Rainbow Trout Fishing 2-8-14 Tom Bass I Park

Hello readers. I'm working on catching up on my blog and I thought I'd start with this post. You'll start to see some that are out of order in terms of dates, but hopefully you'll enjoy reading the content.

You may or may not know that each year the Texas Parks and Wildlife stock rainbow trout in several park ponds across the state. You can find a list of the locations they're being stocked here. These fish don't last long in the ponds due to fishing pressure from people, other fish, and cormorants but are relatively easy. They also represent a new species to catch for me!

My buddy Greg and I decided to head to Tom Bass I Park to fish.  He'd been heading out there and having good luck the past week and offered to show me the ropes.  We decided to head out early, at get there at dusk.  Here's some of the specs on the weather that day:

Fishing Time: 7AM - 9AM
Temp: 41 degrees
Barometer: 30.22 rising
Wind: None
Bait: Berkeley Floating Trout Worm 3" Orange Peel 
Rod/Reel: Browning Superlite 4lb test Stren Mono
Presentation Method: Drop Shot

Greg was using a fly rod but rigged the trout worm to fish on the fly rod wacky style.  He recommended I work the trout worm slowly on a drop shot rig.  I started following his instructions while he started slaying them on the fly rod.  Meanwhile, I wasn't having much luck with the drop shot presentation.  After a few fish, Greg asked if I wanted to try the fly rod.  Having never fly fished, I thought why not.  He gave me a few tips and before I knew it I had my first trout, and it was on the fly!  I was pumped!

Combined we ended up catching 5 or 6.  Being stocked fish, they were pretty small.  But I had a lot of fun and accomplished something new in catching my first rainbow and my first fish on the fly.  I'm hooked!

First Rainbow and First Fish on the Fly!