Merry Christmas

I hope veryone had a very merry Christmas. Mine was a blast. Had a good time with the family. I got lots of gifts (who knew I was so good?), one of my favorite of which was some new Simms G4 waders and boots.

So yeah...I needed to test them out.

I left dallas at 5:30am on Sunday and made my way out to Mineral Wells and then on to the hwy16 bridge on the Brazos below PK.

The air was 26 degrees when I slipped into the river...

Yeah...see that dam in the distance? I walked to that. This is what seperates the men from the candyasses. As well as those with common sense.

I met some other fly fishers at the base of the dam and they were really nice folks and I enjoyed chatting with them.

First fish...*looks up* Osprys!

Second fish..hmm...there is a theme here...

Boosh...thats more like it!

Stood here for 3 hours and caught 19 fish, mostly sandbass.

First time to the PK tailrace, first striped bass on the fly, new waders.....

OMGEHWH HH#*(H*HH)G#$H$*()^&$^(YUIWGHS:B:!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1!!!!!!

Elm Fork @ Ray Roberts Dec. 19th

Sterling and I left about 6 in the morning.

I caught about 20 small sandbass.

Crappy pic from my blackberry.

Will probably go back on friday morning

Bowfin, My Bowfin

Went out to Lake Fork at the direction of a friend from the TFF. Had a good time. Fished under a bridge and caught a male bowfin! The Hispanic family next to me, fishing with minnows, caught 5 or 6 and proceeded to kill the first 3 until I intervened and instructed them that it was unnecessary and that they wouldn't eat all the crappie (they were doing that themselves). On their stringer they had a number of really nice crappie, both black and white, a number of undersized ones, and around a dozen bass, the largest being around 6 lbs.

The male I caught, Illustrating the males tail spot and green fins.

A large female murdered by the meat fishers...

Wouldn't want to get a giner in there!

Swans, Trout and Bowfin

This last Sunday Emalie and I met up with my uncle Frank for some "trout fishing" at the TFFC. Frank was eager to learn how to cast and catch fish on the fly, so what better place to practice?

Franks first Trout

Emalie battles...

An entirely synthetic fish

Drum fly strikes again

2 1/2 feet of bowfin goodness

We took a tour of the museum and exhibits available and I snapped this picture of an awesome mature bowfin. How anyone could not love these thigns is beyond me. It came straight up to the glass and looked me in the eye before retreating to the back of the tank.

On friday we went to see the opening of Darron Aranofsky's "Black Swan"

One of my favorite directors, I had been looking forward to the film for some time. It did not dissapoint.

Feeling Squirrely

On Sunday I took Emalie Squirrel hunting on some public land near Lake Ray Roberts, and after a couple fruitless hours of scanning trees and walking through thorn bushes we came up empty handed.

To make up for it we visited the tailrace below the dam on CR455.

I hooked this nice white crappie right off the bat with a Squirrel hair spinner fly.

we each caught a few small white bass, Emalie caught the largest...

The drum fly strikes again!

The temps are dropping in North Texas and Pickerel fishing is starting to cross my mind.

Leaving for Las Vegas tomorrow.

Crappie Thanksgiving

I hope everyone is still stuffed to the gill with the gelatinized goodness which is canned cranberries....

My friend Austin was kind enough to invite me to fish with him while his family stayed at Rough Creek Lodge, so on Friday morning I hoofed it down to Glen Rose...

Rough creek is an 11,000 acre ranch/resort/fishing/hunting destination at the northern tail of the hill country right outside of Glen Rose. The beautiful lake on the property is actually a damed portion of the Bosque River.

The food in the lodge is wonderful and the accomodations look exceptional.

Austin's new PB black crappie

My new personal best 2lb+

This place is billed as a bass fishing paradise, but I had so much fun with the willing and fiesty crappie that I would go back just to catch them anytime.

I think we each caught over 40 black Crappie. The fish were biting on the blue bead head Theo's bomber and a couple black streamers that Austin tied.

Happy Thanksgiving

This Saturday my Dad and I went out and harvested a deer from our lease. I took the backstraps and prepared an excellent stew. The hocks and hams were taken to Kubys to be turned into Summer sausage.

My Ruger International .243 w/ Zeiss Conquest scope

Ahh yes, Quartering a deer in 70 degree weather.....

I took the rack to Flagg group, the same people that prepared my bobcat, so I could get it put on a plaque, my office needs a hat rack...

Last night I visited with Austin and caught a few bass in Coppell

I am heading to Tyler for Thanksgiving, and on Friday I will be Crappie fishing with Austin at Rough Creek Lodge. Many more fish pictures comming soon!

Check out http://www.tenandtwomagazine.com/ and let me know what you think about it.

Contact

The guys @ Tailwaters said someone was trying to get ahold of me.

My Office # is 214-965-7668

Howdy

The guys @ Tailwaters put on a kick ass showing of the Drakes Fly Fishing Film Tour Wed night. I and 300 other anglers were in attendance. Prior to the showing we hung out at Tailwaters and enjoyed some brews and conversation. Best fly shop in Texas.

Yesterday a team I assembled shot in the annual Boy Scout Clay Pigeon tournament to raise money for the Circle Ten Council. Seeing that I am an Eagle Scout and my father is on the Executive board, it was my honor to get to participate.

The Shooters:

Tom, Steve, myself and Ross

Tom is the president of the THF, of which I am a board member, and Steve is the Owner of Private Water Fishing http://www.privatewaterfishing.com/ , Talk to him if you want to know where to go to catch giant bass and bluegill on expertly managed private lakes in Texas. My friend Ross shot on the team last year and has even caught crocodiles with me in Costa Rica.

My team did a great job and I want to thank them for their participation!

P.s. (I won a guided fishing trip and a guided deer hunt on a private scout property! Boosh!)

Last weekend My father, brother and I went out to our lease in Rockwood off of 283. Saw a ton of deer and some feral hogs. I didn't see "the deer" so I am waiting to shoot one a couple weeks from now. I did manage to take a 150lb pig, rather small for the property, but one less of those destructive S.O.B.s to roam Texas.

Some shots around the property:

6 Point Buck

Behind the dam

Front pasture

Hope to get some fishing in soon.

I have a couple trips lined up, only a matter of time.

Now you're gone, won't fall, fall in the fire

oh no, I am lacking, I want what I see

you fireball has rolled away, in shaded valleys

so here I am the creek bed, so here I feel my way in the dark

what wonder, what treasure map, what breaking of day

what stream used to flow here, and now what dusty decay

let the flash flood begin, wash me down there canyon

quicksand pull me in, blow over me solar wind

you're vultures in trees, I know you're out there

you're lanterns on lakes, I know you're out there

you're soccer balls on knees, through your skirt I see

youre legs gracefully, I know you're out there

you're swaying and pleased, I know you're out there

Coppell Oct. 30th

Fished various neighborhood ponds in Coppell with Austin.

It seems that small and black is the go to over the last few days.