WXNW '10 (Hill Country trip report)

[BigCliff]

Well the cool kids in these parts are all atwitter over the hip goings on up the road at SXSW.

They can have it. I'll go enjoy a gorgeous river w/nw of town.

Grabbed breakfast on the way: Chilaquiles, Machacado, y Horchata. Wonderful accoutrements of South Texas.

Headed out to utilize a beautiful day-

Had a nice short drive to the river, and was able to sight cast to some bass within 20 minutes of getting my feet wet. I'm a fan of ALL that. Caught a few, some weren't interested. So it goes with super clear water and cool temps for these guys.

Saw the biggest gar I've ever seen in a Hill Country river. This thing was easily 50" long and 10" in diameter. (The local norm is more like 28" and 5")

That section got a little crowded with yokels, so I went back above the crossing.

Purdy crick indeed-

Kept catching 10" bass. This photo technique doesn't turn out so good-

This one almost did-

Kept on moving up into this canyon, (mo pretty than fishful)

Where some texican alpinists left some gear-

Finally got the first sunfish for the day. (very odd for this river) This guy absolutely glowed in the sun, pic does no justice-

Worked my way back down to the car, and picked up at least as many fish in the last hour as I did prior to that. I think I caught about 20, only 3 were sunfish, and I got to sight-cast to most of them. That's pure fun, even if you don't break 12".

New rod works on the green troots too (review pending)-

​

 

[jpbfly]

Great report and pics Big,the canyon area is beautiful...surprising it's not very fishful

 

[Frank Whiton]

Thanks Cliff, that is a great report. That is awful clear water for Texas unless it is a tail water. At least compared to the rivers I saw when I was there.

Frank

 

[BigCliff]

Great report and pics Big,the canyon area is beautiful...surprising it's not very fishful

The water in there was a little too fast to hold too many that day. Under normal conditions its likely prime, especially when its hot and the feesh need some shade.

Thanks Cliff, that is a great report. That is awful clear water for Texas unless it is a tail water. At least compared to the rivers I saw when I was there.

Frank

Glad you enjoyed it.

That river tends to stay fairly clear, but the conditions on that day made it even moreso: most algae died off after a colder than usual winter, recent near-flooding washed out lots of accumulated crud, and the river had been slowly dropping over the past 3 weeks to let it settle down even more. Its rained since then and likely has muddied back up a bit. When more stagnant and warm in the summer it looks more like this- http://www.theflyfishingforum.com/forums/lower-mid-u-s/5666-gray-day-medina.html

 

[Jimmie]

I enjoyed your trip report Cliff. You've got a pretty spot there.

 

[mcnerney]

BigCliff: Enjoyed reading your trip report as always! Some great photos to boot! I just watched Trout Bum Diaries, Vol II, New Zealand, and that stream with it's crystal clear water reminded me of the rivers in New Zealand.

Larry

 

[HuronRiverDan]

Good report Cliff and nice pics...That is a pretty stream.

Dan