bluecordfishermen 
After dinner, I made the drive to Lost Maples using Texas High 337 from Medina to Vanderpool. By the time I got to the park, it started to cool down. This trip had the goal of catching a nice bass on a fly rod. The rod in the picture is a 6 weight 9’6″ rod.
The fishing hole at the low water crossing near the park entrance was occupied by a few ladies in bathing suits and beach hats so I elected plan B.
A short 25 minute hike from the parking lot lead me to the pond by the primitive camping area. I carried my waders in a back pack since E-Coli is high this time of year in Bandera County. This pond should be clear since it is so close to the head waters but I took them to be on the safe side.
I got to the pond later than I planned. I opted for the dam breast and cast from the shore in stead of taking time to get the boots on.
I started out with hoppers but only attracted hits from small pan fish. I switched to a streamer and had some heavy strikes. One bit off the tail of the streamer. I swapped it out for a woolly bugger and it produced some big strikes. Finally I hooked this guy and had fun using a fly rod for a fish this big. The picture does not do him justice. As one point in the fight he turned and looked right at me and I thought it was a large catfish. I wasn’t until I landed him that I confirmed that it was a bass. I played him out, took his picture and got him back in the pond.
The lesson I learned was using a bright colored tail. When it disappears, you know the fish took the streamer. I saw this happen several times before I hooked this one for a fight worth waiting on.