Outings Outlook - December 2009
by Todd Fleming, AFF Outings Director
Already December 2009! Where has the year gone? So many fish; so little time! 2010 will soon be here. The drought this year and last certainly has had its affect on our local fishing – especially freshwater and coldwater venues. The lack of rainfall has also impacted the saltwater fishery and coastal weather this year. I’m optimistic that 2010 will see improved water levels on our lakes and rivers, and more favorable fishing conditions throughout our region. We are certainly blessed with an abundance of varied fishing opportunities. Continued good stewardship and conservation of these resources will sustain this habitat for future generations.
December fishing opportunities revolve mainly around cold water rainbow trout fishing. Many locations are stocked this time of year by TPWD and others. The heaviest concentration of stocked fish in our area is in the Guadalupe River downstream of Canyon Dam by TPWD and Trout Unlimited. A GRTU membership and Lease Access membership is the best way to have access to the widest variety of stocked water on the Guadalupe River. There are also some businesses on the river that offer pay access per day. A GRTU Lease Access membership is strictly for catch-and-release fishing, and will grant you access to the river where the largest fish are stocked. Research indicates these fish, under normal conditions, will move very little from the locations they are placed in the river. It should be a great season for fishing on the Guad!
In early January there is a large stocking of rainbow trout in the Nueces River at Chalk Bluff Park off of state highway 55 northwest of Uvalde. We are planning an overnight club outing to Chalk Bluff Park on January 9th & 10th to fish for rainbow trout. Sign-up at the Christmas Party or let me know you are interested, so that we can reserve cabin space for you.
On Tuesday evening December 8th please join us in Austin for the movie premiere of RISE. RISE is a collection of individual stories that together reflect the attraction that fly fishing has for all of us. Photographed in high definition 16mm cinematography, the action and sound jump off the screen to engage the audience in larger than life fly fishing adventures in Patagonia, Argentina, Idaho, New Orleans, Venezuela, the Florida Keys, and Alaska. Bonefish, tarpon, and trout are all highlighted. You may view a trailer on-line at www.confluencefilms.tv. The movie starts at 7:00pm at Dobie Theater, 2025 Guadalupe on the second floor of the Dobie Mall. Free parking (with validation) is available in the Dobie Garage just east of the mall. Movie tickets are available on-line at www.tickets.landmarktheatres.com or at the Dobie box office. Seating will be limited. Tickets cost $15 adults, $12 seniors, and $10 children. All proceeds benefit the Texas Casting for Recovery program. Contact me for carpooling information.
Last month Carroll Voss, Eric Weissgarber, and Joe Mitchell joined me to explore the Devils River State Natural Area. This place was ever bit as remote and rugged as I had read. And the river was as clear and cool as I had imagined. We arrived on Friday just after noon. Our drive-up campsite, was cleared from the brush in a rocky canyon bottom surrounded by limestone bluffs. The brush is thick, and driving off of the cleared paths is not advisable due to the heavy amounts of mesquite and cactus thorns. The Devils River SNA is approximately 20,000 acres, and provides only seven campsites. These campsites are widely spaced, and as you might expect, come with plenty of privacy. We were told the park was completely booked on Saturday night, but we never heard or saw any other campers.
Our campsite, #4, was the “closest to the river”, but that statement alone is a little misleading. The park has about one mile of river frontage, but driving to the river is not permitted. Camping at the river is only available to persons coming from upstream, limited to one night, and only if you have reservations paid for in advance. There is no drive-up camping on the river. As a matter of fact, there is a locked gate 1-1/2 miles from the water, and the gravel road between the gate and the river is uphill in both directions! We proved it and questioned the distance as we carried, dragged, pushed, and rolled a couple of inflatable floatcraft all the way to the river!
Camping under a clear sky full of stars was gorgeous and cool. Temperatures dropped into the low 40’s at night and jumped back into the 70’s during the day with clear blue sunny skies. These were ideal tentcot camping conditions. A couple of hot dutch oven meals, a small campfire, and a few bottles of some very good grape juice capped off a couple of very nice days in the park. It was a wonderful relaxing getaway to a peaceful location away from traffic, city lights, and cell phones! This was an exploratory trip for another outing to the Devils River in 2010. Our follow-up outing April 23-25, 2010 will be a float and paddle trip downstream from the park, and include one night on the river. This is a fairly strenuous adventure, and will be limited to six people. I learned a lot from our trip in November, and am looking forward to going downstream next April. The water and landscape in this area is absolutely beautiful, and cannot be fully appreciated in just one trip! Let me know soon if you are interested in this one. A $50 deposit is required to get on the list.
The Alamo Fly Fishers Christmas Party and end of year fundraiser is 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 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!