's good when two pounders are a dime a dozen.

Good grief those are some fatties. Well done!

Thinking about heading down in a week. I have never fished the Sabine. I will be fishing in a kayak. Where should I put in and go if yall don't mind giving advice?

Put in at Riverridge launch fee is four dollars if you just launch there you can camp for 25. We fish the shoals on the bends upstream of Riverridge it seemed all the boats were going downstream but who knows we fished four really good Bends up from there three others in between were not as productive look for pure white sand on the bends your fishing and you should be good to go. The first one on the rat immediately upstream of the ramp was really one of the best ones as well as the last further up. The last one we fished if you're paddling up and you get to where water has heavy current you go around to the right and then there is a long sandy beach to the left and it bends to the left fish there I think we all exclusively fished chartreuse and white Clowser with a few exceptions here and there but the Clowser's produced the biggest fish by far. Take sink tip or full think for sure as well as a lot of big Splitshot not your standard trout fishing Splitshot. The ones that have the two pieces in the back that you can use that in crimp them with. You will be fishing very deep although this morning I caught a lot of fish that were in 2 to 3 foot of water 5 feet from the bank but for the most part we were catching fish extremely deep. I was fishing a 9 foot leader with 3 feet of 8 pound invisix floro carbon for Tippet. Most fish came on the downstream side of the bends on the shoals start at the point and work a little bit downstream with each cast until you find them. I was using my 7'6" three-weight most of the first day and it was a real beating to get the heavyweights out far enough I switch to my 9 foot eight weight later in the day and was glad I did. Was a bit of an overkill but not much. Make a long cast slightly upstream and mend up and let it sink 15 to 20 seconds depending on the depth and then slowly strip it back most bites came on the pause. Keep working it until you hit leader on your Flowelan because a lot will follow it up and hit right before you lifted out of the water. When you find fish I really would stay put for a little bit as I feel sometimes we would've done just as good staying put as moving but you never know. Should be an amazing trip hope to hear how you did.

Oh park the yak and fish off the shoals and we did really good as the wakes of passing boats went by really made them active for a bit hope that helps.

Good report. Great fish.

BEST POST OF THE YEAR -

Thanks 2Fly

Robert thank you for the report, very nice pictures and your willingness to explain and help.

No problem a first timer there would really be lost if they are use to the creeks we were all used to so hope that helps anyone that goes get ahead of the game. And first on the rat should be right lol. For those thinking about going The fish are not going this well by the first of march in most years the cold winter delayed the run there too. They are normally peeking out in February and three pounders really don't raise an eyebrow too much. If you follow on river ridges web sight you will see when they start showing up and Jane will give you any help she can give for sure. Never felt like we needed to hide every thing when we left camp and was really nice to camp right there on the shoals. I still just wish I knew where all the water came from its a lot for sure. The up stream side of the bends and shoals were good to at times as most had an eddy on the edge allowing fish to rest before moving up. I know all of us had a great trip and will be back next year for sure. Heck I may try an sneak in one more day run I they stay going this year. Casey James mattew an I were about the only fly fish guys in the group and a good time was had by all. Would make a great trip for the family and the quality is unreal.

Great report and some nice healthy fat fish. Looks like a blast!

Any recent news ?
We're planning a trip this weekend -
hope its not too late

They are still smashing big females just checked river ridges website. Hope the front doesn't mess them up to much.