I got to Lake Travis around 6:20am and found a fellow kayaker already at the boat ramp. We exchanged hellos and he continued fishing from shore. He said he was waiting for a friend of his that also fished from a kayak. After a brief pleasant exchange, I paddled off and started fishing.
Water visibility was fairly good. I could see between 3 to 4 feet below the water. In the past clarity has been far better (up to 8 feet or more). The water level was even lower than I recall. I believe the lake is now about 21 feet below the historic June average. Dang drought.
For the next hour I caught zip, nada, nothing. I switched flies to a #6 gray bead chain clouser tied with EP fibers and then caught a small bass.
Fishing was still slow. I caught a couple more bass. One was tiny at about 8 inches long. He was an aggressive little fellow though. As I was putting him in the water, I felt it clamp on to my thumb and after letting go with my other fingers he held on for a minute; enough time for me to snap a photo of him. He finally realized he could spit my thumb out and split and so he did. Good thing bass are not man eaters. I think this one liked the way I tasted.
I then paddled back to the ramp and passed the kayaker from this morning and his friend and I introduced ourselves. He indicated he fishes the surf and bays around Corpus Christi often but mostly the surf.
After I got to the ramp and brought my truck down, the first kayaker also came in while his friend continued to fish. About this time, a park ranger walked down to the two of us. We all started talking about how low the water was noting the ramp would likely be closed for motorboats if it fell another four feet. We could pretty much see the end of the ramp below the water.
As I left the park and headed down the winding country road, passing cyclists, I saw a glimpse of a deer crossing the road ahead and then saw a young fawn that as I approached decided to lie down on the road so I slowed and stopped. Upon getting out to try and get it off the road, it stood up and bolted for the fence and was gone. A couple of cars were now behind me so I got back in my truck and went home.
With June heating up like it is July already, I think I may start fishing the lake at night. I may have better luck then and hopefully it will be slightly cooler, too.
2 comments:
Heat index in the DFW area this past Saturday night was 110 F. Yuck.
Water levels are up to normal or slightly above with the past monsoon rains we got last week. Muddy still, but the water is warming up.
Home remodel is done . . . so I am going to take the Mylar Minnows you tied for me, and fish around boat docks close to shore.
Hope you are well. I have sent lanyards to 16 states now. Thanks again for helping me get started.
Hi Rick,
Glad y'all got some good rain. We got some again at the end of last week (plus hail). The storms move too fast (30 to 40 mph) to leave much behind them even though they dump a lot.
Last Thursday was the first I have heard our tornado sirens come on but AFAIK everyone was OK around town.
Speaking of home remodeling, I intended on tiling my bathrooms during the July 4th week. I hope I can get some fishing at the coast in that week.
Those mylar minnows should catch something or your money back! ;-)
Your lanyards sell themselves! You do great work! Thanks!
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