TPWD stocks Rainbow Trout throughout Texas during the winter months. I don't often chase the Rainbow stockers, but when I do, I chose to fish Lake Springfield at Fort Parker State Park. I annually blog about it, around this time of year. Though we come only in February and March, the park staff remember that we come to fly fish. I love this state park for many of its treasures, but Lake Springfield is my favorite.
Fort Parker receives 1,000 trout the last Saturday of January and holds a Trout Fishing Clinic where they teach kids how to fish. This year they had around 200 kids and landed about 75 trout. After Ranger Fisher shared that bit of good news, I figured the park would be crowded with about six or seven anglers fishing from the limited west shoreline. I was genuinely surprised when I arrived at the trail head to discover I would have the five acre lake all to myself. Be careful of your wishes!
When I reached the lake, I knew why I had it to myself. While the water level is the highest I have ever seen, it is in terrible condition due to some kind of algae and early duckweed.
South shore--normally teeming with Largemouth Bass
What was a five acre fishing spot has been reduced to about two acres. This has been the most segregated fishing site I have ever fished. In years past, without fail, Rainbow Trout stay at the much cooler west end; Sunfish species stay at the north end and spawn at the east end; Largemouth Bass stay at the stumpy south end. I navigated as best I could and cast the CodyBugger to areas that used to hold fish. With the high water levels, a spring could be seen bubbling just to the east of the white PVC pipe, and in that area, the algae growth is somewhat abated. It is quite shallow, as when my top water fly landed, about a dozen tadpoles jumped out of the water.
Usually, the bottom is visible, but not with the water levels as they are; however, the water is still quite clear. Curious, I put my waterproof camera on a weighted selfie stick, and began searching for fish. The density of the growth has pushed the fish towards the middle of the lake. I saw no turtles--with the camera or ascending for air. There are a total of three bird nests in the trees surrounding the lake--two to the southeast and one in the west--the least number of nests I have personally seen. I counted three buzzards flying overhead, where in years past they have flown overhead in groups of six or more, even strafing us at times, observed from the trees, observed from the ground, but they just aren't present. The bird box at the east end of the lake is inaccessible by float tube, and there were no Herons present along the shore. Mounds of green algae were piled beside the overflow gate where an almost futile effort has been made to keep the grate clear. Green and brown algae were caked all over the grates.
About the middle of the lake from east to west--looking eastward
I returned to the west end and continued to catch trout--landed four 12-inchers, three on the CodyBugger and one on a size 18 Goddard Caddis. With the sun setting below the west berm, I called aloud, "Last cast." I had tied on a size 20 mosquito, as the calming winds and mosquito hatch were quite prevalent. About 12 feet from my float tube, BAM! FishOn! The Rainbows had been hitting the flies really aggressively and hard, so I thought I had my limit. Low-and-behold, it wasn't a Rainbow; I had the most beautiful Bluegill with spawning colors take a topwater fly! The light was poor and my photo doesn't even begin to do it justice, but it was The picture-perfect Bluegill, and he was caught in the cooler west end--a first for me. As I was releasing him, I looked to the southwest, along the last area of fishable shoreline, and along the algae line, a 2.5 - 3 pound Largemouth crashed the water chasing mosquitoes. Typically, a larger fish won't chase the small flies, especially in colder water, but this guy did. That tells me his diet has been affected. The density of this algae is choking out the oxygen and affecting a number of species. The Duckweed comes and goes, but this brownish-reddish mess has got to go if this little lake is going to thrive.
This week is the week between college classes, so I am
enjoying playing around doing the things I love but have to sacrifice. With the weather temp high forecasted at 61˚F for the day,
the only decently “warm” day for the week, Cody surprised me with an after work, fly fishing excursion to one of our favorite little lakes, Lake Springfield at
Fort Parker State Park. After catching
huge Rainbow Trout in Russia and Alaska this summer, I wondered how I would
feel catching the little stockers.
