Texas Chapter Trout Unlimited

REVIEW OF THE OCTOBER MEETING

We had a fine turnout with many more new faces. Several prospects signed up on the spot. Fine weather, short meeting, good food, and a very enlightening program presentation.

The fantastic Buck's Float Tube was won by the then new member Marvin C. Williams who was at the meeting. Each one of us wanted to win, so the groans were loud and numerous.

Mike Costello from the Texas Parks & Wildlife was our guest speaker. His thoughts on Trout management are in complete accord with our philosophy. The plans for the Guadalupe are exciting. Mike is from the northern part of the country and was surprised and delighted to find Salmonoids in this area. It appears that we have some great people in TP&W. There are

Plans for new specie that can stand warmer water, and the idea of reproducing may become a reality for Rainbows and Browns. See the Presidents message for more particulars.

Creel feed back is sorely needed. Please report you catches (and your releases) to any Chapter Officer, Director, or even to the Newsletter Office. If you don't write use the telephone, you know the trout cannot write or have change for telephones.

AT THE DIRECTORS MEETING....

It was decided to participate in the upcoming Federation of Fly Fishers Conclave to be held in Dallas during last weekend in the Month of March. The FFF Conclave held in Houston last year gave a large donation to this Texas Chapter.

If you have never attended one of these conclaves, you have missed a notable event. The auctions are spectacular as well as the numerous raffles. As this is directed to those that are fly fisherman you might consider making that Dallas trip.

Encyclopedia, Fudge, Auto Polish, Eyeglass Cleaners, and vendors of their ilk are not likely to be in attendance. You will see fly tiers, rod makers, manufacturers, sundry equipment so dear to us, books, various celebrities from all over as well as many of your cronies. The banquets are usually a major event themselves with noted speakers and interesting programs.

Bring your spouses, they can shop Dallas if not interested in all the exciting displays or fish talk.

FISHING TIPS:

(Nearly forgotten but remembered by Ralph Rodent.)

1. When transporting your fly rod, carry it butt end forward to prevent stabbing a raccoon, goosing nearby companions or, at worst, breaking the rod tip by falling forward. The other choice is to walk backward.

2. If wetting knots, clip in the stream not in your mouth for that line has in been water that you would not care to drink and could very possibly carry bacteria.

3. Upon greeting returning fisherfolk, do not ask what or how many they caught‑just ask them if they had a good time.

4. If using worms, corn, roe on the stream (heaven forbid) please step behind a tree to bait your hook in order not to over excite the fish.

5. Although several of our Lease Access spots have crude but adequate toilet facilities, it might be prudent to pack a roll of you know what.

THE PRESIDENT SPEAKS ....

Howdy Y'all! Hope that you had a Merry Christmas and that Santa was good to you. I'm happy to report that Trout Unlimited had a great 1991 membershipwise, and we look forward to 1992. At our October meeting, we were fortunate to have as our guest speaker IS&. Michael Costello of Texas Parks & Wildlife's Mathis Fish Lab. For those who were unable to attend, I will fill you in very briefly on TP&W's plans for the Guadalupe River Trout Fishery.

This past May, Howard Itten, Mike Small, Jim Vynalek, and I met with TP&W officials in San Marcos to discuss the trout fishery potential of the Guadalupe River and Trout Unlimited goals. Two biologists at TP&W, Steve Magnelia and Mike Costello, expressed interest in doing an ongoing study of the river's potential to me more than just a "put & take" winter

time trout fishery. Later that month, I took Steve and Mike down the river from the dam to the Ponderosa bridge, pointing out the spots where prime trout habitats exist. Dissolved oxygen and temperature tests were very encouraging.

From the information gathered that day, Steve and Mike made a study proposal to the "higher ups" at TP&W. The proposal is to study the river over a period of years to determine improvements that could be made to the habitat to improve this fishery. The ultimate goal would be to have a trophy fishery on the Guadalupe.

TP&W Will examine and study

1 ) Fish population through sampling (possibleelectro shocking or netting).

2) Angier impact on the fishery (possible tightening of regulations and crest surveys).

3) Habitat evaluation What Limiting "symptoms" the fishery might have that would inhibit a trout growing to trophy size.

Of course we at Trout Unlimited are extremely happy about this development at TP&W. We will be doing everything in our power to assist them in the study proposed.

Those of you who fish the Guadalupe regularly, know for a fact that some fish do survive the summer and achieve healthy rates for growth. Be sure to come to our January meeting and find out why the fish grow. Bud Priddy's program will enlighten you.

In addition to our fantastic raffle offering we will have several door prize "goodies" to give away thanks to Bud Lilly's Fly Shop/Blue Ribbon Flies of West Yellowstone, MT, and Rodmakers ‑ Austin for furnishing these door prizes.

FISHING NEWS & INFORMATION...

