Nolan River

Guys, the run on the nolan has NOT yet started. Fished in all of the sand bass spots that we nailed them in last year, nothing. tried everywhere. The water still seemed cold. Did see a couple of gar spawning, and couldn't resist the chance. So I put some metal in both of them. Had them on for a while, but they got off.
The river has really changed since the floods of last year. The holes are different, and the water is up 2 to 3 feet from where I fished last year. Will need chest waders to get after them. Several times we had to cross, and water was over my hip boots. Bummer. Still a couple weeks away, in my opinion.
Later, troutbum

After striking out on the Nolan, went to below Whitney, to fish our usual haunts. Much better result, there. Between the 3 of us, we caught drum, black bass, sand bass, carp, crappie, and bluegills. love my new camera, got some good release shots today.
Also note the size of the micro jig, and then notice the bass that ate it. Goes to show that small baits, CAN CATCH big fish. I am a firm believer in that.
Later, troutbum

Aw gee that is beautiful!

Beautiful looking river.

...But where's the pics of the drum and carp? Hehe.

Notice the long opercular (gill cover) flap on fish #2. Looks like you rooted out Lepomis auritus, the redbreast sunfish, in addition to the bluegill.

Yes, I am off to a good start for the Texas Fishes contest. I have already caught, and will go catch again the following species. Carp, gar, drum, sand bass, black bass, small mouth bass, white bass, striped bass, bluegills, sunfish, shad, rainbow trout, and crappie. I think LHD caught 30 last year, hell I'm halfway there!!

I haven't fished below Whitney in years, looks like I should just for old times sake.

It looks like a great place to take my kayak. Does anyone have any ideas where I should launch? On Google maps it looks like Nolan River Park on CR 1104 might work, what about CR 1127 going south west out of Blum is there river access, or there is a little unnamed road, it looks like a park on 933 by what might be Rocky Creek. I am looking for access fairly close to the river.

Thanks in advance,
~gober

I had some friends take a canoe in at rock creek, and drag it down to the river. They seemed to think it wasn't that bad. Fishing is picking up there. Spawning sandies, and black bass.

Excellent pictures, and gratz on the catches. Liked the fog on the Nolan there, must have been a beautiful place even if no bites.

Wow the Nolan looks really neat. I need to go down there sometime with you!

Before everyone rushes to drag their yaks and canoes down the trail at rock Creek....consider this:

There is NO WAY to get down river from there without going thru water that others are fishing. The majority of which are not using fly tackle. I realize that most fly fishers are considerate....however, I have come across more than a few that believe that their choice of tackle makes them in some way superior. Before you disturb the water others are fishing....stop and think! I have read numerous comments from flyfishermen bitching about the ignorant bait/lure/or whatever chuckers, running their boats through water they are fishing. That door swings both ways. Show some consideration. Wearing Rubber pants, weird hats, and swinging a string from long sticks is not a license to walk all over someone who chooses to use a Zebco.

I guess my point is: If you want to fish from your canoe...launch it down at Nolan River Park....or walk down from Rock Creek.

Very ummm... interesting post... not exactly sure how to take it.

I solemnly swear that if I take my kayak on the Nolan River I will: stop and think, not pollute or trash the river, avoid all bitching flyfishermen and avoid all territorial waters.

I guess I didn’t think the question warranted a lecture.

~gober

On a side note thanks Trout Bum I appreciate your reply and your beautiful pictures.

Spacetexan, I have never fished out of a yak, but will someday. I do agree with my fellow friend, Budd. The Nolan is a special place this time of year. Especially if you like catching lots of nice fish, and many different species. Carp, Gar, Black Bass, Sandies, Gills, who knows what. In my humble opinion, this river fishes better on foot. Too much work, for no advantage. Just get your feet wet, or put on those fancy boots, and wade. Concentrate on the fishing. If you want to go yaking, go to the lake. Too much going on. When someone drags a boat through a samll hole where 50 fish are holding, and your hooking up with great regularity, it sucks when a boat comes through, and messes things up for a long time. Saturday some dichead took his airboat all the way up past Rock Creek, and Why?? Messed everything up for the rest of the day. This river begs to fished on foot. Much more enjoyable.
Just my 2 cents. Troutbum

Here's some pics from rock creek:




Les

That's a nice ammonite photo Les. I wonder how they would have tasted sauteed with butter?

Well I had a tight schedule; couldn't clean em in a timely manner; so I gave em away.
Les

Quote:

. . . nice ammonite. . . . I wonder how they would have tasted sauteed with butter? \:\)

Robin, we're 110 million years late for dinner.

OK Goober....I will explain the tone of that post to you. I live in this community. I spend a lot of time on the river just visiting with friends who take their kids down there to fish. It embarrasses me to see So called sportsmen splash thru the pools bait fishermen are fishing....while they will carefully avoid disturbing the water being fished by fly fishermen. As I said before...The river is NARROW!!!! The sand bass run attracts a fairly large crowd. Why would you want to screw up someone else's fishing spot on the way to your own?

I can tell by your own smartass reply that you don't get it. Coming down the river in your plastic boat will have a negative effect on several other people's fishing. Has nothing to do with territorial waters ....it has to do with respect....

