The Bluegill are Biting on Texas Creeks and Streams

The chartreuse popper landed with a plop sending rings of ripples across the surface. The current caught it and pulled it down stream. I let it drift over the dish shaped gravel bed of a spawning bluegill and gave it a slight twitch. The water erupted as a palm size bluegill slammed the popper and then headed for the undercut bank in the shade. The small powerful fish swam in smaller and smaller protesting circles as I stripped in the four weight fly line. I am always thrilled by the bend in the rod and the throbbing protests of these small fish as I bring them in. I leaned over, wet my hand with water and gently lifted the fish from the creek. The brilliance of iridescent colors glistened in the sunlight as I unhooked the popper, released the fish, watched it swim away and prepared to cast again.


I was to repeat this scene a hundred times or more within a span of several hours on the creek that day. The only difference was the species of fish at the end of the line and each was a surprise. Most were bluegill or some hybrid sunfish species but I have also taken largemouth bass, Guadalupe bass, hybrid bass and Rio Grande Perch all in one afternoon on this stretch of Brushy Creek . I have even taken some very large carp on a hand tied deer hair wasp imitation. I was not in some distant exotic location but a mere 3 miles from my home on a beautiful stretch of Brushy Creek that runs through the park in downtown Round Rock, Texas. I even took a two pound bass from the shadow of the famous Round Rock that marks the cattle drive crossing on the Chisholm Trail. At least he felt like two pounds to me.

There was a steady stream of traffic on Interstate 35 just over my shoulder yet I was lost in my task at hand. I had seen no one else fishing on the creek that day and had most of the time to myself. A few kids, joggers and walkers on the hiking trail along the creek stopped to watch me fly-fishing and then went on their way. Sometimes kids just can't stand it and they have to come talk to me about fishing. I always try to encourage them to fish the creek as they are the future of our sport. I have learned to carry a few hand tied flies to give to the kids that stop and ask me questions. A few show an extra interest so I send them on their way with a fly and instructions on how to fish it with a bobber on the gear they already have. If they catch a fish on one of my hand tied flies, even if fished on conventional gear, they will be hooked. Who knows, they might even turn into a true fly fisherman someday. Last time I was on the creek I had one kid wade right out knee deep in the creek and stand with me for almost an hour. I would hook a bluegill and hand him the rod to reel it in to be released. When he left his smile was ear to ear. He yelled back that he was going to get his folks to buy him a flyrod. Maybe I will see him out there beating the water and give him a casting lesson some time.

I have discovered that some of the best times may be right at our fingertips here in Central Texas. I have found that the clear Hill country creeks, streams and rivers are a fly fishing Mecca that can be enjoyed for mere pennies as far a fuel costs to and from the location. All one needs is a fly rig or small spinning outfit to spend a day catching fish. I use a four weight rod and floating line most of the time. I recommend catch and release so that we can preserve this great fishery, plus too much fertilizer and septic runoff get into Brushy Creek to risk eating the fish. Get out and try some of the water near you. You might be surprised how great the fishing right under your nose really is, Wild Ed

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