Fishing at Oak Point

Three great blue herons and about the same number of people were fishing this morning before the pond stocking. I like the new mowed access points to the pond that replace the fishing pier. They let walkers, photographers, and other visitors get closer to the water. This is from Parks & Rec's facebook page:

For all you fishing enthusiasts, get your gear ready. We will be stocking the pond at Oak Point Park & Nature Preserve on Monday afternoon, Oct. 31 with 6”-8” large mouth bass. Just a reminder, fishing regulations at Oak Point fall under the jurisdiction of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, which means anyone 17 yrs and up (with certain exceptions) has to have a valid fishing license to fish in ALL public waters in Texas. Additionally, you can keep the fish you catch from the pond according to the TPWD fishing regulations. However, it will be next year before these ones will be big enough to catch and keep. For those of you who are new to the sport of fishing, free pole rentals are available at the Oak Point Park Nature & Retreat Center but you need to bring your own bait. To learn more about fishing regulations, please visit this link:
http://tpwd.texas.gov/…/general…/general-fishing-regulations.

 In other Halloween news, all the spiders were working on decorations. 

Long-jawed orb weaver

Funnel web spider

High overhead spider!

© 2014-2016 Nancy L. Ruder

Ask your doctor if you have low OP

Getting out to the nature preserve on a Sunday morning while it's still below ninety degrees might be the cure for what ails you. It sure improved my outlook on life, bumping up my curiosity level, and provided relaxing photo cropping hours.

The trails still show the impact of the water flow during the May flood, but now the scoured dirt is also baked and cracked by the hundred plus days of early August. Sounds were 50% buzzing insects and 50% squirrels scraping and gnawing on pecans. Good-sized fish scowled up at me from the shallow green waters of Rowlett Creek.

 

At first the Caddo Trail seemed lacking in life. Rounding a curve I spotted seven moths a-sleeping low on the bark of a tree. Nearby trees had similar numbers of moths snoozing on the shaded bark. I'm still awed by their camouflage adaptation.

 

The moths were just sharpening my vision for the bonanza of three skinks. One declined to be photographed or sign autographs. The other two cooperated, then dropped off the bark and scurried into hidey holes at the base of their trees.

© 2014-2015 Nancy L. Ruder

Fish nests stalking

Not to be confused with fishnet stockings, so if you misspelled your search, please GO BACK. Do not collect $200.

Until I saw these sunny males hanging out in their gravel nests I had completely forgotten the peculiar mating habits of our fishy friends. These males have fanned gravel with their tails to make perfectly circular love nests in Rowlett Creek. The sunfish have a lovely spot, but must loiter until ladies arrive for spawning festivities to begin. Once in awhile they swim over to the next circle nest to tell that guy a joke involving noisy body functions, but mostly they just tread hot Galliano-colored shallow creek water and wish they had wifi.

Sunfish nests in Rowlett Creek from the trail.

Just a few hundred yards upstream there's a big dang ugly creek clog developing. It's not a pretty drink with big tires, a patio chaise, blue bags, and the usual Styrofoam suspects. Anybody familiar with the first section of the Rowlett Creek Trail at Oak Point Nature Preserve will recognize the location of this mess:

1 fish 2 fish striped fish you fish

Sunday's visit to the turtle pond was in the midst of a blizzard of white tree fluff. Small stripey fish about three inches long were swimming around looking ever so unfocused, like a first grader soccer team in tall socks stopping to pick dandelions.

6/15/2014 Oak Point turtle pond

6/15/2014 stripey little fish

The few folks who fish from the boardwalk at the turtle pond do not want this location made known.* Don't know what they catch, but it is a magical little place. As for the stripey baby fish, try this Texas Parks and Wildlife guide.

These fluffy blizzard photos of the turtle pond were taken 6/2/2014.

*At the far reach of  the Rowlett Creek Trail and Willow Springs Trail.