Volume 11 • Issue 3 • March 2006

They're Different This Year

The first thing that caught our attention was that they were darker and the stripe down the side seemed to have a purple hue to it rather than of pale pink. I think we noticed on the day when they were introduced into their new environs at Crabapple, The Double B, and La Junta. As we hauled them in tubs to the water, I heard someone mention that these rainbows were older than ones sent in years past. They were mature fish still healthy but past their prime for  producing fry for the hatchery's needs. The mixture of mid-sized to large trout was impressive. They all seemed big–14" upward to 20" plus. We really wouldn't know the true nature of the long-awaited fish until we met them in a test of strength and agility.

As it turns out, based upon the tales that are working their way among our club's fly-fishing friends, these rascals are about the biggest, liveliest, strongest batch we've ever encountered. It's a rather rare occurrence for such large, healthy rainbows to take the fly so readily during the course of an outing. This season, however, it seems not uncommon for half or more of these behemoths to break the tippet, throw the hook, or even bend the hook to slide away.

Yes, bend the hook! I was out of Mustads and Daiichi's to replenish my Bead Head Woolly Buggers after I found a color combination that worked. No fly shop was handy, so I bought some substitutes for the long shanked hooks at Wal-Mart, perfectly good hooks, Eagle Claw, that looked up to the task but really weren't designed for fly-fishing. I tied a half dozen of the tan-bodied, orange- tailed, brown-hackled creatures on a size 8 long shaft. They worked well but had a serious flaw.

Here's what happened. I had caught several of our rainbow challengers before my line suddenly felt like it had tied into a torpedo upstream that was bound downstream,  not to be deterred. It quickly took up slack and was on the reel, which began to scream objections. All this time, I was trying to change the course of the creature to the left or right to discombobulate it. No deal. It knew where it was headed and would not veer. Then there was nothing. It was there and then it was gone in a flash that covered about 50' going left to right. I recovered. It was tough but I truly did. However, that's not the end of the story. I went on fishing and probably had another four fish on line when it occurred to me that it was strange for all of them to beat me in the contest after teasing me to the last moment when I was ready to bring them in. Then they were gone. Oh, well, I could take pleasure that they didn't break off but, without a doubt, it was time to change something. The fly was handy. I would put on a Matt's Bug. Then is when I discovered the flaw with my fly. It was the hook. It was bent just enough to let a fish slide off. Instead of making a "U" turn the bend of the hook was more like the last half of a parenthesis. You know something, though. I don't think I would have been completely surprised if I had use a stouter hook and still ended up with it bent. With these fine trout, a fellow needs to worry not only about breaking his tippet; he also needs to be concerned about bending his hook!

So far, I have yet to make it up to Crabapple Creek or to the Double B. It's so handy for me to drive out the road a bit to Camp La Junta, and I'm having so much fun in my float tube filling a day with a dozen or more tussles with these jumping jumbos who threaten to pull me under, tube and all, that I can't resist being drawn by a magnetic pull to that cantankerous gate and the fish that lie in wait at La Junta.  That Bead Head Woolly Bugger still works, but when the fishing gets slow, I've found a dropper to tie on to it that doubles the number of fish that are attracted to a contest. You'll have to talk to me in person to find out what it is.

–M.A.

Minutes of the Hill Country Fly Fishers
March 16, 2006

The meeting was called to order shortly after 7 p.m. by President Danny Wheat. Seventeen (17) members and two guests were present.

President Wheat talked about our membership, attracting new members, and retaining old members. Our membership is presently at twenty-nine (29) as per Treasurer Dick Koon. Danny stated that perhaps the president of the Fredericksburg club could come and present a program on their club, its programs and activities that they have planned, etc. They have a very active club.

Danny also reported on the recent board of directors meeting. The board voted to donate   $ 300 to the Casting for Recovery educational program for breast cancer survivors, sponsored by the Texas Women Fly Fishers. Mary Rohrer attended our January meeting and described this program. At that meeting, those members present indicated their support for the program and directed the board to designate a contribution amount.

