Processed and In The Freezer

Been on the road this past week.  Was not able to make the Season Split Opener....!  Did get a call from the Butcher.  Deer taken last week has been processed.  Put a big dent in the freezer.  Ready to enjoy some great tasting meals.

Processed and In The Freezer

FYI: Rainbow Trout Fishing Articles

Been getting a number of requests about trout fishing tips and suggestions from our Readers.  Here are several links that we have posted in the past that may interest some.  Check them out when you get a chance!

• Texas Rainbow Trout Fishing - Community Lakes
• Texas Rainbow Trout Fishing: Top 5 Lures and Baits for Community Lakes
• Trout Fishing Blogs - And Other Sites of Interest....

Hope it proves helpful.  Good luck and good fishing!
COAF Field Team

Bagged a Doe for the Freezer, Next Step - Ducks!!!

Been a tough season so far.  Saw many undersized bucks but no shooters showed during legal shooting time.  Decided to take a Doe for the freezer.  Now we can get back to Duck Hunting.... at least when the Season Split ends.



Easy 50 yard shot... Used the Mossberg 100 ATR made in Eagle Pass, Texas.  No issues with the rifle. Shot like it was sighted in; hold dead on at 50 yards which was interesting as the point of impact was the same at 100 yards also.  Go figure....

Doe Taken with a Mossberg 100 ATR

One More Sunfish!

Really tough to make it to the local lakes and ponds before it gets dark now.  Was able to wet a line for about 30" this evening at Bethany Lakes.  Managed a little Sunfish on an Olive Leech in size 16.  Was not a Bruiser, but who cares, fishing still beats working!

One Sunfish On An Olive Wooley Bugger

Caught a Sunfish on an Olive Wooley Bugger at Bethany Lakes this evening.  Had a late start, so only fished for about 10" before it got dark.  Still good to know the Sunfish are still active.  Another front is forecasted this week.  So, be ready for another change in the pattern.

One Sunfish On An Olive Wooley Bugger

Flashback Pheasant Tail Nymph Variant

Reviewed the tying instructions for a Flashback Pheasant Tail Nymph from the "Six Great Trout Flies" DVD that we picked up last Trout Season at Scotty's One Stop Shop in Oklahoma.  Made a variation of the fishing fly because we were missing some material.  Instead of Gold Wire used Copper Wire, instead of a Size 16 Hook went with a Size 14 Hook.  Else, everything else was the same.  Hope it works!

Flashback Pheasant Tail Nymph Variant

Bethany Ridge and Bethany Lakes Feeder Creek Gets Little Fish,,,,

Fished Bethany Ridge pond and caught a fingerling Bass and a Bluegill.  Ran down the road to the Feeder Creek to Bethany Lakes and caught several Bluegill/Sunfish.  Small guys hitting a Pheasant Tail Nymph.  Figured better wet a line today before the cold front arrives tonight!

Back To Aggieland....

Stopped by the Alma Mater while on the road; took a quick look at Central Park Pond. 

Pond #1will receive Trout stockings every two weeks beginning 3 December to March of next year. 

Noticed low water levels but did see the City Utilities Crew was filling the pond.  Should be ready to go for early December's stockings!

Next, checked out the Catch and Release Pond by the George H. Bush Presidential Library.

Nice looking pond with lots of aeration.  Managed to catch a couple of Bluegill, and then took a picture of another fisherman's catch - a nice looking Bass!

Today's catch:

Back To Aggieland....



Cold Weather Rig Gets Slow Results On A Warm Day

Fished Bethany Lakes and Kroger Park on a warm weather day.  Used the Trout Rig that we used on the Blue River for Trout - Olive Wooley Bugger with a Nymph Trailer under a Strike Indicator.  Caught a little Bass and a Bluegill at Bethany Lakes; caught three Bluegill at Kroger Park.  All struck the Nymph instead of the Olive Wooley Bugger. Did see Bass and Bluegill/Sunfish lurking in the shallows but not actively feeding.

Another Tough Go At The Lease.... No Duck Hunting Yet.

Was a tough weekend trying to bag a legal Buck.  Did see one six pointer that may have been legal but was too close a call to risk a mistake.  Also, saw a small Buck and a Doe but it was well past legal shooting time when they showed. 



Did do some Hog hunting at night! First night, saw several nice size Hogs but was not able to take a shot.  Next night, had six Hogs show including a big Boar that stopped short of my blind by about 25 yards. It then began to snorting and stomping after sensing me!  Kept the sights on him but opted not to shoot.  Was looking for a Sow for the freezer instead.



Definite adrenaline rush....!

Boar Stopped Short At 25 Yards!

Back To The Blue River.... Two Trout Caught.

Went back to the Blue River for another go at the Trout!  Slower action compared to last week but still had a great time.  Caught two and lost a lot more.  One was caught using a Gold Ribbed Hares Ear Nymph, and the other one was caught using a Prince Nymph.  For the ones that were lost, here are the details:

• Lost two using a Brown Stonefly Nymph
• Lost one using a Gold Ribbed Hares Ear Nymph
• Lost two using a Griffith's Gnat
• Lost one using a Prince Nymph
• Lost one using an Olive Wooley Bugger

"Lost" means set the hook, fish was tugging on the line, but never was landed.  Includes one that was in hand but slipped out and fell back in the river! Bottomline:  Had a great time on the Blue River!

