President Kenneth Baker

V-President Royce Feaster Chapter of the Southern Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers

Sec./Tres. Bill Heugel

Founded 1988 July 2000


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ALERT!

THE JULY MEETING IS

SCHEDULED FOR JULY 8TH

AT THE FAMILY MARINA ON

HOUSTON COUNTY LAKE.

This is an "Outing/Meeting"

We will fish the morning and afternoon as long as any member wants. The business meeting will take place during lunch time. Bring your own eats. Come on out and bring the family! We will make sure everyone gets to fish that wants to do so. Bring any kind of fishing equipment (legal) the family wants to use.

SEE YOU THERE !!!

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SCATTERSHOTS

From The Prez

I will not say a lot about the Tag Team Tournament at Kurth Lake as our Outings Chairman, Jimmy Lee, is writing about it. I will say we had a lot of fun and, I think, more members attending than ever before.

The Garage Sale is set for August 12th & 13th at the Expo Center. Check your calender. The date has changed from last year. Read Walter McLendon's article further on in the newsletter concerning the Garage Sale.... He is in charge this year. If you have questions, call him or me for the answers.

I hope you have had the chance t do some fishing. Jay Renken and I went to Houston County Lake Friday, June 9th, and we managed to get several fish. We had to battle the wind and finally got rained off the lake. But it was a good trip.

At the last meeting we had a drawing for a fishing trip given by Jay Renken that was won by Randy McBride. We will expect a report at the meeting, or an article in the newsletter. I gave one away which was won by Jared Satterwhite. Jared and I went to Kurth Lake Tuesday afternoon, June 13th. We were joined for a while by Ronny Julian. We all caught some of the most colorful bream caught anywhere. If you are not taking advantage of this lake right now, you are missing some good fishing. We had a good time and I look forward to giving trips on the future. Incidentally, most of the fish we caught on the last two trips were on small nymphs. I only got three or four on a popper at Houston County Lake, and only about 10 at Kurth Lake on a Round Dinny. The rest were caught on a lime green nymph for me and a brown nymph for Jared.

Once, as I made my cast, an unusual thing happened. Just as the fly hit the water, the tippet lifted into the air. I first thought the wind had caught it, when I noticed a dragon fly flying off. I think when my fly landed on the water, the tippet laid across the body of the dragon fly. When it got about 3 feet in the air, the tippet dropped off and the fly settled back to the water and the dragon fly flew off.

Our program at the June meeting was changed at the last minute due to the illness of Jack Holder. In his place Bill Heugel spoke on a new hook that he is using. He gave some pros and cons of it. Then we watched a portion of the Lee Wulff film, "Fishing The Beaverkill". Editor: Read the letter to the members from Jeff Dutton further in the newsletter.

Bill Heugel won the flies and Coy Hood won the Door Prize. Randy McBride won the fishing trip given by Jay Renken and Jared Satterwhite won the fishing trip given by me. We had some good fishing reports including a report by Coy Hood on a recent Bonefishing trip.

It was good to have Bill Heugel back with us. He is progressing well from his illness, although he still has some improving to do.

At the August Meeting we will nominate officers for the coming year. If an office is contested, the election will be held at the September meeting with the new officers taking over in October. Be sure to be there.

As noted at the first of this issue of the newsletter, our July meeting will not be July 4th but will be held at our July 8th Houston County Lake Outing. Bring your lunch and eat while we have our informal meeting. I hope you can all be there as I know we will have fun.

Also, be sure to mark Saturday, September 16th at 8:00 A M on your calender. That is the date we will have our club breakfast. It is to be at Ellen Trout Lake at pavilion #1. More on this in the next newsletter.

See you at Houston County Lake where we will all see that "A Bad Day Fishing Is Better Than A Good Day Working"!!!



FLYLINES

From The V-Prez

It seems that each month regarding the articles for the newsletter it is either feast or famine. So, considering the space limitation this issue, I will just say, "Get to the Meetings and Get your name in the pot for the fishing trips. The more people that get to go with different members, the better we all get to know each other. We probably need to figure out a way to get the long distance members involved in these fishing trip giveaways. Give this some thought and let's talk about it.



Kurth Lake Tag Team Outing

by Jimmy Lee

This years outing was a very successful event. We had 15 flyfishers try their hand at removing the roving trophy from the hands of our Vice President, who it seems has almost owned the award since Past President Ronnie Julian started presenting the award. This year the two man team of Randy McBride and Mark Picou were the winners of the PWFF Tag Team Paddle. They will share ownership of the award for the next year. Our Club President Ken Baker also presented Mark and Randy with nice individual trophies for their efforts in catching the most fish.