Committee Reports:

Salt Water by Bill Elgin. Bill passed out a survey to be completed by the members indicating their interests in various activities. Our club has tried to organize a salt water outing but has had very little interest. Perhaps the leadership of the club can focus on activities and programs that the majority of the members desire–hence the purpose of the survey. Bill also stated that a salt water outing to the Rockport area has been planned for June 25, 2006. He has lined up Ray Chapa as a guide , and we have four members signed up to go. If additional members are interested, an additional guide can be engaged.

Treasurer's Report by Dick Koon. Dick passed out copies of the treasurer's report. He stated that all bills received had been paid and that the club was financially about where we started out last year. Danny stated that we had made a commitment of $ 1,000 to the Guadalupe bass program, which had not yet been paid.

Education and Conservation by Ron Lowry. Ron made a short report in the absence of "Doc" Harrison. Two goals mentioned were (1) train more members to be instructors, and (2) continue to work toward getting a fly-fishing group started at Schreiner University.

Warm Water Committee by Danny Wheat. Danny spoke in the absence of Keith Masters. The club needs a suggested warm water activity. If anyone has ideas, let Keith know.

Cold Water Committee by Rick Wilson. The trout lease program is running well. The Fredericksburg club held their tournament last week and had eleven (11) teams competing. The winning team caught four fish with a combined length of 68 3/4". It was suggested that perhaps our club might try something like this. Rick also stated that some of our members had reported that the Double B was allowing nonmembers to fish without paying the guest fee. Double B charges non-members $10 to fish in the stocked ponds during our fishing season, and that money goes to us. Catch and release and single barbless hooks are required of nonmembers.

At this point, Danny encouraged some of the members to relate their fish stories, and several did so. Rick showed his "Chocolate Egg" fly which had proven very effective.

Membership Committee by John Floyd. The committee is just getting organized, and John has some potential committee members in mind. John is also working on a detailed membership plan based upon recommendations made by outgoing membership chairman, Mike Andrews.

The program speaker was introduced by Mike Andrews. Billy Trimble of Trimble Fly Fishing in Port Aransas presented a fine program on "Fly Fishing for White Bass," or "Fly Fishing the White Bass Spawning Run from the Highland Lakes in the Hill Country of Central Texas."

The meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m

Submitted by Roy D. Hickman
Secretary

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Billy Trimble Gives Tips on Fishing for White Bass

Our speaker at the February meeting, guide Billy Trimble, offered loads of tips and information about fishing for white bass during their spawning trips upstream from the highland lakes of the Texas Hill Country. This is the only time that these bass are found in the rivers; otherwise, their natural habitat is in the deepest parts of the big lakes in our part of Texas. The season begins around the first of the year and lasts until about April. Nature's clues indicate the time to pack up and go fishing for these strong fish. It is when the bluebonnets bloom and the redbuds color the countryside.

Favorite places to fish for the white bass include Colorado,the Llano, and the San Gabriel rivers, plus any tributaries of Lake Travis, Inks Lake and Lake Buchanan. Colorado Bend State Park is probably the most popular for our fly-fishers to visit, but the other locations offer enticing possibilities.

When the spawning journey begins, the first white bass to make a move are the younger ones. As the days go by increasingly larger fish make their way to spawn. Always stay close to the bottom.. These fish are lovers of deep water and overcasts skies. They also like eddies and rocks. Captain Billy emphasized the necessity of fishing deep with sinking lines to keep the fly down. Actually touching the bottom of the river with your rod tip adds to the chances for success. Short leaders are most effective. Casting across and following the drift are effective. When an indication that a fish is on end, use a strip strike of only a few inches to set the hook.

The best flies are Clousers, bone fish patterns, Cypert Minnows. Yellow, white, and olive are popular colors on a size 2x or 3x, #8 or #10 hooks. Use short tails, the sparser the better.

A few words of caution are valuable. When fishing below dams, be acutely aware of dam releases. They are very dangerous. One especially deceiving condition occurs when a dam shuts off water. It is capable of sucking a boat under the water.

