Hill Country Fly Fishers: Back Cast Newsletter December 2007

Volume 12 • Issue 12 • December 2007

The Tonic of Change

An intriguing occurrence it is–the coming of a new year. The prospects are certain to involve a mixture of emotions. Even at that, imagining what the days of a coming year hold for our world of fly-fishing weigh in favor of many fascinating experiences. For those new to the sport, each experience will be characterized by accepting the challenge of learning and the pleasure of achieving an endless variety of new skills, all the while absorbing the magic of a fine sport. For the veteran anglers, a fresh path lies ahead, flowing as a river with something akin to the strong pull at the end of one’s line yet only imagining what it might be.

The same anticipation marks the outlook for our Hill Country Fly Fishers as an organization. A number of developments emerged during 2007 that suggest a new year full of engaging activities that will be influenced by the input of new members and a fascinating makeup in our list of new officers.

One look at the attendance of recent monthly meetings will reveal an impressive increase in the number of women now involved with our club. What even tops that evolution is the fact that for the first time in the club’s history, we will be led by a fine fly-fishing female–none other than the energetic Dianne Williams, who has already proven herself as a positive force, having served impressively as warm water chairwoman during the past year.

Another refreshing development is the acceptance of Bart Stevens as the new vice-president. Bart just this last year decided to take up fly-fishing for a favorite pastime. He took a class in the sport through ClubEd, the adult education program of the Kerrville ISD, and has attended our club meetings ever since he first learned that our fair city had a fly-fishing club. No doubt, Bart will be able to contribute some new ideas along with a shot of fresh enthusiasm among our club’s leadership.

Our treasured veteran, Bill Emshoff, will assume duties as club secretary. Bill may have more stored-away knowledge about our club than any other member, having been elected 2nd vice-president and secretary/treasurer in our club’s first group of officers in 1995. He later served as president during the year 1997. On top of all this, our good friend may have the greatest depth of knowledge within our club on all aspects of fly-fishing–He builds and refurbishes rods, both graphite and bamboo; he’s a master at tying flies; he knows how to tie just about every knot you’ve ever heard about–you name it. He will the ultimate source of information concerning the total history of our club and also on any aspect of our sport. He will take office as our incoming secretary.

Moving from club secretary to that of club treasurer will be Roy Hickman, who has done a super job in his 2007 office and will lend both experience and efficiency for sure in his new position. All who know Roy admire his dependability and steadiness.

Our new board of directors will consist of the above officers plus the immediate past president, Bill Elgin, along with two appointed members at large selected by the president. They will be Paula Givins and Frank Tull.

That easy-going chap who, during 2007, has lead our club and our monthly meetings with a touch of humor and a watchful eye for fresh opportunities is our friend, Bill Elgin. He has been especially effective in promoting numerous outings both as near as some place on our home waters of the Guadalupe to selected places along the Gulf Coast, a bit farther into southeastern Oklahoma, and on to exotic areas off the Mexican coast. He has also pursued a policy of using new sources to introduce our club to the public by way of more articles in the Kerrville Daily Times, cards placed in local businesses giving basic information about the HCFF and its offerings, and other techniques for spreading the word.

Paula Givins is a fine young woman who actively sought out information about our club and sampled a monthly meeting. She was sold on what she saw and has become a fresh, active member who will certainly enhance the board of directors’ membership.

Frank Tull, a retired doctor, has been active for a number of years in the Hill Country Fly Fishers. His quiet nature does not trumpet his contributions in helping with our youth instruction at Camp La Junta and other behind-the-seams activities involving our club. His years of fly-fishing experience and his support in our endeavors let us know that he will add a finishing touch to our new board of directors.

The above makeup of officers suggest the most diverse combination in our club’s history. poised to lead HCFF members into a new year that may prove to be quite invigorating. They will be the perfect tonic for our club’s future during the coming year.

–M.A.

The Late October Outing to Broken Bow a Success

By Dianne Williams. . .
on behalf of a great group to travel and fish with

The Hill Country Fly Fishers trip to Oklahoma to fish for trout was quite a success. Twelve of us, including Bill Elgin, Dianne Williams, Doug and Carolyn Teter, Roy Hickman, Keith Masters, Greg and Nelda Craig, Gene and Liz Smith, Dick Koon and Dick Gilby arrived in Broken Bow on Friday, October t6th. It was a great time of year with clear pleasant days and cool evenings. The area around Beaver’s Bend Park and the Mountain Fork River is lovely with rolling hills and more mountainous terrain in the park itself. The country is quite lush with lots of trees which were just beginning to dress in their fall colors.

We began with dinner at a local restaurant and a slide presentation on fishing the Mountain Fork by guide Rob Woodruff. Bright and early the next morning we met Rob and he got us all on the water to fish. He assisted us with techniques as well as showing us the different areas to fish which included everything from wide flat water to rushing mountain streams., The following days we all spread out to try own favorite spots.

Liz Smith went antiquing, Nelda Craig sketched stream side and Carolyn Teter fished with us. Almost everyone caught fish of various sizes and all agreed to try to make the trip to Broken Bow an annual event. Why not join us next year?

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The December meeting will be the HCFF Christmas Dinner at Rails on December 18th. Best wishes to everyone for a joyful holiday and a positive outlook for the new year~

Hill Country Fly Fishers
Christmas Dinner

To be held at Rails New Extension
December 18, 2007
Cash Bar beginning at 6 PM and Dinner beginning at 7 PM
Please bring a wrapped gift of $5 or under.

Please remit $18 per person before Dec. 13th payable to: Hill Country Fly Fishers.