Teams and Catch Totals:

Randy McBride and Mark Picou 17

Ken Baker and Royce Feaster 15

Jay Renken and Paul Steinbach 8

Bill Heugel and Hugh Bell 11

George Reed and Gabe Reed 14

Jared Satterwhite and Steve Watson 10

Walter McLendon, Linda McLendon, and Jimmy Lee 20

As is normal everyone met at the Kurth Lake Boat ramp at 7 AM. President Baker took on the task of assigning teams and setting down the rules and the fishing times. All fishing was to stop at 11:00 am and everyone return to the boat ramp for tallying the results of our day. Everyone assumed this years totals would be like years before, where it took sixty or seventy fish to win. "Man" were we wrong, the fish have left Kurth Lake it seems. Walter, Linda, I thought we would do very good. We knew several places that are usually very good, but we soon learned this was not to be the case. We started out getting a few hits, but no fish were landed. Then we stopped getting hits at all. Finally we found fish in deeper water and managed to land 20 fish. We thought we would probably be the last place team for this outing, but it seems everyone was having the same problem. Maybe the fish went on strike knowing Royce was on the lake again. So Congratulations Mark and Randy on finding the most fish on a very hard fishing day. I believe the BIG fish award goes to Hugh Bell for landing a 12- 14 inch gar, I think it was. Whatever, it was not one of our favorite foods.

Don't forget our next outing July 8 at Houston County Lake, this will be our monthly club meeting . I have two fishing craft that I will bring to the outing for anyone to try out. One is a belly boat and the other a pontoon boat. Both of these boats belong to club members who want to sell them. They have a minimum price and anything above the minimum will be given to the club. If no one in the club wants the boats they will be sold in the garage sale.



Letter to the members

from Jeff Dutton

Thought I would drop you a note and let you know all is well here. The kids and Janine are doing well. Robert (the twin born with the complications) had surgery about three months ago and the upper part of

his stomach was wrapped around his esophagus to control reflux. He has a feeding tube and is relearning to eat orally. Otherwise he is doing great. My three-year old, David, loves to bait fish for bluegill and crappie. I'll break him of that nasty habit once he grows up a little.

I did manage to fish the Beaverkill and Willowemoc a few weeks ago. The water was high, but I managed to land a few very large fish. I landed a 17" brown that was about 4 lbs on a Hare's Ear nymph in Barnhart's Pool on the Main Stream of the Beaverkill, and managed to land a 20" rainbow on an olive woolly bugger at Beaverkill Falls. Other than a few stockies, the high water and rain kept us off the river. We were lucky to be able to fish with a friend on the upper Beaverkill who is a member of Beaverkill Stream Club with an exclusive stretch just above Lew Beach and the Wulff Fishing School.

The good news is that the Beaverkill - Willowemoc system is full of big fish, and the restoration efforts by the Beamoc Chapter of Trout Unlimited and the New York State DEP are paying off. Even with the heavy rains, the river still managed to run clear, and the restored feeder brooks remained clear in near flood conditions. There is lots of fishable public water that is designated "no-kill" and certainly worth the trip!

I hope to fish the East Outlet of the Kennebec in Maine this fall, and chase some Steelhead around the lake Erie Tribs. this winter. If anyone is near Columbus or Cincinnati Ohio, please look me up and we can try a few local streams that are supposed to be good. It will give me the excuse I need to try them.

Hope all is well.



Garage Sale

by W McLendon

Our garage sale is now firmly scheduled for Saturday & Sunday, August 12 & 13 in the Angelina County Exposition Center - 1200 Ellen Trout Drive. We have the same location as last year which will be numbered P75. Ken Baker has so kindly put me in charge.

We have the garage sale each year to ensure enough money in our club to fund the things we all enjoy. Our annual dues pay for the newsletter, new members packages and our meeting room. We do not use garage sale money for a select few or to pay for our fishing outings. It is spent on special activities like our breakfasts, hamburger cookouts, meeting door prizes, Open House and the Christmas party where all members are invited to take part.

In order to have a successful garage sale, we ask all members to dig into their storage rooms, attics and closets to find items no longer needed. Anything you might ordinarily give to Goodwill or The Salvation Army. You would be surprised to see some of the worn out, rusty, shabby items we have sold in the past. More surprising, are the very fine items donated like a lawn mower, baby car seats, a Caddis float tube, fly reels, radios, TV, to name a few and some very nice clothing.

