Month: January 2023

March 10-12 (Fri-Sun): Bolivar Marshes (RESEND)

johneldred03 Leave a comment

Texas FlyFishers of Houston Event:  Bolivar Marshes – Stingaree Marina

  • I have booked the house.  This trip is a go.

MUST HAVE:  Kayak and/or Boat (or ride with someone in their boat)

SEE POST:  https://texasflyfishers.org/2023/01/23/looking-for-interest-march-10-12-fri-sun-bolivar-marshes/

HOW TO SIGN UP
1. Evite:  Will set up if get enough interest.
2. Call/text, or e-mail the planner  (John E)

PRICES  Below is the total price for both Fri and Sat nights.  Single nights will not be broken out)

Bedroom 1:  Full Size  ($150)   Howard Finley

Bedroom 2:  Full size  ($150)   Tim Stokely

Bedroom 3:  King  ($130)        John Staigerwald
Bedroom 3:  Bunk lower  ($100)  Erik Dilts
Bedroom 3:  Bunk lower  ($100)  Greg Mann
Bedroom 3:  Bunk upper  ($100)   OPEN
Bedroom 3:  Bunk upper  ($100)   OPEN
Bedroom 3:  Futon ($80)               John Eldred

Bedroom 4:  Queen ($130)      Michael Quiqley
Bedroom 4:  Queen ($130)     Robert Cowan
Bedroom 4:  Futon  ($80)       David Whatley

                                

CANCELLED OUTING: West Fork San Jacinto: Sat, Jan 28; Wading for Bass/sunfish

johneldred03 Leave a comment

Tuesday’s storm did a number on the river. Flows are still very high…expect we will need to give the river a couple weeks to “stabilize. Outing is cancelled.

Wading down the West Fork of the San Jacinto River, hitting deep pools, log jams etc. with a target on bass and sunfish.  River bottom can be sandy, muddy, and you will need to traverse brush.  This wade is characterized as “moderate”.
My thoughts are to wade downstream for a couple hrs, then turn around and head back up to the car park. 
This is “Wade #4 ” out of Robert McConnell’s new book Fly Fishing Houston and Southeastern Texas, which is available on Feb 7
I will bring and potentially wear waders; water not deep, but potentially wearing them for warmth.
No EVITE will be set up….call or email the trip leader.

When:  CANCELLED:
Where: I-45 Bridge across West Fork San Jacinto 30.24577, -95.45791 
Trip Leader:   John Eldred
Phone: 9O7(minus)3O1(dash)3595  e-mail: john(dot)eldred03 (AT) gmail (dot) com

Reminder! Help needed for the Trout in the Classroom project!

mattblyth Leave a comment

Reposting this as so far I have not had any response!

Folks! Our 2023 Trout in the Classroom project will kick off on February 2nd when we are able to pick up our eggs from GRTU. Unfortunately this year I am unavailable on the pick up date and so I am looking for a few TFF volunteers who can help with getting the eggs from Sattler, TX to the schools here in Houston. I need people who can help with the following:

  • Someone who can drive from Houston to Sattler, TX on the morning of Feb 2nd, meet the GRTU representative to pick up our eggs and then drive back to Katy HS in the early afternoon.
  • Then we need the following runners who can all meet at Katy HS when the eggs arrive and transport them to the following schools:
  • a) Egg transport from Katy HS to Pasadena HS on the afternoon of the 2nd
  • b) Egg transport from Katy HS to Westbury HS on the afternoon of the 2nd
  • c) Egg transport from Katy HS to Memorial Private School (Dairy Ashford and Memorial area) on the afternoon of the 2nd
  • d) Potentially someone to go from Katy HS to Rosenberg also – TBC

Please contact me at 832 444 4206 if you are able to help! Thanks! Matt Blyth

Report: Rod Building Class 2023

"Puck" Leave a comment

The Rod Building Class, part 1, was held on Saturday, January 21.  Eight participants showed up to build. For most of them, they were are able to:

  • Locate spines on rods
  • Install reel seats
  • Install handles
  • Grind guide feet
  • Mark spacing for guides
  • Tie on a few guides

The part 2 of the class will be February 11.

Class Leaders:  Eric Richardson, Steve Edwards and Paul Robertson

Mentors:  Joe Nicklo and Steve Tomlinson

Paul E. Robertson
Ph.D., M.Div., ACPE Certified Educator
“Retired from work, but not from life.”

Report: GRTU Youth Camp, 2023-01

"Puck" Leave a comment

Each year in January, the Guadalupe River Trout Unlimited Chapter sponsors a Youth Camp at Rio Guadalupe Resort. The primary leader for years has been Dakus Geeslin. He has a great time working with him. It is a great camp.

