October - December 2025 Volume 27 Issue 4
Pike Fishing in Northwest Canada by Justin Spence
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
Austin Fly Fishers
Pike Fishing in Northwest Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 by Justin Spence The Llano River -video link . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 by Bill Bruglehall Fishing the San Marcos River in the Fall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 by Carol Olewin Fishing South Padre in September . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 by Nils Pearson Club Presenters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Pat Vanek and John Henry Boatright Treasurer’s Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 by Jim Robinson
Lower Laguna Madre at Dawn Photo by Doug Kierklewski
Pike Fishing in Northwest Canada by Justin Spence
This past August, my fishing buddy, Dan, and I spent an exciting week targeting trophy pike at Scott Lake Lodge on the border of Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories. After flying into Edmonton and spending the night, we joined a group the next day and took a charter flight to Stony Rapids, a small town in Saskatchewan. From Stony Rapids, we jumped on a float plane and flew to an island in the middle of Scott Lake. On our arrival at Scott Lake Lodge, the entire staff, including guides, groundskeepers, and owners, greeted us graciously. Checking into our rooms, we were delighted with our accommodations. We each shared a comfortable cabin-type room with two large beds, a seating area with a comfortable couch and coffee table, and a modern bathroom. First things first, we obtained fishing licenses, then met the waiting kitchen staff in a beautiful dining room overlooking the lake where we enjoyed a worldclass dinner. After our fabulous meal, we headed back to our rooms, eagerly planned out the week ahead, and prepared our gear for the mighty Great Northern Pike.
Aerial view of Scott Lake Lodge
Anglers can fish Scott Lake itself or fly out to more remote lakes where the fish see even less pressure than Scott Lake. The target species are pike, lake trout, and arctic grayling. My buddy and I decided we wanted to spend the week targeting trophy pike. We had caught lake trout and grayling before, but this was a unique opportunity to really understand how pike behave and possibly land a 20 pounder. When we discussed the various options with our guide, Nick Elcheson, he suggested that we spend several days on Scott Lake first, followed by fly-outs to the remote lakes surrounding the main lodge. This plan provided us with a nice mix of different waters and the opportunity to see some big fish. Before this trip, I had never really spent time pike fishing. I caught a pike on the Rio Grande north of Taos, New Mexico, some 20 years ago. Knowing I enjoy throwing giant flies at big fish, friends of mine had told me I would really like Canada. So, the gear of choice for our mission would be eight and nineweight rods with floating and intermediate tip lines, flies that were 3 to over 8 inches long, with 40 to 50 pound test leaders finished with 10 to 12 inch wire tippet. We were excited and set to go.
Location of Scott Lake Lodge
Each day following breakfast, we would head down to the docks and either jump on a boat and fish Scott Lake, or take a float plane to a more remote body of water where we would find a boat that the lodge had left for our use. The amount of time Scott Lake Lodge guides have invested in learning the waters surrounding Scott Lake is impressive. I believe they have over 60 boats stashed in remote waters throughout the region. Their float plane option opens up a vast amount of water and allows anglers to explore some truly untamed remote sites. Not being concerned with how many fish we could catch, we told Nick that we really wanted to do as much sight fishing as possible to target quality fish. As a veteran guide, he was able to put us on the right water time after time. Fortunately, the fishing conditions were on our side, too. We had great light and very little wind, and we were able to catch fish in shallow flats. Throughout the week, we caught several 20-pounders and even caught a few that pushed 30 pounds. The cat-and-mouse game played between angler and pike is thrilling, not to mention, challenging. At times, your fly lands in front of the fish, and it’s instantly inhaled; other times, the fish will follow it,
Arr
rival day, meet and greet on the main boat dock
