The Grubsteak is an original fly pattern that was developed to mimic common aquatic insects that are found throughout our home waters. Insects like dragonfly nymphs, damselfly nymphs, and stonefly nymphs all reside in the the creeks and streams of the Pineywoods of East Texas.
Read MoreALT Fly Fishing Magazine is an online publication that posts new issues once a quarter. The latest issue features a short story that some readers of this blog might be familiar with. However, the crew at ALT Fly Fishing has giving the article new life by incorporating some new photos in a stunning layout. It looks great!
Read MoreFly tying instructions for our original fly pattern, The San Jac Squirrel, is now on PanfishOnTheFly.com! We are very happy to have the fly featured on the “Blog” page. Head over to Panfish On The Fly to check it out!
Read MoreFor folks who are interested in hunting pigs on public land in East Texas, I thought I’d do a quick video and address some misconceptions about East Texas wild pigs and what it’s like to hunt them on public land.
Read MoreA bad day fishing is better than a good day at work! This is a phrase I have known since I was a kid, long before I became an avid angler. We have all heard the fishing puns. People who have no interest in fishing have heard the adages and read the bumper stickers. Fishing jokes and phrases permeate American culture and language. But why?
Read MoreHe sniffed for my elusive fishy smell. He dissected each of my answers, searching for my dedication to the righteous fly fishing cause. He must not have found what he was looking for; I was met with his seemingly standard negativity.
Read MoreThis earns my curiosity, so I slouch into the seat of my kayak, trying to minimize my silhouette. I dip my paddle into the current, gently back-stroking, trying to slow my downstream drift. In the center of the river, the doe stands, the muddy water laps at her belly. She’s alert to something. What is she looking for?
Read MoreI am an utter newcomer to the sport of fishing, spin fishing to be specific. I am a neophyte. A tyro. A greenhorn. A babe lost in the woods. I have been fishing for roughly seven months in the seasonal waters of Western Pennsylvania. This is a boast that would be quite impressive for a ten-year-old. However, for a 31-year-old, this means that I have just learned which end of the rod the fish are caught.
Read MoreIf you are looking to explore and fish new water, then your scouting process will likely start at the computer. But before you start scrolling around on Google Maps, there are some key factors that will determine whether you can successfully find a new honey-hole full of fish.
Read MoreI left the truck parked on the shoulder of a gravel road and started bushwhacking through the East Texas foliage and undergrowth. Droplets of sweat dripped from my forehead and rolled down into my eyes. It was a blistering day as I made my way through the bottomlands of pines and hardwoods. My mission was to find and fish the headwaters of a local river.
Read MoreFly Fishing the Sam: A Guidebook to Exploring the Creeks, Rivers, and Bayous of Sam Houston National Forest is a self-published book by Rob McConnell. The anticipated release date will be early in the Spring of 2020.
Read MoreFor several tense minutes, not a word was spoken between the three of us. We watched the bull elk move along the valley. It was quartering towards us and moved slowly as it nibbled at bushes and sage. Damian continued to peer through his rifle scope, watching every move the bull made.
Read MoreWhile fishing small streams in East Texas, I often come across many different types of snakes. Most of these limbless reptiles are harmless, but there are a few that can send you to the nearest emergency room.
Read MoreOverall, I love this little thing. It's so easy to put in my pocket when I take the dog for a walk, or when I go on a hike in the local national forest. If I see a fishy looking spot, I make a couple of casts, simple as that. The Rodless Reel would be a great addition to any camping or backpacking trip if you plan on hiking along a river or lake. It would also make a great piece of gear for a bug-out-bag or wilderness survival kit.
Read MoreThis spring, I was scouting for animal sign in one of the National Forests in East Texas. I carried my trail-camera in my backpack and my goal was to find a heavily used game trail to position my camera on. As I bushwhacked along a small creek, I came upon a dead whitetail doe.
Read MoreFrom a bed of weeds on the side of the road, a gangly little mutt sprang to its feet as the trucked pulled into the rest stop. With hackle raised and spine arched, a low growl emanated from its curled lips. I could now see that the brooding dog wasn’t more than a pup, despite the animal’s facade of wolf-like ferocity. The young mutt’s four oversized paws were a tell-tale sign that this dog still had some growing to do before it could fit into its clodhoppers.
Read MoreTexas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) offers a variety of draw hunts. I usually put my name in the hat for a couple of them every year, but I never had any luck getting drawn. That all changed this past December when I received an email from TPWD informing me that I had been drawn for a hunt in Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. The quarry was whitetail deer and feral pigs.
Read MoreDenali watched over us as we slid into our waders on the back of Troy’s truck. The clouds were sparse when we pulled up to the creek, which flowed under the Denali Highway. Crisp and clear water slipped around boulders, holding grayling in the seams between the fast and slow water. We were excited to don our waders and take our first steps into the water.
Read MoreEllen and my ears perked up at the sound of truck tires rolling over gravel. It was the telltale sound of a vehicle approaching the cabin. We both looked at each other excitedly, "They're here!" she said, and then promptly scampered off the back porch, through the backdoor of the rental cabin, and onto the front porch. We could see the headlights of Van and Katie's truck as they made their way to the cabin. The truck's headlights bounced along the gravel driveway, weaving through the trees. A weekend of fishing and exploring the waters of the South Fork Caddo River was about to begin.
Read MoreI must have stood there, looking at the walrus-like man, for several long seconds. It seemed unbelievable to me that this "Park Ranger" had no interest at all in offering any kind of assistance. I fumbled for something to say, but without another word, he slowly eased his Explorer down the road. I watched his tail lights as they disappeared. I was completely baffled by the utter uselessness of the whole conversation that I had just been involved in. What was the point of having a park ranger if that was the kind of “help” they provided? I was still staring down the road, perplexed and annoyed, when I saw the headlights of a truck heading in my direction. As it got closer, I could see it wasn’t just any truck, it was a big and beautiful F-250. It was our savior.
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