For $200 registration, the youth and adult sponsor get accommodations for two nights and 5 meals. (The meals were great)  In addition, the youth gets a complete fly rod outfit (this year it was an Orvis Clearwater ), as well as a lot of other swag such as nippers, forceps, hats, fly box, and flys. 

There were 26 youth at the camp this year. The official camp started Saturday moving with the youth helping with the trout stocking—transporting fish from the truck to the river. Then we watched them shoot some from the “canon” into the river off a bridge. The kids really loved this experience. 

Throughout the rest of the day Saturday, there were sessions on topics such as: the role of game wardens, panel discussion with guides, Fly Fishing 101, fly tying, tying knots, stream health and bugs, casting, and research projects on trout. 

Sunday morning was set aside for fishing. Ten guides volunteered their time and brought rafts and boats to take the kids out for a half day of fishing, In addition, we had some other guides that took some of the kids wade fishing. I think all of the kids caught some fish. I was quite impressed with this wonderful gift of time and talent by the guides

After lunch there are some closing recognitions and activities.

I had a wonderful four days with my oldest grandson Caleb. He flew over Thursday evening from Jackson, MS. We drove to the Guadalupe River early Friday morning so we could spend the day fishing before the camp check-in that night. We then attended the camp Saturday morning-Sunday afternoon. We stayed over an extra night for a little more fishing Sunday evening and Monday morning. We drove back to Houston Monday afternoon, cleaned up, ate, and got Caleb on the plane headed home late Monday evening. 

It was a highlight experience for me to be with him for his first experience of fly fishing for trout and catching his first rainbow trout.  

Paul E. Robertson
Ph.D., M.Div., ACPE Certified Educator
“Retired from work, but not from life.”

Report: East Matagorda, looking for a kayak launch 2023-01-22

"Puck" 6 Comments

Q and I took a road trip with a few ideas in mind:

  • Find a place to launch a kayak in support of https://texasflyfishers.org/2023/01/13/prison-permit-roundup-2023/
  • Run down the beach and see if we can a place to launch kayaks to fish the SW corner of East Matagorda Bay
  • Get as close as we could to our marked honey hole by travelling down the beach
  • Identify any costs that outsiders, such as us, would not normally know about.

Here is what we learned:

Rawling Bait Camp is closed for some major renovations, so you cannot buy your required beach pass there. The renovations are looking good, from the road, but I have no idea when they will open again.

You can buy your beach pass ($10) from Matagorda Bay Nature Park. We visited there for a few minutes and it is a great place to stop in, even if you already have your beach pass.

Rawlings Cut, (28.626098994838287, -95.97050488400687) the way a lot of us used to get into the western edge of the bay, is no longer assessable. There is a cable strung up across the old kayak launch. The area we used to park is also now off limits.

There is a new(-ish) kayak launch point (East Matagorda Bay Paddlesports Park) in place a bit further north and is easy access. The distance to our fishing hole is a bit of a paddle. From my map spot it looks to be about 4 miles. Too tough to do in February, IMO.

By travelling down the beach we found a large cut through the dunes. This took us into the marsh, but it does open up into the bay. From that parking area to our marked spot is only a shade over 2 miles. With a south wind, in February, it should be an easy paddle.

By going down the beach a lot further, past “Hog Island” we came to another cut through to the north. We travelled about a half mile on this trail, before the terrain became too wet, and soft. The only way I could see getting to the fishing grounds here is to hike the remaining half mile or so to the bay. There is not enough connecting water to get to the bay in a kayak.

From my Garmin GPS
The East Matagorda Paddle Launch ramp
The large cut through ends here
Driving down the beach
To sketchy to drive, but not to tough to walk through

CANCELLED: OUTING: West Fork San Jacinto: Sat, Jan 28; Wading for Bass/sunfish

johneldred03 Leave a comment

Tuesday’s storm did a number on the river. Flows are still very high…expect we will need to give the river a couple week to “stabilize. Trip is cancelled.

Wading down the West Fork of the San Jacinto River, hitting deep pools, log jams etc. with a target on bass and sunfish.  River bottom can be sandy, muddy, and you will need to traverse brush.  This wade is characterized as “moderate”.
My thoughts are to wade downstream for a couple hrs, then turn around and head back up to the car park. 
This is “Wade #4 ” out of Robert McConnell’s new book Fly Fishing Houston and Southeastern Texas, which is available on Feb 7
I will bring and potentially wear waders; water not deep, but potentially wearing them for warmth.
No EVITE will be set up….call or email the trip leader.

