City Of Allen Fishing

One Little Bluegill

2012-01-29T19:13:00.000-06:00

Had a late start today. But, did make it out. Fished a Tenko Worm and had one Bass take a look at it. Switched to an Antron Nymph and caught a little Bluegill. Then, had to call it quits early.

Click-on 2012's COAF Fishing Leader Board to checkout top fish caught this year by our readers. Also, click-on One Fishing Fly Challenge to checkout the Field Team's flyfishing informal contest. Feel free to join; it's simple!

Fished Bethany... Little Bluegill and a Frisbee Golf!

2012-01-28T16:21:00.000-06:00

Fished Bethany this afternoon. Struck out in the ponds, so switched to the creek below the Lower Pond. Caught little Bluegill on an Antron Nymph. Did "catch" a frisbee golf in about a foot of water!

Guadalupana and Tenkara Rod Gets a Bass at Bethany!

2012-01-26T22:19:00.000-06:00

Fished Bethany Lakes' Waterfall this evening. Only had a little time, so went with the Tenkara Rod and one fishing fly - a Guadalupana like we used on the Guadalupe River last year. Water level was up from the recent rains and the water was flowing well in the Canal and the Waterfall. Had a hookup on the second cast - a little Bass. Good stuff!

Click-on 2012's COAF Fishing Leader Board to checkout top fish caught this year by our readers. Also, click-on One Fishing Fly Challenge to checkout the Field Team's flyfishing informal contest. Feel free to join; it's simple!

Bluegill at Lunch!

2012-01-23T15:13:00.003-06:00

Took a break at Lunch today and fished the feeder creek at Bethany. Caught a couple of Bluegill. One really small one and one that went about 6" in size! Both struck an Olive Wooley Bugger.

PS: Went back to Bethany in the early evening. Caught several small Bluegill in the Canal. Used the Tenkara Rod and an Antron Nymph. No Bruisers; still had fun catching them. Was planning to make a short video clip to post but mistakenly deleted the video while transferring to the laptop.

Two Bruisers on Bread at Glendover.

2012-01-22T15:24:00.000-06:00

Windy day but managed to freeline some Bread at Glendover Park. Had several strikes and misses and two solid hooksets! One Catfish went about 17"; other went 20"+. No ruler but easily makes the 15" minimum of the COAF Leader Board for this year! Fun stuff....

Prosper Trout Derby... One Bullhead.

2012-01-21T22:11:00.000-06:00

Checked out the Prosper Trout Derby today! Saw a number of Trout being caught. For this fisherman, struck out this round on Trout.

Had several bites, lost one while bring it in, and then caught one Bullhead. Trout are there, should get more hookups in the next few days!

Like the new park - Frontier Park, and the new pond!

Prosper Trout Derby Is On This Saturday!

2012-01-17T21:01:00.000-06:00

City of Prosper is hosting its Annual Trout Derby this Saturday! Should be a fun time for all. Do note that the Derby is being held at Frontier Park instead of Whitley Place Park. For more info, check out the press release!

Cold Front Rolled In; One Bullhead on Bread!

2012-01-17T16:52:00.001-06:00

Cold front rolled in today and dropped temps. Add the wind and it gets chilly standing there watching your line in the water hoping for a bite. Tried a quick trip to Celebration Park's East Pond at lunch today. Had a couple of strikes and managed one Bullhead on bread for bait. Action slowed down compared to yesterday but things should settle in a few days. Have noticed that the Catfish and Bullheads will continue to bite even in freezing weather; more a matter of how much you are willing to wait it out.

Another Go At RC Boat Fishing

2012-01-16T21:16:00.000-06:00

Another go at Radio Control Boat Fishing. Windy conditions again but did manage to catch one little Bullhead! Made several changes from the setup we used yesterday. This time used a Baitcasting Rod and Reel and a Rod Holder to better control the line... worked better than the Spinning Gear we used. Liking this technique but will need to wait till the weather gets better and the wind calms down, or we need to get a bigger boat!

Radio Control Boat Fishing

2012-01-15T20:25:00.000-06:00

Decided to take the Radio Control Boat and have a go at fishing with it! Had done this several years ago with some success. Today, it was tough with windy condition and leaves floating in the water. Did manage to catch one on a Prince Nymph fishing fly. Next round, will need to try a different rod and reel setup to minimize tangling the line with the boat. However, the line release worked well... fish struck and line released from the boat without an issue!

Waterloo Continues to Produce Trout!

2012-01-14T19:04:00.001-06:00

The bite was still on at Waterloo. Noted limits being taken with Corn, Powerbait Trout Bait, and Powerbait Nuggets! Was able to limit out - caught four Trout on Powerbait in Rainbow Glitter and one on a Globug Fishing Fly. Caught and released two more - one went for the Globug and the other went for an Olive Wooley Bugger! Fun stuff on a really nice day with temps in the 60's!

Rain Again Today... Backup Plan a Goldfish?

2012-01-10T17:30:00.000-06:00

Rained yesterday and again today. Missed a day of fishing yesterday. So, could not let that pass without at least wetting a line. Went with the backup plan (backyard pond) and fished the Tenkara Rod and the Weighted Antron Nymph. Goldfish were interested, even had one take the fishing fly!

Field Team Takes Two Limits at Waterloo... Included One Gold Trout!

2012-01-08T18:43:00.000-06:00

Ran up the road to Waterloo again for another go at the Trout. Lots of folks catching them on Powerbait, Corn, Earthworms, etc... Also, saw Trout being taken on the fly! NucLaroche and Fshng84 made good with a limit of Trout each. Most were caught on Powerbait Rainbow Glitter, two were caught on an Olive Wooley Bugger, and one was a "Gold" Trout. Rainbow Trout for Dinner tonight!

Caught a Little Bass on a BH Antron Streamer!

