Montgomery County Flyrodders Newsletter
February 2003
Monthly Meeting
Please note our new meeting location: The Woodlands Community Center located on the SE corner of Lake Robbins Dr. and Grogans Mill.
February’s
meeting has as our speaker Scott & Kathy Sparrow, a guide from South Padre
Island, will give a slide show on fishing for reds and specks.
Late info: Scott has been scheduled for jury duty and may not make the meeting. If Scott is unable to attend then we will have one of the general sessions ‘How-To” sessions.
Dan Houchin plans to do another series on KNOT tying.
To see how the knots are tied with a large diameter line Mike Hurst is bringing pieces of rope cut in approx 3 foot lengths
Mike will bring a map or two and talk about Andersen Ways & Sportsman Road Wade fishing, Kayak & Canoe fishing are all easy access to some major reefs and shell structure.
This one of the highest concentrations of oyster shell reefs and bars in West bay and you can walk to most of it.
Reviews
January Meeting
Dan Houchin showed slides from his Alaskan rainbow trout and silver salmon fly fishing trip to the Katmai National Park last August. This trip exemplified the best that Alaska can offer the discriminating angler. This Royal Wolf Lodge is one of the premier remote lodges providing excellent daily fly-out trips to the surrounding drainages of the Katmai National Park. While most all the five salmon species can be caught in these drainages, it was the aggressive wild rainbow trout that took center stage. Dan has an extensive collection of pictures that he would be more than happy to show anyone that wants more information on a remote Alaska experience.
Why is this region considered a
‘Trophy Rainbow’ fishery in Alaska?
To answer this we must look into a bit of history of the Bristol Bay drainages. In the mid-1900s the rainbow trout was almost eradicated from the Bristol Bay drainages due to a bounty offered through the efforts of the commercial salmon fishing industry. From a study from the National Parks Service is this excerpt (http://www.nps.gov/akso/katmwrmp/issues.htm)
Based on archeological work in the Katmai
region, early natives made extensive use of fish. The first change in the
pattern of subsistence fishing took place in the 1890’s, when the Arctic
Packing Company established a sockeye salmon saltery at Naknek. During the
early days of commercial fishing on Bristol Bay only sockeye salmon possessed
value. Any fish believed to detract from the all important sockeye runs was
considered worthy of eradication. During 1920-1925, the U.S. Bureau of
Fisheries undertook annual "fish eradication" programs in the Naknek
watershed. After a two-year lapse in the eradication program, it was revived in
1928 in the form of a bounty for each "predator" fish removed from
the watershed and continued until 1941 (Montague, 1974).
Christmas
Party
The Christmas Party was a tremendous success. It was held at Nadines of Creekwood in Conroe and the food was excellent. Finally we had a room large enough for everyone and all the silent auction displays. Approximately 45 people attended.
Thanks to Orvis Houston and Cut Rate Tackle for their donated items and thanks to Mark Marmon and Scott Sparrow for donating fishing trips.
Thanks also to members who donated items: Bill Campbell, Bob Sigsby, Maurice Dykes, Dan Houchin, Denise Riebold, Ann Brittain, and Dan Edwards.
Also thanks to all those who helped in organizing and volunteering for work at the party: Bob Sigsby, Maurice Dykes, Mike Hurst, Naomi Houchin, Mike Riebold, Paul Heinzer, Bedelia Dykes, Tim Whipple. And finally, I'm sure I forgot others who donated time and /or items that contributed to the success of the party. So thanks to anyone else I forgot to mention.
Texas
Flyfishers of Houston ~ Annual Fly Tying Exhibition
This
past Saturday several of our members participated in this annual event by
demonstrating their favorite patterns.
Thanks goes out to Maurice Dykes, Mike Riebold, Dan Edwards, Mike Hurst,
and Dan Houchin. Many of you came to
the event and came away seeing some of the regions best tyers and artist. Mike George from Kansas was on hand to
showcase some of his artwork. For those
of you that did not attend the event this is a sampling of the deer hair
creatures he builds.
I
took time to sit down and gather some insight into this ‘art form’.
“Mike,
do you really tie these flies to fish with?
