South Padre Island does get the weather changes my home in North Texas gets, just without all the tornadoes and hail and ...
This past week the Lower Laguna Madre seems to have shifted from the full chill to wet wading the bay, in a space of only a few days. There are still more mysteries to unravel here, but my extended time here is almost up! Then it's back to the boiling water of DFW for this little frog. And back to those easy to find, hard to catch, carp!

Nice post and fish. Good job.

Great pictures. You need to find a snook before you head back north. That would be really fun on a fly.

Brownsville Ship Channel is always a place that can surprise a fly fisher. How about a mangrove snapper on fly?

That would be a surprise. Nice catch.

Mangrove snappers are some scrappers. Nice catch.

Great picture. Congratulations.

Nice work sir. It is encouraging to see the fish coming onboard. I will be down there in 2 weeks. Looking forward to this trip.

Well Curt0407! Let's fish!
Weather is closing out today, and looks like the rest of the week ... what else is new!

Four "X"s in a row on the calendar as of today. Four bad weather days for fly fishing, but there's always tomorrow! First family visitor arrives today, after almost 7 months down here ... just need a little sun to show sometime soon.

Neat video!

Nothing quite like a speckled trout so big you don't know what it is tugging on your 8wt! And don't forget the slot changed this year! It is now 17-23, and this one came in at 25-inches and fat! Released and now safe for a long time ... we hope.

Shannon, that was a six weight.

Not the 2 weight!
Had a request for snook?
Here you go!

Cool, Shannon! Snook on a fly rod? At night? I'm jealous.

Been reading your FLYCASTER posts. Do you know if the Space-X launch will be televised other than locally in the RGV? I'd get up early to watch that. It wouldn't surprise me if they had a delay or postponement. I assume you'll be watching and, hopefully, recording.

Wanted to get down there in April, but things are conflicting, as usual. Please keep up the LLM/SPI posts and info. I'm interested in your Arroyo treatise. I always do at least one stop in AC. Wish there were cheap "fisherman's cabins" there, not just AIR/BnB, and VRBO places at tourist rates.

Catch em up! IslandJim

Headed down a day early this morning(Sunday), so that I can be there to watch the launch on Monday. Hopefully I can find a good parking place to see the launch. Bringing my 6 and 8 weight rods for the week that I will be down there.

Well .... I am thinking I need to stake out my spot -- for the launch -- tonight then! I am guessing it will be crowded based on your journey to see a POSSIBLE launch in the morning. I am amazed at how little emphasis the Valley News organizations put on this! No countdowns nothing! They are very thinly staffed though. One camera in studio and even the talking head has to run the slide changes (holding a remote in their hand the entire time). Amazingly bare bones (don't get me started on NEWS!).

Got down this evening and the island is packed. Finding a viewing site may be tough.

Was crowded ... for naught. Another Elon fakeout!

You got a nice shot of my Viking!

I though that was you up in the Captain's Chair! We'll try a launch again tomorrow! Clouds are moving in though.

I think Elon was actually using the rocket to write, "Legalize it," in the sky. An expensive statement.

Dragging a bit this morning, but a walk on the sand seems to make everything alright alright alright.


Jaime and monster mangrove snapper last night.


Good snook.

That is a dandy snapper. Finally caught a skipjack on a fly last night.

The big skipjacks are a hoot to catch, but they shred your tippets, squirt fish feces all over the boat (and you, if you get careless), and you lose several casts worth of time straightening out your fly if you use craft fur. They will save the day if you can’t find feeding reds or specks, but you will curse them vehemently if they show up while you’re on some feeding reds or specks. Skipjacks truly define the concept of “love / hate relationship.” Some days you will cast at them intentionally. Other days you will leave because they showed up.

No fish harmed in this video! Dang it!

People are going to freak out at the stories Larry Haines told me the other day. Amazing. And his knowledge is priceless. I am wrapping it up here with a quick run to Mansfield tomorrow, but finished the last chapter of Arroyo Colorado today with a little help from my 24" friendo -


Heading back North Friday - rain or shine or ice or whatever comes ...

Finished the South Fish Camp residency late last week on a Mansfield flat note -

Working fast, probably too fast to get some of these videos off the deck.

If I knew what I was doing it would be downright dangerous ... finally have this video ready for primetime - after a 36-hour file conversion. This is Interview 2 of Larry Haines. If you actually go to YouTube, you can click on the timeline in the description to skip around - if that is your thing. Needless to say, this is another labour of love that included a lot of labour. But, I hope you take the time to watch it - even if the interviewer is pretty darn goofy.

Was that guy in front of you flapping his wings?

Indeed, you were.

