Fly Shops

Texas Fly Fishing Events Piling On Again This Year

shannon | January 16, 2018

Let the good lines roll!

Announcements are flowing like sand through the hourglass now, and as is normal for the Texas Fly crowd, there is another scheduling overlap again this year. Now that they’ve shot themselves in THE OTHER foot, I can’t help but wonder how it is these things happen?

In the first place, the general events (non-trout related) occur at what is typically, and selfishly slow time of the fly fishing year – a slack tide of slow if you know what I mean? People around here may be talking fly, but they certainly aren’t throwing fly.

Here’s what I have so far, and if I miss your event, be sure to holler in my face as soon as possible. I am always glad to share information about this sport you live and love, and if you are so bold and focused as to want to ADVERTISE YOUR EVENT here, we can talk about that as well.

LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE

The first event on the 2018 fly fishing calendar is right around the proverbial corner. Whoever comes up with a descriptive name that isn’t “fest.” or “festival” gets a prize! First, we retired “Conclave,” and now we work to retire “festival,” and the word “ambassador” from all fly lexicon forever and ever amen.

Texas Fly Fishing Expo

Based on the dead website http://txflyfishexpo.com/ – it appears that event is now dead in the water. So long. We hardly knew ya’.

TroutFest 2018

February 16-18, 2018

http://www.grtu.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/GRTU_SDE_2018.pdf

Sometimes a “sleeper” event – one loaded with great stuff and great information. That speaker list looks a little worn thin, except for Chris Wood, who I have traveled with in the past. His perspective, and speaking ability, and knowledge make for a good lecture.

Texas Freshwater Fisheries – Fly Fish Texas

https://tpwd.texas.gov/spdest/visitorcenters/tffc/visit/specialevents/flyfishtx/

February 24, 2018

This event was hurting for attendance and vendors last year – in my humble opinion. And without any kind of celebrity of note to draw crowds, it may be a little of an underdog this year as well. The February 24 date is questionable as well – with the winter we are having right now.

NOTE: Unfortunately, this event uses synthetic trout as their main attraction – setting up kids to fish for these little fish, and not really pairing up adults with walk-in kids to get their hands on fly rods. A lot more catching and hooking of kids would be accomplished with sunfish as the attraction, instead of those poor seasonal trout. This event feels like it is about ready for an overhaul.

Trinity River Water District – Flyfest 2018

March 10, 2018

http://trwdflyfest.com/

Along the Trinity River in Fort Worth, Texas.

This event has size and gearth to it. The location is eye-opening, and if you are local to North Texas, you are sure to run into someone you know.

Texas Fly Fishing & Brew Expo

March 10-11, 2018

http://txflyfishingfestival.org/

This event a couple of heavy hitters, and it costs heavy as well. I like that. I think in the microbrewery rich region of North Texas, they attracted three different beer makers last year. Pretty pathetic. But then, micro brews are so 2013 anyway, aren’t they? There are some speakers of note this year, and although I have never fished with any of them (you know who you are), I bet we can learn a little something new from some of these folks.

When it comes to talking, I would have expected to hear from Stephen Woodcock out of Fort Worth, but obviously he’s tied up at the TRWD Flyfest going on at the same time in Fort Worth.

NOTE: This goes on over two days, so you can do both this one and the Forth Worth event while you are not hanging out in Denton. You can bet the locals won’t be promoting ANYTHING local to local fly fishers.

Ladyfish 2018 Women’s Fly Fishing Festival

March 24, 2018

http://livingwatersflyfishing.com/ladyfish/

Round Rock Texas

Sponsored by City of Round Rock, and Living Waters Fly Fishing in Round Rock, Texas. This is the first ever of this particular event, and guess what? it’s calling itself a “festival” too.

It looks like your best contact is Living Waters Fly Fishing.

LATER THIS WEEK, I will publish the current rundown of fly fishing tournaments. It is always a short list, and with my working weekends, I won’t be the backbone of any Lake Ray Ray Roberts tournament anytime soon. Maybe in my next decade, I will have that freedom once again.

Or maybe I will just start an event called “Festival! Festival!” and retire now!

Monday Morning Sidewalk Hits and Misses

shannon | October 30, 2017 | 0 Comments

Astros 13 Dodgers 12 Homerun Derby

Well, with all the “drama” surrounding the day to day, I missed giving the Texas fly fishing contingents a heads-up on the Texas Clay Fest down in Gruene over the weekend. Somehow, I have come to know a lot of clay artists, and in Texas the Texas Clay Fest is ground zero for their harmonic convergence of art, music and a lot of storytelling behind the scenes. Virtually none of it is related to fly fishing, but the location is pure gold. Just like everything else in that part of Texas, I imagine it has been usurped by hipsters, but then that is what separates that part of Texas from the rest of us (besides its blueness).

