January - March 2025
Volume 27 Issue 1
Officers:
President
Manuel Pena
Vice Presidents
William Buglehall
Nils Pearson
Treasurer
Jim Robinson
Secretary
Gary Geddes
Past President
Kathi Harris
Conservation
Keith Mars
Education
Austin Orr
Merchandise
Shawn Riggs
Membership
Gary Geddes
Newsletter Editors
Nils Pearson
James Patton
Outings
SKIFF
Manuel Pena
Webmaster
Brandon Rabke
Julian Gong
To contact officers: Info@AustinFlyFishers.com
by Gary Geddes
At the beginning of the year, I was invited to go trout fishing in Patagonia, Argentina on a trip arranged through Yellow Dog Fly Fishing. They had 5 anglers and needed a sixth to complete the group. Jack Porter, Yellow Dog’s South American contact, had put together a curated itinerary with a variety of lodging and fishing experiences I couldn’t pass up.
I was apprehensive at first joining a group of mostly strangers, but for a bunch of lawyers they turned out to be pretty regular guys. I was paired with Gordon who is a master fly fisher, great roommate, and overall true gentleman sportsman. We enjoyed an incredible week of fishing, camaraderie, and an immersion into Argentine ranch culture. It was truly an unforgettable experience.
Buenos Aires
For our in-country arrangements, Yellow Dog connected us with Posta Experiences, a boutique travel and concierge firm in Buenos Aires. Posta handled everything flawlessly from greeting us at the airport, transfers to our hotel, and arranging various activities and experiences in Buenos Aires. As this was my first trip to Argentina, I wanted to take in all that Argentina has to offer. From the moment I arrived I was in their capable hands and had not one worry.
I always heard BA was the most European of South American cities and I was not disappointed. It is truly lovely with many parks and plazas, outstanding museums, stunning architecture, and incredible cuisine. My Posta representatives Marina and
Massimo Macchiavello treated me like family and ensured every aspect of my time in Buenos Aires was exceptional. I enjoyed three wonderful days exploring the city in advance of the rest of the group arriving, then it was off to Patagonia. Posta got us to the regional airport and ushered us through the controlled chaos of holiday travelers for our 2.5 hour flight to San Martin de Los Andes in the heart of Patagonia ranch country.
San Martin de Los Andes
Upon arrival in San Martin, we were greeted by representatives of Patagonia River Guides who would be our fishing outfitter during our week in Patagonia. PRG has relationships with various lodges and estancias, which provide access to many miles of private and lightly fished water.
From spring creeks to rivers to lakes, PRG’s knowledgeable and experienced guides will put you on the best fishing in Patagonia. Everything with PRG was top shelf – Winston rods, Abel reels, meticulously maintained trucks and boats. There is no need to bring any fishing equipment when fishing with PRG, they provide everything. We split our week with PRG between two lodges recommended by Yellow Dog, each with its own distinctive charm.
Quemquemtreu Lodge
At a 1.5 hour drive, Quemquemtreu is the furthest removed lodge from the San Martin area. Once the headquarters of a ranch encompassing over 1 million acres, Quemquemtrue lodge showcases the authenticity of old Patagonia. Wildlife, gauchos, and beautiful landscapes are all part
First fish on the Chimehuin, Whoohoo!
of the experience. From the estancia (now only a modest 200,000 acres), PRG has private access to more than thirty miles of the Collón Cura River, one of the most productive fishing rivers in Argentina. The river is divided into 3 beats – upper, middle, and lower - and with a 12-rod limit, you will have your assigned section all to yourself.
On day 1, Gordon and I were paired with PRG guide Nico Natalucci, a wading and sight casting enthusiast, and a perfect guide for our assigned beat. The upper Collón Cura features crystal clear springfed lagoons where the stealthy angler can stalk huge browns in shallow pools under the shade of tall cottonwoods.
Gordon was up as we quietly approached the first pool. A large brown was sipping what appeared to be spinners at the back edge of the small pool. Nico selected a fly and helped Gordon into a good casting position. With nerves of steel Gordon laid down a perfect first cast, the fly landing gently above the feeding fish…eat, set, fish on! The brown put up a tremendous fight but came to the net for a quick release. An 18” fish on a size 18 fly, now that’s trout fishing!
