2015 San Marcos float trip

Camping:

The Texas FlyFishers started showing up at Spencer’s Shady Grove Campground right around 1300 with the last of the 7 campers showing up just before dark. We took over one campsite and the pavilion as we sprawled out, 5 tentcots, one tent mansion, and one truck tent. Dinner for the night was whatever we brought, and that ranged from BBQ sandwiches to beef stroganoff.

Pat, the owner can over and visited with us for a while. Her campgrounds are clean and well maintained. She has rules in place that make sure that her grounds are family friendly. We watched as one of those rules were enforced, and quietly toasted her strength around the campfire. She is a true Texan.

Ken had seen some of us before, but I think this is the first time he joined an outing. Skip and Mary-Kay, John, Mike, Rene, and Puck rounded out the campers.

The TFFers sat around the campfire and swapped stories until about 2200. Thanks for the pecan wood, John.

The weather was still warm, but not stifling hot, as it had been before. Most of the campers had brought fans, and one of us had done his research and brought a 120V fan and an electric coffee pot.

Fishing day, breakfast:

The first coffee pot started brewing at about 0400, and all the campers were up and having breakfast and coffee at about 0500 around the rekindled campfire. Once we had enough light most of us started breaking camp. That was about the same time that the rest of the anglers started arriving. 2 new faces, Doug, and Marco, were part of this group. The TFFers quickly swelled to 17 total.

Fishing day, start-out:

Kevin held court at the launch site describing the plan, handing out commemorative t-shirts, flies, and a fresh 2X leader.

Kevin’s plan was to get the kayaks staged at the launch point, get the cars to the take-out, and shuttle back for a launch. This worked out perfectly, and we were on the water by 0900.

Kevin’s raft, with Skip and Mary-Kay, who paid for a guided day, would lead the group to the lunch spot. Don’t get ahead of Kevin, or there is a possibility of missing lunch.

Terri, with Michael and Jennifer, who paid for on the water instruction, on the raft, would bring up the rear of the group and set the pace. I saw Michael on the oars working the banks. The goal was to stay in front of Terri.

As we finally got on the water our flotilla now consisted of 2 rafts, and 13 kayaks.

As we floated we were able to see some of the damage that was done during the latest floods.

Fishing day, lunch, and beyond:

The water was fast, clean and cool at the launch all the way to the lunch spot.

The gourmet lunch, pasta salad, 3 or 4 different kinds of chicken, humus, melon, pineapple, cookies, etc. I really have to ask others what all was there, as there was plenty of food, and not everybody could sample everything provided. This meal was served with plastic plates and cutlery, a welcome change from paper plates, and sandwiches. Kevin and Terri even brought out tables and chairs.

Three of our group had been dumped from their kayaks, with a broken rod being the only casualty, besides wounded pride.

While we were at lunch we saw a swamped canoe with a young man hanging on. A few TFF jumped in to help the young man. His canoe partner floated into sight a few minutes later. We were able to get the young men calmed down, cleaned up, and back on the water in just a few minutes. This was part of the Boy Scout troop that left after we did that day.

Kevin also gave an impromptu casting demonstration. Kevin talks about distance, part 1

Fish were caught, and pictures were taken.

Everybody was off the river 1630.

Flies that worked:

Swamp Monster

Foxy Clouser

Hare-E

Wooly bugger, size 6

And many others.