Pineywoods Fly Fishers
Pineywoods Fly Fishers
Founded
1988
Chapter of the Southern Council of the
Federation of Fly Fishers
Web Site http://home.sprynet.com/~waltermc
President:
Jimmy Lee Secretary/Treasurer: Bill Heugel
September 2004
From
the President
Cool
weather, can you believe the nice weather we had in August?
The hottest month of year has been very nice, should have made for some
good fishing days. I must admit however that I have not fished a day in
the last month. This is not
by choice, but we can’t plan some things and August was one of those months.
September should see a return to a more normal fishing schedule. Bill
Heugel will be conducting a deer hair tying class this month and a meet and
learn fishing day will be offered later in the month.
I
would like to thank everyone who help, donated and/or assisted with the garage
sale. I believe this year’s sale was more productive than any we have had.
Thanks!!!! The money made from the garage sale will be used to assist in paying
for stocking and feeding trout at Tonkawa Springs.
The
annual Southern Council Conclave will be October 1 & 2 at Mountain Home
Arkansas. If you plan to attend please let me know, the council plans a sign-in
and message board for club members this year. This will be to assist clubs in
knowing who is present form their respective clubs and allow messages to be
passed along to those members. With the class schedules and other learning
opportunities it is very easy to miss seeing other club members who arrive at
various times.
Labor
day is here and Tuesday September 7, will be return to work day after the last
holiday day of the summer. What
better way to start the cool weather season than by attending The Pineywoods Fly
Fishers monthly meeting? See
you there.
Jimmy
From
the Editor
I
am pretty excited about this newsletter because for the first time, many club
members contributed stories and pictures. All the pictures will get posted on
our website http://home.sprynet.com/~waltermc/
in case they do not make it to you by email.
We
must vote on the Southern Council Awards nominees at our meeting, the submittal
deadline is September 10th. Our club has been nominated for Club of
the Year, along with three outstanding clubs. I will bring the form so we can
all vote and then I will email the results in.
Be
sure and visit the FFF website http://fedflyfishers.org/
to see the new format. It will soon be changing along with new FFF
organizational changes. There have been incentives added to joining the FFF for
the first time. You get a choice of a Pocket Guide with a one year membership
but with a three-year membership, you can purchase a new St. Croix fly rod for
half price and you save by getting a three-year over paying three individual
years.
Don
McMurry has graciously invited us all to come tie flies at his home Tuesday
evening, September 14th. He will grill burgers so come hungry! Please
email me if you can come so Don can plan for the cooking. The purpose of
this session is to donate 4 dozen flies to Conclave. Three dozen for the $5.00
raffle and a dozen to the Women’s Outreach program. They raised several
thousand dollars last year with these projects and that money is available to
our club in the form of grants for projects we might do. If we do not collect
all the flies we need, Don is willing to have another session a week or so
later. Come help us and have fun.
Our
trip plans to Conclave are looking good. Besides Bill Heugel and me, Jimmy and
Pam, Royce and Judy, Buddy Price, Don McMurry and James Vest are going. I assume
Jay and Geraldine are too, they always do. We will drop by Beavers Bend State
Park, Ok for trout, Tahlequah, OK to pickup on some smallmouth fishing with our
buddies there, fish the White and Norfork Rivers in Mountain Home, AR while at
Conclave, then Heber Springs to fish the Little Red for trout (possibly large
browns). We cannot fish Murfreesboro, AR this year on the Little Missouri for
they pulled a generator down and let the water temperature get too high and all
the trout are gone. Anyway this will be quite a nice trip! You guys who are
retired should join us for the time of your life. For a complete rundown of the
event, visit http://www.southerncouncilfff.org/conclave/scfff07.html
Iceland
Fishing
Ron
Scheepstra (a man of few words)
Just
got in last night from my vacation trip. Managed to spend some time with the
family as well. But have some REAL nice pictures I would like to share with
you. Kinda
figuring out how much it all cost me - I know that the week we spent fishing at
the river where I caught most of my trout was $1000 - not including getting
there and the rental car. But then again.... what price can you put on an
experience like this...Who know when I will get to do it again.