then pause…then you move the fly, and it follows. When you get that tail wiggle, and those gills flare, then the explosive-strike, it’s truly a thing of beauty…such striking power. This visual game is such an enjoyable part of the whole pike experience, exactly what I wanted. During the week, we also tried some surface fishing with poppers and found some nice fish on top water as well, something that any streamer angler would relish. Over the course of the week, we fished four different lakes, had the opportunity to land a fish that was over 40 inches, and, thanks to my buddy Nick, learned a lot about how to fish for pike on the fly. I am sure there are many great pike fisheries throughout Canada, but the experience at Scott Lake Lodge is much more than the fishing. Surely, it must rank near the top of the long list. Starting with the entire staff, from the minute you arrive at Scott Lake until the time you depart, they make you feel like family. Their energy is contagious, and they are there to make every moment of your trip memorable. The location features a gym, sauna, Lakeside lounge, massage
Surface action
20 po
ounder
services, and a stunning dining area with a full bar that overlooks Scott Lake. At night, it is possible to see the Northern Lights and enjoy a drink around the fire pit with friends or guides, reminiscing (swapping “big fish” stories, all true of course!) about the day of fishing. The float plane option is a game-changer that allows anglers to explore untouched waters where truly large fish can be targeted. Muskox, Caribou, and black bear inhabit the rugged territory surrounding Scott Lake, as well. Scott Lake Lodge offers a uniquely special experience that I highly recommend, with no reservations, for anglers not only looking to catch trophy pike on the fly, but also, for those wanting to enjoy a wonderful time in such a pristine place. Overall, the whole fishing experience was world class… justin If you are interested in learning more about my experience or booking a fly fishing specific trip to Scott Lake Lodge please reach out to Justin Spence; jspence@bigskyanglers.com;1-406-640-0420
Northern Lights, view from main lodge
The Llano River North of Kingsland Texas is clear and cold, the water running over the granite stone like it’s done for centuries. The hills are quiet here, save for the occasional call of a bird and the gurgling of water as it flows through the riffles. The river holds a steady rhythm, a quiet pulse, that connects you to a time long past. The natives here; freshwater drum, Guadalupe bass, and Rio Grande cichlids, live well in its flow.
As you cast at fish cruising drifts slowly as if connected a peace in this, in the quiet o for a strike. The fish are sm them unable to resist instin particularly large, but they’r river is all they know. A gen you hook one, there’s no rus the underwater
g the tranquil pools, your fly d to a universal energy. There’s of the river and the patient wait mart, but the right fly will find nctual reaction. They are not re wild, and they fight like the ntle cast, and you wait. When sh, no struggle for position as
by Bill Bruglehall
structure is sparse along the granite lined bottom. Just the water, the fish, and the knowledge that you’re part of something older than you. In this video I reflect on the amazing scenery found in this beautiful Texas location and do some fly fishing. The Llano River upstream from Lake LBJ is other-worldly and gave me the feeling of being far away from everything on a foreign landscape like the Tungabhadra River in India.
Fishing the San Marcos River in the Fall
By: Carol Olewin Spent a beautiful fall afternoon fishing the San Marcos River downstream of the Staples Dam. Caught several Rio Grande Cichlids with a black and red leach pattern with legs. The bass were excited about a silver and gold Kreelex streamer as were the sunfish. Thanks to Marcus Rodriquez and Living Waters Fly Shop for a day of fishing.
Fishing the Lower Laguna Madre in September By: Nils Pearson Photos by: Doug Kierklewski and Nils Pearson The Laguna Madre (Spanish for “Mother Lagoon”) begins just south of Corpus Christi and stretches to Port Isabel. The southern portion of this lagoon is called the Lower Laguna Madre. The northern western edge of this lagoon begins at Port Mansfield on the mainland and the Mansfield Channel on the northeastern edge. The Port Isabel Channel forms the southern edge of this body of water. It is worth noting that Padre Island forms the Laguna Madre’s eastern boundary was not until recently divided into two sections. It was a continuous island until 1957 when the Mansfield Channel was originally dug as a private channel. Soon after its formation, it was hit by storms severely limiting the usability of the waterway. In 1962, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed the restoration of the channel for public use. The channel is now the southern boundary of Padre Island National Seashore and the northern boundary of the South Padre Island unit of Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge.
