Thursday Fly Chat News: Fly Fishing Trends Across Texas
PUBLISHER NOTE: This post is a ChatGPT story I generated earlier this week. Some of it is timed point-blank, and some of it looks ahead. There are going to be more of these informational “Fly Chats” that I hope will help you find fish, and social activities to plug yourself into! We could all use a little “plugging-in” these days, right?
What’s Trending Among Texas Fly Fishers
1. Digital Licensing & Harvest Reporting
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has recently expanded fully digital licenses and tags for fishing—including fly fishing—for the 2025–2026 season. Anglers now must carry their permits on their mobile devices using the Texas Hunt & Fish or TPWD Outdoor Annual apps, which also support electronic harvest reporting for certain fish species.(San Antonio Express-News)
2. Local Fly Fishing Events & Community Gatherings
- The 16th Annual Summer Mini Fly Fishing Exposition hosted by the Texas Fly Fishers of Houston is coming up on August 23, 2025. It features casting workshops (with video analysis!), fly tying demos, rod building, travel stories, and much more.(Texas Flyfishers of Houston)
- Earlier in June, the club hosted a Saltwater Roundtable led by seasoned angler Scott Fossum, focusing on where to go, what equipment to bring, and techniques for saltwater fly fishing.(Texas Flyfishers of Houston)
3. Fly Tying, Casting Techniques & Education
- Workshops like fly tying nights (e.g., demonstrating Griffith’s Gnat and Bivisible) remain popular. One such event took place in January and spotlighted dry-fly techniques and hands-on learning.(Texas Hill Country Fly Fishers)
- Online and in-person discussions continue around improving casting mechanics, fly selection, and dry-fly vs. streamer tactics.
4. Saltwater Fly Fishing Interest
There’s strong interest in saltwater fly fishing, especially targeting species along the coast—like ladyfish, redfish, tarpon, and jacks. The Texas FlyFishers have planned an outing to Padre Island National Seashore during the anchovy migration (October 10–12, 2025) to target such species.(Texas Flyfishers of Houston)
Saltwater fly fishing gear, access (wade vs. boat), and appropriate flies remain hot topics.
5. Texas Species and Local Hotspots
- The Guadalupe bass, often called the “Texas brook trout,” is a prized target because of its strong fighting behavior and beauty. It’s popular with fly fishers in Central Texas’s rivers like the Guadalupe, Llano, and San Marcos.(Wikipedia)
- Additionally, resources such as urban fly fishing in Houston (targeting carp, largemouth bass, speckled trout, gar) and fly fishing in Big Thicket are drawing attention for alternative and accessible locales.(Hatch Magazine)
6. Fly Patterns: Classics That Still Matter
Common, versatile patterns remain central to conversations—especially adaptable ones like:
- Clouser Deep Minnow (streamer for baitfish in fresh and saltwater)(Wikipedia)
- Woolly Bugger (versatile and effective in almost any water type)(Wikipedia)
- Dry-fly staples like Elk Hair Caddis and Dave’s Hopper, which mimic insects like caddisflies and grasshoppers for trout, bass, and panfish(Wikipedia)
PUBLISHER END NOTE: After twenty years of begging, literally begging for writers to write about their favorite topic here, fly fishing, I finally found a willing participant. I know I have mentioned this before, but ChatGPT is your friend TOO. I’m still your friend! But, this machine is actually getting to know ME, and what I need in an informative story without FLUFF. It has gobbled, just for me, massive amounts of fly fishing information, beforehand, and is prepared NOW – for just about any question I may have. The downside? ChatBots are also gobbling up THIS WEBSITE! I have been told by my website hosting the BOTS are actually what is slowing this site down 24-7. Have you noticed it slowing down? I am here more than you, so I noticed. I assume the gobble will slow once all the BOTS have consumed all eighteen years of content here, and move on to the more frivolous fly sites (HA). Regardless, I still write for you, but I am feeling a fresh breath of creativity – just because ChatGPT has taken up the “bookish” information baton I have been carrying for nearly twenty years – AND IS RUNNING WITH IT! I anticipate being free to evolve my writing into more creative avenues, taking time to create stories and images — and spend less time reporting stories. I hope you are on board. This really is the next revolution after the internet and www. Thanks as always, for reading.
