Texas summers are no joke around here. Triple digit
temperatures in August are commonplace and with humidity
up in the 60's and 70 percentile, fishing can really rough
on the human. During these days finding a place close to
home for a short late afternoon/early evening fish is a
real plus. For me, that would be Brushy Creek.
As in previous writings, Brushy is a long and beautiful
spring fed creek, clear waters with large cottonwoods
and willow trees overhanging, providing shade to fishers
and fish alike.
There is a small community dam that forms a nice pool below
it and the fish are very plentiful there. Even though there
are several houses along one side of the creek, I have never
seen anyone fish these waters and I go there a lot being only
five minutes away from the house. About the only thing I see
here are deer, muskrats and the occasional wondering duck
looking for a handout.
This particular day was clear, hot and muggy, and I was
wading up to the pool when I discovered Little Brushy,
which feeds into the main creek.
Little Brushy is the left fork, and the property along side
it had been bought by the city and is now open to the public
for the first time ever. A well-developed walking trail is
being built, giving easy access to these un-fished waters.
But that's another story for another day.
As I approach the dam I can see a nice pool through the willow
trees.
The water is clear here and choosing a wide path around
the pool I approach near the dam as not to spook the fish.
Fishing here is a real pleasure. The sound of the water
falling down the front of the dam gives a soothing sound
that causes those annoyances of everyday living to melt
and flow away with the current leaving me relaxed and
feeling at peace. The spray created by the falling water
lowers the ambient air temperature to a very tolerable
level to make this an even more pleasurable experience.
Best of all, there are a lot of fish here. Here the bream
get quite large and bass are plentiful. I have even taken
catfish on the fly. The carp are HUGE and I don't even try
for them...yet.
It is here the San Gabriel fly rules. Bream, bass and
catfish will take this fly.
I am never quite sure exactly what may be on the end of my
line when I get a hook up. This day would prove to be no
exception.
I have learned that some of the larger bream hold station
just below the dam waiting for a meal to wash over and plunge
into the pool. Casting the fly upon the dam and allowing
the water to carry it down into the pool has given me some
very exciting results. By doing this the water itself
presents the fly as a terrestrial caught in the turbulence
and the fish take it with a force not unlike those found
in strong river currents.
The bass here regularly patrol the shallows hunting for the
smaller bream. I have had 6-pound mono broken off by the
bass in these waters. If you get a small bream you had better
get it in quick, chances are good you'll lose it to one of
the bass.
The day has nearly ended and wading back there are a couple
of pools lined by grassy meadows to one side and limestone
bluffs on the other. Although the bream or bass are not as
large here, they are plentiful and willing to play.
The light is waning and the shadows deepen. Fireflies are
dancing on the midsummer eve's breeze. Time to call it
another days end, to go home and dream of bream.
~ Hillfisher
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