2012-01-08T11:41:00.000-06:00

Was out and about this morning flexing the fly rod at Bethany. Tied on a Guadalupana with no luck. Had a few light strikes on a Weighted Nymph, then switched to a BH Antron Streamer under a strike indicator. Was able to coax one Bass to bite. Not a Bruiser but still fun to get one on the fly!

Missed the Trout Derby at Waterloo But Able to Limit Out After!

2012-01-07T16:36:00.000-06:00

Missed the Trout Derby at Waterloo in Denison this morning. But, there were lots of Trout remaining! Able to limit out using Powerbait in Rainbow Glitter. After taking five, fished with the Tenkara Rod to catch a few little Bluegill that had been feeding on scrap bait - Bread, Powerbait, etc...floating in the water. Fun catching them; Weighted Antron Nymph worked well on the Bluegill. Even managed to catch a "minnow/shad" looking fish on the Nymph! Not sure what it was but was interesting to catch something other than a Bluegill or Trout from the small pond!

Little Bluegills at Bethany's Feeder Creek... on the Tenkara Rod!

2012-01-06T20:31:00.000-06:00

Decided to take the Tenkara Rod out and fish the Feeder Creek at Bethany. Had fun catching little Bluegill using a Weighted Antron Nymph! Caught about 20+ in about 40". All were small but the action was fast and fun.... Good Stuff!

Made a Combination Stick Float / Slip-Bobber.

2012-01-06T16:41:00.000-06:00

Decided to make a Bobber to replace the store bought one we used last night. Wanted one that was more sensitive to light strikes and would have minimal drag when a fish bites. Using material laying around the shop, was able to make one that turned out okay! Tested it out at Celebration Park and caught three little (juvenile) Bluegill. Calling it a Combination Stick Float and Slip-Bobber. Similar to a Stick Float but has an eyelet on the end to allow rigging as a Slip-Bobber.

To make it, used the following material: a Wine Cork, Bamboo Skewer, Fishing Hook, Epoxy, and Dacron Fly-Tying Line. For tools, used a Dremel Knife, Dremel Tool, Wood Rasp, Wire Cutters, and Sandpaper. Other than the Wire Cutters to cut the Fishing Hook in half, making one is mainly shaping and sanding.

Bullheads on Bread and a Catfish at Celebration Park Starts the 2012 COAF Leader Board!

2012-01-05T19:24:00.000-06:00

Fished the East Pond at Celebration Park this evening. Used the Slip-Bobber Rig and Bread on light Spinning Gear. Caught several Bullheads - seem to be bigger this year compared to last year. Drought may not have impacted them as much thankfully!

While fishing the pond met another fisherman (Fishing54) who was using Hot Dogs for bait. Caught a few Bullheads too, and then a decent Bruiser Catfish that went 17"-18" in size. Easily made the COAF Leader Board for 2012! Have since posted on the Board as the first entry of the year Nice catch Fishing54!

Tenkara Fishing For Bluegill at Bethany's Canal.

2012-01-04T20:48:00.001-06:00

Decided to take the Tenkara Rod out for another go at the Bluegill that were hitting the Bread and Slip-Bobber Rig we used earlier today.

Had caught only one Bluegill and missed a lot more! Using the Tenkara Rod, hooked and landed several Bluegill.

Most were small and all were taking a #16 Weighted Antron Nymph. Interesting the number of fish lurking in the Canal!

Another Bluegill On Bread.

2012-01-04T14:38:00.001-06:00

Caught another Bluegill at Bethany today. Used the Slip-Bobber again. Like the rig because depth can be easily adjusted. May need to use a lighter weight though. No Trout this round. Worse... Saw a couple of Cormorant working the area. Not good!

Field Team Shirts....

2012-01-03T21:29:00.000-06:00

Decided to make T-Shirts for the Field Team. So far, NucLaroche and Comal Kid don't agree with Fshng84's idea.

But, T-Bone is onboard except he will need a smaller size shirt than what we had on hand.

Made two shirts with iron on logos. Liked the results; hope they at least last one season!

One Bluegill caught using Bread!

2012-01-03T19:07:00.002-06:00

One Bluegill caught using Bread and a Slip-Bobber Rig. Was going for Trout. Had a few missed strikes else only the one Bluegill.

Did see a couple fishermen limit out using Bread though. Good to see the Trout are still lurking... Even better that the Cormorant have not arrived yet!

Bluegill at Bethany. Trout, Too.

2012-01-02T18:18:00.002-06:00

Fished Bethany for a quick trip. Caught a little Bluegill. Noticed another fisherman fishing for Trout. Looked like one was in the basket!

Let's Start 2012 with Two Sunfish!

2012-01-01T18:57:00.001-06:00

Could not let the day pass without trying to fish. Was able to make it to Bethany this afternoon. Looks like the Trout are done for the Season but was able to get two fish to bite! So, let's start 2012 with two Sunfish (used a GRHEN trailer behind a Guadalupana). FUN STUFF!

Let's Start 2012 with Two Sunfish!

PS: YouTube Slideshow of some of the fish we caught in 2011!

Click-on 2012's COAF Fishing Leader Board to checkout top fish caught this year by our readers. Also, click-on One Fishing Fly Challenge to checkout the Field Team's flyfishing informal contest. Feel free to join; it's simple!

Happy New Year for 2012!

2012-01-01T10:33:00.001-06:00

Happy New Year! The Field Team wishes all the best in 2012 for our Readers and would like to thank them for visiting our weblog and partner websites. We appreciate the support and look forward to another year of fishing!

This past year we caught our share of fish. Most were small and scrappy but a few we consider Bruisers. As we bring in the New Year, we closed out the 2011 COAF Fishing Leader Board and the One Fishing Fly Challenge. And, we started the 2012 COAF Fishing Leader Board and extended the One Fishing Fly Challenge in to 2012.