Mail to: Bill Elgin
819 Washington Street
Kerrville, Texas 78028

Name:_____________________________________________________________

MENU

Fresh Mixed Greens topped with Queso Fresco and Walnuts with Honey Mustard Vinaigrette on the side

_______________	Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Apple Bourbon Demi-Glace Rice Pilaf with Toasted Orso and Red Bell Pepper Garnish Sauteed Petite Green Beans and Baby Carrots
-or-
_______________	Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Apple Bourbon Demi-Glace Rice Pilaf with Toasted Orso and Red Bell Pepper Garnish Sauteed Petite Green Beans and Baby Carrots
-or-
_______________	Tortilla Crested Tilapia Rice Pilaf with Toasted Orzo and Red Bell Pepper Garnish Sauteed Petite Green Beans and Baby Carrots

Rosemary Whole Wheat Bread
Pecan Pie with Caramel Sauce
Tazo Jasmine Iced Tea
Water
Starbuck’s Coffee

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A BACK CAST OF MEMORIES–excerpts from past issues of the newsletter

May Issue, 1999

April Meeting – Busy, Busy Busy

Talk about fast paced times! Keeping up with all of the activities going on in and around our club is like being at a five way intersection in a strange city with horns honking at you while you’re trying to follow a map without your reading glasses. Well, it’s not quite that bad, but you’ll have to excuse the hyperbole.

O.K., just look at what we had on the agenda for discussion at our April meeting: (1) a planned cook-out at Cedar Rock; (2) the Bud Priddy Memorial One-Fly Contest in Camp Wood on the 15th; (3) The Texas Fly Fishing Show in San Marcos, May 21st–23rd; the Rockport outing with Danny Wheat now scheduled for June 11th–13th; (4) the Whitlocks and the changed meeting date for Monday, May 24th; (5) plans for an additional trout stocking location next year. Whew!

For entertainment at our meeting, Donnie Bunch showed a video he had made of feeding the rainbows at Bear Creek Crossing. It was fun to watch Gary Davidson’s son, Russell, connect with a huge trout–about 20"–and master the battle for a most impressive catch, perhaps the most spectacular that took place on the river this year. Great going, Russell. You handled that beauty like a pro.

Folks, that’s about it for the April meeting except to say that attendance was again over twenty present. This makes the fourth meeting in a row that we’ve surpassed the twenty mark. Pretty neat. Maybe we can attract fifty to the Whitlock meeting.

September Issue, 1999

Thinking Trout
By Donnie Bunch [club president during 1999]

Well, it’s time to start think about trout stocking time again! Our club has been so fortunate for the last two years. Our trout stocking program has been a magnificent success. We have doubled our membership, which has been mainly the result of the trout stocking. This year we would like to increase the number of large fish purchased from 300 lbs. To 460 lbs. Which should cost $1,610.00 and should be around 316 of the 16 inch fish. We are still planning on purchasing 1,800 of the Parks and Wildlife trout which will cost $1,440,00, making the total amount of money spent by the club for trout stocking to be $3,050.00. With these extra fish we are planning on stocking a second area if one can be located. So we will have two trout fishing locations right here in Kerr County!! As you can see, your trout stocking donations for the 1999-2000 season are greatly needed to make this year’s program a success. We would like to see members interested in trout stocking program donate $50.00 each, although I think everyone would agree that to be an active participant in this program would be worth at least four times that much. We would like the donations as soon as possible so we can see what our funds will be like when trout purchasing time comes around. If we want this fantastic program to continue and increase in size and participants, we need everyone’s help.

See you on the river! –Donnie Bunch

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From FFF ClubWire. . .

Random Thoughts from the Tying Bench
By C.W. “Don” Coleman
Taken from the Tampa Bay
Fly Fishers Newsletter

DON’T FORGET– You are free to agree, disagree, or interpret my opinions in any way you see fit. There are no fly tying police or fly fishing police. Don’t be afraid to think for yourself or differ with the “experts.” But do be polite about it. There are not many things you can do today that leave you completely free to do as you wish. Even take a fish home to eat once in a while–as long as it is legal to do so. Sometimes we take this ecology bit too far.

FIGHTING FISH–Suddenly you have a fish on. What do you do now? First of all, I hope you hooked the fish with a slip-strike and lifted the butt of the rod instead of jerking the rod tip up. The rod tip is for casting and the rod butt is for fighting fish. Most of the inshore fish wading fly fishers catch can easily be handled by stripping in the fly line with your line hand. Don’t adhere to the old adage to “keep the rod tip up and get the fish on the reel.” A lot of fish are lost because of that poor advice. You cannot put much pressure on a fish with the rod tip and you can blow it all trying to reel in the loose line instead of fighting the fish. If you do have a large fish on, let it run and put itself on the reel. I hope you didn’t set the drag up to 3 or 5 pounds as some “experts” recommend. If you did, a sudden jolt will occur when the fish comes tight against the reel and that jolt could pull the hook out. Keep just enough drag on the reel so that when you jerk on the line it will not backlash. If you need more drag during the fight, use the palming rim. Fight large fish by keeping the rod tip down and pointing at the fish and fighting with the first stripping guide. It’s called fighting “down and dirty.”

Don’t fight a fish by pumping the rod and reeling in the line you gained. When you pressure a fish, it tries very hard to fight back. You can gently apply even pressure and practically lead most fish wherever you want. Often you can remove all pressure and the fish will simply stop and wonder what’s going on. Only pump the rod when you cannot move a very large fish any other way. Fly rods are not built to do this successfully.