While
Texas does possess naturally reproducing Rainbow Trout in McKittrick Canyon at
the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, fishing for them is disallowed. So, the Texas fisheries stock trout, but they
are little guys. However, fish are
pretty and fun and give us great enjoyment, so today was not about size, but
getting out to catch the first fish of the year some 35 days later than
usual.
Cody’s 1½ pound Largemouth Bass was caught on a GirlieBugger. All the other fish were caught on top water
flies; Cody used a Miss Prissy, and I caught my Rainbow on a black Cap Spider
while the Largemouths loved a brown grasshopper pattern we bought in Montana
fishing the Big Hole River in 2009. The
video captures the light but on-going hatch that made the Rainbows and
Largemouths jump all afternoon.
I liked our comments, the
splashing fish, and just the sounds—minus the nearby roadway traffic—so, I
added no music this time. A great two
hours of fun for us!
TPWD stocks Rainbow Trout throughout the state during the winter months. Fortunately, one of my favorite places receives an annual stocking the last weekend in January, and Cody and I are usually at the park one week day afternoon immediately after their Trout Derby. Thanks to Old Man Winter and his freezing cold temperatures or high winds, Cody and I did not make it to Lake Springfield until today. What a blast we had, after about 30 minutes on the water.
We each started our catches-of-the-day with Redbreast Sunfish. I snapped a photo of mine; Cody called "Fish on!" and I paddled over to him to snap a photo of his dinner-plate size Redbreast. I took out the camera, knocked my hand while pulling the camera out, and promptly dropped it. While waterproof, it's not sink-proof. Cody doesn't yell, scream, or throw temper fits, but he does have a look of disbelief that can not be mistaken for anything but being upset.
Cody unhooked both our fish, and we began comtemplating what to do, when I spied the camera. Lake Springfield was about 9 feet deep where we were, and since the water temps were cold, the water was quite clear. Cody spied the camera, too. I knew I could swim down and get it, but that meant stripping off the warm water layers, and, well, getting really cold. I would have done it, especially since it was Cody's camera, but he said we'll think of other options first.
About then, Everett, the park's camp host whom I had met about a month ago when I took the kayak on its maiden voyage, called from the shore asking if anyone had lost their phone. I had put my phone in a waterproof pouch and put the pouch in my front pocket, which fell out when I loaded everything up at the parking lot. Cody paddled over to get my phone and talked with Everett about getting a long pole, when I had an idea. Everett went to go get some materials to mimic a swimming pool cleaning net; meanwhile, I reeled in my line, removed and stowed my reel, removed the tip section, wrapped my fishing net with the very long, stretchy tether rope around my rod, slowly submerged it, and just like cleaning debris from a pool bottom, slowly scooped that camera into the net. Boy, was I ever glad to have had my TFO 5# with me! I hollered to Cody that I had the camera, re-rigged, and we fished.
Cody recorded a three species day, Redbreast Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, and Rainbow Trout, while I had a two species day, no trout, but I was very proud of my first Largemouth Bass of 2014. We paddled all over the 5-acre lake, and I believe I spotted beds. No fish were on the beds, but I was catching Redbreasts within 15 - 20 feet from them, some with the beginnings of spawning colors. Cody thought due to the beds' size, they might be Largemouth beds. Either way, especially with the recent cold temperatures, I was pleasantly surprised to see them.
Year-after-year, we enjoy Fort Parker for its beautiful scenery, many recreational activities, and its wonderful and kind park staff, and today was another splendid day well spent in one of Texas' crown jewels!
Lake Springfield has been a haven for Sunfish--Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redbreast Sunfish, Pumpkinseeds, and Warmouth--this spring. With the Warmouth, I added my first new species of the year and was really excited, as it was the last fish of the day.
