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Steve Edwards, Tom Strawther and I headed to the scenic Guadalupe River for a fly fishing trip Feb.10-13. It was our first trip together this year. We normally have a trip or two earlier in the season, but life’s events just kept getting in the way. We decided to stay in a cabin at Hideout on the Horseshoe rather than our usual tent camping. It rained quite a bit Tuesday night, which confirmed our decision. We enjoy camping. But, not in the rain and mud!
Early in January, as I looked ahead at the weather patterns, as well as my social and medical calendars (both of which seem to be full these days), it looked like a few possible days to get away to the Guadalupe River would be January 15-18. I reached out to a few of my fly fishing buddies to see who was interested and able to go. Tom Strawther indicated he could make it for the first three days.
John is the owner and outfitter for The Tackle Shop and Montana Way Outfitters in Ennis Montana on the Madison River. The Tackle shop started in 1937 is the oldest fly shop in Montana and sits just a long cast from the world famous Madison River.
John has been guiding for almost 30 years and has over 3000 commercial guide days on Montana Rivers. He fishes all over the state and loves traveling to other areas of the state to chase fish. In the winter and spring John leads trips to Belize in search of salty adventures with a fly rod. He has 21 destination trips to Belize with guests and twice acted as the General Manager and fishing director of El Pescador lodge in Belize.
My grandson Caleb and I were privileged to attended the GRTU Youth Camp again this year. This was our second time to attend. The camp goes from Friday-Sunday and is hosted by the Rio Guadalupe Resort. This year there were 21 youth at the camp. I think there were 6/7 girls and 14/15 boys.
Caleb flew over from Jackson, MS, on Thursday. He and I had planned to drive over and fish Friday morning and afternoon before the camp. But there was a weather alert for high winds (20mph sustained) most of the day Friday. So we had to nix that idea. But in looking at the weather report on Thursday evening, it looked like the wind might die down some after about 3:00 Friday afternoon. So, we left Sugar Land Friday morning, hoping to get in a fishing session that evening. Of course, we made our customary stop at Buc-ee’s, this time for a sliced pork sandwich and some beef jerky for snacks through the weekend.
We arrived at the Guadalupe Rio Resort and fortunately we were able to check into our room early. We put on our waders and gear, rigged a couple of rods, and headed to the river—one rod with a nymph rig and one with a dry fly. I wanted to take Caleb to a hole that I had fished earlier in the week. That day, there had been a nice Caddis hatch about 4:30 to 5:00 in the evening and I had caught six (and lost two) on a dry fly. I was hoping I could put Caleb on some rising fishing and that he could have his first experience at catching a trout on a dry fly. Unfortunately when we were wading to the hole, we noticed four fishermen were already there. But there was a caddis hatch! So we fished awhile in a different spot but there were no rising fish. About 5:15 the four fisherman cleared out and we made our way up to the hole to give it a shot before the sun set. A caddis hatch was still going and we could see fish rising. So, I got out the dry fly rig (size 18 or 20) and showed Caleb the basics. He caught on quickly and was able to net two, and he missed a third. We were off to a good start. We topped off the evening with pizza at The Wicked Pizza.
A highlight of the camp on Saturday is helping with the trout stocking. The fish come on a truck from Missouri. This is always a fun experience for the kids. They love being a part of the process (carrying fish in buckets from the truck to the river), in addition to just being in the water. I think we had three kids “fall in” and get wet. But they just got up and kept on going. Being young is nice! After the stocking, we met back at the retreat center for a lunch of brisket (it had been smoking overnight), sausage, jalapeño macaroni and cheese, and green beans.
The afternoon was filled with various classes such as:
Knots and rigging
River ecology
Fly Fishing 101
Fly casting instruction
Being a TPWD game warden
Panel discussion of fly fishing industry representatives
Fly tying
Dinner was burgers and hot dogs. The weather was just gorgeous for the day—I think the temperature may have been in the low 60s.
