Posted By: MtnDew
Great Day on the Brazos below PK - Dec 5th - 12/06/15 05:28 PM
Brazos River Below Possum Kingdom Dam - Dec 5, 2015
I had a great day from sunrise to sunset kayaking and fishing on the Brazos river below PK Dam. The morning was a brisk 40 degrees, the wind was blowing 10 to 15 all day, but by lunch the sun was out and warmed things up to 62 degrees. The Dam was releasing 340cfs, so the river was flowing pretty good compared to my last visit at 75cfs. I am an average paddler, and 340 cfs is still doable to make it upstream to the DAM. It was a good workout, but I am not sure I would try it much over 350 cfs.
They stocked it with trout a few days ago, and the local fly fishing clubs where holding a free fly fishing class in the morning. So there were at least 30 people out fly fishing. It was fun to give a fly rod a try, and very nice of them to provide all the gear and instructions.
I spent the morning below the hwy 16 bridge fishing for trout, mostly on spinning gear with small inline spinners. I never got a trout, but I did catch a dozen or so 1 to 2lb spotted bass, a monster long ear that was bigger than my hand and a few bluegills. The best spot seemed to be downstream from the bridge to the 2nd set of ripples where the river split into 2 channels. Some other kayakers limited out on spinners in the pool just upstream of the rapids. I went to try there, it was already crowded, but they were still catching trout.
After lunch, I made the hard paddle upstream to the Dam. I worked the lower river channel below the pools, and got more bass but no striper. The current and narrow channel made wading hard but not impossible. The first set of rapids below the 2 pools took some effort but I was able to drag the kayak up a small side channel. The shallow pool didn’t have much action, I got a few striper on top water. With the extra current and 1.5’ of water, I was able to paddle over the rocks and get into the big pool next to the dam. From 3pm to sunset, I caught easily 30 to 40 striper, mostly on topwater. However they were all 10 to 15”. Every time I would pop it a few times, then let it sit and they would blow up on the topwater. It didn’t matter the lure size, I threw some 6 to 8” plugs and they still tried to eat it. I tried everything in my tackle box, but never found the big ones.
However, at 5pm as I am heading downstream, I see a lone fly fisherman in the lower pool pull in a large striper easily 5lbs plus. As I float by I talk with him and he said that was smaller than the earlier ones. He even showed me the area and let me cast a few topwaters and bucktail jigs, but I couldn’t get any hits. The difference seemed to be the presentation, he was able to cast upstream and quietly drift over the rocks and the big ones would inhale it. I watched him catch a few more good size striper before I had to head downstream, to get back before dark.
Finally the current was my friend, I flew back downstream, gps showed me doing 4.5 to 5 mph.
Even though it was a bit crowded, everyone was friendly and it was just another great day on the river.
Below are some pics, I didn't take many fish pics, because they all looked the same and never got the big striper to make it worth taking the phone out of the dry bag again.
Link to pics
Video Link
I had a great day from sunrise to sunset kayaking and fishing on the Brazos river below PK Dam. The morning was a brisk 40 degrees, the wind was blowing 10 to 15 all day, but by lunch the sun was out and warmed things up to 62 degrees. The Dam was releasing 340cfs, so the river was flowing pretty good compared to my last visit at 75cfs. I am an average paddler, and 340 cfs is still doable to make it upstream to the DAM. It was a good workout, but I am not sure I would try it much over 350 cfs.
They stocked it with trout a few days ago, and the local fly fishing clubs where holding a free fly fishing class in the morning. So there were at least 30 people out fly fishing. It was fun to give a fly rod a try, and very nice of them to provide all the gear and instructions.
I spent the morning below the hwy 16 bridge fishing for trout, mostly on spinning gear with small inline spinners. I never got a trout, but I did catch a dozen or so 1 to 2lb spotted bass, a monster long ear that was bigger than my hand and a few bluegills. The best spot seemed to be downstream from the bridge to the 2nd set of ripples where the river split into 2 channels. Some other kayakers limited out on spinners in the pool just upstream of the rapids. I went to try there, it was already crowded, but they were still catching trout.
After lunch, I made the hard paddle upstream to the Dam. I worked the lower river channel below the pools, and got more bass but no striper. The current and narrow channel made wading hard but not impossible. The first set of rapids below the 2 pools took some effort but I was able to drag the kayak up a small side channel. The shallow pool didn’t have much action, I got a few striper on top water. With the extra current and 1.5’ of water, I was able to paddle over the rocks and get into the big pool next to the dam. From 3pm to sunset, I caught easily 30 to 40 striper, mostly on topwater. However they were all 10 to 15”. Every time I would pop it a few times, then let it sit and they would blow up on the topwater. It didn’t matter the lure size, I threw some 6 to 8” plugs and they still tried to eat it. I tried everything in my tackle box, but never found the big ones.
However, at 5pm as I am heading downstream, I see a lone fly fisherman in the lower pool pull in a large striper easily 5lbs plus. As I float by I talk with him and he said that was smaller than the earlier ones. He even showed me the area and let me cast a few topwaters and bucktail jigs, but I couldn’t get any hits. The difference seemed to be the presentation, he was able to cast upstream and quietly drift over the rocks and the big ones would inhale it. I watched him catch a few more good size striper before I had to head downstream, to get back before dark.
Finally the current was my friend, I flew back downstream, gps showed me doing 4.5 to 5 mph.
Even though it was a bit crowded, everyone was friendly and it was just another great day on the river.
Below are some pics, I didn't take many fish pics, because they all looked the same and never got the big striper to make it worth taking the phone out of the dry bag again.
Link to pics
Video Link
