You have two opportunities to fish on this trip.  Day 1 (Fri):  Skimmer trip to Fence Lake;  Day 2 (Sat) Kayak paddling in the Lighthouse Lake/B&R flats area

DAY 1 :  (Downloadable File: 2022 SW Outing Fence Lake Day 1_)
When: Fri, June 10, 2022
Where: Fulton / Rockport, Texas – Kayak Fence Lake via the Skimmer
Load Out: Skimmer Dock, 215 North Fulton Beach Rd., Fulton, TX 78358
Start Time: Friday – 5:00 am – Meet up at the Skimmer Dock, Fulton, TX
Return Time: Friday – 4:00 pm – Return to Skimmer Dock
Trip Leader: Chris Sumers
Phone: (two eight one) six nine two – eight nine 62 – cell
e-mail: csumers (at) Comcast (dot) net

Description: Friday morning, we will be ferried to St. Joe’s Island aboard the M/V Skimmer for a day of skinny water kayak & wade fishing in the Fence Lake area. The Skimmer can carry 12 fishermen and their kayaks. About 3:00 pm, the Skimmer will return to pick us up at the mouth of Fence Lake and take us back to the dock.
Important Note: Be sure and remove all items in and on your kayak prior to load out on the Skimmer and carry them on separately. It will make it easier to load and stack the kayaks on the mother ship.

Sign up: Register for this outing on the Fence Lake Outing Evite CLICK HERE FOR EVITE
Registration deadline is on or before 3:00 pm Sunday, June 5, 2022. Note: When you sign up for this outing, please specify if you plan to fish on Friday, Saturday or both days

Cost: Ferry Service aboard the M/V Skimmer will be $50.00 per person. Note: The rate based on a minimum of 10 people. If you need to rent a kayak, they are available through the Skimmer at $50.00 per day. You will need to reserve it in advance. Also, tips for the crew are appreciated but, not included in the ferry fee.

Directions:

Friday Morning: We will meet up at the Skimmer’s dock, located at the Fulton Harbor, directly behind Charlotte Plummer’s Seafood Restaurant, 202 N. Fulton Beach Road, Rockport, Texas at 5:30 am for loadout (sunrise is 7:26 am). As you come in to Fulton on HW35, Turn left on Cactus Street and go appx. ½ mile to Fulton Beach Road. Cross Fulton Beach Road and just behind the restaurant to the left is the Harbor and the Skimmer. This is where I’ll collect your filled out Waiver of Liability and your ferry fee. Once we have the kayaks and gear loaded, we’ll shove off.

 About the area:  Fence Lake is a relatively small and shallow bay (averaging about 1½-3 ft.) nestled along the western shore of St. Joe’s Island.  This, combined with the grassy bottom keeps the water clear and should allow you the opportunity to sight cast to fish.  The numerous fingers and creeks should provide ample opportunity to explore the area and enjoy a peaceful day of fishing. The fish should be transitioning to their fall patterns, trout will be along the transitions looking for a mouthful and, the red fish will be working the grass / shorelines feeding on shrimp, and crabs. Be sure and keep your eyes along the prop scars, the fish like to sneak along these.

Important items:

• Member dues must be current for you to participate!
• Outing Waiver of Liability, filled out and signed, along with emergency contact information – See Attachment 1
• Current Texas Fishing License with Saltwater Stamp (Expires August 31, 2022)
• Skimmer Ferry Fee, $50.00 in cash, based on a minimum of 10 anglers
• Proper safety equipment INCLUDING a proper fitting PFD and, a backup paddle
• First Aid Kit.
• Extra change of dry clothes (Optional / Just in case)
• Wind / Rain proof jacket
• Comfortable, sturdy wading shoes and sting ray guards
• Soft side cooler with Ice or frozen water bottle
• Lunch, ample water and/or Gatorade, snacks and power bars
• Sunscreen and mosquito repellant (I like to carry the individual packages of Off wipes)
• Wide brimmed hat AND polarized glasses
• Hand held VHF or FRS radio with charged batteries.
• A water proof camera
• A measuring board or tape measure (see below)
• A well-stocked wading belt or bag
• A space blanket, this item doesn’t weigh much and doesn’t take up much space but, if you get caught in a thundershower, this can be used to help protect you from the beating rain and will help insulate you.

Recommended Equipment: 6-8 WT outfit with weight forward, floating line, tapered leader with a 10-12 lb. test tippet. Don’t forget extra leader material and tippet.

Recommended Flies: Shrimp patterns, Bead Eye Clouser Minnows and light colored grizzly Seaducers are the productive flies. Spoon flies, crab and Kwan style patterns also work well. Size 6 to 2. For surface flies, choose a pattern that will land softly, such as the Gartside Gurgler, a Dink or VIP popper. Note: There can be a lot of floating grass in Fence Lake, both on top and suspended under the water. You might want to add a weed guard to your flies. You can always snip it off.

Recommended guidelines for participants:

• Notify the trip leader if you have any potential concerns or health issues.
• Know your limitations. If you are inexperienced then buddy up.
• While we all practice catch and release, I don’t think you will be banished from the Club if you desire to keep a fish or two for the skillet. However, you might want think about to how you are going to transport your catch to the dock. A soft sided cooler with a frozen ice pack should do the trick.

