Winter 2009 Gulf Streamer
Transcription
Winter 2009 Gulf Streamer
Winter 2009 Gulf Coast Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers The Gulf Streamer Calendar of Events: March 18-20 Sow Bug Round Up Mountain Home, AR April 8-10 Gulf Coast Conclave New Braunfels, TX For more information on these events, see the official GCC website at www.gulfcoast.org. Fly Fishing Film Tour In order to do something a little different, we are pleased to announce that a special addition to the program at the 2010 FFF Gulf Coast Council Conclave will be a Friday night showing of the “Fly Fishing Film Tour”. A cash bar will open at 6:00 p.m., followed by a Pappasito's Fajita Dinner… Brooks guarantee’s that the fajitas are GREAT! Seating will be classroom style for comfortable dining during the shows. All of the films will be new for 2010, and they will show some fantastic fishing for trout, bass, bonefish, pike and muskie, and redfish…additional new material is still being reviewed. These are wonderful films! In addition, just to keep thing fun, there will be drawings for some great prizes. Please order your tickets when Preregistering - Fly Fishing Film Tour Admission and Pappasitos Fajita Dinner only $30.00 or Film Tour Admission only just $15.00 (prior to March 26th), or $20 / $17at the door. The Fly Fishing Film Tour has been tremendously popular the last three years. If you’ve never had the opportunity to participate in this event, then you’re in for a real treat and will have a marvelous time. The Gulf Streamer Page 2 President’s Message the eastern side of this Council. However, it will give many of us from east of Texas would like the opportunity to check the fabulous fishing of the Hill country. Since becoming elected to serve as your Council President, I have had the opportunity to get to know some of the Council Presidents in other parts of the country. These relationships are often based on the sharing of information, which we then utilize to make our respective Councils stronger. In those discussions, one of the things that quickly became apparent to me was the fact that many Councils do not have Expo’s or Conclaves. And even amongst those that do, few put on a show that compares with the Expo’s that the Gulf Coast Council has held for the past three years. A large number of the Federators and non-Federator club members in this Council have been involved in their local clubs for many years and that for most of those years, in order to attend a Conclave or EXPO a ten or more hour drive to Mountain Home, AR was required. Therefore, only a small number of these folks regularly (or ever) attended Federation Conclaves (Expo’s). Over the first three years of this Council, our EXPO’s were held in Lake Charles. LA – the geographic center of the Gulf Coast Council. While the GCC put on three great EXPO’s, attendance was less than we hope for or needed for success. So, we’ve decided to locate this EXPO in New Braunfels, TX, situated in the Texas Hill Country - the “Heart of Texas”. With over 70% of our Federators located in central and south Texas, New Braunfels also happens to be within the geographic center of the bulk of the GCC’s Federators. This change in venue was made in order to honor a commitment that was made by this Council AND the clubs when these FFF club’s affiliated with the Gulf Coast Council. There was a pledge made by all to have Expo’s within easier traveling distance of the majority of our Federators within this newly formed Council. This location in New Braunfels will be within a three hour drive for more than 70% of the GCC’s members. It will however make it a much longer drive for me and those Federators who live on Since this council stretches from western Florida to the Rio Grande, it is impossible to have a single local Expo that is close to the homes of all our members; therefore our goal is to have smaller, one day Expo for those folks on the eastern side of our Council in the coming year. As you peruse this newsletter you’ll quickly realize that the bulk of the articles were written by workshop presenters at the upcoming 2010 GCC EXPO. We thought that you’d like a chance to “get to know” some of these folks a little better before you attend their classes in April. The diversity of these programs reflect the fact that although this Council is named after the Gulf Coast, we represent a wide diversity of fly fishing - from cold water trout streams, to warm waters, to coastal fishing, and to even tossing flies in the deep blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico. This diversity is reflected in the selection of a red eared sunfish, a.k.a. chinquapin or shell crackers, as our 2010 conclave pin. In working on the design of the EXPO pin with Brooks Bouldin, I pulled out my collection of conclave Expo pins… it consisted of 35 pins that I could locate. Now that should give you an indication of my strong believe in the Federation and attending Federation EXPO’s/ Conclaves. In order to make registration easier for you, Brooks Bouldin, our EXPO chairman, worked very diligently in having an interactive registration form designed and placed Please go on our council website, http://gulfcoastfff.org to it today and register for the 2010 Gulf Coast EPXO! I know that if you will are come to the first Gulf Coast Council EXPO located in the “heart of Texas” that you’ll have a marvelous time! See ya’ in New Braunfels! Kyle Moppert President GCC The Gulf Streamer Page 3 Carolyn Dunn by Bob Tabbert Carolyn Dunn was a shining Jewel on Rusty many places nationally and you may have had the opportunity to earth; she is now a shining Jewel in internationally seeking out new fly taste Carolyn’s home made whole Heaven. Carolyn passed away at her fishing adventures. Their years living wheat breads, crunchy with walnuts and cranberries. Can you imagine home in Lafayette with Rusty on Carolyn kneading that bread Sunday December 20, 2009. She dough, intense, confident? The was born in 1943 in Yukon, bread dough never had a chance! Oklahoma. Her valued Christian She faced all of her projects with standards were rooted in her intense confidence, finding early childhood. She lived out her biblical beliefs, volunteering solutions, obtaining results. in many areas of her community She recognized and accepted God’s by helping others less fortunate, gift of grace in her life and wanted through her prayers and her to be a blessing to others. handiwork. Carolyn’s fly fishing Carolyn’s desire to excel, her love interests covered all aspects of of the outdoors and her need to the sport. She and Rusty enjoyed share were all rooted in her deep fishing for all species in all faith. She often spoke of the waters, warm, salt and cold. Her beauty of nature and how she felt favorite was wild trout. the peace and tranquility of the closeness of God when You may have first met Carolyn at one of the FFF Conclaves in experiencing it. Livingston, Mt. Home, Lake Where ever you may have met Charles, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Carolyn, consider your self West Yellowstone or up at one of fortunate to have known this Lady the Toledo Bend Rendezvous. and experienced her charms and She was always there studying, skills. learning, teaching fly tying, teaching casting. An attractive Carolyn was a Jewel on earth, now lady, with a black pony tail, dark she is a shinning Jewel in Heaven. rimmed glasses, very intense, leaning over her vise, explaining, teaching, willing you to learn how to tie your perfect flies. Her own ties were exquisite! As the first FFF woman Certified in Alaska, raising their two sons, with Casting Instructor in Louisiana you a remote primitive cabin for weekend may have met or seen her on the trips was an experience that shaped casting lawn, teaching, sharing, their interest in fly fishing. intense, showing you how to cast perfect loops. Or you may have been privileged to fly fish with her. She fished all waters, for all fish. She was a serious trout fisher, intensely observing, reading waters, and carefully placing her fly in the best position. Her intense concentration when drifting her fly through a good seam tricked many a trout. Her passion for fly fishing took she and Or you may have sat at a coffee shop with her and Rusty, visiting, planning, and enjoying her friendship and sly humor. Or you may have been privileged to attend one of the Dunn’s famous FFF fly tying sessions, Food Feathers & Fun, where the Acadiana Flyrodders and their guests shared an Carolyn doing two of the things she evening of food, fly tying and loved, tying flies and sharing with friendship with Rusty and Carolyn. Or others. The Gulf Streamer Page 4 New Braunfels Civic Center, New Braunfels, TX April 9-10, 2010 GCC Annual Awards of Recognition The Gulf Coast Council (GCC) FFF annually presents various awards to recognize accomplishments by individuals and clubs for their efforts in conservation, education, outreach, and in other areas that promote the goals and ideals of our Council and the FFF overall. Except for the President’s Award, each is open to nomination from FFF members within the Council. Please think about any individuals or clubs that meet the qualifications and have had outstanding efforts in those areas. Marc Pinsel has agreed to head up this year’s GCC Awards Committee, but I will be “collecting” the nominations for the Please email your Committee. nominations to: [email protected] no later than 7 p.m. Friday, May 26th, 2010. The 2010 awards will be presented at Saturday night banquet of the 2010 FFF Gulf Coast Expo in New Braunfels, TX. Fly Tyer of the Year - Awarded annually to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the art of fly tying, through any combination of innovation, enhancement of the art, or education of others. Junior Fly Angler of the Year Awarded to an individual 18 years of age or younger who has made a significant contribution to the promotion of our sport to his peers, or to his club or community, or the sport in general, either in the form of fly tying, casting, conservation, education, or other achievements. Education Award - Awarded to an individual or club that has made outstanding contributions to passing along the art of fly fishing to others, whether in the form of fly tying, casting, or any of the (Man of the other fly fishing arts and sciences. Excellence Award Year) - Awarded to a man who has demonstrated unusual devotion to Conservation Award - Awarded to an the sport of fly fishing, and through individual or club that has made his devotion, has benefited the Gulf Coast Council, the FFF and/or his outstanding contributions to the conservation of our fisheries resources, club. either through projects or activism. Excellence Award (Woman of the Year) - Awarded to a woman who has demonstrated unusual devotion to the sport of fly fishing, and through her devotion, has benefitted the Gulf Coast Council, the FFF, and/or her club. Community Award - Awarded to a club that has been very active outside it’s own membership, and as such, has made outstanding contributions to the community at large, through participation in external activities and/or with other organizations. Fellowship Award - Awarded to a club that has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to their membership through activities and gatherings, and effective communications such as newsletter and/or website. The GCC recognizes that fellowship is the seed for increasing membership in both clubs and the FFF. Friend of the Gulf Coast Council - An award or awards given to an individual, individuals, group, or groups who have made outstanding contributions to the Gulf Coast Council in some way. Nominees must not be a member of the FFF GCC and need not be a member of the FFF. President's Award – This recipient is a person, chosen by the President of the Gulf Coast Council, to be nationally recognized by the FFF at the FFF National EXPO for their outstanding contributions to the Council, to the Federation, and