Texas Parks and Wildlife has, and is continuing, to stock trout in the Guadalupe River. Our chapter has offered to help in a survey of the ages of anglers and spectators following the trout stockings. The purpose of the survey is to determine how the fisheries are being utilized. Since 1966 approximately 250,000 trout have been stocked at over 63 1/2 locations across the state. The information from this survey should aid in making future quality drops in the best selected areas of Texas.

The volunteers for this December thru February project are:

Tom Whitehouse, Irving O'Neal, Bill West, Miner White, Walter Zoch, Alan Bray, Bob Tuttle, Jim Vynalek, Bill Johnson, David Hotz, A] Look, Mike Small and Eric Bataille.

Our November Brown & Rainbow Trout stocking project was very well attended. So many lease permit holders showed up that there was a minor traffic jam. If we had just 3 more volunteers, we could have just about carried each individual fish gently down to the water.

The Chapter appreciates the participation and interest of all those who showed up to help. Mike Small, Eric Bataille and Jim Vynalek reported that 10,000 Brown Trout eggs arrived by air from Lewiston, Montana December 6th in a specially ice packed box. They were placed in the TU refrigerator incubators along the Guadalupe River the following day.

While the incubator system was in order and working properly, the operation was faced with the problem of climatic differences between Montana & Texas. Brown Trout generally spawn in October & November. At that time, the Guadalupe River is generally too warm for proper egg hatching. By mid to late December when the Guadalupe is down to the ideal temperature range of 48 * to 55 ', the eggs may be too "ripe" with some hatching already taking place. Unfortunately the river was running 58'‑ 60 on December 7th.

"Planting" the eggs in water over 55 * speeds the heartbeat of the embryo and accelerates the hatching

process, which in turn, can result in abnormalities in the fry after hatching.

The ultimate hatch that occurred is estimated to be at 60% All the tiny fingerlings appeared to be in good shape. Time will tell as the water temperature was hovering around 58‑60 *.

TU NATIONAL NEWS ...

The raid on Wallop‑Breaux funds (derived from taxes on purchases of fishing, hunting, and boating merchandise ‑earmarked specifically for fish & wildlife efforts) has been stopped. When legislation came out of conference committee, the $190 million cap had been stripped from the bill. TU thanks all councils, chapters, and members who wrote to their Congress members.

S.1220, the National Energy Bill sponsored by Senators Johnston and Wallop has been defeated. Sen. Johnston attempted to halt the filibuster against his bill by calling for a cloture vote. Johnston need 60 votes to break the filibuster. He received only 50. S.1220, if enacted, would have opened up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil drilling, exempted all hydropower facilities under 5 megawatts from FERC licensing and NEPA requirements, and encouraged the development of more coal and petroleum based power plants and the acid rain precursor emissions that come with them.

In November‑‑The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission reversed its regulation which violated Newton's principle of fish passage. FERC had ruled that the term "fishway" applied only to fish passage upstream, now agrees that what goes up must come down. By appealing the regulation, TU caused FERC's broadened understanding of fish physics.

At special briefings, set up by TU's national office, members of Congress and their staffs were told that the eight federal dams blocking the Columbia and Snake Rivers were the principal culprits in the collapse of salmon runs.

The solution salmon experts agreed on was the drawdown of four reservoirs on the lower snake during a two month period when juvenile salmon begin their migrations to the ocean (April 15 to June 15.) This drawdown plan would result in a loss of only 1% of firm load power generating capacity and a 5% reduction in barge traffic on the Snake, none on the Columbia.

Driftnets and their destructive use were the topics of two major events at the United Nations in New York. TU sponsored a breakfast hosted by Congresswoman Jolene Unsoeld for delegates from 15 key nations who were urged by the Congresswoman, TU Executive Director Charles Gauvin, and TU National Director Ted Roosevelt, IV, to support a resolution banning high seas driftnetting. Later TU cosponsored another briefing and reception for UN delegates climaxing a week of intensive efforts to ban driftnets.

Japan's cabinet agreed on a compromise UN resolution that will result in a 50% reduction in Japan's use of driftnets by June 1992 and a total moratorium by Dec. 31, 1992. While it was slow in coming, Japan's recognition of the need to halt driftnetting and Taiwan's earlier commitment to do so leaves Korea as the last major obstacle to full protection from high seas driftnets for millions of salmon, steelhead, non‑target fish, marine mammals, and seabirds.

SOME WORDS FOR 92 ...

Get Involved, Support your Texas Chapter, Attend the meetings, Catch & Release More Fish, go to the Dallas Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) Conclave in March, carry your trash, and above all do not let your National TU dues lapse... you will be off the mailing list, your lease permit will be nun and void, and unpleasant events may happen to spoil your li like never being able to catch any trout..