Reminds me of Jack Nicholson flapping his "wings" on the back of Peter Fonda's chopper, while the Holy Modal Rounders were singing "If You Want To Be A Bird" in Easy Rider! But, I'm really old! IslandJim

I wasn't sure you saw that. I got a little exuberant; that was my first return to PM in several years.

I wasn't sure you saw that. I got a little exuberant; that was my first return to PM in several years.

It's my job to see ... AND speaking of see? Here is a new video dropping now -

I would say, this guy is the "anti" Jack Nicholson, but maybe he was channeling that morning?

Glad to be the eyes on the prize!
https://www.instagram.com/explore/search/keyword/?q=texas%20tarpon

It was one of those days where I had to prospect to find a pattern on the Arroyo Colorado, TEXAS, but I could never find one. But we do get a long look at the lower third of the Arroyo, plus some finger-wagging lecturing along the way ... I guess I was just in one of those "moods" as time was getting so short!

For your holiday watching - this is an informational video on the Adolph Thomae Park near the mouth of the Arroyo Colorado.

Thanks for the Adolph Tomae Park tutorial. Arroyo City is a well-kept secret. You didn't go into details about the camping facilities, which are not deluxe, but better than a lot of places, and affordable. The boat ramps are super-crowded on Sat & Suns, due to the cheap annual Cameron County Park rates. But, you can always get to a boat launch. I spent a night in my truck camper at one ramp, but didn't get much sleep, as fishermen were coming and going at all hours, despite the posted gate hours. The proximity to the LLM, and the great fishing is almost unbeatable. Plus, Chilly Willy's! I just wish there were affordable "fisherman's cabins" in Arroyo City. Still researching that, and will advise any progress. Thanks again, IslandJim

Here was the last video, before coming back to the Fish Camp North (aka. he double hockey sticks heat). Maybe next week will be a bit better than April!! Nothing quite like having to leave right when the fish are turning on, is there?

We got lucky today, and the wind didn't kick in until early afternoon. Hard to believe it's cooler here than it is in DFW! Speckled trout are still eating - here's the story: https://texasflycaster.com/monday-evening-update/


26.5 inch speckled trout


My speck - a little more than half the size of Jim's!

Another fine week on the LLM. Hoping that ratred grows into a great redfish someday!

Still trying to finish editing all the content from the Borderlands. Almost time to go back down! When school's on for the kids!

Rain down south from tropical storm Harold moving in north of the LLM. I would look at the Arroyo Colorado if you get an influx of freshwater there!

WOW! The retail startup I ran on South Padre Island, Texas, Los Pescadores Coffee & Outfitters, looks to be hitting its stride NOW! Yeah, and just in time for the Spring Break 2024 ZOO!
Check out the photographs on their Google Search listing! LOOKING GREAT! If you crack their doors, tell em I sent you!
Next project please!


LOS PESCADORES SOUTH PADRE ISLAND

Check out p.8 latest Lone Star Outdoor News! LPCO is off and running. For those of you who are in the know, the best months are coming up! Those famous winds die down and the temperatures go UP!

Winds are low on the Laguna Madre right now, and the fish are here. I'll probably get in trouble again for telling you, but there it is! Much of the action still concentrates at Port Mansfield, but the sand (now slowly being covered in grass!) is lively too. Haven't had a chance to make it back to Gulfside fly fishing yet, but the wind abides!

In case you ever wondered what I was doing down on South Padre Island, for SIX MONTHS! (2022-2023) - here is the Los Pescadores Coffee & Outfitters business I did the startup for down there on my childhood homewaters - - -







I was very pleased to see the sense of "community" I so badly wanted to take root, HAS taken root and is flourishing right now! It is an exciting time for the Lower Laguna Madre, and the fly fishing this past week was great - with A LOT OF HELP from my friend Jim Ford. Fish photos coming soon!

Here is how it looked a few weeks ago! Check it out. The newest fishing and fly shop in Texas.

Wife and I were staying at a resort right next to it this weekend. We had breakfast in there Saturday and Sunday. Nice place and the avocado toast was excellent

Things are changing AGAIN at Los Pescadores Coffee & Outfitters. Message me if you think you may want to apply for a job there! But wait! There's more!

Salary? Benefits? Relocation package?

Remember what our friend Larry Haines said, "... leave off the flash in the fly when you tie it, and skipjacks tend to leave it alone more often." Have yet to get back and try that, but I believe it - coming from Larry Haines

Will check it out

I hope people still read? Texas Monthly?

Neat thread!

Yeah, pretty cool. Was fun to do that startup, but it really cut back on my fly fishing while I was there!