We spent the rest of the morning pursuing these wily monsters, often making bow and arrow casts under the low hanging branches. I could have stayed all day, but we had to board the drift boat and head down to our takeout. The wind was up and we could hear the buzz of grasshoppers as we embarked. Fishing foam Chubby Chernobyls, we pounded the bank getting steady blow ups and brought many rainbows and browns to the net. At the end of the float, Gordon and I relaxed with a cold Andes beer and enjoyed the view of the
sunset across the sere Patagonia landscape. What a great start to the trip!
Over the next two days we floated the middle and lower sections of the river, each offering a diversity of water types from deep, willow-lined pools to endless Madison-like riffles. Whatever the conditions, the PRG guides were adept in helping adjust our techniques to meet the changing environments and kept us in fish. In many ways it was similar to summer fishing in Wyoming or Montana – lots of hopper/ dropper fishing with some opportunities to drift smaller dries.
Several of the group were new to trout fishing and even the most novice angler landed plenty of fish. On our final night at Quemquemtreu, the staff threw us an incredible gaucho-style asado cookout with enough meat for an army and enough malbec to float a navy. Sharing the dinner with our guides and lodge staff, it felt like a family reunion. On the morning of day 4, we packed and sadly left Quemquemtreu behind.
We arrived at Tipiliuke Lodge mid-morning, dropped our luggage, and immediately departed with our guides for our next fishing adventure. Right away I could tell that Tipiliuke was a different experience. While located within the 50,000 acre Estancia Cerro de los Pinos, everything about the lodge appeared upscale - from the immaculate grounds, onsite spa, posh furniture, and courteous but formal service.
With its close proximity to San Martin, anglers have access to both the Chimehuin and Quilquihue rivers as well as the mountain lakes high above San Martin. Beyond the fantastic fly fishing, the lodge offers a variety of activities like yoga classes, horse-
A wary rainbow takes the fly
back riding, and guided bird watching tours. To me, Tipiliuke would be the ideal choice for an angler with a non-fishing companion. But we were here to fish!
PRG’s program is to rotate their guides through each pair of anglers and to ensure everyone gets to experience the widest variety of fishing opportunities. High on my list was to fish Lago Lolog, a stunning lake rimmed by snow capped Andean peaks. On our first day at Tipiliuke, Gordon and I did a pleasant float on the Chimehuin while the rest of the group went to the lake. We enjoyed a good day on the river, but back at the lodge the stories from the lake had me green with envy. There was a dragonfly hatch bringing the huge lake fish to the surface and the topwater action was apparently fast and furious! That night I could hardly sleep thinking of those fish.
On day 5, it was finally our turn and with high hopes we set out early for the long drive up to the lake with our guide Federico. We arrived at the little marina by mid-morning, boarded a powered skiff and headed out across the pristine water. I was overwhelmed. The videos I had seen couldn’t begin to capture the raw natural beauty of Lolog.
Fortunately for me and Gordon, the hatch was still on. All along the shoreline we saw huge browns and rainbows leaping into the air to catch the escaping dragonflies. It was sight casting heaven. With Federico’s help we could spot the bigger fish in the cold clear water and accurate casts were rewarded with ferocious takes. The well-designed skiff allowed for easy casting from both front and back and we scored many doubles throughout the morning. By midafternoon the action had slowed so we paused for a picnic on a shady beach.
I have to say the daily picnics were exceptional and provided a unique opportunity to converse with the guides, a real highpoint throughout the week. After a leisurely lunch we were back in the boat, but it was clear the hatch was over. We spent the rest of the afternoon hunting individual fish that were secreted in their hiding places among the logs and crevices of the rocky shoreline. Casting spinners on light tippet beneath branches and into tight corners we each managed to entice a few these wary fish to eat. It was getting late and after we each landed some nice fish, Federico called it a day. My Lolog dreams were fulfilled!
On our last day we were paired up again with Nico and he had a special day planned for us. He secured us entry to the Mamuil Malal ranch with private access to the Malleo River. In the shadow of the Lanin Volcano, the Malleo is the most remote and lightly fished river in the area. It is walk and wade fishing, stalking individual fish in crystal clear pools and riffles.
