I Smell Like Smoke

Mesquite smoke, actually . . .

When I got home from work today, my children presented me and my wife with our combined Mother’s Day / Father’s Day gift.  Actually, my wife was in on the surprise, and together with my kids led me out to the back porch, where  I saw the fire-pit!

My whole family knew I wanted one of these ever since my son welded one for his high school ag show.  So, without me knowing anything about it, my kids chipped in, and my youngest bought the steel and and welded this puppy up.  Color me SURPRISED!

To complete the presentation,  Julie stopped and picked up some New York Strip and Ribeye steaks, along with some ham and bacon wrapped chicken tenderloins.  If I’ve never said it before on this blog, let me say it now . . . MY FAMILY ROCKS!!

Pictured clockwise starting at top:  Corn on the cob, ham and bacon wrapped chicken, and steak.  Not pictured: Onion and Zuchini.

Outdoor Photos 5.01.13

Here are a couple of photos from recent outings.  One is from an evening fishing trip, the other is a house I happened upon as I was driving through the country.  Have a nice evening . . .

Brian

I Love This Old Farmhouse

Largemouth Bass from a Local Pond

After Church Fishing 4/27/13

As I was leaving church this evening, I was struck by what an incredibly gorgeous evening it was.  We’ve had a lot of nice evenings, temperature-wise.  but this evening was different.  It was pretty, and hardly a trace of wind. I couldn’t help stopping at a favorite pond on my way home.  And, am I ever glad I did!

This pond is just North of a golf course near my home.  Just a pond in a subdivision, with friendly residents who don’t mind you fishing there (especially when the see you practicing catch and release).

All totalled, I caught six bass and one bluegill.  The bass were caught on a Fatal Attraction, and the Gill on a #16 Grey Duster.  What a beautiful, peaceful evening.

A Beautiful Evening

One from the archives:  a short video from an evening of fly fishing at a favorite pond.  I hope you enjoy.  This is what a lot of my fishing looks like.

Devil’s River

Way, way off the road in West Texas, is another of my bucket list destinations. I’ve been wanting to fish Devil’s River for a long time. Finally I will get my chance when I drive out with my brother for a little camping and a day of fly fishing the river from kayaks. Here’s a little video produced by Texas Parks and Wildlife about Devil’s River.

I’m also hoping to add to my fly fishing species list with three species: Smallmouth Bass, Gaudalupe Bass and Rio Grande Cichlid.  Any fly recommendations for Devil’s River?

BLUE

cool and windless chill
sunset articulating
this blue spring evening

Can I be Honest with you?

I guess it’s time I stop kidding myself.
I tell my friends I like to fish.
I say I go fishing.
I string up my fly rod.
I select a fly.
I tie it on.
Then I take pictures.

Popper Season

The ponds are warming up and the bass are getting on their beds. I’ve already picked up a few on poppers. In fact I recently bought some Bett’s poppers – the first pre-tied poppers I’ve bought in quite a while. After losing two right away, I decided to stick with popper bodies I can dress myself. Here’s the first. I just painted this with small brushes, but I’m thinking aid like to use a little spray paint, or one of those airbrush systems that use the makers.  These Rainey Popper bodies are easy to work with, and don’t seem to get waterlogged.  They stay floating and popping even after they’ve been in the water for a good while.

Pond Personality

I spend a good number of my fishing hours on small, urban ponds.  I do this for many reasons.  I have a handful of ponds that are close.  I don’t have to commit to a full day on the lake.  In the summertime I can leave work, have a little dinner with my wife, then grab my fly rod and camera and head to the pond not five minutes from my front door.  I can fish for about an hour, or hour and a half, and still be home at a very reasonable time.  I’ve been fishing these park ponds for three or four years now, and I’ve come to notice that they fish very differently from year to year.

The Pond closest to my house. Looks like I’ll need to learn it all over again . . .

For example, where are the bluegill in the North Garland pond?  Where’s ANYTHING in the pond closest to my house?  On one pond, I have walked briskly to certain spots where I consistently caught bass last year.  On my way to those spots I have jumped bass in spots I never saw them last year.  I’ve yet to catch a fish this year on last year’s best producing pond, while the pond that was just so-so last year has already given up several bass on streamers and poppers.  I’m learning that I need to approach each pond as if I’ve never fished it.  Not doing so will probably mean missing a lot of opportunities.

I’m assuming that one reason for this is that smaller bodies of water are more volatile and react faster to weather conditions.  Another sad factor (one that I’ve witnessed), is the number of people who come to these public ponds and cart away buckets and buckets of fish.  Grrrrr.

I’ll keep plugging away, and I hope to find another pond or two to get to know.

Tight lines . . .

Brian

How to Spin a Skunk

It’s pretty simple.  I took my son fishing this evening.  I thought maybe we could pick up a few bass on poppers.  The results?  Together we caught less than 60 fish, and all were under 8 pounds.

In many situations, the above true statement would suffice.  Since I was fishing with my own son, though, I am obliged to tell you Drew caught one bass on a popper, and I caught nothing.  Zip.  Skunked.  But the first statement sounds better, doesn’t it?

Drew’s Bass. He caught it on a Bett’s Popper.

Drew with the ONLY bass of the evening.