But the weather was to change on Sunday. We woke up to about to about 27 degrees with an 18 degree feel temp. The youth put their waders and wore them to breakfast. After breakfast it was time to meet their guides and fish. There were about 15 guides with their rafts/boats lined up to help. A shout out to them as they all volunteer their time for this camp! I had arranged for Caleb to be matched with Judson Cole as he is one of my favorite guides. Because of the cold temps, everything started about an hour later than normal. And because of the cold, most of the groups came in from fishing a little earlier than normal. It was brutally cold—not the best fishing conditions. Not too many fish were caught, but the kids still seemed to enjoy the experience. Although, one guide found a hole of hungry fish and the youth with him caught 32! I think he found a hole where the state stockers had been put on on Thursday. As the guides and youth were arriving back at camp, the cooks had hot chocolate waiting. After the kids warmed up, and swapped stories, it was time for a fabulous lunch of beef and chicken fajitas.
Caleb and I had planned to stay over until Monday, doing some fishing Sunday evening and Monday morning. But with the extreme temperatures and bad weather around the state, the camp shut down a little early, and we decided to head home. The camp coordinator, Dakus Geeslin, shared that this was the coldest GRTU Youth Camp they had ever had.
I would highly recommend that our TFF members consider taking a child or grandchild to this camp. Our GRTU chapter sponsors it. Dakus Geeslin and his team of volunteers put on a wonderful camp for the kids—good fellowhip, great food, excellent learning opportunities, and quality time on the water. For more information check out the GRTU website: www.grtu.org
This month’s speakers will be Enrique Garcia and Nicolas Fliess, owner and the head guide of Lago Rosario Lodge and Natural Anglers.
Every year they organize a promotional tour across different States of the Union, visiting fly fishing clubs and attending the Fly Fishing Shows. For June/July 2023 they will visit Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska.
At our monthly meeting they will present to the Texas Flyfishers of Houston and bringing the club a unique opportunity for a fly fishing adventure in Argentinean Patagonia. Lago Rosario Lodge and Natural Anglers will have 7 discount vouchers available and 1 complimentary stay for the club raffle winner!
Lago Rosario Lodge and Natural Anglers, located in the heart of Argentinean Patagonia, is one of the best fly fishing destinations. Their first class fishing program combines a comfortable full-service Lodge, best local guides, most productive waters, and an awesome glamping expedition.
Well, it’s time for another season of fishing on the Guadalupe River to end. Last year (2021-22) I joined the Guadalupe River Trout Unlimited lease access program. Once you are in the river, you are okay, legally. But getting to the river usually means crossing private property, which requires permission. The lease access program provides permission at about a dozen places. In last year’s season, I spent 22 days on the Guadalupe River. I had a blast and learned a lot. So, I joined the lease access program again this year. This year I was able to be there 24 days. On most of the trips I was able to fish with friends, which made the trips even more memorable.
This past Monday (March 6) I headed over to the river with my friend Steve Edwards. This time the weather was conducive for us to tent camp, which is my preferred way to go. After some medical appointments in the morning we headed over. We arrived in time to set up camp and enjoy a nice meal of homemade chicken noodle soup. After that it was time to sit and watch the river, talk about fishing and life, and enjoy the stars and full moon. This was pretty much our routine each evening. We didn’t solve all the world’s problems, but we tried.
We fished morning and evenings Tuesday and Wednesday, and a few hours Thursday morning. Our routine was to get up, have our coffee (me) and hot tea (Steve), eat a light breakfast, then head out to fish. Around mid-day we would head back to the camp, have lunch, and rest a few hours. The temperature was getting up on the mid-80s in the afternoon. Water temperatures in the morning were about 66 degrees and rose to 68 degrees in the afternoons. Around 3:00 we would fish another spot until about 6:00 or so.
We caught trout most outings. Because of the warm weather, the sunfish were also active and we caught more of them than I had ever caught there during trout season.