PS:  Bring Nymphs, bring a Strike Indicator, bring a Net.... and bring a Wading Stick!  Also, did see a few flyfishermen taking them consistently using a Flashback Pheasant Tail Nymph under a strike indicator.




Back To The Blue River.... Two Trout Caught.



Two Bluegill Today. One At Bethany Lakes; Other At Kroger Park.

Cold temps today made for slower action.  Saw a few Bass, Sunfish, and Bluegill hanging around the deeper areas during lunchtime.  Managed to catch a little Bluegill on a Nymph at Bethany Lakes.  Went to Kroger Park after work and caught another little Bluegill on the same fishing fly.  Fish are there, just not active.  Both were caught on a slow retrieve under a strike indicator.

FYI: Oklahoma Trout Fishing Regulations

FYI: Received requests for information on Oklahoma Trout Fishing regulations.  

Checked online and found two sites that should prove useful - General Trout Regulations and Trout Area Information.

Good luck and good fishing!

COAF Field Team

Limited Out On Trout on the Blue River but.... Saw Many Bruisers!

Decided to fish the Blue River today.  A Trout Derby was being held, so the river was busy but... the Trout action was great.  Caught a limit of six Trout but none were the size of the Bruisers caught by some lucky anglers! 

Was a great day to be out on a river fishing; even better that it was the Blue River and the chance of Trout to be caught.  Seemed like everyone was getting a bite!

Breakdown of the fish caught today:

• First Trout caught on a Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear Nymph
• Second Trout caught on a Gold Super Duper
• Trout 3,4, and 5 caught on Orange Powerbait
• Caught and released a Trout using a BH Olive Wooley Bugger
• Trout 6 caught on Orange Powerbait



Limit of Blue River Trout!



Bruiser Caught This Morning!

Bruiser Caught This Afternoon!

Three Bluegill and Three Bass This Evening.

Made it out this evening to Kroger Park.  Caught three Bluegill and three Bass.  All on Olive Wooley Buggers.  Holding off on submitting pictures to the One Fishing Fly Challenge since they were little.  Did lose a Bruiser though!

Three Bluegill and Three Bass This Evening.

Click-on 2010'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 Of Year....

Tough time of the year for us.  Deer Season and Duck Season are in full swing.  Trout are being caught on the Blue River, and we all have our day jobs as well.  So what to do, what to do.... For now, will try to do it all... or at least until our significant others tell us otherwise.

This weekend marked the start of Regular Deer Season.  Here is a post from our partner site - The Mobile Blog Feed, that summarizes this weekend's results from our Hunting Group.

Also, here is a post from Drifting the Prarie Ocean - a weblog dedicated to the Blue River in Oklahoma.  Looks like Trout are active.... Really like this Weblog!

Good luck and good fishing and hunting!

Game Cam Picture Taken The Night Before Opening Day!

Opening Weekend Deer Season.... Tag Is Still Open But.... Ten Pointer Was Finally Found!

Made it to the Lease this weekend for the start of Regular Deer Season.  Tag is still open, so duck hunting plans are on hold for now!



Deer Camp 2010-2011 Season

Regardless, was a great time outdoors.  Saw several bucks but none that met the 13" inside spread minimum.



Small Bucks!



Was not all a bust for our Hunting Party.... a nice 10 Point Buck, a Turkey, and a hog were taken this weekend!  Of note is the Buck had an old wound that had healed....

Old Buck With An Old Wound!

Looking at our Field Notes, "an 8 or 10 Point Buck was shot high and knocked down but immediately ran off.  10" later it returned chasing a Doe....  A search of the area found no blood trail, but deer hair was found that looked like it came from the back of the Deer....  Consider the Buck lost but not mortally wounded! "  The entry was dated November 6, 2005.  Game camera pictures over the years noted a Buck with a slightly scarred back frequenting our feeders!

This morning, 5 years and 1 day later, November 7, 2010, a new entry was made, "a 10 Point Buck showed on the south end of the Lease shortly after sunrise.  A shot was taken at about 70 yards, the Buck dropped after running 15 yards.  On closer inspection, it was the Buck with the slightly scarred back.... Consider the Buck finally found!"

Ten Pointer Was Finally Found!



Tough Go... Opening Day Deer Season

Tough go this start of Opening Day Deer Season.  Only action came last night with a Buck that may or may not have met the minimum 13" inside spread.  Oh well, hoping to fill my tag and get back to Duck Hunting!

Three Bass and Three Bluegill On A BH Olive Wooley Bugger!

Fished Kroger Park this evening to see what a Bead Head Olive Wooley Bugger would bring.... Caught three Bass and three Bluegill. All were small but was a good start for this month's One Fishing Fly Challenge - largest fish on Olive Wooley Buggers!

Click-on 2010'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!

A Little Bluegill....

Fished Bethany Lakes this evening before the Rangers game.  Caught a little Bluegill, then watched a lot of Bruiser Bass chasing baitfish in the shallows.  Not one wanted an Olive Wooley Bugger!

Click-on 2010'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!