The Jack Sparks Central Texas Flyrodders Club

The Jack Sparks Central Texas Flyrodders Club February, 2013 www.centraltexasflyrodders.org Volume XIX: No. 2

Next Meeting:

Tuesday, February 19, 2013 MEETING MOVED TO THE THIRD TUESDAY

Location: Waco Wetlands Center

Program: Guide Judson Cole About 7:00 pm Fly Tying and Tall Tales About 6:00 p.m.

FEBRUARY PROGRAM – GUIDE JUDSON COLE – NOTE THE NEW MEETING DATE – FEBRUARY 19, 2013

The Guadalupe Trout Season is in full swing and Guide Judson Cole of Hell ‘N Back Outfitters will give us a primer on catching the hard fighting Rainbow Trout that GRTU has stocked into the river. If Trout fishing is not on your agenda just stick around. Judson also plans to cover his other rivers – the San Marcos, Blanco and Colorado. Given the time of year, Judson is also going to give us some generic White Bass tips.

Judson is living his dream. He lives in Wimberly, just a stone’s throw away from the Blanco River. He shares this paradise with his wife, Tara and young daughter Paisley.

The name Hell ‘N Back Outfitters has several origins. Judson explains that it is a simple paraphrasing of an old time analogy. “The old saying of going to Hell and back usually described someone's willingness to face hardships in the ultimate search for something greater. It expresses a sense of accomplishment, that you have bested the worst, and have now come full circle. I use it to describe my personal endeavor of starting a fly fishing guide service. I have jumped through many hoops and faced some unforeseen adversaries to get this thing running. I feel as though I have been to hell n back.”

For more information on Judson Cole and Hell ‘N Back Outfitters see:

www.centraltexasflyfishing.com WHY HAS OUR MEETING BEEN RESCHEDULED?

North Bosque River about a half mile downstream from the Ranch Road Access

You should have already received a notice that our regular club meeting has been rescheduled from Tuesday, February 12, 2013 to Tuesday, February 19, 2013 due to a conflict with a public hearing of the McLennan County Commissioners’ Court concerning access to the North Bosque River at Delmar Ranch Road. Several members of the club have involved themselves in this access issue and felt the issue was of such importance that they were going to attend the public hearing rather than the fly club meeting. We felt this would significantly reduce the attendance at the club meeting. Fortunately, our speaker, Guide Judson Cole was available on the 19th so the decision was made to reschedule our meeting.

Those members involved in the access issue, including several club officers, have attempted to make it clear that we are acting as individuals and not as representatives of our club. We believe this is an important distinction because the club as a whole has not considered this issue and has not made a decision with respect to the issue. The club officers make many routine decisions concerning the operations of the club, but felt a basically political decision should be made, if at all, only after consideration by the entire membership in accordance with our by-laws. There has not been time to do that and it may be better to keep our club just a fly fishing club.

Having said all of that and in the interest of full disclosure, I am a strong advocate that the county keep the Delmar Ranch Road Access open. I believe we have already lost too many access points and that it is time for all outdoor enthusiasts in this area to stand up and make it clear to those that govern us that existing access points should be maintained and, if possible, additional access points be made available. Bob Hanley SPEAKING OF ACCESS

Public access to the Guadalupe River is available at several places along the river. Two that come quickly to mind are Rio Raft and Action Angler. There may be a small fee involved. Access below Canyon Dam is free, but the Trout there are stocked by the state, not GRTU, and tend to be much smaller than downstream.

If you know a GRTU member you can also gain access to GRTU leases as a guest. Each GRTU member is allowed four guest passes a year which cost $15.00 each. Guests must fish with the member and follow the GRTU rules - mostly common sense and all Trout must be released. A good program with one limitation – getting a guest pass.

One source is actually on the river, Action Angler, a fly shop just below the third crossing. Unfortunately Action Angler is sometimes closed while they provide guiding services. Fortunately there is another source that you will pass on your way South anyway – Living Waters Fly Shop in Round Rock, which has more consistent hours and more good stuff to buy while you are picking up your guest pass.

MARCH PROGRAM – WHITE BASS CONCLAVE

TPWD Biologist John Tibbs will give us a primer on White Bass biology and behavior which is bound to help us in the pursuit of these fish. Our own White Bass Master, Johnny Elkins will then share some of his secrets. If you have fished with Johnny, fished anywhere near Johnny or just heard of Johnny, we know you will attend this meeting. If you do not qualify for any of the above, trust us, attend this meeting if you want to improve your White Bass fishing. More details in the March newsletter.

