News, Announcements, Events, and Classes

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What's new as of January 27, 2012 - issue # 208

Up Coming Events.

updated 23 January 2012

Dr. Ed Rizzolo Fly Tying Festival

Many of you will notice a change in the name of Texas FlyFishers Annual Fly Tying Festival. At the 2009 17th annual festival, it was proclaimed that henceforth the festival would be known as the Dr. Ed Rizzolo Fly Tying Festival as a tribute to Ed for his being the one responsible for getting it started back when.

Now that the “formalities” are out of the way...

The Festival Details

Ladies and gentlemen, Texas FlyFishers would like to invite you to attend the 20th Annual Dr. Ed Rizzolo Fly Tying Festival, to be held at Bethany Christian Church, located at 3223 Westheimer, Houston, TX 77098, on February 4, 2012. The hours will be from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm. Admission fees are: Adults - $10.00; Students (with valid I.D.) and Seniors (62+) - $5:00; Children under 12 (Accompanied by a parent) - Free ; Family - $15.00.

We anticipate having in excess of 50 tiers from Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, and New Mexico present, tying every type of fly imaginable. This is your opportunity to learn from the masters of the art. There will be six one-hour special classroom presentations as well as a casting area in the church parking lot. Numerous vendors will also be present demonstrating their products.

posted 3 January 2012

First Fresh Water Outing of the Year

"The first club outing of the new year will be the Guadalupe One Fly on Saturday January 28th 2012.

The format for the competition has changed this year and it is now a two man team event, with each team consisting of one inexperienced and one experienced (relatively) trout angler. Each member of the team will choose one fly to fish with and it will be the team's totals that determine the winners.

The river was recently stocked with a lot of large (3lb plus) rainbows and so there should be plenty of fish about. The plan is to meet at 8:00am at the Rio Raft campground to start and we will meet at somewhere for a drink, food and to determine the winners at the end of the day.

To make this work we need enough people to attend!! Details and sign up links are on the outing page in the forum."

Cheers Matt Blyth

updated 01 January 2012

DEAR FELLOW TFF FLY TYERS AND THOSE THAT WANT TO START FLY TYING...

Robert "Bob" Logan will be hosting TFF Open Forum Fly Tying on the 2nd and 3rd Tuesdays of each month from 6pm to 8pm.

  • When? Starting January 10th (2nd Tuesday) & January 17th (3rd Tuesday)
  • What Time? Be there at 6pm and we will stop at 8:30pm to clean up the room
  • Where? The Bayland Community Center in the Art Room (subject to change so check the board)
  • What are we doing? Tying flies and telling lies...open forum to share our knowledge and enjoy fly tying in good company
  • Who? Bob Logan (TFF Communications Chair is hosting and will be there early to greet you!)
  • What to bring? Bring your fly tying stuff and your own extension cord and lamps!

All we ask is that anyone who comes to respect the building rules and other TFF members and Bob Logan could use a hand helping with a basic "broom clean" exit.

updated 14 December 2011

The Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept. and Texas FlyFishers recently joined together to present a day of fly fishing and fly tying at Mary Jo Peckham Park in Katy Texas. TFF was represented by David Lemke, Harry Crofton, Mike Arnold, Don Puckett, Bob Logan, Ron Mayfield, Jerry Brown, Joel Hubscher and Dick Kauth. Please enjoy this slide show of that event.

posted 15 November 2011

The Annual Beginners Fly Tying Course

The Annual Beginners Fly Tying Course will begin with registration, and the first class, on Monday evening, January 9, 2012. Registration will begin at 6:30 pm, and the first class will begin at 7:00 pm. Registration, and all classes, will be held at Bethany Christian Church, located at 3223 Westheimer, which is between Buffalo Speedway and Kirby. It is just a cross the street (Eastside) East of Lamar High School. There is a $50.00 Registration fee, and materials kits containing EVERYTHING you will need for BOTH the Beginners and the Intermediate Course, should you also take it, are in these kits. The kits are $150.00 each, which is about half of local retail for the same materials. We get them at "Dealers Cost', and sell them at our cost.

If you do NOT have any tying tools, we have tool kits that we make available upon a $25.00 refundable deposit. You can use the same kit for both the Beginners and the Intermediate course.

There is limited seating, so claim your place now. To claim a seat, contact Frank Schlicht at : 281-392-5290, or at: aged_sage@hotmail.com You do not pay any fees until time of registration.

The course consists of 10 weekly 2-hour classes, held every Monday evening, from 7:00 to 9:00pm. The individual classes are taught by the best tying talent we have in our club.

Feel free to bring a friend, spouse, significant other, or someone else's significant other, for a very informative, and enjoyable, course.

The Beginners Course will be immediately followed by the Intermediate Course, the details for which will be given at a later date.

