Fort Parker Surprise

I headed to Fort Parker after work, today.  Mainly, I was hoping to catch a couple of Rainbows, and I am still trying out my Bass Brunch fly.  Since I haven't used it on Lake Springfield's waters, today was as good as any other day to try it out.  It was a rough day on the water, and the wind was behaving.  Everything is on its bed right now, which means very little was biting.  For the day, I ended up with a small Largemouth Bass and two Bluegill.  I thought the fish would be pounding my flies, just because it has always been that way when I've fished Springfield, and I had FishOn! the third cast.  The Bass Brunch snared all three of the fish, but I fished a Popper and a Bonefish Bitter.  The Bitter had no takers, and the popper garnered some interest, but I saw only seven fish total for the day--very, very low.

The day was beautiful, somewhat windy, and areas of the Duckweed had dissipated, but the pollen from Monday's and Tuesday's high winds coated the water.  I wanted to stay on the water until dusk, but since the pathway from the parking lot to Lake Springfield had wash-out spots all along the way, I came off the water early.  For some dumb reason, Sunday night I had a nightmare that I was fishing Springfield and was attacked by Water Moccasins, Lonesome Dove style.  In addition to that, I "Like" Texas Parks & Wildlife on facebook and have seen the two different pictures on their page where the snake is eating a fish.  Lake Springfield does have a few springs feeding it in places, but I did ask the Rangers when I checked in this afternoon about snakes, especially on the trail and in the water.  I do not want to be bitten by a snake!  The rangers said there had been no reports of snakes out there, so I felt good.  Then, I walked around the corner and a noise in the bushes attracted my attention; boy was I surprised but remained calm.  I let the Rangers know, and we all watched the Chicken Snakes doing their mating ritual.

No Rainbows, but my fly caught fish, and the Chicken Snakes were really cool--all in all, a good day!





Easter Egg Hunt

Easter Egg hunt at Old City Lake, Kiwanis Park, Ennis

Being Easter, Cody and I decided we would go on an egg hunt this afternoon at the Kiwanis Park in Ennis.  The park has a nice playground, wide-open spaces, a good area for families to gather, and oh, a lake, Old City Lake, to be specific.  The wind blew and gave no respite, so the small rods again stayed in their cases, and the 4# and 5# saw action. Equipped with our flies, fly rods, and I in my float tube, we searched for spawning beds.   The Mama Bass's spawning beds and eggs draw large schools of carnivores who just lurk and hover hoping to eat her eggs.  When we fish, since lurkers harangue the female Bass to hysteria, we ignore her and try not to catch the bass on their beds.  Wanting to give the Bass parents some reprieve from the pesky predators, we cast near their egg-laden beds and were rewarded nicely for a couple hours of fishing.  Cody cast a CodyBugger and caught six, huge Bluegills and Green Sunfish. I also tied on a CodyBugger pattern, until some fish hammered it hard and ripped the lips and palmered grizzly hackle from the fly; I wish I had landed that one!  Then, I tied on a Crayfish (tied for Belize, last year) and caught a Redear Sunfish, Bluegill, and a male Laregmouth Bass.   Measured by our catches, we enjoyed a successful egg hunt and a happy Easter!

Nolan River White Bass



Cody and I read Russell's post about Sandies in the Nolan on the Texas Fishing Forum's Fly Fishing posts.  I went to high school in Granbury and lived near the De Cordova Bend Dam.  I canoed a short stretch of the Nolan one afternoon more than 25 years ago, and it looked like the pictures in Russell's post was the place I had been.  Missing the White Bass run wherever we went this season, I sweet-talked Cody Bell in to a Sunday afternoon trip to the Nolan.

We tried to get in at Adair Spring Park, but the ambulance, fire truck, and volunteer fire fighters blocked the way, so we headed over to Nolan River Park, aka Poison Ivy Heaven.  The wind blew straight from the west with no buffer, and Cody intended to wet wade and didn't feel like a long, drawn-out ordeal with Poison Ivy.  We monitored the airwaves for news on the activity at Adair Spring.  Care Flight had been released; they decided not to boat the victim to help, and when we made it back over there, medical crews were leisurely leaving.  We waited, pulled in, geared up, and headed on.

