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
The name conjures up iconic images of the American west –erupting geysers, towering watering falls, majestic canyons, wildlife and wilderness – and of course, epic fly fishing! Established In 1872, Yellowstone is the first and most famous unit in the National Park System and stands as the model for what a national park can be. I visited Yellowstone the first time in 1974 and I can attest the Park is better in every way from what I experienced 50 years ago. Like me, brothers Mike and Chris Metscher came to fish Yellowstone with their father in the early 1970’s. When they had boys of their own they started a new tradition of fishing the Park that is approaching 30 straight years. I was invited to join their annual summer trip 17 years ago and now the July Yellowstone trip is the anchor of my yearly fishing calendar. I was primarily a saltwater angler, but that first trip to Yellowstone converted me into a rabid trout fisherman!
At nearly 3500 sq miles, Yellowstone has a lifetime’s worth of water to fish and explore. From the mighty Yellowstone river to tiny streams, meadows and spring creeks, tumbling pocket water, huge lakes and alpine ponds, there is such a variety of fishing opportunities, all of it in pristine condition. Within the Park, you are targeting wild and mostly native fish including 3 strains of cutthroats and the extremely rare Arctic grayling. Thanks to the Native Fish Conservation Program funded by Yellowstone Forever, non-native rainbow, brown, and lake trout are being eradicated from Park waters where practicable. With predictable hatches throughout the season you can fish it all with dry flies. Sure, you can nymph, but why? Great fishing is surprisingly accessible within the Park. The less mobile angler can get on good productive water within sight of the car. However, the best way to experience the Park is by hiking into the more remote areas where you may not encounter another soul all day.
We normally target the northwest region of the park, but for 2025 we opted to fish the Lake Yellowstone area, a first for me. I flew into Jackson, WY and took a few days to explore Jackson Hole and fish. I booked a float trip with Snake River Angler whose motto is “Dry Fly or Die” so I knew I was with the right outfit. My former co-worker Bruce joined me, his first time in a drift boat, and we had a blast. It was a lovely float beneath the Tetons and we brought many nice cutthroats to the net. As advertised, these fish readily ate dries and it was great sport.
The next morning, we headed into the Park and stayed in the rustic little cabins at the Lake Yellowstone Lodge. This year we targeted the Lake Yellowstone shoreline, the Yellowstone River below the lake, and Grebe Lake as well as a few smaller streams. It was an unforgettable week of fishing and camaraderie. As always, we ended our trip on the lodge porch enjoying cocktails and the sunset discussing what part of the Park are we going to fish next year?
Yellowstone is far too big to cover in a week. When planning a trip you need to pick a section of the park to focus on and secure lodging in that area early as inventory sells out quickly. The season runs from June through October and time of year will dictate where you should fish. The geothermal features heat the water in rivers such as the Firehole making them unfishable in the warmer months, but incredible when the air turns cold. Once we know the general area we will be fishing, we will spend hours pouring over the maps, studying blue lines and planning out the week. Always close at hand is a copy of Craig Matthew’s The Yellowstone Fly-Fishing Guide, which we affectionately refer to as “The Bible”. Even with decades of collective knowledge among the group, there are still new and interesting adventures to be had with the excitement and anticipation building over the months preceding the trip.
Here are some of my favorite spots in the Park in no particular order, all can be great when conditions are right. I recommend checking with a local fly shop to get the latest intel as some of these hikes are arduous and maybe not worth it if conditions are off.
Slough Creek (2nd meadow): it’s 6 miles one way, but worth the hike. Beyond the fishing it is one of the most beautiful alpine valleys you will ever experience. Fish PMDs early and hoppers once the wind kicks up.
Yellowstone River (below the Fishing Bridge): these are the biggest fish in the Park, but this section is easily accessed from the road and gets a lot of pressure so you’ll need your A game here!
Yellowstone River (below Tower Falls): unlike the above, accessing this section requires some rigorous hiking to big water, big fish, big flies, and no people – it’s awesome.
Grebe Lake: a gorgeous alpine lake that can be easily fished from shore. Try Callibaetis spinners in the mornings and blue damsel flies later in the day.
Hellroaring Creek: a tough hike to seldom fished water. Lots of smaller trout in the prettiest mountain stream imaginable. A parachute Adams will work just fine here.
Soda Butte Creek: with great road access it is another great option for the less mobile angler. Don’t let the small size of this stream fool you, there are huge fish under the cut banks. Great hopper fishing in the meadows.
