President Kenneth Baker

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

Sec./Tres. Bill Heugel

Founded 1988 August 2001




SCATTERSHOTS

From The Prez



Our July meeting began with a presentation by Bryan MeLancon and Jm Housley who represented the Angelina & Neches River Authority. They talked about water testing and water quality. They gave a good talk on Monitoring creeks - rivers - lakes and other watersheds. They covered some of the pitfalls in controlling pollution in these water sources as well as the dangers of water pollution. It was enough to make us think.

In the monthly drawing, Hugh Bell won the flies and Jimmy Lee won the door prize. I urge you to bring a fly next meeting as it is fun to get a fly tied by a club member.

The garage sale at the Expo Center is August 11 - 12. Read the accompanying article.

The Staff house was not available for our September 8th club breakfast. We had planned to have a tying class afterward, and the members felt we could do this at the Zoo pavilion. So I have reserved Pavilion #2 at Ellen Trout Park from 7:00 AM until 3:00 PM. After breakfast we will tie and then maybe try our flies in the lake. More will be discussed later, but I urge yo to put this on your calendar.

Officers for the coming year are to be nominated at the August meeting. If any office is contested, a secret ballot will be held at the September meeting. Officers will begin serving in October.

The Southern Council Conclave is on October 5th & 6th in Mountain Home, Ark. I know of about 5 of us and some of our wives who are planning to attend.

Fishing has not been real good. Some have gone and had bad results and some have had pretty fair results. It seems as if the morning is the best time due to the heat. I hope yo have been able to go. We expect some reports at the next meeting.

Jack Holder and Jay Renken and I went to Lake Nacogdoches after the last meeting and had mixed results. We caught a lot of small bream and finally got into some pretty large ones. I think we caught about 2 or 3 small bass. But we had fun.

Hope to see you at the August meeting and as always, "A Bad Day Fishing Is Better Than A Good Day Working" .... even if it is Hot.

PWFF Member Garage Sale

Ken Baker

Our Club Garage Sale will be held at the Angelina County Expo Center August the 11th & 12th . We will have the same spaces- 75 & 76 that we have had in the past. We can bring our items on Friday, August 10th. We need all club members to participate, either by working during the sale or by donating items, Or Both! As there is a Women Fly Fisher meeting at Houston County Lake on those dates, and three or four of our members will be taking part in that, we need everyone else to help in the sale.

Be sure to get your items together, and if you can't be there or get your items to the sale, call Me or Royce Feaster or Walter McLendon and we will try to get them for you. We also once again need fishing items.

San Juan Fishing

by Steve Watson



June 30 2001, 8:00 a.m.

Lake Navajo Dam N.M.

I have just arrived at the parking lot below the dam to fish the world famous San Juan river. After stopping at a local fly shop and getting all the free info I could pump out of the locals and purchasing exactly what they recommended, I am geared up and ready to go. I have a huge chunk of red yarn indicator about 6 feet up. I did trim about 1/3 off. Then I have a split shot around 4 feet followed by a San Juan worm. Orange. Then there is the (meat) of my rig, a 22 or 24 emerger in chocolate or gray. About a grain of rice. I have put thread heads on my bass bugs that are bigger than this fly.

Saturday is busy here so I sort of follow some people towards the brush and on towards the river. We wade thru a swamp and come out by the cable spot. The bottom is a rock strewn and covered with green / white algae. Everyone seems to have the same setup so I cast upstream and watch my yarn ball drift down and past. After about three casts you have to get the algae off your fly. You can hand clean, pull it quickly or beat the crap out of the water with it. All seem to be in use and as I look down and watch these 20" fish feeding from side to side I can't bring myself to use the slap and whip method. I miss quite a few with my heavy handed set the hook in a bass jaw technique. The morning wears on and I have caught 0-zero fish.

