Month: January 2021

2021 Trout in the Classroom project begins!

mattblyth Leave a comment

The TFF sponsored Trout in the Classroom project has started in the Houston area with the arrival of our trout eggs from GRTU. In a normally year we have approximately 14-15 tanks running in various high school science classrooms all over the Houston area. However thanks to covid-19, many schools currently have bans on live animals in the classrooms due to disinfectant spraying, or requirements that they can be rapidly rehomed if needed. This has meant we have only one of last year’s schools participating in 2021 – Westbury HS. However we also gained one new classroom at the Memorial Private High School, near Dairy Ashford and Memorial Drive, to give us two tanks running. The upside is we got a lot of trout eggs for these two tanks and so hopefully we have a bunch of young fish to release into the Guad in early May. As usual, if anyone has questions about the program or would like to help out, please give me a shout on 832 444 4206. Thanks! Matt

Updated: Opportunity to help the next generation of anglers…

"Puck" Leave a comment

As I mentioned, the camp is on and will be from July 27-31, 2021

We are currently in the beginning phases of how camp will look like this year.

All volunteer information will need to be given to Charriss York, Coastal Brigade President. All volunteers will need to possibly complete paperwork and take Youth Protection Training prior to camp.

Here are the details:

LOCATION FOR THESE EVENTS:

Sea Star Base Galveston

7509 Broadway St, Galveston, TX 77554

WED – July 28th – 8:00am – 11:45am

CASTING Instruction Rotation – Outside in the grass yard area

3 rotations – each rotation is about 1hr 15min

2 schools per rotation – approx 14 per rotation

2 or 3 volunteers needed

FLY RODS – Coastal Brigade will supply Fly Rods as well as material hand from TPWD

Please bring some information about your group to be handed to the cadets.

WED – July 28th – 1:45pm – 4:45pm

FLY TYING Instruction Rotation – Location in Building TBD

3 rotations – each rotation is about 1hr

2 schools per rotation – approx 14 per rotation

2 or 3 volunteers needed

FLY VICES and MATERIAL – Please let use know if you have enough vices.

FRIDAY – July 30 – 2pm – 5pm

FLY TYING COMPETITION – Location in Building TBD

3 rotations – each rotation is about 1hr

2 schools per rotation – approx 14 per rotation

2 or 3 volunteers needed

FLY VICES and MATERIAL – Please let use know if you have enough vices.

Masks will need to be worn ….

Please also understand that the schedule may change and we will be sure that updates are sent to your group.

Thank you again…

Michael Scherer

Fishing’s Future (paraphrased):  What I will need is the names, emails and phone numbers so I can send to Charriss York. Once we get closer, she will send volunteers all that needs to be completed.

If you are interested in helping this great organization please send an email to texasflyfishers(at)gmail(dot)com

Fishing’s Future | More Than A Sport

Damon Lakes – Jan 21

johneldred03 2 Comments

Bored on a rainy Thursday, I made an afternoon trip to Damon 7 Lakes.  Weather was the same as in Houston—rain rain rain.  The saving grace was it wasn’t very cold, so I had to wet a line anyway.

I fished for a couple hrs from a boat with subsurface flies….clousers, sqrats, crawfish patterns….Skunked;  not even a bump.

I decided to test out a few of the VIP poppers I recently tied…..wanted to see how they moved in the water.  Didn’t expect anything on the surface in mid-January; I had not seen any top water movement all day.

Surprise surprise.  Shortly after switching to a yellow VIP, I hooked up with a couple bass.  Switched over to a black VIP, hooked up again.  Decided to switch to my “go-to” lure, the Diving Frog.  Hooked up with four (4) bass in short order.  Fished till I ran out of daylight, then went home to tie a few more VIPs.

Final tally:  Subsurface = 0;  Topwater = 8

Black VIP Popper

Yellow VIP Popper

Yellow VIP Popper

Diving frog

Diving Frog

Diving frog

Rod Building Classes for 2021- CANCELLED

johneldred03 1 Comment

Typically the Texas FlyFishers of Houston offer Rod Building classes in the first part of the new year.  These classes are normally well attended and members walk away with prized possessions – personally built fly rods under the supervision of rod building experts.

