Winter Days on the Juan

I am a lot belated on posting this blog but I want to drive home one point immediately. You must fish the San Juan River in the Winter......WHY you ask?? Well just check the photo below.

Yes my friends, that is the Upper Flats. Can you count the number of people....YES THAT IS ONE! On the Tuesday of the trip, I was the ONLY PERSON IN THE C&R AREA.

How often does that happen. I had the entire upper river to myself and was busting those bows with Black bead wing emergers, eggs and leeches.
Worked down to the Upper Flats and made some tosses at the surfacing fish. As usual, the Griffiths Gnat was spot on.

Of course with a famous tailwater all to myself, I was all smiles. My favorite
fish of the trip, could not resist to smile back.



Yep that is Smilie and in the main channel he fought hard and long. A sweet 20 incher that was icing on the cake for a great trip.

Thanks to Chip, Aaron, Zim, Philthy, James and Debbie for some great company.
Oh yeah, the Bubster was there and thanks for taking me out on the boat and coming to dinner.
Until next time, go fish the Juan in the winter.

No one will be there.

Cheers,

Merc

Journey to the South-Blue River OK

Well folks as many times that I have fished the Blue River, a day drive from the house, I have rarely crossed that gate in to the Southern Wilderness north of the campgrounds. After a afternoon recently in the C&R, I decided the next morning to hit the "new" area for me. I was pleasantly surprised at the diverse terrain to fish there. I found fish in the riffles but as is accustomed to the Blue, I found most of my fish there in the slack water and pools above and below the falls.

The trout were a willing bunch into lunchtime on a tandem midge rig with a tan pupa and red Merc Flash emerger as the flys of the am. The red color was the popular fly under an indicator early and as the morning progressed and mayflies hit the water, the Phesant Tail took over and the fish went nuts. As Barry and Charlie have recently posted, the terrain here is varied and you can find your own little piece of solitude.

All in all a very fun morning of hooking trout. I was looking for the big Mizzou's which I did not find in this area but the 10-12 inch fish that I landed were fun and full of spunk. I am a catch and release only guy, but a few of these fish would have been a perfect compliment to an omelette with breakfast. For those of you wanting to see some new terrain and looking to find a piece of your own water for a few hours, you cannot go wrong with this piece of the Blue.

Cheers and Good fishing everyone,

Merc

Southern Tailwater in Texas

Guadulupe River, Sattler Tx.

I had the pleasure this week to return to the Guadalupe River in Sattler Texas, the southern most trout fishing tailwater in North America. This river yielded my first fish on a fly rod some six years ago. The addiction started there and has only grown. Had the chance to fish with a couple of friends Lance Murdock and Tom Herrick, one of the guys who got me rolling in fly fishing.

We were on the water early and had a hook up early. Boy the fish are broad shouldered and fat, some hold overs and some new stockers. The river is very low and the fish are holed up in pools and much like the Blue in OK, this river needs rain. Keep praying please!!

Fish were on the small stuff and broke out the San Juan Box and the Shucka Khan for the first fish of the day.

I covered a bunch of ground in the am at Pott's and really enjoyed the exploration. Sight fished to a couple of nice trout for fifty or so casts with no takes so I continued to move up and hook up. The river is low and clear and the Osprey are ready for any shallow water meals. Continued nymphing the tandem rig and the Shuck continued to produce.

I really enjoyed the return trip to the Guad. Anyone who has not tried to get there and fish it is a must. The GRTU chapter has done an excellent job of stocking the river in conjunction with Texas Parks and Wildlife. The flow arrangements they have forged with the Corp of Engineers has kept the water cool enough towards the dam to keep some holdover trout. With a little more water this spring, I would love to break out the Watermaster and float this bad boy.

Last pic for you was the Big Hooked Jaw Male I landed. Beautiful Fish, Beautiful Place.

Cheers,

Merc

Chilly Day on the Blue

Well the day was windy and chilly but we had the C&R area all to ourselves. I met my buddy Ryan and his dad John around 9 am for a day to fish our favorite area on the Blue. Wind was whipping and the fishing was tough. It took creativity and diving into all three of my boxes to find the ticket to catch these fish. Pablo's Shucka Khan emerger and Soft Hackles were the flies of the day. Both produced results and all the fish were the largest of the season. The fish seem to be eating well and the largest was pushing 17".

