Well i finally adjusted, somewhat to the heat and set out today for the Pedernales. This was my first full day fishing exscursion since returning from the fairer climates in Colorado and New Mexico, and i have to say…it’s hot and dry here folks. The Pedernales is at least two feet down from the last time i was here just a month ago which at that time seemed low. The low water combined with all the people trying to cool off made for some extremely unproductive fishing. It was almost disorienting to try and find the productive pools that i thought i knew so well. Areas i would have been in over my head just a month ago only came up to my knees today. Countless rocks and sand bars i couldn’t even wade out to before were exposed to the air and sun along with me.
Just a week ago i was out here and saw some fish that were easily over 5′. After talking to my icthioligist friend i was assured that they were either catfish or that i was crazy. I searched out and spotted some again today and would like to pass along to my few readers that there are some HUGE Grass Carp in the Pedernales.
After hiking miles in the intense heat i decided to just wait for dusk, less people and less sun. After hanging out in my hammock and alternately reading / 
sleeping, i headed for the main pool in the beach area. I stepped out onto my lucky rock, false cast, and set my popper down gently 30 feet in front of me. Immediately i saw a large boil just inches away, something turning to attack. Wait for it…suddenly the 3WT is bouncing with enthusiasm. Run and retrieve, run and retrieve. After a minute or so i realize that this fish is not jumping or pulling in the way that sunfish do. As i real it in, i am shocked to find a 17″ Flathead Catfish with a rather large Sneaky Pete in it’s mouth.
I have only caught one other catfish, on Barton Creek last year, and i have to say that it was exhilarating to catch something so uncommon to a fly rod.
Possibly more exciting than the catfish were the amount of mammals that i saw while accidently hiking onto private land. A hawk that i was two feet away from before it abandoned it’s prey. Some Feral Pigs getting a sip from the river near me. And something that is yet undetermined that seemed like a cross between a deer 
and a fox. It’s hard for me to do, but obviously half of fly fishing (for me) is just exploring and taking in the sights. I struggle in this as my eyes are magnetically drawn to the waters surface. Today however i was able to avert my gaze, always a little to late, in time to see the shadow head for the tall grass. I’m working on it though, i want to see the forest for the trees, it’s just kind of hard in this drought when everything is brown.
