The main discussion of this article is going to concern the Open House (see ad at the end of the newsletter). The activities begin at 9:00 AM. Jim Green of Backcountry in Tyler will be our guest for the day. Jim will be tying during the day, and we are all looking forward to having him with us.

We will have a raffle for the club fly rod, which has been built by Ronny Julian. I know anyone would be proud to own it. Tickets are $5.00 each to any PWFF member. The raffle will be held at the end of the auction that night. You do not have to be present to win; so I encourage you, if you cannot be there that day, to send me your money for your tickets. I will sign your name on your ticket(s) and place it/them in the bucket. I hope each of you can be here but I know some of our out-of-town members may not be able to. We do understand, but we want you to be a part of our raffle. You will have as good a chance at the new rod as anyone else.

We will have a Hamburger Lunch at noon. I am asking Ronny Julian and Royce Feaster to be in charge of that . We will have a casting contest during the afternoon under the direction of Jay Renken. He has been asked to come up with a challenge, and we may have everyone cast with the new club rod.

We also are asking club members to tie a selection of their favorite flies for a raffle. Tickets for this will be $1.00 each, or 6 for $5.00. You will be able to place your tickets in containers for whichever group of flies you would like to win. Also, we hope to have enough flies to give some away as door prizes during the day.

The evening activities will consist of food brought by you. We are asking that you bring finger-foods... sandwiches, dips, chips, a cake, cookies (a banana pudding would be great, Jay). Linda McLendon is in charge of the evening meal.

We have some items to auction after our meal. We have been promised flies tied by Jim Green, Slim Mitchell, Michael Verduin, Tom Miessler, and possibly others. We also have a shadow box donated by Larry Copenhaver. If anyone else is interested in donating for the auction, please contact either me of Royce Feaster, or bring it to the Open House.

Bill Heugel would be in charge of the registration and raffle ticket sales except for his illness. I will either help him if he is able to take charge, or I will handle them with help from some of you if Bill is still ailing. Several of you will be asked to help is several areas during the day.

Be sure to come and help us have a good day.

Our last meeting was good. Our program was a presentation by Ron Mize who is a wildlife biologist for the U.S. Forest Service and a collector of "old" fishing tackle and "old", "old" lures. Ron not only exhibited some of his collection, but gave us some tips on collecting these articles.

We had two visitors - Joel Eshbaugh (who joined the club that night) and a former member, Walt Wilson who brought a beautiful collection of flies attached to a setting of pine cones. It was given away during a special door prize drawing won by Linda McLendon. Thanks Walt!

In the drawing for the club door prize, Coy Hood was the lucky winner; and lucky Linda Mc won the drawing for the flies.

We now have 33 members and 1 associate member (newsletter only). I hope to see you at the April 4^th meeting, and if not, at least at the Open House.

As always, "A Bad Day Fishing Is Better Than A Good Day Working." [I know - since the last Monday, Royce and I had a bad day fishing]

FLYLINES

From The V-Prez

I am not going to say much about the Open House, just Be There... Bring your friends... bring your neighbors.... bring your co-workers.... bring your enemies... They will all enjoy it, and they might become fly fishers.

May the 13^th is the next outing on the calendar. This is an outing to Lake Toledo Bend at Bill Heugel's home. Bill is still having health problems, so be flexible on that outing. If he is well, the gathering is for fishing, visiting, eating and swapping tales. If Bill is not able to have us over then, we will try to get together somewhere else?

A couple of newsletters ago I suggested that each member should try to do the personal fishing during the week, and take our newer members and our working members fishing on the weekends. How have y'all been doing? I have tried to do that twice, and I have struck out both times. So I am going to double my efforts and keep trying. The more we do this, the more our newer and working members get out of the club. And you new and working members give any club member a call to find out who is available to take you fishing. Don't put it all on us "retirees". Remember, it is easier for "old folks" to forget to call.

The Prez and I have been talking about the "swap tackle and materials" meeting. You still have a little time to get your unused (you know - that Snoopy rod and reel your Mother-in-law gave you because she knew you liked to fish), not needed ( that book on fishing Madrid that your Sister gave you because she knew you liked to fish), never used (that yellow, grizzly rooster skin that was a real bargain even though you already had two), and other extra items together to bring to the swap meeting. As soon as it is in the works, it will be put on the calendar for you.

Open Letter To Bill Heugel

From K Baker

Bill Heugel conducted a very successful Deer Hair tying class, and then became very ill.

Bill,

We really miss you . We hope you are feeling better and getting back on your feet, and into the swing of things. We need you. We hope you can be at the next meeting. But if not, we hope you can at least

attend some of the Open House. If not, we will carry on, but we will miss you.

Hurry up and get well.

Bedded And Breaded Bluegill

by J. Renken

It is getting to that time of year when our favorite fish is getting Southern Fly Fishers "fidgety". Bedded bluegills are more easily caught now than any other time of year. Most of the ones I catch are released to fight again. But you may have noticed that usually at my house, a couple of batches each year are destined for the "Fry Daddy". The big advantage of the "Fry Daddy" is the maintaining of proper cooking temperature, and it is deep enough not to splatter grease. I use a very simple way to prepare gills. Fillet them. Yes, the fillets are small, but delicious. Beat a couple of eggs, crush some saltine crackers, crumb them in a blender. Dip the fillets in the eggs, roll them in the cracker crumbs, and drop them into the "Fry Daddy" for about two and one half minutes. Do not over cook. This frying method came from a old magazine article by Ted Trueblood, except he didn't have a "Fry Daddy". This is a different taste than beer batter or cornmeal cooked bluegill. It may become your favorite way.

Southern Council Info

From Brian Camp

Hi Gang!

