MONTHLY MEETINGS: 700-900pm (social hr from 6-7), Last Tues of the month. St. Thomas Presbyterian Church; CONTACT US via email: texasflyfishers@gmail.com WHY JOIN: Dedicated to the promotion of fly fishing education, conservation, and outdoors ethics. Detailed benefits below.
Texas FlyFishers of Houston: 2024 PINS (Padre Island National Seashore), advance planning Trip Description: We will take four-wheel drive vehicles down Padre Island National Seashore during the anchovy migration, and target blitzing schools of ladyfish, jacks, redfish, and tarpon. We will beach camp Friday and Saturday nights, returning on Sunday.
When: Sept 20th thru Sept 22nd, 2023 Where: Padre Island National Seashore, 20420 Park Road 22, Corpus Christi, Texas Start Time: 1100, Friday morning, Sept 22 End Time: Sunday, at noon, 2 days later
Meet at Malaquite about 11am on Friday to be prepared for a noon departure. Plan is to leave Malaquite around noon and run down to about MM 40+ fishing, and camp in that area.
A quick run to the jetties Saturday morning, move back to a camp spot between the 40 and 30 mile marker and then the next day, Sunday, fish on the way back. Showers at Malaquite, load for the return about 1400 and drive home.
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The TFF monthly meeting will be help on Tuesday March 26, 2024. Our topic will be on fly fishing for sunfish in preparation for our annual Sunfish Spectacular. This is our annual fun family fishing event Saturday April 13th at Damon Seven Lakes.
Topics covered include gear for sunfish, our favorite flies, how to fish them, a review of Damon Seven Lakes and the different options to fish.
During the socializing pre-meeting we hope to have some fly tying going on.
This is the opportunity to bring friends and family to one of our outings.
The weather was cool on Saturday, but warmed up nicely
Four Kayaks, one, 1-man, inflatable, and one 2-man inflatable all made the 4 mile trek between the crossing and our takeout.
If you want to read more, see below……
Two of our anglers arrived early enough on Friday to fish between the second and first crossing. The wind was brutal for that 2 mile stretch they caught a few fish, but positioning their watercraft made casting difficult.
The rest of us came in slowly until the last man arrived about 5:00 PM ,
Dinner the first night was veggie lasagna with all kinds of sides. Sitting around the campfire that night we decided that we were just going to do from the first crossing down here to our takeout.
46° Saturday morning with very little wind. All kayaks/rafts in the water by 8:50, first fish of the day by 8:55. The water levels were a little lower than they were last year. This caused us to drag through a few places that we would normally just float through.
Within minutes, in in site of the launch we were already catching fish.
The weather warmed up nicely on Saturday afternoon and we came out of our windbreakers.
Hundreds of fish were caught between six people. LMB, long-ear sunfish, bluegill, Rio Grande Perch, and Guadalupe bass were the species caught.
The FOTD (Fly of the day) was the yellow spider but many other flies also caught fish, I need to ask the group, which one they also used. Even though alternative gear (spinning rods) were used, the fly rods produced more, if not bigger, fish.
Tom got the best fish of the trip A very nice bass.
Puck caught a Rio Grande perch after identifying the conditions and pointing out the fish to a fellow angler. Hare-E was the fly it wanted.
We had the river almost to ourselves. We saw 2 rafts and 2 kayaks that weren’t in our group, but nobody else, all day. All anglers were off the water by 5:00pm. This made for a full 8 hour day of fishing.
We had one individual that decided that the weather was just perfect for swimming, as he went swimming 2 1/2 times. If he wants to confess to how it wound up being 2 1/2, you’ll have to ask him.
Howard broke a spinning rod on a huge LMB
There was a flipper lost from the DS pontoon boat.
Tom had an interesting day. First he broke a fly rod, then he lost his phone, told his wife about it. He had convinced himself that it had just slipped out of his pocket. Later, while recovering from fishing that day he had found it did indeed slip out of his pocket and go down into the foot of his waders. The phone was fine and Tom was happy.
Saturday night dinner, again way too much food. Saturday meal was Tom’s Sausage Peas and Mexican Cornbread. Recipe is available for a small fee. We ate well and then we went and sat around the campfire till about 10 o’clock.
Sunday morning we all got up and had coffee about 7 o’clock. Two of us left to go home right after coffee, as they had things to do. Another deciding factor was that the wind was expected to be high, making fishing difficult.
Three of us took a chance, walked down to the river, and fished the water below the CR150 bridge. The wind picked up so we didn’t use watercraft, so we just waded and walked the shoreline. We immediately started catching fish.
General notes:
Laughing was as abundant as the amount of fish caught
Someone got in trouble by returning home with a wife-made lasagna untouched. That man will be eating lasagna till next Christmas
We have already coordinated with Nol for next year’s camping/lodging. Details to follow.
Tuesday February 27th club meeting will be by Zoom only with a start time of 6 pm due to early voting at Mendenhal Center. Zoom link below (call will be open starting ~5:45 pm).
Russell Husted from the Dallas Fly Fishing Club will be speaking Tuesday February 27th about white bass fishing at our at our club meeting (on Zoom). This is very timely since we have an outing to Harmon Creek March 8-10 to fish for white bass.
Topic: February TFF Meeting 02/27/24
Time: Feb 27, 2024 05:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
I am looking at getting back to the Lavaca River on Monday. Weather conditions for Friday are just too windy for safe kayaking.
The conditions are looking good, and this particular fishery is at it’s peak right now. The flows have been reasonable, and the weather is helping out.