I have been hoping to catch some Rainbow Trout, seeing as this is a TPWD stocking site late in February, and is also a natural, spring-fed water-body. However, I have struck out in the 'Bow department. (I guess I should have never cut my hair short!) (-; Where I have had the best luck is with Rainbows is their by-product. They get warm, too warm, die and sink to the bottom of the lake, which is very high due to the wonderfully, plethoric spring rains, and are eaten by the other fish, turtles, crawfish, and other creatures. With warmer spring temperatures, the Sunfish are spawning earlier, and boy are they fat, colorful, and fun on a 2# rod. Every third cast, I had FishOn, and from a float tube, there was no other way to have fun this fine afternoon. I'm glad the rain held off until I walked back to the car and loaded my stuff.
The title describes the afternoon and evening perfectly!
What a day! Last night was our last Deer Hair fly tying class taught by Diane Blair. Diane taught the class to pass along Mike Verduin's tying recipes, tips, and just sound advice while working with deer hair. I know I spend an inordinate amount of time creating one Bass Bug, but I expect to fish with them, and I expect these flies to catch fish.
I rigged my wonderful Nikon camera to my float tube's cross bar and shot images and videos of all three flies. The Ball Joint Popper pushed a lot of water and fished the longest before becoming too water logged. I had a Largemouth Bass on (didn't get this on video because the battery was dead), until I hit a patch of grass and lost the fish. The Frog Slider gave me two what I call "Hit 'n Spit" grabs, and Mike's Mouse caught me another Largemouth Bass. Oh my word! my tyed flies really worked; they caught fish!
Really enjoying geocaching, I decided to seek out one of the more difficult caches in the park. Granted, it was 7:30 p.m., but I have a good flashlight, and night caching is oh so tres chic. I gathered all my cache accoutrements, went back and retrieved my hiking staff, and grabbed Ovechkin (a Flat Stanley-esque stuffed penguin--you have to be a hockey fan to get the irony of a Penguin named Ovechkin--that goes everywhere with me).
Now, I think it is important to convey, I handle things relatively calmly, but not nearly as calmly as Cody. I rarely scream or jump up and down when I catch a fish. I calmly enjoy a great sunset or a star-studded night sky. I do smile rather easily and laugh often, as evidenced by a plethora of lines etched all in my face, but for the most part, I am even keel and usually quite happy.
I set off down the well-laid out and marked Park trail. About 20 feet down the trail, I was checking out my Cache Sense App, reading the GPSr, when I heard a distinctively clear, low and long growl. Uh, I stopped dead in my tracks. I had an adrenaline rush only a junkie could understand. Instant panic and fear gripped me, then rapid brain overload, and painful heart beating in my chest. Oh my word, I was scared! I flashed the light in the direction I heard the growl; no eyes reflected back. I glanced behind me and began walking slowly backwards. I talked loudly to Ovechkin. I clacked my staff loudly and waved it in the air and hit it against the trees. One of our Read Right books is The Wild Side: Angry Animals. One of the stories in this Henry Billings anthology is about when bobcats attack humans. I replayed that story in my mind, preparing what to do when it pounced on me. Unfortunately, having 911 ready to push wasn't going to matter, because where I was, no cellular service existed, and while the Park Superintendent lives on the grounds, I was my only help. I sang We All Live in a Yellow Submarine (a song my nephew got stuck in my head this past weekend), and then when I couldn't remember any more, I sang O Happy Day (yes, I know, something was really wrong with me). To pre-program 911, I had to stop walking. Just as soon as I did, that bobcat growled again, not as low, not as long, and not as loud, but it let me know I was still trespassing. Again, I flashed my light all around and still saw no eye reflections. I heard no snapping twigs, no soft thudding on the ground, so I took these as all good signs. I was still feeling fear, though, when it growled the third time. I reached the pavement and walked very loudly, then sprinted the last 15 feet to my car, where the keys were locked in requiring me to rationally punch my code on the keypad. I quickly unlocked the car, shoved my stuff inside, and leapt in the driver's seat. I locked the doors, which sounds totally ludicrous now, especially since that bobcat wasn't opening the car door.