“No
way, these take about five hours to tie and trim so not interested in fishing
these”
“Do
you use deer hair for any patterns that you do fish?”
“Yes,
I often use the Dahlberg diver patterns for the local bass near Olathe,
Kansas.”
“How
long have you been tying?”
“I
have been only tying about eight years and have been specializing in deer hair
patterns”
“How
do you get so much detail in the creatures that I see before me?
“I
use a system of stacking deer hair rather than just spinning deer hair. This provides me the method to add the
various shades and colors you see in my miniature bass. I often use head cement after tying off each
section and pack each down with a packing tool that I made out of an old
ball-point pen”
“What
sections of the deer hair do you prefer”
“I
use mostly the lower sides and belly hair from the deer patches I obtain from
various suppliers. These give me the
longer and easier hair to stack. As you
notice, I cut off the tapered tips as I tie the pinch of deer hair. So this gives me a consistent size of hair
on the hook shank from which I sculpt the creatures you can see.”
“Mike,
thanks for the tips and hope to see the article on your flies later this year
in Fly Tyer Magazine!”
Goin Fishing ?
White Bass
Any day the white bass should be moving into the rivers to spawn. Stubblefield Lake at the upper end of Lake Conroe is the closest place to catch them. There are lots of fishermen on weekends, but there are plenty of fish to go around when it gets good. Use a weighted fly that will go down a couple feet like a clouser minnow. There are lots of stumps and roots so use weedless flies like clousers and bendbacks. A small boat or float tube is needed to get out into the water away from all the trees to fish. There is one small area that can be waded after a quarter mile hike up the river. About the same time the white bass start to run the crappie also begin to spawn in the same area as well as all over the lake. They can be caught on the same flies. Cloudy days and evenings are better fishing than sunny afternoons for both types of fish. Don't go soon after a heavey rain; the river gets very muddy.
Mark your calendar
February 6th Monthly
Meeting
February 13th Fly
Tying – Location to be announced.
February 18-23 28th
Annual Fishing Show at George
R. Brown Convention Center
March 6th –
Monthly Meeting
March 13th –
Fly Tying
March 22nd – MCFR
Winter 2003 Special Events
A day with Jay “Fishy”
Fulum from 9 AM – 3 PM. Program will be
held at the First Methodist Church in Conroe on Hwy 105 West. Contact Mike Hurst for more details on this
event. Cost is $10 per person.
March
29-30 Shallow Water Fishing Show
Fly Fish Texas
The Athens show this year has a new name but basically the same format. It is scheduled for Sat. March 15. They have fly tying, fly casting lessons, fly fishing for rainbow trout and seminars. This show is aimed at the general public rather than experienced fly fishermen but has something for everyone. It is located at the Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens.
Sow Bug Roundup
The North Arkansas Fly Fishers of Mountain Home AR are holding their annual roundup March 28 & 29, 2003 in Mountain Home. The cost to get in is $5.00 per adult. They have the usual fly tying demos, casting lessons, seminars and vender booths. Fishing is expected to be unusually good this year since the water in the North Fork river was high all last year and there was little fishing pressure.Check out www.northarkansasflyfisher.org for more details.
Volunteers Needed
The Woodlands Community Association has once again asked us to man a booth at the annual Earth Day celebration on Sat. April 5 from 9 AM till 2 PM. If anyone is interested, please let Dan Houchin know. For the last two years we tied flies and promoted catch and release and use of circle hooks.
We have again been recruited to tie flies at the Montgomery County Fair March 29, 30 and Apr 5. We need several tyers each day. This is an excellent way for a new tyer to learn from an experienced tyer by coordinating shifts. Please contact Dan Houchin to volunteer. 936-321-3373.
In future
newsletters…
Needing more help in picking that right fly for the job? Then we can help you out as we look at starting to get you help from the pros. Pros? Yep, we are going to start trying to present a feature in each newsletter of the patterns you should be planning to use in the next couple of months ahead. Right now I can tell you that Captain. Chuck Scates has a couple of patterns that he suggests in March and April for the Texas coast.
Want something special in your newsletter? Then bring all the suggestions to Kirby Thomson or send email to him at kthomson@houston.rr.com . Want to submit an article? Then send them in too!
