2012 Lone Star Land Steward

Wexford Ranches was recently honored at a banquet by Texas Parks and Wildlife as a 2012 Lone Star Land Steward for the Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes Region.  I grew up on the Wexford Ranch and my dad has been the Foreman there for many years.  I have worked on the ranch basically since I was big enough to get on a horse and am now managing a blog for the ranch, Wexford Ranches, which you can read here.  Paddy's even found himself on the ranch payroll every once in a while--I guess we'll never leave.

Guest Post at Sun Valley Magazine

Just another Saturday afternoon.

I had a guest post about the Sturtevants free fly-tying classes at Sun Valley Magazine.  You can check it out here.

My Seventh Anniversary

My first photo on The Sand Hill seven years ago.  This is Stalker Creek, still the place where I want my ashes spread.  My parents sent me a 4mp digital camera when I moved to Idaho to document my experiences.  They knew they'd never see photos otherwise.

Well, yesterday marked seven years in Idaho.  It's amazing that I've now spent a quarter of my life here fishing, working hard, and having adventures with Paddy.  I was just a young pup who needed a break when I moved here to work for The Nature Conservancy for the summer.  I wonder if it was the right decision for me and then I remember  could be sitting in traffic in Houston or Dallas instead of pointing out rising fish to clients.  There may be redfish, Shiner, and brisket in Texas, but there are trout, mountains, and rivers that keep me here in Idaho.

I wonder what my life will be like in another seven years...

The Fishing's Hard to Find, but it's Really Good

Paddy staking a fish--It's just like Silver Creek except the fish are bigger and stinkier.

All of our rivers are closed or blown so we're pretty hard up for fishing in May.  A few years ago, we started driving south to Hagerman for some carp on the Snake and were really surprised at how awesome the fishing is down there.  Last Tuesday was pretty nice, so Paddy and I went down for the day and weren't disappointed. 

I can't believe how much this part of the Snake looks like the Llano River.

Another Llano-esque shot.

We fished Dolman Rapids which is near the Thousand Springs area.  I had never fished there before and couldn't believe how much the river looked like the Llano River, one of my favorite rivers in Texas.  There were HUGE fish everywhere and we both hooked quite a few, but it's so dang hard to hold on to carp with those soft, tiny mouths and I always crush my barbs.  Losing a few keeps me coming back.

It's so weird seeing pelicans in Idaho.

Paddy went to town on some fish below this dam.

I hope to make it down there at least a couple more times before Silver Creek opens on May 26.  I can't believe it's only three weeks until opening day--I may cry a little!

An Early Goodbye to Spring Fishing

This was a really interesting steelhead season to say the least.  There were fish early, but then the water went up, and up, and up.  Fishing was all over the place.  Some days were great (double digit fish) and there were even a few skunkaroos.  It's been unseasonably warm (just like everywhere else) and last weekend really put us over the top.  We had record highs in the 80s and the Salmon went from a fishable 2000 cfs to about 5000 cfs this morning.  Paddy had to cancel all of his trips this week.  On Saturday, Mark McCoy, a Stanley resident and member of Micky and the Motorcars was floating the Salmon and fishing and drown about 100 yards from Paddy and Carl's teepee.  You can read more about Saturday's accident here.  This was just another reminder that the water is always in charge. 

Last night Paddy and I went to Mormon Bend to pack up the teepee and I took the video below at Shotgun, a rapid about 5 miles downstream of their camp.

The river has gone up even more since last night.  Needless to say, I think steelhead season is over.

Leslie Fly-Fishing..How Did I Ever Miss This?

Leslie an Austin icon and Sixth Street's most famous patron unfortunately died recently.  I met him on my very first night out in Austin, when I was still VERY wet behind the ears.  He loved my cowboy hat and tried it on for size--it was my first of many Leslie experiences, but I never knew he fly-fished...

Fly Fish Chick posted last week about the Austin Fly Fishing Film Tour and mentioned a promo that Leslie did for the F3T a few years ago.  I almost peed my pants watching this--and let me warn you, if you're not familiar with Leslie, you're in for a treat.

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
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I'm literally laughing out loud as I read Buster Wants to Fish today. 

I grew up Third Coasting and was terrified of everything that can kill you in South Texas.  On a recent redfishing trip down south, Paddy had apparently never learned to respect the Gulf and ended up in the emergency room, had long bouts of vomiting, and broke a $3000 push pole.  Let me add these were all unrelated incidents. 

Anyhoo, terrible rashes like the one below are standard in the Gulf.  From what?  We don't know and don't really want to. 

Good thing there's Urgent Care in Rockport.

Contracted while wade fishing for Texas redfish…
A) Ocean chiggers
B) Red state psoriasis
C) Larval jellyfish attack
D) I call bullshit. He got that from some bar hag
E) __________________________