There are also many fishing options outside the park boundaries. Below are some suggestions I have enjoyed over the years that you can add depending on how you are accessing the park.
Bozeman / Livingston / West Yellowstone: float the Galatin, Madison, or Yellowstone.
Billings / Red Lodge: if coming in this way, you will have great access to the Clark Fork of the Yellowstone. You can also float the Stillwater or Yellowstone from Columbus.
Jackson Hole: float the Snake or Green, also there is good access to the Snake at the South entrance to the Park.
Gearwise, a 9ft 5 weight with a floating trout taper line will serve you well, though you may consider also including a 3 weight or Tenkara for fishing the smaller creeks and pocket water. Have a good selection of PMDs (duns and spinners), gray drakes, caddis, stone files, and terrestrials. Matthews provides a complete list of hatches and patterns in “The Bible”.
You can generally fish 4X or 5X, rarely will you need to go smaller. Since we go mid-summer we typically wet wade. July/August temps can be quite hot so you will only need waders if fishing early or late in the season. If doing any hiking away from the roads, you will need proper hydration and bear spray is an absolute requirement. Mosquitos can be ferocious in certain areas so pack the best bug dope you can get.
Average elevations in Yellowstone are above 7000 ft and you can sunburn quickly in the thin air. Afternoon storms are common in the summer so never hike without a quality rain jacket. I carry a collapsable trekking pole, though this is optional.
An average cutt from the Yellowstone below the Fishing Bridge
Even after 17 years I am as excited to fish Yellowstone as when I first started. For the traveling angler there is inevitably a trade-off between trying a new destination or going back to the tried and true. For me, Yellowstone provides favorite fishing holes I can return to year after year and endless opportunities to explore new waters. I am so blessed to have been included in the Metscher family’s Yellowstone tradition and I look forward to many more trips to come.
The Yellowstone Fly-Fishing Guide, Matthews & Molinero, ISBN 9781493042241
Yellowstone Forever: https://www.yellowstone.org
Blue Ribbon Flies, West Yellowstone: www.blue-ribbon-flies.com
Snake River Angler, Jackson Hole: https://snakeriverangler.com
Fins and Feathers, Bozeman: https://flyfishingbozeman.com
Yellowstone Park Lodging: https://www.xanterra.com/ our-brands-properties/yellowstone-national-park/
Bison are a constant threat along the Lamar River
By: Rasmus Ovesen
Among fly fishermen with salt in their veins, permit have long been considered the ultimate flats trophy. But permit aren’t just permit. In fact, there are four different species of permit dispersed across the sub-equatorial oceanic realm—and while all of them are elusive and challenging to catch, one requires a particularly golden touch to be brought to hand.
The Indo-Pacific permit (Trachinotus blochii) belongs to a highly recognized and revered order of fish in the pompano family. For the longest time, however, it has stood unjustly in the shadow of its cousin, the Atlantic permit (Trachinotus falcatus), which—to many saltwater fly fishermen—is the only permit species that truly counts.
This assumption couldn’t be further from the truth. In total, there are four species of permit found on the flats:
• Trachinotus anak
• Trachinotus blochii
• Trachinotus africanus
• Trachinotus falcatus
These species are widely dispersed, from the Western Pacific Ocean—including the Coral, Tasman, and Philippine Seas—across the Indian Ocean and the Arabian and Red Seas, all the way to the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea.
The Atlantic permit is the largest of the four species, with recorded weights in excess of 80 lbs (36 kg). Beyond its size, however, there is little to suggest it deserves more attention than its cousins. All three other species are also found on shallow flats, and while they display different physiological characteristics, habitat preferences, and feeding habits, they all share the same genetic coding that makes them a frustrating challenge to catch on a fly rod.
They are sensitive, cautious, clever, and finicky, with keen eyesight and a highly developed ability to reject flies. Perhaps the most difficult to catch of them all is the Indo-Pacific permit—also known as the golden pompano—and, without much debate, it is also the most beautiful.
It boasts pearlescent flanks surrounded by glowing coronal auras. Pure liquid gold emanates from its fins, while gleaming specks of gold dust radiate from its big, soulful eyes. It’s a thing of seditious beauty, the prime flats trophy of the Indo-Pacific Ocean—a veritable golden prize.
South African globetrotter, fly-fishing guide, and director of Alphonse Fishing Co., Keith Rose-Innes, has a long history with Indo-Pacific permit. He was among the first anglers to successfully target the species with fly rods, and he has never looked back. Today, he resides in the Seychelles, widely recognized as the epicenter for anglers obsessed with these fish. Having guided countless trips, he is likely one of the foremost experts in the world on fly fishing for Indo-Pacific permit.
