9/15 River update as I see it

LCRA released water a few days ago with several intentions.  Flush the river out below Austin, preserve the ecology of the river and send fresh water down to Matagorda east and west bays. Water is here and Matagorda's bays will see some relief because of it. However, the relase of water wasnt nearly enough to flush the river out. I just posted another video on Facebook to show the problem I see. Hyacinths are floating everywhere, but a lot of them are simply hanging up on the banks, limbs, and log jams, creating huge piles of them. The duck weed has gone untouched. None of it has broken loose. LCRA has brought the river up about 2 ft in Bastrop, which is a joke if they actually had intentions of flushing the river out. All they have done is create a much bigger mess. I know water is in short supply, especially in central Texas, and letting any water out of Travis is not good, but LCRA made this decision not me. I just wish they had done it right instead of just spreading all this crap around.

Bob

Water and catfish

Should have mentioned this in my last post.  A big rise means really good catfishing. If the river comes up as LCRA says it will, this is the time to go rod and reel fishing for channel cat. The fish go nutts on a rise. Dont matter if I book a trip or not, you can bet this redneck will be sticking them .

Bob

Water is here now

I made a mistake in my last post. LCRA released that water today. It will continue til Septemeber 17 at which time LCRA will ask the state for some exemptions to maintain the ecology of the river below Austin. So if you live my way, and you like our river, please speak up.  Again if you live along the river I would pick your personal items up that are along the bank.  If what I am being told is correct an 11 ft. rise will be seen in Bastrop by tomorrow. I will update this info as I see it for myself. I trust no governemnetal agency to give me any correct info.


Bob

Water is coming

The verdict is in. LCRA  will release water out of Travis and Buchannan to save the ecology of the river below Austin and to keep the bays in Matagorda in check.  Yes it will drop those lakes at a faster rate. But this needed to happen bad. Tubers and canoers are discouraged to float our river. The locals cant or dont want to fight the grass to fish. It has truly changed the river as we know it. It has hurt my business bad.

I dont have all the info I need to make this post exactly correct.  However, from what I am told LCRA will release enough water to push the level in Bastrop to bank full for 5 days at a time. Bank full is 14 ft.  We currently sit at 2.85 ft. Simple math says we are looking at an 11 ft plus rise next week. If you live on the river, you better pull your crap up a bit or it will be gone. My biggest worry now is with the amount of grass we have and knowing the amount of water LCRA is sending down stream, will we have a major log jam in the river. I think thats very possible. Time will tell.  Again I have to say I am always here to pull people off the river that are in trouble. Yes it will cost you. But I can get to you 24/7 within 30 miles of Bastrop either way  512 718 4516. I am a lot faster and a lot cheaper than calling LCRA rangers or game wardens. This rise will catch a ton of people off guard, because nobody pays attention to river conditions.

PS   Been watching deer and bow season looks real good.  Just because you cant make opening weekend, doesnt mean I cant put you on a kill. I have tons of animals. Hunt with me two days, and if you havnt slung an arrow you hunt free the 3 rd day.


Bob

A Desperate Need For Water

This prolonged drought we are in is really starting to show its teeth.  Lakes Travis and Buchannan are close to hitting all time lows with no relief in sight and central Texas growing rapidly. This afternoon LCRA discussed the possibility of releasing more water out of Travis to sustain the rivers ecosystem below Austin and sustain the ecosystem in Matagorda's bays where the river empties into. I think TCEQ is playing a big role in LCRA's decision.

I do not believe the average person has any idea of how bad things would be if Buchannan and Travis dried up, but on the flip side the river below Austin is as bad as its ever been. So ,  what do we do. Save the water for upstream users or let it go to save our river and bays downstream. My opinion does not matter. Never has Never will.   The only thing I can say is everybody better pray that mother nature unleashes a TEXAS size flood real soon.

Bob

Upcoming 2013/2014 Bow season

My stands are up and I am feeding and watching. My doe numbers look good and I have seen 9 shooter bucks, 3 of which are real good and one of them is a big nasty freak. I have 1 maybe two spots open for opening weekend. I dont know of anybody that can beat what I offer  for the price I charge.


My doves have been beat up. Most of the local birds have been thinned out. Bird hunting will be slow until we get several cold fronts in to bring some northern birds down.

Duck season should be slamming good this year. Grass everywhere and the birds love it. Grass is so bad it has chewed up my impellar and the housing. Going to stainless steal on the next one.

Get ready for stickin time

Bob

Dove season

Opening day was good. We had about 80 birds taken. Went back out yesterday and it slowed down a lot.  These are all local birds, and when they are shot up, we are done until we get some cold fronts to push some northern birds down. Bow season is getting close. Call now for a spot

Dove hunts

I do offer dove hunts. $40/man  However, I dont have large numbers  of birds in right now.  I do have another outfitter in San Marcos that has a ton of birds. He charges $80/man for up to 10 guns. This place will fill very fast, so if you want on it, call me now.