I have just spent the last 6 days in Colorado. Me and a bowhunting bud had spent a day climbing Uncompahgre Peak 14,309 feet. Nice view of the San Juan mountains from up there. He flew home and I spent 5 days alone backpacking and flyfishing for little brook trout in the big blue wilderness. A 12" skinny fish was a trophy. I do practice catch and release, but one evening I had a choice of another freeze dried dinner or 3 fat 10" brook trout, fresh out of a snow fed, rocky mountain stream. Six miles in from the trail head and 30 miles from any civilization. Guess? A few days later found me taking up residency at Navajo Lake state park. About a 5 minute drive to the fishing.

So here I am in 40 degree water, flailing away with my death rod, and I strike up a conversation with a local guy from Farmington. Not his first day on the pond. Turns out to be a good guy and he gives me a few more pointers. Finally I do things right or it's a stupid fish (still under debate) and I hook up with a rainbow that rips drag down stream then cross stream then upstream. I probably fight him too long, but I have to personally free this fish. I finally walk / reel him to some shallows and net him. It's a football fish. Very stocky and solid. I get a rough measurement of his length on my net and then he's gone. 18". I caught an 18" trout. My first. Over the next couple days I manage to land some more rainbows in various sizes. One more close to 18" on a black number 12 stimulator dry fly one very windy evening. Sure, I would rather be fishing on Jared Satterwhite's pond where it's 98 degrees with

92% humidity, but somehow I managed to enjoy myself, having lunch, sitting there on the banks of the San Juan river.

Montana Fishing Trip

Larry Copenhaver



Hey Royce...

Your timing was perfect... I was getting prepared to head for the mountains to do some high country fishing when your call for articles showed on my e-mail!!!! I was heading into the Scapegoat Wilderness about an hour and a

half north of where I live in Helena, MT, just about the perfect distance for a day's hiking and fishing. I had a date for the Montana Power Company's Symphony extravaganza that night, so I had just enough time to get to my destination, fish for a few hours and drive back..... The North Fork of the Blackfoot River was my destination, a rushing, fast pocket water branch of that famous river from "A River Runs Through It"... I had lived here in MT for almost 20 yrs. and hadn't fished but the lower end of this river and was about to correct this oversight... There is about 15-20 miles of river beyond where the road ends just above what was known as the Copenhaver Ranch..[no kidding!!.. but no relation].. When I parked at the trail head, I observed what was a series of runs and pools, water way too fast to wade anywhere... you don't cross this stream!!!... I hiked in about 45minutes then descended the canyon slope to the water... A strong spring poured from the bank into the river so fresh, tasty water wasn't lacking... The fish weren't abundant but were co-operative enough... In about 3 hrs. I must have hooked and landed 30+ West-slope Cutthroats that averaged about 12" but ran to 16-17".. fresh, lively, well-fed trout.. As I watched, a foot-long cutthroat chased a sculpin into the shallow water at my feet, intent on having seafood for lunch, then disappeared behind a rock and back into the fast water rushing by me...!!!.. Watching those big Cutts rise out of the depths to take my Lime Trude, was a sight to behold... I like fishing Trudes on these fast waters because they are buoyant enough to ride high in the fastest of currents, then when popped intentionally or by the current, you can swim them through the water back to you as a streamer, thanks to the down-wing design of this pattern... These fish sure made short work of them, that's for sure!!! Landing fish in those swift currents posed a challenge... The new-fangeled graphite rods, of which I'm fishing one.. are notorious for snapping in half if abused... These fish spent most of the fight out of the water... Such a glorious day!!!

This area was burned in a fierce wildfire in 1988, the Canyon Creek Fire... & due to the fire, the river habitat actually improved for trout, strange as that sounds... Many of these waters are so clean and fast and cold that little food is available to the fish... With the condition of the burned forest, nutrients are released to the soil, then washed into the river bed, enriching the water & providing more insect food... Evidence of this was there in the fat condition of every trout I caught... The pools were every bit of 10 to 15 ft deep, but despite this, the water didn't slow down... I waded the very edge and even this was treacherous... The week before, a buddy and I fished Crow Creek in the Elkhorn Mountains south of town and he blew out his knee and won't be able to fish for the rest of the summer, so I was painfully aware of every hazard.. I managed to dodge that bullet this day!! The old description of trout waters being an adventure akin to walking on greased bowling balls wasn't far from the truth here... Whoa!!

