Texas Chapter Trout Unlimited

Editor: Bob Tuttle 207 Finn Austin, TX 78734 (512) 261‑4409

OFFICERS: President: Eric Bataille 250‑9194

VP Chapter Affairs: Alan Bray M‑9619

VP Fishing Affairs: Mike Small 258‑0946

Secretary/Treasurer: Bob Story

Recording Secretary: Barbara Parvin

DIRECTORS

Clem Bird

Chad Oliver

David Hotz

Marian Tilson

*Howard Itten

Miller White

Irving O'Neal

*Jim Vynalek (National TU Dir)

*EX Officio

April 1992 Notice of Annual Spring Meeting & Newsletter

DATE: SATURDAY APRIL 25, 1992

PLACE: St. Thomas Church Activity Center adjacent to the church (just below Canyon Dam on River Road) ‑Sattler, Texas. Earlier TIME: 9.30 AM Registration & Socializing 10:00 to 10:15 Short Meeting Business Raffle of SAGE 4 PIECE FLY ROD Drawing for Door Prizes Program 10:15 ‑ 12:15 ±

LUNCH: 12:30 ‑ Barbecue Du Jour, Various Salads, Beans a la Johnson, Chips, Bread, Relish, possibly some unusual desserts and maybe a choice of wines if the contributors come through. Margaret Ann, Helen, & Chris are to be congratulated for past & present meals.

DIRECTORS MEETING 1:30 PM

THE PROGRAM Please take note of the EARLIER meeting time 9:30 am.

We have planned a 2 hour Fly Casting demonstration by Joe Robinson. This is an event you would normally pay good money for. Irving O'Neal and Eric Bataille have lined up this well known fly casting instructor, noted fisherman, purveyor of fly‑fishing goods, and a fountain of invaluable fishing lore, weather permitting, it will be conducted outside. Joe, when not fishing, teaching, or guiding groups on exotic waterways, can be found at The Austin Angler in downtown Austin.

Come on out for a terrific program and some great food. Arise and leave a bit earlier and make this meeting. Bring your fly rod, you may wish to try out what you may learn and maybe do some fishing. If you are lucky, you might even win the 4 piece SAGE raffle rod.

If you plan to buy raffle tickets or pay dues at the meeting, please bring smaller denominations. The secretary was hard pressed to make change at the last meeting. Checks are O.K.... If paying National dues kindly do so with separate check. A roster listing all the chapter's supporting members will be available for a nominal fee.

Summer is nearly here. There will be no more meetings with their exciting programs until October. Newsletter publication is also suspended until Fall. Spend your spare time seeking the elusive trout.

AT THE LAST MEETING....

One, of the largest turnouts ever! The sun did not shine but the weather was pleasant enough to enjoy his

the outdoors while feasting. Bud Priddy made is presentation with slides. Many very worthwhile tips on which flies have been most productive for him on the Guadalupe. Tips will not be divulged here.

The massive dam releases are predicting a scouring of the river which could effect the food chain. When the flow returns to somewhat normal, the fish could be ravenous and fishing should be excellent.

The Custom Fly Rod was won by Niel Bowie who was in attendance. The 2 door prizes were won by Kieth Schaefer who selected the Buck's Float Tube backpack inflaters and Jon E. Sloan claimed the custom T‑shirt.

Following the meeting, many members took a look at the Roaring Guadalupe. Around 5100 CFS (Cubic Feet Per Second). There was some fishing by others going close to the bank around trees and quieter water. It was that some trout were caught close to the bank and trees but it took almost all day to catch even a few.

FISHING NEWS AND INFORMATION....

One of our two Vibert boxes was washed away with all fingerlings lost. Tle other box was saved but those

fish were also swept away. We had to cancel another fish drop due to the prevailing conditions. TP&W

did likewise although they were ‑forced to release a large batch of trout later in order to make room for

some incoming fish at the hatchery. More drops however are planned for the near future.

Keep an eye open for abandoned or discarded refrigerators that we might use to start up our nursery program again.

The massive water release from the floodgates that bypass the turbines could possibly allow Canyon Lake fish to enter the lower Guadalupe. Striped bass, who are voracious eaters, could cause a problem with our resident smaller trout. You might bring some heavier tackle when the river subsides.

FISHING REPORT sent in by Chad Oliver:

March 7 1992. They were holding back the release to 104 CFS because of flooding in Victoria. John Kappelman and I headed for Bean's. Bridge at Gruene out. Went around the other way: some water on the road.

Got to lower end of Bean's that afternoon. River clearer than I have seen it in some ten years. I'd estimate about 400 CFS actually flowing, most of it spring water.