Given the current COVID 19 pandemic, the TFF club has elected to cancel these classes for 2021.  We realize these classes are a staple of the club and we will look to “restart” as soon as conditions allow.  We will reevaluate as the year progresses, and consider the potential for classes in the 2nd half 2021.

Lake Bastrop Trip Report: Jan 15-16, 2021

johneldred03 Leave a comment

Several of us made a valiant bass fishing effort at the Lake Bastrop Northshore Park on Jan 15-16.  We fished Fri afternoon in the gusting wind with no luck.  Three of us enjoyed a campfire dinner of red beans/rice, sausage, shrimp pasta, salad, and good stories.  We burned some wood that night as the temperature dropped, and spent Friday night huddled by the campfire, and then bundled up inside our tents.  Temperature dropped below 30F, making for a rather chilly night.

Saturday morning rewarded us with a spectacular sunrise and glass lake conditions…..although still cold.  Puck joined us early with kolaches.  Fishing was very slow…perhaps related to the rather chilly temps.  A great time paddling and exploring the lake….as is said “fishing was great, catching was slow”.

CANCELLED for 2021: Annual Dr. Ed Rizzolo Fly Tying Festival

johneldred03 Leave a comment

The below is a letter issued late last year (2020) informing of the cancellation of the 2021 event.  It is reposted below as a reminder:

Texas FlyFishers
November 17, 2020

I’m writing to announce that due to current COVID / social distancing restrictions and,
with no improvement in the immediate future, the Texas FlyFishers have elected to
postpone the 29th Annual Dr. Ed Rizzolo Fly Tying Festival, originally scheduled for
Saturday, February 13th, 2021 in Houston, Texas, until Saturday, February 12th, 2022.
This decision was not made without exploring every avenue possible but, due to the
limits placed on spacing and occupancy, it was decided that we could not offer our tyers
and, the general public the quality of event that they have come to expect.
In the meantime, the festival committee will continue working and planning to make the
Fly Tying Festival a bigger and better event. We will also post updates on our progress
on the Texas FlyFishers website at http://www.texasflyfishers.org .
Since its beginning in April, 1993, the Festival has grown into one of the area’s premier
fly fishing events, consistently attracting the top fly tiers from all over the country. This
event could not have reached the level of notoriety it has without the support of tyers like
you. With your continued support, it is the hope of the Texas FlyFishers that the Annual
Dr. Ed Rizzolo Fly Tying Festival will continue to grow. I hope you will make plans on
being of this great event.
Regards,

Chris Sumers
Dr. Ed Rizzolo Fly Tying Festival Chairman
csumers (at) comcast (dot) net

 

Reel Recovery 2021 Fly Drive

sptomlinson15 1 Comment

Reel Recovery is once again requesting an effort from our TFF fly tiers to solicit flies for their upcoming retreats.

As you all know, Covid-19 has put our retreats in “suspense” for this year, at least until further notice. 

However we continue to hope and plan for retreats later this year.

In addition to Covid impact our ability to serve men with cancer, we are facing and additional challenge in that we must now supply ALL OUR OWN FLIES for both the retreat, and the gift boxes. ( in the past Reel Recovery has shipped us some flies)

So we are launching a 2021 Fly drive!

Of course, we have flies in our inventory but many are inappropriate for the freshwater ponds and species we target.

Unfortunately the need for retreat flies never ends! Here’s the flies that we typically need:

      • Squirmy wormy               • Mop fly                            • San Juan worm

      • Sam’s one bug                 • Yellow spiders                 • Black spiders

      • Wooly buggers olive        • Wooly buggers black       • Wooly worms

      • Clouser minnow              •  Small bluegill poppers    • Bead head nymphs

      Or

      Any flies that you have had success with in targeting largemouth bass and pan fish in small ponds!

Steve Tomlinson, Drew Cox, Steve Edwards, or Dave Steffek will accept the donations thru arrangements at the upcoming 2021 monthly meetings of the Texas Fly Fishers. 

Given the Pandemic restrictions, these men will be making arrangements for accepting the donations.

Thank you for your continued support in helping these brave gentlemen with their battle to defeat cancer!!