We stopped at the rustic ranch house to register and collect the gate keys. The exterior walls, adorned with countless red stag antler mounts, attested to the sporting history of this remote and wild estancia. We passed through the gate on a suggestion of a road above the Malleo canyon and in 4WD slowly motored our way through the brush down to the river. We quietly approached a pool where several smaller fish were rising. I asked if we could catch a few to get us started, but received a definitive “no” from Nico. We were strictly after the big boys.
After some serious bushwacking upstream, Nico spotted a big brown feeding in a current seam along the shady bank. Gordon was up first and was stationed downstream
well below the fish. Nico insisted the only way to catch it was to make a cast directly upstream putting the fly just above the fish. Gordon put down a nice cast, but a little too long. The fish saw the fly line and spooked. I was up on the next fish and made the same mistake.
Okay, 0 for 2, not a great start but now we knew the game. Gordon’s next attempt was perfect and he brought a nice brown to the net getting us off the Schneider. We continued to move upstream hunting fish. We came to a deep pool at the head of a side channel holding a large brown and a rainbow. The fish were slowly cruising the pool occasionally eating a bug on the surface. The brown detected us and paused, staring at us for what seemed like an eternity before skulking away. The rainbow continued to feed along a foam line at the top of the pool.
Staying in the shadows we approached as close as I dared. With my heart in a fist, I made a roll cast landing the fly ahead of the approaching fish. The rainbow sees the fly…eat, set, fish on! After a quick lunch break, we had one more section to fish. Gordon picked up another nice rainbow and on my final cast I got my best brown of the trip. We hiked back to the truck with rugged Mt Lanin in the distance. I couldn’t help but marvel at the magnificence of Patagonia and all we experienced.
Saturday morning, with our week of trout fishing over, we took our flight back to BA. For our final night in the city my companions dined at the renowned Parrilla Don Julio. I had had my fill of steak, so joined Posta’s Massimo for dinner at La Mar, an outstanding Peruvian-style seafood house. After dinner we wandered the cobbled streets of the trendy Palermo district stopping for a few craft cocktails before calling it a night.
We still had a full day on Sunday before our overnight flights back to the states. Yellow Dog arranged us a day of fishing for the redundantly named Golden Dorado with Urban Dorado Anglers. With luggage in tow, the UDA team transported us to the modern Sarthou Marina where we boarded 3 skiffs and set out down the Parana toward the enormous Rio de la Plata delta. This vast riverine system, so close to the city, is a wonderous maze of bayous and flats that is home to exceptional fly fishing for dorado and other exotic species.
We started the day drifting the shallows casting from the boat. The dorado hit with explosive strikes but were very difficult to hook, their sharp teeth requiring steel leaders. With us all in earshot, the whoops and hollers across the water drove a good-humored competition among the boats. I quickly learned that when the fish eats you have to keep hammering strip sets until he jumps, then you know he’s hooked. We missed far more than we landed, but by midday everyone had at least one to the boat.
We had lunch at a beautiful sandy beach on an island within the Republic of Uruguay. After lunch, the UDA guides took us to a huge mud flat where we could wade and sight cast to tailing fish. It was very difficult – huge files, long casts, heavy wind – but high-voltage excitement! I managed to land two of the amazing monsters and a few of the other guys also brought fish to the net. What an ending to an incredible fishing trip!
Acknowledgements:
Yellow Dog Fly Fishinghttps://www.yellowdogflyfishing.com Posta Experienceshttps://postaexperiences.com
Patagonia River Guideshttps://www.patagoniariverguides.com Urban Dorado Anglershttps://www.urbandoradoanglers.com
by William (Bill) Buglehall
East of the Sacramento Mountain range in Southeastern New Mexico, an unlikely trout stream winds gently through the high-desert plane. Cool clear water bubbles up from the ground just south of Cloudcroft and forms a natural spring creek called the Rio Peñasco which dips in and out of the desert ground for forty miles across the Pecos River watershed. Most of the Peñasco runs through private ranches where it is stocked with big German-Brown and Rainbow trout, but it also holds smaller wild Rainbows.
With the majority of fishing pressure in New Mexico concentrated on the Northern “quality waters” like the San Juan river, the Rio Peñasco seems secluded and wild, much like the ranches it runs through. A lucky angler can spend a whole day wondering up and down stream casting for trout in small eddies and clear pools, surrounded only by wild nature and the occasional band of horses that wander down for a drink.
