Anyone fly-fish?

[jamisjockey]

Just wondering.

I've been fly fishing since about 2002. Living in Utah made learning a breeze, with lots of fishable water all over. Not an expert by any means, know enough to guess at what flies to use and what water to fish. Favorite fish are Brown trout and Brook trout, especially since they aren't particular about what they eat.







I picked up a 3wt from Cabelas a few years ago and it's hands down my favorite rod. Casts like butter.

Probably hitting the Guadalupe in Dec for some camping, fly fishing, and rum consumption

[RPB]

Quite a few do here in Texas Hill Country. LCRA properties/lakes/rivers.
Especially below the dams on the highland lakes. Usually for sand bass/white bass I think.
After giving away my two old fly rods long ago when I lived elsewhere,(one bamboo and one graphite) I finally bought a cheapo fiberglass one, but am so out of practice, too many women can show me up and get my man-card revoked, so it goes unused pretty much ...

Since you are southward of Houston, here's a resource that may help (out of Houston) http://www.texasflyfishers.org/links.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and http://www.texasflyfishers.org/reports/index.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Not many freshwater trout around here, but flyfishing the bays/flats near you can get some good results on trout/redfish, even flounder.

Here's a link to a Google map with "pins" on some decent places if you zoom in near you, or see the list on the left.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&m ... e0fb70b174" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[jamisjockey]

I'm mostly of the mindset that fly rods are for freshwater trout ;)

If its saltwater, I use conventional gear usually.

[The Annoyed Man]

Back in California, I used to fish trout all over the place, but mostly in the foothills above my house, and then along the eastern slope of the Sierras, north of Bishop. But I never actually tried fly-fishing, although I do use flies. I always used micro-mini reels and short flexible rods, because those were best suited for fishing the small tributary streams where all the brook trout hid. I always used 2 lb test line, and I would often tie up a dry fly and float it down the stream. Sometimes it works, sometimes not.

The prettiest trout I ever caught was a German Brown with bright pink spots against an olive green body. I caught him in a beaver pond.

But I rarely ever spent enough time fishing on larger bodies of water and larger streams and rivers where there is room to cast a fly rod, so I never bothered to invest in the gear. But it does intrigue me.

[jamisjockey]

On a basic level fly fishing isn't very hard. The simplest techniques are the fundamentals and you can usually get by with those.

Most the time, my casts are short, or I'm even just flipping the fly above a riffle or rock on a stream about as wide as a lane of traffic. The whole River Runs Through It thing is a little rare unless you're up in Montana or something.

Here is some more fly fishing porn:






Above 9'000 in the mountains of Utah



22 inch brown



Upper Provo River, Utah, brown



Just a few flies





Hey little fella



If anyone wants to join me on the Guadalupe when I go in Dec I'll bring extra fly gear you can try out. Of course, one could always just spin-fish the river.

[RPB]

Not sure if you knew ... it's almost "Mid-November"
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fi ... king.phtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Winter Trout Stocking

Trout stocking has been completed for the 2009-2010 season.
Next winter's stocking schedule will be posted here in mid-November.

See also:
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fi ... 2010.phtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[jamisjockey]

14. Canyon Tailrace/Guadalupe River: Free access is provided at the tailrace area just below Canyon Dam. Please note special regulations are in effect from the second bridge crossing on River Road upstream to the easternmost bridge crossing on FM Road 306. In this area, there is an 18-inch minimum size limit, a one trout daily bag, and the restriction that only trout caught on artificial lures

This is exactly the section of water I'm most interested in.

[wally775]

jamisjockey

There are quite a few fly fishing enthusiasts in your area and
Texas. Most are after Bass, White Bass and Perch.
Trout wise TP&W stocks several streams and small lakes and some cities
do the same. I don’t think any are in you area but
check out Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

If you decide to go saltwater you will need to go to a heavier
weight system. Say # 7-9 with backing. The flies you will use will
work and cast better with the heavier weight lines and rods.
You can catch the small Trout and Flounder without the backing but if you get
a big Red or Trout or Jack you will be in trouble.

In your area, if you haven’t already, check out Orvis on Westheimer road.
I think it is in the 5700 block. They have demos and a few clubs that are based
out of that location.

Night fishing is great in your area. Any estuary leading into the bay system
is likely to produce Speckled Trout or Sand Trout if you have a light source over the water.
For wade fishing I will give you two areas. End of Sportsman Road, off Eight mile road,
and at the end of Seawall Blvd by the Jetties there is a lagoon that would be good wade fishing with a fly rod.

JMO.

Good Luck.

[Commander Cody]

I fish mostly in Lake Livingston. Not with fly gear(see avitar), but if you want you are welcome anytime.

[jamisjockey]

I fish mostly in Lake Livingston. Not with fly gear(see avitar), but if you want you are welcome anytime.

I've actually thought about hauling my boat up there to chase striper. I'm closer to Freeport, but it gets so nasty after a saltwater trip....

[Oldgringo]

Twelve or fourteen years ago, when I was a member, The GRTU Chapter boasted that it was the largest chapter of Trout Unlimited in the country. I've caught some really nice 'bows on the Guadalupe on a strictly CPR basis. GRTU used to have "leases" on portions of the river for its members to buy into.

BTW, you need to get your flyfishing done before the toobers get out. I've never seen a river ugly up so fast as the Guad does come springtime.

[Ropin]

Here's a quick-ish story for you, with regards to fly-fishing.

I grew up a Yankee, and spent my youth in the pursuit of trout. (Those if you who know me may find humor in the fact that the Rainbow Trout is my favorite fish.)

Anyway, one year I got quite interested in fly-fishing, so my birthday present that year was a basic fly outfit...rod, reel, line,flies,vest...just entry-level stuff, but man, was I proud of it.

So, we're at camp, which is easy walking distance from a typical PA mountain stream. I put my rig together, ran a few practice casts in the yard to make sure I was g2g...then hit the water. Of course, with trees, rocks and other distractors in the way, I had a few wasted casting gestures.

When I made that first real cast and got the fly on the water, as I'm thinking to myself that I could do better, I get a strike! Wound up with a 6" brookie! Let him go...but you know that now I'm addicted, right?
A few more 'casting gestures' and then my second real cast...I caught a pine tree. Then with the typical logic if youth, to try to save the line & leader, I tried to work it loose like it was my spinning gear, and I wound up with a snapped rod.

Still one of my best fishin stories...and in the end, my Dad saved that rod with a piece of dowel.

[jamisjockey]

Okay I'm defintely going to the Guadalupe. Camping at the L&L campground 19th-21st of Dec. If anyone wants to hook up give me a shout.
http://www.lazylandl.com/vacation.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
No reservations needed. I'll be there by noon on sunday the 19th.

[troutbum32]

For sure you should check out the Guadalupe south of the Canyon Dam. There are some beauties down there! There's a great guide here: https://flyfisherpro.com/locations/trou ... -in-texas/

[C-dub]

Started fly fishing with my Dad after I got out of the Navy back in the 80's. We tried a few different places for about 10 years. I remember starting out my biggest hurdle was figuring out how to keep from hitting myself in the back of the head with my fly. Good times!