If you’re still following along on my TX adventure, here is Day 5. Finally. I’ve been fishing because the weather has been so nice. You can’t blame me right?!
 
So, I’m used to taking pictures with my trusty iphone…but I quickly realized I was completely under-prepared on this trip. Salt water. In it. Surrounded by it. And not too many opportunities to recharge the phone in the middle of no-where. So you might notice a lack of superior Jen iphone pics. Hahaa. You’ll notice a lot of pics I’m posting have come from some of the other camera savvy bloggers who were on the trip….thank you to them!
 
Guess what I did do right though? I kept a journal. I mentioned something about keeping notes and Mike G. threw this nifty ‘Rite in the Rain’ notebook and a pencil at me before we headed out to the cabin. RAD.
 
 
So OK back to Day 5.
 
I woke up to someone tapping me gently on the shoulder, whispering something to me. It startled me. Still groggy from vacation sleep, I wasn’t sure where I was or who it was at first. I actually grabbed his face, pulled him in close to mine and in an attempt to not wake anyone else I whispered back, “Who is this”? The voice said, ‘It’s Austin, and I just thought you might like to see the beautiful sunrise – look out the window”.
What a fantastic way to wake up. Thank you Austin Orr.
 
 
Then, it was time. The kayaks were waiting. A huge thank you to Thomas Flemons for bringing out his lineup of kayaks from Diablo Paddlesports. It was no small feat getting those kayaks out to the fishing cabin. I’ve never claimed to be much of a writer…I can never seem to put my feelings into words very eloquently. Mike S. wrote a fantastic post about Diablo that I’d love for you all to read – he says it much better than I ever could attempt to. 
   ——>http://www.mikesgonefishing.com/2012/05/fishing-with-devil.html <——-

I’d never been in a kayak before… with a little bit of instruction, we were off in search of our redfish.
We headed West.
….
and after a few hours of paddling around the flats. Nothing. Not even a cast was made.
I still hadn’t seen ‘tails’ – I wasn’t even sure what exactly we were looking for.
We headed back.
And to be honest. My tiny little frame. Tiny little arms. Fighting through the wind and the water.
I. Was. Sore.
A huge THANK YOU to BUFF for sending me the Pro-Series Angler Gloves for my trip. I’m pretty sure my hands would have been raw (and sunburnt) without them.
 
I made some sandwiches. We ate.
The other guys headed East to the flats to search for fish.
I stayed behind.
The wind had picked up a bit more.
The East flats were a bit further and I just knew it wasn’t going to be a pretty sight for me to make it out there and back on a kayak.
I practiced casting.
I sunbathed…and it felt sooo incredible.
 
Then, the local TFO rep Banning Collins showed up with his Carolina skiff.
You know, the kind of boat guides take you out on the flats and ‘pole’ you around with.
Yell at you to cast 2 o’clock – 40ft NOW – make that 5 o’clock and 50ft NOW – going gone!
Yada Yada – Yup.
He took me to the flats out East.
I experienced that.
He was incredibly patient, especially with my sub-par double-hauling in the wind casting skillz.
AND I finally saw the ‘tails’ we were searching for. So cool!! 
We saw one pod of redfish and just a few pods of black drum in the few hours we were out there.
I had ONE black drum follow AND I caught exactly NO fish that day.
Banning is one cool cat. THANK YOU Banning – I am honored you took that one-one time with me.
I enjoyed every sun-baked, windy moment and hope we can fish together again someday.
 
AS the sun was setting we all converged back at the cabin. The board was marked ~ ‘Day 2′ of our fishing adventures had come to a close.
Do you see that ‘minus one TFO‘ ?? Sadly Austin’s rod took one for the team on a black drum. He brought the fish home (the only one NOT released this trip) ~ the boys marinated and grilled it…and it was the most tasty fish I’ve eaten in quite some time. YUM!!
 
And it was another night of sitting around the deck, grillin’ and enjoying each other’s company telling fish stories.