Ibis take flight a
at South Padre Island Birding, Nature Center & Alligator Sanctuary
Because of the amount of undeveloped shoreline along the Lower Laguna Madre it is an excellent habitat for many wading birds, shorebirds, and aquatic life. The average depth of this lagoon is 4½ feet with a 12-foot deep ship channel that forms the Intracoastal Waterway. For fly fishermen, the most important features of this lagoon are the expansive shallow flats and clear water that allows opportunities to sight-cast to redfish, black drum, and speckled sea trout. On a sunny day with a clear sky and wind speed is below 10 mph there is no better place in the world to sight-cast to fish. The moment you learn to make a perfect cast, watching a redfish aggressively turn and inhale the twitching fly inches from its nose, is one of the most exciting and visually rewarding experiences in saltwater fly fishing. From that moment on, you’re hooked on sight-casting to redfish in the Laguna Madre. This past September, I met up with friends in South Padre Island. We had the pleasure of fishing with Captains Eric Glass and Xavier Lopez. Both of these guides have spent many years scouting the waters of the Lower Laguna Madre for redfish. On this trip, no matter what the weather conditions were on a given day, and some days were very challenging, we caught reds, black drum, and speckeled sea trout.
Steven Turner couldn’t resist photobombing his redfish pic
On mos
st days we were able to dodge the isolated showers but not always (Doug with Xavier Lopez)
Doug Kierklewski with redfish on a sunny day
Nils Pearson with red
Michael Hall with red
Capt. Eric Glass located schools of black drum along the South Padre Island shoreline. W
We had a spectular afternoon wade-fishing a hard-bottom sand flat and hooking up drum.
Presen
Pat Vanek Pat Vanek of Bosque Valley Fly fishing has been fishing the Rockport area salt for 30 years, and will share his knowledge of the area and how to catch redfish, speckled trout, black drum, and other species on the fly.
bosquevalleyflyfishing@gmail.com
John Henry Boatrig John is a local fly ang area. He predominan species of Central T cus on catching Com hone his angling skil Monthly and PBS, Jo sition carp as a spec praise.
ntations
ght gler from the San Marcos ntly fishes the freshwater Texas with an intense fommon Carp as a way to lls. With features in Texas ohn Henry hopes to repocies worthy of fly anglers’
AFF Financials AFF Financials Beginning Balance Income:
FFI New Member Dues AFF Dues SKIFF
Merchandise Casting Class ACH
by Jim Robinson
August $7,370.58
September $5,795.10
October $5,594.00
$25.00 $50.00
$35.00 $30.00
$25.00 $110.00
$97.94 $50.00
$55.00
Total Income
$222.94
$65.00
AFFIpay Earthlink RPG Photography Jim Robinson (Checks) Casa Chapala Nils Pearson (Hats) Gary Geddes Office supplies Utilities Maintenance ACH Debit FFI New Member Dues
$18.98
$2.73 $102.78
Disbursements:
$640.00 $56.98 $1,083.50
Total Disbursements $1,798.46 Net Income -$1,575.52 Ending Bal-Check book $5,795.10 Bank Balance $7,229.38 Difference (outstanding cks) $351.81 $1082.5 Unencumbered Balance : $18,682.81 Casting for Recovery $61.47 SKIFF $12,371.85 Money Market $30,000.00 Deposited Interest $94.45 Ending Balance $30,358.90
$232.60 $422.60 $2.16
$300.00 $135.59 $48.25 $65.75 $29.00 $384.10 -$319.10 $5,594.00 $5,945.78 $351.78 $18,618.12 $61.47 $17,371.85 $30,000.00
$45.00 $35.00 $382.16 $40.44 $5,634.44 $5,986.22 $351.78 $18,760.17 $61.47 $17,371.85 $30,000.00
$457.00 $30,457.44
$101.65 $30,559.05