Time Flies When You’re Having Fun!

Flushing – Trolls Disappear in Digital Diarrhea

Wow, has it already been three days since the epic unwinding of my participation on a rude fly fishing discussion board? It seems a lifetime ago now. That is how time flies these days. I am so glad that flared up over the weekend when reading and watching takes a break for the vast majority of fly fishers. Those weekends are my own time to let the lines rest, rods recoil and take in some great cultural experiences IN PLACE of crowded fly fishing fishing spots where pressure alone is enough to make me squint for a farther horizon, a different place a different day.

It seems like this week will be a good one for short reflection on last week, and the hard lesson learned. I remain cautiously optimistic in general, that the coarseness of U.S. social discourse, across the board, will eventually fade into history. The trolls use and waste so much of their own energy, it’s hard to believe they can carry it on forever. But I have obviously been wrong recently. At least that cesspool was quickly Fonzie jumped, and we move on.

This week is going into the blender though. Houston is down the road, and I am headed that way. A few days with family are in order, and it just so happens much of the remainder are in Houston. I have heard about the newest location, the third if I am not mistaken, of Bayou City Anglers (the website is down, or I would have linked), and it sounds like they have altered their heavy fly emphasis into a more profitable retail fishing model. I need to go see …

CanYak on Board

Just in case I find some willing water, I will be loading the kayak (Old Town Sportsman 119, thus a “CanYak”) for this trip to Houston. I know the neighborhood pond is loaded with little bass, but it also has grass carp as well. At least it HAD grass carp at one time. We all know how difficult they are, but crazy fun to catch on fly!

I doubt I will have time to get to salt, and carrying both fresh and salt gear takes up an extraordinary amount of space and time to assemble. I think I’ll stay narrowly focused and look for more public ponds nearby the Tomball base. If you have a suggestion for a pond, feel free to give it to me!

Another deadline that goes with November 1 is the great TexasFlyCaster Password Reset! Those of you who are subscribed and visiting or not visiting (the benefit of subscribing is getting email notices), will have to take action to reset your passwords. For those who do not reset, I will do you a favor and go ahead and delete you from those annoying notifications. So expect an email, find it, and follow simple directions for your reset – COMING SOON!

Time Gets Away

I was hoping to redo my trips to more big calm water down around Bastrop this year, but time completely got away from me! Those lakes, good, bad and ugly, are Lake Bastrop, Somerville and Fayette. My travel is entering a time where, after 300K Toyota miles, I am starting to worry a bit … about all those miles. I hate driving and worrying at the same time! It’s distracting. But, it is what it is.

Speaking of time? Thanks for all the well wishers over the weekend. It was a fun day of celebration and a mind adjustment at the same time – yes, a GOOD mind adjustment. It’s getting easier to take some things easier, if that makes sense?

Fall Forward Fast

Two things are firmly in sight this fall and into winter. And they aren’t that far apart, or far off.

• I have not been to Daingerfield in a couple of seasons, and those chain pickerel are fun and willing wolves.
• The Blue River really is on a quiet rise as a regional destination, as small as it is, and it may (today) be just like Broken Bow in the late oughts. We may be very close to the end of obscurity for the Blue River. I think we are very close to that end. So I want to enjoy it as it is now, and bring you along for one long ride.

November is the MONTH for the first stocking of the Blue River! What that actual date is, I do not know. Do you? According to the prior link, that stocking now continues through MARCH 2026! That is critically important information. I do know there are new rules for non-residents visiting the Blue River, and I outlined those on this video: NEW UPDATED OKLAHOMA STATE FISHING RULES.

BOOKENDS

At least the date back at Fish Camp North is certain. That is because I am providing backup for a NCTC fly fishing event Saturday at that pond location I fished earlier this year. The – Non-Stop Pond Bass – video is from that location.

FUTURE AI Stories

For those who choose not to bury their heads in the sand, I am always imagining topics for the digital minions at ChatGPT, while it’s still free of course! This seems like a fantastic time to refresh everyone’s memory. ChatGPT itself, warns of the potential for inaccuracies in in its responses. There are ideas I have rolling around, that, are far outside of my ability to check for accuracy … imagine that! And my personal Chat minion, Chet, has really come to know what I am after on continuing visits. While my mind dips into science, I also see how far Chet can stretch to create subjective plans for fly fishing. Below are a couple of stories I will be working on in the future.

• How solar storms, magnetic storms and space weather can have a real effect on YOUR fly fishing success.
• A Five Day Turn and Burn, Texas based fly fishing journey – FreshWater version.
• A Five Day Turn and Burn, Texas based fly fishing journey – Saltwater version.
• AI aided miniseries: The Blue River Oklahoma. I don’t need/want much help on this one Chet!!!

Then there is the growing binder full of story ideas that WILL NOT come from anything, or anyone here – other than the MMI crew! The deeper topics, like Wholistic Fly Fisher© health daily supplements, how to clean your fly lines for winter … you know, the heavy lifting! Seriously though, some interesting personal observations on filling career voids, “rewirement” and focus. I come from the “Lou Grant” journalism line, so I fully expect you to print out these stories, and line your birdcage with that paper. But do me a favor, change that cage every day!

Thanks For Reading The Chalk on the Sidewalk This Morning

Thanks again for reading this morning! Last week seems like a year ago! It is so fun to move ahead into a new fly fishing season of true adventures and challenges. Let me once again remind you: All my stories are true, and accurate to the best of the MMI staff’s abilities, unless I otherwise tell you (in advance) the writing is a creative writing exercise. You WILL recognize the difference immediately, regardless of warnings!