DAY 2 (Downloadable File:  2022 SW Outing Fence Lake Day 2)
When: Saturday, June 11, 2022
Where: Aransas Pass / Harbor Island, Texas – Lighthouse Lakes & B&R Flats
Load Out: Lighthouse Lakes or Brown & Root Flats Launch, Highway 361, Aransas Pass, Texas
Start: Saturday, 6/11/2022 – 5:30 am – Meet up at the HEB Parking Lot, Aransas Pass, TX
Return: Saturday, 6/11/2022 – 3:30 pm or earlier
Trip Leader: Chris Sumers
Phone: (two ate one) six nine two – eight nine 62 – Cell
e-mail: csumers (at) Comcast (dot) net
Description: Saturday morning, we will meet up at the Lighthouse Lakes Park, located off Hwy 361 (see map), at 5:30 am for check in.. At this point, you can take off to your fishing spot du jour, hopefully with a fishing buddy. At, or before 3:30 pm, check in with the trip leader, or alternate to inform them that you are off the water or, plan on fishing longer. Because of the locations of this trip, some members may opt to switch fishing areas. If you decide to make a move, text the team leader with the details.
Sign up: Register for this outing on the Fence Lake Outing Evite Click here for Evite or, sign up at the Texas FlyFisher’s May monthly meetings prior to the outing. Registration deadline is on or before 3:00 pm
Wednesday, June 8, 2022. Note: When you sign up for this outing, please specify if you plan
to fish on Friday, Saturday or both days.
Cost: There is no charge for this trip.

Directions:

Saturday, June 11, 2022 Morning: 1) We will meet up at the Lighthouse Lakes Park, located off Hwy 361 (see map), at 5:30 am for check in. From this point you can put in for Lighthouse Lakes or, cross the road to the B&R Flats Or,

2) You can go directly to your desired loadout spot but, if you do, please inform the outing lead or one of the other members on the outing as to your destination, the name and contact of your fishing partner and your fishing plan, such as general area, put in / load out spot and how long you plan to fish. If you change locations please leave a message, either text or voice message, with the Outing Leader.

About the area: These areas are a lot like Fence Lake, Friday’s fishing location. These areas are relatively shallow, averaging about 1½-3 ft. in most areas. This, combined with the grassy bottom keeps the water clear and should allow you the opportunity to sight cast to fish to cruising fish. The Lighthouse Lakes won’t require long casts but, you will need to keep an eye out for laid up fish on the edge of the channels and under the mangroves. This is a good spot to bring your handheld GPS along in case you happen to get turned around. B&R Flats is a wide open area with a number of guts and old duck blinds. Attractor patterns along with surface and spoon flies will work well but, you might want to consider adding a weed guard because there is a good chance you will encounter floating grass. Depending on the wind, velocity and direction, the water in South Bay can get a little dirty and, it can get shallow in a number of spots near the mangrove forest of Lighthouse Lakes. However, back in the SE corner of South Bay, the fishing can get interesting.

Important items for Both Days:

• Member dues must be current for you to participate!
• Outing Waiver of Liability, filled out and signed, along with emergency contact information – See Attachment 1
• Current Texas Fishing License with Saltwater Stamp (License renewal is August 31, 2022)
• Safety equipment INCLUDING a proper fitting PFD and, a backup paddle
• First Aid Kit.
• Extra change of dry clothes (Optional / Just in case)
• Wind / Rain proof jacket
• Comfortable, sturdy wading shoes and sting ray guards
• Soft side cooler with Ice or frozen water bottle
• Lunch, ample water and/or Gatorade, snacks and power bars
• Sunscreen and mosquito repellant (I like to carry the individual packages of Off wipes)
• Wide brimmed hat AND polarized glasses
• Hand held VHF radio with charged batteries. We will monitor channel TBD
• A water proof camera
• A measuring board or tape measure (see below)
• A well-stocked wading belt or bag
• A space blanket, this item doesn’t weigh much and doesn’t take up much space but, if you get caught in a thundershower, this can be used to help protect you from the beating rain and will help insulate you.

Recommended Equipment: 6-8 WT outfit with weight forward, floating line, tapered leader with a 10-12 lb. test tippet. Don’t forget extra leader material and tippet.

Recommended Flies: Shrimp patterns, Bead Eye Clouser Minnows and light colored grizzly Seaducers are the productive flies. Spoon flies, crab and Kwan style patterns also work well. Size 6 to 2. For surface flies, choose a pattern that will land softly, such as the Gartside Gurgler, a Dink or VIP popper. Note: There can be a lot of floating grass in Fence Lake, both on top and suspended under the water. You might want to add a weed guard to your flies. You can always snip it off.

Recommended guidelines for participants:

• Notify the trip leader if you have any potential concerns or health issues.
• Know your limitations. If you are inexperienced then buddy up.
• While we all practice catch and release, I don’t think you will be banished from the Club if you desire to keep a fish or two for the skillet. However, you might want think about to how you are going to transport your catch to the dock. A soft sided cooler with a frozen ice pack should do the trick.

TFF Release of Liability Form:  Downloadable File:  RELEASE OF LIABILITY_01152020