Matagorda

High wispy clouds, warmer temps and breezy was the order of the day. A golden chance to perfect my 8 weight skills with a crabby offering. As I loaded up the kayak visions of aggressive takes flooded my mind. I had heard the back lakes were holding plentiful amounts of willing Scirenops Ocellatus (redfish).

Four wheeling through the deeper sand, I arrived at my destination. The wind had the water a little more turbid than I had hoped for, but the active fish would willingly give themselves away. Fighting the wind in the kayak and making accurate presentations with the fly proved to be a challenge. Finicky fish and poor presentation proved to be my demise as I spooked fish after fish.

A change of tactics was in order. A 6’6″ bait casting rod and a concept reel allowed for more accuracy and consistencey. With loads of grass coming back with each cast, I tied on a frog to glide over the persistent resistance. Having only one blowup had me thinking another change was in order.

By this time the three quarter moon was rising in the east and the sun was nearing the horizon in the west. The tide movement began to increase and the wind was laying down as the magic hour approached. Nearing one of the many grass islands, I noticed a stronger current and a deeper trough between two points. The mullet began to jump trying to escape their predators.

Armed with a gold spoon, I launched the shiny offering to the flat on the far side. Flashing and falling into the deeper channel drew a hard jolt from a hungry rat red. The golden missile found it’s way into my net with a blushing blue tail waving in the wind. Another cast and another red answered the dinner bell. Rinse and repeat as the sun began to disappear.

The moon compensated for the sun’s refusal to cooperate as I tied on a pink topwater tormentor.  After three casts across the channel from flat to flat,  an unexpected explosion occurred almost at my feet. One quick run and a shaky rod tip indicated a different species. This sinister shake was obviously a Cynoscion Nebulosus (speckled trout) trying to snatch a large pink meal. I led the snaggle tooth warrior to a resting place and took a selfie with my new found celebrity and slipped him back into the grassy flat.

Not wanting to leave this magical time of day, I forced myself to paddle back to my point of entry. I savored the last few strokes as the darkness heightened my senses to all the sounds around me. What a beautiful day to spend in solitude on the marshes of Matagorda. Although the fish did not cooperate until the end of the day, my cup of enjoyment was spilling over. The sites and sounds God puts around me makes every outdoor journey an adventure to be cherished. Providing me with a few rewards at the end of the day for my persistent effort makes the day that much more special. I thanked God as I drove away already anticipating my next time back to the marshes of Matagorda.

How much time time have you spent in prayer thanking God for all you have been blessed with? Jeremiah 29:11-12 says, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.”

Whether you are enjoying the outdoors, working or going through a tough time, know that God has good plans for you. Plans worth waiting for whether it is at the end of a long day, year or a lifetime. Take time to enjoy the journey and everything around you, trusting that His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Have a great week and slow down, take a deep breath and soak in the surroundings of God’s beauty in the great outdoors. Enjoy the video and thanks for reading my blog.

God Bless You!

Tim Lumpkin