North Bosque White caught near the Delmar Ranch Road Access FLY FISHING 101

Several of our members are going to conduct the first Waco Fly Fishing 101 class before the March meeting beginning about 5:30 pm and ending just before our “formal meeting” begins at 7:00 pm. The plan is to provide a very basic overview of fly fishing with the opportunity to try a little casting. The idea is to let the class know that fly fishing is not some form of magic that requires extremely expensive tackle and lengthy formal instruction from costly instructors conducting classes far from Waco. We are limiting the class to twelve and currently have eight openings. For more information, to register someone for the class or to get involved as an instructor contact Bob Hanley.

TRIP REPORT – THE GUAD

Pat Vanek and I said we were going to fish the Guadalupe River and we did. We even caught a few Rainbows, but it took some work.

The plan was to rendezvous at Rio Raft. I underslept and got there about an hour before Pat. I thought that would give me a chance to catch a fish or two (at least those little state stockers) before Pat’s arrival. I was wrong. Nothing, no hits, no surface activity and not a fish in sight. I was ready to move when Pat’s call buzzed the cell phone in my pocket.

After transferring Pat’s gear to my vehicle, his wife Sharon left for a self-guided tour of the shops in Gruene while Pat and I took off downstream to pick up a guest pass at Action Angler and try the waters in the vicinity of the fly shop. On the way we slowed at the third crossing and quickly decided not to join the crowd working the downstream run. Fortunately I was planning to camp at the nearby Up the River Camp where we found much less of a crowd but no fish after about an hour of serious effort.

I wasn’t overly concerned with the lack of success when we left the river to join Sharon for lunch back in Satler. Conditions seemed good and the afternoon plan was to fish out of GRTU Lease Site No. 5, one of my favorites. The BBQ hit the spot and it was nice to take a break. Sharon pleasantly endured our analysis of the fishing so far and even a few fish stories. After lunch she left for the Outlet Mall while Pat and I returned to the river.

We got to fish my favorite water at No. 5, Barking Dog Run and Pool. I even had a hook- up in fairly short order – my first of 2013. Unfortunately the fish was foul hooked near the pectoral fin. Either she refused at the last minute or my timing was off. Either way, you can’t count a foul hooked fish as much as I wished she had been fairly caught. She was strong and pretty and filled my net. Frustrating.

I decided to quit the dead drift and start throwing a woolly bugger – less chance of another foul hook. A good plan but for some reason the fly and several replacements would spin on the retrieve. The twisted leader led to a number of rig catastrophies. More frustration. I really have no idea what the problem was. Sometimes woolly buggers decide to spin, but at least one of the spinners had seen action before without spinning. Part of the problem might have been a flattened split shoot. I’m just not sure. I eventually got tired of spinning woolly buggers and tied on a Steelhead fly I had hoped to use on a flooded out California fishing and wine drinking trip (only the fishing was flooded out, the wine was still very good). I broke the fly off on a solid hit after just a few casts. Of course I only had that one Steelhead fly. During all of this Pat was having his share of frustration with several break-offs and missed hits.

Breaking off that Steelhead fly made me realize I was using 5x tippet. I know better than that. Stripping streamers for Trout results in some very hard hits. 5x is not up to that kind of abuse. I strengthened my rig to 3x capacity, tied on a woolly bugger and got back to work. Either that 3x tippet, a rounder split shot or some combination of the two stopped the flies from spinning and I finally caught a fish – fairly and properly in the mouth. My first official fish of 2013

For a while things picked up a little for me, but Pat was still struggling. It was not easy fishing. We saw very few bugs of any kind and almost no surface action, an indication that the fish were probably just sulking on the bottom. The current was just strong enough to make it difficult to get the flies down to those sulking fish.

Towards late afternoon what limited action we had died off completely and we decided to move above the weir. I should note that Barking Dog had been fished before we got there by a guy who had moved downstream a bit just after Pat and I arrived. He left about mid-afternoon after catching only two fish that we saw. As he was leaving he reported that he had done well at Barking Dog earlier in the day. My theory is that once the hot fish have been caught things will slow down. I had not seen any fishing above the Weir – a good reason to move.