I know, I used bear encounter tactics to deal with this bobcat encounter, but it was what I thought at the time. Once safely nestled in my car and calming my fears, I drove around to the trailhead, flashed my high beams down the trail to see if I could see eye reflections, which I did not. I even thought about getting out and walking back down the trail to see if the bobcat would growl again so I could record it, but I then came to my senses and decided it was ludicrously stupid to tempt fate, so I didn't get out. I texted Cody, stopped by Mickey Ds, and drove home. What a day! Oh my word!
What a beautiful day to go fishing, especially for bass. With Texas Parks Pass in hand, I met Cody after work at Fort Parker State Park to fish the ever-so-fun and beautiful Lake Springfield. Now, Trout Stocking occurred Sunday, so a plethora of bait chunkers lined the eastern shore. Cody and I were armed with our float tubes, so away from the crowd we kicked, including the bratty kid who kept slapping the minnow bucket against the water--encouraged by his dad, nonetheless!
Mike's Mouse caught a LMB
It was Largemouth Bass and Bluegill fun on small weight rods--too warm, 79 degrees, for trout, but that was okay with me. The CodyBugger and GirlieBugger were hot flies catching fish after fish, 19 total in about two hours. As dusk approached, I kicked towards the south to fish the stumps. I couldn't resist it; I tied on my line my Mike's Mouse pattern that I learned to tie in Diane Blair's Deer Hair Class. First plop on the water, hit. The fish tried it again, but this Mike's Mouse is tied on an 1/0 3388 Mustad, and that fish couldn't open wide enough. I had another hit-and-spit, and then, it was FishOn! my Mike's Mouse. I tried to act like I'd caught a fish before, but I was pretty excited. I tried to figure out how to capture this on video, with no success. I messed around with the camera enough so that after leadering the fish and hoisting it out of the water, it shook the fly before I could get a picture (next time, I won't forget my net). However, Cody saw all the commotion from afar, which was good enough for me. Daylight eclipsed, and it was time to hike back to our cars, giddy and gleeful.
Geocached the Park's official stash, which was a good one, and left my signature fly fishing cache! What a fun place!
I headed to Fort Parker after work, today. Mainly, I was hoping to catch a couple of Rainbows, and I am still trying out my Bass Brunch fly. Since I haven't used it on Lake Springfield's waters, today was as good as any other day to try it out. It was a rough day on the water, and the wind was behaving. Everything is on its bed right now, which means very little was biting. For the day, I ended up with a small Largemouth Bass and two Bluegill. I thought the fish would be pounding my flies, just because it has always been that way when I've fished Springfield, and I had FishOn! the third cast. The Bass Brunch snared all three of the fish, but I fished a Popper and a Bonefish Bitter. The Bitter had no takers, and the popper garnered some interest, but I saw only seven fish total for the day--very, very low.
The day was beautiful, somewhat windy, and areas of the Duckweed had dissipated, but the pollen from Monday's and Tuesday's high winds coated the water. I wanted to stay on the water until dusk, but since the pathway from the parking lot to Lake Springfield had wash-out spots all along the way, I came off the water early. For some dumb reason, Sunday night I had a nightmare that I was fishing Springfield and was attacked by Water Moccasins, Lonesome Dove style. In addition to that, I "Like" Texas Parks & Wildlife on facebook and have seen the two different pictures on their page where the snake is eating a fish. Lake Springfield does have a few springs feeding it in places, but I did ask the Rangers when I checked in this afternoon about snakes, especially on the trail and in the water. I do not want to be bitten by a snake! The rangers said there had been no reports of snakes out there, so I felt good. Then, I walked around the corner and a noise in the bushes attracted my attention; boy was I surprised but remained calm. I let the Rangers know, and we all watched the Chicken Snakes doing their mating ritual.
No Rainbows, but my fly caught fish, and the Chicken Snakes were really cool--all in all, a good day!