Check them out when you get a chance, and feel free to join un in 2012. Guidelines are simple and since there are no prizes other than bragging rights, everyone gets a chance to be on the Leader Board!

Good Luck and Good Fishing!
COAF Field Team

PS: Here are links to the 2009, 2010, and 2011 COAF Leader Boards for reference.

Closed Out 2011 with a Limit of Trout!

2011-12-31T16:47:00.000-06:00

Made it out on a nice (but windy day)! Was able to close out 2011 with a limit of five Rainbow Trout! Caught them using Powerbait Rainbow Glitter but did see Corn, Orange and Chartreuse Powerbait, and Bread in their stomachs!

Saw a few others catching them on Corn and Bread; looked like there are still a number of Trout in the pond! Should see more in the upcoming weeks when another Trout Stocking happens!

Click-on 2011's COAF Fishing Leader Board to checkout top fish caught this year by our readers. Also, click-on One Fishing Fly Challenge to checkout the Field Team's flyfishing informal contest. Feel free to join; it's simple!

Tough Time Fishing... Only a Few Days to Complete 2011's Honey Do List!

2011-12-30T19:11:00.000-06:00

Having a tough time fishing these last few days of 2011. Got lots of Honey
Do's to complete before 2012 arrives. One of which involved standing in
line at the Department of Public Safety to renew Drivers Licenses. Only
took three hours to get it done. Very tough just standing there knowing
Trout are lurking in several community lakes/ponds! Will have to make it a
point to fish tomorrow – the last day of 2011.

Till then, HAPPY NEW YEARS from the Field Team!

Steady Action at Huaco Springs, New Braunfels!

2011-12-26T18:17:00.000-06:00

Fished the Guadalupe River for Rainbow Trout this afternoon. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has leased a river access point at one of the areas they stock trout on the river. Nice being able to access the river with no additional fees other than your Texas fishing license.

The access point is located at Huaco Springs, New Braunfels. Signs readily point to the parking area for Trout Fishing once you enter the camp grounds. And, water was flowing and fish were congregating in pools and pockets along the stretch of the river.

Managed a limit of Trout using Chartreuse and Orange Powerbait. Saw others catching them on Corn and Spinners as well! Keeping this one in our backpocket next time we pass through the area!

Cabelas Has Powerbait!

2011-12-22T20:18:00.001-06:00

Cabelas has Powerbait! Was running short on Rainbow Glitter. Picked up a bottle while browsing around the fishing section. Had other selections including Power Worms!

Waterloo Again; Two Limits This Round

2011-12-21T18:19:00.000-06:00

Had a chance to run up the road to Denison to fish Waterloo this afternoon. Fished with NucLaroche and managed two limits of Trout using Powerbait. Looked like Rainbow Glitter and Chartreuse worked equally well today. After cleaning the Trout, did notice a few had Corn in them. Saw others fishing the Pond with fish taken on Powerbait as well as Corn!

Summary of Lures and Baits Used for Trout Fishing (Rainbow Trout) is Posted!

2011-12-19T18:34:00.001-06:00

With over 80 plus Trout Fishing reports received to date, the Team finished collating the data and posted the results on our partner website - Texas Rainbow Trout Fishing: Top 5 Lures and Baits for Community Lakes! Check it out when you get a chance! We hope are Readers find it useful when preparing for a fishing trip to their local community lake/pond for Rainbow Trout!

Field Team Limits Again At Waterloo, Trout For Dinner Tonight!

2011-12-18T19:05:00.000-06:00

Field Team made it back again to Waterloo Park Pond for more Trout action. Managed three limits on Powerbait (Rainbow Glitter and Chartreuse). NucLaroche and Comal Kid opted for spinning gear and carolina rigs. Fshng84 was testing out another variation of the Powerbait Fly. This one is tied with a Bead Head and uses Antron to form a Nymph-like body. Else, the "ballpoint pen" spring is still used to help keep the Powerbait on the fishing fly.

Picture below shows today's limit, the baits we bring whenever we fish for Trout stocked in community lakes and ponds, and the Powerbait Fly. Also, added a video clip of yesterday's trip to show a little more detail on how we setup to fish for Trout.

Good Luck and Good Fishing!
COAF Field Team

Field Team Limits Out at Waterloo!

2011-12-17T21:07:00.000-06:00

Ran up the road to Denison to fish with other members of the Field Team. Fished the morning with NucLaroche and T-Bone at Waterloo's small pond. Quickly limited out with fifteen Rainbow Trout ranging from 9" to 13" in size. All were caught on Rainbow Glitter Powerbait except for two that went for Orange.

Met up with the Comal Kid later in the afternoon; slight mix up in driving directions to the pond. Regardless, Comal Kid limited out quickly with five Rainbow Trout in about 15 minutes. Four were small (9" in size); one went 13" in size! Not bad for a Kansas Jayhawk traveling home for the holidays!

New Squidoo Lens Article - "Cheap and Tasty"?

2011-12-16T15:10:00.003-06:00

Checkout our newest Squidoo Lens Article - "Cheap and Tasty". Below is an excerpt from the introduction.

Welcome to "Cheap and Tasty", a Squidoo Lens that our friends from the City Of Allen Fishing (COAF) Field Team started in order to list generic foods and products that they like!

Being avid fishermen and devoted to the pursuit of fish, we prefer to spend money on fishing gear, gas for fishing trips, and fishing licenses/park fees.

Unwilling to spend our hard earned dollars on non-fishing related items, we are always on the lookout for a good deal. In the case of food and products at the grocery store, we find that we do not have to give up taste and quality on certain generic items. This results in a cheaper grocery bill and more money to spend on fishing but not at the expense of our taste buds!

Hope it gives our Readers a few cost saving ideas that (like us) allows them to spend more on the important things like... "fishing gear, gas for fishing trips, and fishing licenses/park fees"!