In all, we have a good selection of items to offer the multitudes who frequent this annual event.

We ask that you collect up and price your items with a sticker or price tag. Please make sure the stickers will adhere to some silky fabrics. If you have an expensive item to sell that you feel is too expensive totally give away, we will split the proceeds with you if you will indicate it as so and give the lowest price you will take. We sold the color TV a few years ago, that way. We will tell you later where and when to deliver your items or arrange to pick them up if you are going to be out of town that weekend.

We most of all need your help at the garage sale. We select two individuals to collect the money during the day and everyone one else makes an effort to sell or push our wares upon the hungry buyers. The idea is to get the best price possible. As time passes and we see that our inventory is not dwindling fast enough, we consider some items for price reduction. During the second day, we mark down several items and by the end of the day, we are very flexible on our prices. We always

have unsaleable items that we can return if you specify such or we load up and haul off to Goodwill or The Salvation Army.

Ken Baker asks that everyone try to donate some fishing items (old lures, casting rods and reels, Etc.) for a special table. Of course, some compatible items like camping gear could work here also.

We actually have a lot of fun working the garage sale each year. We bring our lawn chairs, a lot of water and snacks to help us through the day. Be sure and bring a lunch. I will be asking for volunteers to man the booth each day so that everyone does not have to be there for two whole days. If you can come for just 3 or 4 hours, it will help. We need about 4 people there all the time and can handle twice that many. Please e-mail me if you would like to help. Start collecting up the items you see from time to time around the house that we could sell. That way when the time comes, you can spend a few minutes pricing them and getting ready.

Thank you all. If you have any suggestions or questions just e-mail.



Fishing With Ken

by J. Satterwhite

Three names - two winners - those are my kind of odds. I won a fishing trip with Ken at the June meeting. After the meeting I told Ken I'd give him a call and the conversation went something like this:

JS: Where you want to go?

KB: Oh, I don't care, where do you want to go?

JS: How about back to Kurth?

KB: OK

JS: When you want to go?

KB: Anytime

JS: How about Tuesday?

KB: OK

JS: What time?

KB: Any time

JS: How about 3:30 p.m.?

KB: OK

Easy, Easy - I should have asked for a float trip down the Snake River or something.

Talking to Ronny, I told him I was going to fish with Ken (I was looking for a little inside info). "Never fished with him."

I figured Ronny wanted me to learn about fishing with Ken the same way I learned about the coons at Beavers Bend - CLEANED OUT - I hope those two cans of biscuits swelled up and that coon exploded. Well, anyway, Ken and I were set.

After sneaking out of work early and arriving at the lake, I found Ken and Ronny at the ramp ready to go. Ronny was going to fish in his pirogue. Ken said his big motor is in the back and trolling motor is in front - which one did I want? Before I could really think about it, Ken said he would take the big motor. The wind was blowing probably 20 mph, so we stayed pretty much in the coves by the ramp. That equals five minutes of big motor time and four hours trolling motor time. Not used to the foot petal I'd think right and we'd go left. Not a complaint one out of Ken. The three of us got chased off the lake by rain and we stood under that tiny roof structure by the ramp and ate fish, chicken & goobers. The rain quit and back we went and fished till really dark.

Ken and I had a great time, caught enough fish to keep it interesting, and best of all - got better acquainted. (I know a lot more about the Post Office.) The bream were taking poppers, nymphs, and about anything else we'd throw. Of course I don't think we caught a fish where I'd told everyone Steve Watson and I caught a slew of fish.

The club has been good to me - fishing with the Prez using the 4 wt. Ronny built for me, and applying all the stuff I've learned, including my 1st casting lesson from Jay, tying hair bugs with Bill, and oh yeah - I paid Feaster three bucks for my vise.

Bottom line, my name goes back in the hat next month - what a deal.



Fishing Trip Winners

By J. Renken

In the month of June, I took two of our club fishing trip winners to Lake Nacogdoches.

(1.) Ronnie Julian - May drawing winner

Due to many delays, Ronnie and I finally made it on Monday, June 19th. We found several active fish beds and caught some good fish. The lake is getting quite a bid of coon-tail moss now, but we did find

several areas that had a clear space close to the shore. The water was very clear. Two or three cast to the fish would scatter them.