Fished dry flies only. Rainbows all over the place. We caught about 20 in a little more than two hours. All in the 9"‑11” range, but saw several bigger fish, one of which did a beautiful air dive over my fly. Fish were in good shape, except for being on the thin side and some damage to pectoral fins. Plenty of hatching insects, both mayflies and caddis. Saw no browns.

River was up to 2000 CFS next day, and now 5000 CFS. BUT THE FISH DO SEEM TO BE SURVIVING.

FOUND: At January meeting, 1 blue jacket trimmed with black & white cuffs and collar. Owner can call Betsy Story at 512‑327‑6381.

LEASE CARD HOLDERS NOTE .....

Just in case that you had forgotten or were not aware of one of the restrictions of our Access Lease Permits, please review the paragraph below from the Chapter's General Policy.

NON MEMBER PROVISIONS:

1. Members are not permitted to have guests, or family members as guests, accompany them while using any Chapter proprietary access lease for the purpos of access to the Guadalupe River for fishing

2. members may be accompanied by guests and family members to other sites stocked by the Chapter that offer fee access to the public provided, that said guests or family members are not represented to the proprietors as being TU and/or Chapter members entitled to, therefore, to discounted fees.

You might also, reread all the literature that came with or is printed on your Lease Access Permit. The rules are for your benefit and help keep a good relationship with the property owners that we lease from.

TU INCUBATOR EXHIBIT PROVES "IRRESISTABLE" AT TEXAS CONCLAVE....

TU's working incubator exhibit, complete with live trout fry, attracted much attention and favorable comment at The Texas Conclave hosted by The Dallas Flyfishers at The Sheraton Park Central Hotel in Dallas last month. The exhibit was tided "20th 'Anniversary Brown Trout in Texas."

Live sac‑fry trout were flown in from The Silver Spring Trout Farm, Montrose Colorado and deposited in the incubator. With the aid of hotel ice cubes, water temperature in the incubator circulating system was maintained ant 65 ‑ 75'. This proved adequate to sustain the fry throughout The Conclave. Most attendees, young or older, who walked by were unable to resist the sound of flowing water splashing inside the incubator. They had to stop and peer in, affording the TU hosts an opportunity to promote TU's 20 years of stocking the Guadalupe River for the benefit of all who fish.

Participation in The Conclave exhibit was primarily to reciprocate for the generous financial contribution made to Texas TU by The Texas Flyfishers following last year's Conclave in Houston. However, TU's presence in Dallas resulted in an added benefit as many conclave attendees stopped to pickup TU Membership applications or TU blueprints on construction of the incubator.

Modification and "designer" camouflage painting of the exhibit incubator was performed by Chapter VP-Fishing Affairs, Mike Small. Jim and Earlene Vynalek trailered the incubator and other necessary exhibit materials to Dallas. On hand to assist in the unloading were Bill and Margaret Ann Johnson. The West Brothers, Bill and Bob joined the Johnsons and Vynaleks in setting up and manning the exhibit.

VP-Chapter Affairs Alan Bray arrived Saturday to lend his assistance at the booth, and in joining Bob West Sunday afternoon in the involved and tedious take‑down of the exhibit. All attending TU'ers agreed The Conclave was a successful venture.

NORTH TEXAS TU MEMBERS PLAN NEW CHAPTER ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING .......

A group of interested TU members in North Texas met in Dallas March 29th to discuss the desirability of establishing a new chapter to serve the North Texas area.

Out of the 28 members who responded with interest to the possibility, the consensus was that such a chapter would provide members with an opportunity for greater participation and impact on matters relative to the preservation and protection of the cold water fishes both locally and. across the nation.

Plans were made for an organizational meeting to be held on Saturday, May 2nd, 10 am at a spot not yet determined, that would be convenient to all.

Application for a new chapter must be submitted to the TU National Executive Committee for approval.

All trout fishers interested in preserving the nation's cold water trout and salmon fisheries are urged to attend and participate in this important meeting.

David Hurdle of Azle is serving as interim secretary during the organizational period. He may be reached for additional information:

David Hurdle

PO BOX 1201

AZLE TX 76020

Or call: (k7) 446‑4949

TU PARTICIPATED IN TEXAS CONCLAVE PROGRAM….

In response to an invitation to participate in The Texas Conclave Program in Dallas last month, TU Texas National Director Jim Vynalek briefly highlighted TU.'s current environmental efforts at the National level, discussed the Texas Chapter's 20 year program of stocking The Guadalupe River With brown and rainbow trout, and in a slide presentation showed details of the egg‑hatching project with refrigerator/incubators.