Trout Bum thanks for your reply. You seem to understand that I am not familiar with that river. I was making an assumption on the width of the river based on your top photo. Your post helped me understand this time of year and that part of the river might not be ideal for kayaking, for that I thank you. You are alright in my book. As for the joker in the airboat you mentioned, maybe he too got some sort of double handed confusing E-lecture and decided to piss everyone off. :p That does suck that he ruined everyone’s fishing like that.

Thanks for an additional E-Lecture Budd you truly have brightened my day. Posts like yours make me want to go buy a jet ski and see how far up river it will go…

Some people simply do not know deal with people!

~gober

Time to back off gents and take a few deep breaths.

My two cents as a moderator.

Never been to the Nolan, Budd has. Sounds like he's seen a few non-sportsmen on the river.

A sportsman is someone who respects the natural resources as well the other sportsmen (and not so sportsmen) sharing the resource. No matter whether they fling flies, chuck spinners, or drown worms while sitting on a bucket, it's the sportsman attitude that makes the difference.

Please don't wear any shoes that don't fit is probably the best way I can put it. Scouting a little bit, making sure one isn't busting through where others are fishing, before launching is always a good idea.

Awww Russell....You're OK in my book too.....

My friend and I decided to fish the Nolan yesterday by Rocky Creek. The rain from the previous day killed everything. The water was moving way to fast even in the creek. Even though we didnt catch anything, not even a bite. We decided to scout the place and see where some good spots are at.

Trount Blum,
Is the pics that you posted. Are those the cliffs by Rocky Creek?

Be careful walking along those bluffs.....after a really hard rain there is a danger of falling rocks....rockslides. If you drive into Blum and cross the river at the bridge just outside of town, you can get a pretty good idea of how it is running.

we did see that.. we pretty much just scouted around to see where some good spots might be. We did fish some but nothing was biting. We also went out to Nolan Park and the water was alot calmer. No luck there either.

Bud's got that right. Now's not the time to test your swimming skills.
Les

When the water settles down a little....the real run will get going. They will be all the way to the bridge in Blum pretty quickly. Be careful parking and leaving your car at Nolen River Park. Do not leave anything valuable in it while you are gone. That place has had problems for years.

okay, so I went to the Nolan river today. Have access on private property, so I don't know where I was in relation to any bridge. My guess would be that I wasn't far from public access since I saw some others walking the river. It sounds like I was a day late. Our group caught 10 fish and half of them were small blacks. A guy came by and said he caught 100 yesterday from where I was standing. A day late? Really?

swalker9513,
It can be a difference of a day, an afternoon, or a half hour. Last Sunday, four of us went in around 9:00 and caught virtually nothing till 11:30. Two guys left at 12:30 and that from 14:40 till 2:00 pm the schools came into our spot and my friend Jeff and I caught over 25 fish all with in 12-15" range.
Les

The last 2 days, I had the priviledge of fishing with Jim Teeny and the reat of the gang from the FWFF'ers. What a blast. Monday we fished a private lake in Glenrose, and had a blast. Yesterday, we fished the Nolan, and landed over 300 sandies by noon!!! Oh my God, it was one of those days. Big females, included. Jim could not have timed his trip any better. We fished him so hard, he slept all of the way home. He then gave a great presentation on Tuesday night. He has traveled all over the world, and caught some unbelievebale fish. He is truly an amazing fisherman, and his flies work great, too. He really didn't have what he really wanted to throw, so he stuck to what made him famous. The Teeny nymph. Those sand bass just didn't hit his flies, they hammered his flies. Mine worked pretty good, too. One fly all day, over 75 sandies, and I still could have caught more. BEST DAY , this year on the river. No doubt!!!

Pics coming soon. Troutbum

Pics from the trip.




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W0W! You said Jim Teeny and I thought who was that with the same name as Jim Teeny. But its Jim Teeny! I bet he had some cool sink lines with him

Man, you guys did great Russell, I envy you with the greatest respect and thank you for continuing to share images with us.

Trout Bum, you lucky dog you.... hey does anyone know of a video for the Jim Teeny Nymph? That sounds AWESOME.

there is one of him tying on his website

Yeah, it's Jim. He's aged a bit since the videos you have probably seen, with his 70's hair style. He is agreat man. Good sense of humor, so many funny stories, and a great angler. His lines are awesome, too. I am going to load up. His sink tip lines work great. Get small bugs down, without weighting the fly, or line. He mentioned 1 line I've got to have. he calls it the chunk, and duck. Heaviest sink line out there. This would be great to throw flies that resemble worms, or leeches. The new catalog will be on his website, and I will try and post any information that I receive back from him. Supposed to send back some stuff for us.
The story he told about how the teeny mymph's beginning was hilarious.
Later, troutbum

WOW TB, fantastic!!
Thanks for sharing!!

I'm going to try to make a trip to the Nolan this weekend--in the Blum area. I went a couple of weeks ago and got skunked. I'd love to know what I did wrong other than the wrong place and the wrong time.

I fished a crystal minnow in white and an olive wooly bugger. I know I got on the bottom in deeper pools, but no fish.