Now is the time to put the summer heat out of our minds, even if we are unable to put it out of our Texas reality. Apparently, this story on Rob Woodruff and his entomology class on the Guadalupe either fell out of publication here, or was not published after being pitched to the rags. I have slept once or twice since this was written, so there’s no telling why it doesn’t come up in the archives. It was written in late 2008.

For those of you who have considered taking your bug skills to the next level, I highly recommend Woodruff’s classes for their ease of learning, the hands-on experience and knowledge you can gain for (in Woodruff’s classes) the Lower Mountain Fork in Oklahoma, and the Guadalupe River in the Texas Hill Country.

There are two things about this story as presented here; 1 – it’s divided into two parts, and 2 – I am trying out the new magazine flip thing. The magazine flip may be small but, this may be a better way to view images at a more personal pace.

ROB WOODRUFF ENTOMOLOGY CLASS GUADALUPE RIVER 2008

When you first meet Rob Woodruff, he strikes you as the guy who always sat at the front of your science class, was first to raise his hand, and had all the right answers.

Woodruff, is an Orvis endorsed guide whose specialty is entomology – bugs – and catching trout in Beavers Bend and the Texas Hill Country. He teaches two day (in 2008) seminars on recognizing, collecting and matching the diet of finicky trout to an accurate fly representation that, with luck, resides in your fly box.

Woodruff, who graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in entomology, has a wealth of knowledge that goes well beyond simply identifying bugs.

His audience is riveted to every word as Mr. Woodruff works the overhead projector, points to specific characteristics on insect illustrations and pours out facts in rapid-fire progression. His seminars are divided into two days, the first being a classroom day – with two illustrated booklets on Crustaceans and Aquatic Insects, and Terrestrial Insects. The second session is used to apply what is learned from the first day, and adding water. In this case the water is the Guadalupe River just below Canyon Lake Dam.

Woodruff’s goal is simple, and just what the assembled fly fishers were hoping to hear, “I always thought texts were either too simplistic, or too complex. I try to morph everything into fly science,” but he adds, “There’s still no substitute for proper (fly) presentation.”

The classroom day consists of practical information about particular insects, identification, collection methods, life cycle, and the ultimate payoff – what flies to use to try and fool more and better fish. To aid in the process, Mr. Woodruff also has an extensive collection of sample vials containing the preserved carcasses of everything from the smallest nymph to large examples of frightening looking, but apparently tasty Helgramites.

However, it really isn’t as simple as matching the dominant insects you see and identify at the particular location you are fishing that particular day. “If you can identify second or third tier insects it really starts to pay off. Trout get conditioned really fast to what catches them, and they don’t want to repeat that experience”, Woodruff said.

And, if you think about it for more than just a minute he’s right. If a fly fisher arrives at some unfamiliar location, one of the first things they do is check in at their nearest fly shop to see what’s “working”. It could be any thing from a size 26 nymph to a size 12 Golden Stone Fly with a virtually unlimited number of variations in between. “Chances are the most popular flies have been seen by the fish”, and they are already wise to the fly or had a real bad experience when they tried to eat something that looked a lot like your fly that just drifted by their snouts. He gives a fly fisher the knowledge that can lead to the next level of success, by suggesting variations of tried and true flies when conditions warrant a change in fly fishing strategy.

- Part 2 on Friday -

Clifford Hilbert saves the day with a beautiful 6.5 (notice the Boga) pound largemouth bass today.

I got skunked! I hate when that happens!
On the way to getting skunked, let me throw out all the excuses I can come up with:
1) It was windy, crazy windy
2) Standing up in my Native Ultimate, did I mention it was windy – like from every direction
3) I had never been to this location before – heard about it though
4) Even though I needed the heavy rod to cut the wind – an eight weight?
5) What flies did you say were working
6) A cool front came through yesterday
7) I brought a camera, a tape measure and a Boga – each equal to bringing bananas on a boat

I saw a familiar pair of shoes on the shoreline when I launched my Native at the Sunday location. That coupled with the LSU sticker on the pickup with the tailgate down … it had to be Clifford Hilbert.

I made my way out into the pond and was immediately struck by the clarity and huge amount of hydrilla. Large areas are already showing signs of shallowing up to the point of being impossible to fish. In a couple of weeks the hydrilla will probably close in even further making the pond about one-third the surface it is now.

I finally caught up with Clifford way back in one of the upper reaches of the pond, and he already had a massive stringer of panfish and a couple of very nice crappie to top it off. I followed his advice and began working the sheer shorelines and holes along the narrow area, and he volunteered his spot to me. I didn’t have the heart to tell him I thought I was useless today.

He gave me some space, and worked his way down about 25 yards, still working a tiny fly for panfish along the edge of the hydrilla where it falls off to deeper water.

Suddenly I heard, “Whoa! That’s a nice fish!”, and just as I turned to look I saw a largemouth clear water, and go head first back straight down. Clifford had a hold of a nice fish, and I was close, so I pulled in everything – line and anchor – and cleared the deck. Clifford was in what I call “negotiations” with this fish, because a size 12 fly and a three weight leave little room for error or stiff arm tactics. All she would have to do is bury herself in the hydrilla and it would be all over. She turned for the deeper water, and spun Clifford and his paddle boat for a half turn. Advantage Clifford. Rod bent in a perfect U, he kept the pressure on, and she finally tired and surfaced where Clifford lipped her and held on for dear life.

It really doesn’t matter where you are, in Texas a 6.5 pound largemouth bass is respectable, very respectable. We floated around each other taking pictures and admiring the fish. A bass that size has certain characteristics that take over; bugged out eyes, a NASCAR beer gut, and a mouth that would fit a clear quart bottle of Miller High Life – no problem. Just beautiful.

Thanks Clifford, for keeping today from being a total stinker. For those of you who want to know more about the spot, be sure to check out “The Fray” under the thread “HOTSPOTTING“. There are conditions for seeing the thread, but don’t you think it’s time to get on board?