I am not going to miss out on the opportunity to tell you that we are at the beginning of the month, and that means a lot of fly fishing clubs meet all across Texas. By now you know where I am when it comes to “The Club Life,” but my attitude on that is not set in stone – no matter another birthday last week! I am more than willing to resample the club life when I hear about, and I quote, a “Fort Worth Fly Fishers youth movement.” I am going to do a throwback, and run the list of clubs that are meeting in Texas this November. If I had the freedom, I would attend every single one of these – just to check the heartbeats. You may have noticed; I discontinued my own CPR efforts of these organizations — because these patients seem to have DNR as their primary goals. The 21st. Century marches on leaving them all behind.

This should be a very off-topic week if I have anything to say about it. I have a phone full of music to pass along, I am still in possession of the Nikon 360 camera (I don’t think the company wants it back!), it’s time to tie some flies, it’s time to reveal a new prototype for a skiff / fly fishing accessory, and yes, it is time to hit the water somewhere somehow. There’s a long to-do list …

We’re locked-and-loaded for a batch of new stories to carry us all the way into year eleven (that would be 2018 for the numerically challenged such as myself). We have the book reviews, a brand new building for Living Waters Fly Shop in Round Rock, Beaver’s Bend, the flounder run, striper action on Texoma, striper action on the Guadalupe, Texas Gulf Coast salt in winter, fly tying, rod building, music, beer and gear for winter review. Is that enough to keep you old geezers reading, and you newbies wanting more?

BEHIND THE CURTAIN

You may have noticed there’s not a ton of “Paid Content” reading these days, and that is because the extension that allows me the luxury life – is “broke down.” Right now, that bleeding edge is needing a tourniquet, and there’s not a lot I can do. IT WILL BE REPAIRED before we head into this new series of Fall and Winter 2017-18 stories though. The reason for that is that we are headed toward some extremely revealing information on Beaver’s Bend (put that gas money back in your pocket and stick a quarter in the slot), and these other topics. You may have also figured out that your subscription also allows you to see more “opinionated” views and language on the topics that concern me these days.

CLUB MEETINGS NOVEMBER

November 6 Dallas Fly Fishers
November 7 Red River Fly Fishers
November 7 Fort Worth Fly Fishers
November 9 Brazos Valley Fly Fishers (do you still exist?)
November 9 Laguna Madre Fly Fishers
November 14 Central Texas Fly Fishers
November 14 Central Texas Fly Rodders
November 20 East Texas Fly Fishers
November 21 Alamo Fly Fishers
November 30 Rockport Fly Fishers

If you have a new club / group / gathering of like-minded fly folks – feel free to let me know! If any of the above dates have been altered – feel free to let me know! If any of the above organizations no longer exist – feel free to let me know!

Texas Fly Fishing Report and Clyde Meets Harvey Slideshow

shannon | October 13, 2017 | 0 Comments

Texas Fly Fishing Report Hurricane Harvey Slideshow

We’re still having trouble with the gutting of the “embed” function of YouTube (proportions may be off), but you get the picture! Thanks for watching, and let me know if you have any questions please! At some point I will be producing another audio based story from the interview I did with Captain Chuck Naiser, but it may be awhile.

What The Sheet … Cake is Going On Here?

shannon | September 13, 2017 | 0 Comments

Good Humor Break

Are we about ready for a laugh? Some good old Lucille Ball humor always works for me. Some things never get old, do they? All the seriousness of hurricanes and tragedy aside, for just a minute … we’ll get back to that for real in coming days and weeks. Apparently there are a few organizations stepping up to donate to the recovery causes – information came in since my last post on Monday.

After this hits the digital airwaves, I am headed over to Bayou City Angler to visit with Danny Scarborough, who now works there as well as continuing to guide inside the loop, and visit the one fly shop (that I know of) that has a fundraiser coming this September 24th. Anything else I can find out for you while I’m in the Bayou City (just text me).

Monday Morning Sidewalk

shannon | September 11, 2017 | 0 Comments

Remembering 911 War Hurricane Harvey Irma Call to Action

Welcome to wherever you are today, this great day called Monday! It’s great because my weekend begins in ernest, with a day of rest from everything that comprises my life as I now know it. You, on the other hand, are just getting wound up, caffeinated, motivated and shoveling the trenches for another week of loving war with work. Count yourself more lucky than I – in that respect. I applaud all of you who have dedicated your time, education, intellect and lives to building your careers on solid ground, and not shifting sand.

911 ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER

As the bells chime on the church behind me, I am again reminded this morning of where I was and what I was doing on September 11, 2001. If you replay it like I do (and we should), then you can’t help but still feel melancholy.

What happens when the last WWII veteran dies, do we forget the war? I always thought, as a historian, that living representatives of those events are the ties that bind us to remembering with clarity. Now, our warriors are still engaged in the war, with what I might add is the best set of marching orders yet (best thing the current president has done); moving the decision making from DC fat cats to the battle lines. We have to think of them, the quick and the dead, as well.

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