the sport of fly fishing. The Gulf Streamer Page 5 GCC By Laws and the 2010 GCC Annual Meeting by Kyle Moppert While most members of this Council only see the ‘fun” side of the GCC EXPO, the clubs, Officers and Board of Directors, along with many Federators in this Council, have a more serious, “business” side which must be addressed. The GCC By Laws call for an Annual Meeting to be held each year, which is normally held in conjunction with our annual gathering. This year’s Annual Meeting of the Gulf Coast Council will be held on Sunday, April 11 at 8 a.m. at the Courtyard Marriot River Village in New Braunfels, TX. At last year’s Annual Meeting, there was some confusion on the part of several attendees who had never been privy their club’s copy of the GCC By Laws. Therefore, to eliminate such problems in the future and to be as inclusive as possible, we have placed the GCC Bylaws on our web site, http:// www.gulfcoastfff.org/index.php? page=conclave-2010 . I would ask each Federator in this Council to please take a few minutes and familiarize themselves with the Council’s By Laws and to please attend this open Annual Meeting of the members of this Council. After all, this is YOUR Council and YOUR GCC Officers and YOUR Board of Directors (BOD) who will be elected at this meeting. The Treasures Report on the status of the Councils finances and voting covering financial decisions for the upcoming year are included at this open meeting of Federators Many of the current officers and BOD’s have held those positions since the inception of this Council, and it is time for other Federators to step up and assume some leadership in this Council. We do encourage those clubs and that have never had a representative at the GCC Council level to please nominate one or more of your members. In addition, if you are one of the GCC Federators who is not affiliated with a particular club or may not wish to go through their club to be nominated and you would like to be on the BOD, please contact me. I’m heading up the 2010 Committee, and we Nominating encourage all the GCC clubs and interested individuals send-in (i.e. email me) nominations for officers and members of next year’s BOD. As many attendees will be traveling home at the conclusion of the meeting, I plan on keeping this meeting limited to a reasonable time period. The following are some of points of interest from the GCC By Laws pertaining to the Annual Meeting, to which I’ve added explanations: ARTICLE V - MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL Section 1. General Membership. A meeting of the general membership of the Council shall be held each year at the principal office of the Council or at such other place within or without the Council as shall be specified in the notice of said meeting. The 2010 GCC Annual Meeting will be held Sunday, April 11 at 8 a.m. at the Courtyard Marriot River Village in New Braunfels, TX Section 4. Eligibility to Vote. Only individual members and member clubs, associations, leagues or other entities, which have paid current dues to the Federation shall have the right to vote. Each Federation member and each club will be allowed one vote. You must be a member of the Federation to cast a vote or to represent a club at this meeting. So clubs, please send a member of the Federation to represent your club’s interest at this meeting. Section 6. Quorum. At any general membership meeting of the Council, the quorum will consist of those members present in person or by proxy. The vote of the majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the members present or represented by proxy at a meeting shall be necessary for the adoption of any matter voted upon by the members, unless a greater proportion is required by law, the articles of incorporation or the bylaws. A quorum will be present. VI ARTICLE DIRECTORS - BOARD OF Board of Directors. Section 2. There shall be a Board of Directors consisting of not less than ten (10) persons as determined by the Council Board. All Directors shall be members of the Federation in good standing. Currently, there are 13 Officers and 9 Directors at Large who make up the GCC BOD, all of whom must be members of the Federation in good standing. Section 3. Election of Directors. The election of Directors for the Council Board will be as follows: a. The Nominating Committee as provided for in Article VIII, Section 3, shall nominate the number of persons required to be elected as directors at the Council Annual The General Membership Meeting. Nominating Committee shall place the slate of nominees before the membership for election. The Council Board at its discretion may do this at the Annual General Membership Meeting or by mail-in ballot. The GCC has an open nominations process, so prior to the Annual Meeting, please contact the The Gulf Streamer Page 6 GCC By Laws and the 2010 GCC Annual Meeting (cont) Nomination Committee with your working system. However, throughout nominations for Officers and/or the GCC the last year, I have tried to keep the entire BOD involved as much as BOD. possible. b. Each 100% Federation Member Club and Charter ARTICLE VII - OFFICERS Club with over 25 members shall have Officers. The officers the option to appoint a Director to sit on Section 1. will be a President, one or of the Council the Council Board. If a club exercises its Vice Presidents (the number and more option, notice of its appointment must be given to the Council Board no later than title of the Vice Presidents shall as a the annual general membership meeting minimum duplicate those established by of the Council. Directors so appointed the Federation reflecting and continuing shall serve for one year and are subject to a line of communications from the all requirements of these bylaws except Federation structure), a Secretary, a that a club will have the authority to Treasurer and such other officers as may replace its appointed Director if a be elected in accordance with the vacancy occurs under Section 13 of this provisions of this Article. Any two or Article. All Directors shall be members more offices may be held by the same of the Federation in good standing. 100% person, except the offices of President, Federation Member Club and Charter Secretary and Treasurer. Upon election Club are encouraged to appoint a by the Council Board as a whole, or a member to the GCC BOD. All GCC quorum thereof, these officers shall then clubs are encouraged to submit names for become directors of the Council Board, if officers and/or members of the GCC not currently a director. All Officers are subject election at the 2010 Annual BOD. Meeting. Section 4. Term of office. All Election and Term of Directors shall hold office for one year or Section 2. until their successors are elected and Office. The officers of the Council will seated at the annual general membership be elected annually by the Council Board meeting of the Council. All Directors are at the regular annual meeting of the subject election at the 2010 Annual Council Board. If the election of officers will not be held at such meeting, such Meeting. election will be held as soon thereafter as Executive Board. The is convenient. New offices may be Section 11. Executive Board shall consist of the created and filled at any meeting of the President, Vice-Presidents, Secretary, Council Board. All officers will hold and Treasurer, and two (2) other office for one year or until their Directors as voted on by the Council successors are elected. All Directors and Board as a whole. The Executive Board Officers are subject election at the 2010 shall be empowered to act to the extent Annual Meeting. permitted by law on the behalf of the Other Officers. The Council Board as a whole between Section 3. Council Board may elect or appoint such meetings of the whole Board. Actions of the Executive Board are subject to the other officers as it deems desirable, such approval of the Council Board as a officers to have the authority, and to whole. This allows for manageable perform the duties prescribed, from time to time by the Council Board. As a matter of course, throughout the year, we have included the newsletter editor in all discussions/issues. ARTICLE VIII - COMMITTEES Section 3. Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall consist of at least three Council members in good standing selected by the Council Board. The members of the Nominating Committee shall select a chairperson and shall, sixth (60) days prior to the Council Annual Membership Meeting, nominate persons for Directors to the Council Board to be elected by the members of the Council. The Nominating Committee shall also present a list of nominees for officers as desired by the Council Board to be elected at the Annual Council Board Meeting by the newly seated Board of Directors. No member serving on the Nominating Committee shall be ineligible for nomination to office. Every member selected by the Committee shall be so informed, and shall consent prior to announcement of their names in nomination. Any member has the right to refuse nomination, and may withdraw from nomination at any time. As previously stated above, the entire GCC By Laws can be viewed at: http:// www.gulfcoastfff.org/index.php? page=conclave-2010 This is YOUR council and Your EXPO. The Officers and BOD strongly encourage your participation in the business of this council. So, please send in those nominations and come to the Annual Meeting. I hope to see you at the EXPO and at the GCC Annual Meeting. The Gulf Streamer Page 7 Cancun—Pesca Maya Fishing With temperatures chilling out this week you might be thinking about the comfort of warmth in a tropical climate, which means one thing to me - heading south to Mexico, to one of the most popular destinations for adventure seeking Texans - Cancun. What makes Cancun such and attractive destination is because it’s a quick hit destination for all sorts of excellent fishing for both inshore and o f f s h o r e a n g l e r s . This has been a favorite destination of mine for many years. That’s for two reasons. One is the excellent offshore action. The other is the world class f l y f i s h i n g . f l a t s Double dipping in Cancun for both offshore and inshore fishing is easy. The offshore trips originate right there in town. But the inshore trips on the flats usually require travel time of one to three hours south along the Yucatan P e n i n s u l a . If you’re looking for adventure away from the crowded beaches and city of Cancun, you should check out one of the outfitters located south of Cancun on the Yucatan Peninsula. That’s where you can totally escape the world while fishing Ascension Bay, Bocapaila Flats and Espiritu Santo B a y . There are outfitters that offer day trips out of Cancun for flats fishing on some of the most remote and fish rich bays on earth. The catch is the price. It’s about $400 per boat, for two anglers a day, out of Pesca Maya Lodge. That’s cheap. They will pick you up at your hotel and bring you back after a day of fishing. I’ve done both the day trips and multi-day trips to Ascension Bay, out of Cancun. The day trips are cheap, but they require lots of energy. It’s a full day of travel and fishing - from before dawn till after sunset. The best option is to either do a sleep over, or stay for a few days at one of the jungle lodges. Another great option on the Yucatan Peninsula is take an eco-tour of the Sian Ka’an biosphere. It’s about 90 minutes south of Cancun. It covers 1.5 million acres. It’s home to more than 345 species of birds, along with jaguars, howler monkeys, crocodiles, and excellent flats fishing. The flats fishing for bonefish is some of the best in the world on Ascension Bay. It’s one of the few places in the world where you can catch bonefish, snook, tarpon and permit in one day- if you‘re lucky. It can be done with both spinning and fly fishing tackle. If you’ve ever wanted to experience word-class flats fishing in a paradiselike environment th is is it. If