Good Luck and Good ~~Fishing~~ Saving?
COAF Field Team

Limited Out This Afternoon!

2011-12-14T15:39:00.002-06:00

Took a break from the Salt Mines and headed to Bethany to break last night's strikeout. Light rain but nothing that rain gear could not handle. Fished a Gold Kastmaster and had two hook ups but lost them while landing. Then, lost the Kastmaster.

Switched to a Silver Super Duper without success. Switched to a Gold Super Duper and caught one on a fast retrieve. Then, hooked and landed four on a Copper Super Duper. Again, the fast retrieve was the key!

First limit of Rainbow Trout for the Field Team this year! Largest went about 13" in size. All had empty stomachs - maybe why they wanted a fast retrieve.

PS: Having lost the Gold Kastmaster, stopped by Cabelas and Dick's Sporting Goods to restock the tackle box. Gold Super Dupers and Kastmasters from Cabelas; Copper Super Dupers from Dick's Sporting Goods!

No Joy In Mudville Tonight....

2011-12-13T20:58:00.000-06:00

No joy in Mudville tonight. Struck out this evening at Bethany. Still was promising as others were catching Trout using bait and lures. Rain came in after sunset; regardless, the Trout were active and lots of surface movement was observed. Too bad they were not in the mood for a Kastmaster or a Gold Ribbed Hares Ear Nymph. Would not call it a complete shut out though. Had three strikes and misses using a BH Olive Wooley Bugger!

Click-on 2011's COAF Fishing Leader Board to checkout top fish caught this year by our readers. Also, click-on One Fishing Fly Challenge to checkout the Field Team's flyfishing informal contest. Feel free to join; it's simple!

One On a Gold Kastmaster This Evening.

2011-12-12T19:40:00.000-06:00

Work definitely gets in the way of fishing but did manage a quick trip to Bethany just before dark set in. Saw a few Trout rising; brought a Gold Kastmaster and a Silver Super Duper. Caught one Trout on the Kastmaster, else nothing else. Ended up giving it away, adding to another fisherman's stringer of two!

More Trout Fishing at Bethany - Three in the Morning and One in the Afternoon.

2011-12-11T20:04:00.000-06:00

Fished Bethany this morning. Caught one on a Gold Kastmaster and two on Orange Powerbait. Others were catching Trout and looked like limits were being taken! Called it quits around 11AM.

After knocking out some personal business (another word for chores), stopped by Dick's Sporting Goods to use up a $10 Rewards Card. Restocked the tackle box with Super Dupers, a Silver Kastmaster, and Terminal Tackle.

Then, hit Bethany again in hopes of catching two more Trout. Caught only one but was larger than the ones caught in the morning.

Did see others catching them on Power Bait and Lures! Looked like more limits were being taken to include the two nice looking stringers in the picture below! Nice job guys!

Only One Again This Round

2011-12-10T18:19:00.000-06:00

Started to fish with the intent of fishing the morning but work and other things called the morning outing short. Fished for about an hour with no strikes, then had to leave.

Came back in the afternoon and fished until 5PM with a Fishing Buddy. Had two nibbles on Powerbait and one on Corn but no hookups. Did see Trout rising around "4:30ish", switched to a Super Duper and a Kastmaster. Caught one Trout again this round.

Action was slow but did see a few Trout being taken; missed the early morning bite but suspect the action was better than the latter morning and afternoon.

Only One Tonight.

2011-12-09T22:14:00.000-06:00

Another late start but was able to fish Bethany. Caught only one Trout tonight on Orange Powerbait. Tried Pink and Orange. No bites on the Pink, two nibbles on the Orange, and one hook up on the Orange. Trout was not as big as the two caught yesterday.

Looks like the action was happening earlier with limits being taken on Super Dupers! Did hear others getting some action on Corn and Powerbait as well. Will see how it goes next round!

Bethany Gets Its Trout Stocking... Two Rainbows Caught and Cooked!

2011-12-08T22:21:00.000-06:00

Bethany received its Rainbow Trout stocking today! Stopped by earlier and saw a few Trout caught. Looked like Power Bait was working.

Was able to breakaway later from work and have a go at the Trout. Action was slow. Tried Chartreuse and Orange with Glitter and had zero bites. Switched to Orange and had a few light nibbles but no hooksets. And then, had two that struck hard.

Took today's catch home, cleaned them - noted one Trout had Orange Power Bait and the other had Bread in their stomachs, and then cooked them. Dinner tonight was Rainbow Trout!

Good start of the Season. Things should pick up in the next few days and last for a couple of weeks (or at least until the Cormorant arrive).

Good Luck and Good Fishing!

Trout are biting!

2011-12-08T12:02:00.001-06:00

Bethany received its Trout Stocking today. Seen a few fishermen getting bites. Looks like Power Bait is the key today!

Tough Getting Out and About....

2011-12-07T10:53:00.000-06:00

Been tough this week to get out and about to do some fishing. Luckily, weather is improving and Bethany is scheduled for a Trout Stocking this week! May have to breakaway from the day job and chores to do some Trout Fishing!

While "rained in" these past few days, been working on a fishing vest to replace an old and beat up one. Put this one together using an a Canvas Drop Cloth Tarp from Home Depot and some scrap material. Should do for at least a season or two,... we hope!

Only One Little Bass This Round.

2011-12-03T10:28:00.000-06:00

Was worried that the rain and cold would keep us from fishing today. Luckily, it did not.

Managed to catch a little Bass at Bethany using the same rig as the last few outings - BH Antron Streamer under a Strike Indicator.

Caught only one but did lose three others while trying to land them. No Bruisers this round.

Evening Outing Gets a Few Bites at Bethany.

2011-12-02T22:07:00.000-06:00

Fished after dark with a BH Antron Streamer. Caught three fish - Sunfish/Bluegill. Was glad to see the Streamer worked in the dark.