Our speaker fielded questions about many different locations and situations with impressive, detailed knowledge based on years of experience. He also specializes in salt water fishing from a boat and is headquartered in Port Aransas. Those in attendance at our February meeting observed a most astute and capable fly-fishing expert offer an impressive presentation .Captain Billy Trimble may be contacted at http://www.trimbleflyfishing.com  and billytrimble@cableone.net.

 

From FFF ClubWire. . .

The following is taken from the latest ClubWire to show that our club is gaining some attention as being an example of a club having been granted FFF funds for a worthy project, the restoration of Guadalupe bass.

Applications being accepted for the FFF Conservation Grants

The Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) is proud to offer conservation grants in clubs, agencies, organizations and individuals who are working to preserve and restore the waters we cherish. If you know of a resource project that is working to assure healthy aquatic habitats, visit the Conservation Grants web page http://fedflyfishers.org/conConsGrants.php or contact the FFF Conservation Coordinator at (406) 222-9369 ext 101 or operations@fedflyfisherss.org. FFF Conservation Grants for resource projects have normally been limited to $ 2,000.00 per year for any individual project. Please use this as a guideline in making your annual request for funding.

Currently funded projects include Guadalupe Bass restoration in Texas, stream habitat restoration in Maryland and Michigan, and trout population assessments in Idaho. We're happy to provide these funds to support the valuable work of FFF clubs throughout North America. Please contact the FFF office if you have any question about the program. 406-222-9369

Tyer as Educator Initiative

The FFF Education Committee has sanctioned an outreach program called the Tyer as Educator Initiative. An outline of its background and goals are on the FFF web site Forum:

At the 2005 National Conclave, an initiative was started to increase the teaching effectiveness of fly tying teachers in each of three possible formats: (1) demonstration fly tyers, (2) fly tying workshops, (3) fly tying courses.

A committee is being formed with all FFF members welcome. Our goal is twofold:

1. to create a resource for all the above types of fly tying teachers, certainly in an online format and possibly in a print format, that would be available to all tyers, that would help increase their effectiveness as fly tying teachers;

2. to work with the FFF to increase the effectiveness of all fly tying teachers. Invited would be all the organizers of tying classes for clubs, all organizers of workshops at the club, regional or national level, and all demonstration tyers to contact FFF if interested in contributing to the Tyer as Educator Initiative. Also, please go the FFF Forum, under Fly Tying, and then The Tyer as Educator Initiative, and post some of your suggestions today. You will learn what others have posted and you will be able to teach what you have learned. Also, consider this a personal invitation to attend the workshops that we will have on how to be a better demonstration tyer (taught by Wayne Lualien, Al Beatty, Judy Lehmberg, and Chris Helm), how to organize a better tying class (taught by Chris Helm), and how to conduct a better workshop. Contact David Nelson, nelsondl@pacbell.net

Do Flies Shed?
Submitted by Gary Davis
Member of the McKenzie Flyfishers

The first fly I tied in 2006 was a Green-Butted Skunk. The tail, abdomen and thorax were placed on a steelhead hook with perfect proportions. The tensile segmentation was beautiful. I used white calf tail hair for the wings, embossed with black hen hackle. I'm getting faster wrapping the hackle and whip finishing. I felt a silent pride growing in my chest. Upon completion, I gave the fly an evaluation while bragging to my tying buddy.

To check rigidity and structure, I blew into the fly as if cooling hot coffee. Some white hair fell out. I blew again. This time it reminded me of blowing on a Dandelion. Half of my wing shed into my lap and onto the floor. I heard chuckles from across the table.

I forgot to separate the fluff out of the guard hair. The fluff is soft and spongy in comparison to the coarser guard hair. The fluff easily dislodged, which loosened my thread wraps. The whole thing went kaput! I felt like a Green-Butted Skunk and scored it a 1 ½. Do flies shed? You bet!

 

Notice: Please see our website for any late news as to when we may start keeping the trout — http://www.hcff.org

Anyone interested in joining our club may print and fill out a membership application and mail it to our treasurer, Dick Koon. This will help us keep our roster up to date in the most efficient fashion.