Mesilla Valley Fly Fishers (MVFF) of Las Cruces, NM holds a fishing lease at Runyan Ranch about 8 miles east of Elk, NM. As a member of the MVFF, my step-father George was able to secure two days of fishing on their lease while I was visiting for Thanksgiving. I fished the lease a half day on Friday, November 29th and another half day on Sunday, December 1st.
The drive from Las Cruces to Runyan Ranch takes around two hours in is rife with beautiful deserts scenes. Highway 70 exits northern Las Cruces and passes through the Organ Mountains dropping into the desert valley North of El Paso, TX, then past the gypsum white sand dunes of White Sands National Park, and on to Alamogordo. The route exits Alamogordo on highway 82 and climbs to over 8,600 feet in elevation along the winding switchbacks through the Sacramento Mountains to Cloudcroft, NM. As you descend from the mountains into the eastern high planes, the Rio Pañasco peeks in and out of the desert terrain on the right side of Highway 82.
The 8’ TFO 4-weight with full floating line and 6x fluorocarbon leader is a perfect set up for fishing a narrow spring creek like the Rio Penasco.
The main entrance of Runyan Ranch is a nondescript driveway on the right side of highway 82 as you are headed east. Once you turn off the highway the driveway takes a hard right then a left down into the parking area of the working ranch. You will likely see ranch hands busy working and maybe have a friendly chat with the manager, Jim Ellet, while prepping your gear and sliding on your dry wading boots or wet wading shoes (depending on the time of year). The MVFF have installed a handy mail box for dropping off your reservation slip. Below the box is a sign with general rules for fly fishing the spring creek which include catch and release with barbless hooks only.
Once you are ready to fish, the creek has two main access points to choose from on Runyan Ranch. The closest point to the ranch house is a short walk through the cattle gate on the opposite side of the parking area, then left down the hill about 100 yards, and short climb down the bank with a rope tied on the side of the rough trial for a safe climb. The second, and more remote, access point is a 3/4 mile drive down 82 to the east from the ranch.
The parking area at this access point has two convenient port-o-potties but don’t expect much in the way of toilet supplies. The port-o-potty on the left as you face the trail to the river was a bit cleaner when I was there. The port-o-potty on the right was pretty dirty and would not lock so maybe a better choice for those who can stand up while relieving themselves of their morning coffee.
My first half day of fishing on the Rio Peñasco was Friday, November 29th at the
remote access point starting at noon. It was still only around forty-degrees when we got there and the fishing was tough. I rigged my TFO 4wt with a Gunnison G2 reel, Full floating fly line, 6x fluorocarbon tapered trout leader, Oros strike indicator, and a nymph/midge combo.
From the parking area I had a short and easy walk down to a shallow riffle with low-flow water depth of about 3 to 6 inches. The water was cold but my waders were not required as my neoprene boots were high enough to keep my feet dry. Here I crossed to the other side of the creek since the walk down stream appeared to be much easier on the far side. I hiked about a half mile down stream from the parking area without stopping to fish much.
Most of the creek along this stretch was riffles with no good holes or visual sign of fish in the clear shallow water this time of year. I imagined that the snow melt in March and April, combined with fresh trout stocking of big Rainbows and Browns, would make this a much better section of the creek for fly fishing.
At the half mile point down stream from parking area there is a set of falls with a deep pool between them that is quite scenic with rocky terrain and no trees, making it easy to cast into. This is a perfect spot to stop, fish, eat some lunch, and take in the view. It was in this clear pool with cascading falls where I hooked my first Rio Peñasco trout. It was small, maybe 10 to 12 inches, but put up a decent fight for my TFO 4wt after it ate the copper John I had tied below a green drake nymph pattern. I caught a decent glimpse of its rainbow stripe before it turned hard then dove deep into the green pool and out of sight, knocking my hook
First stop of the trip is the Mesilla Valley Flyfishers drop box next to the ranch house for depositing your lease reservations slip.
