Month: June 2022

The Texas Council of the FFI NewsletterSummer Edition 2022

"Puck" Leave a comment

Download and read the Texas Line and Leader (PDF 8MB)

Volume 9 – Issue 2: Summer Edition 2022

My message to you the members of Fly Fishers International is intended to keep you abreast of the Councils activities, goals, and aspirations. I begin by stating your Council is working even harder to make your experience as a Fly Fishers International participant more informed, enriched, and beneficial.

Several areas we as a council are focusing on are as follows:

Communication: First and foremost, communication is the life blood of any organization. The Council is working hard on improving all forms of contact not only with the Newsletter you are reading but through our Instagram and Facebook accounts. We anticipate in offering up to date notifications as needed to give you all the most current information we all want. 

Women’s Programs: The Council is currently working on plans to accelerate our support and development of a significant women program. There is a very strong presence at Fly Fishers International in the form of “Women Connect,” The council intends to assist and complement their programs. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact me Rick Haness, I will get you in touch.

Conservation: The Texas Council has always been interested in conservation involvement and activities in your club’s area, Texas statewide concerns and even on the national level. We have appointed and elected a strong conservationist in Russell Husted our new Vice President Conservation.

Website: Our website is still in the development stages. The success of the webpage is directly related to your contribution of content and your continued submissions of content to our webmaster. Please help make our website the most current and viable form of communication with our members, friends and the curious.

Fundraising: Fundraising is generally thought of at the Club level and rightly so. We all feel the crunch of expenses, even the Texas Council. The council has similar operating obligations as your club. Our goal is to increase our engagement with our clubs and those not affiliated with a club. (Read More)

Rick Haness,
President,  Texas Council FFI

(Read Newsletter)

Rescheduled to Sept 9-10 2022 SW Outing – Cavasso Creek

johneldred03 2 Comments

When: Sept 9-10      July 22-23, 2022
Where: Fulton / Rockport, Texas – Cavasso Creek
Load Out: Cavasso Creek Launch
Start Time: Sat, Sept 10      July 23, 6:00 am
Return Time: Sat, Sept 10      July 23 afternoon
Trip Leader: Taylor Guest
Phone: (nine zero three) seven three eight – zero three one eight
e-mail: taylorguest (at) msn (dot) com

Sign up: Register for this outing on the Cavasso Creek Evite CLICK HERE FOR EVITE

This is an overnight trip to Cavasso Creek and the greater St. Charles Bay area. We will stay in Fulton, Rockport, or Holiday Beach at an AirBnB. Anyone arriving early on Friday is welcome to check into the AirBnB and fish. I don’t have the AirBnB picked out yet, but I’m going to try and get a spot with a dock and lights for some night fishing fun. The launch location will be the Cavasso Creek launch. This is a small launch and is only condusive for kayaks and smalls boats. Here’s the lat/long to the launch location (28°13’02.4″N 96°59’15.9″W).

Again, small boats and kayaks can launch from this location. If you have a larger boat and you would still like to come, there is a proper boat launch in Lamar (Goose Island State Park). The run is a bit further to get to the spot (about 7 miles), but it’s doable. There is also lots of fishable water between the Goose Island launch and Cavasso, if you’d like to explore on your own.

The sun will rise on the morning of July 23rd around 6:46 AM, so let’s meet at the launch around 6:00 AM. That way we can have a quick meeting and hit the water as the sun is rising.

Before we launch I’ll go over the layout of the area and point the boaters and kayakers in the right direction.

Texas Fly Fishers to hold its 13th Annual Summer  Mini Expo, Saturday, August 20, 2022; 9:00 am – 4:30 pm

Jim R 1 Comment

Come enjoy a fun filled day of: Fly Tying, Casting Instruction and Demonstrations, Travel Presentations and Rod Building Exhibitions along with a day which will include drawings for Prizes, at Terrace United Methodist Church, 1203 Wirt Road, Houston, Texas 77055

The Texas Fly Fishers will present its 13th Annual Summer Mini Fly Fishing Exposition, Saturday, August 20, 2022, 8:30 am until 4:30 pm which will include fly fishing related topics of interest to most every fly fisher be they beginner, intermediate or expert!

History of the Annual Summer Mini Expo

Most Texas FlyFisher’s monthly meetings play to a full house; every month with the exception August. For some reason, the August meeting was drawing less than half of the audience of the other 10 months. So, in 2009, then Club President David Lemke came up with a plan to pick up the August monthly meeting attendance. David’s idea was, instead of holding a typical meeting with a guest speaker, to hold a mini expo featuring the club membership’s talent at fly tying, rod building, knot tying / leader building, casting and fly fishing destination travel and to do so in an exposition format.

