MalibuSheriff

I doubt it. Noodling is really poor at those depths. Definitely undersea aggy.

Key thing I learned the hard way about Wade fishing rivers is to avoid bedrock areas to the extent possible. You’ll definitely end up busting your ass. Sand and gravel are your friends. I’m on my third ACL on right knee, so I walk around like gingerly grandpa mode on wet rocks. There are some streams in southeast Oklahoma that I won’t even attempt to wade fish and resort to kayak only trips between access points. The sandstone “rock garden” areas are just too slick. Like there, a lightweight kayak is great for moving around pools on the Llano from the crossings you mention. Not the fully tricked out fishing kayaks, just something lightweight to get you point to point that’s easy to throw in the back on the pickup and tie down.

In all my west Texas trips, I’d offer the following advice - Marathon, Balmorhea, Alpine, Fort Davis, and Terlingua (of course Big Bend, BBRSP, Davis Mountains) are where you should spend your time. My one visit to Marfa left the following impression - an enigma wrapped in pretentious wannabe East Coast cock swabs. I could be wrong but that was the vibe…

Of all the great food threads on Surly, this Cheese enchilada topic is my favorite. Old school Tex-Mex done right is hard to find in restaurants and the recipes here (NEISD, Robb Walsh, and others) are all you need to achieve fantastic home cooked real deal cheese enchiladas. Giant batch of Robb Walsh recipe beef enchiladas prepped for oven for last December bowl game party. Didn’t get a finished pic as guests ate them all so quickly.

A few years ago, when my son was younger, we took a three day trip out to Junction and fished the South Llano and eventually fished almost every crossing on the main Llano all the way back to Llano, TX. We stayed in cheap but clean motel in Junction that had a pool, got up early and fished down around Telegraph on South Llano. It was hotter than hell that summer, so we returned to town midday for lunch and pool time, then back to the room where AC was set at around 60F. When it cooled off in the evening, we’d hit the river again. On the return trip to Austin, my son caught his first of many channel cats at Yates Crossing out in the middle of no where. Then many Guads and perch at other crossings downstream. We still talk about this trip.

I was planning on sharing a recommendation for Antonio’s on Melrose and was looking them up on Google Maps but couldn’t find them. Unfortunately, I found news that they closed last year: https://beverlypress.com/2022/03/cheers-to-you-antonio/ Antonio and his restaurant was awesome. Delicious and he was a fantastic person and host. Bummer.

Marathon Bar for the olds…

Here’s a version that looks like a close facsimile of the one I use from the Perini Ranch cookbook: http://www.lanabird.com/2014/07/26/perini-ranch-green-chili-hominy-jessicas-favorite/ Even better, watch this video of Aaron Franklin with Tom Perini cooking this dish:

Took the kid fishing Sunday, northwest of Tulsa in Osage County on a small city lake. Fishing wasn’t great as a small storm popped up and chased us off the lake. However, thought I’d share some other wildlife photos - the shoreline around the lake had dozens of collared lizards running around. I haven’t seen one since I was a kid. PSA - They’ll bite the shit out of you if you pick one up…

I didn’t make posole this weekend but did make a giant batch of Perini Ranch green chile hominy.

I had forgotten how badass these KC-based potato chips were. I don’t know if they’re available in Texas.

More like (how ever you say this in German) - “I think the frog knows something and is fucking with us…”

There’s a lot about Austin that I don’t miss. But damn do I miss those burgers and conversations with Dervin about the nature of the universe and shit. Y’all in the 512 need to not miss out on Crown/Dervin experience. He won’t be there forever.

There’s got to be German word for this visual masterpiece. Something really meta.

I enjoyed reading the posts about the Llano. During all my years in Austin, the Llano was my favorite place to de-stress flinging flies around for Guads and trout in the winter. County Road 102 was my favorite. I’d park on north side of the river, hike downstream to the big pool and wade back upstream to the crossing. Lots of good memories there. Leaving Austin before dawn, driving out 71 past Packsaddle Mountain as sun is coming up, fishing all day, and then dinner at Cooper’s is about as fine of a day as you can have anywhere.

My wife and I were just talking about Curra’s yesterday. Terrible parking situation but good food. The Curra’s item I miss the most is the lamb empanadas on appetizer menu. Damn those are delicious.

Willie and Keith Richards sing Billy Joe Shaver’s I’m Gonna Live Forever: https://youtu.be/B3g3sezsVWI

White bass are still running up here in Okie this cool spring year.

Frank Lloyd Wright Westhope home just listed for sale here in Tulsa. $8MM https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/3704-S-Birmingham-Ave-Tulsa-OK-74105/22185688_zpid/?mibextid=Zxz2cZ

I didn’t know where to share this masterpiece Chihuahua Queso Flameado from Tacos y Mezcal here in Tulsa (yes…I know we need more chips…). marg game not bad either. Jamaica marg my wife was drinking: Friday happy hour crowd in T-town is non-existent though. My fellow okies haven’t figured out their Friday afternoon patio game on an absolutely perfect spring day.

Definitely plan on a day in Balmorhea. I love and miss this part of the world. So many good times out there.

My experience is very similar, plus a three week honeymoon to Fiji. I always wanted to travel more but my folks didn’t have the means and I’ve worked far more than I needed to in life. My mistake… Patagonia is highest on my list. I’d love to return to South Pacific for another long stay. I did a lot of consulting work early in my career and had a client who’d been all over the world doing aviation work. I asked him what was his favorite of all his travels everywhere and his answer surprised me - Norway. He said it was the most beautiful place and he loved the obscure coastal villages he stayed. Another friend who’s been about a hundred countries, said parts of Turkey were his favorites. My wife has traveled throughout Europe, living in Spain for a year. She definitely wants to return to Spain and Italy.

Get the peanut oil and cornmeal ready boys…

Speaking of deer organs, I have an old story to share… My first buck was a little six point I shot down in the Ozark hills south of Locust Grove, OK. I shot the deer and he ran downhill towards where my dad was sitting. It was a really dry Fall and the reason I saw the deer is I heard him walking up the side of the hill in the dry leaves. He sounded like an elephant racing back downhill with a .30-.30 150 grain in him. My dad found the deer and waved me over to field dress the deer. We were both bent over gutting the little buck, when out of no where, this old man is standing next to us. We both kind of jumped as we never heard him coming whatsoever. The old dude is dressed in dirty overalls that look like they belonged on Pea Eye from Lonesome Dove (literally looked like he walked out of the 1870s). Old man says “ya gonna eat that liver?”. My dad and I were still somewhat stunned by his appearance and said no, that he could have it. Old man bends over and picks up the bloody deer liver and sticks the son-of-a-bitch in his coat pocket and walks off silently. Weird as shit deal. My dad turned to me and said “I think that fucker was a damn ghost”. 🤣

My wife made these two recipes yesterday for a small family get together. The Guinness Beef Stew was easily the best I’ve ever had and Cheddar Scones were damn good (only scones I’ve had in the past were dry as a rock but these are more akin to cheddar biscuits): https://www.thekitchn.com/guinness-beef-stew-recipe-23281065 https://www.cuisineathome.com/recipes/side-dishes/mini-cheddar-scones/