Our weather had been quite rainy for the month of July...a Godsend to be sure...Last year the state was literally shut down to recreation by the Governor due to the drought conditions, that shouldn't happen this summer... Anyway, I only saw a handful of light cumulus clouds the whole time...I hiked out of the river valley on the path that is the gateway to the Scapegoat and Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex.. marveling at the abundance of greenery, the aftermath of that fire 13yrs. previous... the burned snags as far as the eye could see... As I drove out the canyon passing a herd of mules and horses being moved on the road by a ranch vehicle and departed the canyon country, there were thunderstorms all around and for 50 miles distant!!!! When I got to Helena and walked with my sweetie to the concert, it rained off and on the rest of the night... It was quite a sight seeing all the umbellars as 15,000 people sat in the rain listening to Aaron Copeland's "Grand Canyon Suite" and "Rodeo"... pictures of Dan Bailey, Bud Lilly and George Anderson were shown on the PBS monitor,as this concert was broadcast nationwide on Public Television, perhaps some of you saw it???

Anyway, that's fishing here...Last couple of trips I likely landed and released 30-40 fish, some 16" browns, many rainbows, many brookies...All within an hours drive, more or less, and the mountains look like gigantic flower gardens this time of year... I've been picking and eating wild asparagus and morel mushrooms early this summer and the huckleberries and chokecherries are soon to come... Needless to say, there's plenty to keep a man from being bored!!!

I've been lax on my fishing reports from Montana, but you all have been on my mind every time I go into the hills...Everyone is welcome to come visit anytime.. just write me at this e-mail address [email protected] and we'll go fishing...!!!

Larry Copenhaver



Atlantic Salmon Fishing or

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

Bill Heugel



I fished for 4 days for this most amazing fish. The fish is referred to as the fish of 1000 casts. I managed to get my first after 1000 and my second after about another 500. The Miramichi river in New Brunswick Canada is know as one of the best Atlantic Salmon fisheries in the world. I happened on it by chance.

The fish are quite different from the ones on the west coast. Like the west coast cousins they do not eat when they enter the fresh water and they return to the river where they grew up. However unlike their west coast cousins they do not die after the spawn. They return to the ocean and then come back the next year for another spawn. The fish I caught were returning for the first time and were about 7 years old. They were called Grilse. When they get larger they are called Salmon. When hatched they remain in the river for about 2 years and are called Parr.

The Miramichi is a pristine river no dams or major industries on it. It is also a fly fishing only river. The first fish I caught was from Ted Williams's ( a big hitter in my day from the Boston Red Sox) favorite pool. Big Ted had a place on the river for some time. Joan Wulff had also fished from the lodge I stayed at. I got some instructions from my guide on how she would cast. It helped me reach about 6 feet further.

As many of you know I am not big on distance casting. However this is one of the few places in freshwater where it is critical. I saw many two handed rods and guys getting out over 150 ft. I also saw a lot (most ) of the folks that could not reach over 30 ft and even at that they beat the water. I think all our club members cast and fish better than most of those I saw. Keep up the good work guys and gals. Even those that could not get out a long distance had the chance of catching fish. The greater distance just increased your chances.

The largest fish caught while I was there was 22 lbs. My fish ran 4 lbs and 5 lbs. The most fish caught from the lodge I fished from was three.

As an example of the differences in fishing, if one catches and keeps a fish that's the end of the fishing for that day. Also if one catches and releases 4 fish that's also the end of fishing for that day. The season limit is 4 fish.

The characteristics of the fish that make it so exciting to catch is its incredible aerial antics (jumps) and the long runs it makes. This was the fist time I had ever seen my backing since I put it on. Both fish I caught made spectacular jumps.

Two important things I learned on the trip was to keep my line clean and lubricated and to hold my retrieved line in my hand instead of letting it swirl in the water (per Joan Wulff). Both of these tactics helped me cast further and cover more of the area where the fish were lying.

It was an exciting and fun trip and Conni decimated the lobster population.



