Trophy Rios on the Fly

I took the kayak and fly rods and headed to Central Texas again this weekend to chase some Rios. I started the morning as normal throwing a popper dropper rig. I fished my way down one bank of river catching lots of redbreast, mostly small to medium sized. I picked up a couple bass along the way too.

Finally I reached a stretch of river that I've caught Rios before. I fished the stretch with a black llano bug popper and an olive briminator dropper. I caught only one Rio as I worked my way through the stretch but it was a nice 9.75 inch one. But I also noticed on a couple of occasions the Rios came up to the fly and then turned away. So I cut off the popper dropper and tied on my crawfish briminator pattern and headed back over the same stretch. What ensued was one of the greatest 30 minutes of fishing I've ever had. The Rios didn't hesitate, they attacked the fly. By the time I reached the end of that stretch I had caught 12 more Rios. 10 of them between 9.75 inches and 10.75 inches. The 4 heaviest ones weighed 0.98, 0.98, 1.00 and 1.02 lbs. It was a bull (rio) fight in every case. Even overpowering my 4 weight on a couple of occasions and dragging me into the brush.

I ended the day with 14 Rios, 4 lmb, 36 redbreast and a couple hybrid sunfish.

Day of Days ! So happy for you J-Moe.

Thanks for this awesome post !

Golly J-Moe, those Rios look like you've been down in our part of the country. Almost makes me want to drag out my Kayak and maybe practice a bit getting in and out without falling. Oh well, to be in my young 50s and 60s again. Sure do miss it. Congratulations on your records. You sure did good.

Killer Rios Jamie...A slight change of tactics really paid off !

Nice fish Jamie. As always, Awesome Job on the Fly!



Side Note: "Have Fly Rod Will Travel" !

Thanks Doctorxring, Vogey, Rick, Chuck. I appreciate the comments.

Rick, sounds like you've given up the kayak for a bucket When you can't get up and down from your bucket then you'll have a problem

Dam fine day o fishin!

Great report and beautiful fish on the fly.

Awesome trophy Rio's J-Moe especially on the fly! Congrats

Great post J-Moe...you had one heck of a rio day!

Well done, those are some riolly nice big ones!

Good fish brother, keep posting those nice pics!!

Nice post and fish. Awesome job J-Moe.


Side Note: Glad you got onto some Rios. I have not seen or caught that many this year.

Thanks everyone for the congrats and comments.

Good post, good fish, good job. Love those Rios. Thanks for sharing J-Moe.