A Nichols family story • East Texas
Some things
are worth
coming back for.
A father. A son. A lake.
And a story bigger than the fish.
More than a fishing trip
The fish bring
us out.
The family brings
us back.
Flathead & Ol’ Blue is a Nichols family documentary in the making, rooted in the spring catfishing tradition at Lake O’ the Pines.
Ryan describes roughly seven years of fishing, family, and work worth remembering. The archive will tell us how much of that story the cameras caught.
There is room here for the quiet mornings, the lessons from Dad, the laughs, and the work that carries on after the boat is tied up. The point is to preserve something real.
Read our storyThe series · Now watching
28 fishing videosBefore the first cast,
there’s a whole story.
A family documentary built from real footage. Every scene earns its place. Every person keeps their dignity.
Watch nowGet to know the water
Three catfish.
Three different stories.
A useful place to start before the next trip. Learn the identifying features, then check the current rules for your water.
Flathead catfish
Broad head. Shallow tail notch.
See the identifying features →
Blue catfish
Straight anal-fin edge. Deeply forked tail.
See the identifying features →
Channel catfish
Rounded anal-fin edge. Often spotted.
See the identifying features →More water. More to learn.
Your next fish
starts with a picture.
Catfish, bass, crappie and bream. East Texas is home, and the habit of looking closely belongs on every freshwater trip.
Catfish
Know the head, tail and fins.
Start here →
Bass
Recognize cover. Keep the cast simple.
Start here →
Crappie
Compare markings. Record the depth.
Start here →
Bream
Small bait. Big first-fish lessons.
Start here →See what your notes can teach
Make the next trip
a little smarter.
Read a chart, test a lesson and keep a useful record. The examples are labeled; your own catches tell their own story.
Keep the blank trips
Take a closer look →Read the water column
Take a closer look →Start your catch notebook
Take a closer look →Good tools. Better days outside.
Useful before
you leave the ramp.
The work after the water
A good story has
something to give.
The community-service part of this story belongs to the work. We can show the care that goes into it while protecting the people receiving help.
The purpose behind the tradition →Pull up a chair
The next chapter
starts with your next trip.
Learn a fish. Try a tool. Keep a note worth bringing back to the water.
Open your fishing companion Free to use. No account needed.