BH Anron Streamer Gets One Fish.

2011-12-01T14:59:00.001-06:00

Quick trip to Bethany before the next front rolls in. Caught one fish on a BH Antron Streamer!

Strike Indicator, BH Antron Streamer, and Slow Retrieve....

2011-11-27T09:18:00.001-06:00

Cold front rolled to drop the temperature to the 30's. Throw in a strong wind and the wind chill made things feel colder. Sun was out though, so decided to brave the cold and fish Bethany. Lasted less than 30" - forgot the gloves so hands were too numb to fish properly. Did manage to catch four little Bass as well as lose one. Strike Indicator, BH Antron Streamer, and a slow retrieve made it happen. Strikes were light with the key being setting the hook soon as the indicator showed any change in movement (or in this case non-movement).

What We Used Today.

2011-11-25T20:46:00.001-06:00

Here is a picture of the Wooley Buggers we used today on the Blue River. Picked them up at Scotty's One Stop. We tie our own flies but always make a point to keep a few of these in the fly box handy. Can make a difference in catching trout... Like it did today!

Wooley Bugger Gets Four Trout at the Blue River.

2011-11-25T19:50:00.001-06:00

Fished the Blue River today. Caught four Trout. Lost several more including a Bruiser. All went for an Olive Wooley Bugger. Fairly clear water and lots of action. Had to call the trip short else would have likely limited out! Picture below shows three Trout; there is one more hidden by the others on the bottom of the creel.

Two Bass at Bethany... Strike Indicator and BH Antron Streamer Worked!

2011-11-24T13:48:00.000-06:00

Went back to Bethany for a quick trip using the Three Weight from Cabelas. Fished a GRHEN and a BH Antron Streamer. No takers on either until we added a Strike Indicator. Fished sloooooooooow.... Caught two Bass but lost four others. One was a Bruiser. All struck with barely a hint of bite on the BH Antron Streamer. Fun stuff!

3WT TFO Flyrod/Reel Deal at Cabelas... Three Fish On the Fly!

2011-11-23T17:34:00.000-06:00

Went to Cabelas to checkout the deals. Saw one deal on a Three Forks Outfitters Flyrod and Reel Combo in a 3 Weight; picked it up for $39.99!

After switching the reel to a right-hand retrieve, took it out to Bethany. Caught a Bluegill, a Bass, and a Sunfish on a BH Antron Streamer. Liking the 3 Weight, may have to put the 5 Weight aside for now!

Guadalupana... Gets a Bass at Bethany!

2011-11-22T17:11:00.000-06:00

Read an article in Southwest Flyfishing magazine about the Guadalupe River. Article recommended a fly called the Guadalupana for Rainbow Trout. Looked like a Wooley Bugger but tied with Peacock Herl for the body and wrapped in Gold Wire.

Decided to make one and test it at Bethany. Colder temps compared to yesterday but at least the sun was out. Also, went ahead and tied a couple of BH Antron Streamers in Olive to go with the Guadalupana.

Fished the Guadalupana slow and under a strike indicator. Managed to catch one Bass. Will have to keep this one ready in the flybox. Like the "fishy" look that the Peacock Herl gives the fly!

Colder Temps at Bethany But Caught a Few Panfish.

2011-11-21T13:24:00.001-06:00

Colder temps at Bethany but was able to catch a few Panfish. Worked a BH Antron Nymph sloooowly under a strike inficator. Key take away- fish slow and where water is flowing.

Guadalupe River....

2011-11-20T20:50:00.000-06:00

Checked out the Guadalupe River this morning. Small section located in the town of New Braunfels. Water was flowing and did see some surface activity but no hookups save for a little Sunfish. Next round will have to work upriver and see if a few Trout will bite! Till then, it's back to the Metroplex.

Fished the Comal River Today....

2011-11-19T21:24:00.002-06:00

Fished the Comal River - specifically Landa Park, today for a change of pace. Caught mainly Perch including a Bruiser "Cichlid" (we think it's a Cichlid). Really like the Park! Posted a few pictures of the Comal River below and short video clip.

TPWD Rainbow Trout Stocking Schedule for 2011-2012 Posted!

2011-11-18T06:43:00.003-06:00

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department posted the Rainbow Trout Stocking Schedule for 2011-2012! Looks like Bethany gets a stocking on 8 December! Mark your calendars and stock up on Super Dupers, Rooster Tails, Wooley Buggers, Nymphs, and Power Bait!

For more information on this Season's Trout Stocking, check it out here: TPWD Rainbow Trout Stocking Schedule!

Good Luck and Good Fishing!
COAF Field Team

For Collin County: Here is an excerpt from TPWD's Rainbow Trout Stocking Schedule showing stocking locations for the county

Two Shellcrackers on a BH Antron Streamer

2011-11-17T19:37:00.000-06:00

Made it to Bethany right before dark. Was able to try out the Strike Indicator, fishing a BH Antron Streamer on a slow retrieve. Slow presentation is the key when the cold temps change the pattern. This round... caught two Shellcrackers that went about 7" in size!

3 Little Bass at Bethany for Today's Trip...

2011-11-15T15:46:00.000-06:00

Took a break this afternoon from the day job for a quick trip to Bethany again. This time no strike indicator and fished with one fly - BH Antron Streamer. Caught three little Bass and lost a couple others. No Bruisers,... still beats work!

Took a Break,....

2011-11-14T19:52:00.000-06:00

Long day at work and still going. Had to take a break and wet a line at Bethany. No Bruisers, just four Sunfish/Bluegill on a BH Nymph and a BH Antron Streamer.

Strike Indicator and a BH Nymph....

2011-11-13T18:23:00.002-06:00

Saw a YouTube Video for a diy strike indicator. Liked it, so made a couple and went to Bethany to test it out. Simple to make requiring a little "O" Ring, Glo-Bug Yarn, and Thread! Field test gives it a thumbs up.... caught one little Bass and lost another while bringing it in. Liking this setup - a BH Nymph under a Strike Indicator. Keeping this setup handy for later when Trout Stockings begin again later this year!

