Well I just got back from my second stay on the Devil's River. I'm very grateful to have family friends who allow me to stay with them and experience some of Texas' finest fishing.

For those of you who have never experienced the river before, here is a little insight:

The Devil's River is a jewel that is tucked away in the rugged wilderness just north of Lake Amistad. The water is crystal clear and will make the cleanest swimming pool look dirty. You can fish all day without seeing another person because practically all of the land surrounding the river is privately owned and the land owners are not kind regarding strangers on their property. While this makes access to the river extremely difficult, it also keeps the river immaculate.

Do not attempt to kayak the entire 40 miles unless you plan to stay on the entire way. You might get lucky and find a land owner who will take you out of there, but that is not likely. I ran into a group of kayakers while fishing. The had been on the river for days and could not make it the final 15 miles to Lake Amistad. Luckily, they found someone to take them to their truck in Del Rio, but I believe it cost them a few hundred dollars. Flash flooding is also a huge problem on the river and navigating the river should not be attempted by a novice.

If you do get the privilege of experiencing the Devil's River one day, it will be an experience you will not forget. Please remember to leave the river as you found it, so that future generations can experience this Texas treasure as well.

Alright, enough of my blabbing. Here are my pictures.



I arrive and rush out to the bluff to see the river right away



As always, my lucky fishing partner is near by



Rylee spots a fish, which isn't hard to do, while gearing up the boat



My first fish of the trip......



.....and many follow. My Bass species identification is rusty, especially with the smaller fish. Feel free to help me ID any fish that isn't a Largemouth.











How come you only catch small fish?

They finally start to get a little bigger.



.....and bigger



"Much better"



This guy had something wrong with him.



Close up of the eye





The best part



Lets head back for now



Can you think of a better way to begin your day?

This was my favorite day of the trip by far. I was dropped off a few miles up river and Kayaked down. My #1 goal of the 4 day trip was to catch a 3lb+ Smallie. I'm certain that I will be able to accomplish this with my trip down the river.

Here is where I begin my adventure



Down the first set of rapids



I wish I could show you all of my pictures from my 'yaking, but here are a few of my favorites.












I got a late start and didn't have time to fish every spot I wanted, so I had to be picky. I decide to beach my Kayak after some more rapids. The water is very deep here and I have high hopes of catching my trophy smallmouth.



Instead I catch this guy, who I swiftly CPR and tell him to, "go tell his Daddy I want to meet him."



Well his Daddy never showed up, so I set off further down the river.

Some parts are not deep enough to Kayak.

I'm running out of daylight now and decide to head back to where I was catching most of my fish all week. I have about 30 minutes of light left, so I head straight for my honey hole. A windblown cove about 400 yards from the house I stayed in.



I get a good feeling about this spot. There is a log 30 yards out, and I'm careful not to snag it. I feel a bump and set the hook. HUNG UP ON THE LOG! I think to myself, "Great way to finish the day idiot."

As I start to curse myself, the log starts to move and my Kayak is going straight for the bank. I'm not hung up, I have a big fish. My heart is pounding and I begin to fumble with the paddle and my rod.

After what seemed like hours, I landed the fish. It wasn't a smallmouth, but I'll end any day with a fish like this.













He was slightly over 20". I said goodbye to my latest adversary



and said goodbye to the river



This was one trip I will never forget.





Thanks for reading, I definitely enjoyed sharing. My pictures really can't do justice for this magical place. Now it's time to plan my 3rd trip.

Next time I'll catch that elusive trophy Smallmouth Bass.

OK, That's it! I better be involved in that 3rd trip, dude......

I had no idea there was water like that in tx!

Wow, do i miss that place.....

The next trip might be a 40 mile Kayak trip from top to bottom.

I have to start working out!

Beautiful country , fabulous pics Your a pretty good story teller as well! Thanks for sharing your adventure!

Been twice in canoes from Bakers Crossing to Blue Sage subdivision (25 miles+-). Prettest place on earth. Have caught dozens and dozens of Smallies and LMB. All the bigger smallmouths were in those grooves or flutes running longways with the river (shown in your pictures) with tube jigs or curley tail grubs. Any color as long as it's chartruse. Those "flutes" in slightly deeper moving water were loaded as were most faster water areas. Some really big LMB in the slower lilly pad infested back water/slow areas. Buzzbaits and various soft plastics in these areas Small world but several years ago I caught a nice LMB that had the same bad eye as the one in your picture! Seemed to get healthy with just one. Largest LMB was 6lbs but I know of some 8lbers from that river. Biggest smallie: my buddy caught one 5lber. There are bigger ones their. Trip of a lifetime!

I forgot to mention that I managed to leave 1/2 of my tackle at home.


I was in a hurry and forgot that I had removed most of my bass tackle from the tackle box. I was pissed when I got down there, but I made due.

Wonderful pictures...

Absolutely beautiful! Thanks for sharing.

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

great pictures, thanks for sharing you trip with us

I did this trip from Bakers. I love it! thanks for bringing back memories...I was on the lower portion today in my bass boat...