Scheduled at 8:15 am Sunday morning following a gala Saturday night banquet and auction, the presentation was made to a” limited but, what had to be a dedicated" audience. Most were surprised and interested in the possibilities of the incubators. Two attendees were so impressed that they took blueprints with them and fully intend to place incubators on two streams in Oklahoma.

FEATURED ARTICLE "Another Way to Carry a Trout Net”

By: Bob Brunsell

Most stream fishers own a landing net. many, myself among them have several.

My own arsenal consists of three beautiful laminated‑wood creations, prized because I know the individuals who made them and seldom carried because of a reluctance to subject things so fine to the rigors of streamline use, plus one aluminum framed cheapie.

Trout nets have changed over the years. Handles are shorter, probably because anglers are less reluctant to step into the creek than they used to be and the nets are smaller because fish are also. Nylon mesh has eliminated the aroma that used to be standard. It doesn't absorb fish slime like cotton did.

Now some genius has come up with the idea of attaching a split ring to the bottom of each net bag.

Originally I suspect, as a way of puckering the mesh together but also adding weight there that keeps the bag open in the water.

My tubular frame net is one that gets the everyday, knock‑about use. As far as I can see, metal frames have only one disadvantage and that is minor and readily rectified. Most have a shiny, fish alarming finish. A few shots from an aerosol can of dull flat, green or brown paint corrects this.

Many stream anglers carry no net at all, figuring so long as they are planning to release the catch anyway, there is no point to it. If the should hook one they wish to keep, it can always be beached.

For one thing, lifting a struggling fish from the water with line alone imbeds the hood deeper. For another, using a net means fish don't have to be played until exhausted before landing and if one must be handled, gripping through I the mesh eliminates the need for excessive squeezing. I have come around to the idea that fish, net landed are less likely to be mortally injured.

Traditionally, nets have been carried by an elastic noose attached to the handle butt and looped around the neck or by a snap clipped to a ring fastened somewhere on them fisher's apparel, usually‑high up in back between the shoulder blades.

Either system is an abomination. In order to be out of the way a net: should hang either to the rear or side of the angler. At first glance it would seem the elastic noose is the most practical, that is, until the net catches on a tree limb or bush and hits you on the head or neck like a projectile from a sling‑shot.

I was cared on the French‑clip, between the shoulder blades system one chilly evening on Mt. Vernon Creek, when I went to the car after a wool mackinaw and tugged it over my fishing vest, net and all. (The vest wouldn't fit over the mackinaw.

Shortly thereafter, a big brown took my fly and me downstream for two or three pools before subsiding enough so there seemed a chance of netting it.

Then came the realization; the net was in the middle of my back under that mackinaw. If you have never had to wriggle free of a wool mackinaw while trying to keep a monster trout from burying itself in a bed of watercress, you can't really know what frustration is.

Sometime later I got one arm free of a sleeve, netted the fish a looked around. There stood a

middle‑aged stranger, as out of breath and red‑faced from exertion as I was. I looked across the pasture and saw a car stopped in the road.

Come to find out, he had been driving by, saw my frantic convolutions and, assuming I was having some kind of seizure, had stopped his car, climbed through the fence and ran across the field to try to help. Aren't there nice people in this world?

That ended the clip‑on phase. For the next couple of seasons the net was carried tucked half in and half out of a canvas creel slung under my arm, readily available but kind of in the way.

Then I bad a brainstorm (I have a lot of them, most don't amount to anything). I tied a loop of clothesline, just large e enough to slide an arm and sleeve through easily, to the net where the handle joined the hoop. My wife sewed a button on the shoulder of my fishing vest, similar to that some shooters use to keep a gun sling from slipping and I was in business.

I could put my arm through the loop, slide it up over the shoulder button an the net rode with the handle projecting slightly above and to the rear of my shoulder and the frame and bag under my arm. 1 used it that way a couple of seasons, then modified it again.

It now has a slightly smaller loop of elastic cord. With this the gun‑sling button is no longer needed. The elastic grips the fabric of shirt or jacket firmly but can e easily slid down the arm when the not is needed.

One of our advertisers, Gruene Outfitters, is the closest place to the Guadalupe if you are in need for any fly fishing gear, flies, or sporty clothing . It is also worth the short drive just to check out the historic Gruene community located on the north western outskirts of New Braunfels just off SH 306. In addition to their merchandise they have rental gear available and can fishing trips. Great place to visit on a rainy or miserable day not suitable for trout fishing.