Made It To The Blue River Today!

2011-11-12T21:48:00.000-06:00

Made it to the Blue River (Ok) today. Caught a little Bass on a Flashback Pheasant Tail Nymph. Then, no strikes for awhile. Switched to Wooley Buggers for a good portion of the morning with the same results - no strikes.

Went with Power Bait and caught two Trout! Then, nothing again. Cloudy water conditions made it tough but others were catching them. Saw some nice stringers brought in to the Trout Derby's weigh station.

Late afternoon/early evening started working a Gold Ribbed Hares Ear Nymph and finally caught a Trout on a fly. Nice start to the 2011-2012 Season! Made even better when a trio of fisherman working a section less than 10 yards away hooked and landed a couple of Bruisers; larger of the two is posted in the picture below. Nice to know they are lurking in the area!

Made It To The Blue River Today!

Quick Trip To Bethany Gets Three... Little Bass!

2011-11-07T21:43:00.000-06:00

Took a break from work and made a quick trip to Bethany Lakes. Worked the shallows with a Blue Fox Spinner. Caught three little Bass, no Bruisers but still beats working. Did hook and lose a few more, good to see they are still lurking along the banks, but the pattern is bound to change with the next cold front.

Still Not Able to Breakaway....

2011-11-06T18:56:00.001-06:00

Still not able to breakaway from work and do some fishing. On top of that, the time change means dark gets here much sooner.

Was able to make a run over to Cabela's to pick up some flyfishing things. Also, made a few furled lines and leaders for the Tenkara and Flyfishing.

Now, just need some time to fish!

Dry Spell....!

2011-11-05T12:45:00.001-06:00

Been a tough go getting away from the "Salt Mines" to go fishing. Even quick trips have been out of the question. Hope to be out of this dry spell soon, especially with the Trout Stocking Season on the Blue River (Oklahoma) began earlier this week.

Gotta make it a point and get there for some river fishing for Trout! Hope to see more Bruisers like the one below. Was caught during last Season's Trout Derby held in November!

Blue Fox Spinner Continues To Work at Kroger Park!

2011-10-30T16:31:00.000-06:00

Could not stay indoors given the great weather we are having. Did a quick trip to Kroger Park and fished the Blue Fox Spinner. Caught two little Bass. Fun stuff; beats working!

Blue Fox Spinner Worked Slowly Gets a Few Bites

2011-10-30T10:50:00.000-06:00

Fished Shadow Lakes Feeder Creek briefly while on the way to Bethany. Caught one "Longear"? and then moved on to Bethany. Colder temps has things slowed down a little. But, they are biting with two Bass hooked and landed at Bethany. Used a Blue Fox Spinner fished on a slow to medium retrieve to keep the blade spinning.

Shadow Lakes' Feeder Creek Holding Fishys!

2011-10-29T21:16:00.000-06:00

Fished one of the feeder creeks in the area. Been a while since we fished them due to the drought. However, with the recent rains, it looks like some creeks are holding enough water to support fish! In this case, caught a Bass in a culvert pool, lost others, then began working the creek for Panfish. Did get a few strikes on Bass but failed to land them - save for the one in the picture below. Still fun catching Panfish on the fly; used the Burnt Orange Crawdad and a Pearl/Olive Crappie Jig Variant.

Two On a Rooster Tail... But Game Wardens Catch Seven!

2011-10-26T18:25:00.000-06:00

Was able to get an earlier start today and fished Bethany. Caught a couple of little Bass on a Rooster Tail. Lost six others.... hooked but came off shortly after. Did see the Game Wardens checking licenses! Even better... looks like they caught seven law breakers. Not sure what they were cited for but did take a picture of dead Bass that one group had been keeping.... Remember, Bethany Lakes is catch and release except for Trout. Kudos to the Game Wardens!

Yellow Rooster Tail Working At Bethany

2011-10-25T19:07:00.001-06:00

Fished Bethany this evening. Used Ultralight Gear and a Yellow Rooster Tail and worked the shoreline. Caught six Bass and lost a lot more. Looks like a steady retrieve that places the lure just below the water's surface was the key today. To bad things will change with tomorrow's cold front rolling in.

Sunfish This Round

2011-10-23T16:34:00.001-06:00

Fished Bethany this afternoon. Last night's rain made for cloudy water. Caught two Sunfish on the Burnt Orange Crawdad, then lost the fly to a Bruiser. Looked like it was a Catfish that struck. Switched to a Deer Hair Popper and had several good strikes but failed to set the hook in time. Went to a Bead Head Olive Wooley Bugger and caught more Sunfish.

Two Bluegill, Two Little Bass, and Found a Bruiser?

2011-10-22T17:03:00.001-06:00

Fished Bethany this afternoon using a Burnt Orange Crawdad. Caught two Bluegill and two little Bass. Missed another that may have went 12", then while working the bank, found a Bruiser struggling in the shallows. Was able to pick it up and tried reviving it. Was still alive but looked like its back was injured by something. Not sure this one will make it.

Two Bass and a Bluegill

2011-10-21T19:43:00.000-06:00

Warmer temps and a chance to break away from work this evening. Went to Bethany and fished with flyfishing gear. Caught a little Bluegill on a Damsel Fly, lost the fly to a snag, then switched to a Deer Hair Popper. Caught two Bass. No Bruisers but still a good time fishing!

Able to Get Away; Caught a Sunfish and Bass

2011-10-19T19:22:00.000-06:00

Colder temps with more to come this evening. Able to get away and fish. Quick trip to Bethany before the Rangers Game. Caught a little Sunfish and a Bass on a Crappie Jig Variant. Slow retrieve and light strikes were the norm this round.