loose in the process. I felt like I had set the hook well and was keeping gentle tension in the line with my rod held high. There was probably some deadfall or rocks in the shaded emerald darkness of the pool that the crafty wild Rainbow used to assist its hook removal, at least that is my side of the story, the trout may have another version. Despite my failure to land that first fish, I was definitely excited by the prospect of catching a wild Rainbow in this beautiful creek. I worked the falls from every angle for about thirty more minutes landing one small “Chub” and no more trout. The Chub is an invasive species on the Rio Peñasco which I was told should be left on the bank to die when caught or they will over populate and put pressure on the native trout. I continued to hike farther down stream casting into a couple more fishy-looking shallow pools with no luck. I eventually reached the edge of the lease. The ranch perimeter was easy to recognize due to the high wire fence that crosses the stream blocking travel beyond for both livestock and people. Despite my unproductive fishing this first day, the scenery was beautiful and the hike through the mostly open ranch land enjoyable. On the walk back to the parking area I got a close up view of some beautiful bay horses that wandered down to the creek for a drink of cool clean water.
The second trip I made to the Runyan Ranch lease on Sunday, December 1st was much warmer and more productive. I crossed the mountains along the same route, passing through Cloudcroft again. The patchy snow at elevation, which lent the mountains the appearance of a calico pony just two days before, was now gone
and only the dormant brown grasses of late fall remained. I arrived at the ranch around 9am and quickly began to set up my gear. I opted out of waders again since I did not plan to get into any deep water. I donned my wading boots over neoprene socks just incase I needed to step in the water to cross the stream as I had two days before.
The ranch manager, Jim Ellet, stopped by my Jeep to chat as I rigged my TFO 4wt the same as before. He gave me directions to the access point right behind the ranch house which was a quick walk through a steel cattle gate, then along a worn path through a grove of trees, and down to a location where a small bridge once stood. After climbing carefully down to creek level, I crossed a short wood plank that was installed after the bridge washed out during a recent and particularly devastating high water event. I turned right and walked upstream a short distance to a very nice pool that looked like it would hold big fish.
The Rio Peñasco is stocked annually with big Rainbows and Browns, but again I did not see or catch any of the large trout. I was told that last stocking event was in back in March, so maybe the stocked trout died during the high-water event, were caught, or just moved on.
The deep green-blue pool was set in a ravine with with a steep rock and dirt edge that had tufts of green grass growing close to the water. I couldn’t ask for a more perfect location to land my first Peñasco Rainbow trout. I anxiously stripped out just enough line to do a short roll cast into the flowing creek. I casted upstream at a fallen log letting my line drift down to the most promising little overhang. The undercut area provided a perfect place for a trout to
The first set of falls down stream from the 3/4 mile access point has a beautiful and deep pool that holds trout.
hide from the sharp vision of raptors looking for an easy meal. I figured if there were fish in this pool they would be waiting for bugs to drift close to this shadowy grotto. My theory paid off.
I felt a couple bumps as my line floated past this spot and my excitement grew exponentially. It wasn’t long before I hooked my first trout of the day, it’s shiny white and olive hued body flashing in the late-morning sun-dappled water. I gently pulled the feisty little fish close to the bank and reached for my net, which unfortunately was not at my hip. In my rush get get my line wet, I left my net attached to my backpack up the bank about ten paces. I quickly glanced over my shoulder to confirm my error. I would have to pull this fish up by the line which I did quickly to avoid it shaking the hook before I could get it in my hand.
Luck was not with me and the pretty little wild Rainbow dropped from my line to the leafy bank and evaded my fumbling hands as it flipped and flopped back into the creek. A quick flash of it’s pearl-pink stripe and it was gone, leaving me alone to curse out loud into the leafy canopy. Head down and laughing at my own incompetence, I walked over to grab my net which would not leave my side the rest of the day. It was a generous spot though and provided me with several more bumps and finally a take that I was able to land with my net. I proudly held in my hand a wild Rainbow about 10 inches long with beautiful coloring of Olive green, brown-black spots, a salmon pink stripe, and blushing gills. After some short admiration and a quick picture, I gently released the small fish back into the safety of its emerald-green home.
I felt the possibilities of the day swell in my heart and my mind imagined landing larger trout further down stream.
After reeling in my line, inspecting my flys for damage, and dawning my pack I marched down stream, with the creek off my left shoulder, looking for the next perfect spot. I found another promising sport about 25 yards down stream from the broken bridge where I climbed down to creek level. It looked like a pool that would hold a few big stocked trout but that was not the case this day. With no fish visible in the clear water, I blind casted to areas with some structure such as a fallen branch and the undercut bank in hopes of luring a big one out into the open with my pair of flies.