On the way upstream Pat stopped to fish some fast water just below the weir. The footing there is precarious. I went on. We had fished hard that day and I was feeling it. I did not want to stumble around below the weir and bust my – you know. Pat is young, lean and fit. I am no longer any of those things.

Good news, Pat found one of those hot fish in short order and found himself trying to figure out what to do with it in that fast water. Pat held it together and did manage to bring that fish to net. In real life the water is much faster than it looks in the photograph, a hard place to land a fish.

We proceeded to add a few more fish from above the weir. I guess the lack of fishing pressure up there that afternoon had improved the attitudes of those fish. We probably should have moved sooner.

After that hard day of fishing Pat left to return home and I left for camp. I had my favorite spot on the river, but it was too warm for a campfire. I hit my cot early. After sleeping as hard as I had fished I woke before sunrise to fish that downstream run near Action Angler before the crowd arrived.

I was the first angler there although the parking lot was starting to fill up as I left for the river. Even so fishing was poor – two state stockers and one decent fish that lacked the good manners to make it to my net. As the crowd began to assemble I returned to camp and had the deep run there all to myself. Again, the fishing was slow; only one fish in about forty-five minutes. No complaints though he was a good looking guy, properly proud of his kype. After breaking camp I added a few more fish from Barking Dog, had a very good hamburger for lunch and headed for home. Bob Hanley

Last fish of the trip

TROUTFEST 2013 – FEBRUARY 15-17, 2013

Troutfest will begin Friday evening, February 15, 2013 at 6:00 pm with a banquet and auction on the bank of the Guadalupe River at Rio Raft Resort. The featured speaker for Troutfest 2013 is none other than Lefty Kreh. Troutfest tickets are $50.00 each and include great food, tea and beer, not to mention a chance to participate in bucket raffles, the silent auction and the live auction. Proceeds go to conserving, restoring and protecting the Guadalupe River.

The Troutfest Expositon is Saturday and Sunday and is free. A number of outstanding fly tyers are scheduled to show off their techniques and their wares. You will recognize a few of the tyers, guys like Jim Gray, Jeff Horlter and John Maddux. A number of venders will set up booths with all kinds of stuff related to fly fishing. Classes will be held covering all sorts of topics and, if you have young children or can borrow some there will be a kid’s fish pond. For more details see www.grtutroutfest2013.org.

This year Trout Unlimited is holding its Mid-South Regional Meeting in conjunction with Troutfest. This meeting targets Trout Unlimited volunteers and will feature TU leaders from across the Mid-South to share each chapter's successes, learn what others are doing, and be inspired by all TU is accomplishing. Designed and led by TU grassroots leaders and staff, Saturday's workshops, presentations, and panels will provide a forum to hear and see case studies from successful efforts and an opportunity to ask questions of those who have been there already. Topics will range from chapter effectiveness workshops to conservation topics specific to the Mid-South. A detailed agenda will be posted -tu.org/events.

FLY FISH TEXAS - MARCH 9, 2013 - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Anglers from novice to expert will gather at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center near Athens, Texas to celebrate the sport of fly-fishing. Learn the basics of fly- tying and casting, then fish for rainbow trout in the on- site ponds and streams. Attend seminars and demonstrations led by fly-fishing professionals. Visit with vendors of fly-fishing services and equipment.

Fly-fishing clubs from across Texas will be on hand to help anyone who wants to learn or improve existing skills. Equipment will be provided for casting classes, but participants are welcome to bring their own gear.

CLUB OFFICERS FOR 2013

President & FFF John Maddux 666-9009 Liaison - Vice President & Bob Hanley 776-5444, Newsletter [email protected] Treasurer/Membership David Beyer Education Chairman - Bill “Coach” Menefee 772-1785 Webmaster - Dale Connally 710-4004 At Large Billy Whitehead WACO FLY FISHING 101 Tuesday, March 12, 2013 5:30 – 7:00 pm at The Waco Wetlands

If you are just getting started in fly fishing or think you might like to give fly fishing a try, this class is for you. Several members of the Jack Sparks Flyrodders Club with decades of fly fishing experience will conduct this basic class. We will have several fly rods available for practice or bring your own.

The class is free, but space is limited so please preregister by calling Bob Hanley at 776-5444 (leave a voice mail message if nobody answers).