Warmer temperatures got the sap flowing, trees blossoming, and flowers blooming, including the beautiful Texas Bluebonnets. It also means that the Bass, Crappie, and Bluegill are in a feeding frenzy. Feeling cheated out of White Bass, Saturday, I decided to see if the warmer temperatures caused the Duckweed to take over Lake Springfield, and while there was significant vegetation growth compared to the February fishing, the pond was still quite fishable, so fish it, I did. What entertainment the Largemouth Bass and Bluegill doled out.
I used my 2# rod, and even though the West wind did blow, the nice berm and wooded area provided some relief. At other times, I let the wind blow me to the east end of the pond, where the fish were much more active. Sometimes, I challenge myself when I fish--I have to hit a particular spot within two inches; otherwise, if I hook and land a fish, I can't count it; I use only one fly; I can only cast to a spot one time; I count to 15 before stripping in my line, and various and sundry other rules. Today, it was hitting the spot and one-fly fishing with the GirlieBugger. For the day, I wangled 17 Bluegill and 4 Largemouth Bass out of Lake Springfield.
I miss fishing Six-O-Ranch and their Goliath Bluegill, but I think I may have found its replacement. Lake Springfield Bluegill are not the behemoths that the Six-O Bluegill were, but the Springfield ones are beautifully colored and detailed and a joy to see. In addition to the fish, there are butterflies, turtles, some are rather prehistoric looking ones that have voracious jaws, and the lake is surrounded by beautiful woods and flowers, not to mention a wonderful solitude. This lake will only be fishable a few months out of the year, but what a great, go-to spot!
The purpose of having small weight rods, such as a 1 or 2, is to enjoy catching some of the smaller fish in nature and still have a good fight without harming the fish. The Austin fishery stocked trout 23 January 2011 (a week earlier than posted on the TPWD website) at Lake Springfield. We fished Lake Springfield 11, 15, and 25 February 2011. I enjoy learning a spot's personality and am always amazed at how rapidly it can change. Springfield has been a different spot each outing, and based upon the trend we've seen with warming temperatures, some carp would be beneficial. (No, I don't want to fish for carp; I am somewhat of a snob who snubs the carp, unlike Cody Bell and Malcolm Duke.) Regardless, the 2# rods have had some fun!
I love to fish. I attempt to fish often. I think fish are gorgeous and have exquisite color palettes. Fish taste delicious and make for an excellent meal. Until last August, I never practiced catch and keep, but since I was fishing for Coho Salmon, which will die once they return to freshwater, I kept six males I caught. Tuesday, I once-again kept fish for table fare.
Cody returned home from the Burnet Ranch, and I regaled Cody with tales of fishing Springfield Lake. Well, Cody decided it was time to catch his first fish of the year. Armed with his GPS, general directions from me, his float tube, fins, and rod with a Flashback Beadhead Prince Nymph tied on, Cody waded out in to cold, clear water. I arrived about 30 minutes later and heard a tale of a nice bass who broke off.
Prepared to catch fish, I explained where the previous Friday's honey hole was located, we selected our spots, and began to cast. Before long it was FishOn! for Cody Bell. Bam! I followed and we were FishOn! double. Cody called that his Rainbow Trout was big enough to keep and so we paddled towards the middle. I wasn't paying attention and accidentally let my trout out of the net. Cody stocked the creel with his catch and challenged me to catch some supper, and catch we did. Cody ended up catching 18 fish for the day, and I caught 13.
We chose to keep four pretty, pretty rainbows. Cody cleaned and gutted them, and we were homeward bound. Now, I don't mind eating animals, but being the purveyor of their death has never appealed to me. As Cody pan-fried, in butter, those fillets, I kept looking at their heads. Great smells to the right, death to the left, and so it went, much like a good tennis match. We prepared rice, green beans, and corn bread (in bream shaped pones) to accompany our tasty fillets. They were tender, flaky, and oh so fresh--delicious, just delicious, and not much meat left on the bone!