I did not see the next take and the fish that fought at the end of my line felt very small so I assumed it was a Chub. The fish was too small to put up any real fight and I only had to avoid getting my leader tangled in a water logged branch before it was in my net. To my surprise the feisty little fish with my midge hanging from its tiny mouth was the smallest Rainbow trout I had ever held. Although we always want to catch the trout that takes the trophy for size or gives us a fight that we can brag about at our next fly fishing club meeting, I know in my heart that the little Rainbow in my hand this day would have won the gold for cuteness.
That adorable trout would be my last of the quick trip. I wandered further down stream until I reached a fence. I caught several more Chubs along the way which I dutifully tossed up on the bank as I was instructed. It was not a task I enjoyed but I understood why it must be done. If the baby wild trout I caught earlier was to survive the winter and grow to full size, the
Typical 10 to 12 inch wild Rainbow trout found in the Rio Penasco regardless of stocking events. It is important that these wild fish thrive in the creek and the MVFF appreciate reports back when you catch them.
Chub must be sacrificed and become food for the birds and other foraging carnivores on the ranch.
With the sun now directly above me, the road called. I quickly walked back up stream, climbed the steep bank, and traversed the ranch house property to my waiting Jeep. After breaking down my equipment and stowing it quickly, as I had done so many times before, I pulled out on to the road and headed East toward Texas. With one last glance at the ranch growing smaller in my rearview mirror, I knew I would go back again some summer day when the large stocked trout prowled the creek looking for my fly. The Rio Peñasco had not seen the last of this angler, and dreams of my next trip filled my mind during the long drive back to Austin.
I am excited to introduce this story as my first multi-media project for the Austin Fly Fishers Association News Letter. To watch a narrated video of this trip, visit my YouTube channel: “Fly Fishing Zen” and Look for the video called “Fly Fishing New Mexico’s Rio Penasco (Full Movie)” or click on the YouTube Link below. I hope you enjoy this as much as I enjoyed creating it.
Ranch residents, these beautiful bay horses might wander down to the creek for a drink while you are fishing.
by Nils Pearson
No matter how many times I have traveled from Austin to South Padre Island, I am always amazed how a 60 mile stretch along Highway I-69/US-77 from Riveria to Raymondville that has no services or gas stations. Driving south along this section of the Texas Gulf Coast mainland is part of the 825,000 acre King Ranch and the 235,000 acre Kendey Ranch. Much of the remaining property along the Intracoastal waterway south-east of Harlengen is 120,000 acres of the Laguna Atacosa National Wildlife Refuge.
On the eastside of the Interacoastal Waterway is the Padre Island National Seashore forming a narrow barrior island of 130,000 acres. With so much of the land along the Lagua Madre undeveloped, Texas has one of the most unspoiled bays ecosystems available in the United States for fishermen.
To get a better look at what this means geographically, I found an map on the internet developed by Daniel P. Collins, Ph.D of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Migratory Bird Program. As you can see, the vast majority of the land along the Lower Laguna Madre is colored red indicating undeveloped dry land, the green areas are inland fresh marshes, bordered on the eastside barrier island. This forms a hypersaline estuary. It is the only one in our country and spans 280,910 acres and has an average depth of four and a half feet. It has been described as one of the most unspoiled lagoon ecosystems in Texas. The plentiful beds of seagrass support the crabs, shrimp, and fish that inhabit it. Because of its shallow depth, it provides fly fishermen with numerous opportunities for sight casting to redfish, black drum, and spotted seabass.
For the past decade, I have been making the journey to SPI along with friends to fly fish the Lower Laguna Madre and had more than my fair share of sight casting opportunities to the resident redfish. Because there is so much water to cover, I have had my best experiences fishing with Captain Eric Glass. He guides on the Lower Laguna almost everyday Spring, Summer, and Fall. On my most recent trip, I had the pleasure of fishing with Captain Xavier Lopez and can’t say enough good things about my experience. With all that said, I’ll simply let the following pictures do the talking.