We waded the creek bed to its confluence with the Nolan.  Cody crossed to the western side and found a nice bed of greedy Redear Sunfish.  There was a Mama Bass bedding and lots of rather large, 12 oz. size, Redears lurking, hoping to eat some eggs.  We left the Mama alone and targeted the harassing Redears, who just loved the CodyBugger fly.  They were hungry, greedy, and hammering the flies.  Even a little Dollar Sunfish got in on the action.

We passed the narrow little slew that opened in to a nice elongated pool, and choosing the low bank, we cast to and caught some aggressive Bluegill.  Eventually, we climbed and walked the high bank, and realized that the pool was somewhat shallower than we thought originally, but with our polarized glasses and sunlight, it was like looking in to a managed aquarium.  We saw a male Largemouth Bass and small, separate schools of Bluegill.  Due to its shallow depth, the Duckweed was rather a nuisance, but the Bluegills were fun.

Originally, we planned to hike all the way to the old train tress, but the trail became difficult and laden with Poison Ivy, so we decided that the pool beginning at the big boulders resting in the river bed was as far as we would go.  Cody cast his CodyBugger, and we saw the hit-and-run, silver flash of the White Bass.  I switched out my fly to a Bonefish Bitter, hoping that crayfish were on the fishes' menu.  Cody caught two nice-sized Bluegill, and I wandered over to the riverbank and began fishing the tree-lined, shady streamside.  Spending about 10 minutes over there, I hear Cody hollering and walking his pet "fish on its leash" towards me.  Sure enough, a nice White Bass was at the end of Cody's line. 

Cody switched to a bead-chain eye, grey-and-white Clouser, and had moved about 15 ft. farther downstream from where he caught the Bluegill.  Sharing another bead-chain Clouser in chartreuse and white, Cody showed me where to cast, offered the advice to strip quickly, and I had FishOn!, too.  It was a nice White Bass.  I was happy, but now I had to know if my BassBrunch--Gizzard Shad pattern would work.  I moved about 6 ft. downstream, and even though the Duckweed would cover the fly, entangle the lines, and snag in the guides, the spot was the honey hole!  My BassBrunch was the fly I had hoped it would be.  I ended up catching eight White Bass on my fly, and Cody continued to catch them on his Clouser.  Finally, after a continual chorus of FishOn!, Cody gave the five-minute call. 

Our sweet friend, fellow fly tyer, and DFF member Harvey Stahl passed away on Wednesday 6 April 2011, and Harvey's memorial service would be Monday, so before my last cast, I called the final fish of the day in memory of Harvey.  I was rewarded with a rather nice White Bass.  Cody also called his Last Cast in Harvey's memory and was honored nicely, too.  We missed the White Bass run on the Sabine and Colorado Rivers, so stumbling in to the White Bass on our first fishing trip to the Nolan--wonderful.  Designing a successful fly--superb.  The fact that we were the only two on the river--priceless!


My "Harvey" catch



Cody's "Harvey" catch













A Whole Lotta' Firsts

Today was the first outing for the Mitzi Skiff in 2011, and what a fine outing Cody and I had!  We had heard several weeks ago that Lake Athens was chalking up a nice White Bass spawn, so we decided to give it a try.  Lake Athens was a new destination for us, so we talked with the gentleman in the Marina.  Unfortunately, he told us the fishing was very slow and a few Crappie were being caught on the beds in about 5 - 6 feet of water and that was it.  We talked about going next door to the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center Outdoor Fools Day or sticking with fishing Athens.  Decision made, Cody and I studied their map and chose a cove that would buffer us from those SSW 19 mph winds and headed off.  (I really am despising these frequent, high winds!)

