You sing trout, I sing sand bass

While Catskill anglers are fixated on the early days of the trout season, here in Texas it is sand bass time. Properly this fish is the white bass; however, in Texas, if you speak the language, they are known as “Sandies.” Sand bass inhabit Texas reservoirs by the thousands. By March 15, they are ascending all reservoir tributaries, driven by the urge to spawn. In the spring, a young man’s fancy turns to thoughts of love. So it is also with sand bass. How good a run will be in a specific creek depends on the volume of water flowing into a reservoir. Heavy flows trigger a frantic rush upstream to the spawning grounds. Low stream flows cause fewer Sandies to ascend a creek.

Sand bass are schooling fish, so if you hook one, there are probably loads more in that area. A three or four weight rod and a Clouser Minnow in pale gray and white or chartreuse and white make a great combination.

Dr. Jonathan Leffert, who keeps watch on my thyroid problem, and his young daughter Catherine had expressed an interest in fishing with me prior to our leaving for Stalker, PA. It seemed a sand bass trip would be a perfect outing for them. I had what seemed solid information on sand bass in the Nolan River. My source kindly gave me excellent directions to the Nolan. His only caveat was that it would be a long walk downstream to where the Sandies were spawning. We were to hike down until we found other anglers fishing. I made the assumption that this would present no problem. Here I go again, folks.

Arriving at the Nolan, we hopped into our waders and off we went, anticipating a great Sand bass outing. Unfortunately, we started out down the right-hand bank. Only later did we discover the path was on the left hand bank. Discovering our error, we crossed at a riffle and now were on the correct path. We could see over a half a mile downstream. There was not a single angler in sight. Our walk was turning into a forced march. Twenty minutes later ,we at last could see people fishing in the distance. At that point, the Nolan widens out and the flow is slower than a long flat on the East Branch of the Delaware. In the entire afternoon, we saw only two small Sandies caught by a spin fisher.

At 5:00 p.m., it occurred to me that if I was to return to the car by dark, I needed to start out now. At first, the path follows close to the river. Then, it abruptly leaves the river and ascends half way up a tall limestone cliff. In places, the path along the cliff face is very narrow. When it becomes wider, it is strewn with boulders that have fallen from the cliff face. A number of steep dry washes bisect the path. I had to slide down several on my backside. Once down, I had to scramble back up to gain the path again. It seemed an eternity before I stumbled across the little tributary to the Nolan that was Rock Creek. It took me 20 minutes to cover the final 300 yards uphill, to the road. I was so exhausted I could barely open that cold can of Miller Draught when I reached the van. To my chagrin, I had proven once again, that I have the mind of a teenager trapped in the body of a 79-year-old man.

All right, quick now podnuh, when and where will the Upper Delaware Chapter of Trout Unlimited hold its first meeting of the year? Just as I thought, you did not read my last column. So, once again, it will be April 25 at 9:00 a.m. at the Long Eddy Firehouse. Y’all come.