Ryan and did some exploring in the lower C&R area which is just some great streamer water. At the last falls it just looks like a perfect place to launch the Watermaster and I just may have to do that one of these days. Ryan located a crawdad (can you say smallmouth) that was pushing 6 inches long. Very impressive speciman, see below.

All in all, another interesting and enjoyable day on the river. My impression although we have had no rain that the river was up a little and the water was just stained enough that somehow more water had appeared in this area. Some of the sides of the falls where there was no trickle no had moving water. Who knows, Ryan and I both agreed on this.

Until next time.

Cheers,

Merc

Back to the Blue- Finally Trout Season is Here

Well everyone, It is Trout Season again in Oklahoma. The guys who did the Trout Derby obviously know that. Wished I could been have been there, maybe next time.

Trout Season on the Blue for Merc is always exciting. Landing fish, new strategies and flies, hard fighting bows and most importantly....peace of mind and making new friends.

Well. I got a great start.

Charley from the Sulphur Springs Inn. What a gentlemen and everyone, if you do not take him up on his generous BRFF offer for any overnights, it is YOUR loss.

I have already posted this but want to share a couple of photo's from Charley's place. Such a neat place and a neat guy. Charley, cannot wait to hook some trout with you later this season.

My first trip to the Blue was spot on. Happened to have the right flies on, took the right advice( Wes) and scored big time. Everyone have a blast on the Blue this year and lets all try and contribute to the water issues that our dear river is going to have down the road.

I know I will.

Cheers and "Fish On"

Merc

Life IN the Fly Fishing Business

Well, it has been a while. Mixed in a couple of fishing trips: a road trip with my buds Spreadsheet and the TRT. Montana..yep the holy grail. By way of Colorado and Utah of course. 12 days 2200 miles. Great fish and a great time.

The subject of this blog is apparent in the title. Funny what live brings. Met a guide on the San Juan River 5 years ago. Name is Paul Freeman. Great guy, great guide and now a business partner. In June, Paul and I bought Aztec Anglers, a guide service on the San Juan River in NM where we met. Pretty cool, huh. Did not pay a fortune and we'll make our money back someday, but the fun we are having will hopefully be present in our customer's eyes and ears.

Especially the ears.

Paul and I want to express our sincere desire to make sure our clients have fun on the river we both love. The San Juan is a classic tailwater with great fishing. We want our clients to have as much fun on the Juan as Paul and I have had many times. I hope our enthusiam when you speak with us will be taken in earnest as we both love to talk about the San Juan. That is all I want to say about our philosophy and in my hopes that folks may check this blog, give us a call and come fish the Juan. We are doing business the right way.

Guides, where the rubber hits the road

The second trip I mentioned was recent. I went to the San Juan to meet our guides, lodging partners, friends and clients. What a blast. All of our guides are just super, both in rapport and results. Had the pleasure to fish with Brian and Chip and absolutely had a blast. Both great guys. Missed fishing with Aaron but that is because he was busy loading up our clients Steve and Bill from North Carolina with great top water and nymphing actions. Ants. Remember, trout LOVE Ants. This is not just marketing folks, it is the truth.

OK, enough business. Life IN the business. Enough said!

Cheers,

Merc

Texas Beauty

When the Lord blessed North Texas with an abundance of water, there is a little secret place that can really make a weekend morning. That would be the Paluxy River outside and through Glen Rose Texas. Abundant native Bluegill, Bream, Yellow Perch, Black and Native Spotted Bass and Gar can really make for some exciting top water action. Wooley Boogers drifted and stripped can also produce fun results.

It has been two years since I fished the Paluxy. Two years ago, we had heavy early spring rains and the river was blown out. Last year, we had virtually no rain from October until May and the river ran dry. This year I figured we had just the right amount of rain and the river would be nice and clear and boy it was.

Today was a blast starting early with boggers with little luck. Time to tie on Miss Prissy and the results were impressive. Hooked at least 25 Bluegill(see FFP photo) Perch and Bream. I mixed in about 4 or 5 spotted bass until I got the Splash and Tug I will remember.

A 16 inch 2 lb Spotted Bass made my day hammering the popper. Went to the reel quickly and the fight was on. My biggest bass to date on a fly rod and a morning I will remember. If you have a chance to hit this gem and can find the right holes, this is a river to embrace.

Cheers

Merc