Greetings from the Upper/Middle Brazos River in North Central Texas.

Few things are better than Family, kayak fishing and river camping. IME, I have found this to be especially true when all three come together.

Recently, I had the opportunity for some time off that coincided with what looked like back to back days of decent weather. Heck, even the winds were forcasted to stay under 30 mph. Woohoo!!!

So, like I usually do, I schedule a River Trip on my days off from River Guiding. lol

I gave my Dad a call and offered to outfit a Brazos overnighter for him and my 9 year old son (aka RiverViking).

Family spending time with each other on the river is a Davies Family Tradition that goes back many Generations. I remember my days as a young boy, running rivers and camping with my Family in the Northwest. Those are some of the best memories I have, growing up.

Helping other Familys start outdoor traditions and introducing them to the wonderful world of Kayak Fishing are a few of the many great aspects I enjoy about my job as a River Guide.

Special thanks to my Dad and Son for being such great company on the River. As always, you guys are a blast to run the Brazos with!

I won't bore ya'll with a bunch of monologue on this report. lol

The pictures pretty much speak for themselves...

The Brazos Basin reveals it's rugged beauty to us, as we arrive.




After we unload and ready our kayaks and associated gear, now, we finally get a chance to get out in the kayaks and stretch our legs and arms before we head down river to do a little fishing. After a few hours of fishing, our plan was to make a riverside camp, just before dark.

Here is Dad in the Scrambler XT




RiverViking in the Heritage




RiverViking is the only kid I know that carries a boogie board
on his kayak. He's in it for the whole thing, Baby!!!



Headed to the fishing grounds.



We stop for a quick snack and RiverViking decides to do some swimming and boggie boarding in a short set of rapids. Here is Dad and RiverViking cutting up on camera.



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WE WANT MORE

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Once I get us down to a choice run, we finally get down to business and we start CPRing numerous species of fish that included Smallmouth, Largemouth, Spotted, Striped and White Bass.

Here are shots from some of the action we had that afternoon.

RiverViking gets us started off with a nice CPRd LMB from the kayak. Nice fish, Son!



With fish all around us Dad ditches the yak for a cool refreshing wadefishing session and is immediately greeted by the numerous juvenile Spotted Bass that infest this area of the run. We CPRd dozens of Spotties this size and a little bigger throughout our trip.




Looks like Dad got rid of his "Spotted Fever" and now wants in on the LMB bite.



RiverViking will not be denied his due portion of the LMB bite.



Dad answers with a quality Brazos LMB.



I make the call to put out some bait rods and see if we can lure some eating size stripers into our spread. We love fresh fish for the following mornings campsite breakfast.

It does not take long before the stripers show up and RiverViking quickly has his hands full with a fiesty Brazos Striped Bass.




We wound up CPRing several that were this size and a little larger, before the afternoon was done.




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Even Dad stops his LMB rampage long enough to get in on the striper action.



Then, appearing somewhat unamused with the striper bite, my Dad goes right back to hammering the LMBs and winds up nabbing and CPRing a Personal Best LMB on 6 lb gear.

Nice fish, Pops!



Now, Dad proceeds to rub our nose in it by catching the only Smallmouth of the trip and therefore completing the only "Brazos Slam" of the trip.



I really appreciate Dad pocketing his beer just long enough to show us what a true "Grizzled River Vetran" can do, when provoked. lol

With the fishing portion of our day coming to a close, we load up and retreat to our Riverside Haven to make camp and later dine on fresh eggplant parmeasan that my wife had lovingly prepared for us before the trip. It was the perfect meal for a bunch of hungry River Runners!

Soon after dinner, we retreated to our tent for the evening. The days activities and a full stomach was quickly taking a toll on us as we prepare for a restfull night of sleep in our dome tent as we are lulled to sleep by the hypnotic sound of a nearby riffle.



Home, Sweet Home!!!



Before the night was over, the temperatures would dip into the high 30's, with the wind building to unforcasted 40 mph gusts out of the North as an expected front settled into the Basin. I was glad to have brought three 20 degree sleeping bags. We stayed comfortable all night.

Come morning, we sleep in a little. However, I open the tent
I am immediately greeted by a brilliant Brazos Basin Spring morning. Location, location, location. Right? lol



With the temps still in the high 40's, we decide to stick around camp for the rest of the day and do a little exploring.

We did not break camp until late that afternoon. My trusty Coleman 4 person dome withstood sustained 20-40 mph winds all day without sustaining so much as a stitch out of place.
My upgraded tent stake system held on the gravel bar until we broke camp.



After gorging ourselves on fresh, seasoned, fire grilled striper fillets for breakfast, RiverViking decides to hit the river to do a little fishing, before we go exploring.





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However, today we had planned to do more exploring than fishing. Soon, RiverViking and I find ourselves in a hidden riverside arroyo filled with lots of interesting things.

Like...

Cool rock formations





Plenty of places for the critters to live too...




Looks like they have been eating pretty good as well.




As our trip draws to a close, we load up and head to the takeout to pack our junk in the Yota and begin heading home.

However, before we can get out of the Brazos Basin, we are treated to one final sunset in what one of my Clients recently referred to as "God's Country".



For those of you who have expressed interest in overnight packages outfitted by River Run Guide Service on the Middle/Upper Brazos... I have heard your voices.

If enough folks have interest in it, I will make more dates available.

Tight lines, everyone.

Well Well Well, what I would do to be RiverViking!

Nice report once again! You are your dads clone! You guys look just alike it's incredible.

I was thinking the same thing about the clone. great reportYota

Your stories never cease to amaze.

Thanks, guys.

Glad ya'll enjoyed it.

Yeah, my Dad would definately have trouble denying me as his son. Althought I'm sure there were times in my teenage years when he wanted to. lol

nice

does River Viking ever get cold?
kids can swim in anything

Great report!

Time doesn't get any more "quality" than that!

Thanks for posting. It's good for people to see how great that river can be for family outings.

Awesome report. What a great gift to pass along and give back.

Awesome trip, thanks for sharing

thanks for the post yota!

Dang Yota, so this is where you have been posting!!! I thought you just fell off the face of the earth when I stopped seeing reports on TKF.
Nice outing with the family...