Interview with Keith Rose-Innes
Q: You were among the first to crack the code for targeting Indo-Pacific permit. What initially attracted you to this fish?
Keith: I don’t think you can truly understand the feeling that drives you to fish for permit until you’re standing there making the cast. The experience excites the “little boy” inside you. When a species is so difficult to catch, it becomes an automatic attraction.
I wouldn’t say we cracked the code right away. In the early days, we spent painstaking hours experimenting with different patterns. The real breakthrough came with the Alphlexo Crab fly pattern, which completely revolutionized confidence levels when fishing for Indo-Pacific permit worldwide.
Q: What makes fly fishing for Indo-Pacific permit so special compared to other flats species—or even other permit?
Keith: It’s the difficulty. You don’t catch them by mistake. Permit fishing is an addiction you can refine and get better at over time.
Whether it’s Atlantic, Anak, Africanus, or Indo-Pacific permit, the feeling is exactly the same. After investing so much time, finally hooking one, and feeling that heart-pounding anxiety as it fights, there’s nothing like holding that slab of silver and gold in your hands.
Q: What were the major obstacles when you first started targeting Indo-Pacific permit?
Keith: The biggest hurdle was confidence in the fly. It’s a confidence game. Catching your first Indo is hard, but it gets easier as you learn and gain confidence.
The most common mistake is placing the fly too far from the fish and moving it too slowly. Over time, you learn to position yourself properly by considering the current, wave action, and what’s underfoot. I always tell my guests: “Show the fish the fly, then let the Indo decide whether it wants to eat.”
Q: What makes Indo-Pacific permit so challenging to catch?
Keith: These fish can have a split personality. On some days, a poor cast will trigger an aggressive eat, while on other days you can make 100 perfect presentations and still have fish spook like you’ve thrown a rock at them. Everything must align—the weather, the cast, the strip, the fly color and weight—and even then, the fish must decide to eat.
Indio-Pacific Permit caught in the Seychelles
Q: How does fly fishing for Indo-Pacific permit compare to targeting Atlantic permit (Trachinotus falcatus) in, say, the Gulf of Mexico?
Keith: From my limited experience, they are equally difficult. The main difference is that we catch 90% of Indo-Pacific permit on foot, in 1–3 feet of water, using a slow to medium retrieve.
With Atlantic permit, most of my shots have been from a skiff, and they tend to prefer little to no strip. Other than that, they’re just “brothers from another mother” who all went to the same school of difficult.
Q: What are the most essential skills for targeting Indo-Pacific permit?
Keith: Casting, casting, casting! You need to put the fly in the right place instantly, and do it accurately and repeatedly.
Q: What are the most important lessons you’ve learned over the years?
Keith: Never become too despondent—and don’t take permit fishing personally. It’s a game of practice, enthusiasm, and belief.
Q: Tips for optimizing tackle setup?
Keith:
• Fish as light as possible with fluorocarbon tippet (12–15 lbs).
• Bring as many well-tied Alphlexo Crabs as you can find—they work!
• Don’t underestimate secret fly patterns your guides might have up their sleeves.
Q: Any lessons regarding flies and presentation?
Keith: The Alphlexo Crab now accounts for 99% of our catches. However, its size, color, weight, and style vary between atolls and spots.
If a fish lingers after rejecting a fly, change patterns immediately rather than keep showing it the same one.
Q: How do you approach fish once you’ve located them?
Keith: Since we fish mostly on foot, it’s best to intercept their path and present the fly head-on or at a 45-degree angle.
• Underfoot noise matters—a mottled, crunchy bottom requires a quieter approach.
• Wind and wave action can help conceal you.
• I prefer fishing up-current, as current carries scent and sound.
Q: Any special considerations when a fish finally eats?
Keith: Always maintain direct contact with the fly. Indo-Pacific permit inhale the fly, so even the slightest twitch can indicate an eat.If you feel a bump, strip strike immediately—it’s often the fish exhaling the fly, meaning you missed the hook set.
Q: What are the most prolific Indo-Pacific permit fisheries?
Keith: Without a doubt, the Amirante chain of islands in the Indian Ocean. These fisheries are unpredictable: on some days, fish seem to pile up, while on others, you may not see a
single one. Each atoll fishes differently and has unique tidal preferences. Even with perfect knowledge of an area, there are no guarantees, even over seven full days of fishing.