With the high winds, we left the smaller rods in the car.  Cody chose to take his TFO TiCrX 7# and St. Croix 4#, both rigged with sinking lines.  I chose my brand new TFO 7# Professional rigged with Orvis' 300 grain Depth Charge line on my brand new Nautilus NV Reel, and my CfR 5# rigged with Jim Teeny CfR floating line.  (I finished building my 7# back in January, but every time we planned a trip, bad weather interfered.)  I was tyring out my new fly, bream pattern, in lake waters to see if the results I experienced on the small ponds would hold true.  New lake, new rod, new reel, new line, new fly--WHEW! the pressure was definitely on!


Okay, I know everyone says front-of-the-boat is best, but when Cody and I fish, our little Mitzi Skiff has a polling platform, and it's easy to spot the fish from there, and when your feet tire, you can sit and fish.  When you're up front, stand, stand, stand is all there is and it's a hard surface.  As a result, we like back-of-the-boat fishing.  I drew the short straw and got the front. 

Like all other Texas water bodies right now, the lake level was down about 4 - 5 feet.  We hit a cove and struggled with the headwind, but we did see lots of Spotted Gar and some Largemouth Bass, who were too spooked to take anything we would offer.  We worked our way across to another cove, and Cody Bell had FishOn! his 4#.  That 1.75# bass loved his CodyBugger!  The fish was healthy and fought hard.  Some pressure had been relieved.  The cove was active but shallow, so I switched to my floating line with our Bonefish Bitter pattern.  I tried to catch a gar and had several lookers and one chaser but no fish.  Most of the bass we saw were hovering near beds, so we didn't pester them.

The wind died down to a reasonable 10 mph, and so we wind-drifted along the shore using the drift sock to help keep us aligned and fine business was had.  I really got to work my rod and Orvis Depth Charge line, and let me say I am in love.  It is a smooth line that really loads the rod well, and it does not feel like I'm throwing a 300 grain line.  A backcast, a double-haul, and line just slips through the guides.  Now, when it hits the water, it sinks every bit like a 300 grain should.  I have sinking lines and sink tip lines made by Rio and Scientific Angler, but from here on out, it is definitely Orvis Depth Charge that I will choose. 

In my rods, I like medium action.  I want to feel a tug on the back cast and have some time between forward and backwards motions.  Cody let me cast his TFO Professional last year, and I really loved the feel, so that is what prompted me to build 6, 7, and 9 weight rods from that TFO line.  The 6# debuted at Unalakleet, Alaska, and so now, the 7# needed its debut.  Knowing that I will be using the 7# for fresh and saltwater fishing, I chose a Nautilus Reel NV.  Maybe a little hefty for lake fishing, but the look is awesome.  I build my rods with a color scheme in mind and then name the rod.  The 7# is my homage to my alma mater, Texas A&M University, and is aptly named WHOOP!

Whoop I did when the 1.25# Largemouth took the Bass Brunch.  The pressure was completely off.  Everything worked and worked well and felt great.  We continued to fish this cove catching more Largemouths, but we were really surprised that we'd had no Sunfishes.  Having fished most of the cove's shorelines, we moved and fished a more developed area, and Cody caught two nice sized Bluegill--a .5# and a .75#.  For  3.5 hours, the boat netted seven Largemouth Bass and two Bluegill, mostly because of Cody and his CodyBugger.  I would say Lake Athens, et. al. was a great firsts spot and is fishing better for the fly fishers than bait chunkers.

Bass Brunch--Fluke or Fact

Since Friday's test went so well, I decided today would be Test Day 2.  Cody bought clams and veal for supper, so my test wasn't going to last long.  I also heard some advice about fishing, and I wanted to test out the theory.  Yesterday, Monday, was a rather cold day, with the nighttime temps getting in to the mid 30s.  Today warmed up to 72 degrees, so it was time to get the fishing going. 