Fishing With Jay

J. Satterwhite

I wrote a light-hearted article a few months ago titled "Fishin' with Ken." It was about a trip I thoroughly enjoyed, at least in part because Ken and I did fish the same lake when we fished together. When Jay and I set up an afternoon outing we showed up at different lakes to fish together. A little hard on male bonding. Jay showed up at Nacogdoches and me at Kurth. I'll have to take all the blame mainly because Jay blamed me. We had discussed fishing at both locations and each left our planning conversation with a different location in mind.

I did get an offer from two old crusty guys that showed up at Kurth (while I was waiting for Jay) to go with them. "Wanta go with us?" one guy offered. "We're gonna just ride around and drink beer." It's after work, 100 degrees F and sounds pretty tempting. But finally getting ahold of Jay's better half, Geraldine, I find out Jay's at Nacogdoches. "Better head to Nac, thanks for the offer."

Nearly two hours after our original start time I pulled up at Lake Nacogdoches, and sure enough there was Jay's truck -- but no Jay in sight. I walked down to the water but you can't see all that far from the launch. So it happened three guys were off loading their boat and I asked them if they see this guy fly fishing in a tracker to tell him I'm at the launch. "Go get your gear and we'll go find him." The four of us headed out and in about five minutes we see this guy hot and sweaty fly fishing in the distance. Jay really had a surprised look on his face as we idled to swap me over. Were these guys nice or what?

Jay said "Put your rod together and let's go fishing-- you can run the trolling motor." I'd already learned that deal from Ken and opted for the back of the boat. A short time later I see Jay down on all fours examining the foot control for the trolling motor. "What's wrong?" "The @*$(#?> plastic thing broke. I think I was being set up. Anyway, the lake was absolutely gorgeous and we even caught a few brim. Jay and I got in a couple of fun fishing hours, first going to my favorite spots, then his. Lots of small brim and we did manage to land a few nice ones.

Any real point to this article? No; but while I'm occupying space in the newsletter I will take this opportunity to be grateful to guys like Jay for taking the time and making the effort to help less experienced fly fishermen out. On occasion we discuss member retention in club meetings. And in at least this member's opinion, coaching and fishing with newcomers goes a long way toward reaching club goals. I for one will re-evaluate my commitment to new members. Thanks, Jay, for everything.



Redfish Rodeo

Rules - Information & Such



1. The tradition of the Seventeenth Redfish Rodeo Fly Fishing Tournament continues, fees, minus expenses, will be donated to the CCA for use in their conservation efforts.



2. Entry Fee is $45 per person by mail in form, or $55 at the Friday night registration, September 21 from 7pm to 9pm at the Port O'Conner Community Center. (Located at Hwy. 185 South, Fulton, TX.) By the way, CASH BAR on these premises.



3. This tournament is open to any and all fly fishers. Each paid entrant will receive a new commemorative hat. All fish must be caught on fly fishing equipment in order to be counted. All participants must catch, land, measure, and release their own fish. Their team partner must witness all fish landed. Both team members must sign the entry card.

4. Prizes will be awarded in each category for first and second place. Categories are speckled trout, Redfish and slam. A slam will consist of any three different species from the following speckled trout, Redfish, flounder, black drum. Winners are determined by length of fish. Lengths are to be measured to the nearest � inch rounded down, i.e. a fish measuring 22 3/8 inches will be recorded as 22 � inches. Over size reds are legal to count. All Texas fishing regulations will apply to the Red fish Rodeo. If a tie happens a coin flip will determine the winning team.



5. Fishing may begin at first light and will end at 4:00 PM on Saturday, September 22, 2001. Weigh in is between 5PM & 6PM that same afternoon at the Paws & Taws Convention Center. Dinner will be served from 7PM to 8PM.



6. The Redfish Rodeo sponsors and organizers are the various fly fishing clubs, fly shops, and fly fishing guides, vendors and marinas. For more information call Jerry Loring at 713 464 8687 or Joe DeForke at 713 923 6104.