Q: Final advice for anglers chasing their first Indo-Pacific permit?
Keith: Fish with a professional guide or organization that truly understands the species and its habitat. This is a frustrating pursuit, so stack the odds in your favor to ensure the experience remains challenging but rewarding.
The Indo-Pacific permit (also known as golden pompano or snubnose pompano) is indigenous to the Indo-Pacific Ocean, ranging from East Africa and the Red Sea to the Marshall Islands and Samoa, north to southern Japan, and south to Australia.
• Max size: Over 1 meter (up to 110 cm recorded)
• Average size: 40–50 cm
• Trophy size: 60 cm+
They inhabit sandy shorelines, muddy bays near river mouths, mangrove tidal channels, and seaward coral and rock reefs. Juveniles form schools, but adults tend to be solitary.
Diet: Crustaceans, mollusks, oysters, and small crabs.
Fact File: The Seychelles
While Australia and Oman also have specialized guided fisheries, the Seychelles is widely regarded as the world’s premier destination for Indo-Pacific permit.
Top fisheries include:
• Poivre Atoll
• Alphonse Island
• Astove Atoll
More information: Alphonse Fishing Co.
The Alphlexo Crab is considered a game-changer and is now the go-to fly for most hardcore Indo-Pacific permit anglers. It imitates a small sand crab and can be varied in size and color based on conditions.
Recipe:
• Hook: Gamakatsu SL 12S
• Thread: Danville’s 2/0 Waxed
• Body: Flexi Tubing
• Weight: Lead Eyes XS (Nickel) & Bead Chain Eyes XS
• Eyes: Hard Mono – Burnt
• Legs: Ultra Chenille Micro
• Glue: UV glue or similar
Tying tutorial: Watch here
By Keith Mars
Along the Texas coast, a quiet revolution is taking place in the waters of Galveston Bay, Copano Bay, and dozens of other estuaries. After decades of watching wild oyster reefs disappear at an alarming rate, conservation organizations and marine scientists are placing their hopes in an unlikely savior: oyster farming. What was once viewed as competition for wild harvest is now emerging as the most promising path toward restoring one of Texas’s most critical coastal ecosystems.
The statistics paint a stark picture of ecological collapse. Texas has lost 65 to 85 percent of natural oyster reefs over the past century, transforming once-thriving underwater cities into barren seafloor. The Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica), which forms the backbone of Texas coastal ecosystems, has faced relentless pressure from multiple fronts: commercial dredging, pollution, freshwater diversions, climate change, and destructive hurricanes.
The Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) Texas has documented this decline extensively. Most harvest areas have been closed to allow the oyster population to recover, which has forced oyster boats to concentrate within fewer locations, intensifying the impacts of dredging. The result is a vicious cycle where the remaining healthy reefs face even greater pressure, leading to further degradation.
Shane Bonnot, CCA Texas Advocacy Director, emphasizes the magnitude of the challenge: many oyster reefs in Texas have reached a point of ecological degradation that may be beyond restoration. The Mesquite Bay Complex, once a productive oyster habitat, was permanently closed to harvest in 2022, joining Christmas Bay, Carancahua Bay, and several other bay systems that can no longer sustain commercial harvesting.
The filtration capacity of oysters is stagger ing. Oysters are natural filter feeders, capable of filtering over 50 gallons of water per Through their removal of nutrients such phytoplankton and chlorophyll, they improve water quality, reduce turbidity, and help quester carbon. This natural water treatment system has been working for millennia, but effectiveness depends on having sufficient ter populations to handle the filtration load.
The economic value extends far beyond harvested product. Restored reefs can gener ate significant ecosystem services, including
To appreciate why oyster agriculture might save wild populations, it’s essential to understand what makes oysters so ecologically vital. More than 300 species rely on oyster reefs for shelter, food, and habitat, including some of our favorite fly fishing portunities like redfish, sheepshead, speckled seatrout.
habitat, fishing opspeckled staggercapable day. such as improve help setreatment but its oysload. beyond the generincluding fish production, habitat provision, and shoreline stabilization, with annual ecosystem service values ranging from $2,000 to $40,000 per acre. Additional benefits for recreational angling are estimated at $23,000 per acre, while the commercial value of oysters harvested from public oyster reefs is estimated at $800 per acre.
In 2019, Texas became one of the last coastal states in the US to establish an oyster mariculture industry, launching a program that could fundamentally change the relationship between wild and cultivated oysters. The Texas Cultivated Oyster Mariculture Program represents more than just an alternative protein source—it’s a conservation strategy disguised as aquaculture.
