NBFF Fly Tying session Thursday, Oct. 5th from 6-8pm

Well, the 2024 Trout Stocking season is getting near.  It will be nice to see the cooler fall temperatures and I hope we get some much-needed rain to go with it.  The NBFF and GRTU have been feeding the fish over the summer so there should be some nice “Holdovers” in the river to go along with the new stockers.  We will be having our monthly NBFF Fly Tying session this next Thursday, Oct. 5th from 6-8pm. at the Westside Community Center, 2932 South IH 35 Frontage Road in New Braunfels.
With the approaching trout season, I thought we would start by tying the RS-2 fly this month.  This is a good fly for catching trout in most all trout streams in the US.  So, come on out and join in on the fun and tie a few for yourself and a few for the clubs monthly Fly Raffle at the club meetings.  You are welcome to bring your own tying equipment and the club has some equipment to use, if you have none.  The club will supply much of the needed tying supplies.  We will have hook sizes from 16 to size 20, but if you want to tie smaller than that, you will need to bring your own.  At the present time we are somewhat limited in thread colors, so I would suggest bringing a few colors along if you can.  I think tan, gray and olive would be good.  I have added a photo of Pat McQuinn with one of the nice Rainbows he caught on the San Juan River, I believe possibly using a Foam Wing RS-2, size 24
RS2 - Foam Wing - Duranglers Fly Fishing Shop & Guides
6 Foam Wing RS2 Midges and Emergers. Colorado Fly Fishing image 1
Come on out and tie some!

Nov 4th Holdover is looking to be a real good time!

The 2023 Holdover Tournament will be held on November 4th.  This tournament funds the New Braunfels Fly Fishers club for the year.  This enables the club to pay speakers for our monthly meeting, support GRTU Youth Trout Camp with gift bags and other endeavors throughout the year. The catch results are provided to TPWD for their use in determining the health of the fishery.

You will get a prize. Lunch will be provided on float trips. This has always been a great time, and if you are new to the GRTU LAP program, or just new to the river, this is a great way to find the best place’s to fish and learn the river. Our club members like to help you find good spots to fish and advice on fly’s that work different times of the year. So come on out and do some fishing for fun!

You do NOT need to be a club member or a GRTU member to participate.

New Braunfels Fly Fishers team with Guadalupe River Trout Unlimited

The New Braunfels Fly Fishers and Guadalupe River Trout Unlimited have teamed up to feed trout during the summer for the last three years with GRTU buying the fish food and NBFF providing the labor.
The club feeds from May through October, twice a week. The six locations that the club feeds are on the upper Guadalupe River below the dam. The goal of GRTU and NBFF is to provide another food source to assist the trout’s survival during the hot summer months.
Pictured are club members feeding at one of the prettiest spots on the river with enthusiastic help from Dominic, son of one of NBFF’s members.
If you enjoy fly fishing on the Guadalupe River, come join GRTU and NBFF and help support this local effort.
The NBFF’s Holdover Tournament will be held on November 4, 2023. Come join us for a fun time and great prizes.

The below link is to more pictures and some video of some happy fish. The summer and heat does not kill the fish, many will holdover year over year.

Link to pictures and video of feeding

Minutes of NBFF Membership Meeting 09/20/2023

Minutes of NBFF Membership Meeting

09/20/2023

Pat McQuinn called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm at the New Braunfels Public Library excited about a new trout season.  The LAP process zoom meetings are completed and all members that are joining the program had successfully completed all phases.  Trout stockings are planned for the year so the season will be good even with the drought conditions.

Nathan Pence, Executive Manager of Environmental Science at GBRA was our guest speaker.  His presentation was very informative about GBRA’s role with the Guadalupe water shed and the management of the flows being released from Canyon Lake.  The drought we are experiencing is in it’s second year and is being compared to the drought of 1956.  He did confirm that the flows will continue as they are needed to meet GBRA’s contractual requirements.  The 2023-2024 trout season based on the current weather forecasts of the drought continuing will see the same flow rates that we saw during last season.

Gary Nyland reported that the next fly-tying class will be October 5th, 6:00 PM at the Westside Community Center.  He will be sending an email out with further details.

Pat McQuinn reported that the club membership remains at 42.  Further discussions were had concerning the levels of participation at club meetings and club activities.  Sending out a survey was discussed and in addition calling some of the members that we have not seen for some time to check on them.  Ron, John, Brien and Pat volunteered to call 4/5 members each (1/2 of the membership).

The Education Director position is open.  Discussion on having another class for the public this fall was tabled for the next meeting.

Ed Sweet reported that the club’s following on social media as of September 20th was 1873.  A post to the web site goes automatically to Face Book followers also. He is also placing notices concerning our meetings, holdover tournament, etc. on the website so the public is seeing what NBFF is doing.  How to increase participation in club activities is an ongoing topic.

Ron reported that there were no planned outings at this time.

Club logo hat sales have gone very well.  Ron is going to place a second order so if anyone needs a hat please contact Ron. Hats are $25.

Our only club fund raiser will be the Hold Over Tournament scheduled for November 4th.  This will be an opportunity for members to support the club so participation is urged. We are hoping that the membership will support the event as it is the primary source of funds the club has.  Float trips are $200 each and members should contact Ron ASAP to book a raft and to assist Dan with scheduling the guides.  Self guided trips are $75 and members should contact Chris at Action Angler to make reservations.  Ron also asked for volunteers to help contact vendors who make donations to the event.  Vendors have been very supportive of the event with some great gifts and just need to be contacted.  Ron has a list of vendors to choose from.

Dan Cone has reported that the signs being made by Texas Parks and Wildlife are in process of manufacture and the plan is to have them displayed on the river by the beginning of trout season.  A request will go out to GRTU members to assist with installing the signs.

Martin Stults and Gary Nyland are feeding the fish this week and gave an update.  The flows are at 118 cfs and the water temps are between 62 and 68 which is great and an improvement from this past summer.  Fish are being reported at all locations but the activity has slowly decreased as we get near the end of the program.

Our next club meeting will be October 25th at 6:00 PM at the New Braunfels Public Library.  Cari Rey will be our guest speaker.  She is a FFI certified casting instructor, guide and member of the Texas Women Fly Fishers.  Cari’s presentation will be fly fishing on the Guadalupe.