I again chose the Streetman pond, and seeing as I had about 30-40 minutes in which to fish, I neglected the northern and eastern shores.  I fished along the western shore as I headed south, and in the southwestern corner, I had a hit.  Immediately afterwards, the fellow jumped out of the water.  Talk about rubbing salt in some wounds.  I fished the area again but with no luck.  I was fishing from about 40 feet from the bank.  I hit many spots along the southern bank, and fished pretty heavily where I caught Friday's fish.  No luck, though.  The wind blew from the northwest, so I let it push my tube easterly.  About 15 feet from where I caught Friday's Largemouth Bass, Bam!  FishOn.  I didn't set the hook really well though, and in his mid-air jump, he threw my fly off.  It could have easily been the same fish from Friday.  I continued to let the wind blow me to the southeastern corner with no other bites, but I was content that I had a fish take the fly.

I was feeling pretty good, two days, two fish, the Bass Brunch is working.  Now, I wanted to test out advice I had heard from two different people that the bigger fish are 8-12 feet, at least, from shore, not necessarily hugging the bottom in the springtime, but farther back than the spawning females.  Second 80 foot cast, about 1/3 of the line stripped in, and something grabbed my line and pulled hard.  I don't know why I always initially think that I'm hung up, but I do.  I was using my 4# rod, and I knew I had a big fish on the end of my line for that rod size.  Rob Woodruff gave some advice on landing bass, and it was to bring your hand perpendicular to the water line, which causes the fish to fight the entire rod and not just the tip section.  Why, in my excitement I chose to remember that, I do not know, but remember and apply that tidbit I did, and what a difference in the fight.  At one time the fish was pulling really hard to get away.  One time it jumped out of the water, shaking its head side-to-side, and another instance, it swam straight at me, but when it turned and I pushed my wrist down, the fish's fight subsided quickly.  I landed him in the net and began the picture taking.

I held the fish as far away from me as I could, and I couldn't frame the fish entirely.  I put the fish on my tube's bib, and I held the camera as high as I could over my head, getting 99.9% of the fish framed.  I measured, and he was a little more than 15 3/4" long and about 6" girth.  I don't have a Boga Grip, so I don't know how much it weighed, but I would guess over a 1 pound.  Fighting a fish in a float tube v. from a boat adds a new perspective easily.  I know the fight is a lot more fun in the tube.  I photographed him as best I could and let him go. 

Seeing as I had been on the water since 3:50, it was time to come off and head home for veal and a clam bake.  I love this field testing and will be trying out a different water body a little later in the week.  Hopefully, I will be like the Rangers' Kinsler and Cruz--3 days, 3 hits, 3 home runs, baby!

Field Test

Bass Brunch--Bream pattern

I worked on tying more Bass Brunch flies this week, but with work, didn't give fishing too much thought, until Friday.  On the old 75 Dallas-Houston highway, which is now State Highway 75, I pass through a town called Streetman in northern Freestone County when I go in to the office.  In Streetman are three nice one-yhree acre ponds.  They look really, really fishy.  One day in May 2010, I stopped on my way home to briefly fish the southern shore of the front pond.  I wasn't dismayed, catching one Largemouth Bass on a small red and white Clouser.  As often as I pass these ponds, I have only fished one shore of one pond, once.

In trying to decide where to test out the new fly, I had several criteria I wanted to meet.  I want the fly to have a good profile in the water.  I want the fly to ride anywhere from 1- 3 feet in the water column.  Passionately, I want the fly to catch fish.  I knew if I went to Fort Parker and fished Lake Springfield, I would catch fish, but anyone could take a thread from a loose button, wrap it around a hook, and catch fish at Lake Springfield.  Thus, I decided I couldn't test Bass Brunch at Fort Parker, so I stopped at Streetman Pond for the field test.

I fished from the western shore, but seeing as the water is low and trees circle the bank, there just isn't much fishing that can be done successfully from the bank.  I got the float tube, the 4#, and the camera, because I was determined to catch fish.  The north and west sides were a waste of time, except that I got some practice in throwing the line.  I had Bass Brunch tied on my 150 grain sinking line.  There are some fishy spots, but they are very silty instead of rocky, so spawning is a little more difficult for the bass.  Since the pond is about six to seven feet low, there is an abundance of weed growth, and while the fly pulled through it okay, I did get tired of catching grass. 

