New volunteer opportunities for me and Patty

Last Tuesday myself and Patty were elected to offices in the Red River Fly Fishing club.

I am the new President and Patty is the new Secretary.
The Board as a whole is looking forward to a fun filled 2011.

Arkansas last week

Last week several of us fly fishing club Presidents were invited to the FFF SoC Leadership retreat in Norfolk, Arkansas. We decided to go early and book a guide for a float trip down the Norfolk (North Fork of the White) River. Ken Richards owner of Just Fishin Guides was our guide. We put in at the boatramp below the dam at Norfork Lake and floated/waded to the convergence of the White River.

Texoma 12/10/10

I went out on Texoma yesterday with a guide buddy, Scott Bridgess, for a little striper action on the fly.
We motored around for a while and then I spotted a whole flock of sea gulls in an area. We headed that way and also discovered 30 to 40 loons going crazy in the same area.

Then we saw this.

And then it was hammer time.

In spite of the cold temps, damp air, and wind it was a great day on the water.

All my fish were caught on my new TFO 7wt Clouser rod.

Going to The Maker for needed changes...

Friday I took my wood yak to my brother for some needed changes and touch-ups.
I have fished it really hard this year and therefore it has some blemishes and rough spots that need attention from The Maker.

When I started thinking about it I realized we all need to go to Our Maker every now and then for a little adjustment, removal of some rough spots, and a few blemishes.

We float through life for long periods of time and along the way we pick up those

things that we need to take Him and let Him smooth them over for us.

So, if you haven't  taken some time lately to look at those rough spots in your life 

there's no time like today to lift them up to "Our Maker". He will be faithful to make them right.

Then go fishing!!!

Latest STUFF

I know I haven't posted vacation stuff yet but things have been crazy since we got back. We are in the middle of setting up the Reel Recovery retreat this coming Sunday - Tuesday at Joshua Creek Ranch in Boerne, setting up the Reel Recovery fundraiser at Chimy's in Ft. Worth, attempting to setup folks to fill officer positions in ye old fly fishing club, and preperation for a FFF Southern Council meeting in December. So, (breathe) having said all that you see that I've been kinda busy.

I have fished some lately. The last two Friday's I fished with the DFF at Bethany Lakes and Palos Verdes Lake. We had really good success at Bethany and caught a few at Palos Verdes.

Thursday I went with several guys from DFF to the TPWD Freshwater Fishery in Athens to fish with folks from the Plano Senior Center who had completed the Basic Fly Fishing Class. We had a blast there catching catfish and bass on the fly.

Saturday I went with Russell Husted and Les Jackson to the Nolan River near Blum and did some off-season wade fishing. It started out slow and then we discovered a bunch of big ole bluegills schooling up in a section of the river. We got on them and almost every cast yeielded a fish. It was great fun.

We left there and headed home but of course three fat boys couldn't resist stopping to eat. So, we stopped in Cleburne at the Burger Bar for lunch.

Yes it’s small, the building is about twelve foot square. Yes it’s old, they’ve been making burgers here for 50 or 60 years. According to the owner of The Burger Bar, the building was originally the office area for a wagon yard. That’s wagon as in horse and wagon. The barn burned down leaving only this tiny building which became a taxi stand then a used car lot and then finally The Burger Bar.


The grill they cook on is 100 years old and the owner credits it for the great taste of the burgers. The fries are good. Not like those fries you get at fast food restaurants that taste like they never met a potato in their life. They have sodas available in long neck bottles. I don’t know where they get them, but they looked old enough to be collectible.

The owner and her husband purchased the business three years ago to keep a long standing tradition going in Cleburne Texas. They frequently get customers in who have driven great distances just to eat in this place.

Lots of good stuff coming!!!

Just got home last night after 9 days on the road.
As soon as we sort through the 200+ pictures I'll post our trip.

STANDBY!!! : )

Dallas Fly Fishers Meeting

I had the privilege of speaking on "Urban Fly Fishing" at the DFF meeting last night.
It was a packed house and there was lots of good inter-action and questions.
I also broke down and became a member.

Latest on the Hairy Babies

We took Merlin and Tootsie for their one year checkup yesterday. They are both in perfect health. Merlin weighed in at 5 1/2 pounds and Toots at 11.8 pounds.

Tishomingo

I spent the day Friday with my good friend Earl Brewer fishing a private lake just outside of Tishomingo, Oklahoma. We yak fished with me using fly gear and Earl using conventional gear. I caught a bunch of beautiful largemouth bass and huge long ear sunfish. Earl caught a bunch of LMB and about 8 or 9 very nice crappie.

After fishing we headed to downtown Tish and ate bar-b-que ribs and bologna at the Rockin Rib BBQ. Mmmm mmmm good!!!

Oh yea, I got so excited that I jumped out of my truck into his and forgot the camera!!!

A few recent catches

Bethany Lakes - Allen

Twin Lakes - Dallas

Breckenridge Park

Stoney Hollow Park

Falcon Creek Park

Bethany Lakes and Bethany Ridge Parks

Lake Bonham with Jacob

Jacob and his first fish of the day.

My crappie.

My long nosed gar.

His drum and my crappie.

His big bass.



Ice cream face!!! LOL

Lake Bonham Saturday

In spite of the 15-20 mph wind I decided to hitch up the boat and go to Lake Bonham. When I go there the wind was fairly calm but that did not last. I launched and headed for one of my super secret spots and began fishing. I worked the shoreline tossing a slow sinking #6 spider (a Pearow creation). I hooked up with several nice bluegills and then I cast up next to a dock and BAM the fight was on. I fought the fish for a good amount of time with it running and sounding and finally got it up next to the boat. It was a nice sized channel cat that was plumb full of eggs. I released her and decided to look for a protected cove since the wind had picked back up. I went to the cove and motored back to the back of it and started fishing my way out. I caught several more big gills and channels and even foul-hooked a big ole channel in the tail which gave me a good fight until the hook came out. I then cast up next to some weeds which were under a tree and hooked up with a sweet 2 pound LMB. I was off the water before 9AM and headed home.