Original Source of map https://www.researchgate.net/figure/SLAMM-simulation-effects-of-SLR-along-the-southern-section-of-the-lower-Texascoast-in_fig5_328948928
the past several decades, mangroves have become established and are expanding in the Lower Laguna Madre
Scavenging seagulls hover over tailing Redfish looking for an easy meal that may surface as the reds root
Click on this picture to see a video of an encounter with a huge school of reds
Doug Kierklewski sight casted to and caught this healthy speckled seatrout
encountering some redfish in the shallows of the Lower
byJim Gray
The craft fur baitfish is flexible pattern that can be tied in various colors and sizes. It can be fished in the Hill Country for big bass. In addition, I have fished it in the Bahamas and in Florida for exotics. In fact, it is one of my most effective white bass flies tied in orange and yellow. There are a couple of things I like about this fly. It is easy to tie and it requires very few materials. All you need is craft fur, a hook, thread, two eyes and you have everything you will need.
We meet Monday evenings, 6PM - 9PM at Austin Beer Works (3001 Industrial Terrace, Austin, TX 78758). There’s a really good taco truck, great beer and a reserved table. Bring your own vice, tools and material. It’s “freestyle” tying, with everyone tying their own flies, but any of the regular tyers will help you with a pattern. It’s a little dark, so bring a portable craft lamp if you have one. If you just want to check it out, stop in on a Monday, have a beer and meet the group.
We have a facebook message group where we announce changes to the schedule, or cancellations. If you are interested in joining us, send a facebook message to jim.gray.1213 and I will add you to the distribution list.
By Keith Mars
Ihe Texas Gulf Coast, a region renowned for its vibrant ecosystems and thriving fisheries, faces a unique challenge with our yo-yo winter weather. These events like the snow in January, are often sudden and dramatic. These freezes can have a devastating impact on marine life, particularly on sea turtles and sportfish like speckled seatrout and redfish. Understanding the effects of these freezes and practicing responsible fishing during these critical periods is crucial for preserving the health of our coastal fisheries.
Freezes on the Texas coast can cause rapid drops in water temperature, often below the tolerance levels of many fish species. Speckled seatrout, in particular, are highly susceptible to cold stress. When water temperatures plummet, these fish become lethargic and disoriented, making them easy targets for predators or even causing direct mortality. Redfish, while more resilient to cold, can also be affected, especially younger fish. During the 2022 winter freeze in Texas, an estimated 3.8 million fish were killed along the coast. This was the largest freeze-related fish kill in Texas since the 1980s. The resulting tightening of slot limit and number of keeper fish will hopefully also aid in recovery up and down the coast.
It’s also important to have good recruitment of young fish for several generations to allow fish populations to rebound if we are to have a future of bountiful speckled trout in our coastal waters. This is where responsible fishing practices become paramount. If you are down at the coast during and after a freeze, a fly fishers can exercise restraint and prioritize conservation. Here are some key guidelines to follow:
* Observe temporary closures: The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department may implement temporary fishing closures in certain areas during and after freeze events to protect vulnerable fish populations. Don’t be that person that finds fish stacked up in a hole and wears ‘em out.
* Practice catch and release: Even when fishing is permitted, consider practicing catch and release, especially for speckled seatrout. This allows the fish to survive and reproduce, aiding in the recovery of the population. And turn any over 20” loose. That’s likely momma fish.
* Handle fish with care: If you do catch a fish, handle it with care to minimize stress. Pinch barbs and avoid prolonged exposure to air. The ‘Gram won’t miss it and your fingers are too cold for pictures anyway.
* Avoid targeting stressed fish: During a freeze, fish may be concentrated in warmer pockets of water, making them easy tar-
gets. Like avoiding closed areas, just don’t be that guy.
* Report fish kills: If you see kills, report them to the TPWD. This information helps biologists assess the impact of the freeze.
Beyond immediate actions during a freeze, supporting long-term conservation efforts is equally important. This includes:
* Supporting fisheries research: Funding and participating in research initiatives that study the effects of freezes on fish populations and develop strategies for sustainable management.
* Promoting habitat restoration: Protect-
ing and restoring coastal habitats, such as seagrass beds and marshes, which provide essential nursery grounds and refuge for fish.
* Educating fellow anglers: Spreading awareness about responsible fishing practices and the importance of conservation among the angling community.