(2.) Randy McBride - June drawing winner

Randy McBride was my guest on Wednesday, June 21 to Lake Nacogdoches. Although Randy had to work on Wednesday morning, we left the house about noon. On the way to Nacogdoches Randy and I talked about boats. We decided to stop at Nacogdoches Marine (think that's the name) on Highway #59 South. Randy and I saw a couple of Dura Craft boats that impressed us. I may have to buy my first "lotto ticket" and be a winner so I could buy both of us one. Then we drove on to Lake Nacogdoches and found the water conditions about the same as they were when Ronnie and I went, but Randy and I caught less fish. However, it was very hot and we stopped in the shade of trees - as many times as we could. A lot of boats were headed to the lake as we left - but at that time it was cooler. There will be another drawing at the July meeting, so get your name in the bucket. Perhaps, Ken, Royce or I will be drawing your name. We welcome other trip providers. It could be that you can take someone on

the weekend or, if you have some off days from work. Walter has told me several times that different individuals from other clubs like the "fish trip drawing" and they are making plans to do likewise.









Fishing Trip????

Hugh Bell

Hi group. I went fishing in Baffin Bay last June and want to go back to fish the worm rocks and shore line. I posted a note on Message board of Texas Saltwater with the reply below. I spoke with lady as SeaWind RV park next to the one he mentions (or it may be one in the same) and she has plenty of camping openings, etc. I am interested in the week of July 10 or July 17th - possibly going down Sun Afternoon - fish Mon - Wed or Thursday. If anyone is interested let me know.



Re: Boat Launch at Rivera Beach, Baffin Bay.

From: Wallhanger

Region: So.Tx

Category: Jus' Fish'n,

Comments: Kaufer-Hubert Park does have RV facilities and a small tent area. The park has a lighted pier and boat ramp. Great fishing is just a small boat trip away. Beware of "the rocks" of Baffin. I suggest going with someone else with experience until you learn the places to use caution. The Top Spot maps that you can buy from Academy are fairly accurate and worth the investment.



Bud Priddy Memorial

One Fly Contest

On the headwaters of the Nueces River

Sponsored by the South Texas member clubs of the Federation of FlyFishers

Registration from 7:00 to 9:00

Downtown at Linbergh Park

Camp Wood, Texas

Saturday, July 15, 2000

Entry Fee is $10.00

includes dinner and door prizes

Buffet Dinner at 6:00p.m.

CASA FALCONE



For entry information, please call

Buddy Robichaux, Bruce Nelson, or Kim Heaston at:

210-492-7125, 210-828-2734, or 512-451-2042

[email protected] [email protected]

[email protected]

Constance Whiston or Bill Emshoff

512-916-4393 or 830-257-4201

[email protected] or [email protected]

Accommodations Available

Nueces River Motel 830-234-3648

Woodbine Inn 830-597-2310

Hill Country Motel 830-597-3278

Ledge Water Camp 830-324-4178

and various hotels/motels in Kerrville & Uvalde



Federation of Fly Fishers

Southern Council Conclave 2000

October 6 & 7, 2000



Fair Grounds

Mountain Home, Arkansas

Keynote Speakers:

Chico Fernandez, A. K. Best, Ed Engle

Dave Whitlock

Plus:

Over 70 Fly Tyers

50 Commercial Booths

Auctions & Drawings

Fly Casting Clinics

Fly Tying Clinics

Youth Conclave

Over 40 Seminars

Both in Classroom and on the Water



Seminars and Workshops Include:

Casting Clinics with Chico Fernandez

Fly Tying Clinic's - with A. K. Best

Knot Tying Clinic with Chico Fernandez

Fly Fishing over the Course of Time by Dave Whitlock

Fly Fishing the Tailwaters with Ed Engle

Distance Casting with Bill Gammel

European Techniques on American Rivers - Davy Wooton

Fly Fishing Belize with Duane Hada

Fly Fishing the Texas Coast with Chuck Scates

Fishing the Little Red River by Tom Hawthorne

Baxter County teach casting with Art Mazzier & Bill Gammel

Nymphing Strategies with Tom Hawthorne on the White River

Visual Clues in Fishing with Brian Gambill

Introduction to Casting with Constance Whiston

pura vida en Costa Rica with Shawn Christina Taylor

Flyfishing Alaska on Your Budget, not Theirs with Gary Key

Sink Tip Symposium with Roger Maler held on the White River

The Art & Science of Casting with Art Mazzier

Dutch Oven Cooking with Phyllis Speer

Missouri Trout with Chuck Tryon

Warm Water Strategies & Tactics with Tom Nixon



The above are just a few of the many seminars and clinics available during this two day event. You'll have the time of your life. We think we have the best conclave in the Federation and invite you to come join us for the festivities. Check out our website for more information.

southerncouncilfff.org.

