Cody and I read Russell's post about Sandies in the Nolan on the Texas Fishing Forum's Fly Fishing posts. I went to high school in Granbury and lived near the De Cordova Bend Dam. I canoed a short stretch of the Nolan one afternoon more than 25 years ago, and it looked like the pictures in Russell's post was the place I had been. Missing the White Bass run wherever we went this season, I sweet-talked Cody Bell in to a Sunday afternoon trip to the Nolan.Originally, we planned to hike all the way to the old train tress, but the trail became difficult and laden with Poison Ivy, so we decided that the pool beginning at the big boulders resting in the river bed was as far as we would go. Cody cast his CodyBugger, and we saw the hit-and-run, silver flash of the White Bass. I switched out my fly to a Bonefish Bitter, hoping that crayfish were on the fishes' menu. Cody caught two nice-sized Bluegill, and I wandered over to the riverbank and began fishing the tree-lined, shady streamside. Spending about 10 minutes over there, I hear Cody hollering and walking his pet "fish on its leash" towards me. Sure enough, a nice White Bass was at the end of Cody's line.
Cody switched to a bead-chain eye, grey-and-white Clouser, and had moved about 15 ft. farther downstream from where he caught the Bluegill. Sharing another bead-chain Clouser in chartreuse and white, Cody showed me where to cast, offered the advice to strip quickly, and I had FishOn!, too. It was a nice White Bass. I was happy, but now I had to know if my BassBrunch--Gizzard Shad pattern would work. I moved about 6 ft. downstream, and even though the Duckweed would cover the fly, entangle the lines, and snag in the guides, the spot was the honey hole! My BassBrunch was the fly I had hoped it would be. I ended up catching eight White Bass on my fly, and Cody continued to catch them on his Clouser. Finally, after a continual chorus of FishOn!, Cody gave the five-minute call.
Our sweet friend, fellow fly tyer, and DFF member Harvey Stahl passed away on Wednesday 6 April 2011, and Harvey's memorial service would be Monday, so before my last cast, I called the final fish of the day in memory of Harvey. I was rewarded with a rather nice White Bass. Cody also called his Last Cast in Harvey's memory and was honored nicely, too. We missed the White Bass run on the Sabine and Colorado Rivers, so stumbling in to the White Bass on our first fishing trip to the Nolan--wonderful. Designing a successful fly--superb. The fact that we were the only two on the river--priceless!
My "Harvey" catch |
Cody's "Harvey" catch |
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