Category: Uncategorized

Texas Council of the FFI Newsletter Summer 2021

The Texas Council of the FFI Newsletter
Summer Edition 2021

Download and read the Texas Line and Leader (PDF 5MB)

Volume 8 – Issue 2: Summer Edition 2021

Hello fellow Texas Council Members and Friends.
This letter finds you reading a report from me, Rick Haness, Texas Council FFF, First Vice President, Membership Vice President, and a few other titles we do not need to mention (until later). Andy Payne our President asked me to write to you because I have some things, I would like for you to consider.

We are in the beginning of a VERY hot and humid summer; this weather condition will have an impact on all of us in some form of fashion. I for one will take the “hot” part of the beginning as a positive. We can look forward to the rebeginning of our momentum to energize the “Texas Council of FFI’s” initiative to educate and help our clubs, club members and “unclubbed” members to its programs available to us all. Our Council board members are committed in assisting everyone to discover and take advantage of Fly Fishers International’s Casting, Fly Tying and Learning center programs.

I really do not have to remind you that our Council Board members have specific responsibilities to help us all. I want to assure you all that all our board members have volunteered to fill these positions to help our members, our clubs and further the goals of Fly Fishers International. If you have any questions, problems or suggestions please let us know, we want to help. (Read More)

Andy Payne
President,  Texas Council FFI

(Read Newsletter)

What you will find inside:

Letter to Texas Council
Rendezvous
Texas Council Update
Oktoberfisch 2021
Texas Fly Fishers Mini-Expo
Kayak Raffle 2021
News From Fly Fishers International
Redfish Crack Fly
Texas Council Support Letter
Thank You!
Texas Council Clubs
Renew Your Membership
Membership Application

NBFF Club Casting Clinic and Meeting

We had a very informative and productive casting clinic.

Minutes of NBFF Membership Meeting

06/26/2021 – River Acres Park

Ron called the meeting to order at 9:30 am.

A short meeting was held after the casting clinic directed by Phil.  Fourteen members and one guest attended. Phil did a great job of helping attendees improve their casting skills.  One comment overheard was “it is good to see the club using internal talent to improve our skills”.

There was no Treasurer’s report.

Pat and Phil volunteered to help Dan Cone with the trout feeding program.  Pat will contact Dan for guidance on how to proceed.  Other members also volunteered to assist.

Gary informed the group that he would like to start fly tying night again in the fall if we could find a place to have it.  Two possibilities are the hospitality room at the Summit or a room at Rio Terra Senior Living in New Braunfels.

Pat also volunteered to coordinate the meetings during July and August.  Possible locations were the Summit, if available, or the River Acres Park and make it a fishing opportunity.

Speakers for the fall were discussed, more will be posted.

Some in the group would like to have another saltwater trip like we had with William Townsend of Light and Fly Guide Service.

The meeting was adjourned.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Colorado Parks and Wildlife enacts emergency fishing closure on heavily fished portion of Yampa River below Stagecoach Reservoir
OAK CREEK, Colo. – Due to critically low water flow caused by dry conditions and minimal snowpack levels, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) will implement a mandatory fishing closure on a 0.6-mile stretch of the Yampa River between the dam at Stagecoach State Park downstream to the lowermost park boundary.

The closure begins May 25 and will continue until further notice.

“Should the flow rate increase substantially for a continuous period of time, CPW will re-evaluate the emergency fishing closure,” said CPW Senior Aquatic Biologist Lori Martin. “But because of the current conditions, we need to take this course of action now.”

CPW works closely with the Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District (UYWCD), who owns and operates Stagecoach Reservoir, to stay informed on reservoir releases and monitor drought conditions. UYWCD is finalizing a contract with the Colorado Water Trust for environmental releases later in the year.

“Timing (environmental releases) is critical to the health of the river system,” said UYWCD General Manager Andy Rossi. “We manage the reservoir and collaborate with our partners to ensure that water is available and legal mechanisms are in place to release water when the river needs it most. Unfortunately, flows are already low, but hot and dry summer months are still to come,” said Rossi.

Water releases are currently only at 20% of average, and will be dropping to less than 15% of average for this time period. When water flows are minimal, fish become concentrated in residual pool habitat and become stressed due to increased competition for food resources. The fish become much easier targets for anglers, an added stressor that can result in increased hooking mortality.

“We are trying to be as proactive as possible to protect the outstanding catch-and-release fishery we have downstream of Stagecoach Reservoir,” said CPW Area Aquatic Biologist Bill Atkinson. “This stretch of the river receives a tremendous amount of fishing pressure, especially in the spring when other resources might not be as accessible. This emergency closure is an effort to protect the resource by giving the fish a bit of a reprieve as they can become quite stressed during these extreme low-flow conditions. This spring we have not witnessed a spike in flows, which can offer fish protection and allow them to recoup energy following the spring spawn season.”

CPW advises anglers to find alternative areas to fish until the order is rescinded. Many other local areas will become more fishable soon as runoff tapers down. Several area lakes are also opening and should be fishing well.

CPW asks for cooperation from anglers, who should be aware the mandatory fishing closure will be enforced by law with citations issued for anyone violating the order.

Wildlife officials warn when a fish population is significantly affected by low stream flows or other unfavorable environmental conditions, it could take several years for it to fully recover if not protected. Given the extreme drought conditions we are currently faced with, other stretches of river in this area may be subject to additional closures this season.

Like many rivers and streams in western Colorado, the Yampa River offers world-class fishing and attracts thousands of anglers each year, providing a source of income to local businesses that depend on outdoor recreation.

“We ask for the public’s patience and cooperation,” said Stagecoach State Park Manager Craig Preston. “It is very important that we do what we can to protect this unique fishery, not only for anglers, but for the communities that depend on the tourism these resources support.”

For more information, contact Stagecoach State Park at 970-736-2436, or CPW’s Steamboat Springs office at 970-870-2197.

For more information about fishing in Colorado, including alternative places to fish, visit the CPW website.

You can ditch the 5X tippet

Fly fishing bass against the shoreline is one of fly fishing’s best adventures.  The finesse of dropping your fly inches from the reeds, letting it sink just right…. twitch twitch…. WHAM!  It’s an addicting process yet requires an extremely simple tackle setup.  You can ditch the 5X tippet, split shot, floatant, 2-fly rigs, and strike indicators.  Talk about a breath of fresh air!

Combine some opps at lunker largemouth with some panfish kickers here and there and that’s a fine day on the lake.  We encourage everyone to set some time aside and try to catch a bass of reasonable size this spring. Set a realistic goal, and stick with it!

Simple Tackle Setup for Bass

  • #6 – #8 Fly Rod and Reel w/ Floating Line
  • Bass Leader – For the cost, this is a must.  It’s a cheap way to help your fly turnover correctly.
  • Strong Tippet Material
  • Flies – You don’t need a lot, but they should be good patterns.
  • Video of Proper Bass Setup

  • A Proper Setup for Largemouth Bass

    While I personally prefer the #6, which is really considered a 6+, the #7 is a wonderful choice for anglers buying this rod specifically for bass without overlap into trout fishing.  The right style of rod makes casting these big flies easier and more enjoyable.  If you enjoy this type of fishing, you’ll stick with it long enough to become good at it and succeed.