Thursday morning was actually my best outing this year. I went to a run in the river where I had caught some fish before.
I headed down to the bottom of the run. I started with a nymph rig under an indicator. I used a Y2K for an attractor and a red zebra midge on the bottom. I worked my way up the run. I got six fish hooked and missed that many more. Two got off quickly; one broke my line on a rock; two got off after a good fight (early releases); one ended up in the net. I worked my way up to and around some larger trees that hang low over the water. It is just not possible to get an indicator under them with a good drift. But I kept thinking that there must be some fish under those trees.
So, I decided to pull out my other rod which I rigged with a Thin Mint attractor and a soft hackle fly with a little red in the body as a trailer (since I had been catching them with a red zebra midge). I began to work my way back down the same run, only this time swinging the streamers. With this rig I was able to side arm cast under the trees. I caught five as I worked my way down the run and three were under the trees where I couldn’t get to with an indicator rig. I had one additional good take. I really liked the way those trout took the soft hackles. No questions about a take. And I think I did fairly well at strip setting. I chased several down stream to wear them out and finally get them upstream from me so I could net them above me rather than below me—heads up and coming downstream into the net. I’m learning! I had taken a seminar at Troutfest on how to land them and I tried applying what I had learned. All this was 8:00-10:30. Twelve trout on and six in the net. In addition, I caught a few sunfish. I’ll take that just about any day!
It was then time to pack up camp and head home.
So ended my Guadalupe River 2022-23 trout season. I am so grateful: to have been able to spend 24 days on the river, to have caught many fish, that I was not hurt, for a supportive wife, to be alive and in reasonably for good health, and for friends with which to share the experiences and have good conversation.
Being in the water fly fishing benefits my mental and spiritual well-being in a number of ways. In the water I feel a sense of awe. I experience a sense of being connected to something greater than myself. I had many experiences of deep feelings of worship as I stood in the river, connected with the Creator.
Being in the water fishing also provides soothing sensory experiences. The sounds, the smells and sight of a body of water is relaxing. They help me to stay centered and find a calming, positive state of mind.
Being in the water fishing also facilitates mindfulness and reflection. Water in a flowing river is dynamic. It has different colors. It has different shapes. It has different sounds. It is moving. While standing in the river, my my attention is on those things rather than all the noise of the world.
There is something rhythmic about fly fishing. The back and forth rhythmic cadence of casting helps me to take all my troubles and cast them far away, even if just for a little while. The catching of a fish and releasing it reminds me that there can be new beginnings for me as well.
Steve Ramirez said it well: “Fly fishing reminds me to slow down, live now, let go. I cast as I breath. I retrieve line to the rhythm of my heart beating. And so, I stand in the river casting back and forth, trying to lose that feeling of being alone. It is then that the rainbow rises and takes my offering. I raise my rod, and all at once, I am no longer alone. I am connected to his powerful runs, facing into the current. Silver line connects us, both fighting to live—two beating hearts. He comes to my net. I hold him gently, rocking him back and forth in the cold rushing water. ‘Gain your strength, dear warrior,’ I say. Am I speaking to him or to myself? With a kick of his tail, he returns to the river—and I go with him.”
I am a blessed man.
Paul E. Robertson Ph.D., M.Div., ACPE Certified Educator “Retired from work, but not from life.”
I went for a long walk this morning, Friday. Though I was walking along a sidewalk in our neighborhood, in my mind I was remembering Tuesday and Wednesday—days I spend on the Guadalupe River. I replayed the sights, sounds, smells, and feelings. I found myself smiling and at peace within.
