We are planning on releasing our Trout in the Classroom rainbow trout fry, on the Guadalupe this coming Saturday (April 29th) and also the following Saturday (May 6th). We have around 1000 fry ready to go from this year’s project. If any TFF members wish to attend then just let me know! Matt Blyth (832 444 4206).
Conservation
Conservation related posts and comments
Trout in the Classroom Update
A quick update on the TFF sponsored Trout In The Classroom Project. The video is from one of tanks we have running this year. Within just a couple of weeks our eggs have hatched into a lot of baby trout! The fish are currently feeding off their yolk sacs, but should be free swimming and feeding soon!
Matt
2023 Trout in the Classroom project begins!
After a lot of last minute changes, missing equipment, an ice storm and delayed egg shipments, we have finally begun the 2023 TFF sponsored Trout in the Classroom project. Thanks to over ten years of donations by TFF, we have 15 trout tanks running in high schools from Katy to Pasadena. Rainbow trout eggs were delivered to all the schools earlier this week and we already have the first alevin beginning to hatch!
This year we have tanks running in the following Houston area schools:
- Katy HS (4 tanks)
- Morton Ranch HS (2 tanks)
- Paetow HS
- Westbury HS
- Pasadena Memorial HS (2 tanks)
- BF Terry HS
- Lamar HS
- George Ranch HS
- Foster HS
- Randle HS
The students will raise the fish for approximately three months, after which the young trout will be released into the GRTU section of the Guadalupe river. Stay tuned for more updates!
Matt Blyth (832 444 4206)
Reminder! Help needed for the Trout in the Classroom project!
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
Help Support Friends of Padre, Inc.
This easily falls under the heading of “Conservation.” Our group plans at least 2 trips a year to PINS, and Billy Sandifer was a lifetime sponsor of our club.
GoFundMe link: help-support-friends-of-padre-inc
https://www.friendsofpadre.com/
Friends of Padre is a non-profit organization dedicated to maintaining the beauty of Padre Island. Our primary objective is to organize the annual Billy Sandifer Big Shell Beach Cleanup. This is the largest single-day beach cleanup in the world! To date, our volunteers have removed over 3.1 million pounds of trash from the Padre Island National Seashore. As a non-profit, we rely entirely on donations, and 100% of those donations go directly toward our mission.
TPWD Statewide Oyster Fishery Proclamation
Summary: The proposed amendment would close reefs in Ayres, Mesquite, and Carlos Bays to oyster harvest.
The Mesquite Bay complex, including Mesquite, Carlos, and Ayres bays, contains ecologically important and sensitive oyster reefs that provide ecosystem services such as nursery habitat for fish and shoreline protection. Oyster harvest pressure in this minor bay complex has increased steadily over the past decade.
Take action by making a comment using the below TPWD link:
https://tpwd.texas.gov/business/feedback/public_comment/proposals/202211_oysters.phtml
Fly Shop and Brushy Creek Update, 2022-10-05
The Texas Council of the FFI NewsletterSummer Edition 2022
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)
Trout in the Classroom Update
The TFF supported trout tanks are doing well, with the rainbow fry now sporting par marks and feeding ravenously! We have had an odd year this year, with some tanks doing very well and others crashing, leaking or fish mysteriously dying. However overall we still have a healthy group of several hundred fish and we are a month away from when we will release the fish into the TU section of the Guadalupe. Our release is planned for Saturday May 14th in Sattler, TX. If anyone from the club would like to join us, you are more than welcome. Send me a message for the details!
Matt Blyth (8324444206)
2022 TFF Trout In The Classroom Project
Sorry this is a bit belated, but during the last few weeks we have kicked off the 2022 TFF sponsored Trout In The Classroom project! We have 14 tanks running in 10 high schools all across the Houston area. Rainbow trout eggs were supplied by GRTU and all have now hatched and are now in the alevin (yolk sac stage) as you can see in the pictures. The plan, as in previous years, is for the students to raise the fish up until they are 2-3in long (usually by mid-May) when they will be released into the TU managed section of the Guadalupe. This is the tenth year that TFF has been taking part in this program, in partnership with GRTU. GRTU also supports 12 tanks running in the San Antonio/Hill Country area and we are part of 1000’s of similar tanks in classrooms all across the country. This year’s schools are as follows:
- Katy HS (3 tanks)
- Paetow HS (2 tanks)
- Morton Ranch HS (2 tanks)
- Westbury HS
- Memorial Private HS
- Fulshear HS
- Foster HS
- Lamar Consolidated HS
- Lamar Alternate Learning Center
- George Ranch HS
I will try to keep everyone up to date with pictures as the program progresses. If you have any questions, feel free to give me a shout at 832 444 4206! Matt.
