Texas has had it’s portion of disasters this year. Although you would be hard pressed to find a single network or cable network story on the matter, Bastrop and Bastrop County, just east of Austin, Texas, were burned to a crisp a few weeks ago. That’s the nature of living in “fly-over” country.

When I say burned to a crisp, I say it with the authority of a photographer, who melted his boots on the hot Southern California ground, chasing hillside brush fires there. Unlike Southern California, the fires in Bastrop burned homes, 1700 homes and counting. Please read that number again. It’s unprecedented.

Strangely enough, I do have direct connections to Bastrop. It was the first place my parents retired to after leaving the Rio Grande Valley, and I made many a sanity saving trip to my parent’s home in Tahitian Village just east of the town of Bastrop. Nestled in a unique outcropping (from East Texas) of loblolly pines, during the last decade Bastrop grew from a charming, sleepy little town, into a bustling place-to-be suburb of unaffordable Austin. At the same time, there was a sizable number of retirees finding Bastrop to their liking as well.

It all came crashing down when the September fires raced through the drought stricken region burning at least 34-thousand acres, and forever changing Bastrop and Bastrop County. Friends of my parents (who relocated out of Bastrop only two years ago) lost their house in Tahitian Village. Friends of ours, returned home to find concrete steps. That’s it – concrete steps.

Rather than linger on the disaster, since Texans seldom wait for help to arrive, action to help those affected by the disaster got underway within hours.

This week, in Denton, Texas, there is a Bastrop Benefit at Dan’s Silverleaf that includes a silent auction, proceeds from food and the door, all go to Bastrop relief organizations.
Willie Nelson is even kicking in with heading up a Bastrop Benefit concert at the Erwin Center in Austin. Other performers stepping up to the plate include Lyle Lovett, Shawn Colvin and Asleep at the Wheel. That benefit is October 17 for what’s being politically corrected to read the “Central Texas” wildfire victims. They will also have a silent auction and special concert merchandise will also be available with proceeds to go to the Central Texas Wildfire Fund and Austin Community Foundation (what is that?).

NOTE
Once I can get freed up here, I will be going down to get a look at the new fly shop in Round Rock, and since it’s pretty close, I will also try and get over to Bastrop to take a look at what’s left there.
When the fish start biting again, I’ll start writing again – about fishing that is. There will be more on the doldrums tomorrow.

FROM REX WALKER
“Hello Everyone, I’m sending this to a few folks that might be interested in hearing about this get together. Feel free to pass this on to anyone else that might be interested.

We’re having a fly casting practice session in McKinney this Saturday and anyone that is interested is welcome to join us.

Here are the details:

Date: Saturday, September 24
Place: Town Lake Park (it is right off of Hwy 75 behind the movie theater) near the volleyball court (across the street from the high school) Note: we will be in BACK part of the park NOT by the highway.
Time: 9:30 am to 11:30 am (more or less)

As always, this will be a very informal event and everyone of all skill levels is welcome. We’ll have some spare rods available.

The general plan is to start the day with a casting demo or two, offer some casting help to anyone that wants it, and we’ll have some targets set up for casting practice.

Let me if you have a specific cast or topic that you’d like discussed and we’ll try to arrange it. At this point, I’m thinking about discussing distance casting. I am planning to bring a tape measure this time so anyone that is interested can find out how far they are actually casting. Casting against a tape can be a very humbling experience.

DIRECTIONS
The address for the park is 1421 Wilson Creek Parkway, McKinney, Texas. The lake is visible from Hwy 75, and is located beside/behind the movie theater. If you are going north on 75, take exit #39. You’ll turn right at a red light that has a set of cross streets with a creek in between. Turn right on the second street (I think it is called “Park View”.) At the Stop Sign turn right again. The parking lot will be on the right and you should see the volley ball courts (sand) when you turn in. If you see the baseball fields, you will have gone too far. One of the high schools is across the street from the volley ball court.

I hope you can join us!”

Thanks,
Rex Walker

FROM TPWD News Wire Services -

ATHENS, Texas — The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center’s annual Bluegill Family Fishing Tournament will take place this year on Saturday, September 24.

Numerous prize packages will be awarded, including an X-Box 360 with game, fishing equipment and gift cards from local businesses.

Sponsors of the event include the Lake Athens Property Owners Association, Aaron’s Sales and Lease Ownership, Best Western Royal Mountain Inn, Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites – Athens, WalMart Supercenter of Athens, Cole Air Conditioning and Appliance, Chicken Express and First State Bank.

Sponsors also include Cabela’s, Morrison Supply Company and Brookshire’s Grocery. Brookshire’s will provide free bottled water to contestants.

The tournament awards prizes for the heaviest stringers of sunfish, but the event is really about adults and children having fun fishing together.

Teams must consist of one adult 18 years of age or older and one child under 18 years of age. Each team can weigh in a maximum of four fish. Multiple teams can fish from the same boat, making it possible for both parents to partner with different children and still fish as a family. Team members are not required to be related.

Teams may choose to fish either on Lake Athens, which is adjacent to TFFC, or in TFFC’s ponds and streams, some of which have been stocked with bluegills.

Anglers who plan to fish on Lake Athens are advised to check lake and boat ramp conditions before going to be sure water levels will permit launching. Contact the City of Athens, (903) 675-5131.

All species of sunfish or bream (except largemouth bass) are allowed; for information on identifying them, see http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/landwater/water/aquaticspecies/inland.phtml.

Pre-registration is required. Mail registration must be received by Wednesday, September 21. To download an entry form, go to http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/nonpwdforms/media/bluegill_flyer.doc.

To request a registration form by mail, call (903) 670-2222.

You may register in person on the day of the event by going to the admissions booth at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center AFTER 7:00 a.m.

A $15 entry fee per team will be charged. The entry fee includes admission to TFFC. Fishing will take place from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., with the weigh-in at the Anglers Pavilion at TFFC at 2:30.

For more information or to request an entry form, contact Craig Brooks at (903) 670-2222.