I just came in from fly fishing the Brazos river for trout with one of the new rods from Orvis company.  It is a jewel to fish with – a short 6 foot 6 inches, 3 piece, 4 weight rod known as the Trout Bum Superfine Rod.  These rods have been around for a good while, but Orvis recently refined them, and they are better than ever.  If you are an average caster, a full-flex action will slow down your casting and give you a smooth, entire length of the rod rhythm.  With a double-taper line it provides some very good roll casting, with a weight forward line it can give a decent cast into the wind.  This is not a forty foot cast rod, but recent studies show that cast around twenty feet or so catch more fish in trout waters (reduces the chance of drag). 

I fished the rod with flies from size 16 down to 20.  The bead head Copper John nymphs caught more fish, and mostly as they were cast slightly downstream, and allowed to complete their swing downriver, and straightened out.  For this type of fishing a seven to nine foot leader is sufficient.  The trout make great meals when salted and buttered – cooked about 2 minutes per side in the microwave.  Most were about the length across a dinner plate.  This is a great place for people wanting to learn fly fishing to practice even during the summer on pan fish as well as smaller stream bass. 

Below the dam on Possum Kingdom lake is a place where the river flows out and quickly forms a stream that could easily be mistaken for Colorado as it ambles between the cliffs.  The high bluffs and cliffs overlooking the river create an isolating effect that puts things in perspective very effectively. It is hard not to be taken in by the serenity and splendor of this part of the river. The ancient bridge located on Highway 16 just below the dam, could easily be mistaken for a sight in England on a peaceful trout stream.  All in all, it is a beautiful place to be fishing December to May, when the weather permits. 

RIVER FLOW & WATER QUALITY: The Brazos is one of the cleanest rivers in the state according to EPA studies. The water is clean and cool as it comes off the bottom of Possum Kingdom Lake. The river flow is almost totally dependent on the release of water from the hydro-electric PK Dam  The water is generally clear and cool coming out of Possum Kingdom Dam, but it tends to run low, so check the USGS gauges or other river flow information sources before making a long trip to this area.  Happy fishing and happy taveling.