FEATURED ARTICLE Brown Trout Respected by FLY Fishermen By: Bob Brunsell

Like most of us who fish for them, brown trout are of European ancestry. Scientists believe they first appeared in the cold waters of the Arctic region 70 million years ago. They think brown trout swam ahead of the glaciers at the start of the ice age and populated waters in Europe, Asia and northern Africa.

As the ice retreated and the waters of their new homes warmed, some stayed and became acclimated to the gradually rising temperatures. Their descendants today can stand warmer waters than other trouts.

These are the fish with speckled skins Macedonian anglers using artificial flies to capture some two thousand years ago. In the centuries since, hundreds of angling writers have extolled their virtues and dedicated admirers have transplanted them around the globe. Today "Salmo trutta" are prized by fly fishers in every part of the world except Antarctica.

In an effort to salvage degraded brook trout waters, the brown trout was introduced into the United States in 1883. Wisconsin hatched a thousand brown trout eggs imported from Germany, at the Bayfield hatchery in 1887. Michigan introduced them to its waters in 1883 and Minnesota in 1888.

The newcomer proved suitable for Wisconsin waters, and although a cold water fish, it survived and grew in water too warm and turbid for native trout.

Because the brown trout has been sport fished for at least two thousand years, it is a classic example of "survival of the fittest". The ones that could be easily duped by a baited hook or artificial fly or that even opened their mouth if a human was about, have long since been eliminated. This stock didn't live to pass its gullibility along to future generations.

As a result the strain we fish for today surely must be the most secretive, selective, wary, wiley, and challenging game fish in the world, and this should be a very real consideration for the angler who hopes to consistently take adult brown trout from our heavily pressured streams.

If you aspire to be such an angler, plan to be as inconspicuous as possible. Select fishing attire that blends with stream surroundings. Camouflage clothing is ideal but, in the absence of this, be sure your hat, shirt and vest or jacket are dull, somber colors. Greens, browns, and dark gray are fine. If you must wear light colored fishing club patches, sew them on the back of your jacket.

Do not wear or carry anything that can glisten in the sun. If you fish in short sleeves, carry your wrist watch in a pocket. Eyeglasses can be covered with clip‑on Polaroids or a mosquito head net. Rod guides, reel seats, and other fittings should have a dull finish. Reels with shiny parts, aluminum net frames and bright creel hardware can be dulled with aerosol paint.

Approach the stream carefully Move slowly and keep low try to avoid being silhouetted against the sky. Stalk each pool like a deer hunter closing in on a wary buck.

Stay out of the stream whenever possible. This is very important. The idea that you can wade upstream without spooking trout because they face the current and you are approaching from the rear is ridiculous and that wise old brown will be the first to agree.

Take a goo

d look at the next trout you catch. Notice its eyes. They are placed high and well back on the sides of its head. They protrude slightly and the pupils are fixed so it sees upwards, backwards, and forward at the same time. Any movement above water to the rear will catch its attention immediately.

Western rainbow rivers and Eastern brook trout streams are different. They usually have steeper gradient than our brown trout streams, and consequently more broken water to help conceal a wading angler. Both brook and rainbow trout, indigenous to this continent have been angled for only about two hundred years and so are less wary than browns with their two thousand years of angling pressure.

Whenever possible, fish from a kneeling position or crouch and try to keep from showing above the foliage or horizon in back of you. Move slowly and step very gently.

In the academic world, brown trout are said to be negatively phototropic. All this means is that they shun light and prefer dark places, or at least shade. As daylight fades they come out of their hiding places to seek food and so later afternoon and evening is most fly fishers' favorite time. After dark and early morning are also good. For the daytime fisherman, sunken logs, boulders, undercut banks and overhanging grass or brush provide shade and often produce good fish.

Rainbow and brook trout often like a little color and flash in their flies but usually flies for browns should be of a more somber hue. Colors and sizes of either flies or streamers should be similar to what trout are used to in the water you're fishing. As a general rule for Wisconsin streams, insect imitations should be some shade of gray or brown or gray brown.

Streamers that are dark on top with white underneath and a silver tinsel body resemble minnows found in most creeks and are useful. In northern streams where darters are found, small streamers with Plymouth Rock feather wings often produce well.

If some of this advice seems overly fussy and even redundant, remember that "Salmo trutta you're fishing for has had, through its ancestors, over two thousand years of experience in outwitting determined anglers.

This is the fish an early English angling writer had in mind when he told his readers, "If you must wear silver buckles, wear them on your shoes, not your hat".

This is merely 1 of merry super essays from a collection of articles by Bob Brunsell a former Wisconsinite now residing in Arkansas close to the White River The book is available from him a 203 Blou Clower Ln ‑ Bull Shoals AR 7621 9‑4324

Permission to copy this excerpt from "The Trout Articles" has been given. in the editors opinion, no fly fishers library would be complete without this book