For program information contact Conclave Co-Chairs: Brooks Handly or Chuck Easterling at 1-501-666-8997 or 1-870-802-1758

Contact the Southern Council's Managing Director for more details pre-registration:

Pat Smith

2603 Buford Spur Road

Mountain Home, AR 72653

1 -877-664-4401 [email protected]



Texas Parks & Wildlife Expo

The Texas Parks & Wildlife EXPO is on Saturday, September 30, and Sunday, October 1, 2000. All of the Texas Federation of Fly Fishers Chapters, The Guadalupe River Chapter of Trout Unlimited and Paddlers & Anglers in Canoes & Kayaks are invited to EXPO this year. The goal this year is to provide equal representation to all fly fishers in Texas. This year's EXPO is not scheduled the same weekend as the Southern Council Federation Conclave, so everyone is free to attend both! Come join us for EXPO 2000, we'll provide tables, chairs and an opportunity to promote your club to over 50,000 people.

When I receive a commitment from each of your clubs, I'll design a schedule and email it back to you. The schedule will include your club name, names of members from your club working your table, the names of the fly tyers at your table, the casting instructors and speakers from you club. Please plan on bringing your club membership forms, flyers pertaining to conservation activities & educational outreach, your hats & t-shirts to sell, fly tying equipment, fly rods for casting instruction and smiling faces. I will do my best to help you set up, answer your questions and make you feel at home. This is a perfect opportunity to introduce your club to multitudes of future fly fishers at the largest outdoor show in the United States.

Constance Whiston

Texas Rivers Conservation Coordinator

Texas Parks & Wildlife

4200 Smith School Road

Austin, Texas 78744

512-389-8196



News From The Federation Of Fly Fishers

Contacts:

Greg Pitts - President FFF -- 541-689-4812

Bob Wiltshire - International Fly Fishing Center Director - 406-222-9369



FLY FISHERS ENCOURAGE ANGLERS TO HELP SAVE CUTTHROAT

The Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) today urged anglers to come to the aid of one of the nation's best fisheries for wild native cutthroat trout. "We need anglers who are willing to donate two or three days and help with field stream surveys in Southeastern Idaho," Greg Pitts, the FFF President, said. "The survey crews will be hiking up trails in mountainous terrain, and working in small, often brushy, streams -- a great opportunity for an outdoors experience."

FFF has awarded an $8,000 grant to the Forest Service to help support distribution and genetic surveys on the native trout found in tributaries of the South Fork of the Snake River, the Blackfoot River, and the Bear River, all in Southeastern Idaho. The South Fork is a world class fishery and is host to the world's largest population of Yellowstone cutthroat trout outside of Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone Cutthroats are under consideration for Endangered Species Act designation, and this program represents a first step in the conservation of this unique species of trout.

"Unless something is done, there's a very real possibility pure native Yellowstone cutthroat stocks could eventually vanish," said Pitts. "We urge all anglers to join us in helping stop the composition of the fishery from changing at such an alarming rate."

Cutthroats, known for their catchability and beautiful and distinctive orange throat slash, represented about 80 percent of the trout populations in the fishery as early as 15 years ago. That number has dropped to around 50 percent. Rainbow and rainbow/cutthroat hybrids have grown at a direct cost to native cutthroat. Cutthroat populations have declined across their historic range of distribution in Idaho, Wyoming and Montana.

Anglers willing to participate in the study this summer should contact Jim Capurso of the Forest Service at least two weeks prior to the time they are available. The surveys began in mid-June and will continue throughout the summer and fall. Capurso can be reached at phone: 208-624 3151 (office) or 208-524-1760 (home).



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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.

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Calender

Outings and Events

*********

July 8th. Meeting and Outing at Houston County Lake

*********

August 1st. PWFF Meeting in the Lufkin

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

*********

August 12th & 13th Garage Sale in the Expo Center

*********

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

*********

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

*********

September 30 & October 1st. Texas Parks & Wildlife Expo

*********

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

*********

October 5th thru 7th Fly Fishing Conclave,

Mt. Home, Ark.

*********

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

*********

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

*********

December 2nd 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

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Art work used by permission of Dave and Emily Whitlock



WET A LINE.... SOON!