When: Sat, Jan 28; 7am fishing start
Where: I-45 Bridge across West Fork San Jacinto 30.24577, -95.45791 

Start   0700 am (ready to fish) End Time:     early afternoon
Trip Leader:   John Eldred
Phone: 9O7(minus)3O1(dash)3595  e-mail: john(dot)eldred03 (AT) gmail (dot) com

How to sign up:

  1. Call/text or Email trip leader. NO EVITE TO BE SET UP.

Directions: 
Starting in Houston, take I-45 north towards Dallas.  Appx 5 miles north of The Woodlands, take exit 82 to River Plantation Drive. You’ll cross the West Fork San Jacinto just after exiting the highway.  Continue heading north on the service road for appx one mile.  Use the U-turn lane at the River Plantation Dr intersection and go under I-45.  Head south on the I-45 service road for appx 0.1 mile, and take the “slight jog” right to a road that parallels the I-45 service road.  Continue south on that road for appx 0.5 mile.  The road dead-ends at the West Fork San Jacinto River I-45 bridge.  Go under the I-45 bridge and park.
    GPS Coordinates are:    30.24577, -95.45791 
NOTE:  Google Maps shows a “short cut” near the bridge that is NOT THERE.  You must use Exit 82.  Follow the above directions.  Apple Maps shows the above correctly.

Waiver forms:   Required Texas FlyFishers’ Waiver of Liability, (link here) filled out and signed, along with emergency contact information.

Cost: Your transportation and snacks

Important items:
• Member dues are current!  Or you can pay your dues at this time.
• Waiver of Liability, filled out and signed, along with emergency contact information. See above
• Waders and good water boots – Extra change of dry clothes
• Wind and/or water proof jacket
• Water, snacks
• Sunscreen and Mosquito Repellant
• Hat, Polarized Glasses
• First Aid Kit

Recommended Equipment:
• Handheld VHF, or carry your phone
• 4-6 wt rod
• Waders, if desired.
• food & drink

Recommended Flies:
Yellow spider, size 6-12
Clousers, 6-12
PGPP, size 8-12
S1B, size 6-10
Hare-E, size 10
Squirrelly, size 12
Dark Wooly bugger size 6-12

Recommended guidelines for participants:
• Notify the trip leader if you have any potential concerns
• If inexperienced, buddy up.
• Have proper safety equipment

EVENT: White Bass Presentation – February 7, 2023

Jim R 1 Comment

On February the 7, 2023 at 7:00 pm, the Texas Council FFI will be holding its first Quarterly Meeting LIVE from the Fort Worth Fly Fishers Meeting. In that regard and as part of the meeting, Russell Husted, will be presenting the second topic in a seasonal series which will be on the topic of “White Bass”. The first topic presented in the series was on Trout Season and was very well done. For any club members who may be interested, the zoom link for the presentation is included below.

Topic: Texas Council Quarterly Zoom Call
Time: Feb 7, 2023 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89542233167?pwd=MVY0b09lQ2YxT2Y0bDZia3JHU1VaZz09

Meeting ID: 895 4223 3167
Passcode: 768234
One tap mobile
+13462487799,,89542233167#,,,,*768234# US (Houston)

+16699006833,,89542233167#,,,,*768234# US (San Jose)

REPORT: Colorado River near Utley, Texas, fishing by Tom S.

"Puck" 2 Comments

Yesterday was a great day of fishing and friendship. I took a trip with Travis Gunter, LowCoflyfishing, on a stretch of the Colorado River near Utley, Texas. Travis primarily runs a shallow water jet boat that can access water that most folks don’t get to see or fish. The ride is “very” exciting and not for the timid! Travis can be reached at 512-988-1930 or at https://lowcoflyfishing.com/

We fly fished for everything in the river but primarily were catching Guadalupe Bass mixed in with a few pan fish. Guadalupe Bass are native to only a few Texas Rivers in the Edwards Plateau and can’t be located anywhere else. They are smaller than large mouth bass but fight ferociously for their size. We had a 25-30 fish day and were tired and happy at the end.

This day was also one for the memory book. The Texas State Record for “pure” strain Guadalupe Bass is 3.71 lbs and was caught in 2014. I had the fun and privilege of landing a sow, full of eggs, that weighed 3.53 lbs. It was quite the fight on a 4wt TFO Mangrove Fly Rod, but she finally gave it up. I probably will never get close to that size of Guadalupe again as long as I can fish.

After a quick weigh in and a couple of photos, we released the lady back into the river.