Tenkara Fishing Today - Small Pond and Little Creeks!

2011-10-16T18:56:00.000-06:00

Fished the small pond at Suncreek Park in Allen, catching only one fish using the Tenkara Rod. Moved on to a secluded section of Spring Creek in Plano and caught 20+ little fish (Perch and Bluegill), and then closed out the trip fishing a shallow creek in Chislom Park (Plano). More little fish. No Bruisers but was good to check out some "other" places that we have not been to in a while. Also, was good practice working a nymph in a "river" setting. Hope it works out for Trout later this year.

Out and About Today....

2011-10-15T22:34:00.000-06:00

Had a break from work today. Decided to hit several places that we have not fished in a while - started with the creek by Harrington Park in Plano, then the pond behind Davis Library also in Plano. Next, was the Village in Allen, a new pond in Fairview, and then back to Bethany Lakes. No Bruisers but did catch a few fish. Also, good to see the water levels are up! Posted a short video clip of the outing.

No Luck on a Senko but Managed a Few on a Grasshopper!

2011-10-14T20:24:00.000-06:00

Broke away from the "salt mines" and fished Bethany this evening. Made it before it got dark this round, so opted for Senko Worms. No luck,... seemed like the fish were favoring little lures. Caught one Bluegill on a Tenko Worm, then caught a Bluegill and two Bass on a Grasshopper. Warmer temps and more surface action, so it made sense that the Foam Rubber Grasshopper Variant produced!

Two Sunfish on a Deer Hair Bug

2011-10-11T22:55:00.000-06:00

Late start but made it to Bethany this evening. Slow go,... only two Sunfish on a Deer Hair Bug. Had several good hits from what looked like Bass but did not hook up.

Quick Trip to Bethany to Fish the Waterfall.

2011-10-10T21:17:00.000-06:00

Decided to try our luck for more Tenkara Fishing at the Waterfall at Bethany.... Caught a few but the action was not as good as yesterday. Mainly little Bass and Sunfish; was hoping for Crappie like yesterday. No luck this round!

One on a Senko, then Several on a Crappie Jig Variant, and then more with a Tenkara Rod!

2011-10-09T17:45:00.002-06:00

Fished Bethany this morning to take advantage of the recent rainstorm and higher water levels.

Caught one Bass on a Senko using a steady retrieve. Then, lost the Senko to a snag. Noticed really good water flow at the waterfall and a lot of fish activity.

Did not bring flyfishing gear but did have some fishing flies in the tackle box. So, rigged up a Hula Popper and tied on a Crappie Jig Variant as a dropper.

Immediately started getting bites on the Crappie Jig Variant; even caught a few Crappie!

Took a break and switched out poles. Grabbed the Tenkara Rod as it works well when fishing the Waterfall. Caught Crappie, Bass, Panfish, and a little Catfish!

Good Stuff!!!

One on a Senko; three on a Hula Popper and a Dropper!

Mixed Bag On a Tenkara Rod

Red/White Deer Hair Popper Worked This Evening!

2011-10-08T19:44:00.000-06:00

Went back to Bethany this evening to test out a new fishing fly... did not produce a hit. Switched to a Red/White Deer Hair Popper that we picked up at Cabelas. Caught an 8" Shellcracker and five Bass. Like the topwater action especially on flyfishing gear!

Three Bass for a Nooner at Bethany... On Senkos!

2011-10-08T13:27:00.000-06:00

Went for a "Nooner" at Bethany today... meaning we started fishing at 12PM! Fished with a weightless Senko and caught three Bass. Slow retrieve and light strikes were the key take aways today. Had several more strikes but missed hooksets; the suttle bites were enough to delay setting the hook. Gotta work on this next round,... feel a tap, pull back and set, else miss the fish!

Three Bass at Bethany Today

One Bass on a Senko this Evening.

2011-10-06T20:01:00.000-06:00

Been tough being able to fish lately but did manage to wet a line this evening. Only one Bass caught on a weightless Senko. Fun stuff...!

Half-Quatro Works At Bethany On a Slowwww Retrieve.

2011-10-02T20:35:00.000-06:00

After pouring a few Half-Quatros earlier today, opted to fish them at Bethany this evening. Bass were active but for some reason a slow retrieve was the ticket. Caught four Bass... really liking the cooler temps. Just need to adust for the Fall pattern.

Hand Poured Half-Quatros

2011-10-02T15:44:00.000-06:00

With a break in work, decided to restock the tackle box with more plastic worms. Since we prefer to make our own rather than buy them at a premium, gathered up the "leftover" plastic baits that we have been saving for another day and melted them to re-use as hand poured plastic worms that we call "Half-Quatros"!

Basically, they are 4" Senko Worms except they are poured into a mold that only uses half the Senko Worm. Works just like the Senko, just cheaper and are fun to fish knowing you poured them yourself!

... plus since we are recycling, you could call us "green" and Earth friendly(?).

Cool Temps This Morning, Slows Things Down... Managed a Little Bass and Several Panfish.

2011-10-02T10:27:00.000-06:00

Cool temps this morning slows the action down slightly. Fished Bethany Lakes using Flyfishing Gear. Went with a Crappie Jig Variant and caught a little Bass and several Panfish on a "stop and go" retrieve. Hits came mainly on the stop!

Sunfish and a Little Bass on a TGIF.

2011-09-30T21:46:00.000-06:00

Went to Bethany after work... caught several Sunfish and a little Bass.

Caught them flyfishing a Crappie Jig Variant. Fun stuff, even better that is Friday!

Restocked Supplies From Cabelas, Then Struck Out at Bethany... Rain/Lightning?

2011-09-29T20:14:00.000-06:00

Finally made it to Cabelas and picked up a Hula Popper to replace the one lost the other day.

Also, picked up a Heddon Lucky 13, a Deer Hair Bug, and some fly-tying material.