Editor’s
note: Ron
sent a load of pictures so I could not post them all here. Many, many very nice
fish!
Fishing
Up North
Steve
Watson
Did
spend two weeks fishing on the San Juan (July 6-10), and then Green river
(12-16). For the San Juan I stayed at Cottonwood campgrounds and fished
from about 8 am to dark with guide Don Oliver, out of Durango, for one day. Wade
fished with him and learned a lot of new stuff. Then fished by myself 3 more
days. Caught
quite a few fish on everything from size 22 ?nymphs to number 4 steamers. No
20” plus landed, but lots of 14" to 18".
Used standard midges and strike indicators some, but really had more fun
stalking fish along rock ledges. Find a fish holding in shallow water and then
put a black dry in front and let it drift to him. Did not catch the most or
biggest fish but had most fun. Had to break off fish on purpose once it got to
fast water, was using up flyline that I really needed to keep and put back on
reel. Left there and fished the Animas one morning. Went in behind Wal-Mart in
Durango, got some hits but did not land any.
Drove
to Green River in Utah and stayed at Mustang Campground. Got a drift boat guide
from Trout Creek Flys and we went from Dam down to Little Hole. First time in
drift boat and had a blast. Was in between the Cicadas and good hoppers, but
still used some big dries and would put midges under these later in day. Also
used white/gold streamer and olive bugger. Fished next three days by myself
walking up and down from Little Hole. Used same stalking system as San Juan,
only with Elk Hair Caddis. Streamers also were good. Put on vest and then a
small backpack over it with lunch, water and rain gear. Ended up fishing in
shorts and tennis shoes and left waders in camp. Used a 5 wt on both rivers, it
was good but I
would have liked to fish some with a 4 weight so when I got home I bought one, the Two
Seventy Bass Pro CV2 combo kit
for my next trip. Will be good as 3 wt puts a lot of time on for landing fish,
added stress for fish and a 7X tippet guides feel 4 wt as minimum. Good
justification?
Had good weather, good camps, and good fishing. Still learning and missing
some fish but had a really, really good time. Fishing in Green River is a little
better than fishing the Neches.
Editors
Note: Steve
submitted this article in two emails so I combined them and sent him a notice.
Here is his response. I just wanted you to see what editors have to put up with:
Feel free to plagerize or poetic justice me. Long as you can sleep in peace and live with yourself. Add the fish that i hand caught and dragged by the drift boat for days, until it was eaton down by rabid browns and all that was left to hold in my bloody hands was a wrecked skelton. I feel like an old man and the river???
Lake
Conroe
Marks
Feaster
I
don't know where Lake Timpson is but if you fish it and have some spare time
maybe you should be out there piling up brush and stuff and marking it. It
sure is easier when a lake is down. It's a sure fire way to make your own
hot spots. Ark game and fish commission has been using white pvc pipe to
make brush piles with. (they don't every rot and are cheap and look like an old
TV antenna from hell) Of course you have to love to catch and eat crappie
to go to the trouble.
We
just got off Conroe, have you ever tried baked photographer? It's hot,
water temp 90 degrees. If it swims it has moved deeeeeeeeeeeeeep. We
used live bait (meal worms, wax worms and earth worms tipping 1/16 glitter jigs)
dozen small bream and 3 cats. We put in at fm1375 it was deserted. I felt
like a fool roasting the top of my skull. We got so hot and tired we are
going to the damn Friday and look for them big Redears. I know I rarely comment
or participate but I read all of your emails with great interest and joy.
Spec
Report
Bruce
Sublett
I've only fished out of Anahuac once, and got blown
off the water. I do know that all those gas wells sit on shell pads, and
provide a little shade, so that's a start. I'm sending a picture of one of two
good trout I caught this Wednesday, fishing the third gut off the beach between
Retillion Road and the North Jetty. I caught ten or twelve throwbacks
(10-14 inches) and a 19 and a 20 inch, all on an orange/white lead eye Clouser
minnow. I was using this G. Loomis reel for the first time and can verify
that the drag works!