Conversation
Corner
Robert ‘Bob’ Sigsby
A New Year and I am beginning to feel a little bit more optimistic about
the future of the World. Groups are beginning to talk to, and work with each
other on conservation vs. development issues. Polarization on issues is
softening. Long-term valuation on
eco-tourism, anti-pollution, development and employment are being
initiated. Even politicians are testing the winds. Issues such as, sustainable
harvest, alternate energy and distribution of resources are beginning to be
considered. Long-term audits of energy, land, marine and fresh water are being
undertaken. Does this mean we are
seeing a breakthrough? No, but it is a move in the right direction. Perhaps intelligent development and
conservation can be compatible. Slowing population growth and resulting
development? Fugidaboudit ! I do wish my man, Dubya, would be less hard-core
business and development oriented, but he may be right in the short term.
To focus more on our direct interests, I see more interest in kicking the
hatchery habit and more emphasis on improving the habitat. More obsolete dams
are being investigated for careful removal, unless owners can prove their
usefulness. New dam plans are meeting a more critical audience. The escape of
farmed species and resulting
pollution of the "wild"
fish genetics and their habitat is being examined. The concept of privately
owned, harvested and protected commercial marine leases is also being
considered. The Nature Conservancy continues to very successful in buying
and/or brokering "endangered" properties with conservative parties
that promise public access.
San Antonio, one of the most water-impoverished cities in the US, now has
their highest reservoir levels on record. Mexico did not release the agreed
upon Rio Grande water during August and September-to the detriment of South
Texas farmers. California's Imperial Valley desert farmers face an immediate
cutback of Colorado River water supply.
Swordfish populations have sharply rebounded.
I am very interested in the future of the Guadalupe River fishery. The
fall issue of Trout (TU) showed utter devastation. Bean's Camp was washed out
and is now a gravel plain. The property has been sold to a person who owns
other property along the river. He will fence in all of his properties. The
Federal Government will be buying out property due to the flood. There is a
good chance that State agencies will be able to create public access on the
Government properties. Rainfall was such that even if the reservoir had been
empty, water would have overflowed the dam. Peak water flow was 5400 cfs.
According to D. Schroeder, more than 70,000 tons of rock and gravel were
carried down the river several miles. Damage to the trout was mainly caused by
warmer water overflowing the dam. A large "plug" formed at Horse Shoe
Falls. Apparently the Corps has finally cleared this obstruction. Fishing below
the 4th crossing was opened in late November and may now be open over the total
river. A distance of 300 feet must be maintained around repair crews. The
gravel bars are being viewed as a long-term asset for spawning trout. Some
trout have been caught below the 4th crossing, so not all of the trout were
killed. TU promises restocking as soon as the habitat is suitable. We hope the
minimum flow of 200 cfs during the summer, that was agreed upon, will be
honored.
RJS 3/1/2003
Loose
Ends
Woodland Residents
If you see someone keeping fish from one of the Park Ponds that is marked “Please Release All Fish”, you can call 936-273-4990 and menu option 9 to report them. The superintendent on duty will talk to them and if they are caught a second time they will be fined $250.00. It helps to get license plate numbers when you report them.
Club Loaner Equipment
The club has numerous rods and reels with lines to loan to club members. We also have 8 fly tying vises and various tools. These are very inexpensive vises but will work for a beginner trying to see if he likes fly tying. Also Bob Sigsby and Dan Houchin each have a Hobie Cat kick boat that club members can borrow.
Web
Page
Any member who is interested in getting a photo on our web page can send a hard copy or an electronic version to Dan Houchin. Anyone who wants an article put in the newsletter can send it to Kirby Thomson in electronic form please.
Casting
Instruction
Don’t forget Dan Houchin is a FFF Certified Basic Casting Instructor. Dan will give a one hour private casting lesson to a club member for a $10.00 donation to the club. If this cost is too high, give him a call and he will work something out. 936-321-3373 or tally@txucom.net
Questions or Suggestion write to:
Montgomery County Flyrodders
83 W. Summer Storm Circle
The Woodlands, TX 77381