Camping at Purtis Creek Sate Park

Well, I took the kids (Barrett & Maddie) camping this past weekend by myself. At first, I thought it was going to be an adventure, the wheel on the wagon fell off 20 yards into a half mile hike. So we had to leave the cooler behind. Along the way other things would fall because the cooler was my anchor. I had 3 piles along the trail I had to go back and pick up. Barrett and Maddie were troopers and helped out. Camp finally got setup up and we roasted hot dogs over the fire. We were all tired and went to bed. We woke up as the sun rose to the sounds of Canadian Geese. A couple lfew right by the campsite, that was neat. We cooked some sausage and made toast for breakfast. It was then time for a little fishing. After about 20 minutes Maddie hooked up with a 2lb Bass. We decided to go to the pier and try our luck, nothing. Then we went to the playground so Barrett could get some play time in. Now it was time to go to the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens. We had a good time seeing all the fish there. While there you can fish for free in a pond that has Catfish, Bluegill and Rainbow Trout. I saw a few nice Bass cruising around too. Barrett landed a few Trout, while Maddie struggled at first. Maddie then started landing some Catfish. We headed back to camp for a Critter show for the Kids. They played Bingo with animals and fish on the boards and talked about the different kinds of animals in the park. The park ranger had hides from beavers, raccoons and oppossums for the kids to touch and feel. Maddie and Barrett also got to make Plaster of Paris molds from animal tracks. maddie chose a Bobcat while Barrett picked out a raccoon. Barrett had started to destroy his before it started drying. One more night of camping and then we started packing up the next morning. We were tired, but relly enjoyed the weekend.

Drive By

I drove by the creek that runs into Whiterock to see if any fish were in there after the cold rain we had last week. I must have rained enough that the fish did not stay in the creek, the water was off color and really cold. I didn't even try to fish, it was the first 70 degree day since the cold snap.

North Dallas Pond #2

I had to run to the drug store and on the way I decided to look for a few fish. Not likely with the cold front that came through last night. It is cold and rainy, light to moderate rain and it was 36 this morning and now about 40 at 4:05 PM. I found a Bass still on a bed. So it is true, that if fish are bedding before the front they are likely to stay there during the cold spell, HUH! Last Saturday I had a 5 fish best stringer on my scale a 4lb's 7oz. Four days later it sits at 13 lb's 11oz. What a difference a few days can make.

Barrett's Battle With Some Pond Bass

It was 5:50 PM and I was waiting for Barrett to get home so we could go fishing before it got to dark. I new we would have about an hour if he would just get here. We left 15 minutes later. We made it to the pond in North Dallas as some light rain was moving in. I didn't mind the rain, but Barrett, he thought the thunder would come get him. I assured him we are fine and to go feed the ducks, while I try to catch one for him to reel in. He fed the ducks and I had one that went 2lb 7 oz. on a Watermellon Beaver Tail, which I dipped in Hot Pink Spike It so I could see it. I called him over to reel it in and I had to help him, this fish was fighting. He was happy! There was a family that came running over to see what we had caught, I guess they weren't catching any. They told me some guy had caught a big one and took it home. That sucks, because these little ponds can get fished out pretty easy. We walked a little ways down and caught another. It started pouring down rain and Barrett was freaking out so we drove by the other pond. I realized he did not have the screwdrivers in his hand anymore that he was playing with. I went back to find them and found a bass I wanted to go after and about 3 minutes later I hooked up with a 4 lb'r. That was it, a front is coming in tonight and it will be cold for the next few days.

Whiterock Lake 3-9-09

I hit Whiterock today in hopes of landing a few fish. I started out at the Garland Rd. bike bridge and not a thing. The wind was 25+ again and the water was off color. There was some one fishing on the Lawther side of the cove. I packed up and went to the Big Weedbed and the wind was howling there too. I made it half way down before I called it quits. As I passed by Winfrey Point I thought about stopping , but I moved on. I went and checked the creek on the West side of the lake and the Bass were all over on beds. I don't usually mess with bedding fish but I went after the biggest one I could find and it went 3lbs 6oz. This small creek had plenty of fish spawning out, this is good to see. I went by the small creek towards Buckner and saw a 1 lb'r swim off. I decided to go by Dixon Branch and walked 50 yards or so and couldn't see because of the wind. I went to the last creek there and it had a few beds with fish on them. I wanted to stay and fish, for it was one of the few times I could get away during the day with no kids or honey do's, but I had to check on a fax I was waiting for. My buddy Judd called me and said he caught about seven off the north side of Winfrey Point, I had driven past it a few hours earlier. Oh well I will get another chance later.