All monies are to be paid at the time of Registration.

updated 26 October 2011

The Annual Fly Fishing Academy

The Annual Fly Fishing Academy, the program developed specifically for the most rank novice to fly fishing, will hold Registration, and the very first of five weekly 2-hour classroom sessions, on Tuesday evening, March 13, 2012, at Bethany Christian Church, located at 3223 Westheimer. Registration will begin at 6:30pm, and the first class will meet immediately following registration. This course covers everything the beginner needs to know about rods, reels, lines, leaders, etc., before beginning to invest in the equipment and other paraphernalia that go along with the sport. This course also has five 2-hour casting classes on the Saturdays following the classroom classes. These classes are from 9:00 to 11:00am. Maps to the casting class location will be distributed at the first classroom session. The registration fee for the course is $50.00 (you can't buy an hours worth of casting lessons anywhere in Houston for the price of the registration fee for this course!).

For those who do not have rods, reels, etc., the club has 'loaners' available for the course with a $50.00 refundable deposit. We will also have 'non-loaners' available for those who may not want to get a 'loaner'.

Seating for this course is also limited,; so, to book a seat, contact Frank Schlicht at: 281-392-5296; or at: aged_sage@hotmail.com

All monies are to be paid at the time of Registration.

updated 26 October 2011

Basic Rod Building

The Basic Rod Building Course will be held in the old Community Center building at Bayland Park on January 21 and 28, 2012, from 8:00 am until 3:30 pm, both days. Registration will begin at 8:00am on the 21st. The Registration Fee is $50.00. Due to space limitations, the class is limited to ten (10) students, and the 'slots' are filled on a first-come-first-served basis. You can reserve a slot by contacting either Joe Nicklo or myself. Joe can be reached at: 713-822-8106; or: jnicklo@comcast.net. I can be reached at: 281-392-5296; or: aged_sage@hotmail.com.

If you plan to participate, you need to start thinking about the rod you want to build, and start ordering the requisite components so that you will be ready to go by 8:30 on January 21, 2012. The specific items you will need to order are:

  • rod blank
  • guides
  • tip top
  • hook keeper (optional)
  • reel seat
  • handle
  • thread (size A nylon) for wrapping guides to the blank. You need more than one color for trim wraps, if you like.

Joe will be placing a group order for the epoxy (Flexament) used to cover the wraps, an instruction booklet and an excellent DVD on rod building, as well as for a rod wrapper stand. All of this is available to the club at substantially discounted prices, which is passed on the the students. Joe will contact each student at a later date about this order.

The club will provide the 'tools' you will need to build your rod.

At a later date, Joe will also be providing names of places you can order your components from.

Joe, Joel, and Frank

posted 13 September 2011

Advanced" Rod Building

Joe Nicklo will be conducting an "Advanced" Rod Building Course in the old Community Center building at Bayland Park on February 4, from 8:00am to 3:30pm. Joe will be teaching how to do feather inlays on rods. There will be a $25.00 Registration Fee for this course, and it will be limited to ten (10) students due to space limitations. If you are interested in this course, you can contact Joe at: 713-822-8106, or at jnicklo@comcast.net.

posted 13 September 2011

Texas FlyFishers's 2012 Auction Call for Help

Hello Everyone,

It's time to get started on preparations for the Texas FlyFishers's 2012 Annual Auction. Your participation in this event plays a very important part in a strong club. Please read the full text of my letter soliciting your assistance.

To volunteer reach me via e-mail or by phone 713-502-1809.

Thanks,
David Lemke
President, Texas FlyFishers

posted 04 January 2012

Club Stuff

Pay your dues with PayPal

Membership dues for Texas FlyFishers cover the Club fiscal year - from 01 July through 30 June - so if you haven't already done so it is time to renew. Our dues have been unchanged for the last fifteen years and this year we have added a PayPal membership dues payment option for those of you that prefer the convenience of electronic payment. You do not need a PayPal account to use this feature and can pay with your credit card. Using PayPal means that the club website does not have access to any of your billing information. If you are not comfortable with electronic payment systems please use the conventional SnailMail option. See the Membership page for more details.

Club Meetings

Club Meetings are held at the Bayland Community Center in Bayland Park on the last Tuesday of the month. The Harris County District 3 Bayland Park Community Center is located at 6400 Bissonnet Street, Houston, Texas 77074. The phone number at the center is (713) 541-9951. To find the community center within the park download and print this Bayland Park map. For directions, go to this Interactive Map and Directions site.

posted 17 July 2008

Executive Committee Meeting at Luling Meat Market - The first Tuesday after the monthly meeting, starting at 6:30 (LMM is near the northeast corner of Loop 610 and Richmond Blvd about a block toward downtown facing Richmond on the north side.)

The membership is encouraged to attend.

This meeting sometimes floats to accommodate work schedules. Check with a committee member before attending.

posted 11 August 2011

You can buy Official Texas FlyFisher shirts at The Store

posted 20 August 2011

Other Stuff

An interactive map of places members of the Texas FlyFishers have fished.

Link to TFF Fishing Map

If you have a place you have fished and would like to share it with the membership, please feel free to do so. Please note: This is a location and accessability map, not fishing reports. Reports go elsewhere in the forums.

If a location already exist, do not add another. ie Back to reports in the forum.

Instructions on how to enter your new locatin should be on the left hand column. If you have problems please contact Me the administrator and I will try to find out what is wrong. Please be as detailed as possible, I'm not a mind reader.