Then, ran down to Bethany and fished the Lucky 13.

Had one decent strike but no hookup. Called it quits early because of the lightning and the downpour!

Managed One Bass on a Jitterbug and Watched a Snake Eat Its Catch!

2011-09-28T21:41:00.002-06:00

Fished with a Jitterbug this evening and managed to hook and land one Bass. Fish were active... had several strikes and missed hooksets of which a couple were were likely Bruisers!

Also, noticed the Water Snakes were active as well. Even watched one Snake having a fish dinner!

One Catfish On a Hula Popper... Goes 18" in Size!

2011-09-27T21:17:00.000-06:00

Fished after dark this round with a Hula Popper at Bethany. Slow start but found the right retrieve and caught and released a nice Catfish that went 18" in size. Hooked but lost several Bass, too. Was on a roll until a Tree Fish took the Hula Popper....

A Little Bass, a Sunfish, and a 20" Catfish on a Fishing Fly!

2011-09-26T20:04:00.000-06:00

Fished Bethany this evening on a quick trip.

Not much time before it got dark but managed a little Bass, a Sunfish, and a 20" Catfish!

Even better caught them all on a fishing fly. A variation of the Crappie Jig Variant but using a size 10 streamer hook instead of a jig hook.

Fun stuff!

Two Bass This Morning....

2011-09-25T09:41:00.000-06:00

Only two Bass this morning. One on a Bead Head Leech Steamer; other on an Olive Leech Streamer. No Bruisers but did see a couple lurking... more like staring at my fishing flies.

Restocked the Flybox but the Bass Opted for a Different Fishing Fly.

2011-09-24T19:25:00.001-06:00

After losing several fishing flies this morning, restocked the flybox by tying two Leech Streamers, two Olive Crawdads, and two Bead Head Olive/Pearl Wooley Buggers.

Later, went to Bethany again to "test" them out. Fished for an hour with only one strike and a lost hookup.

Then, on a whim, fished a Bead Head Black Leech made out of Antron that we picked up at Scotty's One Stop when we fished the Blue River in Oklahoma last year.

Good thing,... caught four little Bass!

Click-on 2011's COAF Fishing Leader Board to checkout top fish caught this year by our readers. Also, click-on One Fishing Fly Challenge to checkout the Field Team's flyfishing informal contest. Feel free to join; it's simple!

Afternoon Outing Gets Bass, Sunfish, and Bluegill at Bethany.

2011-09-24T14:11:00.000-06:00

Normally fish the morning but was not able to this round.

Did make it later in the afternoon and managed to lose three fishing flies to snags and Tree Fish.

No worries... will tie replacements later today.

Moreover, did catch four Bass and several Sunfish and Bluegill using an Olive Crawdad and a Bead Head Olive/Pearl Wooley Bugger.

Fun stuff!

Only One Fish Tonight....

2011-09-23T22:31:00.000-06:00

Late start this evening but made it to Bethany for some flyfishing.

Had one strike from a decent Bass. Too bad it went for the strike indicator and not the fishing fly!

Switched to a Foam Rubber Grasshopper and managed to catch one fish - a little Bluegill.

Oh well, wait till the next round.

A Few Sunfish and Bluegill This Evening On the Tenkara Rod.

2011-09-22T19:47:00.000-06:00

Since the recent rains, the water level has been up at Bethany. Decided to take the Tenkara Rod and work the shallows. Had a few hits but no solid hookups, made worse by losing an Olive Damselfly to a snag. Tied on a well worn Purple Damselfly and managed to catch a few Sunfish and Bluegill. Mainly little ones, save for one that went about 7" in size.

A Few Sunfish and Bluegill This Evening On the Tenkara Rod.

Wooley Bugger Keeps Working At Bethany Lakes

2011-09-21T20:29:00.000-06:00

Fished the Bead Head Wooley Bugger under a strike indicator at Bethany this evening, again. Caught a few Bass and a Sunfish. Also, missed a lot of hooksets. Fished till a snag resulted in losing the Wooley Bugger. Did see others catching Bass, including one hookup that looked like a Bruiser except it was lost while landing it.

Wooley Bugger Keeps Working At Bethany Lakes

One Sunfish This Round.

2011-09-19T20:05:00.000-06:00

Fished Bethany Lakes this evening. Late start,... had little less than 45" before it got dark. Tied more Bead Head Olive Wooley Buggers and used one to catch a Sunfish and lose three little Bass.

Only One Fish This Round.

One More Try At Bethany Before it Rained?

2011-09-18T19:18:00.000-06:00

Made it back to Bethany Lakes to work a Bead Head Olive Wooley Bugger under a strike indicator. Had fun catching a few fish before it started to rain! Caught three Sunfish and six Bass. Even lost a Bruiser that broke off the Wooley Bugger... going to tie more as it was the last one in the flybox.

One More Try At Bethany Before it Rained?

10 Bass This AM at Bethany.

2011-09-18T10:32:00.001-06:00

Water levels are up in the Main and Back Ponds at Bethany. Gave it a go this morning fishing with Flyfishing Gear. Caught two Bass on a White Foam Rubber Spider Variant, and then eight more on an unweighted Olive Wooley Bugger under a strike indicator. Bass were small with the largest going about 13" and all were caught less than ten feet from the bank.

10 Bass This AM at Bethany.

Kayak Fishing at Lake Lavon Was Tough Today.

2011-09-17T18:37:00.002-06:00

Went kayak fishing at Lake Lavon but it was tough to find a place to launch. Since Brockdale and Highland Park have been closed for awhile, we have been going to Ticky Creek. Today, found out it was closed. Ended up launching from Avalon Park. Lake level is low but did manage to hook a little Bass that was lost while trying to bring it into the kayak. Other than that, had a few more strikes trolling a jig but no hook ups. Really hoping rains come soon.