you really want to settle into the tropical scene do a five to seven day stay at one of the lodges off of Ascension Bay. It’ll be a vacation you won’t ever forget. It’ll cost a little more than your basic vacation to see the in-laws. But on the other hand it’s well within the bounds of many travel budgets. It’s a quick hit adventure destination offering tropical escape from the late winter blues. Just don’t forget the sunscreen, sunglasses, snorkel, sandals and fishing gear. Capt. Robert Sloan runs guided fly fishing trips out of Port O'Connor for reds and trout. Check him out at www.hightailangler.com. The Gulf Streamer Page 8 Cross Water Flies by Bruce Sublett Fly anglers tend to stereotype flies into rigid categories: trout flies, bass flies, salt water flies, and so on. A little creative thinking, though, reveals that many flies are capable of catching fish in several different environments, with only minor modifications— call them “cross water flies.” The best cross water flies are those that can pass for several different prey species, like the Clouser Minnow and the Woolly Bugger. I’ve tied Clousers as small as size 12 for a customer who fishes them in Yellowstone for cutthroats, to as large as size 6/0 for a Brit who uses them for European sea bass. Depending on how it’s tied, the Woolly Bugger imitates anything from a damselfly nymph to a salt water baitfish. My own take on a salt water Woolly Bugger is the Magnum Glitter Critter. One cross water fly category that takes some creative thinking is made up of tropical flats flies for crappie and white bass. Typically, a good crappie or white bass fly imitates a small minnow, sinks quickly, and has some component that moves when the fly is stopped. Now consider the classic Gotcha: the size, as usally tied, is in the one inch range typical of crappie flies. It has a lot of pearl flash, which gives it a minnow look. It has either bead chain or dumbbell eyes that let it sink quickly, and finally, it has a rabbit fur wing that undulates even when the fly is stopped. Sure enough, a Gotcha tied on a size 4 or size 6 hook makes a great crappie fly. Another salt water favorite that makes a great crappie fly is Billy Trimble’s Bucktail Shrimp—obviously crappie don’t see it as a shrimp but as a minnow. Flies for schooling fish are the most obvious cross water flies. Whether the schooling fish are black bass, white bass, stripers, speckled trout, or bluefish; the prey is generally small silvery baitfish on or near the surface. A white foam popper on a size two hook works for any of these species, fresh or salt. Likewise, any fresh water shad imitation doubles as a salt wa- ter menhaden, pilchard, or sardine. In fact, up on the Redneck Riviera where I fish, all these salt water baitfish get lumped together as “shad.” My Education Shad, a weighted fly made with pearl Mylar tubing on a jig hook, works equally well on white bass, schooling black bass, or speckled trout. It’s called the Education Shad because it teaches schoolies a lesson! Another fresh water fly, Ward Bean’s Red Faced Wobbler, designed for smallmouth bass, is one of my favorite beachfront speckled trout flies. I’ll cover these flies and more in my presentation on fly fishing for school bass at the GCC expo. Another crossover category is flies that are designed for shallow water bass fishing that also work on marsh redfish. In fact, some brackish water marshes along the Texas coast can produce both bass and redfish in the same area. My favorite double duty flies in this category are the floating deer hair divers, especially when they get waterlogged enough to just barely float in the surface film. The Never-Sink Diver and the Mud Minnow are two nearly identical flies, both distant cousins of the old Muddler Minnow through the Dahlberg Diver, that will catch both bass and redfish. In general, about the only modification necessary to take a fresh water fly into salt water is a change of hook, and many new hook finishes are making that change un- necessary as well. The standard bronze hook for fresh water flies just won’t last in salt water, nor will gold or nickel plated hooks. I do use some gold-plated steelhead hooks for spoonflies, but only with the caution that they have to be thoroughly rinsed and dried after each use in the salt. Although I’ve tied both salt and fresh water flies for years on the Mustad 34007 stainless steel hook, I’ve started moving away from stainless for a couple of reasons: it persists in the environment too long, and it isn’t the sharpest hook in the box. Instead of stainless, I’m now using mainly cadmium or black nickel plated hooks. Mustad’s Dura-Tin, Eagle Claw’s Sea Guard, and Gamakatsu’s Black Nickel finishes are all pretty durable in salt environments, provided you rinse the flies in fresh water after use. To be truthful, I rarely use a salt water fly more than once if I’m catching fish; by the time it’s caught several toothy salt water fish, the fly is usually too battered to save. One final consideration is color. Many materials that are color-fast in fresh water bleed or bleach out quickly in salt water. Stick a wet red and white Sea-Ducer in a fly box, and you’ll end up with a box of pink flies. Red hackle bleeds worse than any other material, but orange is much more color stable. Likewise, fluorescent colors like chartreuse fade quickly in a salt water environment. The answer? Tie more flies! About the author: Bruce Sublett is retired college English teacher who sells salt water and bass flies on line at Gulf and Ozark Flies (www.goflies.com). He will present a program on schooling black bass and will teach a tying class on using EP fiber at the GCC expo in New Braunfels. His Genuine Imitation Plastic fly was featured in the Winter 2009 issue of Fly Tyer. The Gulf Streamer Page 9 Cross Water Flies by Bruce Sublett (cont) Magnum Glitter Critter Education Shad Hook: Mustad 34011, size 2 Hook: Eagle Claw 635, size 4 to 1/0 Thread: .005 monofilament Thread: .005 monofilament, 6/0 Unithread for head, fire orange. Tail: White marabou Weight: Large nickel cone head Flash: 2 strands Flashabou Mirage on each side Eyes: 3/16 adhesive foil, on cone (optional) Underbody: Pearl Krystal Flash Chenille Body: Pearl Krystal Flash chenille Collar: Extra-large Cactus Hackle, wrapped Overbody/Tail: Pearl Flashabou Minnow Body, large Tying Notes: cone on hook first, then wrap KF chenille and tie off. Tying notes: Flatten barb to allow cone to slide onto hook; sub- Slide Minnow body over from the rear, tie off in front of cone and trim. stitute chartreuse or hot pink tail. Tie off at the hook bend and tease out tail fibers. Color top line with permanent marker—olive, black or blue. Coat heavily with Hard as Nails and flatten side to side as it dries. Gotcha Mud Minnow Hook: Mustad 7766 or 3407, 8 to 4. Thread: Unithread 6/0 pink Hook: Mustad 34007 or Gamakatsu B10S, size 4 to 1/0 Eyes: black bead chain Thread: .005 monofilament or Gel-Spun. Finish head w/ 6/0 Unithread. Tail: 12-16 strands Pearl Krystal Flash Body: Pearl Diamond Braid Wing: rabbit or craft fur Flash: 4 strands Pearl Krystal Flash Head: tying thread, coat with Hard as Nails Eye: Plastic bead chain Tail: magnum rabbit strip, twice hook length Flash: 4 to 6 strands holographic Flashabou on each side Head: Deer hair, spun and trimmed. Use dyed belly hair except for natural color Tying Notes: Figure-8 diamond braid around eyes, tie off on Weedguard: 80 lb. mono bottom. Small bead chain for size 8 and 6, medium for size 4. Tying Notes: first batch of deer hair flared but not spun on top Colors: tan, white, pink, chartreuse Only the wing color for a collar, add a small bunch of orange on the bottom. Add changes; all else is the same. weedguard after final trim. Colors: natural rabbit, crawfish orange, olive, chartreuse, black. The Gulf Streamer Page 10 Texas Reds on Top by Capt. Scott Sparrow that we did everything right from the first moment, but in our haste to be on the water after weeks of hosting other fly fishers, we had not taken the time to replace old leaders and knotted tippets. Not surprisingly, we managed to hook three reds apiece -- only to lose every one of them within the first few seconds! To be fair, the fish made it more difficult than usual by dragging our leaders through algae that clung to the bottom, but regardless, we weren’t feeling very good about our angling skills up to that point. Something finally broke the spell. Perhaps it was the 16-pound tippet that we tied on to combat the algae. Or maybe it was the baby alligator that sent Kathy scurrying back to the boat, with visions of its larger relatives lurking nearby. But soon afterward, my leader held up under the thrashing fight of a 29-inch red that took the popper on the first strike, and then proceeded to drag around several of algae before I managed to grab the fish by the tail. pounds An article that was published in Saltwater Fly Fishing Freeing the red from the green mass, I lifted the fish out of the On a windless morning in late October, Kathy and I left our dock water for Kathy to see, and then yelled, “Your turn.” and headed for a remote lagoon on the Lower Laguna Madre. The lagoon is usually too shallow to hold fish, but during the high tides We went on to catch and release several reds that morning in of spring and autumn, it attracts impressive schools of redfish conditions that would have defeated us if we’d been using feeding on shrimp. Depending on the tidal flow, the schools may subsurface patterns of any description. But even if the water had break up into singles and roaming pods, or they may congregate in been clear of vegetation, Kathy and I would have used our schools that sweep slowly around like folk dancers with arms topwaters, anyway. For, after years of stalking redfish in shallow, clear water, we have found that a properly designed topwater fly entwined. can double your strikes, and greatly enhance your angling When we entered the lagoon, the mirror-like surface telegraphed enjoyment. the movement of every fish in the vicinity. Deep retreating wakes told us that the area was full of reds, and that to go any further would risk terminally offending our hosts. So I cut the motor, and The Context poled the Curlew toward the middle of the small bay, while Kathy opened her fly box and contemplated her choices. The Lower Laguna Madre is the largest continuous shallow water estuary in North America, and the only true subtropical saltwater “What are you going to use?” I asked. fishery outside of Florida in the continental U.S. Reaching almost “Topwaters, don’t you think?” she replied. I wasn’t surprised to to the Mexican border of deep south Texas, it is over sixty miles see her reach for a VIP popper that I’d tied for her the night long and five miles wide. Averaging about a foot deep of water at low tide, it features a wide variety of venues, ranging from small, before. intimate lagoons, to a vast Carribean-like flat known as the the I staked the boat, and tied on a VIP, too. The tiny popper was “white sand.” Full of redfish and speckled trout that spend most of more refined than the deerhair popper that I used to take my first their time feeding in the shallowest waters, the LLM offers visiting Laguna Madre red on a fly 24 years earlier. But I’m not sure the fly fishers sight casting opportunities all year round. fish could tell the difference. Feeding redfish become visible on calm mornings whenever they The action was intense. Casting to swirls, wakes and tails, we tail, or throw up a V-wake by cruising in less than a foot of water. drew explosive strikes from fish that often missed the first time, After the sun rises, their bronze backs and azure tails show up but came back again and again until hooked. I wish I could say easily in the clear water to anglers wearing polarized sunglasses. Thus, on an ideal day, sight casting can begin at first The Gulf Streamer Page 11 The Modern Bass Fly Rod by Bob Pool Nineteen seventy three was the year of a