On May 6th, your Council officers will be assembling for the annual Spring business meeting. Clubs and individual members are urged to bring issues to the Board's attention at this time. If you have something that you or your club needs the Council to address, please contact Pat Smith at <[email protected]> and she will set a place for you on the agenda. As this is a closed meeting, only those with items set on the agenda are allowed to attend. If you cannot attend yet still need to address the Board, please E-mail a report to either Pat or me detailing your request and we will be most happy to present it to the Board for you.

The primary purpose of this meeting will be to discuss the status of the upcoming Council Conclave and to work on the Council budget. We will also be finalizing the Long Casts mailing list at this time so if your club has not sent in your roster, please do so as soon as you can. While the purpose of the meeting is to address Council business activities, there are no restrictions on agenda items so, please, feel free to bring up any subject that you feel we need to address.

Thanks to all of you for your hard work and continued support of the FFF. As of last month, your membership recruitment efforts have made us the largest FFF Council in the world. Congratulations to you all! And

please remember, the Council is here to serve you so be sure to contact us if there is anything you need.

I hope the warmth of Spring has found it's way to your favorite fishing hole and until next time... Good Fly Fishing!

Call To Arms For River Activists

PARTICIPATE IN RIVERS 2000!

The River Management Society, with help from American Rivers, River Network, and other river groups, is leading a broad coalition in a major celebration of our rivers as we enter the new millennium. The goal of Rivers 2000 is to increase public understanding and appreciation of our nation's 3.2 million river miles and their watersheds.

Highlights of Rivers 2000 include:

* Official proclamation of Rivers 2000 Month by the Clinton Administration - either June or July (anticipated); 2,000 river and watershed related activities and events across the country, with a state coordinator in every state;

*"Pass the Paddle" - an event that will bring together public officials and boaters from across the continent to carry the official Rivers 2000 paddle from state to state, culminating with the presentation of the paddle to President Clinton;

* An online, virtual rivers conference hosted by American Rivers;

* A major conference and celebration conducted by River Management Society in Charleston, South Carolina April 18-22;

* Development of a new National Agenda for Rivers in the 21st. Century; and

* A up-to-date Website (www.rivers2000.org) to track the progress of the "Pass the Paddle" event and provide information on all Rivers 2000 activities and how to get involved.

Rivers and watersheds are shared and valued by all communities. As shared resources, our nation's waterways depend upon collaborative and inclusive strategies to keep them healthy and enable them to continue to serve the needs of the fish, wildlife, and human communities that rely upon them. Rivers 2000 will stress the importance of these restoration activities and their role in revitalizing local communities.

"Pass the Paddle" will visit some of America's most outstanding and historically important river systems, such as the Suwanee, Ohio, Mississippi, Colorado, and Connecticut. The event will bring national attention to these community resources and the on-going citizen efforts to protect and restore them.

To register your event or activity, find out what's going on in your area, or get involved, visit the Rivers 2000 website at www.rivers2000.org or contact your state coordinator (listed on the website). You can also contact Project Manager Doug Carter at [email protected] or 517-627-8362. You

can reach the River Management Society at [email protected], 406-549-0514, or through their website at www.river-management.org.

Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions.

Thank you - Douglas D. Carter

Rivers 2000 Project Manager

12759 Oneida Woods Trail

Grand Ledge, MI 48837

517-627-8362 voice and fax

[email protected]

www.rivers2OOO.org

April Program

from L. McLendon

Our program this month will be presented by Paul Steinbach. Paul will give us first hand information on fly fishing in Wyoming., since he and Carrie have lived there and experienced wonderful fly fishing. It will be a program you do not want to miss.

###################################

Remember!

Mark your calender for our club meetings, Every First Tuesday of each Month,

7:00 P M in the Lufkin Room in the Lufkin Mall.

###################################

Calender

Outings and Events

*********

April 4^th. PWFF Meeting in the Lufkin Room in the Lufkin Mall. 7:00 PM sharp

*********

April 15^th. Open House at the Angelina County Chamber of Commerce Building.

9:00 AM until 9:00 PM.

*********

May 2^nd. PWFF Meeting in the Lufkin Room in the Lufkin Mall. 7:00 PM sharp

*********

May 13^th. Heugel Haus Outing on Lake Toledo Bend

*********

May 19^th thru 21^st Texas Fly Fishing Show in San Marcos, Texas

*********

June 3^rd. Tag Team Tournament at Kurth Lake.

*********

June 6^th. PWFF Meeting in the Lufkin Room in the Lufkin Mall. 7:00 PM sharp.

*********

July 8^th. Meeting and Outing at Houston County Lake

*********

August 1^st. PWFF Meeting in the Lufkin

Room in the Lufkin Mall. 7:00 PM sharp.

*********

August 4^th thru 6^th Garage Sale in the Expo Center

*********

September 5^th PWFF Meeting in the Lufkin Room in the Lufkin Mall. 7:00 PM sharp.

*********

September 16^th Zoo Breakfast 8:00 AM till ?

*********

October 3^rd PWFF Meeting in the Lufkin Room in the Lufkin Mall 7:00 PM sharp

*********

October 5^th thru 7^th Fly Fishing Conclave, Mt. Home, Ark.

*********

November 3^th thru 5^th North Toledo Bend Rendevous, North Toledo Bend State Park

*********

November 7^th PWFF Meeting in the Lufkin Room in the Lufkin Mall. 7:00 PM sharp

*********

December 2^nd Christmas Meeting

*********

More Club Calendar to follow as dates confirmed

(Check your calender, There have been several dates that have been changed)

*************************

Outings: Jimmy Lee

Library: Jay Renken

Conservation: Gene Sullivan

Programs: Linda McLendon

Editor: Royce Feaster

*************************

Art work used by permission of Dave and Emily Whitlock

WET A LINE.... SOON!