The mechanics of oyster farming offer several advantages over wild harvest. New farming methods have made off-bottom oyster mariculture an accessible and eco-friendly venture for farmers who own or wish to lease land along the Gulf coast. Harvest can occur yearround because oysters do not depend on seasonal spawning, providing economic stability for coastal communities while reducing pressure on wild reefs during critical spawning seasons.
Currently, there are 12 farms, 2 nurseries and 2 hatcheries fully permitted, and another 31 farms with conditional permits across Texas coastal waters. This rapid growth reflects both the economic opportunity and the conservation potential of the industry.
The conservation impact of oyster farming operates through multiple mechanisms. Most directly, cultivating oysters through mariculture offers a sustainable alternative to wild harvesting, reducing pressure on natural reefs and providing a controlled environment for oyster production. As farmed oysters capture market share, particularly in the premium half-shell market, demand for wild-harvested oysters decreases.
The CCA Texas has identified oyster mariculture as a key component of a comprehensive conservation strategy. Growing farmed oysters in the water column creates a cleaner, better-tasting and more desirable product for the half-shell market, providing economic incentives for consumers to choose farmed over wild oysters.
This market shift is already measurable. Currently, around 22% of annual landings in Texas come from 43 areas (approximately 2,300 acres) in Galveston Bay that are under location certificates (leases), demonstrating that alternative production methods can supply significant portions of market demand.
The relationship between oyster farming and wild population recovery extends beyond simple pressure reduction. Palacios Marine Agricultural Research (PMAR) exemplifies this approach, drawing inspiration from successful fish restoration programs. Inspired by the way Texas Parks and Wildlife reversed the fortunes of the red drum and spotted seatrout, PMAR launched a largescale hatchery system with support from a coastwide restoration partnership made of like-minded conservation organizations.
Modern hatchery operations can produce millions of oyster larvae and spat (juvenile oysters) that support both commercial farming operations and wild reef restoration. Providing larvae and spat for commercial oyster farmers along the Texas coast while simultaneously partnering with academic and research institutions, agencies and the aquaculture industry to develop new critical oyster reef habitat creates a symbiotic relationship between commercial and conservation goals.
The most promising aspect of Texas oyster agriculture lies in its integration with broader conservation initiatives. The CCA Texas has outlined a comprehensive approach that includes expanding the number of state-managed bay-bottom leases to provide commercial oystermen opportunities to invest in creating and maintaining their own reefs sustainably.
This expansion works alongside other critical strategies: conservation leases for nonharvestable oyster areas can safeguard critical spawning grounds and help replenish depleted reefs. These sanctuary reefs serve as broodstock reserves, ensuring continued production of larvae that can repopulate nearby areas.
The economic model supporting this conservation approach is compelling. Bolstering the economic resilience of coastal communities and stabilize long-term oyster stocks through sustainable farming practices creates stakeholder buy-in for conservation efforts.
Texas oyster agriculture represents more than an industry—it’s a proof-of-concept for how commercial aquaculture can serve conservation goals. Promoting responsible stewardship of the Gulf Coast environment and resources through education and outreach helps build the social license necessary for long-term conservation success.
The success of this approach depends on continued expansion of farming operations, strategic placement of conservation leases, and integration with wild reef restoration efforts. Large-scale restoration efforts should focus on rebuilding oyster reefs that support ecological functions, coastal resiliency and greatest value to local economies.
As climate change intensifies coastal challenges and commercial fishing pressure continues, the symbiotic relationship between oyster farming and wild population recovery may become the template for sustainable coastal resource management. The question is no longer whether Texas can afford to invest in oyster agriculture, but whether it can afford not to.
The crystal-clear waters that once teemed with oyster reefs may never fully return to their historical abundance, but through the careful cultivation of farmed oysters and strategic conservation of wild populations, Texas is charting a course toward a more resilient coastal future. In the shallow bays where oyster farmers tend their crops, the seeds of ecosystem recovery are taking root—one shell at a time.
Texas Oyster Mariculture Association and Members https://www.toma.org
Big Tree Oyster Company https://www.bigtreeoysters.com/
Blackjack Point Oyster Company http://www.blackjackpointoysters.com/
Clear Water Oyster Gardens https://clearwateroysters.com/
Copano Oyster Company https://www.instagram.com/copanooystercompany/
Key Allegro Oyster Company https://keyallegrooysterco.com/
Lone Star Oyster Company https://www.instagram.com/lonestaroysterco/
The Oyster Bros https://www.theoysterbros.com/
by Bob Maindelle
Well, there has, quite literally, been a lot of water under the bridge since my last update in June. The July 4th flooding which inundated Kerrville and other Hill Country locations also caused significant flooding on the two reservoirs on which I conduct SKIFF trips – Lake Belton and Stillhouse Hollow.