big change in fly rod construction. Fenwick came out with the HMG rods. HMG, High Modulus Graphite, was touted as having a much higher sensitivity than fiberglass, not only to feeling every tiny thing that a lure was doing but even to feeling a bite on a slack line. The rumors were true, it really would. But, how about casting? Casting? No one even mentioned casting in the promos. Oh, but as everyone knows, it helps casting quite well, at least in some respects. Distance is the real prize with graphite. Through the years graphite rods have become faster and faster in their actions. Really good casters can cast a long, long way. If you’re not a really good caster then you might not get that much out of a really fast rod. Your presentation will probably suffer and you might not even be able to get close to the distance it’s capable of. You can read on just about any forum on fly fishing where people are recommending using lines one to four sizes larger for the really fast rods. They are just slowing the ultra fast action down to a fast or medium fast action. It really does fit most people’s casting style better. They get better presentation and good distance. I know I can cast best with either of the two original Fenwick HMG rods I bought in 1973, or at least for most casting situations and they would be classified as medium action by today’s standards. So, why buy an ultra fast action rod? The problem most people have with the ultra fast action rods is getting it to load. I’ve heard the complaint many times of people not feeling that tug as the rod loads on the back cast. And, it seems, people really need that. So, what do they do? Go up in line weight until they do feel the tug. So why would we regular skilled casters want an ultra fast action rod? The answer is fishing for big bass. These ultra fast action rods actually fix a problem in fly fishing for big bass. To catch big bass on a regular basis you need to use big flies and heavy flies. Big bass are not like regular size bass. They are the consummate nutritionist. Energy expended for nutrition gained is their mantra. They don’t roam around expending energy while looking for food. They set up and wait for the food to come to them, and it needs to be something worth expending energy for. Size really does matter. Look at the lures pro bass fishermen use. Not one uses lures as small as most fly fishers use for bass and they are fishing for numbers, not size. Of course everyone knows of someone who has caught a big bass on a little bitty fly. It happens, but not with any regularity. To catch big bass, use big flies, it’s a fact. Now to cast these big and heavy flies is where the ultra fast action rod shines the brightest for me. When you’re casting a popper the size of a small bird with a medium fast rod, the resistance to moving it through the air will overload the rod and performance will suffer. As well, casting a seven inch long rabbit strip fly with a huge cone head and a rattler tied in will kill the rods casting ability and be an absolute chore. However these large and heavy flies will actually help to load an ultra fast rod and make it perform like a medium fast action rod and normal size flies. If you hook into an old grandma of a bass you will appreciate having that extra stiffness in that really fast rod as well. She won’t be far from cover when you hook her and you will need to keep her out of it. I almost always work my fly with the rod instead of stripping line, whether top water or under water. You can give the fly so much more action by using the rod tip. However, when the fish bites, your rod might be way up in the air instead of pointing straight at the fish like in most fly fishing. So how do you set the hook? You simply drop the rod a couple of feet and snap it back. People constantly tell me that it will not work. It’s just because they have a mind set about the strip set. They don’t understand that you are not pulling it into the fish like with the strip set but jerking it into the fish at high speed. The stiffer, super fast action rods make this work even better. If you are thinking about fly fishing for big bass then you are going to have to upsize your flies. If you do, then consider one of the new ultra fast action rods. It is almost as if they were designed just for big bass fly fishing. The Gulf Streamer Page 12 Texas Reds on Top by Capt. Scott Sparrow (cont) light and continue unabated until mid-afternoon. Learning the Ropes Stalking tailing and cruising reds in the Lower Laguna is a high-vis, heart-stopping action that’s hard to beat. Add to that the sights and sounds of redfish exploding on small poppers, and it becomes the stuff which dreams are made of. The choice of the fly definitely matters in becoming successful with this approach, but there’s much more to catching redfish on top than simply tying on the right fly. Several problems have to be understood -- and solutions adopted -- before placing the remaining burden on the fly’s design. The redfish’s mouth and style of attack. The redfish has a small, “inferior” mouth on the underside of its head. When feeding on the bottom, its mouth is welldesigned to root out and to seize the prey. But redfish are aggressive gamefish that drive baitfish and shrimp to the surface, too. In these conditions, when the reds finally strike, their heads often come completely out of the water as they lunge forward with their inferior mouths. This movement often causes them to lose sight of the target, and to miss the mark. But they make up for their inaccuracy by striking repeatedly until the prize is won. The Impact of the Angler’s Profile. By following Zamba’s advice, and reacting only to the feel of the fish on the line, an angler will effectively convert strikes to hook-ups. However, if a redfish comes within 30 feet or so of the fly fisher before taking the fly, he is likely to catch sight of the angler’s profile just as he rises for the take. Fly fishers often mistake a redfish’s abrupt departure for a rejection of the fly, but a true rejection is characterized more by a redfish’s disinterest than by its hasty flight. These close-in blowups are, more properly speaking, “angler rejections,” and place the burden of responsibility squarely where it belongs. Indeed, we would do well to remember Edward R. Hewitt’s immortal words, “Your fly is not the problem, it’s what’s on the other end of your line.” To minimize your profile, it’s important to crouch as low as possible -- even to the point of kneeling in the water -- as soon as the wake appears behind the fly. There’s really no need to watch what happens next, because as we’ve already established, the sight of the redfish striking is more of a distraction than an aid. For obvious reasons, casting topwaters from a poled or drifting skiff can result in a lot of spooked fish, especially in close quarters. The last thing you want a redfish to do is to look up and see the boat, so this is one context in which it’s best to leave your topwaters in the fly box. Guides who prefer to pole their clients rarely use topwaters; but this is a decision based on the impact of the boat’s intrusive profile, not the limitations of the fly. In contrast, for those of us who prefer to stalk fish on foot, topwaters can be more effective than subsurface patterns, especially in calm conditions where the fish aren’t showing on the surface, or when they’re tailing with their heads in the grass. Indeed, I’ve seen a noisy topwater attract redfish’s attention from as far away as 15 feet. The stripping method. Because the redfish must lift his head to seize a topwater, the strike is preceded by a bulging wake behind the fly. Eager to close the deal, most fly fishers lift the rod reflexively as soon as the fish lunges for the fly. Since redfish often miss the fly on the first strike, the angler’s reaction almost always brings the encounter to a premature end. An Advantage Over Subsurface Flies Given this scenario, it’s always best to keep the rod low to the water, and to continue stripping until you can feel the fish on the end of your line. Capt. Gene Zamba of Tarpon Springs, Florida, tells his clients, “Feel the fish, don’t read the fish.” Just the other day, the advantages of using topwaters for tailing reds were clearly demonstrated. I was guiding two seasoned fly fishers -- Don and Cal Massey. When we came upon several tailing pods of redfish, Cal tied on my favorite shrimp pattern -- a The Gulf Streamer Page 13 Texas Reds on Top by Capt. Scott Sparrow (cont) Mother’s Day Fly -- and began wading toward the first pod. and keep stripping. He may miss the fly the first or second time. Meanwhile Don, who was using a VIP popper, spotted a second Raise your rod only after feeling the fish on the line.” Having finished my lecture, I smiled wryly, knowing that they would learn pod and set off in hot pursuit. a lot from the encounter, if nothing else. When Cal came within casting distance of his first pod, he placed his fly just a bit short of the tails, and the reds showed no reaction. I waded beside Joannie for a while, and coached her on casting to As Cal kept trying to get the reds’ attention, Don hooked his first a few incoming wakes that passed by just out of her range. Since the tails were sparse, the opportunities were few. Then I saw red on the popper. something that explained the paucity of tailing reds. A black seam “Their heads are down, and I don’t think they’ve seen the fly yet,” on the calm surface appeared about 100 yards away, with dark, I said to Cal. “Try putting the fly right in the middle of them.” waving spikes dotting the length of the seam. After a few more casts, a redfish finally spotted the shrimp pattern, and promptly seized it. But by the time Cal landed his first fish, Don was already battling his second red on the popper. Cal requested a change of flies and, within minutes, handily hooked a redfish on his first cast to a nearby tailing pod. Using topwaters for redfish is a method that works well for novices, as well. As Lower Laguna Madre guide, Capt. Skipper Ray, points out, “The best thing about topwaters is the fact that you don't have to be extremely precise with the presentation. The noise will attract the fish to the fly. And you don’t have to cast as far, since the redfish will often hear the popper, and head in your direction.” “A tailing school! That’s where most of the fish are,” I yelled for Richard’s benefit, who was wading 50 yards away. “They may come our way, so let’s get a little closer and see what they do.” Over the course of the next few minutes, the school stayed well out of range, so I headed back to the Curlew to pole it down to our new position. Half way back, I turned around and was surprised to see that the school was approaching Joannie. From where I stood, I could see the line of waving tails getting closer and closer. She remained as stationary as a statue. “Why doesn’t she cast?” I wondered, knowing that any moment one of the reds would spot her. Unable to advise her from afar, I just watched and waited. Finally, she false casted a few times and dropped her VIP in front of the crowd. For instance, on a recent calm morning, I left the dock with two Crouching low, she began to strip. guests from southern California. Experienced in various coldwater venues, Richard and Joannie Fanning had never fished the flats of I could see wakes shoot ahead of the black seam, and then heard the Lower Laguna Madre. Having observed the couple casting to the first of several explosions as redfish came out of the water speckled trout under our lights the previous night, I knew that fighting for the fly. Joannie stayed low until one of the fish Joannie had a beautiful casting style, but that she might find it hard prevailed. As she raised her rod, the whole school turned away, to reach the fish with her cast. As we reached the mouth of the leaving a half acre of water shaking like jello. Arroyo Colorado and turned northeast onto the foot-deep flats, I pondered