Outings Outlook – November 2009
by Todd Fleming, AFF Outings Director – 2009
Congratulations are in order for the Alamo Fly Fishers. On October 10th, we won the team club competition at this year’s Redfish Rodeo. We were well represented, and a strong showing by Amancio Cantu, Doug Slick, and Steve Flanagan secured the club trophy. In the individual competition, Doug Slick came away with a trophy for the longest Slam – longest combination of redfish, speckled trout, and flounder caught on the fly. These were shining results on a tough day of fishing. Thank you to everyone who participated! We will need everyone back next year to defend our title!
The morning of the Redfish Rodeo started off in the low 60's, heavy cloud cover, winds about 15+ mph from the North, and a higher than normal water level. I found some fish early, deep into the flooded cordgrass. I spotted some redfish way back in some very small areas of water among the grass and mangroves. One redfish I saw was shadowing a stingray waiting for something to be spooked by the ray. It was very difficult to make a cast, and no doubt they new I was there. I had no real luck until the sun came out between 1:00 and 3:00 pm. Conditions during the day improved, and for a couple of hours after lunch the sun broke through, the winds subsided to about 10 mph and the water level dropped significantly on a strong outgoing tide. The falling water level brought fish streaming out of the grass, and the sun made spotting them much easier. I caught five redfish in a fairly short amount of time. No big fish, but it was fun to spot them, make the cast, and see them move on the fly and eat it. It is quite a thrill when it all goes right. My largest was a 21-1/2" redfish caught next to the grass line in about 6" of water.
I’m sure everyone has noticed the change of weather. We have finally begun to get some meaningful rain on a regular basis. It is amazing how quickly everything greened up after a few inches of rain. And oh my gosh, the air temperature now is so comfortable we don’t need mechanical cooling or heating. The last time I drove to the coast I had the natural ventilation blowing through my truck and thoroughly enjoyed smelling the many outdoor fragrances along the way. Cut grass and freshly plowed soil, or wood smoke from a distant fireplace is so distinctive and pleasing. It is great to get away from the city and out of our hermetically sealed manmade environment.
I’m very excited that our river and lake levels are starting to move in the opposite direction. I am encouraged that forecasts for a wetter than normal winter will continue to raise the extremely low lake levels from the past two years of drought. The increased flows of fresh water will have profound affects on all of our fisheries. Winter fishing for rainbow trout on the Guadalupe River, Spring fishing for white bass on the Colorado River, and even Summertime redfish at the coast will all be improved by more normal fresh water flows. I am the eternal optimist when it comes to fishing, but I am especially excited that the coming year can provide terrific fishing opportunities for us in every direction. The recent drought has been rough for fishing across the state, but I am confident fishing will rebound on this change of weather and good times are in our future.
On Friday November 20th I’m headed west for a weekend exploring the Devils River area. This is a scouting trip in preparation for a more in depth outing in April 2010 – probably 23rd through 25th if you are doing some long range planning. For several years I have been reading articles and hearing stories of the Devils River. It certainly has its share of character and historic intrigue. Without a doubt the location is extremely rugged and remote, the water is the clearest in the state, and fishing for large bass is reportedly second to none. I figured it was about time to check this area out for myself. For my trip in a couple of weeks, I’m planning to camp at the Devils River State Natural Area, explore the area where I can, and of course spend some time fishing the river. On this trip, I’m not planning a downstream float, but instead spend some time fishing the water accessible from the park area. I will bring hiking boots and a float tube to access some of the larger deeper stretches of water. I’m looking forward to a Fall camping experience under the stars, including a few dutch oven treats, maybe a glass of communion red wine, and of course some excellent daytime fishing. Let me know if you are interested and available to join me for this new adventure.
This is also the time of year to renew our GRTU memberships and sign up for the lease access program. Texas Parks and Wildlife and GRTU will soon be stocking the river with thousands of new fish. Stocked rainbows will range in size from 8” to over 24”. With the cooler weather and recent rains, fishing will soon be excellent throughout the river. And as Bill Higdon reminded us at our October club meeting, don’t forget your midge boxes, and fish the slower deeper water for bigger fish.
Mark your calendar now and plan to join us for our club Christmas Party and end of year fundraiser on Sunday December 13th. The party and dinner will again be held at Alamo Café on Hwy 281 just north of Bitters Road. Activities begin at 6:00pm and dinner at 7:00pm. It will be a fun night of fellowship recapping the year with stories, memories, and pictures of events and outings that took place in 2009.
If you are having trouble finding fish, or need some help with casting or tying flies, be sure to ask about our Mentoring program. You can sign up for the Mentoring program at any of our club meetings. Do you have questions or ideas for outings? Let us know. We have a very dynamic club with wide ranging interest and skill levels. I’m sure we can help you find someone with your interest who can help you achieve the next level in your fly fishing journey. I hope you will get involved in our club outings. Be safe. I look forward to seeing you on the water!