The Texas Gulf Coast is a precious natural resource, and its fisheries are vital to our future as fly fishers. By understanding the impacts of freezes and embracing responsible fishing practices, we can ensure the long-term health and sustainability of these valuable ecosystems for generations to come.
by Bob Maindelle
SKIFF closed out 2024 having conducted twenty-four fishing trips for a total of 49 military children. Those children landed 1,661 fish, or an average of over 33 fish per child during their 3.5 hour-long adventures on either Lake Belton or Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir.
Over the years, the vast majority of the families we have served learned about SKIFF via the Fort Cavazos Area Events Facebook page, formerly known as the Fort Hood Area Events Facebook page. Recently, one of the mothers of the families we served last year was elected as an officer of the Fort Cavazos Spouses Club (FCSC). Through this connection, SKIFF is now able to advertise availability of fishing trips to Fort Cavazos families via this second social media channel.
If there has been one issue we have struggled with through the years, it has been making people aware that SKIFF exists, partially because all of our positive sources of “word-of-mouth” advertising move away from the post every three years or so.
Also via this connection with the FCSC, SKIFF has been invited to apply for grant funds. I coordinated with AFF President Manuel Pena on this in January of this year, and requested $1,500 from that organization.
We were blessed once again by the McBride Foundation. After requesting $1,500
through their application process back in the early autumn of 2024, they surprised us with a check for $4,500 as they changed their focus to funding activities primarily within the State of Texas.
As of this writing on February 5, I have conducted one SKIFF trip, with another currently scheduled for 4 teens from two families on February 8.
The January 16 trip provided three young men, Ethan Kivioja (age 14), and brothers Caleb (age 13) and Jack (age 9) Fitzgerald with a chance to catch white bass (and more!) from Stillhouse Hollow.
Ethan’s dad, Kyle Kivioja is a fellow U.S. Military Academy (West Point) graduate and is a commissioned officer in U.S. Army Aviation, and Lieutenant Colonel Chad Fitzgerald is a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army Artillery; he has served for 20 years.
Thank you for your support, donations, well-wishes, and physical presence over the past 16 years!
Bob Maindelle
Owner, Holding the Line Guide Service 254.368.7411 (call or text)
www.HoldingTheLineGuideService.com Bob@HoldingTheLineGuideService.com www.Facebook.com/bobmaindelle www.Twitter.com/BobMaindelle
Caleb Fitzgerald landed this 5.50-pound Stillhouse Hollow largemouth bass on a white, 5/8 oz. Bladed Hazy Eye Slab worked with a “slow-smoking” tactic.
white bass they landed fishing both vertically and horizontally on Stillhouse Hollow.
Austin’s incredible passion for fly fishing and teaching led him to obtain his FFI Certified Instructor qualification back in 2011. To help educate and bring others into the sport. He is available for individual and group casting instruction.Find him on Instagram online at his website https://www.elevateflycasting.com or on Instagram @elevateflycasting
brazosriverfishcamp@gmail.com
Marcos Jorge
At MJ Fly Fishing, we offer a range of fly fishing adventures to suit your needs. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced angler, we have the perfect trip for you. Click here to learn more about our packages and book your adventure today https://www.mjflyfishing.com
by Jim Robinson
Cassio Silva – https://www.cassiosilvaflyfishing.com Central Texas Fly Fishing Guide
Aaron Reed – https://flyfishingaustin.thelocalangler.com/author/aaronreed/ Author Fishing Guide
Austin Orr – https://www.elevateflycasting.com Certified Casting Instructor
Ted Mendrek – https://sportsmansfinest.com Sportsman’s Finest Fly Shop
Chris Johnson – http://livingwatersflyfishing.com/ Living Waters Fly Shop and Central Texas Guide
Capt. Eric Glass – http://www.captainericglass.com/ Fly Fishing South Padre Island
Nick Streit – https://taosflyshop.com/flyguide/main New Mexico and Southern Colorado
Justin Spence – https://bigskyanglers.com Fly Shop and Guide Service West Yellowstone, Montana
Cari Ray – https://fisherofzen.com/shop/ Central Texas and Colorado Fly Fishing Guide and Casting Instructor
Capt. Chris Conant – https://www.mdfishco.com Sportsman’s Finest Fly Shop and Hosted Trips
