Kayak Fly Fishing For Chain Pickerel at Daingerfield State Park Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Daingerfield is a lake I visited about four years ago, and was one of the first places I attempted to do a video “podcast” of fly fishing adventures. For those of you who have seen the original, you may want to take one last look because it’s so bad, I am seriously thinking about deleting it. Chalk it up to on the fly learning, or whatever you want … the free information certainly has gotten better, more honed, over the years don’t you think?

Anyway, if you are unable to view the video (and there’s no reason that should be a problem), feel free to ask questions – login and comment – and I will do my best to answer them. Suffice it to say, things are not the way they were three years ago at Daingerfield. Even with the park closed for a year (it reopened last July), something seems to be slightly off on the lake.

Largemouth bass record on fly rod for Daingerfield State Park outside Daingerfield, Texas.

We have had a mild winter, and spring will be coming soon(er), so perhaps that has something to do with the complete lack of bait fish right now. The water looks like it has been low for awhile, and the grass that used to be submerged around the edges is high and dry – dried to a crisp. That is the grass that chain pickerel used to use for their cover and ambush tactics. There’s hardly any of that left at all. Although the largemouth bass that Immanuel Salas caught is a lake record on fly rod, and a real pig, the pickerel caught were emaciated. I have a couple of theories on that, but to give you an idea; Mr.Salas caught one chain pickerel that was about two inches greater than the current fly rod record (stands at 14″), but the fish actually weighed substantially less than the current record (less than a pound).

The most effective fly we used was, again, the Seaducer in white and red – the typical Seaducer. I tried several flies, and that is the one that generated the most action.

Enjoy the video, and ask questions – if you have any. I will only reply to questions posted in the comments. No personal e mails, or questions via the “Contact” form will be answered.

Now is the time to go to www.grtutroutfest.org and purchase your Troutfest Banquet tickets. Tickets will be picked up at the door Friday evening 2/24/12 at 6pm. The EXPO follows Saturday and Sunday, 2/25-26/2012. All activities including the Saturday night fly fishing film festival will be at Rio Raft, Satler, Texas on the famed Guadalupe River.

Chris Wood, Chief Executive Officer of Trout Unlimited will be the featured speaker during the Friday night banquet. A silent auction, live auction and raffle items will be available during the evening. Funds raised from this event are used to conserve, protect and restore the coldwater tailwater fishery on the Guadalupe River.

A new feature of Troutfest 2012 is an author’s booth where writers will be present, reading, selling, signing their books. Also, a kid’s essay contest has been added. Details are available at www.grtu.org. Three age brackets from 6 to 17 years are available. Great prizes for 1st thru 3rd place in each age category. Have your children or children known to you sign up. All entries are via e-mail. Winners will be announced during the banquet Friday night 2/24/12.

Thanks for your support.

Phil Dopson

512-413-3301

phil@phildopson.com

NOTE – I met Chris Wood (CEO Trout Unlimited) on the journey to West Texas, and you’ll never meet a more upbeat guy. I will do a last minute update to list vendors and authors, as well as a detailed itinerary.

The good people at Sportsman’s Finest in Austin, Texas, have an informative day planned this January 7 at their store in Austin:

Austin, TX –

Saturday, Jan 7th at 10:30 AM
GRTU Lease Access Program Orientations at Sportsman’s Finest

Sportsman’s Finest is proud to be hosting Orientations for the Guadalupe River Trout Unlimited’s Lease Access Program (LAP)*. This fishing access program provides members with private property access to the river during a time of the year when access for fishing is very limited. Fees from this program are used to acquire the access and to stock the river with great fish! Orientation is required of all new participants in the LAP. Fees can be paid and membership acquired at these Orientations. A member of the GRTU Board will conduct the Orientations at Sportsman’s Finest on the following days:

Saturday, January 7, 2012, at 10:30am

No reservations are required. Orientations will start promptly at the time indicated.

*GRTU “Supporting Members” can enroll in the Lease Access Program. This program provides a “path to the river” over private property to legally access the Guadalupe River for the purpose of trout fishing during the season. The program runs from November 1, 2011, to October 31, 2012. Although several of the leased access sites are open year around, most sites are only open during the prime winter fishing season. All trout caught on a GRTU lease sites are catch and release only. You must attend a one-hour Lease Access Orientation before you can become a Lease Access Member. Lease Access Membership fee is $105 per year, and participants must also be a current National TU member plus a GRTU supporting member ($12 donation per year.) For more information please visit the GRTU website: www.grtu.org

Saturday, Jan 7th at 2:00 PM
Guide Alvin Dedeaux Program- “12 Months of Texas Fly Fishing”

Alvin Dedeaux has been fishing ever since he can remember, and fly fishing since he was 12 years old. His love for fishing has led him on an exciting journey which has cultivated him into a premier guide and an icon in Central Texas fly fishing and beyond. He has honed his fishing and guiding skills on the Llano, San Marcos, Guadalupe, and Lower Colorado Rivers since the early 80’s.

After managing the Austin Angler for over a decade, Alvin began guiding full time. He also guides in Colorado in the summer on some of North America’s premier trout streams. With more than 17 years of experience as a professional guide, casting instructor, and fly tyer, few are more knowledgeable or enjoyable to fish with. Alvin is eager to help you experience the best of what Texas Rivers have to offer.

Alvin will be sharing his years of experience and insight into fishing through the seasons in Texas with the Sportsman’s Finest customers. (Free program; no rsvp required)

For information on Alvin please visit his website: www.alvindedeaux.com

- If you combine the knowledge you will get from this event with the knowledge you will get from the “First Ever Guadalupe River Trout Fishing Workshop,” you are going to have a head full of valuable information that will most certainly increase your odds of catching more fish in Central Texas and especially fly fishing the Guadalupe River.