Bob

River update/Bow season

I spent 5 hours on the river  yesterday and the day before. As I continue to say the grass is out of control. Bass fishing on the river remains slow. The only way we are catching any fish right now is a texas rigged brush dropped in the deepest cover you can find. I need some cooler temps. That will help the bite on the river. The grass will be a major problem until we get a flood or winter temps knock the grass back.  I had 3 different hoses on my motor blow off yesterday from sucking grass up in my jet foot. Lake Bastrop remains the best place to catch numbers. However, it too has been a little slow lately with all the cloud cover we have been getting from the upper level low in the gulf. By Wednesday we should be back under high pressure and the schooling activity should pick up.


Bow season is all but here. As of today, I have one big tract to hunt, but am working on two others. Stands are up and I am feeding. Book now to save a spot. I am almost full for opening weekend unless I can get another tract.


Bob


PS  Dont forget about Duck Season.  The only thing all this grass in the river is good for is bringing tons of ducks in. Duck season will be slamming good.

Lake Bastrop Schoolies

The schooling fish on Lake Bastrop remain very good. Best times to go are from 8 am to noon and from 5 pm til dark. Midday they tend to shut down. dont be afraid to show them different baits, as these fish have been getting hammerred by anglers. I posted a pic yesterday of 3 fish on one alabama rig. If they are up good and staying up, multiple fish onan A rig can and does happen. One thing I have noticed is that these fish will school hard for a day or two and then they seem to take a break for a day. Another words its hit and miss when you can find em thick. This is an excellent time to call and book a trip. 4-6 hours for one or two people $300. Its worth your time and money to experience some excellent schooling activity.





Bob

Trespassers

This past weekend there was some kind of paddle boarding event held on the river. I hear they had a good turnout. However, some of them decided to trespass on the Higgins tract on Lovers Lane. The owners agent is not happy to say the least. The game warden has been called and we will find out who was in there. I put this on Facebook because Facebook does get out in front of a lot of people. Someone is bound to know who went in there with no permission. If you know who it was please call me  512 718 4516.


Bob

River courtesy

I had to bring this topic up. As a kid when I ran this river there were no tubers, kayakers,canoers,  or paddle boarders. Bastrop has grown and with growth comes new things. Those new things are people from all walks of life. They like to tube, swim, paddle board, and canoe. I think its great for our community. But with growth problems are sure to follow.  I really dont want anyone to take what I am about to say the wrong way, but it has to be said.   The local guys that run this river have been on it for years and they know it like its their backyard. We cant shut a motor down in grass or a riffle.  This river is shallow and rocky and now with the drought the grass limits where we can run. I just want and ask that everybody on the river have a little respect for the guy behind you.  Too many times I have been in a tight spot, knowing I cant shut it down without ripping my boat or motor up just to have a swimmer, canoer, kayaker, or paddle boarder not make an attempt to move out of the only path I can go. Motors are loud. People can here us coming from a quarter mile or better. That is the only warning we can give them because of the twist and turns the river makes.  When I can safely shut down to not wake people I will, but there are times that the river does not allow that to happen. I am happy to see so many people get on this river. It has always been under utilized. Just take a little time and think about the people around you while on the river whether you are floating or driving a boat. Its a lot safer if we all look out for each other.


Bob

Fishing with dad

This past Monday morning I loaded my 70 year old dad up and went to Matagorda. The weather looked like it was going to lay and make it flat. That didnt quite happen, but our trip, I will never forget. Monday afternoon we got into some good numbers of trout in east bay with some short reds. Tuesday we tried to get into the surf but the wind just wouldnt let us. So, we went back to east bay on the west side northwest side. It too was slow. Dad kept on my butt about making a drift by a very small platform that we were near. I kept on my path of drifting grass breaks. Finally, I said to myself, what the hell, lets go where dad says to go. The very first drift we made, dad hooked into something large. I could see the excitement in his eyes, but at his age this fish was kicking his ass. I turned the video camera on and started videoing. That video is something I will keep with me forever. It was a 22 inch red, which may not seem like much to most people, but that one fish brought the kid out in a 70 year old man. That one fish made our entire trip and made dad so happy. I will never forget it.  The video is on my facebook page for any of you that want to see it.


Bob



PS   Bow season is getting closer

2013 Bow season

Bow season is 7 weeks away. I offer day bow hunts  $75 for a half or $150/day. My stands,my corn. I put you in. I pick you up. Will help you find your kill and I offer a lighted A frame to clean your animal on.  I think my hunters success rate is as good as any day lease you will hunt. My animals are wild. No protein. No genetics. No high fences. Just real hunting. I hand feed each stand everyday prior to opening day. If you havnt hunted with me, you should give it a try. I dont take money just to stick you in a tree to look at nothing. I work hard on my stand sets and feeding to make sure you have the best possible chance at success. My weekends fill up fast. Weekdays are easier to get a spot. I am taking bookings now.

Bob

Lake Bastrop report

The schooling fish remain strong on Lake Bastrop. Best time to whack em is about 8 am to noon. Cloudy days they stay down. If you havnt fished schoolies you are missing out. Its a sight to see. My email is back up and running. I am also on Facebook. Call now for a great trip on Lake Bastrop


Bob