Tiny Waters: Roots

As we have established, it is my custom to return to the warm gentle waters of Mother Brazos at least once a year. This year, I had scheduled a weekend floater with Zach and Hunter. Alas-Zach was in a wedding, and Hunter is in Virginia, stunt gun-fighting at the Virginia State Fair (good work if you can get it). This left little old me-all alone floating the Brazos. At least the section below Lake Whitney. Headquarters for my assault was the venerable "Outpost", a vintage cabin just at the intersection of the Brazos with Highway 2114. I've been there before, but this time, I didn't come down with food poisoning. (that's another story...) When I checked in, Ms. Jeane remarked that she remembered me-I was the guy who got food poisoning at the local Whitney burger joint a few years ago. The cabin has been updated, and, to my delight, now offers Direct TV and internet connection. Heaven on Earth. The fishing was average , I guess. There were a number of solid two pound chunks of largemouth, scads of skinny yearlings, and a few really trophy type bluegills that attacked my poppers. I stuck with the Sage Smallmouth outfit this weekend, for no other reason than I wanted to. It's not as delicate as some of my other rods, but casts like a rocket. Similarly, I stuck with cork and foam poppers for the duration. Again, just because I wanted to. The gas-station cuisine was above reproach. I had barbecue from Slovacek's in West, and fried chicken from Bush's. I ate one of the cinnamon roles from the bnb, but saved the garlic sausage for a barbecue at home. It is digesting as I type this. The new Diablo Adios performed flawlessly, and is as stable and comfortable a kayak as I have been in. It's a keeper. If I have any recommendations for the flyfisher on this stretch, it would be to use at least fifteen pound leader. There's wind, and lots of structure, and you're gonna need a stout line. I broke a four-plus pounder off twice because of flimsy eight pound mono leader. Secondly, the ramp at Dick's is long and steep. If you have a heavy ride, like mine, you might think twice before launching here. Easy to get in, hell to get out. You have at least forty feet of elevation. If you're by yourself, you're in for a tussle.

Let me say a word about Dick's Canoes. I have provided a link to their website. These are the nicest, most professional people I have encountered on a Texas river. The cabin was impeccably clean and comfortable. About four hundred yards south of 2114, you'll find a complex of five or six homes, all with docks and retain walls. The largemouth fishing on that two hundred yard stretch of the western shore is as good as I have found along the length of the Brazos. Paddle up, slow down, and fish the structure thoroughly. You won't be disappointed.