our options. If the reds were tailing as they had been, I Later, after photographing and releasing the red, I said to Joannie, “Hardly anyone does it right the first time. How did you do it?!” mused, then topwaters would be the method of choice. I brought the Curlew off plane on a flat covered with sparse turtle She replied, “I listened.” grass. We sat momentarily transfixed as an apricot-colored sun appeared above the horizon beneath a bank of fair-weather Apparently, it’s as simple as that. cumulus clouds. The orb looked to be in front of the clouds, Topwaters can serve as a beacon to cruising and tailing reds that cradled by the distant sand dunes of Padre Island. might not otherwise see your fly. Using them effectively proceeds I wasn’t surprised to see a few redfish tails begin breaking the from an understanding of how the fish’s mouth affects his style of glassy surface only minutes after I’d staked the boat. Tying small attack, and limits his accuracy. It requires a disciplined approach VIP poppers onto their 12-lb. tippets, I gave the Fannings my well- to stripping the fly and setting the hook while keeping a low profile. And it takes a fly that casts easily, and speaks loudly when rehearsed talk on using topwaters for tailing reds. it needs to. “Try not to cast until you can put the fly within five feet of the tail,” I began. “If the tails go down before you get close enough, So the next time you target redfish, consider making a little stop and wait for them to come to you,” I said, realizing that it noise. Whether you prefer to learn by listening, or by letting the takes almost inhuman patience to do this. Continuing, I said, “Strip fish teach you what you need to know, it’s well worth the effort. hard a couple of times to get their attention, and then settle into a For there’s nothing more exciting than catching redfish on top. slow, steady strip. Capt. Scott Sparrow is a fly fishing guide who, with his wife Kathy, Confident that Joannie and Richard would probably fail the first founded Kingfisher Inn, a fly fishing lodge on the Lower Laguna few times, I nonetheless went on. “When the red approaches the Madre. He will be doing a presentation and leading a fly tying popper, he’ll appear as a bulging wake behind it. Keep workshop at the FFF conclave, and will focus on tying the VIP stripping! When the fish strikes, keep your rod low to the water, popper. The Gulf Streamer Page 14 Got Bamboo by Doug Blair Got Bamboo? Rods, that is. And there were plenty around for the 10th Annual Southern Rodmakers gathering, October 25-27, in Cotter, Arkansas on the shores of the White. This year’s Gathering included the usual beginners, veterans and curious but in record numbers there to celebrate the important anniversary. The Bamboo Broker, Andy Royer of “Trout Grass” fame, attended as did Eileen Demarest, widow of long-time Tonkin Cane supplier Harold Demarest. Maker of “Gnomish Rods” and accomplished bamboo history author, Jeff Hatton, provided a special treat with his historical collection of over 80 rods dating back to the early 1800’s ( Rod Crafting: A Colorful Pictorial History form 1843 – 1960). This display is a fascinating exhibit for anyone interested in the history of our sport. It pre-dates graphite and other materials and documents the earliest dependence of makers on Calcutta cane and other materials in the manufacture of the wonderful fly rod. Jeff also joined others who filled the community rod rack with more recent makings by their own hands for the casting pleasure of all assembled. Some rods reflected classic tapers like Payne and Dickerson. Others have been “tweaked” in the making to reflect the unique mood of the maker. The White usually cooperates during the gathering and, as club member Bill Bishop says, is truly a beautiful river. But this year’s event was preceded with two generators running full time. It was close to no-wade conditions but awarded persistent and shore-locked roll-casters (Bob Tabbert would be proud). Back at the gathering…of special interest and fortune to the novice and experienced maker alike was the opportunity to engage the advice and wisdom of other makers. Harry Boyd (www.canerods.com), Bob Nunley (www.rlnunley.com), Al Medved, Dennis Hingham, and Jeff Fultz (www.fultzrods.com) were among the notables in attendance. These folks long ago switched from modern materials to make, cast, fish and otherwise enjoy the lovely reed. A highlight of the weekend was the awards ceremony. This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award went to Lowell Davis, rodmaker from Colorado and Chair of the SRG since its beginnings. To his delight and everlasting appreciation, a commemorative rod was made for him by several makers in attendance. Some contributed by making the ferrules and seat hardware, some turned the handle, some wrapped the guides. All for a wonderful guy who has tirelessly served the gathering. You’ve probably guessed by now that you don’t have to be a bamboo nut to enjoy such a Gathering…it helps, but it’s not necessary. The common thread is really fly fishing…which is so much more enjoyable with a bamboo rod! POST SCRIPT: While enjoying the porch one evening I was drawn to splashing sounds from the river. A gentleman and his grown son had been side-stepping chest-deep with rubber boot-footed neoprene waders when their feet slipped out from under them and they were carried out into the fast current. By the time I reached them, they were safely ashore but their eyes were the size of half-dollars (some of us remember how big that is). I waited for the older gentleman to give me his animated account, then calmly shared with him the “Vidrine Saga.” He really didn’t need convincing; another believer was born that day. (Editor’s Note: Dennis Vidrine, founding member of the Acadiana Fly Rodders, The Gulf Streamer Page 15 Got Bamboo by Doug Blair (cont) Casting for Recovery Adds Second Retreat in Texas This year, the Texas program of Casting for Recovery (CFR) celebrates its fifth year serving breast cancer survivors in the Lone Star State and the addition of a new North Texas retreat. For those unfamiliar with the organization, Casting for Recovery is a national non-profit support and educational program for breast cancer survivors. The CFR program is unique in that the curriculum incorporates instruction in flyfishing, combined with counseling and medical information, to promote physical and mental healing. It is an opportunity to experience a true respite from familiar surroundings and everyday routines. Fly-fishing provides stress-relief and promotes a sense of calm. The casting motion provides a gentle exercise for joint and soft tissue stretching, similar to the exercises that surgeons prescribe after surgery or radiation. The social interactions offer women a chance to share, laugh, vent and rejuvenate. In one participant’s words, “This was one of the most incredible weekends of my life and my face will light up thinking about everyone. I feel so incredibly blessed to have experienced something that is just beyond words” - Debbie, 2008 participant in Boerne CFR was established in 1996 by a reconstructive surgeon and a professional fly fisher. The 2 1/2 day retreat programs -- provided at no cost to the participants -- are conducted in 27 states. In addition to the April retreat held in Boerne (outside San Antonio) each year, the Texas program will hold it’s first North Texas retreat in Glen Rose (south of Fort Worth) this November. According to Susan Gaetz, coordinator for CFR's Texas program, "the demand is high in the breast cancer community for our unique type of program, which is locally funded and volunteer-driven. The fly-fishing community remains our primary source of funding and volunteers. We are grateful for their ongoing support, enabling us to share our program with as many women who wish to participate. We are very excited to expand our program and be able to serve survivors in the North Texas area.” For more information, visit: www.castingforrecovery.org. For questions about the Texas program or how to apply for a retreat. Please call or email Susan Gaetz (Austin) at [email protected] or 512/940-0246. The Gulf Streamer Page 16 Springtime Bounty for Shallow Water Anglers by Capt. Sally Moffett Looking back on it now, it’s a little easier to understand and appreciate the real benefits of a cold winter with lots of rain. A long, cold winter with extended periods of cold water puts fish into temperatures somewhat of a “hibernation” mode not much feeding, not much moving, just steadily losing the weight that they gained during the fall. When the water temperatures really do begin to creep up and then steadily remain near the magic temperature of around 70 degrees, these sleepy, hungry fish will indeed feed up and there will be no question that a spring pattern will emerge. What a change from the past few years with mild winters and very little rain. Be prepared for a very dynamic spring, although the early portions of it may still be cooler and wetter than normal. All of the rain that has entered the bay system will energize the flats, marshes and estuaries. Crabs and other bait fish will spawn and grow, grass will emerge and be plentiful and shrimp migrations will be bountiful. Mother Nature really knows what she’s doing. If you think about it, a long, cold winter means really hungry fish. Rain means more food for fish to eat. Hence, a springtime like we haven’t seen in a while. This is a great prognosis! Springtime Equinox-induced rises in water levels will usher these hungry fish, bait and the shrimp migration into the shallowest of waters. As an “emerging estuary”, these shallowest places will host a large selection of food for predators, beginning with tiny glass minnows and tiny shrimp. These morsels will be hiding in any grass or green goo they can find on the bottom to stay out of the mouths of the predators. Not only will the redfish and trout be feeding in and around this grass and goo, so will wading birds and terns as they hover silently to pick up anything that explodes out of it. settles out. Small glass minnows, small crabs and small shrimp are the main food source now. It is crucial to “match the hatch” so to speak, when you are presenting your flies. Did I mention For the best success, “small”? downsize your flies as much as possible, going with a #6 or #4 hook. Capt. Sally Even in the early spring, anglers must be savvy to fishing the warmest water possible. Continue to avoid cold, incoming tides onto a calm, sun-warmed flat or marsh. Fish will sometimes evacuate shallow water if water temperatures drop quickly, even in March or April. Fishing farther from tidal flows can sometimes prevent this from happening. Really evaluate shallow places for water temperatures, incoming tides, cool winds and other factors that might make fish uncomfortable there until at least the end of April or until the weather Early spring fishing sometimes demands thinking about winter and spring patterns. So, remember, if it gets cool for an extended period of time, step back into a winter pattern. If the weather warms up and stays there for a while, step forward into a spring pattern. Flexibility in thinking at this changeable time of the year will make you a successful angler! See you on the water, Website: www.CaptainSally.com Email: [email protected] Blog: www.CaptainSallysBlog.blogspot.co m Twitter: CaptainSally Find me on Facebook, Sally Ann Moffett The Gulf Streamer Page 17 Michael Verduin’s Plastic Pig by Bill Heugel Michael was very special to us in the PWFF. He lived in the Dallas area and still belonged to our club. He would come to give a program and even after he was very sick he came to our workshop to help out and give instruction. Michael Verduin’s Plastic Pig Michael had conceived many effective flies in his fly fishing career. He was a major influence on my fly tying at different events and at the Rendezvous. It was thorough his initiative that I