I have been advised by my best friend that it is not a good idea to go alone, so I am asking around to see of there are others out here with the itch to hit the salt.
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Kayak is my watercraft of choice.
Launch point to be sent to those ready for adventure. For some reason this fishery does better during this time of year for us fly rodders. Later in the year it is an “OK” fishery, but right now there is a chance that it may be on fire.
Weekdays at this, my favorite location, is my preference. Weekends can be problematic, as there tends to be a lot of boats on the weekends. Most of the boaters are respectful, and cause no issues with kayakers, but there is always that “one guy” that can ruin a fishing trip by putting us in danger.
Casting is arguably the preeminent skill in fly fishing. It is also, quite possibly, the most frequently overlooked. While there is no consensus as to why, I would point to a few reasons as likely suspects. Historically, for lack of any existing standard of measure, it has been difficult for a fly angler to self-assess his/her proficiency. Even if they could, what then? What should be the next area of focus, the next goal set? And how much time and effort would it really take to achieve notable improvement on the water?
In this presentation, we’ll talk about how improved casting can both enhance your enjoyment of fly fishing and lead to more consistent success. We’ll also bust some myths about the amount of time and energy it takes for marked improvement (spoiler alert: it’s not as much as you think). I’ll offer some tips you can employ that will improve your cast the very next time you pick up a fly rod as well as ideas for mapping a path to continue building from there.
This presentation is appropriate for all casting skill levels.
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Topic: CASTING MATTERS: Mapping Your Casting Journey Time: Feb 21, 2024 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Presenter: Cari Ray, FFI Certified Casting Instructor, FFI Texas Council Casting Director
The first time Cari Ray cast a fly rod she was all in. It stands to reason. Having spent years as a singer-songwriter and musician, the rhythm and balance of fly casting felt immediately familiar…and satisfying. After stepping away from the touring life, Cari combined her passion for fly fishing with her love of teaching to launch Zen Fly Fishing, a school and guide service.
Cari is a full time fly fishing guide, Fly Fishers International (FFI) Certified Casting Instructor, host of the Fisher of Zen Podcast, and serves on the FFI Texas Council Board as Casting Director.
With a particular passion for inspiring new fly anglers, she loves mentoring beginning as well as advanced students/clients to identify, learn and grow the skills necessary to achieve consistent and independent success on the water. Through her guiding, teaching, writing, and public speaking efforts she invites anglers to learn and experience fly fishing in the wilds of nature and the context of mindfulness and conservation.
Find Cari online at fisherofzen.com or on Instagram at @fisherofzen
7 of us met at the  Matagorda Harbor, County Road 213, Matagorda, TX 77457, and were on the water by 0815, in three boats.
Making our way across the bay was fairly easy. There was very little wind and only a light chop.
Once we got the boats anchored and got into the water, the goal was to find some structure. That was a challenge, as the water clarity was only about 9″. We saw a few sheepshead, but never got a clean shot at any. A few stingray were hanging around, so moving slowly was greatly advised.
Blind casting, and then some more blind casting. From the reports, there was one redfish and one small flounder landed. 
The wind picked up early in the afternoon, so fishing the shoals in the middle of the bay was scrapped. We made our way back, with a much choppier water, lending itself to a fine spray as we made it back into the intracoastal waterway. We did try a few casts there, but between the wind, and the current, a better decision was to head in and have lunch. The Waterfront Restaurant fed us well, and I do plan to go back.
It was a good day on the water with friends. Let’s do this again.
Landing and admiring a nice redfishAdmiring a nice redfish, grip and grinAdmiring a nice redfishFlounder comes to handFlounder released to growTravelling in a convoyWe were able to spread out and look for sheepsheadThe water was flat, but not very clearThis is what happens when you make a fewe hundred casts with the same flyThis is what happens when you make a fewe hundred casts with the same fly
Join us for our annual fun family fishing event and lunch on Saturday, 13th of April, at Damon Seven Lakes. If you’re lucky, you can earn the chance to capture the John Scarborough Sunfish Spectacular Trophy!
Fishing from the shore, but kickboat, canoe, and/or kayak are quite successful.
Contrary to the name there are now nine different, unique lakes of good size that hold largemouth bass, tiger bass, catfish, black crappie, and bluegill. Catching bass in the three to five pound range is a normal occurrence. Twelve pound bass, decent channel cats, and twelve inch bream have been caught in the last four years.
When: April 13th, 2024 (2024-04-13-0700) Add this to your calendar:
You may camp out the night before arriving on 4/12 but no earlier than 5 pm to stay the night. On 4/13, people may arrive and register no earlier than 7 am. The venue will close by 10 pm CDT.
Cost:
$10 for Texas FlyFishers members with paid up dues that have signed up ahead of time.
$15 for those that do not sign up early but are in good standing with the club.
Special pricing for family members 16 and younger, students, and non-fishing spouses who will not be fishing during the event. They may take free casting lessons. Contact “Trip Leader” for details.’
We will be using a list from the membership secretary to verify up-to-date membership. The list may be a week or 2 old by the time the event is held.
Cost for non-club members fishing at Damon 7 Lakes is currently $90/person/day, (but can be reduced from $90 to $45 by joining Texas FlyFishers at the event [$15 event fee + $30 dues] )
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I plan to be at Damon 7 Lakes at noon on Sunday, 2024-02-04 at about noon. My plan is to use my kickboat and get into that cold water. The weather is supposed to sunny, with some wind (Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph), according to the weather guessers, but warm. 
Bring a camp chair, snacks, and plenty of water.
Ready to wet a line? Register below:
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$35 guest fee for any that feel the need to at least throw a fly in January.