Texas River Guide from TPandWDTexas River Access

"There are 3,700 named streams and 15 major rivers that meander through 191,000 miles of Texas landscape. These vastly important aquatic ecosystems play a major role in protecting water quality, preventing erosion, and providing nutrients and habitat for fish and wildlife. Along the way, water that eventually flows into seven major estuaries, supports over 212 reservoirs, countless riparian habitats, wetlands, and terrestrial areas. Each year Texas rivers and streams provide recreational opportunities to millions of Texans and visitors from all over the world.
The Texas River Guide provides river enthusiasts with an ever growing source for internet based information related to Texas Rivers. However, rivers are a natural resource that can be dangerous. When planning to recreate on rivers your individual skill level or the skill level of the least experienced person in your river party should dictate the level of river activities you should participate in."
The guide provides information on access to the rivers in Texas but it is not yet complete. Check it out at Texas River Guide .



About the Club

The socail scene before the meeting begins.

The social scene before the meeting begins.

A Houston based non-profit organization associated with the Federation of Fly Fishers and dedicated to the promotion of fly fishing education, conservation, and outdoors ethics.

The Texas FlyFishers of Houston was founded in 1976 by a group of avid fly fishermen. Their objectives then, as ours are now, were to share their knowledge of fly fishing with one another and others who wanted to learn, to help in conserving our natural resources, to enjoy the camaraderie of fly fishing, and to have a good time doing it.

We have an active club with a full range of activities. There is something for everyone, from beginner to expert, from the very young to those who remember when all fly rods were made of cane, and for all skill levels, from those who haven't yet held a fly rod to those who can cast more fly line than you can buy.


Texas FlyFishers

Attendance varies between 50 and 70 each month.


Mini Expo

See picture gallery for more

Mini Expo 2011

Russell Cowart sells raffle tickets while Dave Kelly talks to some potential new members about what the Texas FlyFishers has to offer.

Mini Expo 2011

Frank Schilicht, some hidden soul, Jerry Brown, Mike Arnold, and Dave Steffek ponder some new shenanigans.

Mini Expo 2011

Joe Nicolo discusses the fine detail in the fly rods he builds.

Mini Expo 2011

Bob Logan is the GADGET MAN!

posted 31 August 2011

Outing and Other Reports

On Sat. Dec 10, TFF was represented at FTU's 2011 'Inshore Fishing Expo' at the Texas FlyFishers table by:

Chris_Cassie_John
Chris, Casey, John

John
John Carpenter

Casey
Casey Smartt

Chris
Chris Sumers

posted 14 December 2011

Redfish Rodeo

Redfish

Well as the 25th anniversary redfish rodeo has passed and proved to be a major success! Everybody really had a great time. The food was awesome, the refreshments - very refreshing, and the fishing was very good. I want to say thanks to my team of cooks Adam Muire, George Sutherland, Sam Lee, Aaron Hammer, Nick Somogyi, and John Purcell, with help from everybody else nobody left the table hungry! The condos were very comfortable and spacious except for parking but that worked out too.

Padre Island National Seashore

Nilo Puckett

Matt cooking fresh fish fillets, wind was too strong to cook in the open.

Nilo Puckett

Nilo, the ladyfish lady.

posted 25 Sept 2011

Sabine River Float

POC Jetty Trip

Three TFF members pre-fished the river late Friday. There were some small Kentucky bass and bluegill willing to take flies. Saturday at 6am a total of six Texas FlyFishers showed up at Tak-A-Paw, coffee in hand. Finally the canoes are in the water, the Texas FlyFishers had loaded their gear and in less than 5 minutes later calls of “Fish on!” were heard.

posted 21 Sept 2011

Port O'Connor 1 Fly

Yes and it was very GOOD TOO.

They claim they ate good. We have proof they even went fishing. Pictures are in the gallery.

posted 25 August 2011

Chandeleur Islands Outing produced some monsters.

Chandeleur Islands red fish.

Pictures posted in the TFF Forum.

Pictures posted on Ray Russ's Face Book Wall.

There is a Chandeleur Island Outing album is in the 'Picture Gallery'.

posted 19 August 2011

POC Overnight Jetty

POC Jetty Trip

A report of an epic scale, rivaling War and Peace, has been posted by Mike Graham in the Salt Water Outings Forum.

Please read it there.

posted 29 June 2011

Fence Lake

lone fisherman

We came, we paddled and we caught. It was a beautiful day on the water with some fish caught and a good time had by all. And, to top it off, when we returned to the dock, while unloading the 'yaks and long rods, we were serenaded by Ray Wilie Hubbard singing his all time great hit "Up Against the Wall, Redneck Mother" next door at the Music Festival. A fitting end to an overall great day. To all the members that made the trip, I'm glad you made it and I hope you all had a good time, I know I did. Also, I'd like to get a count on what all was caught and, if you took any pictures, I'd like to get a copy of them, also.

posted 16 June 2011

South Llano

lone fisherman

See the thread in the Forums under Fresh Water Outing.

Updated 29 June 2011 - Puck