The
area from Retillion Road (turn toward the beach just across from the Port
Bolivar loop) to the boat cut in the North Jetty is the most reliable wading
area accessible w/o a boat in the Bolivar area. The jetty protects it from
southerly winds, so it's generally fishable except in extreme conditions.
Water depth at high tide is about neck deep in the cuts, but only about waist
deep on the ridges between them. I've had more success fishing
"outside in", crossing a gut and throwing back into it, usually
because that puts the wind at my back. The area across from the lighthouse
can also be good, although it's a little deep at full tide for fly-fishing.
Likewise the beach between the north jetty and Fort Travis--it's particularly
useful on a north or west wind.
New
Mexico Fishing
Howard
Hinton
Had
a good time this summer. Learned a lot about catching fish in fast water.
I fished with Doc Thompson on the Cimarron River, between Cimarron and Eagles
Nest, NM. He is a great guy and if you ever get a chance to fish with him
don't pass it up. We caught wild Browns in the Cimarron and had a blast.
I tried my skills at catching Rio Grande Cut Throats on the upper Costilla
Creek. What a great place, a high mountain meadow stream. Let
me tell you those little fish are fast. Easy to find, hard to catch! The
last picture is where the Rio Grande and the Red rivers come together.
This was my second trip to northern NM and I am ready to go back.
Alaska
Fishing
Larry
Copenhaver
I'm
preparing for a trip to the Oregon Coast, leaving tomorrow... I'll take the
flyrods and bait rods... I found a great article on fishing the Pacific surf
with a fly to catch surf perch, croakers and flounder... doesn't sound very
different from TX does it!!!
I'm
enclosing 2 pics from my salmon fishing trip to Alaska. Both fish were Sockeye
Salmon (also known as Red Salmon) both went about 12 pounds, which is big for
REDS.... both were caught on Clouser Deep Minnows tied by Bob Clouser himself...
They told us upon arriving that no-one fishes with a flyrod there... so for
spite the next morning the Reds came through and ONLY the flyfishermen caught
their limit of 5 fish... and boy are they good eating....
Florida
Fishing
Hugh
Bell
Fortunately
for the Bell’s, hurricane Charley decide to dip into southern Florida, but
while doing that I had scrapped that day of fishing. Being home only every
other weekend, makes fishing an every other weekend experience. This past
Friday proved to be an absolutely gorgeous morning. I met Mike, a fellow I
met where I keep my boat, at 6 a.m. and we were on the water by 6:30 a.m. or so
– at first light. The bay was like glass and we scooted across the flats
to the upper end of a mangrove island which sits just inside John’s pass. John’s
pass the only inlet/outlet to the Gulf at that point on the islands from lower
St. Pete to Clearwater, FL. It is ideal for the tidal flow that comes in and
out. There are usually 4 tides so they run swift and we were on an incoming
tide. The water was flowing heavy over the sand and grass flat that
stretches for about 200 hundred yards from the mangrove island toward the pass. We
were watching the area where the water hits the mangroves and goes more to the
north and than south and it was teaming with bait and fish feeding there and on
the flats. The first pass was across the grass flats using a top water
popper. After not producing any strikes, I changed to the chartreuse
Clouser and we headed for the mangrove island. After a few casts, an area
to our south began to break out in a swirl of bait near and old post, so I
headed the boat in that direction via trolling motor. As we approached I cast to
the swirl which didn’t take but a second and a red hooked up. After about 6 to
8 minutes landed an 18 ½ inch keeper red. Florida limit is 18”-24” per day.
After a couple more casts – hooked up another – juvenile red about 13”.