became involved with demonstration tying at the conclaves. I recently searched the web for this pattern and to my disappointment found there were no pattern descriptions. The story goes that Michael showed up at the guides place and when the guide indicated the fly they would be using Michael refused and said he would be using the Plastic Pig. For those of you that have fished with guides you know the kind of reaction this created. They started out and it wasn’t long before Michael was fast to a striper. By the end of the day he had boated stripers to 25 inches as well as smallmouth and largemouth bass. At this point the guide wanted the pattern description. That’s where I got it from some time ago. I guess the guide is no longer in business and the website has changed. No Plastic Pig. Because of the value of this fly and my memories of Michael I decided to prepare this tying instruction set. I recently caught some yellow bass and black bass with the fly. I am sure it would do wonders for whites as well. The Plastic Pig was developed by Michael to fish for The instructions and the way I build the fly are a bit stripers on Lake Texoma. He won a guided trip and as different than what Michael did. However, the information always thought about what baits were available. Michael on the original is provided. demonstrated the Plastic Pig at several conclaves and Rendezvous. He showed me how to do it at one of the Rendezvous. The hook Michael used was a Mustad 34007 size 3/0. That was bigger that I wanted to use for my bass so I used a Mustad 34011 size 6. Michael used Plastic Accent for the tail. I have used yellow Polar Flash. Lead wraps are next in line. Michael used .025Lead for this part. I have made some of these without any lead because I was using them with a sinking line. The lead is now covered with aluminum foil and over wrapped with mono. The mono provides a level of protection for the foil. Michael use a snelling procedure for putting the mono on. In some of the flies I have made I have used a metallic braid which provided the bright center section and did not require an over wrap of mono. The Gulf Streamer Page 18 Michael Verduin’s Plastic Pig by Bill Heugel The under wing is now attached. Michael used Clear Crystal Hair. I have used Natural Flash ‘n Slinky. The center section of the wing is made up of pearl Crystal Flash. Michael then added a layer of grey Crystal Hair and another of olive Crystal Hair. I just used the olive Flash ‘n Slinky for both layers. Solid plastic eyes are added next. Michael and I both used E 6000 to affix the eyes. Finally Michael formed a head using the E6000. I used the UV Knot Sense to make the head. Epoxy would also be a choice except it takes longer and tends to discolor with time. UV Knot Sense is cured with UV light or sunlight. It takes only seconds to cure. Material List Michael Bill Hook: Mustad 34007 3/0 Mustad 34011 Thread: White 6/0 or mono Mono Tail: Plastic Accent Polar Flash Underbody: Foil over .025 lead Metalic braid Over body: Clear 20 lb mono None Clear Crystal Hair Natural Flash ‘n Slinky Pearl Crystal Flash Pearl Crystal Flash Grey Crystal Hair Olive Flash ‘n Slinky Olive Crystal Hair Olive Flash’n Slinky Eyes: Solid Plastic Solid Plastic Head: E6000 UV Knot Sense 6 Over wing bottom to top: It’s a simple fly to build and yet its very effective. Give it a try and think of Michael when you hook those big ones. The Gulf Streamer Page 19 Bragging Board Dr. Tom with an early spring redfish on the fly Walter Pyle with a March redfish on the fly Bob Tabbert with a 10 pound, 30 inch red caught in Grand Isle, La on a green and white clouser. The Gulf Streamer Page 20 GCC Board: Officers and Executive Directors Board of Directors President: Kyle Moppert: 225-343-0867 h / 225-342-7551 w / 225-610-5847 c - [email protected] V. President: Bob Boese: 337-856-7890 h - [email protected] Treasurer: Leon Cuccia: 504-885-0500 w / 985-640-5143 c - [email protected] Secretary: Anita Arguelles: 228-365-1586 c / 228-392-2259 h - [email protected] VP Education: Guy Harrison: 830-895-8696 h - [email protected] VP Communication: Robert Peet: 601-540-8717 - [email protected] VP Membership: Mike Racca: 318-644-5830 - [email protected] VP Conservation: Mike Sharpe: 228-388-5120 h / 228-324-0472 c - [email protected] VP Club Development: Marc Pinsel: 985-543-0527 h / 985-320-0716 c – [email protected] VP Outreach: Frances Hamm: 512-327-7711 h / 512-750-2761 c - [email protected] Co VP Events: Brooks Bouldin: 512-864-9680 - [email protected] Co VP Events: Randy Johnson: 512-868-2545 w / 512-695-5158 c - [email protected] Immediate Past President: Glen Cormier: 225-751-6848 h / 225-938-2057 c - [email protected] Directors At Large: Large Buzzy Burns - 228-860-2132 c / 228-832-7154 h - [email protected] Glen Davis - 601-925-6276 w / 601-573-5163 c / 601-925-6276 h [email protected] w/ [email protected] w/ [email protected] h Steve Flanagan - 210-945-0053 / 210-342-8484 - [email protected] Bill Heugel – 409-579-3525 h / 936-635-2618 c - [email protected] Walter McLendon - 936-875-3726 h - [email protected] Larry Offner – 225-665-3396 h /225-978-1945 c - [email protected] Mary Rohrer - 830-997-6352 - [email protected] / [email protected] / Sydney “Syd” Smith - 228-868-5493 w / 228-896-4247 h / 228-326-6050 c - [email protected] Danny Williams - 337-477-2827 h - [email protected] Newsletter Editor: Chad Abell: 337-839-8412 h - [email protected] (Not a Board position) Gulf Coast Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers Gulf Coast Council, Inc., of the Federation of Fly Fishers, Inc. 2170 Terrace Avenue Baton Rouge, LA 70806 Phone: 225-3423-0867 home or 225-342-7551 wk For submission of material for the newsletter: E-mail: [email protected] Visit us on the Web http://www.gulfcoastfff.org/ ...conserving, restoring, educating - through fly fishing"... The Gulf Coast Council is a regional entity of the Federation of Fly Fishers, an international non-profit organization whose motto is "conserving, restoring, educating - through fly fishing". The GCC represents roughly 500 individual members and 20 FFF charter and affiliated clubs in coastal Alabama, western Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and central and southern Texas.". It is the aim of the GCC to be an effective outreach organization in continuing the valued traditions of our sport. Any individual, family or non-profit organization can join the Gulf Coast Council by joining the Federation of Fly Fishers. For more on the FFF, check out their website. (http://www.fedflyfishers.org/) Your odds are good to win a 5 night 4 day guided fishing trip to the fabulous High Lonesome Ranch in Colorado. Only 500 tickets or less will be sold. Even if you can’t make it to the Expo, you can buy your tickets on the GCC website. Buy yours now. Gulf Coast Council Expo Friday April 9, 2010 Time 9 to 10 Room 5 Description Larry Offner Rio Grande Perch Urban fly fishing at its best. Rios (cichlids) were introduced into the New Orleans area nearly 20 years ago. They are now prolific in some of the waters in New Orleans and City Park. This presentation will provide a brief history, where to fish, flies and tackle. Limit 9 to 10 10 to 11 9 to 10 2 Tying Area 1 30, no fee. Ken Morrow Adaptive Fly Fishing The field of therapeutic adaptive fly fishing is one of the fastest growing aspects of the sport. Now breaking into the mainstream of healthcare and physical education, adaptive fly fishing and fly tying are helping thousands of people with illnesses, injuries, and disabilities to speed up rehabilitation and have a better quality of life. In this seminar Ken Morrow, President of the Adaptive Fly Fishing Institute, provides an overview of the entire field: what is happening, where it’s going on, who is doing it, and how you can get involved. Some adaptive casting techniques will be demonstrated alongside an entertaining and informative Powerpoint . Ken will take some questions at the end. Fly Tying 101, You don’t need any experience or any tools or materials just interest in developing the skill. The workshop will cover tools, materials and fly patterns. Flies built during this class are effective fish catching patterns. Limit 10 No fee. Al Crise- Getting ready for CCI Testing This class is designed to help students prepare for the FFF Basic Casting Instructor Certification test. Prior to registering to take the test, there’s a lot you need to know and prepare for, or else it could be a waste of your time and money. The instructor, an FFF Master-certified CCI, will detail the process, offer numerous tips and advice, and evaluate your educational needs. Limit 6, $30. Gulf Coast Council Expo Friday April 9, 2010 9 to 11 9:00 to 11:00 3 4 Terry has developed a number of original patterns that are extremely effective on warmwater fish. This workshop will teach you how to construct and fish these outstanding flies. Bring your tying tools. Limit 10, $10. Scott Sparrow Guide flies Scott will work with you to tie the three most effective flies that he uses for redfish and trophy trout. These flies are designed to be effective fish attractors and yet simple in construction and easy to tie. Scott's VIP popper pattern is on the cover of Guide Flies by David Klausmeyer. Limit 6, $15. Material fee 9:00 to Casting 11:00 Area 3 10:00 to 11:30 Terry Wilson Original Flies David Lemke Double Haul Clinic: One of the essential tools needed by most flycasters is the double haul. Its power increases line speed and distance. . This short clinic is designed to give the intermediate casting student the ability to use hauling techniques in their everyday casting and to start casting greater distances. You will learn • Pantomime techniques used to develop the proper coordination and muscle memory to perform the double haul. • The practice drills and techniques required to develop a good double haul • To shoot line properly in conjunction with the haul to get a well directed, tight loop at a greater distance than could be achieved without the haul. Because this technique requires casting skill and coordination, the student should be a strong intermediate caster, able to cast reasonably good loops in forward and backcast at 40’. Class size limited to 6, $15. Casting Al Crise Stroke, the Key to Flycasting Area 2 Improve your fundamentals in this class focused on the getting the basic stroke down with a focus on efficiency. Hands on casting. Limit 10 Fee $15 Gulf Coast Council Expo Friday April 9, 2010 10:00 to 12:00 10:30 to 11:30 Casting Bob Tabbert Roll Casting and Clinic Area 1 There are many reasons to roll cast including rolling a sinking line to the surface, rolling out a stuck fly, making a forward cast with no room for backcast and many more. The workshop will help you learn to make wide loop casts and narrow loop casts. Common problems such as pileups, cross over tangles, failed casts and problems with sinking line. You will also receive instruction on how to make a homemade grass leader to help you practice without water. Accuracy and distance casting will also be covered. Rollcasts to 90 ft have been accomplished by some folks that Bob Talbert studied under. Limit 6 Fee $15. 