Back to the river. On Tuesday morning my friend Joe Nicklo and I headed out for the Guadalupe River about 5:00 in the morning. We made our customary stop at Buc-ee’s for a coffee refill, breakfast and a pit stop. For those not from Texas, Buc-ee’s is known for having the cleanest restrooms in Texas. We arrived at the river a little around 8:00 and began to put on waders, boots, and get rods and gear ready. I was anxious to just get my feet in the water. We headed toward the water. But before stepping in, we did the mandatory stop and observe. We could see one trout in the pool in front of us. He was in a difficult place to cast. We thought about crossing below and trying a cast. But, as soon as we moved, he spooked and took off. That would be an omen of my “catch rate” for the two days. As some say, that’s why that call it fishing and not catching. We had some great fishing but the catch rate was low. I ended up with three fish in the two days and Joe ended up with about ten.
But, the fishing was great. I had planned a three-day trip to the Guadalupe back in December but had to cancel due to an episode with Covid. Then came the holidays. I had been looking for the first opportunity to go, which was this last Tuesday and Wednesday.
I can’t express how joyful I felt when we rounded the curve on the road and I got my first glimpse of the river. It was like I had arrived “home.” There is someone about wading in the river that brings upon me a sense of calm and peace. To be sure, I like to catch fish. But, even in those times when I don’t catch many (like this trip), there is still the experience of being on the river. There is so much to take in. During those two days I really did not think about the debacle (my opinion) in the House of Representatives or anything else political. I was focused on taking in my surroundings. I remember the words of John Gierach: “The solution to any problem — work, love, money, whatever — is to go fishing, and the worse the problem, the longer the trip should be.” Being in the water I feel connected to the Mother Earth and its Creator. I feel connected to my self. I feel connected to the fish and other animals around.
I watched squirrels come down to the river side for a sip of water, a blue heron searching for its morning meal, ducks flying low to the water headed down stream, and an occasional large yellowish mayfly. I listened to birds of all types singing as the morning sun rose up over the canyon wall, the water running across the rocks, and animals scurrying along the trees and banks, rocks tumbling down the cliff wall as some animal (I did not see it) walked through the trees, and the occasional sound of that blue heron landing the water behind me with a loud splash (I almost needed a roll of toilet paper.).
When the fish are not biting, I just enjoy exploring. At one point I noticed a riffle downstream of me. I had not been down that stretch of river. I don’t know just how to explain it, but it was calling me to come and check it out. So, I heeded the call and went. What a beautiful run of the river! About half way down the run I just stopped and took in the view and the sounds. What I saw is on the video below. My heart sang with joy. Hey, I can’t sing with my voice, but I can sing with my heart!
On the the way back one morning, I did come upon a pool with a bunch of fish. The sun was at just the right angle, and through my polarized sunglasses I could see lots of fish. My heart began to beat faster. I studied them for awhile. There were about eight medium-sized fish and three quite large ones. They looked confused. Occasionally one the larger ones would rise to the surface. I watched intently to see what it might be taking, but I couldn’t tell. I tried most everything I knew, but with no luck. As my partner headed my way, I pointed out the fish to him. I tried some more, with his help spotting them. Again, no luck. Then I decided to spot for him. Dang, if he didn’t catch three of them. Sometimes, that seems to be the story of my catching.
Nevertheless it was wonderful to be on the water with a friend.
“They say you forget your troubles on a trout stream, but that’s not quite it.
What happens is that you begin to see where your troubles fit into the grand
scheme of things, and suddenly they’re just not such a big deal anymore.”
—John Gierach
Paul E. Robertson Ph.D., M.Div., ACPE Certified Educator “Retired from work, but not from life.”
This is an ongoing work of making the “Windknots” archive available to the public. So far all of the 1980’s that we have on hand are here, as listed below, from newest to oldest. Have fun with these, and let us know what you think:
When: 13 January 2018 (2018-01-13) with a back-up date of the the 20th Where: Guadalupe River, Reel Fly in Sattler, Tx. We will meet here and then spread out to fish
Trip Description:Catch as many inches of fish on the same fly. Honor system. We will meet up afterwards to eat, drink and announce the winner.