South San Gabriel River Fishing

On way down to Leander, TX. my buddy called and told me he was catching them at Whiterock on tube jigs. It's about time! I fished the South San Gabriel River Saturday morning at about 11:00 AM. It was about 74 degrees when I started and 25+mph winds, it was rough! I had the wife drop me off at the New Ronald Reagan bridge and headed west. I started out with a 1/8 jig head and a 3.5" Gene Larew Floating Salt Craw in a Green Pumpkin w/ bright yellow claws. Before I hit the water, my goal was to get 5 fish totaling 8lbs. I know it doesn't sound like much, but the river has not seen any kind of flow in over 6 months, the deeper holes are drying up and are filling in with silt. I new 8lbs would be tough under these conditions, but you have to shoot for something. 10 minutes into the day, I felt a tick, looked down and saw a swirl and a mouth open, i set the hook, but was to late! I knew that would hurt on the total weight because that one would have gone 3 or 4 lbs. I have never caught a good size fish out of the first hole and still haven't. I only got one other bite and that hole was done. Next hole I missed a real small fish and that was it. Nothing on the next deep hole, it was real muddy from the carp and/ or wind. Nothing on the next hole, way to shallow. The following hole looked nice, a little shallow but has some grass (hydrilla) growing. make a hard left and the water in 4ft deep and some nice boulders. I fish it hard and nothing, I turn around to head up river and there is a nice bass swimming near me. I toss the craw out , it swims over and picks it up, I set the hook and nada. I can't believe it, I flip it out in the direction and he comes back and I stick him. 1st fish of the day. One step later, another bass swims by and I flip out the craw, he swims over, picks it up and I set the hook and miss. WTF! I'm questioning the setup I'm using, but I feel it should work. I walk about 10 yards and cast up to a tree overhang and nothing. I cast a few feet over and as I hit the shallow grass I see out of the corner of my eye some movement near my bait. I lift and feel weight and let'er rip! A 2lb 1oz largemouth, hell yeah! A little under 6 lbs to go. Nothing for the rest of that hole. 2 holes left and they are my money holes. My favorite and deepest hole w/ plenty of boulders, I hit the first few and feel one tick. Huh, I move on and don't see anything. Near the end, I cast under a bluff and land a 1 lb'r. I move on to the last hole. I start out with a small Guadalupe and see a 2lb'r come over and check out my bait and swim away. I land one more small bass for a grand total for 5 fish of 4 lbs 3oz. The last hole is to silted in and very shallow to fish. I was way short, but I did have the fish on to make weight, I just couldn't land 'em. That is fishing, and that is why you keep going back! The next day Barrett and I went to the dam and caught a half ponder and I missed one other. His was an a crappie tube jig and mine was with a salt craw. I am going to give Whiterock a try tomorrow to see I I can bring in a few.

NADA

Went by Whiterock today and did not see much. Went by the small creek, gin clear, nothing. Went to the Buckner Creek and on my first pass I saw a bunch of empty beds. Most looked small like they were from Bluegills. On my way back to the truck I spotted 5 bass in a school underneath a tree. They were probably bucks and went up to 2lbs. I only made a few casts, then the wife called and needed me to take care of the baby, wasted trip. Again it was in the middle 80's and winds up to 30 mph.

No Fish On Beds Yet

I went by the ponds in North Dallas to see if the fish were bedding yet because it was in the upper 70's today. Not yet, I saw a few empty beds, but no fish anywhere in sight. I will give them a look tomorrow as it will be 80 with a strong south wind.

Barrett & Maddie at The Duck Pond

Well, it was cold and windy today, about 48. There was no fishing, but the kids did feed the ducks and find a turtle. It is supposed to get warm again this week so maybe it will get the fish turned on, I'm ready.