the ZuppeQueen Chronicles

2007 is going to be a great year, at least from my perspective.  My New Year’s resolution was to do more fishing in 2007 so New Year’s Day that is just what I did.  Go fishing.

A good friend and avid fly fisherman Jon Morse [ Jon owns a top quality Fredericksburg Texas bed and breakfast named A Place in Time to which we often refer our customers when our own Town Creek Bed and Breakfast is already booked] called and suggested we start the year out by fly fishing.

I quickly agreed with Jon’s thoughts because the ZuppeQueen had very smartly told Santa to leave me a new pair of Orvis waders and Battenkill Reel under our famous hanging from the ceiling four feet off the floor Christmas tree.  Plus I had been worrying for a few days that my new toys were collecting too much dust. [Being a business and quality technology consultant helps me to quickly grasp why having the right equipment makes all the difference when trying to have fun. The same skillset also helped me to intelligently rationalize to the ZuppeQueen why fishing equipment was a smart investment in my continued excellent mental health].

Most people do not realize that Texas has many great places for fly fishing.  The Fredericksburg Hill Country area is one of those spots.  For example, passing just outside of Fredericksburg to the south is the Pedernales River.  To the south a few miles more is the Guadalupe River, and to the North a few miles is the Llano River.  Jon is a member of Hill Country Fly Fishers Club and has smartly garnered highly coveted trout fishing privileges to the HCFF [http://www.hcff.org/ ] Lease on Crabapple Creek.  The fishing lease is just 10 or so miles from Fredericksburg and Jon did not even blindfold me on the 15 minute ride so I got to enjoy the beautiful Texas Hill Country scenery.

The water in Crabapple Creek that day was clear and cold with good flow.  Even better, the fish were definitely in the mood for sampling flies though the day was cloudless and bright.  Actually, the weather could not have been more pleasant for fishing.  Three casts into the day and I had my first strike.  It was a solid hit.  Ok, the truth is I got too excited at my good fortune and overplayed the fish it got away (thought I tried to convince myself the fish was never really hooked but was just merely taunting me).

During the next 2 hours I did hook several fish.  The great thing about fly fishing is that it matters less the size of the fish because the light weight of the tackle make each hooked fish a thrill on it’s own. The 11 inch rainbow trout that I did land was just as much a fight as the 19 inch rainbow trout I did not land (ok, blow by blow… the big guy made 4 or 5 spectacular leaps in the air.  These were not just those old flip-flop leaps either.  These were deliberate running torpedo like leaps two feet in the air landing with not much splash which said this guy was definately angry about me spoiling his day. It became obvious the big fish tired of toying with me when he suddenly made a final leap of defiance not ten feet in front of me. 

In that split second we looked eye to eye.  I saw it coming and tried to shut my eyes so he could not look inside of me but it was too late.  He saw my fear that he was going to break my favorite fly rod and he knew what to do next.  Which was speed upstream 40 myards burning the drag on my reel then making a hard right turn into a heavy brush patch.  Where he proceeded to snap my 4# tippet as I held on helplessly and out of control of the situation).

Ok, the truth is my heart was pounding a lot harder with the big fish than the smaller fish and I am definitely going back for a second go round at the big guy.  Jon, are you reading this? The entire fishing trip was great fun and a great start to 2007.

Happy New Fly Fishing Year to all from Town Creek Bed and Breakfast in Fredericksburg Texas.