Moving to the east side (and sunnier side), I cast in to this one little mouth where it was rather shallow, safe from the wind, and flat.  I immediately thought I was hung up in weeds, until the "weeds" pulled back heading toward the tree stump.  The bass fought nicely, but I brought her in to the tube.  I was the only person on the pond, but I hooted, hollered, and laughed joyously.  My fly creation worked.  I landed the Largemouth Bass, not a big one by any means, but it was a fish, nonetheless, and it was the species I was targeting.  I hooked up with four more, but they broke off in the grass and on a stump.

We tied flies at Bass Pro Shops Saturday morning, and I tied more of the Bream pattern.  I will work on the Shad patterns, and then test those out on Lake Texoma.  What a penultimate--a fish caught on a rod I built with a fly I tied, and a pattern I created!

Fly Convention and Invention



Lake Texoma Largemouth Bass



Colorado Bend SP Longear Sunfish

Some flies are better for certain times of year, for example a small, red & white Clouser for White Bass runs, and others are a great fly regardless the season.  I fish often, not as much as I'd like to do, but often enough.  As a result, I use a lot of flies.  One of my favorites is the CodyBugger.  Cody modeled it in WoollyBugger style, but designed a few characteristics just for this fly and added another.  Cody and I love Orvis hooks due to their easily understandable and convenient packaging and really sharp points.  Cody uses an 8808 size 10 and size 12 for the CodyBugger.  Instead of a bead or bead-chain eyes, Cody ties on a small, brass conehead.  He shortens the tail from the typically WoollyBugger, uses Pearl Chenille for the body, and a contrasting grizzly hackle.  In front of the conehead is the new addition; Cody ties on "lips", either red or pink, and the fly is complete.  I love this fly because it catches many different species of fish and many sizes of fish, and oft times, I can use only this one fly and have a 10 - 20 fish day! 



Of course, for me, the CodyBugger will always be special in a way that no one else can experience.  When Cody asked me out on our first date, we were representing the DFF, along with about 15 other tyers, tying flies at Bass Pro Shops, Grapevine.  He asked me to go eat bar-be-que at the Hard Eight; while Cody was asking, he dumped about four CodyBuggers in my hand.  We went on a second date, because the man gave me a fly that caught fish, so I knew we'd have plenty in common and enjoy one another's company.  When Cody asked me to marry him, he tied the engagement ring on to a CodyBugger.  Cody cleverly hiding the ring held up the fly and the proposal began, "What do you think of this fly?" and dropped it in to my hand.  I must admit that is a one-and-only version of the CodyBugger, not to ever be repeated.

Loy Lake White Crappie

Cody and I volunteer with Casting for Recovery as River Helpers.  The first North Texas Retreat was held in November 2009, and our dear friend Diane Blair was preparing to be its leader and coordinator.  The participants learn fly tying while on the retreat, but it seems their newly created flies are too beautiful to get wet.  So, they need a fly to fish and a fly to keep for posterity.  Cody decided that he would alter the CodyBugger slightly just for the 2009 CfR event, and thus, the GirlieBugger was born.  CfR's colors are pink with purple accent.  Keeping that in mind, Cody crafted the GirlieBugger using a pink conehead and deleted the "lips"; the body design remained the same.  There are days when the GirlieBugger is hot, and days when the GirlieBugger catches some fish, but its the CodyBugger the fish hammer.  Either way, I ensure my box has plenty so I can feed the fish what they want.

Lower Mtn. Fork Rainbow Trout, Zone 2

Jason, Cody, and I attended the Dallas Orvis' Fly Fish the Southwest Day, and we heard many great tips and advice on fishing.  Someone in the audience asked Rob Woodruff, discussing bass fishing, about flies.  Rob said for now, to use something that mimics Bream.  Seeing as I have been catching some really nice-size Sunfishes, I began to think about how to tie a fly that mimicked Bream.  Steve Hollensed's presentation covered fishing Lake Texoma.  Steve made several points about the fly needing to imitate Shad.  I looked at Orvis' fly tying materials and found some items that would help with the ideas raging in my head.  