The action slacked and the fish moved somewhere unknown to us. After casting
around some more, we moved back on the flats – to hook up a speckled trout –
which I used the Heugel long line release technique to avoid boating it. After
that the tide slacked and so did the fishing. We then went cast netting for some
live bait and switched to bait fishing – to catch a flounder, mangrove
snapper, some juvenile grouper and naturally some catfish. It was just another
day in paradise – what can I say. I can say I miss you guys and your
friendship made my life great in Lufkin.
Updates
from
Bill
Heugel
Its
that time again.
Just
a reminder that you need to have your new fishing license in hand effective 1
September. The combos are some
really good deals. The saltwater
stamp will cost $10. Three dollars
of that is for a special purchase program being implemented by TPW for buying
back the commercial shrimp and crabbing licenses.
The by catch of these activities cause the death of lots of fish.
I think it’s a good deal.
(Note:
“By catch” are the fish that get caught in the net when they drag for the
shrimp.)
Recreational
fisherman take too many fish
Recreational
fisherman are contributing to the demise of some fish species.
A recent study of the cause of the reduction of some fish including red
snapper and red drum indicates that the recreational fisherman is contributing
more to the reduction of these fish than had been anticipated.
Original studies indicate about 12 percent of the catch was attributed to
recreational fisherman. The latest
creel study shows the number is closer to 25 percent. We need to do more catch
and release!
The
River Dee
Conni
and I just got back from our visit to the British Isles.
Here are a couple of photos I could not resist taking.
We did no fishing on the trip and I did have withdrawal symptoms.
The photos are of the river Dee near Balmoral castle in Scotland.
We were told the Royals could be seen fishing the stream sometimes.
The Salmon come up river to this point, looks like a great place to fish.
Fortunately I did not have a rod so I could not get into too much
trouble. I think these islands are
one of the wettest places on earth. There are loads of streams and lakes in the area, all
supporting various kinds of fish. We
did not see the Loch Ness Monster though we took a boat trip on it.
“Potpourri”
Jimmy
Lee
A
lot of the time we remember information that really doesn’t mean anything, but
some things are well worth remembering and at least making at mental note of for
future reference. Following are
some of those things; it will be up to you to decide in what category they may
fall.
The
Texas Electrical Cooperatives conducted a survey of its members on their
favorite things and places. Voted
the best State Park was Caprock Canyons in Briscoe County.
But the second place finisher was Garner State Park in Uvalde County
(southern part of the hill country). One of the primary reasons was the fishing
on the Frio River. Fly-fishing has developed into a major activity on this
small, clear, chilly river. May be good to remember!
In
the late summer East Galveston Bay is always listed as a “Hot Spot” for
Speckled Trout. The best location for trout is along the Anahuac Refuge
Shoreline, usually at night. Sounds
like a good place to try our salt-water skills doesn’t it?
Now take notice of this. The
Texas State Legislature has designated Anahuac as the Alligator Capital of
Texas. Why you may ask, because the alligators out number humans 3 to 1. As a
matter of fact Anahuac hosts the “Texas Gatorfest September 10-12 where
alligator hunters compete for cash prices based on the size of their catch.
Sounds a little like Cross Lake.
Pineywoods
Fly Fishers are always looking for the best lakes to fish for bass and bream.
We all know that Lake Fork, Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend are always listed
as the best bass fishing lakes in Texas. They are also the top bream fishing
lakes in the state, surpassed only by Purtis Creek State Park for bream. We are
very close to two of the top lakes for either species!!
Maybe we need to fish closer to home.
New
Gadget: It is used to connect a fly
line to a leader. It is a two-part
plastic clip that is tapered to easily slide through rod guides, slips over each
line and then snaps into place. It
floats so it may be good to fish nymphs for bream and trout.
Not my cup a tea, but maybe it should be tested for use in our waters.
Small
wiggle flies are catching on for bass, these things have a lip like diving bass
baits. One I have read about is
called a B-17, if this thing is as effective at it’s WW II namesake, it should
be very effective. If you happen
upon a picture and/or tying instructions pass it along to other club members.
