This morning’s service was led by one Robert Doyle Cain at Loy Lake in Denison, Texas. This little jewel sits right off Interstate 35 a few exits before the Denison Dam, and is actually visible from the highway if you look hard enough. Hey, at least I’m not texting when I drive!

Loy Lake was impounded in 1933 and looks like it. It’s one of those old community lakes that was built to provide drinking water, and has all the wonderful characteristics of a well established, old, lake. The vegetation is well rooted and diverse as are the fish. In a single morning of fishing I was able to catch warmouth, sun perch and all the largemouth bass I could handle.

Another fun and relaxing characteristic of Loy Lake is that it is virtually impossible to fish from the shoreline (due to aforementioned vegetation) and no motorized boats are allowed in this tiny lake. That makes it perfect for kick boat, kayak, jon boat, or any number of other types of non-motorized hydro platforms. This lake is perfect for a Sunday morning, calm and quiet until the highway traffic kicks in. It may be difficult to see from the highway, but even with my bad hearing, the highway is easy to hear from the lake.

According to RDC, it can get a little busy on Loy Lake when fishing conditions are better. This morning’s attendance was pretty sparse with myself, RDC and one other fly fisher (who will go unnamed since he could have been skipping church). We hit the dam pretty hard early, and it paid off in a fish I rarely catch – a warmouth. Ounce-for-ounce there’s nothing quite like a warmouth. They have all the attitude of a largemouth, but in much smaller tank-like bodies. Their red eyes make me think they are straight from hades.

Pretty typical size largemouth bass from Loy Lake. Thanks for the photo RDC.

For those of you interested in going out to Loy Lake, you will have to be able to float it, you will want to think about going light and you will want to think in terms of structure and vegetation. I had a good time with my four weight (except for the one that got away because the 4 could not turn him), and woolly buggers in green / gold bead and green/black with no bead. It’s a situation where you want to literally hit the vegetation with your fly and let it fall right there. Several bass took the fly before the first strip using this method.

The actual conditions today were probably below average with a pea soup of algae mixed into the water that would probably otherwise be a whole lot more clear. Typical of this time of year, I think the action is better early or late, as I could sense a slow down as the day progressed, and a switch to a beaded woolly was necessary to get down a bit deeper by noontime. It will be interesting to see how things change as the fall weather patterns kick in. Some areas of the lake are silted in, and I don’t get the impression anything is happening toward the middle. Keep in mind, this is a small lake, and you could with the aid of the kayak, fish the entire shoreline in a day. There are portions that are, as I said, silted in and other areas are more productive than average. So, if you want to know what those areas are, or you have more knowledge about Loy Lake – Feel Free to Chime in!

It’s common knowledge that the relationship between Temple Forks Outfitters and Lefty Kreh is the stuff of modern fly fishing history. In my two small encounters with Lefty, I went away with the impression that he was there to bring the fly religion to the masses. It starts with his casting philosophy and ends with the rod in his hands. TFO has forged a place in the business of fly rod manufacturing by bringing good rods, a very good warranty and a great price to the masses of fly fishers that would otherwise be left out by companies who concentrated their efforts on low volume high price fly rods. That was then, this is now.

BoB Clouser and the folks at Temple Forks have a new rod that should satisfy a lot of fly fishers on local waters.

The buzz built early for the new Clouser rod, and although it’s not at any of the big box stores, I got my eyes on one on the flats at Ray Roberts when Joel Hays put one through the paces on carp. Although Hays doesn’t have the time to write a review, I can say he was pretty excited about the rod’s performance in close quarter combat with common carp – strong backbone and supple tip.

Now you can find the TFO Clouser rod at Tailwaters in Dallas, Texas. So, if you are itching to get your hands on a Clouser (fly rod), make sure to stop in at Tailwaters and tell them Texas Fly Caster sent you. They can also be reached at 888-824-5420.

I will be first to admit I go to Wal-Mart. It’s not my favorite grocery, but in this town, it’s the logical choice. If there were a Whole Foods, Central Market, or some other choice I would quit the Wally World habit in a heartbeat and pay the premium.

So goes the constant war between the Big Box fishing supply chains – Bass Pro (BP) and Cabela’s versus anyone who happens to be in the way. I will be the first to admit, I shop the big boxes. Why? Because sometimes they have the power of price or inventory that gives them the advantage over Mom & Pop (M&P). Price and supply being (close to) equal, I will take M&P every time.

Truth be told, the local M&P in Dallas Fort Worth, Tailwaters, is bringing new merchandise to the swarms of fly fishers well before they ever appear at the big boxes. And they have the ability to separate the wheat from the chafe. How many big boxes carry special edition reels, or the latest Sage rod.

Now there is one undeniable truth; the most valuable thing you can get at all of these retail locations is – INFORMATION. All of the wonderful people working at these stores have provided me with information that has helped me catch more fish than any rod, reel, fly, shirt, hat, shoe, hook, line or sinker. Chances are even if you don’t buy you will walk away with something for free – every time. The first stop on any trip I make is to find some information.

But sometimes gear, new and shiny, new and improved, or just a better replacement, is the order we need filled.

For example, the new boots by Simms look to be and exponential improvement over their previous flats boots. I have looked far and wide for the specs. on this boot, but apparently it is that fresh. Tailwaters is taking pre-orders now, and you can check their site Tailwaters, or call them at 888-824-5240.

Simms 2010 Wading Boot. Notice the wide-angle-fish-porn distortion.

When you are finished drooling over these, tune in tomorrow as I show you one of the latest in TFO Rods, and don’t forget you can cast these at Tailwaters.