Bass Brunch Gizzard Shad imitation

Bass Brunch Bluegill imitation

I came home and began tying immediately and finally honed the fly to a decent pattern.  I decided to call it the Bass Brunch. I created one for Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass in the colors of a Bluegill, and I tied one for Stripers and White Bass in the colors of a Shad, both Gizzard and Threadfin.  Unfortunately, a cold front blew in to our area today, so the fishing is off, and I can not test out my flies.  I'll give this early spring weather a day or two to warm a little, and then I'll hit the waters for the real test.  Bass Brunch may be a good-looking fly, but if the fish don't bite, then it's the Cody or Girlie Bugger on the end of my line with fish in my net.



Bluebonnets, Bass, & Bluegill Festival at Fort Parker

Warmer temperatures got the sap flowing, trees blossoming, and flowers blooming, including the beautiful Texas Bluebonnets.  It also means that the Bass, Crappie, and Bluegill are in a feeding frenzy. Feeling cheated out of White Bass, Saturday, I decided to see if the warmer temperatures caused the Duckweed to take over Lake Springfield, and while there was significant vegetation growth compared to the February fishing, the pond was still quite fishable, so fish it, I did.  What entertainment the Largemouth Bass and Bluegill doled out. 

I used my 2# rod, and even though the West wind did blow, the nice berm and wooded area provided some relief.  At other times, I let the wind blow me to the east end of the pond, where the fish were much more active.  Sometimes, I challenge myself when I fish--I have to hit a particular spot within two inches; otherwise, if I hook and land a fish, I can't count it; I use only one fly; I can only cast to a spot one time; I count to 15 before stripping in my line, and various and sundry other rules.  Today, it was hitting the spot and one-fly fishing with the GirlieBugger.  For the day, I wangled 17 Bluegill and 4 Largemouth Bass out of Lake Springfield. 

I miss fishing Six-O-Ranch and their Goliath Bluegill, but I think I may have found its replacement.  Lake Springfield Bluegill are not the behemoths that the Six-O Bluegill were, but the Springfield ones are beautifully colored and detailed and a joy to see.  In addition to the fish, there are butterflies, turtles, some are rather prehistoric looking ones that have voracious jaws, and the lake is surrounded by beautiful woods and flowers, not to mention a wonderful solitude.  This lake will only be fishable a few months out of the year, but what a great, go-to spot!

Spicewood Springs Trail, Colorado Bend SP

Rain, we desperately need rain in Texas.  The lack of rain changed our White Bass fishing site.  Usually, the Sabine River plays host for us to fish the spring White Bass run, but its low, low water levels (4,000 cfs lower than last year) forced a venue change.  We have fished the Colorado River at Colorado Bend State Park for the White Bass, but not as our main source for this annual fishing spree. 

Days leading up to and on the full moon often mean excellent fishing, and since we were at the ranch, we headed to Colorado Bend State Park.  What were we thinking?  50+ people lined up side by side, trying to find a run in the shallows to fish for the same fish?  What idiots we were!  We fished and watched the bait chunkers throwing minnows catching fish, and they were the only ones, with the exception of the one White Bass Cody hooked on a small gray and white, beadchain eye Clouser.  Spending an hour and half witnessing this torture, we packed it in and headed to a really fun spot on the eastern side of the park--Spicewood Springs Trail.

Fishing Spicewood Springs makes one either a better caster or cusser, take your pick.  We used our 1# and 2# rods and fished narrow runs and pools created by cascading waterfalls as Spicewood Springs wended its way down to the Colorado River.  We hiked farther up than we ever have and were not disappointed.  We netted fish that have probably never be caught before.  Small, yes, beautiful, absolutely, and so unafraid that they swam up to us and nipped at our waders and boots.  Where we fished packed like sardines on the river, here we fished just ourselves often times taking turns because the creek was not wide enough for two side-by-side.  At times sheer granite walls surrounded us, and at others, wild oaks, cedars, and shrubs.  Drop-offs and small waterfalls gave birth to each of the pools we fished, and due to the rocky bottoms, the waters were always clear until the mouth of the creek.