So, the first Texas Fly Fishers Summer Mini Expo was held on August 25th 2009 at Bayland Community Center, the same venue as the club’s monthly meetings at that time. Inside the Center, club members were set up to demonstrate their prowess at fly tying, rod building, basic knot tying, leader basics and rigging. Other members were on hand to report on their trips to destinations such as the Bighorn River in Montana, the Guadalupe River in the Texas Hill Country, fly fishing for salmon in Alaska and fly fishing along the Texas Gulf Coast. Outside, the Club’s Fly Fly Fishers International Certified Casting Instructors were holding casting demonstrations and clinics. The night went on without a hitch and was closed with a drawing for some great prizes.

After the success of the initial Mini Expo, it was decided to make this an annual event with the only change coming in 2014, when it was decided to move the Summer Mini Expo from the traditional last Tuesday night of the month to the Saturday before and making it a day-long event in hopes of offering a few additional programs and in an effort to attract a few more interested fly fishers. Since its inception, the Mini Expo has continued to grow; so, the club is looking for another large turnout at this year’s event. We look forward to seeing you there!

Fly Tying

Inside, there will be non-stop fly tying demonstration and instruction. Learn tips and techniques or, how to tie that special pattern of interest to you from the club’s fly tying members.

Rod Building

Club members who participate in the rod building section of fly fishing will be demonstrating their custom built rods and will be available to discuss rod building techniques. 

Casting

Have ever wanted to learn how to fly cast but, you didn’t know how to go about it? Well, here is your chance. At the Mini Expo, you will have the opportunity to receive personal, individualized casting instruction from Fly Fishers International Certified Casting Instructors. Additionally, casting clinics will be offered on specific casting techniques such as fly fishing in saltwater, casting in the wind and the basic essentials of fly casting. So, come learn the basics or take your skills to the next level!

All participants are encouraged to bring their own rod with line and leader for the casting clinics; however, the Texas FlyFishers will have a limited supply of rods for anyone who is interested in participating but did not bring a rod. 

Coming in February 2023

Get ready and start planning for next year!

On Saturday ,February 11, 2023, The Texas FlyFishers will host the 30th Annual Dr. Ed Rizzolo Fly Tying Festival. So, start planning now to attend this great event and spend the day watching and participating in a day of tying flies!  Stand by for further details!

Speaker, Monthly Meeting June 28, 2022; Mike Green; Fly Fishing New Zealand

Jim R Leave a comment

At the June 28, 2022 monthly meeting of the Texas Fly Fishers, club member Mike Green will be our guest speaker.

Mike is a very experienced fly angler who has fly fished internationally and will be on hand to tell us about fly fishing in New Zealand, which is considered by many fly anglers to be the number one international destination for fly fishing.

There is no charge for admission and all are welcome at the meeting. Very few get the opportunity to fly fish New Zealand as has Mike so you will not want to miss this presentation.

So, if you are interested in learning more about the fly fishing world, if you are interested in watching some fly tying before the meeting or are just interested in socializing with a friendly group of fly fishing men and women come to the June 28, 2022 monthly meeting.  We would be glad to have you and look forward to seeing you at the meeting. 

Date: Tuesday, June 28, 2022 

Time: Meeting Time 7-9 pm

Place: Mendenhall Community Center  

1414 Wirt Road

Houston, Texas 77055

South Llano May 20-22, 2022 Trip Report

johneldred03 Leave a comment

Our annual South Llano weekend was a great trip.  We fished both Friday and Saturday, and the fishing was outstanding.  Granted it was a little hot, but the cool water and hot fishing made it worth the trip.  

We stayed at Bon Ton Roulet campground, with five of us (and a dog) using the two cabins.  Nol was her usual outstanding host.  Red beans/rice and brats were the main course for Fri and Sat, along with Glen’s famous cold (but spicy hot) slaw and Ozzy’s potato salad.  Couldn’t get better food at a five star. 

There were very few other people fishing.  We launched at 8am from the second crossing, and made it back to the campground by 4pm.  Lots of fish caught.  For those of you who have been on this trip, the river has “washed out” many of the ripples, as well as the rock falls.  An easy paddle.

Another great trip;  we will do it again next year.    

Continue reading →