5 Chico Fernandez Tackle Talk 10:30 to 12:30 2 Chico has fished for all over the world for various species of fish. This program is designed to help you select the right gear based on the type of fish and fishing locations you will encounter. One of the major benefits from this program will be the confidence you get in selecting the most cost effective gear for the application. Limit 30, no fee. Dirk Burton Flies for Specs and Reds 10:30 to 11:30 1 This workshop will focus on the proven flies for catching the inshore saltwater fish. Clouser Minnows, Charlies, and Seaducers are all effective fish catching patterns. Materials selection, hooks and material application will all be included. When you finish this one you can get out there and catch some fish. Please bring your vise and tools, basic tying skills are assumed for this class. Limit 10, $10. Material fee Roxanne Wilson Women’s Fly Fishing Class This program by Roxanne is to inform the ladies about fly fishing. She will discuss the equipment, flies, and approach to fly fishing. A great opportunity to learn and discuss fly fishing. Limit 30 no fee Gulf Coast Council Expo Friday April 9, 2010 12:30 4 to 1:30 1:00 to 5 2:00 1:00 to 3 2:00 1:30 to 1 2:30 Captain Sally Moffett Kayak Fishing Sally has published a book about kayak fishing and shallow water sight casting entitled, "Kayak Fishing the Texas Way, a Beginner's Handbook. She has gained wide recognition as one of only a handful of female fishing guides in the country, the first female fly fishing guide on the Texas Coast and the first professional fishing guide to specialize in Kayak Fishing in Texas. She has been featured on ESPN and the Inshore Angler TV Show. Her program on Kayak fishing will help you select the proper kayak as well as the associated equipment and include check lists and tips on how to read the water, as well as gear requirements, how to deal with emergencies, and much more. This program is for the beginner as well as the experienced Kayaker wishing to hone their skills and knowledge. Limit 30, no fee. Terry and Roxanne Wilson More and Larger Bluegills They will be using illustrations and beautiful photography to demonstrate specific jumbo bluegill locations, which flies to use, and effective presentation techniques that consistently take bluegills over 8 inches. They will reveal their criteria for selecting the right water capable of producing big fish. The program will also cover their favorite flies for surface, mid-depth, and bottom fishing as well as how to take advantage of the vertical drop. Selecting fly color under varying sets of conditions is another key bit of information they will reveal. This is truly an opportunity to learn from the masters. Limit 30, no fee. Chris Johnson Fishing the Guadalupe Chris grew up fishing in the streams of the hill country. He has been a guide in the hill country for several years and is the owner and manager of the Living Waters Fly Shop in Round Rock Texas. Chris’s program will cover the excellent fishing to be found in the Guadalupe River. It will include the flies, techniques and locations for excellent fishing. Limit 30 no fee. Robert Sloan Fishing Port O’Connor Located on the Middle Texas Coast Port O’Connor is a great place to sight cast to tailing reds on clear water flats or cast to big jacks or an occasional tarpon. Robert has been fishing Port O’Connor for over 30 years. This is his favorite area of Texas. There are miles upon miles of clear water flats, isolated islands, and backwater lakes. Limit 35 no Gulf Coast Council Expo Friday April 9, 2010 fee. 1:30 to Casting Chico Fernandez Casting Instruction 2:30 2 Chico Fernandez, world-renowned fly casting expert and world record holder, will provide individual instruction to help improve your casting stroke. This is a hands- on class from one of fly fishing’s most engaging personalities. His video, The Art of Fly Casting, set a new standard for casting videos. Now, bring your rod and be ready for some true hands- on instruction with one of the experts. Limit 6, fee $30 1:30 to 2 3:30 2:00 to 4 4:00 2:30 to 5 3:30 Dirk Burton Panfish Flies – The tussle bug ,cap spider, and muddler minnow are all effective flies for catching pan fish. Dirk will lead you through the material and hook selection along with the method of constructing these flies. Weaving instruction is including for his famous tussle bug. Bring vise and tools to this workshop. Basic tying skills are required. Limit 10, $15. Material Fee Steve Flanagan Tying with Tuffleye Steve has been tying with this new epoxy substitute for several years, working closely with its creator, Ned Lunt, as well as other tiers such as Bob Popovics. He ties many types of flies with the material. One of his specials is a spoon fly made using Silly Putty® and specialized plastic molds. This workshop will teach you to use the material to tie a variety of flies. This is a hands-on class. Bring tying tools. Limit 10, $15 fee. Material Fee___ Bruce Sublett -Bass Like It Hot: A Guide to Flies, Tackle, and Techniques for Catching Schooling Black Bass in the Summer This one-hour presentation will introduce fly anglers to summer’s best freshwater sport fish, schooling black bass. It will cover the techniques for finding and catching school bass on Texas reservoirs, including weather conditions, times, fish-finding tactics, and ways to get close enough to fly cast to schooling bass. In addition, participants will learn what kind of fly tackle is suitable for school bass fishing, and get a look at some of the most effective flies, such as the Schoolmaster, the Education Shad, the Spooky Shad, and the Salt-and-Pepper. Limit 30 Gulf Coast Council Expo Friday April 9, 2010 No fee 2:30 to 3 3:30 Bob Pool- How to Catch Big Bass Most bass waters contain some really big bass. Did you ever notice how some people have the knack of catching them? Bob Pool decided early that fly fishing for big bass was for him and he has caught a lot more of them than most of us. Learn his strategies for finding and catching the lunkers, as well as fly patterns that will induce a strike. Limit 30, no fee. 2:30 to Casting Al Crise Beginners Fly Casting 3:30 1 Get your fly casting off to the right start with a beginners class from a Master Casting Instructor. The workshop will cover the grip, stance, and basic pickup and lay down cast, no fee 2:30 to Casting David Lemke Distance Casting Most fly fishers become interested in 4:30 3 improving their casting distance to reach fish that are beyond their distance abilities. For many, casting to a 40’ target is an elusive goal and casting an entire fly line is an impossible dream. This class will provide you with tips intended as a learning guide to help you cast farther. The class will include the impact of line speed, tight loops, haul speed, timing, drift, and paying attention to your back cast. This is a hands on class. Bring your fly rod. Limit 10 Fee $15. 3 to 4 1 Chat with Chico This is an opportunity to ask Chico any questions you may have. He will be available in the room to answer any and all of your questions from equipment to fish to trips. Come spend some time with this fly fishing icon. No fee. Gulf Coast Council Expo Saturday April 10, 2010 Time 9:00 to 10:00 9:00 to 10:00 9:00 to 11:00 9:00 to 11:00 Room 5 Description Craig Phillips and Paul Sodamann Backyard Flats Training-Using Carp To Sharpen Saltwater Fly Fishing Skills" 2 This program provides you with an introduction to the techniques you can practice right in your (freshwater) backyard to be successful on your first saltwater trip, or to brush up if you're just out of practice. It focuses on real world practice through shallow water fly fishing for carp. Carp will help you learn or enhance your flats fishing skills before you head south for bonefish, permit, redfish or tarpon. limit 30, no fee. Terry & Roxanne Wilson Small Mouth Bass a Practical Guide 3 This program features the beautiful world of the wild rivers and lakes where smallmouths live, as well as the covering the characteristics of the fish themselves. Illustrations and photos will be used to show exactly where to place the fly during all seasons of the year. Still water, moving water, shallow water and deep water tactics will be presented. Heads of pools, eddies, pocket water, inlet creeks, and tailouts fish differently in moving water while rock structure diversity on main and secondary points, humps, and riprap areas highlight lake smallmouth structure. Limit 30, no fee. CCI Written test 4 Bill Sagreant Introduction to Tying with Deer Hair If you've ever sat down at the tying bench to tie up a few deer hair bass bugs only to be frustrated by the medium, or sat across from a deer hair tyer and wondered "How did they do THAT?" then this is the class for you. Bring your vice and tools and get hands-on experience working with deer hair. Bill will share tips on material and hook selection, adding weed guards, suggested tools, making the joints for jointed flies, trimming bugs using scissors and razor blades, and general materials handling techniques. He will cover several methods for spinning, stacking and flaring hair, including how to make those colorful rings and spots. You will come away covered with deer hair clippings and with a few more tricks in Gulf Coast Council Expo Saturday April 10, 2010 your bag. Bring tying tools. Limit 10, $10. Material fee Gulf Coast Council Expo Saturday April 10, 2010 9:00 to 10:00 1 9:00 to 11:00 Casting 1 9 to 11 Casting 3 Scott Sparrow Fishing lower Laguna Madre The lower Laguna Madre is a vast hypersaline estuary on the lower coast of Texas. It the largest shallow water flat in North America and the only subtropical fishery in the US outside of Florida. It has been hailed as the least pressured, most available saltwater fly fishery, and is famous for its clear water and its sight casting potential for redfish and world-record speckled trout. Limit 30 no fee Marc Pinsel Double Handed Rods The double handed rod is a growing phenomenon here in the south. There are many great applications for this tool. Marc will cover the Double Handed Rod Overhead Cast and Spey Casting. Learn the basics of casting with the double handed rod and how to select a rod for your application. Hands-on casting for participants. These techniques are highly effective in saltwater as well as fresh water. Limit 10, $15. Practical Test for CCI Gulf Coast Council Expo Saturday April 10, 2010 10:00 to 11:00 Tying area 10:00 to 12:00 Casting 2 Fly Tying 101, You don’t need any experience or any tools or materials just interest in developing the skill. The workshop will cover tools, materials and fly patterns. Flies built during this class are effective fish catching patterns. Limit 10 No fee. Bob Tabbert Emergency Room Casting Clinic The experts will be standing by to help diagnose your casting problems and work with you to correct them. No sign up is necessary just bring your rod and casting problem and come on out for help. No limit, no fee. 10:00 to 12:00 Loading Dock Al Wilkie Dutch oven Cooking Al & Ouida Wilkie will demonstrate the ins and outs of dutch oven cooking. They are members of the Lone Star Dutch Oven Society. This method of preparing food has been around for many years. When the Lewis and Clark Expedition got back to St. Louis, they had only two items left with them from the trip. They had their guns and their Dutch Ovens. These pots were prized by the frontiersmen who settled our country. tips and techniques offered to assist the camper in preparing Dutch Oven meals. Come and taste Limit 15 Fee $15 10:30 to 11:30 5 Craig Phillips and Paul Sodamann Three Season Wipers Wipers are also known as Hybrid Striped Bass, Whiterock Bass (which is what the International Game Fish Association calls them) and Palmetto Bass (the common name in South Carolina, where they were first produced). They exhibit what biologists call hybrid vigor. They school, they hit baits with great gusto, and they fight hard for their size. A wiper is hardly noteworthy until it reaches seven or eight pounds. Ten pounders are not uncommon, and a 15 pound fish is considered a real trophy in anyone’s book. Learn the techniques to catch them in spring, summer and fall Limit 30, no fee. Gulf Coast Council Expo Saturday April 10, 2010 10:30 to 11:30 2 10:30 to 11:30 1 Cats, Carp, Gar, and More Have you ever been surprised by catching a channel catfish that gave you the season’s best fight? How about deliberately fly fishing for them? Here’s the scoop on how, when, and where to do just that. Did you know that shortnose gar can be stalked in the same manner as bonefish? We discuss flies, locations, and tactics for “nontraditional” gamefish. Limit 30, no fee. Chico Fernandez Fishing Locations and Tips on Travel to Them Chico’s travels and fishing