Since dining on our trout, I dreamt: the headless fish was after me as I waded in a stream; fish heads ate my toes, and, of course returning to the crazy childhood dream, it was no longer safe to go to the potty. In the future, I do not know if I will practice catch and keep, but I do know, I'll keep on catching!
All my life, my Mom has striven to instill in me that life is not fair. On my grandparents' wall hung a gorgeously decorated Serenity Prayer, which is probably one of the first poems I learned. As sincerely as Mom tries, through no fault of her own, Mom fails. For me, life is very black or white, with no gray whatsoever, which makes life easier to handle, because things are right or they are wrong. So, what happens when things aren't fair? I thought about this on my way home tonight, and I feel I need to rectify an unfairness.
Did you know that you do not need a fishing license to fish waters in a Texas State Park's boundaries? Did you know that during the late fall and most of winter, that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department stocks almost 1,000,000 trout throughout Texas' state parks? Did you know the stocking is done cost-free to the public? So, what is a fair price to pay to get to fish in a state park where they have stocked trout for the public to catch and keep, limited to five per day? Would you believe me if I told you $2.00? I think that is a ridiculously unfair price--unfair for TPWD, that is.
On Monday 31 January, I headed to Fort Parker State Park, because about a week prior, TPWD stocked a 1,000 trout in Springfield Lake. The park's boundaries encompass the historic town of Springfield; only the ghost town's cemetery and 4 acre lake exist, today, and what a fine fishing lake Springfield is. I did not have my float tube with me, so I waded in to the waters, but the heavily silted bottom keeps the wading pretty close to shore. Not catching anything this day, I left after a two-hour foray, but I vowed I would be back Tuesday with float tube in hand. The winter storms came, and so, the waders stayed in my car. My vinyl lunchbag rested near my waders. What a valuable lesson I learned, when I retrived my lunch bag . There were these strange brown things all over it. Upon further inspection, they were brown scuds, or from the fishes' perspective, dinner!
Armed with the knowledge of the fishes' diet, today, I set off with my float tube. I tied on a size 14 Flashback Prince Nymph, and I reaped rewards. After about 15 minutes on the water, I hooked up with a nice size Rainbow that jumped no less than six times! Wahoo, I was having fun with my 2# rod. I land it, take photos, release the trout, cast, and FishOn! again. Bluegill this time. I land it, take its picture, and release it, and cast. FishOn! again. Small Rainbow who squirms off my float tube before its picture is taken. Cast and FishOn! Aaahhhgain, Yes, four casts; four fish! It was another small Rainbow. I touched the leader and was putting him on to the float tube net when he flopped off. I receive about a 15 minute reprieve, and then it was FishOn! again, and this time it was a Redbreast Sunfish, a new one for my species list, and this boy was a p-i-g hog! He really engulfed that fly. Once retrieved, I cast a few more times with no success, and then I hit that same spot the Sunfish occupied, and it was FishOn! again. This time, a small Smallmouth Bass chomped down on that nymph. He gets his photo taken, and I release him back to the drink. I cast and move around the western end of the lake. The sun is beginning to set, and the fishes' strikes are becoming lethargic, when this little Rainbow decided my nymph was supper. Resting in the net, I snap his photo and send him on his way.
With a numb backside, hands, and legs, I decided to call it quits. Eight fish/four species (with a new one to add to the list) in less than two hours is waaayyy better than the $2.00 entry fee. I built my 2# rod; I chose my fly, carefully matching a food source; I fished from a float tube. Yes, I really increased the odds that I should catch fish, but I feel that TPWD is getting an unfair deal, and I have no idea how to get them back on the right side of fairness; it would take a lot, considering the day I had at their place. A good work day had turned really rotten, and then a $2.00 deal made everything good. One of my favorite columnists is Regina Brett, and so I shall end with one of her 50 Life Lessons..."Life isn't fair, but it's still good." Ohhhh, yeahhh!