Mail to Redfish Rodeo 12607 Brandon Bend, Missouri City, TX. 77489

Flyfisher #1________________________________________________________

Flyfisher #2________________________________________________________

Phone ____________________ Entry Fee Enclosed ________Yes_____ No____



Make checks payable to: Redfish Rodeo Texas Flyfishers

Arkansas Trout Trip

W McLendon



Jim Marsh (an old friend of Ross Wilhite), Clayton Myers (twice Purple Hart recipient) and I just returned from Arkansas. We first stopped by Murfreesboro for a day or two. Everything looked good at the Narrows so we rigged up to fish. I got in the water first and immediately caught a tiny bluegill of all things but no trout were rising. Within 10 minutes the alarm sounded and I could see the water building below the dam. Jim and Clayton waded out to cast a few times before the water reached us and within another 10 minutes it drove us out. We then drove up to Albert Pike but they did not have any trout so we headed for Mountain Home. We first fished Cotter the next morning, then Bull Shoals park. We fished the ole weighted Olive Woolly Bugger without any luck. Finally a white soft hackle called the Smidge did the trick.

The trout were very tricky, our techniques had to be modified every time we started fishing. The fog covered the river like a blanket early and late. They started generating on the White River each day about 12:30 and we would drive back down to Cotter for an additional 5 hours of fishing. We endured two storms at Cotter. We tried the Norfork each evening but it was always generating. Overall, we did Ok, Jim and Clayton did very well for their first time there. I know Jim caught about 15 straight the last morning in a short time. I'm sure they enjoyed it for they are already planning to try Beavers Bend. We found a nice motel near Bull Shoals and a very nice Italian Restaurant just across the street and down a couple of buildings. You would not believe the amount of food you can get for $4.50 to $6.95. Clayton said it would be worth a trip from Caldwell with his wife just to get to eat there again. It was outstanding! The chef visited us everyday but we could only understand about � of what he was telling us.

Program for August

Merlinda Schory with National Forest Service coming to give the program on what they are doing for our water resources.



Fly of the Month

Dahlberg Flashdancer

by B. Heugel



Attach the thread just behind the hookeye and make a thread base to the hook bend. Attach the marabou tail about the length of the hookshank. I use a 2X hook but any streamer hook will do.

Next attach some chenille at the back of the hook in front of the marabou.



Wind the chenille forward stopping about � inch behind the hookeye. Tie the marabou to the hook and cut off the excess. Looks like a wooly bugger at this point. The objective is to leave enough room for the deer hair head.



Attach a bunch of flashabou at the chenille tie off point. Fifteen or twenty strands is about right. The flashabou should extend past the tail.



Prepare some deer hair by cleaning it and stacking it so the tips are even. This is for the collar. Then spin or stack the hair in front of the flashabou. This deer hair can be short on the these smaller flies. Make two half hitches to secure the deer hair and pack it.



Spin more hair out to just behind the hook eye.



Trim the bottom flat and make a soft curving head for the top. Make sure not to cut off the skirt.



This is one of my favorite flies. It is effective for bass and for bluegills. My favorite color combination for this fly is white marabou, white chenille, white deer hair and silver flashabou. It's a great shad imitation. I usually fish this one slow or with very short strips. The flashabou moves in the water and even still the fly seems to have motion.



Hook 2x or 3x 6 to 10

Wing Gold Flashabou

Tail Red Marabou

Head Natural deer hair

Body White Chenille

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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

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

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August 11-12th Expo Garage Sale

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

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September 8th PWFF Zoo Breakfast 7:00 am to 3:00 pm. Fly tying class from breakfast to 3:00

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September 19th - 23rd Texas Forest Festival at the Expo Center

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October 2nd PWFF Meeting in the Lufkin Room

in the Lufkin Mall. 7:00 PM sharp

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October 5-6 Southern Council Conclave in Mt. Home , Arkansas

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November 3rd - 4th Rendezvous... This year it is being held at Lake Bistineau State Park in La.

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

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December 8th ???? Christmas Meeting

Chamber of Commerce Building 6:00 PM.

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More Club Calendar to follow as dates confirmed

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

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Outings: Jimmy Lee

Library: Jay Renken

Conservation: Gene Sullivan

Programs: Linda McLendon

Membership: Walter McLendon

Editor: Royce Feaster

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