adventures has presented him with special knowledge on how to travel to those locations for less. It’s not necessary to go to the high priced places to catch trophy fish. He has a handle on where to go for some of the greatest fun at reasonable costs. He will reveal his secret stash of locations based on the kind of fish you might be interested in. Limit 30, no fee. 11:30 to 12:30 5 Craig Phillips and Paul Sodamann Build your own Furled Leaders Furled leaders are becoming more popular all the time. But they can be costly if you buy them. Building them yourself has required jigs or other tools. This workshop will demonstrate a method of constructing your own twisted (furled) leaders from ordinary monofilament fishing line with only your hands. You can make hundreds of leaders from a single spool of mono. Limit 10 no fee 12:30 to 1:30 3 Terry and Roxanne Wilson Fly Fishing Ponds Think fishing a pond is easy? Not all ponds are created equal, and flyfishing success on ponds is dependent upon understanding what makes a good fishing pond and how to best take advantage of the circumstances, whatever they may be. Illustrations and photos enrich the viewer’s knowledge of where, when, and how to target bass, bluegill, and other species in public or private ponds and lakes. Fly selections and presentations for bass and bluegill are discussed. Limit 30, no fee. Gulf Coast Council Expo Saturday April 10, 2010 12:30 to 2:30 4 1:00 to 2:00 5 1:00 to 2:00 2 Bruce Sublett-Tying Saltwater and Bass Flies with EP Fiber This two-hour workshop will introduce participants to four methods of building flies with EP fiber or other polypropylene fiber. Participants will learn to tie the classic EP baitfish, an EP crab, a spun-and-trimmed body baitfish called the Genuine Imitation Plastic, and a baitfish with a dubbing brush collar. Participants should bring their own vises, tools, and thread. EP fiber, hooks, flash, and other fly-specific materials will be furnished. Limit 10, $15. Chuck Naiser-New Insights into Finding and Catching More Redfish Chuck has been poling the saltwater flats of the Coastal Bend out of Rockport for nearly 25 years. He has guided former President George H.W. Bush and anglers from all walks of life. Learn how Chuck finds fish, how you can increase your hookups and the important part tides play in the movement of fish. Chuck puts coastal fly fishing in a fresh perspective that will give you a clear understanding of how and when to plan your trips to the flats and what to look for when you go. Limit 30, $15. Lefty Ray Chapa Photography and Fishing (Don’t let your fish photos turn out like this one) Now that you have caught that trophy fish, how do you take a great picture of it? Tired of getting your head cut off when a friend takes a picture of you? Learn how to improve your outdoor photography skills, better yet bring your fishing buddies so they know what to do. Ideas, tips and techniques abound in this program. This show will make you a better photographer. Lefty Ray Chapa is a San Antonio based, award winning, professional photographer and writer. Lefty Ray's work has appeared in magazines like Newsweek, Texas Highways, Southwest Fly Fishing, Paddler, Shallow Water Angler, Fly Fishing in Saltwaters, Gulf Coast Fisherman, Texas Parks & Wildlife and many others. Limit 30, no fee. Gulf Coast Council Expo Saturday April 10, 2010 1:00 to 4:00 1:00 to 3:30 1:00 to 2:00 1:00 to 2:30 Pavillion Cypress Bend Park Pavilion Cypress Bend Park Casting 1 Cypress Bend Park Guy Harrison- Youth Program. This program is for boys and girls from 10 to 18 years old. Guy will conduct a special program for the youth participants. It will include instruction and participation in fly tying, fly casting and the basics of fly fishing. Fly tying: The participants will learn from qualified tying instructors how to tie fishing flies that will catch bass and bluegills. And everyone gets to keep the flies they tie. Knots: Participants will learn the basic knots needed for fly fishing. An aquatic Habitat session will be presented by Ms. Ann Miller the TPWD The program will cover Aquatic Organisms their importance and identification which includes photos as well live specimens for the youth to see and identify. All participants that complete the course will receive a laminated full color fish ID card as wellas a certificate of achievement and a beautiful fly lapel or cap pin. Limit 35, no fee. Guy Harrison Youth Casting This activity will be conducted in conjunction with the whole youth program. For this activity, certified casting instructors will teach the participants the do’s and don’ts of fly-casting. Sign up for the youth program Chico Fernandez Casting Instruction Chico Fernandez, world-renowned fly casting expert and world record holder, will provide individual instruction to help improve your casting stroke. This is a hands- on class from one of fly fishing’s most engaging personalities. His video, The Art of Fly Casting, set a new standard for casting videos. Now, bring your rod and be ready for some true hands- on instruction with one of the experts. Limit 6, fee $30 Rex and Taylor Walker Beginner Casting Gulf Coast Council Expo Saturday April 10, 2010 2:00 to 4:00 2:00 to 3:00 3 Casting 2 2:30 to3:30 5 2:30 to 3:30 2 Kyle Hand-Mounting Your Flies Kyle is a specialist in Salmon flies and mountings. He will identify the appropriate materials techniques and artistic direction to ensure that your fly presentation is top notch. We all have those flies we have collected or would like to develop as a gift for friends and family. Using Kyle’s techniques you can mount your flies in a professional manner and present them with museum quality. Limit 10, fee$10. Material fee $ David Lemke Coping with Wind This clinic is will provide the intermediate fly caster with a tool kit to deal with environmental challenges that can turn a bad day into a good day. A perfectly good fishing day can be ruined if you don’t know how to manage casting in windy conditions. Developing good casting skills and applying a few techniques can make the day’s fishing enjoyable rather than frustrating. Limit 10 Fee $15 Doug Blair-Making Bamboo Fly Rods, Bench to Stream This program starts with a bit of cane rod history from Masters old and new. He then takes us from the “Bench to the Stream” to show what goes into the making and, for many, the lifelong appreciation of the classic cane fly rod. There is nothing that casts a trout fly line like a quality-made bamboo fly rod. Purists mount an antique reel on a cane rod and use braided silk lines with dressing, like in the past. It connects us all to fly fishing as it was once done. Limit 30, no fee. Lefty Ray Chapa Fly Fishing the 12 Months of Texas Enjoy fly fishing year in Texas round. The slide presentation showcases the best Texas has to offer from Hill Country rivers to the coastal waters and plenty in between tactics, equipment and locations are discussed The fabled winter trout of the Guadalupe will be discussed as well. Lefty Ray is a fly fishing guide, lecturer, as well as an outdoor photographer & writer of Texas Gulf Coast Council Expo Saturday April 10, 2010 3:00 to 4:30 3:00 to 4:00 Cypress Bend Park 4 fly fishing opportunities since 1991. Limit 30, no fee Rex and Taylor Walker Mastery of Stroke and Rotation Chat with Chico This is an opportunity to ask Chico any questions you may have. He will be available in the room to answer any and all of your questions from equipment to fish to trips. Come spend some time with this fly fishing icon. No fee. Expo 2010 programs and workshops The 2010 GCC Expo is not that far off now. April 8,9,&10 in New Braunfels Texas. We have a great line up of programs and workshops. There are 48 programs and workshops presented by 20 presenters during the 9th and 10th between 9AM and 4PM. The programs will provide you the attendees with a great opportunity to learn about fishing for various species and locations from the experts. Other programs will include a wide range of activities associated with fly fishing. Hands on workshops will be available to help you with fly tying, use of some new materials and construction of fly plates. Casting workshops and clinics will help you in attacking different situations. A program on the use of two handed rods is also available. This technique is the latest to come to our area. As an added special a Dutch Oven cooking class will be conducted and attendees will be able to partake of the product. Of course beginner classes will be available for fly tying as well as fly casting. How much better can it be? Recognized local, national, and international individuals will present the programs and workshops and be available for interaction during the event. Our list of presenters and their programs or workshops: Chico Fernandez • Tackle Talk Friday Room 5 10:30 to 11:30 • Casting Instruction Friday Casting area 2 1:30 to 2:30 Saturday Casting Area 1 1:00 to 2:00 • Chat with Chico Friday Room 1 3:00 to 4:00 Saturday Room 4 3:00 to 4:00 • Fishing Locations and Tips on Travel to Them Saturday Room 1 10:30 to 11:30 Terry and Roxanne Wilson • Terry’s Original Flies Friday Room 3 9:00 to 11:00 • Roxanne Women’s Fly Fishing Class Friday Room 1 10:30 to 11:30 • Terry and Roxanne Wilson More and Larger Bluegills Friday Room 5 1:00 to 2:00 • Terry & Roxanne Wilson Small Mouth Bass a Practical Guide Saturday Room 2 9:00 to 10:00 • • Cats, Carp, Gar, and More Saturday Room 2 10:30 to 11:30 Terry and Roxanne Wilson Fly Fishing Ponds Saturday Room 3 12:30 to 1:30 Larry Offner • Rio Grande Perch Friday Room 5 9:00 to 10:00 Captain Unk Smith • Panhandle Poon Fishing Florida for Tarpon Friday Room 2 9:00 to 10:00 Al Crise • Getting ready for CCI Testing Friday Room 1 9:00 to 10:00 • Stroke, the Key to Flycasting Friday Casting Area 2 10:30 to 12:30 • Beginners Fly Casting Friday Casting area 1 2:30 to 3:30 • CCI Practical Testing. Saturday Casting Area 3 9:00 to 12:00 Captain Scott Sparrow • Guide flies Friday Room 4 9:00 to 11:00 • Fishing lower Laguna Madre Saturday Room 1 9:00 to 10:00 David Lemke • Double Haul Clinic: Friday Casting Area 3 9:00 to 11:00 • Distance Casting Friday Casting Area 3 2:30 to 3:30 • Coping with Wind Saturday Casting Area 2 2:00 to 3:00 Bob Tabbert • Roll Casting and Clinic Friday Casting Area 10:00 to 12:00 • Emergency Room Casting Clinic Saturday Casting Area 2 10:00 to 12:00 Dirk Burton • Flies for Specs and Reds Friday Room 2 10:30 to 12:30 Panfish Flies –Friday Room 2 1:30 to 3:30 • Captain Sally Moffett • Kayak Fishing Friday Room 4 12:30 to 1:30 Chris Johnson • Fishing the Guadalupe Friday Room 3 1:00 to 2:00 Captain Robert Sloan • Fishing Port O’Connor Friday Room 1 1:30 to 2:30 Steve Flanagan • Tying with Tuffleye Saturday Room 3 2:00 to 4:00 Bruce Sublett • Bass Like It Hot: A Guide to Flies, Tackle, and Techniques for Catching Schooling Black Bass in the Summer Friday Room 5 2:30 to 3:30 • Tying Saltwater and Bass Flies with EP Fiber Saturday Room 4 12:30 to 2:30 Bob Pool • How to Catch Big Bass Friday Room 3 2:30 to 3:30 Craig Phillips and Captain Paul Sodamann • Backyard Flats Training-Using Carp To Sharpen Saltwater Fly Fishing Skills" Saturday Room 5 9:00 to 10:00 • • Three Season Wipers Saturday Room 5 10:30 to 11:30 Build your own Furled Leaders Saturday Room 5 11:30 to 12:30 Fred Hannie • Realistic Terrestrials Saturday Room 3 9:00 to 11:00 Bill Sargeant • Introduction to Tying with Deer Hair Saturday Room 4 9:00 to 11:00 Marc Pinsel • Double Handed Rods Saturday Casting Area 1 9:00 to 11:00 Al Wilkie • Dutch Oven Cooking Saturday Courtyard by Marriot 10:00 to 12:00 Captain Chuck Naiser • New Insights into Finding and Catching More Redfish Saturday Room 5 1:00 to 2:00 Lefty Ray Chapa • Photography and Fishing Saturday Room 2 1:00 to 2:00 • Fly Fishing the 12 Months of Texas Saturday Room 2 2:30 to 3:30 Kyle Hand • Mounting Your Fly Friday Room 4 2:00 to 4:00 Doug Blair • Making Bamboo Fly Rods, Bench to Stream Saturday Room 5 2:30 to 3:30