Stillhouse closed for a time after all boat ramps were submerged, and although Belton remained open, the fishing became difficult in late July and into August as fish adjusted to the throughflow of water released through the dam by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Despite all of that, we were still able to serve five families over the summer break before public school went back in session.
In late June, I welcomed aboard the wife and children of U.S. Army Major Nicholas Spicocchi, an Infantry officer currently assigned to Fort Hood, but on deployment and therefore separated from his family. Joining me were Mrs. Kiley Spicocchi and her kids, Brooke (age 5), Isabella (age 9), Kiley, and John (age 11). They caught 90 fish.
On July 8, as the flood waters were still rising on Lake Belton, but before any debris swept in, I fished with the two youngest children of U.S. Army Sergeant Troy Hensley. Troy is a disabled Iraqi War veteran. His sons, Trace (10) and Josh (5) landed 85 fish, mainly by sight-casting to white bass schooling on the surface.
Joining me on July 9 was the family of U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Norman Bretz — Mrs. Natalie Bretz and her three children, Jayden (16), Adyson (14), and Logan (13). The Bretz family resides in Copperas Cove and awaited SFC Bretz’s return from southwest Asia, after which he will retire after 20 years of service, primarily in the Cavalry.
The Bretz family was aboard when, with the help of Robert Garcia of RPG Outdoors, we filmed the majority of the footage for a new SKIFF promotional video. That 4 minute, 50 second video is now posted to YouTube at this link:
On July 28, I conducted a trip for U.S. Army Captain Donovan Canaday’s sons, Colton and Logan Barber, ages 11 and 8, respectively. Captain Canaday is part of a large movement of troops to Europe in which the Greywolf Brigade he is assigned to is taking the place of a brigade from another post for a rotation of about a year in duration. CPT Canaday is an Armor officer with eight years of service.
Finally, on August 11, I conducted a SKIFF trip for the Rankin family currently stationed at Fort Hood and living in Copperas Cove. U.S Army First Lieutenant Cody Rankin serves as a physician’s assistant and was recently separated from his family while involved with coursework at another post.
The Rankin boys, Greyson, Easton, and Hudson landed 37 fish in just 2 hours,
Mrs. Kiley Spicocchi and her kids, Brooke (age 5), Isabella (age 9), Kiley, and John (age 11). They caught 90 fish.
after which the youngest, Hudson, age 6, wore out prompting up to head in early.
Thank you so much for your generosity in donating to SKIFF to make days on the water like this special for kids.
U.S. Army Sergeant Troy Hensley and his sons, Trace (10) and Josh (5) landed 85 fish, mainly by sight-casting to white bass schooling on the surface.
Bretz children, Jayden (16), Adyson (14), and Logan (13)
U.S. Army Captain Donovan Canaday’s sons, Colton and Logan Barber, ages 11 and 8, respectively
The Rankin boys, Greyson, Easton, and Hudson landed 37 fish in just 2 hours, after which the youngest, Hudson, age 6, wore out prompting up to head in early.
Bonner Armbruster
Bonner is a lifelong angler, Bonner learned to fish first with conventional tackle, and eventually found himself drawn to the challenges inherent to fishing exclusively on the fly. He guides on the rivers of Central Texas and can be contacted at https://www.allwaterguides.com/bonner-armbruster
John Botros
John has worked as an the Texas Parks and (TPWD) since 2007 River Access and Conservation Program (RACA) in licly leased access. https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/recre ational/rivers/lease_access/
an Aquatic Biologist with and Wildlife Department 2007 and took over TPWD’s Conservation Access Areas 2016. He discussed pubhttps://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/recreational/rivers/lease_access/
Gary Geddes
Gary is our Secretary of the Austin Fly Fishers who travels extensively to fly fish both saltwater and freshwater destinations. He has fished throughout the mountain west and his favorite place to trout fish is Yellowstone National Park. Over 17 years, he has amassed a wealth of knowledge about Yellowstone and shared his experiences in his presentation.
by Jim Robinson
Bonner Armbruster – https://www.allwaterguides.com/bonner-armbruster Central Texas Fly Fishing Guide
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