Cody hooked up with the bigger fish using the CodyBuggers, and I chose to fish the GirlieBugger.  Our fish were measured by ounces not pounds, but Cody landed several Bass nearing a pound and Bluegill in the 5-7 ounce size.  After suffering zero catches for the White Bass, the small Bluegill satisfied me due to their beautiful colors, including scarlet eyes, and feverent fight.  A 6 ounce Bluegill can put a bend in a 2# rod like a 10 pound Bass can put in a 5# rod!  1.1 pound tippet, 2# rod, and a floating line made for an excellent fishing trip in a majestic, solitary setting.

Fly Fish Texas

Once a year, the TPWD's Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens hosts an all-day fly fishing extravaganza.  Many area fly fishing clubs converge on the TFFC facility to teach fly casting, fly tying, rod building, seminars on places to fish throughout our state, different kinds of water crafts used to get up into narrow saltwater lake flats or small creeks, different styles and types of fly rods, and what it looks like to catch a fish with a fly rod.  The theme of the 12th Fly Fish Texas was "Tie a fly, cast a fly, catch a fish."

Cody and I volunteered to demonstrate catching fish.  Usually we are in the catfish aquarium casting to 20+ pound catfish, but due to a newly purchased filtration system and not-knowing when funds will come around again to purchase another one when this one wears out, we were not allowed to fish the catfish aquarium.  Those catfish take any where from 20-30 minutes to land, and they fight and muck up the water, so we understood their reasoning, but we were disappointed. We weren't denied total access, though.  The trout stream exhibit was this year's fishing spot, so the public had a great eye-level view of the fish, could watch us cast, and see our fly underwater, watch fish chase our flies, and see fish caught.  Yes, it was casting in aquarium, but how many people say they cast to captive fish?  Even at Bass Pro Shops, they clip the hook off the fly.  Fun, fun, fun!

The TFFC staff saved two nice 16" trout--one rainbow and one brown for the trout aquarium just for us to catch, and so I obliged them by catching the rainbow.  I fished my 4# TFO Finesse rigged with a 150 grain Sharkskin line.  Unfortunately, I chose a 6.6 lb tippet.  Entertaining a crowd of about 25 guests, I caught that rainbow using a red-lipped CodyBugger, and FishOn--for 10 minutes.  Just after the fish's second jump, she broke that tippet clean off.  About 30 minutes and 45 minutes after losing that beautiful rainbow, new guests kept commenting that they knew I had caught her, because they could see the fly still in her mouth, and yes, I use barbless hooks.  Overall, I netted a Largemouth Bass, four Rainbow Trout, one of the most beautiful Bluegill I have ever seen, and two Black Crappie, one was a monster of a crappie.  As much fun as it was and even though Cody appeared in his first magazine in 2006 fishing this same spot, Cody forwent fishing for the day.  I gave Cody his Easter present early, just for this occasion--a pair of Simms G4Z waders, but Cody said he didn't want to get them dirty! 

Having completed the DFF's time slot for catching fish, Cody and I chose to tie flies.  Cody demonstrated tying Crystal Midges, CodyBuggers, and GirlieBuggers.  I tied Bonefish Bitters, and concocted some on-the-spot, crazy crab pattern.  I will be interested to see how it fishes.  At lunch, we met up with other DFF volunteers, and Diane Blair said she taught about 100 people fly casting; Malcolm Duke said he had seen about 25 people per class he was working.  I don't know how many people attended, but looking throughout the facility, visitors, experiencing all facets of fly fishing, could be seen all day. 

At the end of the day, the TFFC holds a raffle.  In previous years, both the public and volunteers could purchase tickets for the raffle.  However, the TFFC staff said that for the quality of items, the raffle did not generate much money from the visitors, so this year, they decided to hold the raffle for the volunteers, as a thank-you.  Both Orivs and TFO donated a Batenkill reel and BVK rod, respectively, to the raffle, and two Project Healing Waters veterans won--a fitting end to a great day!  We love Fly Fish Texas and can't wait for 10 March 2012 and the 13th Fly Fish Texas!