The
above is not intended as educational, just information that may be filed away
for days when you have nothing to worry about.
Maybe file # 13 is the best place.
Good
Fishing!!!
PETA
Don
McMurry
I thought the animal rights activist (PETA) were
against cruelty to animals, WRONG. A recent newspaper article in the
Houston Chronicle told of a billboard near the intersection of I-45 and Texas
146 in Galveston that shows a dog with a fishhook through its lip and the
caption reads IF YOU WOULDN'T DO THIS TO A DOG, WHY DO IT TO A FISH? PETA paid
$2,000 to rent the billboard for one month and $400 to produce the sign.
They also plan to place signs in the New Orleans and Columbus, Ohio, area. PETA
supports vegetarian diets and maintains that fish experience pain when caught,
but they are not sure how much pain. They are doing this for our good because of
the danger of chemical contamination in fish. Their spokesman stated
fishing is a traditional American family activity that PETA would not be able to
eradicate but his group would lobby for regulations to preserve fish species.
This is a well funded group that has now decided to do what they think is best
for YOU and I.
Water in Texas’ Bays Cause Infections
By
Phil Reynolds South Jetty Reporter
(Copied
from the September Alamo FF newsletter)
Maybe
we’re just lucky. Last year by this time, two cases of vibrio vulnificus
infection had been reported in the Coastal Bend. This year, according to the
City–County Health Department in Corpus Christi, there have been none. The
U.S. Centers for Disease Control calls vibrio infection a relatively rare cause
of disease, but also warns that it’s under-reported. Infections come when
people whose immune systems are weakened eat raw oysters. But it can also strike
when someone with an open wound is exposed to warm sea water, especially in back
bays. Around Woody’s Sports Center’s docks, fishing guides shake their heads
when asked if they’ve heard of any cases this year. Steve Zarych, captain of
the Molly Anna, said he hasn’t heard of any either. But along the mid–Texas
coast, at least four suspected cases of vibrio infections have been reported
this year.
Two
Houston men became ill in mid-July after wade fishing in a Port O’Connor bay.
One of them is recovering slowly; the other has had both legs amputated as
doctors attempt to fight the disease. A Bay City fishing guide, Jesse Arsola,
44, is recovering in a Bay City hospital, the Victoria Advocate reported. Arsola
has been fishing in Baffin and Matagorda bays before becoming ill, the paper
said. A fourth man is in stable condition in a Victoria hospital after being
treated for the disease. Doctors warn that any open sore that’s exposed to
warm sea water can be a source for the infection. It usually starts with
blistering or ulcers around the sore and can progress to bloodstream infection
if it’s not treated, they say. Bloodstream infections caused by vibrio
vulnificus are fatal about half the time, the Center for Disease Control
reports. The bacterium is part of the same family that causes cholera. It lives
in warm seawater, and so incidents of the disease are more often reported during
the summer. The bacterium is always present in saltwater, but most often causes
infections when the water is warm, they said. Health professionals warn people
with poor immune systems – especially those with liver diseases– to stay
away from raw oysters. Such people are more than 80 times more likely to
contract vibrio vulnificus, they say. Cooking destroys the bacterium, however.
And they advise people who have open wounds that have been exposed to warm
saltwater to wash the wounds thoroughly with freshwater. Carry fresh water with
you if you might be exposed to salt water, they say.
PWFF
Garage Sale
Ken
Baker
Our
annul garage sale was held at the Expo Center on August 7-8. Actually it
covered the 6th also as we used that day to set up and even sold several items.
The following members donated items or made a monetary donation to the sale: Tom
Rees, Buddy Price, Ken Baker, Jimmy Lee, Jay Renken, Royce Feaster, Walter
McLendon, Hugh Bell, James Vest, Don McMurray, Bill Heugel, Randy McBride, Gene
Sullivan, Rhonda McLendon, Linda McLendon, Brenda Bulls, Cecil Sparks and Bill
Willis. Thanks to all who donated.
