After a late start and a long drive, Tam and I pulled up to Ray Carrington's on the Llano about ten o'clock. Curmudgenly old Dave Jones showed us to our room, "Dame Julianna's Attic". Attic, indeed-long on cute, short on comfort. Had I known how unsatisfactory the bath was, I would have ponied up another twenty bucks for a nicer spread. Nevertheless, we had a good night's sleep and were up and around in time for Dave's breakfast. Eggs, bacon, biscuits, and wonderful jams and jellies. We did some damage. My guide for the day, Marcos, was right on time, and by ten we were setting off down the Llano from the James River crossing. Access was excellent at the James-we didn't even get our feet wet. Eight hours and six miles later, we came ashore at Martin's Crossing. We tallied forty to fifty guadalupes, two large mouths, and dozens of yellow bellies-nothing of any size. Friday night was dinner at Santos' Taqueria in Mason, and then back to Ray's for bed. Saturday, we did the tourist thing, taking a look at Llano and Fredricksburg. German food for lunch, and dinner at the world's greatest bargecue joint-Cooper's in Llano. Just so happened that NBA hall of famer Jerry West was in the joint, in a black sports coat, eating barbecue ribs. Go figure.
All in all,it was a great weekend. Marcos was an outstanding guide and really worked hard trying to put me on fish. Ray's is a lovely setting with good breakfast and interesting people, but spring for one of the bigger rooms. Fredericksburg, Llano, and Mason are gorgeous hill country towns with lots to see and do and eat and drink. Now that I know how easy access is, I'll do the next hundred trips self service. Marcos will have to show me the San Marcos and the Devil's.
www.llanoriver.com
www.guidesoftexas.com
At the launch. Easy in, and on down.
This is Fred Gibson's house, close to the takeout. See, all you have to do is write one cheesy children's book (Old Yeller), sell it to Disney, make everybody in the world cry, and live like a king in a mansion on the Llano for the rest of your life.
Yellow Belly Sunfish were prominent-this little riffle had about five or six, all this size.
The end of the road. We didn't go past Watson's crossing. It will be there next time, also.
The main house and kitchen, from the river. We were in the upstairs area to the left-with a private outside stair. The cliffs below are at least a hundred feet, and covered with swallows. Marcos says this is where the cichlids were hanging out, but we didn't find one. The greenies from this hole were almost black.
The takeout at Martin's Crossing. Six miles as the river flows.
The Llano in front of Ray's place has some very fishy looking rocks, and is easy to wade.Raye has canoes and kayaks for rent, and will shuttle. Unfortunately, Saturday morning was cold, drizzly, and had thirty mile per hour winds. I didn't fight this very long. Or very well. Besides, I was fished out from the day before. The river has been there for billions of years-it will be there later this year.
At the launch. Easy in, and on down.
This is Fred Gibson's house, close to the takeout. See, all you have to do is write one cheesy children's book (Old Yeller), sell it to Disney, make everybody in the world cry, and live like a king in a mansion on the Llano for the rest of your life. 
Yellow Belly Sunfish were prominent-this little riffle had about five or six, all this size.
The Official State Fish of Texas-The Guadalupe. Caught forty or so of these, all less than a pound. Two largemouths, a few greenies, and a strike from a gar. Not a bad day.
My one hoss-power canoe motor, Marcos. He worked hard all day, against a pretty stiff wind. Below, some of the river is unbelievably fishy. Dave Whitlock took a three pound largemouth off of this salt-cedar point. I didn't.
My one hoss-power canoe motor, Marcos. He worked hard all day, against a pretty stiff wind. Below, some of the river is unbelievably fishy. Dave Whitlock took a three pound largemouth off of this salt-cedar point. I didn't. The end of the road. We didn't go past Watson's crossing. It will be there next time, also.
The main house and kitchen, from the river. We were in the upstairs area to the left-with a private outside stair. The cliffs below are at least a hundred feet, and covered with swallows. Marcos says this is where the cichlids were hanging out, but we didn't find one. The greenies from this hole were almost black. 
The takeout at Martin's Crossing. Six miles as the river flows. 
The Llano in front of Ray's place has some very fishy looking rocks, and is easy to wade.Raye has canoes and kayaks for rent, and will shuttle. Unfortunately, Saturday morning was cold, drizzly, and had thirty mile per hour winds. I didn't fight this very long. Or very well. Besides, I was fished out from the day before. The river has been there for billions of years-it will be there later this year.
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