The
following worked at the sale: Jimmy Lee, Royce Feaster, Jay Renken, Ken
Baker, Walter McLendon, Linda McLendon, Rhonda McLendon, Gene Sullivan, James
Vest and Cecil Sparks. Thanks to these workers.
We
also had a donation of a beautiful rod rack made and donated by Rusty
Byrley, that was bought by Shane Cox.
Here
is the report of the sale, which is supposed to finance the trout fishing
program.
$ 747.80 garage sale
6.00 monthly fly drawing
250.00
sale of fly rod rack
$1003.80
total
Added
to this will be the raffle of a flyrod that was donated by Ron Scheepstra, which
will be drawn for at the September meeting. We had a $ 90.00 rental expense that
will come from this total, but we did not have a rental for dress racks as they
were not available this year. We were able to make do by the swift work of
Club Prez Jimmy Lee, who constructed a dress rack for us.
All
in all, the sale was a success. Thanks to all who helped out, this is
always a lot of hard work in the heat. Thanks again.
Note
from the Editor: We all agreed before this garage sale that all members who did not
donate items, work or money for the garage sale would have to donate $50 to be
eligible to fish for our stocked trout starting in November. This is only fair
so we will start collecting this fee at the next meeting. I will maintain a list
of paid members with Ken. Actually $50 is a bargain for the convenience trout
fishing with your whole family so close to home for about 6 months on weekends
or weekdays. We have 18 members paid up and 7 more who voted for this project to
collect from. For those who never voted, you are welcome to donate to be
eligible.
Former
PWFF President
Jay
Renken
Geraldine and I visited with Ronny and Peggy Julian this past Wednesday. They
had a new home built in Magnolia, TX and it was our first time to see it.
It's beautiful! Ronny is still employed as a salesman with Barber Boats, Spring,
TX. Peggy is teaching the 5th grade at Tomball, TX. Ronny and Peggy now
have a new granddaughter that was born in March. It
was born to Brian and Nicole. They are so excited and have tons of pictures to
show everyone!
Ronny said to tell all of you "hello" and to drop into see him if you
are in the area!
Here is their address:
Ronny and Peggy Julian
12510 Mustang Court
Magnolia, TX 77354
Home: (281) 252-4210
Cell: (832) 465-6668
Programs
Linda
McLendon
We
will have John Parker, Texas Parks & Wildlife Commissioner as our speaker in
the September meeting. Commissioners are appointed by the governor and John
lives in Lufkin, is a fly fisher and will be discussing TPWD and things coming
up. We need to get him to join the club for sure. Have your fishing questions
ready, this is about as close as we can get to top management.
Library
Be
sure and bring in your videos and books that are late.
Monthly
club meeting are held in the Lufkin Room, Lufkin Mall at 7 PM, the program for
the first hour and then door prizes and fishing discussions until 9 PM.
Calendar
Sep 2 Tying Session at Don McMurry’s house, burgers will be served
Sep 7 PWFF meeting, Lufkin Mall (TPWD Commissioner John Parker to speak)
Sep 18 Deer Hair Fly Tying Class at the Chamber of Commerce
Oct 1-2 Conclave, Mountain Home, AR
Oct 2 TPWD Expo, Austin
Oct 5 PWFF meeting, Lufkin Mall
Oct 16 OctoberFest - to be announced
Nov 2 PWFF meeting, Lufkin Mall (Capt. Sally Moffett from Rockport program)
Nov 5-7 Rendezvous, North Toledo Bend State Park
Nov 20 Little Missouri River Trout Outing
Dec 4 PWFF Christmas Party
Newsletter
Send
your articles, photos and other material to mailto:[email protected]
or mail to Walter McLendon 139 Lancewood Circle, Lufkin, TX 75904. I can scan
your photos and return them at the next meeting. If you know of any future
events or activities of interest, please send them to me. Monthly article
deadlines are set on the 25th of the month so the newsletter can be
completed by the Thursday preceding our Tuesday meeting.